Ghana Coastal Forest Tour Report 2015

 21st - 28th Sept 2015

 
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Either for rarity value, excellent views or simply a group favourite.

Hartlaub’s Duck Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle Long-tailed Hawk Black-bellied Bustard White-spotted Flufftail Senegal Lapwing Great Blue Turaco Yellow-billed Turaco Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Black-throated Coucal Fraser’s Eagle Owl Red-chested Owlet White-bellied Kingfisher Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Black Bee-eater White-crested Hornbill Black Dwarf-Hornbill Bristle-nosed Barbet African Piculet Fire-bellied Woodpecker Rufous-sided Broadbill Red-cheeked Wattle-Eye Red-billed Helmetshrike Sabine’s Puffback Blue Cuckooshrike

Yellow-headed Picathartes Western Nicator White-throated Blue Swallow Preuss’s Swallow Tit-Hylia Honeyguide Greenbul Yellow-bearded Greenbul Grey Longbill Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Sharpe’s Apalis Rufous-crowned Eremomela Puvel’s Illadopsis Violet-backed Hyliota Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher Oriole Warbler White-tailed Alethe Forest Robin Finsch’s Flycatcher Thrush Reichenbach’s Sunbird Buff-throated Sunbird Red-headed Malimbe Yellow-mantled Weaver Chestnut-breasted Negrita Red-fronted Antpecker Black-bellied Seedcracker

 SUMMARY:

With a short 6 hour direct flight from the UK leading you to the bird-rich coastal forests of Ghana and with a long tour scheduled for late October 2016, I had an opportunity to spend a few days exploring the area. This was a real eye-opener for me as these lush forests were simply alive with birds and I cannot think of anywhere where you can see so many birds in such dense forests anywhere in the world. I visited Shai Hills, several sections of Kakum National Park, Antekwa, camped in Ankasa forest for two nights, Abrafo, Bonkro and Bobiri forests. My focus was on exploring these sites as fully as possible and not building up a big list, as well as trying to get to grips with some of the regionals more difficult skulkers. The highlight was undoubtedly the famous Canopy Walkway at Kakum – an amazing experience with so many local, rare and stunning species appearing at regular intervals. Oh and a magical few hours alone with a pair of Yellow-headed Picathartes or White-necked Rockfowl. Simply amazing! 


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