News

Most of these sightings were made by Olivier Lachenaud, Bruno Boedts and Henk-Jan Oosterhuis during the period 2000-2002 and are to be published with more details in Malimbus.

Regular visits to Banco National Park and neighbouring Anguédédou forest in 2000-2002 produced a number of interesting records. Those from Banco National Park include Yellow-bearded Greenbul Criniger olivaceus (attracted to playback on two occasions in April 2002), White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolopha, Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii, Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia, White-bellied Kingfisher Alcedo leucogaster, Green-Tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximius and Olivaceous Flycatcher Muscicapa olivascens. In Anguédédou, the two most exciting finds were Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti (one seen in very good conditions on 25 Nov 2001) and African Piculet Sasia africana (a female on 3 Nov 1999). The Piculet is extremely rare in Upper Guinea, with only two previous records in Côte d'Ivoire, while the Honeyguide is a rare and elusive species, whose presence in the country was confirmed only in 2000. Other rarely recorded species seen there include Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi, Bioko Batis Batis poensis and Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus griseigularis, which was found not to be rare.

During a visit to Divo area in Oct-Nov 1999, Western Wattled Cuckoo-Shrike Lobotos lobatus was seen at three different places in two days, suggesting it is not rare. Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi was abundant, and Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia was also seen.

Interesting records made in the west of the country in Feb 2000 include a Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus seen at Danané (6th Ivorian record), Preuss's Weaver Ploceus preussi at Lieupleu (south-west of Danané), Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga quiscalina and Violet-backed Hyliota Hyliota violacea both at Gouessesso (near Biankouma). The three latter species, considered uncommon to rare in the country, were all found to be common at the Camp Alpin des Missions Protestantes, between Man and Biankouma, in July 2002; also seen there was a Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat Cossypha cyanocampter, a rare species in Côte d'Ivoire, with very few recent records.

On the summit (about 1,235 m) of Mt Tonkoui, near Man, at least four African Black Swifts Apus barbatus were circling around the television station with hundreds of Little Swifts A. affinis, on 30 Apr 2001. The former species is very little-documented in the country, although there is a previous record from the same site. Also there, Fiery-breasted Bush-Shrike Malaconotus cruentus and Many-coloured Bush-Shrike Telephorus multicolor were seen twice flocking together. Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara was observed several times at the waterfall near the base of the mountain, suggesting it is resident there.

A surprising find was that of a heronry at Grand-Bassam, near the bridge on the Comoé river, in a previously well-watched area. Pairs of Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis, Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides, Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax as well as Long-Taïled Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus were found to breed there in May-July. Also seen at Grand-Bassam was the second Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus for the country on 5 Oct 2001.

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Another astonishing discovery was that of Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea in the suburbs of Abidjan (several observations in Mar, Jun and Sep-Oct), more than 600 km south of its known range. The species is not usually kept in captivity and the origin of these birds is a mystery.

An African Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster was seen at close range on Lamto reserve, far south of its range, on 7 May 2000.

Greater Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens, not previously recorded in the country, was found to be quite common at Yamoussoukro lakes. Also near Yamoussoukro, a colony of c100 Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola was found in Oct 2001; the birds were absent in Dec but present again in Feb and Mar 2002 when some were displaying and mating. Also seen at Yamoussoukro were Black-backed Cisticola Cisticola eximius, Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata (both south of their known range in the country), Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus and Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei (two rarely recorded species).

The Sassandra area in the south-west, was regularly visited and produced a number of interesting records, especially African Darter Anhinga rufa (almost extinct in the country, but possibly breeding in the area), Goliath Heron Ardea goliath and White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolopha. Several rare Palearctic migrants were also seen there, including Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus (three records of immatures), Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus and Common Sand Martin Riparia riparia; European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus and Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius, previously very little-documented in the country, were both found to be common at sea in February and May 2002.

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