News

The following are largely unconfirmed records which have been published in Bulletins of the African Bird Club for information only.

Work on the Atlas progressed as planned, with nearly two months spent in the forest zone from late November 2008 to mid-January 2009, and also two months (March–April 2009) in the transition zone of the central east (from Digya National Park to the Togo border) and the savanna habitats of the north-east (from Salaga, Tamale and Walewale to the Togo border). By now 66 squares of the country’s total of 94 have been visited. Highlights include two species new for Ghana: Crested Lark Galerida cristata (watched at close range in sandy farmland near the Togo border, near Wenchiki, 10°15’N) and Quailfinch Indigobird Vidua nigeriae (birds singing in non-breeding dress in April, with clear imitations of African Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis) at two localities (Sung at 09°58’N, and Yombabvau River at 09°40’N near the Togo border). As Quailfinches are widespread in the north, the indigobird is also likely to be one of the commonest in Ghana; other species of floodplains which can be numerous locally include Black-backed Cisticola Cisticola eximius. A pair of Black-headed Bee-eaters Merops breweri feeding nestlings in riparian forest on the Sumi River in Digya National Park on 16 March constitutes an outstanding breeding record; the range of this rare bee-eater is thus extended eastwards in the Afram plains, all of which is protected within Digya National Park.

A pair of Emin’s Shrikes Lanius gubernator feeding nestlings in a small Terminalia tree in woodland at the same locality and on the same date, is another noteworthy record. Also of interest are two Gambaga Flycatchers Muscicapa gambagae seen at close range in low-stature, rocky woodland near Gushiegu. Many species previously considered rather local were found throughout the north-east, e.g. Dorst’s Cisticola Cisticola guinea and Rufous Cisticola C. rufus, the former being one of the first colonisers of coppice woodland following cultivation. Notable southward range extensions of savanna birds include Yellow Penduline Tit Anthoscopus parvulus found nesting near Donkorkrom (06°50’N) and Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica reaching the Obosum River in Digya (07°12’N). In the forest region of the southwest, many species considered as rare or local by previous publications appeared widespread, being found in virtually every square, e.g. Congo Serpent Eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis, Fraser’s Eagle Owl Bubo poensis, Akun Eagle Owl B leucostictus, Brown Nightjar Veles binotatus, Bates’s Swift Apus batesi, Olivaceous Flycatcher Muscicapa olivascens, Grey-throated Flycatcher Myioparus griseigularis, Tit-hylia Pholidornis rushiae, Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi, Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus, Johanna’s Sunbird C. johannae and White-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita fusconotus.

Of more localized species, Black-collared Lovebird Agapornis swindernianus was discovered in Subri River FR (=Forest Reserve), Takoradi District, and in Fure Headwaters FR, Asankrangua District, Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis was found to be locally common from Dadieso and the Boin River near Côte d’Ivoire to Bobiri FR near Kumasi, especially in logged forest, Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon zenkeri was located by its afternoon song in three new squares (Opon Mansi FR in Dunkwa District, Boin River FR in Enchi District, and Sui River FR in Sefwi Wiawso District), African Piculet Sasia africana was added to two squares (Opon Mansi FR and Sui River FR) at forest edges or in overgrown cassava, whilst Tessmann’s Flycatcher Muscicapa tessmanni was found to be locally common in open-canopy forest, from the Boin River and Opon Mansi to Tano Ofin and Bobiri FRs.

In the south-west Pale-fronted Negrofinch Nigrita luteifrons was located only at Sui River FR (feeding on seeds of Sterculia), whereas it is more characteristic of the transition zone in eastern Ghana. Although White-breasted Guineafowl Agelastes meleagrides has been reported by hunters from three new localities (Subri River FR, Sui River FR and Tano Ofin FR), its status is extremely precarious, as is also that of the two Ceratogymna hornbills, on the verge of extinction through hunting. Tano Ofin, west of Kumasi, one of only two highland forests in Ghana (the other being Atewa Range), is seriously degraded by illegal logging (up to 500 m altitude), but produced many ‘new’ records on 5–8 January, especially on the plateau at 700 m, among them: Blue-headed Bee-eater Merops muelleri, Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus, Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui and Ansorge’s Greenbul Andropadus ansorgei at their northern limit of range, Brown-chested Alethe Alethe poliocephala, Forest Scrub Robin Erythropygia leucosticta, Black-capped Apalis Apalis nigriceps, Pale-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis rufipennis, Rufous-winged Illadopsis I. rufescens, Dusky Tit Parus funereus and Copper-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis cupreocauda, whilst Preuss’s Weaver Ploceus preussi was found feeding juveniles in a nest at a height of 45 m in a Ceiba tree.

Of the forest reserves listed above, Tano Ofin was the only site where Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi was heard. A first complete exploration of the drier forests of the transition zone, between Ho and Kyabobo near the Togo border, produced consistent lists which include the following characteristic species, all common: Cassin’s Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus africanus (more common here than in the south-west), Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike Campephaga quiscalina, Leaflove Pyrrhurus scandens, Baumann’s Greenbul Phyllastrephus baumanni, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat Cossypha cyanocampter, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia blissetti, Shrike-Flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus, Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens, Puvel’s Illadopsis I. puveli, Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis and Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii. Grey-headed Bristlebill Bleda canicapilla was the only bristlebill found. Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus and Finsch’s Flycatcher Thrush Stizorhina finschi are some of several species confined to sheltered, riverine conditions.

The only Sooty Boubous Laniarius leucorhynchus of the trip were found in Kabo River FR, near Kadjebi. Fiery-breasted Bush-Shrike Malaconotus cruentus apparently occurred in every square, but most of the birds seen were yellow, posing the problem of separation between this species and Lagden’s Bush-Shrike M. lagdeni. Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis is the most common nightjar of the transition zone. A Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans was singing in the rain on 29 March in Apepesu FR, near the Togo border, and another was heard in Fure Headwaters FR in the south-west on 16 December (end of the rains); these are only the second and third records of a species discovered in Ghana as recently as 1995.

Many Palearctic passerines crossed the country on a broad front, in two waves. The first came to an end just after the first week of April and probably included locally wintering birds, the second appeared after mid April and petered out by the end of the month. Species included Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta, Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, Wood Warbler P. sibilatrix and Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Some species appear to leave the country early, by mid March, e.g. Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos (last record on 10 March, near Mpraeso) and Garden Warbler Sylvia borin (last record on 14 March, at Digya). Last dates for Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis (28 April) and Willow Warbler (24 April) are much later than previously recorded. There was sustained passage of Palearctic Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo daurica in small numbers in the second half of April throughout the north-east.

Noteworthy records from May 2008 include the following. A Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus flew over the canopy walkway in Kakum National Park on 13 May. A white-headed Ayres’s Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus ayresii was observed at Atewa; there are few records from this locality. A calling Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius was also seen at Atewa, with another about halfway between
Atewa and Cape Coast; both localities appear to be on the edge of the species’ known range. A male Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis was observed at Aboabo and another north of Assin Fosu; this species is rarely seen in West Africa. In the Shai Hills, an African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense was found; this species was first observed at this site in 2005. A Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes was photographed at Sakumo Lagoon on 16 October 2008.

From six weeks of field work in the centre and south-east of the country in late February early April 2008, the following records can be selected. A Spot- breasted Ibis Bostrychia rara was heard on the Sene River at Seneso (07°30’N) on 5 and 13 March, the northernmost record in Ghana. Yellow-throated Cuckoos Chrysococcyx flavigularis and Spotted Honeyguides Indicator maculatus appeared particularly common in Kalakpa Reserve, in dry semievergreen forest, on 22-31 March, with four and seven singing birds respectively. On 2 April, African Black Swifts Apus barbatus (new for Ghana) were seen at two localities, including Aduadu Mountain near Afadjato on the Togo border, where the species could breed. Black-headed Bee-eaters Merops breweri were found breeding in small numbers in a narrow riparian forest at Apapasu, in the west of Digya National Park, with pairs feeding nestlings or females brooding, on 7-12 March; this species was reported only once before in Ghana, in 1952, from the ‘Afram River’. A Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti was watched for a prolonged period feeding on scale insects in a tall Ceiba tree in degraded semi-evergreen forest near Begoro (06°26’N 00°27’W) on 17 March. Also noteworthy are further range extensions of Baumann’s Greenbul Phyllastrephus baumanni, which was found commonly in low thickets in the coastal plain of Kalakpa Reserve and throughout the eastern highlands of Afadjato and Amedzofe. Several Brown Sunbirds Anthreptes gabonicus were feeding on Quisqualis flowers on the Pru River (07°45’N 01°09’W) on 14 March, a range extension. Of Palearctic migrants, Common Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita were last seen on 4 March, at Dome, Digya National Park, with European Bee-eaters Merops apiaster and Melodious Warblers Hippolais polyglotta passing commonly in Kalakpa until the end of March. A Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla was seen in woodland at Kalakpa on 24 March and a male Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus at Apapasu, Digya National Park, on 8 March. Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis, Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus, Wood Warblers P. sibilatrix, Spotted Flycatchers Muscicapa striata and Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca were still common until the first week of April in the eastern highlands.

^top

Noteworthy records from the period November 2007 - April 2008 include the following. A male Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata was seen in the Sakumo / Prampram area, near Accra, on 25 January. Of up to four American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica at the same site since 3 November, one was digiscoped on 24 January and two were last seen on 28 February. Also there were a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos on 28 February and 1 March and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis on 24 January. A Thick- billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti was seen in flight at Atewa on 1 April and heard there the next day. A few Pallid Swifts Apus pallidus were identified at Kakum on 26 March and at Aboabo Camp, near Assin Faso, on 30 March. At the latter locality, a group of eight Rosy Bee-eaters Merops malimbicus was briefly observed on the same day.

Excellent views of a Spot-breasted Ibis Bostrychia rara feeding in swampy forest were obtained at Kalakpa on 19 August 2007. Three American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica were recorded at Sakumo Lagoon near Accra on 3 November. In August, up to four Cuckoo Finches (Parasitic Weavers) Anomalospiza imberbis were found near Pram Pram, east of Accra; also there, a Swamp Nightjar Caprimulgus natalensis was flushed. A Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti was heard in Atewa Range Forest Reserve on 18 December.

In early February 2007, a White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis was claimed near Elmina (apparently only the second for Ghana, if accepted) and several Arctic Skuas Stercorarius parasiticus were observed off Cape Coast. In Atewa Range Forest Reserve, the presence of Nimba Flycatcher Melaenornis annamarulae, which was heard singing briefly on 18 June 2006, was confirmed by excellent views of two individuals in the canopy on 27 May; this remarkable find constitutes a new species for Ghana and the easternmost record to date, extending the known range by c.500 km, the previous easternmost locality being Mopri Forest Reserve in Côte d’Ivoire. Apart from the latter country, this local forest resident was previously known only from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Noteworthy records from August 2006 include a Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus at Kakum on 12th, a Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti also there on two consecutive mornings on 9–10th, a Forest Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucosticta at Atewa on 20th, and an adult and juvenile Emin’s Shrike Lanius gubernator in Mole National Park on 16th.

^top

Records from March 2006 include a pair of African Piculets Sasia africana seen well at Aboabo, near Kakum National Park, on 18th, and a pair of Forest Penduline Tits Anthoscopus flavifrons at Antikwaa, also near Kakum, 20th. An Ortolan Bunting Embriza hortulana was claimed from Mole National Park on 23rd; this would be a new species for Ghana, if accepted.

Two American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica were in rice fields c.50 km east of Accra on 12-13 November 2005. A Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus was at the Panbros Salt Works, outside Accra, on 15 January 2006. At Sakumo Lagoon, a Black Noddy Anous minutus was discovered in a roost of a few thousand terns Sterna spp. and three African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris on 9 July 2005, and was still there on 11th. A Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita was seen in Mole National Park on 16 January 2006 and three Common Waxbills Estrilda astrild were observed in Accra on 9th.

A belated and intriguing report was received of an adult male Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea in non-breeding plumage, seen at Dansoman, Accra, from a distance of 15-20 m, around 1 July 2003.

There have been few reports of pelagic trips starting from the Ghanaian coast so the following information from 24th April 2005 is of great interest. The trip on a fishing boat started from Ada Foah on the Volta river and headed south-west towards the shelf and preferred fishing grounds. Black Tern Chlidonias niger were seen about 4 km from the coast, a possible Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro at 10km and the first Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea at 15 km.

Birds seen in deeper water included more Black Terns Chlidonias niger and Cory's Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea, Common Terns Sterna hirundo, single Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, Brown Noddy Anous stolidus, dark phase Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis, Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus, a pair of Red Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius and small numbers of Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea and Royal Terns S. maxima.

Records from July 2004-May 2005 include the following. On 20 February, Common Shelducks Tadorna tadorna were sighted at Panbros salt works, Densu Delta (one) and Sakumo Lagoon (five); there are apparently only two or three previous records for Ghana, also near Accra. A Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus was seen from the canopy walkway, Kakum National Park, on 11 December. A Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus was at Pram Estuary on 20 July, with a Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus also there that day and on 22 February, and another two at the Densu Delta on 3 April; this species is usually reported as a vagrant, but may well occur annually in small numbers. A Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus at Sakumo Lagoon, on 5 December, constitutes the second for the country; the first was at the same locality on 22 July. Two Thick-billed Cuckoos Pachycoccyx audeberti were seen on Mt Afadjato, Volta Region, on 20 November, with another calling there on 2 May. Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus was recorded at Kakum NP's main entrance gate on 12 November. An Akun Eagle Owl Bubo leucostictus was flushed in secondary forest at Atewa Forest on 17 April; this is a new species for the Atewa Hills Important Bird Area, where a Green-tailed Bristlebill Bleda eximius was also noted on 21 February.

^top

Fourteen weeks of field work, from December 2004 until March 2005, surveying all wildlife reserves and some forest reserves of Ghana, produced numerous new distribution records. African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus, previously unknown from the country, was found breeding on the shores of Lake Volta in Digya NP, where several were mist-netted in January, with many Eurasian Reed Warblers A. scirpaceus. The first Little Rush-Warbler Bradypterus baboecala for Ghana was heard in a Typha marsh on the edge of the lake at Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kumasi (an earlier tape-recording supposedly from Ghana is actually from Cameroon: L. G. Grimes in litt.). African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense, reported for the first time in Ghana, at Kyabobo, in 2004 (Bull. ABC 12: 67) was found in transition woodland or riparian thickets and forest in a further six localities, from Shai Hills near Accra north to Bui and Digya NP. Verreaux's Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus, previously known from just two records in the north, has been found at a further three localities, from the White Volta at Gambaga south to Bui and Digya NP. Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis, almost unknown previously, now appears widespread, from Kakum (outside forest) and Shai Hills northwards. Plain Nightjar C. inornatus, whose status in Ghana is unclear, was well seen by day and heard singing in Bui NP, the first indication that it might breed in the country. Freckled Nightjar C. tristigma, previously known only from the north, including Mole, was found to be common around rocks much further south, including Bui, Kyabobo NP and even Shai Hills, near Accra. Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus, previously known only from the far north, was common in the Acacia woodlands of Bui NP, with fewer in Mole and even Shai Hills in the far south. Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni, previously known only from Mole, has been found at four new localities, north to Gambaga, south to Bui, Kogyae and Digya NP. Other notable range extensions of savanna species include Fox Kestrel Falco alopex (south to Kogyae); Sun Lark Galerida modesta (south to Digya); White-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha albicapillus (from Gbele in the north-west south to Digya and Kogyae); Rufous and Dorst's Cisticolas Cisticola rufus and C. dorsti (from Gbele south to Bui, Rufous also in Digya). The normally rare Yellow Penduline Tit Anthoscopus parvulus was found to be common around flowering Vitellaria paradoxa in Gbele reserve and Gambaga scarp, singing and nest-building in late February to early March.

^top

Many of the forest species have also seen their known range extended: the rare Lagden's Bush Shrike Malaconotus lagdeni was discovered in the hill forests of Kyabobo on the Togo border, the first observation in Ghana since the type was collected, near Kumasi, in the 19th century. Congo Serpent Eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis, very noisy in the dry season, saw its range extended from Bia NP, where it is particularly common, north and east to Kogyae (Afram River), Kalakpa and Kyabobo. Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi was seen and heard at several new localities, including riparian thicket or forest in the far north (Gbele on the Kulpawn River, Konkori scarp in Mole), which might seem an unusual habitat except that it was first tape-recorded in this vegetation type in Chad by C. Chappuis. The Data Deficient Baumann's Greenbul Phyllastrephus baumanni, found commonly in Kyabobo (Bull. ABC 12: 67), was also confirmed from forest clearings and Chromolaena farmbush in Bia and Digya NP and below Atewa Range. Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli, previously under-recorded as confused with the much rarer Rufous-winged Illadopsis I. rufescens, appears to be the most widespread of the genus in Ghana, found all the way from coastal thickets (Cape Three Points and Shai Hills) north to Bui and Kyabobo. Brown Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus was found nest building on 22 March in thickets on the edge of the Black Volta in Bui (08°37'N). Fraser's Eagle Owl Bubo poensis, Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus, Pale-fronted Negrofinch Nigrita luteifrons and many others saw their range extended north to Kyabobo (08°20'–08°25'N).

Interesting new records from Bia NP and adjacent Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve include Akun Eagle Owl Bubo leucostictus, Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus, Tessmann's Flycatcher Muscicapa tessmanni (several in song in open forest), Bioko Batis Batis poensis and Forest Penduline Tit Anthoscopus flavifrons. Bates's Sunbird Cinnyris batesi, previously known from only two sites, was discovered in Bia NP and Atewa Range. A visit to Atewa Range in early February also produced many other new records, including Congo Serpent Eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis, Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis, Brown Nightjar, the near-threatened Brown-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes cylindricus, Lowland Akalat Sheppardia cyornithopsis (a female mist-netted in breeding condition; an earlier specimen from here, erroneously claimed as Equatorial Akalat S. aequatorialis was undoubtedly this species) and Bioko Batis; whilst a Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti (cf. Bull. ABC 10: 59) was in song and well seen. The near-threatened Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata was discovered in Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary, next to the much rarer (in Ghana) Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus. Cape Three Points was a new locality for Spot-breasted Ibis Bostrychia rara and Ansorge's Greenbul Andropadus ansorgei, among others. Of Palearctic species, large numbers of Alpine Swifts Tachymarptis melba were seen over the Kyabobo hills in February, associating with numerous Mottled Swifts T. aequatorialis.

^top

Noteworthy records from March 2004 include Yellow-footed Honeyguide Melignomon eisentrauti seen on four occasions at various sites in Kakum National Park on 12–15th, and Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, found at Tono Dam on 20th. In July, the first Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus for Ghana, a female in almost full breeding condition, was found at the Sakumo Lagoon near Accra on 22nd.

A visit to the proposed Kyabobo National Park on the Togo border in July 2004 produced many interesting records, amongst which over 50 (near-)endemic Guineo-Congolian forest species, which at 08°20–08°30'N all represent northward range extensions. These included White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis  leucolopha, Cassin's Hawk Eagle Spizaetus africanus, Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis (adult feeding a fledgling), Sharpe's Apalis Apalis sharpii, White-browed Forest-Flycatcher Fraseria cinerascens, Shrike-Flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus and Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli. The Data Deficient Baumann's Greenbul Phyllastrephus baumanni was found commonly in large forest clearings and especially in farmbush; it appeared remarkably tolerant of the invasive exotic Chromolaena odorata and one singing male was even in a field of maize. Also of interest were Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti (one in song near Koue; only the 4th locality for Ghana), several African Barred Owlets Glaucidium capense heard in forest in several locations (a new species for Ghana, but to be expected), and Black-shouldered Nightjars Caprimulgus nigriscapularis (the first record of this species away from the coast and the first tape-recorded proof for Ghana).

A month long visit to Mole National Park in August–September 2004 also produced a new species for the country – Horus Swift Apus horus, a considerable extension westwards – and yet another record of Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis. Other species of interest included Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius (common, and yet these are the first records north of the forest zone), Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti (5th locality), Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus (local; northward extension), Narina's Trogon Apaloderma narina (five localities; the first records north of the forest zone), Black-faced Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis (small southward extension). Of nine Cisticola species, Rufous Cisticola C. rufus was common throughout dry woodland, whereas Dorst's Cisticola C. dorsti was locally common in open, short woodland especially in water-logged areas. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida was confirmed as quite common in all riparian forest and thicket (contra Grimes 1987, Birds of Ghana). Forbes's Plovers Charadrius forbesi and Sun Larks Galerida modesta were common on laterite bowals; the latter had previously been confused with Crested Lark G. cristata (which thus does not occur in Ghana). Black-headed Weavers Ploceus melanocephalus were found at three localities; there is only one previous record, and this remains the only known site in Ghana. Small groups of displaying Barka Indigobirds Vidua larvaticola imitating Black-faced Firefinch Lagonosticta larvata were found in three places; Wilson's Indigobirds V. wilsoni were associating with Bar-breasted Firefinches L. rufopicta at Mognori, and a group of displaying Cameroon Indigobirds V. camerunensis imitating Black-bellied Firefinch L. rara were found near Kananto. Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah Vidua interjecta and its host Red-winged Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera were quite widespread whereas only one Togo Paradise-Whydah V. togoensis and one Yellow-winged Pytilia P. hypogrammica, its host, were recorded.

A Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo was at Tono Dam on 3 March. In Mole National Park, a Black Stork Ciconia nigra and an adult Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis with two juveniles were seen on 27 February. A melanistic Ovambo Sparrowhawk Accipiter ovampensis, also there on 16 March, is one of very few records from Ghana. Single Red-necked Falcons Falco chicquera were seen at Tono Dam on 2 March and in Mole National Park on 16 March. At Tono Dam, rare inland records were obtained of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (one in breeding plumage on 17 March) and Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica (one during the period 2 to 17 March). Four African Mourning Doves Streptopelia decipiens were seen in riparian woodland near Tono Dam on 3 March; there are few records of this species in Ghana. Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis was heard and seen at Aboabo, Kakum National Park on 12 March, at the same location as in May 2002. Brown Nightjar Caprimulgus binotatus was not uncommon at several sites in Kakum National Park, being vocal and tape-responsive in February and March; it was also heard at Bobiri Nature Reserve on 25 February. A Black-shouldered Nightjar C. nigriscapularis was seen at Brimsu Reservoir, near Cape Coast, on 9 March. Flocks of Bates’s Swifts Apus batesi were seen over several locations in Kakum National Park in February and March. A Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita was seen well at Tono Dam on 18 March. Puvel’s Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli was recorded on 26 February at Baobeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, a considerable distance from the other known site at Abokobi. Speckle-fronted Weavers Sporopipes frontalis were not uncommon in the vicinity of Tono Dam during February and March; it now seems to be resident in the far north.

Last page update 10th March 2010

^top