Hotspots
The following information was taken from a trip made by Andrew Hester and Craig Pearman in December 2005.
Western Peninsula in Freetown has quality forest and vast coconut lined beaches. Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul Andropadus curvirostris, Fire-crested Alethe Alethe diademata and Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris can all be seen. There is an extensive estuary to the north of Freetown where large numbers of waders can be found.
Kenema, not too far from the Liberian border, is near a well known White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus breeding colony in the Kambui Hills. Reaching the colony requires an hour's walk through a mixture of farm bush and mature forest. Potential species of interest en route include Long-tailed Hawk Urotriorchis macrourus, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques, Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata, Buff-throated Chalcomitra adelberti and Johanna’s Sunbird Cinnyris johannae. Eight White-necked Picathartes were seen during a recent visit to the site.
The town of Zimi is near the Gola East and West Forests. Special birds in the former forest are Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata, Blue-headed Wood Dove Turtur brehmeri, Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis, Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta, Golden Greenbul Calyptocichla serina and Sharpe’s Apalis Apalis sharpii. The flooded wetland to the south of the forest supports a good variety of birds including Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus, Chattering Cisticola Cisticola anonymus (Upper Guinea population), Sooty Boubou Laniarius leucorhynchus and Crimson Seedcracker Pyrenestes sanguineus.
Sierra Leone Gola West
Photo: Andrew Hester
Special birds in Gola West are White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques, Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis, Sabine’s Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini, Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus, Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa, Blue Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina azurea, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul Andropadus curvirostris, Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus, Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus, Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax, Usshers’ Flycatcher Muscicapa ussheri, Rufous-winged Illadopsis Illadopsis rufescens and Coppery-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis cupreocauda.
The forest surrounding the village of Belebu is still in relatively good condition and from here, one can walk into Gola North. Special birds are Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Tockus camurus, Wilcocks’s Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi, Western Bearded Greenbul Criniger barbatus, Ansorge's Greenbul Andropadus ansorgei and Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli.
Tingi Mountains Hills has limited vehicular access and means that a walk of some 10 km to their base is required. The walk starts over a locally made suspension bridge across one of Sierra Leone’s fast flowing rivers where Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys, Cassin’s Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini and Brown Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus can be seen, while Emerald Starling Lamprotornis iris, Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus and Dybowski's Twinspot Euschistospiza dybowskii have been seen in the rice fields and acacia scrub. European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea, Vieillot's Barbet Lybius vieilloti, Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans, European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia blissetti and Fiery-breasted Bush-Shrike Malacanotus cruentus have all been seen in the somewhat drier open landscape with forested patches. Possible species in the mountain rivers and forested ravines are Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis, Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura, Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara and Forest Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus.
For those wishing to see White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus, see THOMPSON, H.S. and FOTSO, R. (1995) and WOOD, P. (1995).
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