Fenland imagery

Phragmites reed heads lit up in the winter sun on Farcet Fen


A typical telegraph pole in the fens!


Like many country areas, farmers and many fenfolk burn their rubbish in the fields


A flock of Feral Pigeons - a scarcity out on the fen


Three of the five brick chimneys at King's Dyke as seen from Farcet Fen. This area was once home to dozens of smoking brick chimeys.


The old pumphouse on Glassmoor Bank, Pondersbridge


Grey Heron along Glassmoor Bank


A quiet mere at Woodwalton Fen


One of the few meandering dykes at Woodwalton Fen


Dyke at Woodwalton Fen

Images | Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 | © Steve Dudley

They'rrrrre heeeeere

The Great Fen Wind Farm Project has started! These are two of the eight new wind turbines recently installed on Glass Moor between Pondersbridge and Ramsey Mereside in the the Fens. Where's the rest?

Here is a copy of the article I was asked to write for no. 379 of the Cambs Bird Club Bulletin.

Birder’s Eye View

Too much wind and not enough substance.

I’ve been invited to ‘expand’ on comments I made on Cambirds when local birders were discussing the massive topic of renewable energy and its contribution to combating global climate change. Wow! How much time have we got?!

In April, Rowena Langston (RSPB) and myself organised the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) annual conference entitled ‘Wind, Fire and Water: Renewable Energy and Birds’. Why did we focus on renewables? Why did we not open the conference to all alternative energy generation? Global climate changes is a huge subject, and when you only have a weekend to debate a topic, its easier to remain focused and deal with bite-sized chunks! The BOU had already held a conference on a climate change related issue in 2002, and its effect on coastal environs and their birds. So this time around we again kept it to a single issue within the wider climate change debate.

This article is a personal view, as a birder, conservationist and energy consumer and does not represent the views of my employer, the BOU, or the Cambridgeshire Bird Club.

Renewable energy is the term used to describe energy that is generated from resources such as wind, water (tidal and wave action), biomass material (the processing of material grown specifically for energy generation or the processing of waste material from some crop production). The majority of proposed renewable energy generation will come from harnessing wind using the installation of wind turbines (wind farms), with the rest coming from smaller-scale energy generation technology such as water energy generation (increased hydro development (freshwater) and the offshore development of wave and tide technology) and bioenergy (the growing and cropping of crops such as oilseed crops for the production of liquid fuels for transport needs, or utilising wood (including coppice material) and straw for the generation of electricity and heat/or heat). Wind power is the only technology sufficiently progressed to make any real contribution to the UK’s overall energy generation by the government target date of 2010 with bioenergy likely to be the second largest contributor (for more information on wind energy see the recent article on ‘birds and wind farms’ in British Birds (98: 194-204) and for a review of the recent BOU conference see the forthcoming article in British Birds (July issue))

Can an island nation with a wealth of wind and water (both inland and coastal) not harness nature in order to have a sustainable energy generation? The debate rages as to exactly what impact renewable energy generation can make to combat global climate change. Some say renewable energy is the future whilst others argue that the technology isn’t efficient and cannot meet our needs. If we look at our current energy consumption, it can be broken down as transport (33%), heat (365) and electricity consumption (31%). Our declining stocks of fossil fuel is responsible for nearly all transport and heat use (although a small percentage of heat is generated by electricity), so renewable energy generation can only contribute to about 40% (all electricity plus some heat) of the UK’s total energy consumption. By 2010 (the government’s target date) the aim is to have 10% of our total energy needs generated by renewable energy sources (= wind 7%, biomass 2%, landfill 1%, water (inc hydro) 0%). This compares to gas 41%, caol 26%, nuclear 19%, oil 1% and others 3%.

The UK’s renewable energy programme is unlikely to generate enough energy to make an impact globally, at least not when countries such as the US (the highest energy consuming nation on the planet) and others continue to contribute virtually nothing to the battle against climate change. So what will?

Costs aside, the only viable option in terms of efficient energy generation appears to be nuclear (projected to be 19% of UK energy generation by 2010). Nuclear however brings with it a mass of politically fuelled debates, even more than renewable energy generation! The cost of nuclear power is astronomical even compared to the billions which will be invested in renewable energy. Although the actual energy production is ‘green’ the waste from nuclear energy definitely isn’t. It is the safe disposal of nuclear waste which has seen the gradual run down of the British nuclear industry. Nuclear represents a long-term and significant contribution to combating climate change, but brings with it the huge long-term problem of safe waste disposal which may just end up being just as big a problem for the planet in the future as climate change is today. Another major political issue with nuclear is the proliferation of nuclear technology which has the potential of being used by some nations for the development of nuclear armaments. In a climate of non-proliferation of such technologies, and the western world’s fear of terrorist attack, this is possibly the biggest political problem to overcome for any administration attempting to establish a nuclear energy generation programme.

But aren’t we missing the point? Climate change is not caused by energy production but energy consumption. Typical of a western, capitalist, economy, we address problems by tackling the visible effects and not the cause of the problem. The problem is quite simple – we consume too much energy that produces too many emissions, which in turn contribute to global climate change. Greener and cleaner energy generation of whatever source will never combat climate change alone. At present we consume virtually all the energy we generate. Globally, the world holds very little in reserve, and locally it is practically non-existent.

And what of the huge number of new homes that are being built up and down the land? How energy efficient are they? Do they have solar power? Rain misers? They might be more energy efficient as an equivalent sized older home, but on average, each newly built home is only 50% as energy efficient as it could be (based solely on consumption and not on the energy it actually takes to build them – think of all that concrete!).

No, we are largely responsible for climate change. Not the energy generators. Not the politicians. Not America (although they are the biggest contributors to emissions responsible for the acceleration of climate change). The way we live our lives, and the energy we consume through our homes (central heating, lighting, cooking, electric goods, etc), our lifestyles (nearly everything we purchase requires energy to create it or package it), the disposal of our waste, and significantly, the way we move around – planes, trains and automobiles! Like it or not, even the greenest of us using energy saving light bulbs, recycling all we can and using solar power as part of our home’s energy supply, still consume vast amounts of energy elsewhere in our western lifestyle. It is estimated that we could halve our domestic energy consumption simply be being more energy efficient! But we choose not to.

It is also our western lifestyle that creates the NIMBY – not in my back yard – syndrome. It seems many people are willing to undertake some improvements in energy efficiency to their home and some to their lifestyles – taking public transport, commuting by pushbike, holidaying at home or at European destination without the need of a plane. But when it comes to the positioning of wind farms, well, say no more. Not near me please.

Well not me. I live on the open arable fen, and when asked if I would oppose wind farms being built in the fens, my response was immediate – bring them on! The fens are one of the windiest areas of lowland Britain, and whilst I remain unconvinced by the exact contribution renewable energy sources will deliver to our nation’s energy needs, I am still in favour of wind farms being built in wind-rich areas such as the fens.


Glass Moor wind farm - eight turbines so far and I'm looking forward to many more.

Sod the view! If we leave it to the NIMBY’s we won’t have a view in the long-term anyway, as the planet slowly chokes and dies (but not in our lifetime eh). No, rack ’em up! I see wind farms as not only a way of generating renewable energy, but also a means of conservation. Imagine replacing the current arable fen with a partly restored natural fenland landscaped looked over and guarded by wind turbines with limited human access because of the health and safety implications of an active wind farm area. Avoid the migration routes and major wintering wildfowl areas of the Ouse and Nene riverways, but replacing sugar beet, carrots and onions with reeds, meres and grassland really does appeal. Yes, wind turbines kill birds, agriculture has been a major cause of bird declines around the globe, and most of the arable fen doesn’t have many birds left thanks to agricultural intensification and with it the continued poisoning of wildlife that would otherwise flourish in these areas. Habitat restoration would surely increase bird populations to such levels that the loss caused by strikes with rotating wind turbine blades would still give us a significant net increase in bird populations. Not to mention the wider wildlife benefit, because lets face it, few plants, mammals and insects will ever be threatened by blades rotating relatively high above the ground. Studies already show that even along major coastal migration routes where wind farms have been positioned, birds are capable of taking evasive action and migrating around a farm. Migration during bad weather through these farms will certainly lead to increased mortality, but whilst the fens does have migration corridors (Ouse and Nene), large scale migration simply does not happen across the major land-mass of the arable fen, so the effect on migrating birds would be minimal, and the benefit to resident birds and wildlife populations is huge (as I suspect it would be for many migrant bird species too).

In order to think globally we need to act locally. Charity begins at home. Well, conservation of the planet does as well. As consumers we need to act now. We need to change our energy-gorging lifestyles (fewer twitches!) and object to the NIMBY revolution that is sweeping the land. If you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to cycle round my local patch and protest at the lack of wind farms viewable from my house. And at least I can see one wind turbine (the start of the great fen wind farm?) from my garden – can you?

Climate change is a natural planetary event. The earth experiences cooling and warming on a cyclic basis over many millennia. The industrialisation of our planet, in particular the last 100 years, is now accelerating this natural process. Whether we can, or should, do anything about this is up to us as individuals. Can we be bothered? And does it matter? It’s really up to you.

Images | Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 | © Steve Dudley

What the 'eck!

I rarely find any bird truly ugly, but I do place many of the forms that bird 'fanciers' produce in this camp. And here is a classic example? What is going on here?

The origins of this odd-looking creature is the Canary, but with tinkering breeders produce many varients, usually crossing Canaries with closely related finches (e.g. Goldfinch). This type of bird I believe is called a 'roller'. I know not why?

Like in pigeon breeding, many birds end up sporting odd 'tufts' and very often patches of white about the plumage, and this bird shows white in the wing, a white rump, vent and tail sides.

Aren't birds beautiful enough without having to make little Frankenstein types out of them?

Image | Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 | © Steve Dudley

Iceland Dove V

The Collared Dove on the right is the fifth different schizochroic individual I have seen in the garden in three years. Schizochroism is pigment abnormaility which is usally found in female. It is regressive, with each successive generation appearing more normal. My original Iceland Dove (Bjork) was near white with black collar and normal bare part and eye colour. I watched as three succcesive gerations appeared with te fourth bird only being told apart form the other doves when it was actually alongside them. This fifth bird looks like the second bird I had here (darker than Bjork) so I guess I may have missed a bird (this birds mother).

See one of my previous birds here

Another example can be seen on the Natural Stone's site

Image | Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 | © Steve Dudley

Hop-along the Starling

I first noticed Hop-along (left leg is deformed) just before Christmas. He looked pretty weak then, but he's been a resident ever since, stuffing himself on gourmet mess-free seed mix, fat balls and peanuts, and he is now looking in tip-top condition, is alert and seems pretty much A1. At least he's fit enough to evade both the local cats and the daily raids from Mr and Mrs Spadgerbasher.

Image | Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 | © Steve Dudley

Pheasant central

It used to be Collared Doves (max garden count 78) but now its Pheasants running the garden bird show. I found 42 Pheasants feeding in the front gardens when I got up this morning. Too gloomy to snap first thing, even with my new image stabilised camera, so I missed the peak period. By 8.30 most had moved out on to the fen leaving these 13 (and another 8 out of shot)snapped through my office window.

Image | Panasonic Lumix FZ-30 | © Steve Dudley

Birding The Gambia

18 - 24 November
Spot the new pics! Not all are towards the end. And still more to come, so keep dropping by!


Grey-headed Kingfisher, Kisi Bolon. The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 © Jim Swalwell.

A photo diary of our two week stay in The Gambia using Hidden Gambia.

Steve Dudley, Liz Holder and Jim Swalwell with guides Sering Bojang (raysweety_bird@hotmail.com)(19 & 22 Nov) and Kebba Sosseh (ksosseh@yahoo.com) (23 Nov - 2 Dec).

Itinerary and full species list.

I regularly lead wildlife holidays to The Gambia (and elsewhere) for Speyside Wildlife.


Pool at Darwin Centre, Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (2)


Bushbok. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


Hamerkop. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


African Jacana. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


Nile Crocodile and Watteld Plover. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


Nile Crocodile . Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


White-backed Night-Heron. Abuko, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05
© Jim Swalwell


Hibiscus flower sp. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (2)


Callithrix. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (2)


Hooded Vulture. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (2)


Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. Abuko NR, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


Savanah woodland. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (2)


African Hobby. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


African Hobby. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


Klaas's Cuckoo. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 19 Nov 05 (1)


African Harrier Hawk. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Black-billed Wood-Dove. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Woodland Kingfisher. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Little Bee-eater. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Broad-billed Roller. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Grey Woodpecker. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Yellow-billed Shrike. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Red-billed Hornbill. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Bearded Barbet. Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Deiderick Cuckoo (female). Brufut Woods, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (1)


Botanical Gardens, Bakau, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05 (2)


Bakau/Fajara fish market, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Bakau/Fajara fish market, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05. (2).


Bakau/Fajara fish market, The Gambia. 20 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Primary forest, Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (2)


Blue-breasted kingfisher. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Black Crakes. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Striated Heron. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Dragonfly sp. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Red Colobus. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


SPD birding Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Primary forest, Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (2)


Violet Turaco. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Dragonfly sp. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Black-headed Heron. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Giant Kingfisher. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Giant Kingfisher. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Black-crowned Night-Heron (imm). Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05


Pied Hornbill. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Verreaux's Eagle Owl on nest. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Dragonfly sp. Abuko, The Gambia. 21 Nov 05 (1)


Savanah woodland, Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


African Green Pigeon. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (1)


Blue-bellied Roller. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (1)


SPD in Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


White-crested Helmet-Shrike. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (1)


Savanah woodland, Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Elephant grass and rice field. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Dusty track, Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Dragonfly sp. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Women harvesting rice field. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Women cooking. Marakissa, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Liz taking the strain. Marakissa River Camp, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Pearl-spotted Owlet. Tanjureng, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (1)


Butterfly sp. Tanjureng, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Caspian, Royal, Lesser-crested and Sandwich Terns. Tanji beach The Gambia. 22 Nov 05(1)


Royal Tern. Tanji beachThe Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (1)


Fiddler Crab. Tanji beachThe Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (1)


Jim, Pineapple and broken down 4x4 atthe police check-point, Brufut, The Gambia. 22 Nov 05 (2)


Pools at Pirang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Pied Kingfisher. Pirang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (1)


Wire-tailed Swallows. Pirang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (1)


On the road between Pirang and Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Along the road between Pirang and Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Along the road between Pirang and Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Along the road between Pirang and Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Along the road between Pirang and Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Boarding the Safari Queen II. Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


The old Safari Queen. Bintang, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Kebba on the phone in the middle of the River Gambia between Bintang and Tendaba, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Fishing pirogue on River Gambia between Bintang and Tendaba, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


SPD birding along the River Gambia, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Approaching Tendaba Camp, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Five star accommodation at Tendaba Camp, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Creek crawl along Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Creek crawl along Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


White-throated Bee-eater. Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


Pink-backed Pelican. Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (c) Jim Swalwell.


African Darter. Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


Grey-headed Kingfisher, 23 Nov 05 Kisi Bolon. The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 © Jim Swalwell.


Meadows up Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05 (2)


Woolly-necked Stork. Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


Spur-winged Goose. Kisi Bolon, The Gambia. 23 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


Hello John, got a new motor? Our outboard falls off teh back of the boat when we are jsut about as far away from camp, on the oppistie side of the River Gambia up the top of Kisi Bolon. What could possibly go wrong now? Oh - it got dark and mozzies the size of elephants ate us! The Gambia. 23 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Dawn at the Tendaba quay, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Safari Queen II moored at Tendaba, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


African Fishing Eagle following the Safari Queen, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


Farafenni ferry, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Trucks queing for Farafenni ferry, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Farafenni, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


On the road between Farafenni and Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


European Griffon Vulture between Farafenni and Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


New tarmac road between Farafenni and Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Chameleon on road between Farafenni and Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Exclamatory Paradise Wydah between Farafenni and Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell.


Egyptian Plover and Senegal Thick-knees. Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark. Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


Spur-winged Plover. Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


Egyptian Plover. Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


Kittlitz's Plover and Senegal Thick-knees. Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


Collared Pratincole. Kau-ur Wetlands, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


Northern Anteater Chat. Between Kau-ur Wetlands and Kuntuar, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (1)


On road between Kau-ur Wetlands and Kuntuar, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Getting just a little dusty on the road between Kau-ur Wetlands and Kuntuar, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Street through Kuntuar, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


On board the Lady Hippo with lunch about to be served, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


View from the Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Relaxed birding from the Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


View from the Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Young Ruppell's Griffon Vulture on nest from Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell


Weaver nests along the River Gambia, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Bush fire in the distance, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Bush fire not too far away, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Marabou from Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell


Marabou from Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell


Marabous from Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell


One hell of a bush fire, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Hippos (mallow-mallow) from Lady Hippo, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05. © Jim Swalwell


Relaxing on the Lady Hippo - just look at the state of those legs! (2)


River Gambia separates around the eastern end of McCarthy Island, The Gambia. 24 Nov 05 (2)


Our bush tent at Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Our ensuite facilities. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Our riverside view from the tent. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Kebba working to the max! Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. © Liz Holder.


Palm-nut Vulture. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (1)


Tent-cleaners on the outside. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


. . . and on the inside. Just who are you? Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


That's who you are. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Village Widowbird. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Guinea-fowl Butterfly. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (1)


One of the bush tracks at Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Liz appearing through the elephant grass lined bush track. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Long-tailed Glossy Starling. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Red-necked Falcon. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Butterfly sp. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Baobab tree. The juice from the fruit is to die for! Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)


Our ensuite facilities. Bird Safari Camp, The Gambia. 25 Nov 05. (2)

Still more to come!

Itinerary and full species list.

Images © Steve Dudley unless otherwise stated
(1) Leica APO Televid 77 20xWA Nikon Coolpix 995
(2) Nikon Coolpix 995