1-2 July 2019: Birding Ghana

It turned into a mad rush to get to Ghana, which is an essential destination on an African Birding Big Year. At very short notice Joe and Meryl-Lynne Harwood of Escape to the Wild compiled an excellent budget tour utilising local bird guides. Klaus Rust, a birding pal, was persuaded, at the last moment, to join this adventure. Ghana visas were organised within 72 hours, and we flew with Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa to Accra in Ghana, a total of 14 hours. It remains an enigma to fly further and longer on the cheapest flight tickets.

Gabar Goshawk, Sekumono Lagoon

Western Grey Plantain-eater, Sekumono Lagoon

Our birding guide, Ziblim Illias, and driver Justice, picked us up at the airport and we were soon accommodated at the Erata Hotel in Accra. Later the afternoon we birded the Sekumono Lagoon and soon started to rake in the West African specials. Western Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow-billed Shrike, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Gabar Goshawk and Western Reef Egret were found in the grasslands. The raucous calls of a group of Senegal Parrots entertained us, while Spur-winged Lapwings, Double-spurred Francolins and Senegal Thick-knees were easily seen. Back at the hotel we sampled Ghana’s best hops to celebrate our first day of West African birding.

Senegal Thick-knee, Sekumono Lagoon

Senegal Parrot, Sekumono Lagoon