Adamawa Turtle Dove.
24th January 2024
After motoring up the River Gambia for about a mile, watching Ospreys soaring high overhead and contrastingly lower down, a foot above the water, flying fish skipping along accompanying our boat, we finally disembarked on to a rickety old wooden jetty where we met the guide who works the forest we were entering.
From there we proceeded to walk through a dense forest of old hardwood trees with an understorey consisting of very overgrown bush. Huge vines draped down from the tree tops and exotic looking fruits hung from the foliage above the small track that led us deeper into the forest. Lines of huge ants that must have been an inch long marched across our path and we were careful to step over them very quickly, because if they crawl up your leg then you are in trouble, as they possess a very potent bite.
We had seen and heard various birds as we walked along but as we entered a small clearing Mas pointed and whispered very excitedly, ‘There – There, above us, Adamawa Turtle dove’!!! This was our quarry, although we didn’t know it until then - typical Mas he likes surprises. These birds are incredibly rare and most difficult to see, they only exist in a very narrow band in East Gambia and South East Senegal. Mas was desparate to get a photo and he pleaded ‘Don’t miss it Steve’ – no pressure then!!
This nervous bird only stayed for around twenty seconds before flying off, but after examining the screen on the back of my camera I could see I had it - phew relief.
After showing the image to him and the forestry guide, mobile phones were produced and images were happily photographed from the camera screen.
Mas was elated, because it was a big thing for him to find this bird, because it shows well on his Palmares for future bird guiding, not many people get images of these elusive birds.
I was pleased to help!
From there we proceeded to walk through a dense forest of old hardwood trees with an understorey consisting of very overgrown bush. Huge vines draped down from the tree tops and exotic looking fruits hung from the foliage above the small track that led us deeper into the forest. Lines of huge ants that must have been an inch long marched across our path and we were careful to step over them very quickly, because if they crawl up your leg then you are in trouble, as they possess a very potent bite.
We had seen and heard various birds as we walked along but as we entered a small clearing Mas pointed and whispered very excitedly, ‘There – There, above us, Adamawa Turtle dove’!!! This was our quarry, although we didn’t know it until then - typical Mas he likes surprises. These birds are incredibly rare and most difficult to see, they only exist in a very narrow band in East Gambia and South East Senegal. Mas was desparate to get a photo and he pleaded ‘Don’t miss it Steve’ – no pressure then!!
This nervous bird only stayed for around twenty seconds before flying off, but after examining the screen on the back of my camera I could see I had it - phew relief.
After showing the image to him and the forestry guide, mobile phones were produced and images were happily photographed from the camera screen.
Mas was elated, because it was a big thing for him to find this bird, because it shows well on his Palmares for future bird guiding, not many people get images of these elusive birds.
I was pleased to help!