GABON TOUR REPORT 2025

21 September - 10 October 2025

Mark Van Beirs

The forests of Gabon hold a tantalizing variety of mouth-watering birds and on our recent tour we managed to observe an excellent selection of some of the most highly sought species of the African continent. Birding the African rainforests is usually hard work, but eventually the prizes will show themselves. The Bird of the Tour was the little known, but much-wanted White-crested Tiger Heron, which showed ever so well in the middle of a forest-lined river near the coast. Our time spent at a colony of truly enigmatic African River Martins was definitely one of the highlights of the trip, as we were able to admire these magnificent birds display and interact at close range in the Loango National Park. Nearby we did the same at a colony of unique Rosy Bee-eaters, which offered unbeatable views at a recently established colony in the open grasslands. Our extended encounter with a party of 24 Plumed Guineafowl in the forest at Ipassa was truly out of this world. The unobtrusive, highly-sought Black-headed Bee-eater was seen at a couple of venues and was for several participants the final member of the Bee-eater family. We had memorable meetings with owls as Pel’s Fishing Owl, Vermiculated Fishing Owl and Fraser’s Eagle-Owl all showed brilliantly at close range. We came across several families of African Forest Elephants, admired a sky full of African Straw-coloured Fruit Bats, saw a totally unexpected female Mandrill and surprised a rare West African Manatee in a Loango canal. Other quality birds seen included Hartlaub’s Duck, Black Guineafowl, Great Blue, Yellow-billed and Guinea Turacos, White-bellied Bustard, Gabon Coucal, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Afep Pigeon, Blue-headed Wood Dove, African Finfoot, Forbes’s Plover, White-crowned Lapwing, Common Buttonquail, Temminck’s Courser, Rock and Grey Pratincoles, African Skimmer, West African Crested Tern, White-backed Night Heron, Brown and Bates’s Nightjars, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetails, Bates’s Swift, Ayres’s and Cassin’s Hawk-Eagles, Bat Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Red-billed Dwarf, Eastern Long-tailed, Western Dwarf, Black Casqued and White-thighed Hornbills, Blue-throated Roller, Black Bee-eater, Shining-blue, Chocolate-backed and Blue-breasted Kingfishers, Black-backed Barbet, Spotted Honeyguide, Red-throated Wryneck, Grey Parrot (marvelously common), Rufous-sided Broadbill, Blue Cuckooshrike, Fiery-breasted, Gorgeous and Luhder’s Bushshrikes, Swamp Boubou, Chestnut and Yellow-bellied Wattle-eyes, Red-bellied, Rufous-vented and Bates’s Paradise Flycatchers, Forest Penduline Tit, White-winged Black and Dusky Tits, Plains Lark, Gosling’s Apalis, Dambo and Teke Cisticolas, Dja River Scrub Warbler, White-bibbed Swallow, Black-collared Bulbul, Yellow-lored Bristlebill, lots of Greenbuls, Congo Moor Chat, Violet-tailed, Reichenbach’s, Fraser’s, Carmelite, Johanna’s and Bates’s Sunbirds, Black-chinned, Loango, Yellow-mantled and Maxwell’s Black Weavers, Cassin’s, Red-bellied and Blue-billed Malimbes, Western Bluebill and Long-legged and Short-tailed Pipits. Other interesting mammals were African Palm Civet, Cape (Forest) Buffalo, Sitatunga, Hammer-headed Fruit Bat, Red-capped and Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Northern Talapoin Monkey and Beecroft’s and Lord Derby’s Anomalures.

The group gathered in the evening at a hotel near the airport of the bustling capital Libreville. There had been cyberattacks on the airport software of several international airports in western Europe, which caused some hassle for several participants, resulting in delayed flights and late luggage. The tour started in earnest the following morning with a flight from Libreville to the town of Franceville, situated in the extreme southeast of Gabon. The flight went smoothly, but sadly half the group didn’t get their luggage and it took several days before we were all reconnected with our bags. Upon arrival we were welcomed by Pierre’s efficient crew and we transferred to Franceville for lunch. After a really scrumptious meal we drove east to the village of Leconi. A stop on the way gave us our first taste of birds of the plateau area. An African Cuckoo allowed good flight views, a couple of smart Black Bee-eaters could be scoped, a pair of African Pygmy Kingfishers showed off and Woodland Kingfisher, Grey-throated and Bristle-nosed Barbets, Blue Cuckooshrike, African Shrike-Flycatcher, Black-winged Oriole, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Plain Greenbul, Pale Flycatcher, Western Violet-backed and Superb Sunbirds and a pair of Cassin’s Malimbes were noted.

On our first full day in the upland area of southeastern Gabon we explored several habitats. The isolated forest patches held Congo Pied Hornbill, a pair of much wanted Black-headed Bee-eaters, Grey Parrot, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Black Saw-wing and Olive-bellied Sunbird. The open miombo-like woodland produced a couple of Coqui Francolins, Senegal Coucal, Diederik and Black Cuckoos, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, African Green Pigeon, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Red-necked Buzzard, Common (African) Hoopoe, White-fronted, Blue-breasted and Little Bee-eaters, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, a cracking Black-backed Barbet, a pair of showy Red-throated Wrynecks, frustrating Fiery-breasted and Gorgeous Bushshrikes, Angola Batis, White-winged Black Tit, Red-throated Cliff Swallow, Black-collared Bulbul, Violet-backed Starling, White-browed Scrub Robin, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Sooty and much-wanted Congo Moor Chats, Amethyst Sunbird, Black-chinned Weaver and Yellow-fronted Canary. The totally open grasslands held White-bellied Bustards, Swamp Nightjar, Flappet and Plains Larks, Dambo and Pectoral Patch Cisticolas, Banded Martin, Marsh Widowbird, Yellow-throated Longclaw and Plain-backed Pipit. We did several concerted in line walks on which we flushed a total of five Common Buttonquails (even managed to scope one). A totally unexpected and very rare immature Great Spotted Cuckoo sat up in an isolated tree. At dusk, while enjoying a pre dinner beer, a Bat Hawk flew leisurely past and after dinner a Western Barn Owl was seen in the village by some of us. It had been a terrific birdy day.

On our second day in the plateau area we visited the famous Red Canyon. Several stops on the way allowed views of goodies like Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Osprey, African Fish Eagle, African Harrier-Hawk, Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher and Short-tailed Pipit. At the viewpoint over the Red Canyon we scoped a Klaas’s Cuckoo and observed a flock of migrating European Bee-eaters overhead. After a break in the heat of the day we went in search of the famous, as yet undescribed and very localized ‘Teke’ Cisticola, which performed nicely. A pair of Quailfinches were flushed while searching for this quarry. In late afternoon we walked along a stretch of scrubby bushes where Red-necked Spurfowl, Broad-billed Roller, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Black-crowned Tchagra, Croaking Cisticola and Black-throated Canary were seen. We stayed on till dusk and obtained good looks at Long-tailed and Square-tailed Nightjars. Fiery-necked Nightjar was singing away, but only gave us flight views.

Another morning in the grasslands dotted with isolated bushes produced final great looks at goodies like Black-collared Bulbul, Plains Lark and Congo Moor Chat. After breakfast we packed up, checked out and drove to Franceville. A short stop at a river gave us a Rock Pratincole, lots of Red-throated Cliff Swallows and a couple of really beautiful White-bibbed Swallows. We enjoyed an excellent pizza lunch, while our crew picked up some of the still missing luggage (but not all of it, sadly). Later we drove north into the forest zone. It turned out to be an uneventful journey through well preserved rainforest without any hiccups. In the early evening we arrived at the Idjanga camp, where we were warmly welcomed. An evening walk produced good looks at two African Palm Civets and a couple of Demidoff’s Dwarf Galagos.

Our full day in the special conservation zone of Idjanga added a good number of lowland rainforest species to the tally. We walked to one of the open areas (‘baïs’) within primary forest, where Western Lowland Gorillas are sometimes feeding. On our walks along the wide, old and unused logging tracks we picked up specialities like Afep Pigeon, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Red-billed Dwarf, Black-casqued and Piping Hornbills, Blue-throated Roller, Square-tailed Saw-wing, Purple-headed Starling, Sooty Flycatcher and Maxwell’s Black Weaver. More widespread species included Great Blue Turaco, Cassin’s Spinetail, Common Swift, Yellow-spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbets, Chattering Cisticola and Golden and Spotted Greenbuls. We also found Putty-nosed Monkey, Red-legged Sun Squirrel and lots of droppings and spoor of African Forest Elephant and Wild (Forest) Buffalo. We even saw the impressive knuckle imprints of Western Lowland Gorilla. In the heat of the day our local experts showed us some of the footage registered by remote cameras in this conservation area and it was truly impressive. At dusk we managed to get scope views of a perched, rare Bates’s Nightjar.

Next morning, a couple of hours birding in a nice stretch of primary forest yielded Scaly Spurfowl, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, White-thighed Hornbill, Sabine’s Puffback, Dusky Tit and Red-headed Malimbe. Some lucky souls observed a couple of Brown-chested Alethes. After breakfast we boarded our 4×4 vehicles for the long journey to Makokou. The track took us through miles and miles of excellent looking forest, but we didn’t have time to savour it. We drove for most of the day through great forest and arrived in the town of Makokou at dusk.

A bit of birding in the farmbush around the hotel at Makokou produced a Long-crested Eagle, a cracking Lühder’s Bushshrike and Splendid Starlings. A teeming colony of Vieillot’s Black Weavers was enlivening the small garden of the hotel. We then made our way to the famous Ipassa Reserve, where, after meeting with the supervisor of the National Park, we explored the famous clearing, where the research station is situated. It was really birdy and the place was pleasantly alive with Grey Parrots screeching about. Specialities included an unusually showy Gabon Coucal, Bates’s Swift, White-thighed Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Gabon Woodpecker, Blue Cuckooshrike, an eye-catching Olive-green Camaroptera and several Fraser’s Forest Flycatchers. The Bulbul family was well represented as some fruiting Musanga trees attracted Spotted, Sjöstedt’s, Simple, Little, Yellow-whiskered, Plain and Little Grey Greenbuls and several Swamp Palm Bulbuls. Little Green, Grey-chinned, Olive-bellied and a rarely-seen Bates’s Sunbird could also be admired. We heard the distinctive sound of a Lyre-tailed Honeyguide a few times, but we were unable to locate it. We found more widespread species like Blue Malkoha, Palm-nut Vulture, several tatty-looking European Honey Buzzards, Western Oriole, African Paradise Flycatcher (including some white ones), Black-necked Weaver, Grey-headed Nigrita and a shy Red-capped Mangabey. After a short break following lunch we walked to the river where a couple of Northern Talapoin Monkeys were seen. The final hour of the day found us along the entrance track which gave us a beautifully performing Chocolate-backed Kingfisher. At dusk we managed to scope a nice Brown Nightjar, while a truly bizarre Hammer-headed Fruit Bat was flying about. On an after dinner nightwalk in the surroundings we found two sleeping Fraser’s Sunbirds and heard the distinctive call of a Nkulengu Rail.

Most of the specialities of the Ipassa Reserve are true forest species, so we spent the whole of the following day inside the forest, walking slowly along a wide trail and venturing now and then off trail. One of the highlights was a covey of no fewer than 24 smart-looking Plumed Guineafowl that showed very well on the trail… quite an experience!! An Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill performed nicely, as did Red-rumped Tinkerbird and a pair of Buff-spotted Woodpeckers. We scoped a displaying Rufous-sided Broadbill (very enjoyable!!) and also found Emerald Cuckoo, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Shining Drongo, Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher, Red-tailed and Icterine Greenbuls, Forest White-eye, Fraser’s Rufous Thrush, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, White-breasted, Chestnut-breasted and Grey-headed Nigritas and a Moustached Monkey. At dusk it started to rain cats and dogs and this continued for part of the night.

Another day in the forest and around the clearing at Ipassa added Blue-headed Wood Dove, Western Dwarf Hornbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye (what a beauty), Eastern Bearded Greenbul, Blackcap Illadopsis and Red-bellied and Blue-billed Malimbes to the tally. The Grey Parrot spectacle around the clearing was a joy to watch and the many Congo Pied and Piping Hornbills added to the fun.

On our final full day we waited at the clearing, long before dawn, listening out for ibises on their way to the feeding area, but we only heard the distinctive calls of Latham’s Francolins. While our crew was loading our vehicles we had a final look around and added Honeyguide and Ansorge’s Greenbuls to the list. Not much later we were walking along a wide track through rather degraded forest, where in the past really spectacular species had been observed. We saw some nice stuff, including Guinea Turaco, Tambourine Dove, Giant Kingfisher, Red-eyed Puffback, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Forest Penduline Tit, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, the very localized Gosling’s Apalis and Slender-billed Greenbul.

The following morning we left Makokou early, as we wanted to reach the La Lopé National Park in the early afternoon. We made good progress, but the gods were not with us today as three consecutive petrol stations had run out of diesel. So, we were forced to wait for several hours on the banks of the wide Ogooué River. We had a good time, considering, and saw a nice selection of birds while waiting for the diesel to appear. We were provided with ice cream and observed goodies like Blue-headed Coucal, White-crowned Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Rock and lovely Grey Pratincoles, African Skimmer, Little Tern, Reed Cormorant, Hadada Ibis, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers and Red-chested Swallows. A pair of exquisite Western Bluebills gave quite a show. In late afternoon, we finally could travel onwards and we reached the lovely La Lopé Lodge in the late evening.

On our first day at the La Lopé National Park we first explored the surroundings of our lodge where we saw our first herds of African Forest Elephants and Cape (Forest) Buffalos. After breakfast we ventured into the park, where the grassy plains gave us Senegal Lapwing, Yellow-billed Oxpecker and Long-legged Pipit. A visit to a small marsh eventually allowed fair looks at the very localized Dja River Scrub Warbler. It took a while before we all had satisfactory looks at this renowned skulker, while we were being terrorized by tiny sweat bees. A walk along a wide forest track added Spotted Honeyguide, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher and Brown Illadopsis to the list. In the afternoon we returned to the Park and found a beautiful male Narina Trogon and a troop of Grey-cheeked Mangabeys and Moustached Monkeys.

On our second day in the La Lopé National Park we searched and searched for the much-wanted Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, but not a sniff was had of this elusive species. While exploring forest edges we found Hamerkop, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Double-toothed Barbet, Red-fronted Parrot, Wire-tailed and Red-breasted Swallows, Yellow-mantled Weaver and Yellow-mantled Widowbird. A walk through a nice stretch of gallery forest produced a nice selection of quality birds at a safari ant swarm. Yellow-lored Bristlebills showed very well, a Red-capped Robin-Chat played hide and seek together with the regular suite of greenbuls. In the afternoon we birded in a different part of the Park and found Goliath Heron and attractive Black Bee-eaters.

A final morning around the La Lopé Hotel proved quite exciting as we got chased by a herd of Cape (Forest) Buffalos while we were trying to get to grips with a cisticola… We also found a posing Black Sparrowhawk and Reichenbach’s and Johanna’s Sunbirds. Then it was time to pack up and make our way to the town of Lambarene, where we arrived in late afternoon. Our guesthouse was part of the old hospital, which was founded by famous Albert Schweitzer. We obviously paid a visit to the museum dedicated to this Nobel Prize for Peace winner. Just after dinner we managed to admire a fabulous Fraser’s Eagle-Owl at close range in the garden. Pure magic.

Our pre-breakfast stroll in the gardens was enlivened by thousands of Straw-coloured Fruit Bats, a Black Crake, African Jacana and Little, Purple and Grey Herons. The four-hour boat trip from Lambarene to Omboue was fairly uneventful. We sailed rather fast along the wide Ogooué River and observed Pink-backed Pelican, Caspian and Common Terns, African Woolly-necked Stork, African Darter, lots and lots of Palm-nut Vultures, some gorgeous Rosy Bee-eaters and Slender-billed Weaver. We arrived at the little town of Omboue just after mid-day and checked in into our cozy hotel. In mid-afternoon we boarded another boat for a lovely trip up a narrow, forest-lined river, where we obtained fabulous looks at two White-crested Tiger Herons. A really wonderful experience, which resulted in it being voted Bird of the Tour. A female Mandrill showed well (wow), as did Hartlaub’s Duck, African Finfoot, Red-capped Mangabey and a well-behaved Beecroft’s Anomalure. The usually easy to find Pel’s Fishing Owl only showed very briefly, sadly. Luckily that situation would be corrected soon. We reached our hotel rather late in the evening and enjoyed a comfortable dinner on a terrace overlooking the lagoon.

A pre-breakfast stroll near the hotel gave us good views of Carmelite and Reichenbach’s Sunbirds, Slender-billed Weaver and Common Waxbill. Mid-morning we drove south into the Loango National Park, finding several cute Forbes’s Plovers with chicks on the way. A short boat trip brought us to the beautiful N’Dola camp where we enjoyed a tasty lunch. Here we noted Gull-billed and West African Crested Terns and a Leaflove. In the afternoon we took a relaxed boat trip to the more southerly situated Akaka Camp. On the way we had terrific encounters at very close range with several African Forest Elephants and also with three Common Hippos. New birds for the tour included Yellow-billed Stork and Winding Cisticola. We arrived at this well positioned tented camp just before dusk. A pair of exquisite Violet-tailed Sunbirds performed ever so well just outside the restaurant. The evening boat trip on the nearby river produced a cracking encounter with an imposing Vermiculated Fishing Owl and we also found a Lord Derby’s Anomalure. Great stuff!!

Dawn on the terrace overlooking the extensive marshes added Little Bittern, Sabine’s Spinetails and a magnificent Shining-blue Kingfisher (eye-ball to eye-ball views) to the tally. After a scrumptious breakfast we walked the forest trail behind the camp. Black Guineafowl were heard and seen by some lucky souls and a party of Rufous-bellied Helmetshrikes flew over. In late morning we returned to the N’Dola Camp. A well-behaved female Sitatunga posed at length, and a West African Manatee was disturbed along one of the canals. What a surprise!!! A trio of well-behaved White-backed Night Herons was found by our eagle-eyed boat man and we observed Whimbrel, Common Greenshank and Western Reef Heron. We also spotted our first African River Martins. A striking Central African Narrow-snouted Crocodile was found basking on a log. We spent the afternoon in the N’Dola Camp area, where we experienced a superb hour at a busy Rosy Bee-eater colony. It was good fun observing these very attractive patterned jewels in display and interacting at close range. Other goodies included Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Water Thick-knee, Black-headed Bee-eater and Swamp Boubou. Just before dusk a splendid Pel’s Fishing Owl allowed breath-taking views at our accommodation… a fantastic ending of a truly marvelous day.

The following day was River Martin day. We spent a delightful hour or so observing the antics of these fantastic, unusual and so attractive hirundines from a safe distance at a large colony in a stretch of short grass savanna. There was a lot of display going on, combined with digging and communal aerial formation flying. We sure felt privileged to be able to admire these unique swallows in their environment. The bright red bill, red eyes and red legs combined with the pure black plumage gave them a helmetshrike-like jizz. The appearance of an Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle overhead resulted in a complete abandonment of the colony for a short while. Before breakfast we had discovered a well camouflaged Square-tailed Nightjar chick with the mother performing some distraction display. A visit to a nice patch of woodland didn’t yield much and in the afternoon we had a look at the famous beaches, where elephants and hippos sometimes wander and which were sadly full of plastic junk. We picked up new birds like White-fronted Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling and found a nest with two eggs of a Water Thick-knee.

The final day of the tour started in rainy conditions. Several very localized Loango Weavers were located near the camp, but better views were then had at a palm-studded island in the lagoon. And then it was time to pack up and head for Port Gentil. The local tour operator didn’t do a very good job as only one vehicle turned up hours late  – two broke down, we were told – which forced us to squeeze all together into and onto the one 4×4 car for the first part of the journey. A second vehicle appeared later, so we could all travel in better conditions. Quite a few traffic rules were broken on our exhilarating drive, but luckily we arrived in time for our flight to Libreville. Upon arrival we were welcomed by Pierre and so our rather demanding Gabon tour ended.

BIRDS OF THE TOUR

1^st  WHITE-CRESTED TIGER HERON

2^nd  AFRICAN RIVER MARTIN

3^rd  PEL’S FISHING OWL

4^th  PLUMED GUINEAFOWL

5^th  VERMICULATED FISHING OWL

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows AviList v2025 (AviList Core Team. 2025. AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025).

BIRDS

White-faced Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna viduata  Regular in the Loango NP.

Hartlaub’s Duck ◊  Pteronetta hartlaubii  Excellent sightings along the waterways of the Loango NP.

Black Guineafowl ◊  Agelastes niger  Briefly seen by some in forest at the Loango NP. So near…

Plumed Guineafowl ◊  Guttera plumifera  Fantastic, prolonged views of party of 24 birds in the Ipassa Reserve.

Latham’s Francolin  Peliperdix lathami  (H)   We heard it a few times at the Ipassa Reserve, but always too distant.

Coqui Francolin  Campocolinus coqui  Two birds showed briefly in the Leconi area.

Scaly Spurfowl  Pternistis squamatus  Three observations of this widespread species.

Red-necked Spurfowl  Pternistis afer  Nice encounters with the race cranchii in the Leconi area.

Great Blue Turaco  Corythaeola cristata  Regular sightings of this terrific species.

Yellow-billed Turaco  Tauraco macrorhynchus  A few observations. Regularly heard.

Guinea Turaco (Green T)  Tauraco persa  A few observations. Regularly heard.

White-bellied Bustard ◊ (Barrow’s B)  Eupodotis senegalensis  Five birds showed well in the plains near Leconi. This is the race mackenziei (Barrow’s Bustard).

Gabon Coucal ◊  Centropus anselli  Fantastic close up views of this usually very skulky species at Ipassa.

Senegal Coucal  Centropus senegalensis  Regular.

Blue-headed Coucal  Centropus monachus  Regular. Perfect views at our unexpected petrol wait at Ndjole.

Blue Malkoha  Ceuthmochares aereus  Several nice encounters.

Great Spotted Cuckoo  Clamator glandarius  A totally unexpected observation of an immature bird in the Leconi plains.

Levaillant’s Cuckoo (African Striped C)  Clamator levaillantii  Brief looks at one at the La Lopé Reserve.

Diederik Cuckoo (Didric C)  Chrysococcyx caprius  Regular.

Klaas’s Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx klaas  Often heard. A few observations.

Yellow-throated Cuckoo ◊  Chrysococcyx flavigularis  (H)   We heard two in the forest at Ipassa, but they wouldn’t budge.

African Emerald Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx cupreus  Heard every day of the tour and eventually both male and female were seen very well.

Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo  Cercococcyx olivinus  Regularly heard. Flight views only.

Black Cuckoo  Cuculus clamosus  A nice observation in the Leconi area.

Red-chested Cuckoo  Cuculus solitarius  Often heard and eventually seen well.

African Cuckoo  Cuculus gularis  Excellent looks at a perched bird near Franceville.

Laughing Dove  Spilopelia senegalensis  A single observation in Ombue.

Red-eyed Dove  Streptopelia semitorquata  Very common and widespread.

Western Bronze-naped Pigeon  Columba iriditorques  (H)   We heard its distinctive voice in the Idjanga Forest.

Afep Pigeon  Columba unicincta  A few were noted at Idjanga and at Ipassa.

Rock Dove (introduced) (Feral Pigeon)  Columba [livia] var_domestica

Tambourine Dove  Turtur tympanistria  A handful of observations.

Blue-headed Wood Dove  Turtur brehmeri  Nice looks at Ipassa.

Blue-spotted Wood Dove (Red-billed W D)  Turtur afer  Common.

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur chalcospilos  Several were seen in the Loango National Park.

African Green Pigeon  Treron calvus  Common.

African Finfoot  Podica senegalensis  Eight encounters at different venues with this marvelous species.

Nkulengu Rail ◊  Himantornis haematopus  (H)   We heard it at night, and once during the daytime, at Ipassa.

Black Crake  Zapornia flavirostra  A single bird was noted at the Schweitzer’s place at Lambarene.

Water Thick-knee (W Dikkop)  Burhinus vermiculatus  Several, including a nest with two eggs in the Loango National Park.

Common Ringed Plover  Charadrius hiaticula  (NL)   Two birds were seen along the beach at Loango.

Forbes’s Plover ◊  Thinornis forbesi  Decidedly common in the Loango National Park.

White-crowned Lapwing (W-headed Plover)  Vanellus albiceps  Regular in the La Lopé Park and on our way to Loango.

Senegal Lapwing (Lesser Black-winged Plover)  Vanellus lugubris  A few in the La Lopé Park and on our way to Loango.

White-fronted Plover (W-f Sand P)  Anarhynchus marginatus  Four were noted in the Loango area.

African Jacana  Actophilornis africanus  Regular.

Eurasian Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus  A few were seen at Loango.

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos  Regular along the rivers and waterways.

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia  Several were noted at Loango.

Ruddy Turnstone  Arenaria interpres  A single bird was noted on the beach at Loango.

Sanderling  Calidris alba  15 were seen on the beach at Loango.

Common Buttonquail (Little B, Small B)  Turnix sylvaticus  Five birds were flushed while walking through the grasslands near Leconi. We were hoping for Black-rumped Buttonquails, but all the birds seen were Common Buttonquail.

Temminck’s Courser  Cursorius temminckii  Nice looks at three in the Leconi grasslands.

Rock Pratincole (White-collared P)  Glareola nuchalis  Nice views of several along the Ogooué river.

Grey Pratincole ◊  Glareola cinerea  This smart-looking species was seen very well on sandbanks of the Ogooué river.

African Skimmer  Rynchops flavirostris  Regular encounters. 280 together at Loango proved quite a sight.

Little Tern  Sternula albifrons  Nice views of several along the Ogooué river.

Caspian Tern  Hydroprogne caspia  Regular in the Loango area.

Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica  Two were noted in the Loango NP.

Sandwich Tern  Thalasseus sandvicensis  A single bird was seen in the Loango NP.

West African Crested Tern ◊  Thalasseus albididorsalis  Regular in the Loango NP. A recent split from Royal Tern.

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo  Common along the Ogooué river and at Loango.

Yellow-billed Stork  Mycteria ibis  A few were noted at Loango.

African Woolly-necked Stork  Ciconia microscelis  Regular in the Loango NP.

African Darter  Anhinga rufa  Common in the Loango area.

Reed Cormorant (Long-tailed C)  Microcarbo africanus  Regular.

Hadada Ibis  Bostrychia hagedash  Regular encounters.

Hamerkop  Scopus umbretta  Fairly common in the Loango area.

Pink-backed Pelican  Pelecanus rufescens  Just a few in the Loango area.

White-crested Tiger Heron ◊  Tigriornis leucolopha  Perfect views of this exquisite, much wanted species in the Loango area. A real cracker!!

Little Bittern  Botaurus minutus  A single bird of the resident race payesii was seen at Loango.

White-backed Night Heron  Calherodius leuconotus  Excellent looks at three birds at Loango. Great stuff!!

Western Reef Heron (W R Egret)  Egretta gularis  A single bird was seen at Loango.

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Little Heron  Butorides atricapilla  Two birds were seen along the Ogooué river at Lambarene.

Great Egret (G White E)  Ardea alba

Yellow-billed Egret  Ardea brachyrhyncha  Three birds were identified along the Ogooué river.

Western Cattle Egret  Ardea ibis  Just a handful of observations.

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea  Regular along the Ogooué river.

Black-headed Heron  Ardea melanocephala  A single bird was seen on our drive to Port Gentil.

Goliath Heron  Ardea goliath  Several were noted at Loango and along the Ogooué river.

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Brown Nightjar ◊  Veles binotatus  Scope views of one at the Idjinga Forest.

Fiery-necked Nightjar  Caprimulgus pectoralis  Seen well near Leconi.

Swamp Nightjar (Natal N, African White-tailed N)  Caprimulgus natalensis  Seen near Leconi and at Loango.

Bates’s Nightjar ◊  Caprimulgus batesi  Good scope looks at one at Ipassa. Never an easy bird to see well.

Long-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus climacurus  A male was noted near Leconi.

Square-tailed Nightjar (Gabon N)  Caprimulgus fossii  Seen well near Leconi and at Loango.

Sabine’s Spinetail  Rhaphidura sabini  Several showed well at Loango.

Cassin’s Spinetail  Neafrapus cassini  Very nice looks at several at Idjinga.

African Palm Swift  Cypsiurus parvus  Regular.

Bates’s Swift ◊  Apus batesi  Regular sightings at Ipassa and La Lopé.

Little Swift  Apus affinis  Very common.

Common Swift (European S)  Apus apus  Several migrating flocks were encountered.

Western Barn Owl  Tyto alba  Four sightings of this well-known bird.

Red-chested Owlet  Glaucidium tephronotum  (H)   We heard it distantly at the Idjinga Forest.

Pel’s Fishing Owl  Scotopelia peli  Fantastic looks at the “marmalade bear” at one of our camps at Loango. What a terrific bid!!

Vermiculated Fishing Owl ◊  Scotopelia bouvieri  Perfect views of this much wanted species at Loango. Heart-warming.

Fraser’s Eagle-Owl ◊  Ketupa poensis  This beauty showed ever so well in a forest patch at Lambarene. Totally unexpected there…

Osprey  Pandion haliaetus  Seven observations of this Palearctic migrant.

African Harrier-Hawk (A Gymnogene)  Polyboroides typus  Fairly common all along our route.

Palm-nut Vulture (Vulturine Fish Eagle)  Gypohierax angolensis  Common. The most regularly encountered bird of prey of the tour. We counted 46 on our journey from Lambarene to Omboue.

European Honey Buzzard  Pernis apivorus  A few observations of this Palearctic migrant.

Black-chested Snake Eagle  Circaetus pectoralis  Two showed well in the Leconi area.

Crowned Eagle (C Hawk E)  Stephanoaetus coronatus  (H)   We heard the distinctive call at Idjanga.

Long-crested Eagle  Lophaetus occipitalis  Three sightings of this stunning species.

Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle  Hieraaetus ayresii  A single immature bird was seen at Loango.

Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle  Aquila africana  One was identified at the Idjanga Forest.

Bat Hawk  Macheiramphus alcinus  Two performed nicely at dusk over our accommodation at Leconi.

Dark Chanting Goshawk  Melierax metabates  A single bird showed well near Leconi.

Red-thighed Sparrowhawk ◊ (Western Little S)  Tachyspiza erythropus  Good looks at this tiny species at Idjanga.

Black Sparrowhawk (Great S)  Astur melanoleucus  Scope views of a perched bird at the Lopé Lodge.

African Fish Eagle  Icthyophaga vocifer  Regular observations. A splendid voice!!

Red-necked Buzzard (R-tailed B)  Buteo auguralis  Five encounters during the first half of the tour.

Speckled Mousebird  Colius striatus  Just a few observations of this widespread species.

Narina Trogon  Apaloderma narina  A male could be admired through the scope at the La Lopé Reserve.

Bare-cheeked Trogon ◊  Apaloderma aequatoriale  (H)   One was heard at Ipassa.

Common Hoopoe (African H)  Upupa [epops] africana  A single bird was observed near Leconi.

Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill  Lophoceros camurus  Regular observations of this vocal, responsive species.

Congo Pied Hornbill  Lophoceros fasciatus  Common.

Eastern Long-tailed Hornbill ◊  Horizocerus cassini  Three excellent sightings. This taxon used to be part of what was called White-crested Hornbill.

Western Dwarf Hornbill  Horizocerus hartlaubi  Good looks at two at Ipassa. Not an easy bird to see well.

Black-casqued Hornbill  Ceratogymna atrata  Regular encounters with this giant.

White-thighed Hornbill ◊  Bycanistes albotibialis  Regular at Ipassa and at La Lopé.

Piping Hornbill (Eastern P H)  Bycanistes [fistulator] sharpii  Common.

Blue-throated Roller  Eurystomus gularis  A handful of observations.

Broad-billed Roller  Eurystomus glaucurus  Three were seen near Leconi.

Black-headed Bee-eater ◊  Merops breweri  This much-wanted species showed well near Leconi and at Loango.

White-fronted Bee-eater  Merops bullockoides  Two were observed in the Leconi area.

Black Bee-eater  Merops gularis  Great looks at this gem near Leconi and at the La Lopé National Park.

Blue-breasted Bee-eater (White-cheeked B-e)  Merops variegatus  A few observations.

Little Bee-eater  Merops pusillus  Fairly common.

Rosy Bee-eater ◊  Merops malimbicus  Exquisite experiences at a colony and along the watercourses of the Loango National Park. A real jewel.

European Bee-eater  Merops apiaster  Regular observations of migrating flocks.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater  Merops persicus  Several birds were noted in a European Bee-eater flock at the La Lopé NP.

African Dwarf Kingfisher  Ispidina lecontei  (NL)   One was seen at Ipassa by a lucky group member.

African Pygmy Kingfisher  Ispidina picta  Several very nice encounters with this lovely species.

Malachite Kingfisher  Corythornis cristatus  Regular.

Shining-blue Kingfisher  Alcedo quadribrachys  Extraordinary sightings at the Loango NP, where birds were seen just a few meters away.

Giant Kingfisher  Megaceryle maxima  Regular and showy.

Pied Kingfisher  Ceryle rudis  Common along the watercourses of the Loango NP.

Chocolate-backed Kingfisher  Halcyon badia  Scope views at Ipassa. Heard at several other venues.

Blue-breasted Kingfisher  Halcyon malimbica  Seen at Ipassa and at Loango.

Woodland Kingfisher  Halcyon senegalensis  Common all along our route.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher  Halcyon albiventris  Four observations.

Grey-headed Kingfisher (Chestnut-bellied K)  Halcyon leucocephala  A single bird was scoped at the La Lopé NP. A rare bird in this part of Africa.

Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet ◊  Trachylaemus purpuratus  Heard a few times and seen once at Ipassa.

Yellow-spotted Barbet  Buccanodon duchaillui  Several nice sightings. Regularly heard.

Grey-throated Barbet  Gymnobucco bonapartei  A couple were seen near Leconi.

Bristle-nosed Barbet ◊  Gymnobucco peli  A single bird was seen near Leconi.

Speckled Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus scolopaceus  Regular.

Red-rumped Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus atroflavus  Just a few observations.

Yellow-throated Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus subsulphureus  Good looks near Leconi. More often heard.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird  Pogoniulus bilineatus  The most commonly recorded Tinkerbird.

Hairy-breasted Barbet  Tricholaema hirsuta  One showed well in the scope at the Idjanga Forest.

Black-backed Barbet ◊ (Brown-faced B)  Pogonornis minor  Perfect scope views of one near Leconi. The race involved is the nominate.

Double-toothed Barbet  Pogonornis bidentatus  Very nice looks at two birds in the La Lopé NP.

Lyre-tailed Honeyguide ◊  Melichneutes robustus  (H)   We heard it a couple of times at Ipassa, and that was it…

Spotted Honeyguide ◊  Indicator maculatus  Excellent looks at a single bird at the La Lopé reserve.

Red-throated Wryneck  Jynx ruficollis  Cracking scope views of two birds near Leconi. Very nice!!

Brown-eared Woodpecker  Pardipicus caroli  Two observations of this unobtrusive species.

Buff-spotted Woodpecker  Pardipicus nivosus  Two showed well at the Ipassa reserve.

Gabon Woodpecker ◊  Dendropicos gabonensis  Good looks at singles at the Ipassa and the La Lopé reserves.

Eurasian Hobby  Falco subbuteo  A single bird was seen near Leconi.

Grey Parrot  Psittacus erithacus  A common bird in all the reserves and National Parks. Many excellent views. Heartwarming to see such numbers.

Red-fronted Parrot  Poicephalus gulielmi  A handful of observations in different reserves.

Rufous-sided Broadbill  Smithornis rufolateralis  Scope views of a displaying bird at Ipassa. Wonderful.

Blue Cuckooshrike  Cyanograucalus azureus  Two sightings of males. More often heard.

Black-crowned Tchagra (B-headed T)  Tchagra senegalus  Only noted near Leconi, where seen well.

Fiery-breasted Bushshrike ◊  Malaconotus cruentus  It took a while before we all managed to see this skulker near Leconi. We also heard it at the La Lopé reserve.

Red-eyed Puffback (Black-shouldered P)  Dryoscopus senegalensis  Several were seen along the Belinga track.

Sabine’s Puffback ◊  Dryoscopus sabini  A male showed well in the canopy of a forest giant at the Idjanga reserve.

Gorgeous Bushshrike  Telophorus viridis  Good looks at this smart species near Leconi.

Lühder’s Bushshrike  Laniarius luehderi  A single bird showed very well in secondary growth near Makokou.

Swamp Boubou ◊ (Gabon Boubou)  Laniarius bicolor  Regular encounters at Loango.

Lowland Sooty Boubou ◊  Laniarius leucorhynchus  (H)   We heard its distinctive voice at Ipassa.

Chestnut Wattle-eye  Dyaphorophyia castanea  Cracking views of male and female at Ipassa. A marvelous species.

Brown-throated Wattle-eye (Common W-e)  Platysteira cyanea  Regular.

Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye  Platysteira concreta  A very attractive male was eventually seen well by everyone at Ipassa.

Chinspot Batis  Batis molitor  Seen well near Leconi.

Angola Batis ◊  Batis minulla  A male performed quite well near Leconi.

Rufous-bellied Helmetshrike ◊  Prionops rufiventris  Frustrating looks at three in the forest at Loango.

African Shrike-flycatcher  Megabyas flammulatus  Two males showed well near Leconi.

Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher (Vanga F)  Bias musicus  Excellent looks at this cutie near Leconi.

Western Oriole (W Black-headed O)  Oriolus brachyrynchus  Regular.

Black-winged Oriole  Oriolus nigripennis  A single bird was scoped near Leconi.

Shining Drongo  Dicrurus atripennis  Great looks inside the forest at Ipassa.

Sharpe’s Drongo  Dicrurus sharpei  It was only seen near Leconi.

Fork-tailed Drongo (Common D)  Dicrurus adsimilis  A few were noted in open areas near Leconi.

Velvet-mantled Drongo  Dicrurus modestus  A few observations along forest edges.

Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone rufiventer  A couple of observations in the forest at the La  Lopé reserve.

Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher ◊  Terpsiphone rufocinerea  Three birds showed well near Leconi.

African Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone viridis  Regular. The attractive white morph was seen several times.

Bates’s Paradise Flycatcher ◊  Terpsiphone batesi  Just a single sighting at Ipassa. This is usually a regular member of the mixed flocks.

Northern Fiscal  Lanius humeralis  Regular in the Leconi area.

Pied Crow  Corvus albus  Common where people live.

Forest Penduline Tit ◊ (Yellow-fronted P T)  Anthoscopus flavifrons  A single bird was scoped along the Belinga track.

White-winged Black Tit  Melaniparus leucomelas  Three birds performed very nicely near Leconi.

Dusky Tit  Melaniparus funereus  Good looks at several at Idjanga and Ipassa.

Flappet Lark  Amirafra rufocinnamomea  Common in the Leconi plains.

Plains Lark ◊ (Malbrant’s L)  Corypha kabalii  Quite regular in the Leconi plains.

Western Nicator  Nicator chloris  Regularly heard and seen well along the Belinga track.

Yellow-throated Nicator ◊  Nicator vireo  (H)   We heard it in the Loango forest.

Yellow Longbill  Macrosphenus flavicans  Regularly heard, but usually we were busy with bigger fry.

Grey Longbill (Olive L)  Macrosphenus concolor  (H)   We only heard it at Ipassa, but no response.

Green Crombec  Sylvietta virens  Great views at Ipassa. More often heard.

Lemon-bellied Crombec  Sylvietta denti  (H)   Heard at Ipassa.

Red-capped Crombec ◊  Sylvietta ruficapilla  (H)   Heard in miombo habitat near Leconi.

Bleating Camaroptera (Grey-backed C)  Camaroptera [brachyura] brevicaudata   Regular.

Yellow-browed Camaroptera  Camaroptera superciliaris  Perfect looks at this lovely species at Ipassa.

Olive-green Camaroptera  Camaroptera chloronota  Excellent views of this skulker at Ipassa. What a song!!

Black-capped Apalis  Apalis nigriceps  (H)   Heard along the Belinga track.

Gosling’s Apalis ◊  Apalis gosling  Perfect looks along the Belinga track. A very localized species.

Tawny-flanked Prinia  Prinia subflava  We only noted it in the Leconi area.

Chattering Cisticola ◊  Cisticola anonymus  Regular.

Winding Cisticola  Cisticola marginatus  Fairly common in the Loango marshes.

Croaking Cisticola  Cisticola natalensis  A single was noted in scrubby grassland near Leconi.

Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed C)  Cisticola juncidis  Seen near Leconi.

Dambo Cisticola ◊  Cisticola dambo  Perfect looks in the grasslands near Leconi.

Pectoral-patch Cisticola  Cisticola brunnescens  Seen well in the grasslands near Leconi.

Teke Cisticola ◊  Cisticola sp. nov.  Good looks of this as yet undescribed taxon near Leconi.

Dja River Scrub Warbler ◊ (Dja R W)  Bradypterus grandis  It took quite a bit of perseverance, but eventually everyone had fair views of this skulking, very localized species in a marsh at the La Lopé reserve. The abundant sweat bees didn’t help…

African River Martin ◊  Pseudochelidon eurystomina  One of the highlights of the tour was our precious time at a colony of these much wanted birds at Loango. We were able to observe their antics and aerobatics at close range without disturbing them. An exquisite species!!!

Square-tailed Saw-wing  Psalidoprocne nitens  Regular.

Black Saw-wing ◊ (Petit’s S)  Psalidoprocne [pristoptera] petiti  Small numbers were seen in the Leconi area.

Grey-rumped Swallow  Pseudhirundo griseopyga  Regular in the Loango grasslands.

Banded Martin  Neophedina cincta  We found this large hirundine in the grasslands near Leconi and at Loango.

Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii  A single bird was found at the La Lopé reserve.

White-bibbed Swallow (White-throated Blue S)  Hirundo nigrita  Regular observations of this delightful species.

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica  Common, especially over rivers.

Red-chested Swallow  Hirundo lucida  Good looks at several along the Ogooué river at Ndjole.

Lesser Striped Swallow  Cecropis abyssinica  Common.

Red-breasted Swallow (Rufous-chested S)  Cecropis semirufa  This fine species showed well over the grasslands of the La Lopé reserve and the Loango National Park.

Red-throated Cliff Swallow ◊  Petrochelidon rufigula  A common species in the eastern half of Gabon. Great looks at bridges.

Green Hylia  Hylia prasina  A regular sound of the Gabonese forests. Excellent looks at Ipassa.

Golden Greenbul  Calyptocichla serinus  Singles were seen at Idjanga and at Ipassa.

Slender-billed Greenbul  Stelgidillas gracilirostris  Only seen along the Belinga track.

Black-collared Bulbul ◊  Neolestes torquatus  This beautiful, unusual-looking Bulbul performed very well in shrubby grasslands near Leconi.

Red-tailed Bristlebill  Bleda syndactylus  Seen and regularly heard at Ipassa.

Yellow-lored Bristlebill ◊ (Lesser B)  Bleda notatus  Excellent views of several in a forest patch at the La Lopé reserve.

Spotted Greenbul  Ixonotus guttatus  Common, attractive and easy to recognize. The wing flicking is particularly obvious.

Swamp Palm Bulbul  Thescelocichla leucopleura  Regular, large and noisy.

Sjöstedt’s Greenbul ◊  Baeopogon clamans  Two showed all too briefly at Ipassa.

Honeyguide Greenbul  Baeopogon indicator  A single was noted at Ipassa.

Simple Greenbul (S Leaflove)  Chlorocichla simplex  Regular.

Eastern Bearded Greenbul ◊  Criniger chloronotus  Two sightings at Ipassa. More often heard.

Red-tailed Greenbul  Criniger calurus  Regular.

White-bearded Greenbul ◊  Criniger ndussumensis  (NL)

Little Greenbul  Eurillas virens  Commonly heard. Seen now and then.

Yellow-whiskered Greenbul  Eurillas latirostris  Regular at Ipassa.

Plain Greenbul (Cameroon Sombre G)  Eurillas curvirostris  Fairly regular. Unobtrusive.

Little Grey Greenbul  Eurillas gracilis  Fairly regular.

Ansorge’s Greenbul  Eurillas ansorgei  Seen well at Ipassa.

Icterine Greenbul  Phyllastrephus icterinus  Seen quite well at Ipassa.

Leaf-love ◊  Phyllastrephus scandens  Excellent looks at Loango.

Common Bulbul  Pycnonotus barbatus  Common

Common Bulbul (Dark-capped B)  Pycnonotus [barbatus] tricolor  Common in the Leconi area.

Forest White-eye ◊  Zosterops stenocricotus  A few were seen at Ipassa.

Brown Illadopsis  Illadopsis fulvescens  Two were seen all too briefly at the La Lopé reserve.

Blackcap Illadopsis  Illadopsis cleaver  A single bird showed quite well at Ipassa.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker  Buphagus africanus  Regular at the La Lopé reserve and at Loango.

Violet-backed Starling (Amethyst S)  Cinnyricinclus leucogaster  Five birds were noted near Leconi.

Purple-headed Starling (P-h Glossy S)  Hylopsar purpureiceps  Good looks in the treetops of the  Idjanga reserve.

Splendid Starling (S Glossy S)  Lamprotornis splendidus  Regular.

Fraser’s Rufous Thrush  Stizorhina fraseri  Several were noted at Ipassa and at the La Lopé reserve.

African Thrush  Turdus pelios  Common.

White-browed Scrub Robin  Cercotrichas leucophrys  A single bird was seen near Leconi.

Pale Flycatcher  Agricola pallidus  A few in the Leconi miombo.

Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher  Fraseria ocreata  Seen very well at Ipassa. Distinctive.

Sooty Flycatcher  Artomyias fuliginosa  Good looks in the treetops of the Idjanga reserve.

Yellow-footed Flycatcher ◊  Muscicapa sethsmithi  Close up views of this cutie in the Ipassa reserve.

Spotted Flycatcher  Muscicapa striata  Several of these Palearctic migrants were seen near Leconi.

Cassin’s Flycatcher  Muscicapa cassini  Especially common along the watercourses of the Loango National Park.

Brown-chested Alethe  Chamaetylas poliocephala  (NL)

Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat  Cossypha cyanocampter  (H)   The distinctive song, full of imitations, was heard near Leconi.

Red-capped Robin-Chat  Cossypha natalensis  Nice looks in the forest at the La Lopé reserve.

Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat  Cossypha niveicapilla  Seen near Leconi and at the La Lopé reserve.

African Stonechat  Saxicola torquatus  A few in the Leconi grasslands.

Sooty Chat  Myrmecocichla nigra  Common in the Leconi grasslands.

Congo Moor Chat ◊  Myrmecocichla tholloni  This speciality was fairly common in the Leconi grasslands.

Western Violet-backed Sunbird  Anthreptes longuemarei  A few in the Leconi area.

Violet-tailed Sunbird ◊  Anthreptes aurantius  Perfect looks at close range along the river at Loango. A smart-looking sunbird.

Little Green Sunbird  Anthreptes seimundi  A few were noted at Ipassa.

Grey-chinned Sunbird (Green S)  Anthreptes tephrolaemus  A single bird was seen at Ipassa.

Collared Sunbird  Hedydipna collaris  Regular.

Reichenbach’s Sunbird ◊  Anabathmis reichenbachii  Regular in the Loango National Park.

Green-headed Sunbird  Cyanomitra verticalis  A handful of sightings of this widespread species.

Blue-throated Brown Sunbird  Cyanomitra cyanolaema  A few observations along forest edges.

Olive Sunbird  Cyanomitra olivacea  Regular.

Fraser’s Sunbird (Scarlet-tufted S)  Deleornis fraseri  Nice looks at several at Ipassa.

Carmelite Sunbird ◊  Chalcomitra fuliginosa  Common at Loango.

Green-throated Sunbird  Chalcomitra rubescens  A few were noted in the Leconi area.

Amethyst Sunbird (Black S)  Chalcomitra amethystina  Several showed well near Leconi.

Olive-bellied Sunbird  Cinnyris chloropygius  Regular and widespread.

Johanna’s Sunbird  Cinnyris johannae  A distinctive female showed well at La Lopé reserve.

Superb Sunbird  Cinnyris superbus  Regular.

Bates’s Sunbird ◊  Cinnyris batesi  Two sightings of this often hard to get species at Ipassa.

Copper Sunbird  Cinnyris cupreus  Seen well near Leconi and at the La Lopé reserve.

Black-chinned Weaver ◊  Ploceus nigrimentus  Nice observations in the Leconi shrubby grasslands.

Slender-billed Weaver  Ploceus pelzelni  Regular at Loango.

Loango Weaver ◊  Ploceus subpersonatus  Good looks at several at Loango. A near endemic.

Black-necked Weaver  Ploceus nigricollis  A handful of observations of this widespread species.

Orange Weaver  Ploceus aurantius  Fairly common along the Ogooué river at Njdole.

Vieillot’s Black Weaver  Ploceus nigerrimus  Regular. Nice sightings at active colonies.

Village Weaver  Ploceus cucullatus  Common.

Yellow-mantled Weaver  Ploceus tricolor  A single male showed well at the La Lopé reserve.

Maxwell’s Black Weaver ◊  Ploceus albinucha  Seen well at the Idjanga forest.

Dark-backed Weaver (Forest W)  Ploceus bicolor  Only seen at the Ipassa reserve. Unusually scarce this year.

Yellow-mantled Widowbird  Euplectes macroura  Two were noted in the La Lopé grasslands.

Marsh Widowbird  Euplectes hartlaubi  A nice male performed well in the Leconi grasslands.

Cassin’s Malimbe ◊  Malimbus cassini  Pairs showed well near Leconi and at Ipassa.

Red-bellied Malimbe ◊  Malimbus erythrogaster  A pair performed all too briefly at Ipassa.

Blue-billed Malimbe  Malimbus nitens  Seen well at Ipassa and at the La Lopé reserve.

Red-headed Malimbe  Malimbus rubricollis  Two were seen well at the Idjanga reserve.

Pin-tailed Whydah  Vidua macroura  Fairly common.

Bronze Mannikin  Spermestes cucullata  Common.

Black-and-white Mannikin  Spermestes bicolor  Regular.

White-breasted Nigrita (W-b Negrofinch)  Nigrita fusconotus  Only seen in the Ipassa area.

Chestnut-breasted Nigrita (C-b Negrofinch)  Nigrita bicolor  A male was noted at Ipassa.

Grey-headed Nigrita (G-crowned Negrofinch)  Nigrita canicapillus  Fairly common at Ipassa.

Black-headed Waxbill ◊  Estrilda atricapilla  Just a couple of birds at Ipassa.

Orange-cheeked Waxbill  Estrilda melpoda  Regular.

Common Waxbill  Estrilda astrild  Just two were found at Ombue.

Quailfinch ◊ (Black-chinned Q)  Ortygospiza [atricollis] gabonensis  We flushed pairs at Leconi and at the La Lopé reserve.

Black-bellied Seedcracker ◊  Pyrenestes ostrinus  (NL)   A male was seen at Loango.

Western Bluebill  Spermophaga haematina  Marvelous views of this beauty during our petrol wait at Ndjole.

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer griseus  Regular.

House Sparrow (introduced)  Passer domesticus  Common where people live.

African Pied Wagtail  Motacilla aguimp  Regular.

Yellow-throated Longclaw  Macronyx croceus  Nice looks in the Leconi and La Lopé grasslands.

Long-legged Pipit ◊  Anthus pallidiventris  Seen in small numbers at the La Lopé reserve and common at Loango.

Plain-backed Pipit  Anthus leucophrys  Regular in the Leconi area.

Short-tailed Pipit ◊  Anthus brachyurus  Good looks at this tiny, rarely seen species in the Leconi grasslands.

Yellow-fronted Canary  Crithagra mozambica  A few in the Leconi area.

Black-throated Canary (B-t Seedeater)  Crithagra atrogularis  Seen well in the Leconi area.

MAMMALS

West African Manatee  Trichechus senegalensis  One of these rare mammals was seen in a channel at the Loango National Park.

Western Tree Hyrax  Dendrohyrax dorsalis  We heard the distinctive sounds at Idjanga.

African Forest Elephant  Loxodonta cyclotis  Marvelous encounters at the La Lopé reserve and at Loango.

African Palm Civet  Nandinia binotata  Good looks on our nightwalk at Idjanga.

Cape Buffalo (Forest B)  Syncerus [caffer] nanus  Common at the La Lopé reserve and at Loango. We had some close encounters…

Sitatunga  Tragelaphus spekii  A nice observation of a female at Loango.

Common Hippopotamus  Hippopotamus amphibius  Three were noted at Loango.

African Straw-coloured Fruit Bat  Eidolon helvum  Several thousands were darkening the sky at Lambarene. The trees in the garden of the Albert Schweitzer hospital were full of them. Quite a sight.

Hammer-headed Fruit Bat  Hypsignathus monstrosus  A single showed quite well while we were observing a Brown Nightjar at Ipassa.

Demidoff’s Dwarf Galago  Galagoides demidoff  All too brief looks at Idjanga and Ipassa.

Red-capped Mangabey (Collared M)  Cercocebus torquatus  About ten showed very well on our boat trip along the Mpivie river.

Mustached Monkey  Cercopithecus cephus  Several nice encounters.

Putty-nosed Monkey (Greater White-nosed M)  Cercopithecus nictitans  Regular sightings.

Crowned Monkey  Cercopithecus pogonias  (H)   We heard one in the Loango National Park.

Gray-cheeked Mangabey  Lophocebus albigena  Good looks at six in the La Lopé reserve.

Mandrill  Mandrillus sphinx  A female showed well, but all too briefly on the Mpivie river boat trip.

Northern Talapoin Monkey  Miopithecus ogouensis  Quite common along the river at Ipassa.

Red-legged Sun Squirrel  Heliosciurus rufobrachium  Three encounters with this widespread species.

Green Bush Squirrel  Paraxerus poensis  Two sightings of this unobtrusive squirrel.

Beecroft’s Anomalure  Anomalurus beecrofti  One was seen well on the Mpivie river boat trip.

Lord Derby’s Anomalure  Anomalurus derbianus  This one was identified near the Akaka camp at Loango.

REPTILES

Central African Slender-snouted Crocodile  Mecistops leptorhynchus   Several nice encounters along the rivers at Loango.

Nile Monitor  Varanus niloticus  A beautiful individual showed well in a tree at Ipassa.

Red-headed Rock Agama (Common Agama)  Agama agama  Very common.

Central African Savanna House Snake  Boaedon perisylvestris  A single in the grasslands at Loango.