March 15-April 3, 2025 with Phil Gregory & Tarry Butcher & (Local guide James Nkator)
This was my finale for the Field Guides Ghana trip which we began in 2011, so quite sad in some ways, though I am handing it over to Tarry who will be a good replacement, I will miss the the tour immensely. It was a fun trip, we had some good spotters along which always helps, and we had some exciting finds and very nice mammals, including an incredibly lucky sighting of 3 of the very shy Forest Elephant at Ankasa, which was new for James as well as us; they stepped out onto the track and gave good views.
April 16: Everyone, except 1 person got in on time, so we opted for a short additional introduction excursion to Aburi Botanic Gardens, a new site for us as the usual one was closed for repairs this year. This was a keeper, we saw Hairy-breasted Barbet, Chestnut-winged Starling, Tiny Sunbird, Splendid Sunbird, Splendid Starling, a male Pied Flycatcher and Chestnut-breasted Malimbe. That afternoon, after a break from the heat, we started with the official start of the tour, heading out to Sakumono Lagoon where Double-spurred Spurfowl, Senegal Thick-knee, African Swamphen, Black Tern, Black-winged Kite, Long-tailed Starling and an unobliging Greater Swamp Warbler made for a nice introduction.
Shai Hills was dry and hot this year, but we managed good views of Mocking (White-crowned) Cliffchat, fly-by Senegal Parrots, a lucky pick-up of the elusive Senegal Plover, Oriole Warbler, Vieillot's and Bearded Barbet, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, but regrettably no sign of Blue-bellied Roller and a heard only Barred (Chestnut) Owlet.
April 18, we set out for Winneba Lagoon, where a vagrant African Skimmer was a great find, and West African Tern made its only appearance, Western Reef Heron showed well with both color morphs, whilst shorebirds included Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew and Ruddy Turnstone. Winneba Plains gave us a flushed Plain Nightjar, then nice sightings of Red-winged Prinia, a Woodchat Shrike, Greater Honeyguide and Yellow-throated Longclaw, then it was down to Cape Coast for lunch at the Cafe by the Castle. We then did a 45-minute cultural tour of the notorious slaver castle, with the guide explaining the horrors of that noxious trade which went on for centuries, the Door of No Return and the holding cells were grim indeed but well worth a look.
Nsuta Forest next day gave very good Piping Hornbill, African Emerald Cuckoo, Western Dwarf (Black Dwarf) Hornbill, Ussher's Flycatcher and Buff-throated Sunbird. A stop at a small wetland near Takoradi held African Pygmy Goose, African Black Crake, Allen's Gallinule and Orange Weaver. Then over towards Ankasa, with Hartlaub's Duck showing well this year at the Ebi River as well as Mouse-brown Sunbird.
The very nice lodge at Ankasa was an excellent base for our explorations of this relatively intact rainforest block, and we did well with Western Crested Guineafowl, Yellow-billed and Great Blue Turaco, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, African Dwarf, Shining-blue and White-bellied Kingfisher, Dwarf Bittern, a terrific African Finfoot, more Hartlaub's Ducks, the rare Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, fantastic views of Blue-moustached Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Yellow-bearded and Western Bearded Greenbul, Pale-breasted and Rufous-winged Illadopsis, Red-fronted Antpecker, an unexpected find of the rare Lagden's Bushshrike and African Wood Owl. The wretched Spot-breasted Ibis flew over at dusk and were seen by our driver, but we were at the wrong pond that night, unlucky there, and Nkulengu Rails this year were calling too far back to be accessible for us. West African Dwarf Crocodile showed well for us too, a rare species.
Next it was over to Rainforest Lodge near Kakum, with a brief stop at Brenu Beach en route which gave Tropical Boubou (a first sighting in Ghana for Phil!), Oriole Warbler and Marsh Tchagra.
The Kakum area was productive as ever. Highlights included Black-casqued Hornbill, Fire-bellied Woodpecker, Forest Scimitarbill, Willcocks's Honeyguide, Blue Cuckooshrike, Sabine's Puffback, West African Wattle-eye and Rufous-crowned Eremomela. Antwikwaa provided great perched views of Red-fronted Parrot, Rosy Bee-eater, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Forest Penduline Tit, Black-winged Oriole at nest and Orange-cheeked Waxbill. Ebekawopa Forest has had some logging activity recently but still had great views of Whistling Cisticola, Grey Kestrel, Spotted and Honeyguide Greenbul. A forest track near Kakum gave a fortunate pick-up of Brown-cheeked Hornbill, Blue-headed Wood-Dove, Golden Greenbul, Red-tailed Greenbul and Red-headed Malimbe. Kakum mammals included Spot-nosed and Lowes Monkey, and a lovely Potto.
April 25 saw us stop briefly at a site for Preuss's Cliff Swallow, then on to the Pra River at Twifo Praso, where White-throated Blue Swallow and Rock Pratincole showed nicely. Then it was time for the forested ridge at Bonkro, where after about a 45-minute wait, at least 4 White-necked Picathartes put on a splendid show, hopping right by and visiting their large mud nests on the overhanging giant boulder wall. Tremendous and as ever a trip highlight.
April 26 was a morning birding in showery conditions at Kwabenasam near the lodge at Bonkro, where Congo Serpent Eagle was a highlight and Red-chested Cuckoo and Western Nicator showed. Afternoon drive back to Kumasi ready for the trek north to Mole NP next day.
We made a stop at Opro forest about 2-hours out of Kumasi, where the rare and elusive Fiery-breasted Bushshrike showed, a Cassini's Hawk Eagle flew right over and African Cuckoo Hawks showed off, as did Guinea Turaco which we had heard only thus far. A waterhole near the turn-off from the main Tamale Road gave Greater Painted Snipe, African Silverbill, a marvellous experience with Yellow-billed Oxpeckers on a herd of Zebu that came in to drink and even looks at (Black-faced) Quailfinch.
Mole was excellent; Zaina Lodge is very nice with Savanna Elephants in the waterhole below and a tame genet in the restaurant. Star birds from the park included Forbes's Plover, Black-bellied Bustard in display flight, a confiding White-throated Francolin for once, Stone Partridge, the scarce Fine-spotted and Brown-backed Woodpecker, amazing looks at Standard-wing Nightjar both in daylight at roost and then after dusk, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, the rare Singing Bushlark and Rufous-rumped Lark, Red-winged Pytilia, Gambaga Flycatcher, a tremendous male Emin's Shrike that was a long-desired lifer for Phil and still seen by very few birders, Violet Turaco sat up posing, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Red-throated Bee-eater, Giant, Blue-breasted and Striped Kingfisher, the gorgeous Lavender Waxbill, fantastic views of Greyish Eagle Owl and some nice raptors including Western Banded and Beaudouin's Snake Eagle, White-headed, White-backed and Hooded Vultures, Bateleur and Dark Chanting Goshawk. Mammals included a brief sighting of the very uncommon Western Hartebeest for some, lots of Kob, a lovely Waterbuck and a single Bushbuck, plus Bush Duiker and Warthog. Gambian Mongoose in a big pack of 20+ animals was a good find, and we saw a melanistic White-tailed Mongoose, as well as the amazingly tame genet at the Lodge. Spotted Hyena called near the camp at night but was as ever not visible. Nile Crocodiles in the waterhole below the Lodge were noteworthy, and the Hamerkops seem adept at avoiding them!
The trip out to the White Volta for Egyptian Plover was very pleasing with lovely close views despite all the people fishing, washing clothes and bridge building, and Fox Kestrel en route was a nice addition.
Back to Kumasi and then Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary next day with Grey Parrot, Red-chested Cuckoo and Red-billed Helmet-shrike. Atewa farmbush that afternoon produced Olive, Buff-throated and Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, and the elusive Red-cheeked Wattle-eye for some.
Atewa Forest on the final morning gave great looks at Puvel's Illadopsis, Red-cheeked Wattle-eye for all, Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher and a vocal but unobliging Kemp's Longbill. Back to the hotel, then on to Accra for the final dinner near the airport and farewells to most of the group.
My thanks to the group for good company and sense of humour, and for coming and surviving the inevitable heat and humidity, also to Sharon at Field Guides HQ and Rosematilda at Ashanti for logistics. It was a fun trip and an ideal introduction to West African birds. Accommodations are steadily improving, the meals unexciting but adequate, and the driver Eric and local guides very skilled. We are lucky to have the very best in James and I look forward to hearing about how 2026 goes. My thanks to co-leader and tour inheritor Tarry for not snoring, good spotting and manning the telescope, as well as doing all the E-Bird checklists and being adept at tyre changing. Do come and join them in 2026 for what is sure to be an enjoyable adventure with many wonderful sightings!
MAMMALS:
African Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum)
West African Potto (Perodicticus potto)
Northern Lesser Galago (Galago senegalensis)
Demidoff's Dwarf Galago (Galago demidoff) (Heard)
Spot-nosed Monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista)
Lowe's Monkey (Cercopithecus lowei)
Green Monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus)
Common Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas)
Olive Baboon (Papio anubis)
Forest Giant Squirrel (Protoxerus stangeri)
Fire-footed Rope Squirrel (Funisciurus pyrrhopus)
Green Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus poensis)
Small Sun Squirrel (Heliosciurus punctatus)
Red-legged Sun Squirrel (Heliosciurus rufobrachium)
Pel's Anomalure (Anomalurus peli)
Rusty-spotted Genet (Genetta fieldiana)
Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) (Heard)
African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Western Tree Hyrax (Dendrohyrax dorsalis) (Heard)
Desert Warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)
Northern Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)
Bush Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia)
Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)
Kob (Kobus kob)
Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
Emin's Pouched Rat (Cricetomys emini)
Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus)
White-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
Gambian mongoose (Mungos gambianus)
BUTTERFLIES:
COMMON STRIPED SWORDTAIL (Graphium politeness)
CITRUS SWALLOWTAIL (Papilio demodocus)
THE SAILERS (Nemetes)
AFRICAN EMIGRANT (Catopsilia florella)
COMMON GRASS YELLOW (Eurema hecabe)
AFRICAN SPIRIT (Leptosia alcesta)
COMMON TIGER (Danaus chrysippus)
UNIFROM BUSH BROWN (Bicyclus uniformis)
VARIABLE EGGFLY (Hypolimnas antedon )
DIADEM OR FALSE TIGER (Hypolimnas misippus)
BLUE DIADEM (Hypolimnas salmacis)
AFRICAN BLUE TIGER (Tirumala petiverana)
FOREST MOTHER-OF-PEARL (Protogoniomorpha parhassus)
DARK BLUE PANSY (Junonia oenone)
YELLOW PANSY (Junonia hierta)
BROWN PANSY (Junonia stygia)
SOLDIER PANSY (Junonia terea)
AFRICAN JOKER (Byblia anvatara)
COMMON YELLOW GLIDER (Cymothoe caenis)
COMMON PATHFINDER (Hamanumida daedalus)
WIDESPREAD FORESTER (Euphaedra medon)
COMMON BLUE-BANDED FORESTER (Euphaedra harpalyce)
LARGE SPOTTED ACRAEA (Acraea zetes)
COMMON LEOPARD FRITILLARY (phalanta ophalanta)
ANGULAR GLIDER (Harma theobene)
FOREST GLADE NYMPH (Aterica galene)
AFRICAN BEAK (Libythea labdaca)
LARGE TIGER BLUE (Hewitsonia boisduvalii)
IULUS SAPPHIRE (Ioalaus Iulus)
KAKUM FAIRY HAIRSTREAK (Hypolycaena kakumi)
COMMON FAIRY HAIRSTREAK (Hypolycaena hatita)
You can see my complete trip report on eBird at this link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/361271
You can download a combined PDF of this page and the eBird report at this link: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/gha25TRIPLIST.pdf
-- Phil Gregory (Sicklebill) Topaz, Queensland April 2025