10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

My connection with Ghana began rather unexpectedly (and as it turned out, rather humorously) more than ten years ago. We already had South Africa, Zambia and Uganda under our belts, but my clients’ request for the next year came right out of the blue: Ghana! I must admit that I was astonished as I had never considered Ghana a potential birding destination, nor knew of any birders who had ever been there. What makes Ghana so special? Birding Ghana rainforest

Ghana 78

Ghana 2015 Gambia Hunters 78

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2019

In such a case, you might opt to book an eastbound flight, or a series of flights, from Lisbon to Sao Tome and Principe, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, then Sri Lanka, Thailand, Borneo, PNG, Tahiti, Ecuador, Guyana and finally to Costa Rica…. Not far from it, on the shores of West Africa there is Ghana with its 750 birds, of which some 350 are possible in two weeks. Presuming that you want to bird Costa Rica, you would book a southbound flight (from N. America) or westbound (from Europe).

2019 67

2019 Costa Rica Sri Lanka Papua New Guinea 67

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2018

For me and my birding opportunities, this means Accra in Ghana. Still, if you find yourself with the chance to visit Ghana, grab it forcefully. But at the end of last year, I eventually confirmed one in the University of Ghana, Botanic Gardens, Accra. Birding Accra Accra Botanic Gardens Ghana Piping HornbillThe Piping Hornbill , Bycanistes fistulator , has been evading me for 10 years.

2018 40

2018 Africa Ghana Species 40

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015

Don’t put off that birding trip to Ghana on your to-do list—if trends continue, illegal logging may leave you with nothing left to see. News Audubon Bahamas California Condor Egypt European Kestrel geolocator Ghana International Bird Rescue logging migration power lines Prothonotary Warbler September 11th Tribute in LightWith fall migration well underway everywhere, it’s a good time to see what’s flying in bird news.

2015 61

2015 San Diego San Francisco Breeders 61

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2012

White-necked or Yellow-headed Picathartes, Bonkro, Ghana. Photo by Keith Valentine (Rockjumper Birding Tours) This past December I visited Ghana specifically to search for White-necked Picathartes. Colonies of this most wanted bird had historically been recorded throughout the rainforest zone of Ghana, however relentless forest clearance resulted in all known populations being destroyed, and it was considered extinct in Ghana when I first visited ten years ago.

Africa 86

Africa Sierra Leone 2012 Equatorial Guinea 86

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2012

Through his extensive travels, Chris has come to know Ghana very well and shares why this West African country should be high on every birder’s bucket list. Giant Kingfisher – A fairly localised bird in Ghana Shining Blue Kingfisher – A speciality of forested rivers and can be found in Mole NP Then just as we thought there was time to draw our breath our ears were instead drawn to a rare gem indeed as our pulses race to the loud almost “meowing” call of a Congo Serpent Eagle.

Ghana 72

Ghana Guinea 2012 Congo 72

Co.Create

DECEMBER 30, 2017

Great Coucal (Accra, Ghana). Yellow-billed Shrike (Accra, Ghana). The week between Christmas and New Year is always a good time to reflect on the year that just was. Amongst the highlights that featured in published posts, we find the drafts that never quite got finished, or didn’t have enough photographic support to appear on the world wide web. The left-overs. Black-crested Bulbul (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

2017 61

2017 Ghana Malaysia Brazil 61

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2015

African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus – University of Ghana, Botanic Gardens – Jan 1st. African Gray Hornbill Tockus nasutus – University of Ghana, Botanic Gardens – Jan 1st. African Gray Woodpecker Dendropicus goertae – University of Ghana, Botanic Gardens – Jan 1st. African Pied Hornbill Tockus Fasciatus – University of Ghana, Botanic Gardens – Jan 1st.

2015 55

2015 Ghana Sanctuary Senegal 55

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2015

in the Botanical Gardens of the University of Ghana. Dragging salutations for the New Year half way through January may be stretching the point just a little too far, but I was otherwise engaged during my last post where best wishes for 2015 would best have been wished. In fact, 2015 dawned without me (I am ashamed to admit). While all good birders were out making first submissions on eBird 2015 , I was nursing a sore head and struggled to make it out by mid-afternoon.

2015 64

2015 Ghana Soreing Campaign 64

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

The Northern Carmine is readily seen in Ghana’s Mole National Park, Ethiopia’s Rift Valley and in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park. The best locations for finding this beautiful bird is over Kakum National Park in Ghana (non-breeding) and Loango National Park in Gabon for breeding birds. The best places to see these birds are the aforementioned Kakamega Forest for Blue-headed, and Ghana’s Atewa Forest or Cameroon’s Korup National Park for Blue-moustached.

Africa 84

Africa 2012 Uganda Gabon 84

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

601-800 sp: Canada, Costa Rica, Panama; Russia; Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo (Brazzaville), Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa; Laos, New Guinea (PNG); Australia. Summer is normally the vacation season, for ordinary tourists at least. Birders follow different patterns of bird migration and their local activities and travel accordingly. But – where?

2018 77

2018 Guyana Equatorial Guinea Suriname 77

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2019

Without including the new pin in the map, countries this month featured; USA, Australia, Serbia, Bahrain, India, Kuwait, New Zealand, UK, Ghana and of course, Costa Rica. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens.

2019 43

2019 Ghana Australia Jamaica 43

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2012

Image taken by Adam Riley in Ghana. Photo taken by Adam Riley in Ghana. Photo taken by Adam Riley in Ghana. Weavers are truly magical birds, combining bright plumages with ingenious weaving talents and cheerful, noisy social lives. The IOC world birdlist recognizes 90 species that bear the name “weaver” or “malimbe” Not all of these are true weavers as we will discuss below. Of these 90, all occur in Africa bar 5 Asian and 2 Malagasy weavers.

2012 82

2012 Tanzania Buffalo Kenya 82

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

12 beats visited 12 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Ghana, Nigeria, New Zealand, Serbia, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, China and Argentina), sharing 148 lists along the way and noting 844 species (old and new). University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens.

2019 49

2019 Ghana Arizona Tucson 49

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2019

So that was May. Despite looking way older than his years, we cannot attribute Regannet’s haggard appearance to hard birding, scoring only 19 during eBird’s Big Day was not the greatest effort expended on May 4th. In fairness, he had to celebrate Star Wars Day with his teenage son as this is their only means of effective conversation. 3 guesses as to where the award for biggest day and best follow-up post goes ?

2019 43

2019 Ghana Australia Barbados 43

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

It’s official. It’s spring. By all measures, meteorological, astronomical and anatomical, spring is sprung. The meteorological date is from March 1st, the Vernal Equinox was passed on March 20th which accounts for the astronomical marker when the sun crosses the equator on its northwards ramble. April is now behind us and Old Tom’s arthritis is clearing up nicely, thank you very much for asking. The migrants are coming (Hurray!). Some are already here, or passing through.

2019 43

2019 Ghana Australia Barbados 43

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens. University of Ghana Botanical Gardens.

2019 43

2019 Ghana Australia Jamaica 43

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2012

Attila Steiner, who I was lucky enough to meet while I was in Hungary , was ecstatic to see a rare rail in Ghana: It was my last afternoon in Ankasa Reserve, Ghana. On this final day of 2012 it is time, just like it was on the final days of 2010 and 2011 , to share your Best Birds of the Year. Well, actually, your Best Bird of the Year will only be shared here if you took the time to respond to the post in which we here at 10,000 Birds shared our Best Birds of the Year.

2012 48

2012 Ghana Ireland Costa Rica 48

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Ethiopia – the roof of Africa, fascinating endemic birds and wildlife and an incredible cultural and historical destination; Namibia , Botswana & Zambia – a fantastic overland tour can combine these three countries boasting vast wildernesses and superb birds and wildlife; and Ghana – the friendliest country in the world and great birding opportunities with Africa’s only rainforest canopy walkway and endangered Upper Guinea endemics.

2011 81

2011 Madagascar Equatorial Guinea Papua New Guinea 81

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP.

2016 42

2016 Ghana Sanctuary Australia 42

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP.

2016 54

2016 Ghana Sanctuary Australia 54

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2016

Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP.

2016 40

2016 Ghana Sanctuary Australia 40

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2016

Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP.

2016 40

2016 Ghana Sanctuary Australia 40

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2016

The law of diminishing returns brings the inevitability of repeat sightings and has checked the momentum of the combined beats’ list for June. Despite recording 370 species during the month, the list total has advanced by just 45. As at June 30 th , it stands at 1796. Just to confuse things a little, only 14 new species were recorded since June 1 st. A late submission from May boosted last month’s total after publication and life is just too short to issue a correction.

2016 40

2016 Ghana Sanctuary Australia 40

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2016

Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP. Bharatpur–Keoladeo Ghana NP.

2016 40

2016 Ghana Sanctuary Australia 40

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2013

Image taken in Ghana by David Shackelford/Rockjumper Birding Tours.

Africa 82

Africa 2013 Papua New Guinea Zimbabwe 82

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2012

This image was taken in Nsuta Forest, Ghana. Barbets are a group of medium sized, chunky, generally colorful, frugivorous, hole-nesting near-passerines, that are popular targets for anyone birding in the tropics. They occur in three biogeographic regions; the Neotropic, Afrotropic and Indo-Malaya ecozones, basically tropical South and Central America, Africa south of the Sahara and tropical Asia.

Africa 80

Africa 2012 Ethiopia Tanzania 80