We birded southern Ghana independently. We booked from France a Nissan Patrol without driver for 100$/day (insurance included) by email with Taqwa Transport Service (taqwa.gh@gmail.com) and the owner brought it to us to our hotel the morning following our arrival. He had other 4x4 at 80$/day but not available at our dates. It is better to have a 4x4 for some of the sites as some tracks can be muddy and slippery after the rain, for example the road leading to the Bekampa track near Kakum, but if it is dry it ok for a standard car; this Nissan Patrol was a must for Ankasa NP, the smaller 4x4 wouldn't pass through the 3 muddy sections of the track. During the trip there were sometimes some storms in the late afternoon, but it was generally dry. The roads were mostly OK and the directions were signposted, the driving was easy as you can't generally go more than 50km/h; only getting out of Accra was more difficult, the best is to have the car brought to your hotel, and at the end you should avoid to try to get to the airport by yourself, ask to the company to take the car at your hotel and to give you a lift to the airport. The police controls are common but they only asked the driving licence.
A telescope is definitely a necessity; most of the birds are in the canopy. Few of them were responsive to tape, but having the sounds is helpful anyway for the identifications. We found the birding rather difficult with sometimes some forests seeming to be empty. So a lot of patience is needed.
In Accra we stayed at Xi Lodge for 70 cedis because it seemed close to the airport with a free pick up at arrival, but it was very complicated to reach the place so we don't recommend it. In the end we preferred to stay in Tema which is 24km east of Accra and close to the Sakumo Lagoon. Note that it took us 1h45 to get from Tema to the airport the evening of departure. We saw the Soriania Hotel on Spintex road which seems good and not too expensive.
There are many hotels all over the country so it is easy and peaceful to travel, you know that if you want to stop you won't spend hours to find something. At the end of the trip, we realised that when you ask for a double room they give you a room with 2 big beds, and it is more expensive; we should have said a single room for 2; it means that we paid too much in some hotels like the Rainforest Lodge before Kakum, or near Kalakpa reserve, or Winneba. It is better to know it.
For the budget birders who can't afford a car rental, it is possible to go from a town to another by bus, then to pay a taxi to take you to the birdwatching site and pick you up back later. There are taxis everywhere.
We decided to begin our trip with Atewa Range north of Accra, then Bobiri Butterflies Sanctuary. We visited the Picathartes site south of Kumasi, and then Kakum NP. From there we went to Ankasa NP stopping at Elmina for the Brenu road. On the way back to Accra we birded the Winneba lagoon and plains before crossing Accra towards Kalakpa and Shai Hills reserve. We never booked anything in advance and all ran out well. This is the classic tour of Ashanti Tours or Birdquest (except Kalakpa). It took us more time because we had very few useful information (all the trip reports are from birders who did guided tours) and because it was so hot and humid that we preferred to rest during the afternoons. Their trip reports are always useful and of course the bird list of Birdquest is always interesting to bring.
We didn't go to Mole NP for 2 reasons : the car rental was 20$ more per day, and we have already seen most of the birds in other countries.
We saw 327 species and 12 species were only heard.
ATEWA RANGE 21 to 24/03
A new road from Accra is under construction and it was very bad actually with many deviations, it took us 2 hours until Kibi; our ITM map was wrong or they changed the road as Kibi should have been on the main road, but anyway it was signposted on the left so no problem; we stayed at the basic Hotel Asonaba (20c) at the entrance of Kibi.
Atewa is a good birding site, where some walk is needed for about 5km until the 700m or so of altitude, but it is a gently ascend; the worst is the heat and humidity than make sweat a lot. We only had the Bradt Travel Guide's infos to join the site but the signpost doesn't exist anymore, so we went first to the police station in Kibi to ask for information. They took us to the park rangers house; here they gave us a guide and said that we would tip him. We spent the day with him, but the following days went alone in the forest as it is absolutely not necessary to have a guide, and there is no guard or sign of reserve anyway. We heard the chainsaws and met hunters.
This is the way to go : from the center of Kibi there is a Total station, put on 0 and continue on the main road towards Asiakwa for 8.100km. There is a small trail on the left in an ascend just before a right bend. Park here or a few meters further on the trail, there is a pink house on the right, and always go straight. The trail begins in plantations with many birds then ascends passing a blue gate. We did it 2 days and the 3rd day stayed in the lower part. It was rather birdy, and we had some good flocks so the ascend took about 4 hours. Before the top, there is a small clearing with a trail on the right going to a stream. Further on after a big log across the track is another clearing, which seems to be the top, a trail continues and turns right on a flat zone (where we saw the Blue-headed Bee-eaters). The forest was much less birdy here and the noisy chainsaws were too close.
When we left Kibi towards Kumasi, we passed the town of Asiakwa which should be about 3.5km after the Atewa trail (we didn't take the exact distance), and we saw 2 hotels, the Hill Top and the Alexco.
BOBIRI BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY 25 to 27/03
The road towards Kumasi is good, and the Bobiri Reserve is signposted on the right (coming from the east). Follow the dirt road, at the fork turn right (the signpost is still there but fell down) and follow until a gate and a pleasant guesthouse. We spent 3 nights in a good room at 30c. The birding is along the main road on the left or right of the guesthouse, or on several trails inside the forest but we saw virtually nothing inside; birding was very slow, the forest seemed dead and the birds were only in the canopy so patience, patience. There was a Red-chested Owlet behind the guesthouse that we taped during the day and the bird came on view (high in the tree). We heard several African Wood-Owls and Fraser's Eagle Owl, but couldn't see them. For the Brown Nightjar, we followed the dirt road on the right, passed the bamboo zone, then the track enters in a more closed forest, that's where we put the sound at 6:30pm and 2 birds answered and one sat on a branch above us. We liked the place very much but only heard Afep Pigeon and missed Back-Dwarf Hornbill...
Note that when you leave Bobiri you don't have to cross Kumasi, there is a road on the left at the town of Ejisu leading to Bekwai which is a great short cut!
THE PICATHARTES AT BONKRO VILLAGE 28/03
We were very worried about this site as we had absolutely no information from the trip reports about the place, but we found the name of the village on a paper of Birdlife International and we questioned the drivers that we met; it is very easy to get to the site, which is 14km from the road at New Edubiase, between Kumasi and Assin Fosso. The best is to sleep in New Edubiase because the picathartes generally comes in late afternoon so the time to come back to the hotel, it is best to avoid driving by night. We stayed at Hotel Boa Temaa Lodge, basic but OK at 20c in the center, but there is another hotel (called Nina's guesthouse or something like that) which seemed better but was full, and another guesthouse was signposted on the left at the end of the street on the way to Bonkro.
From the main road there is a main tarred street entering in the town at the Ghana Bank corner, follow straight, you pass a petrol station, always go straight on the dirt road for 12,6km from the station. On the way at a village there is a fork, it is on the left, you can ask to the villagers the Bonkro direction to ensure you.
The track was narrower and we arrived at the small village named Bekru, which is 500m before Bonkro; the people know why you are here and a man came to meet us, we gave him some pens and papers for the school (but books could be more useful), and he gave us a guide and we continued by car until Bonkro where we parked the car and a 2nd guide came. It is probably an agreement that there is a guide from each village. We followed them to the forest for a 45mn walk and then sat at the site, it was 3:15pm. The first and unique bird came at 5:30pm, we had a close but quick view then it climbed on a branch and stayed a long time which allowed us to observe it. We came back to the village, filled the book and paid the fee of 25c/pers for the community, and a tip for the guides, we gave 10c each.
KAKUM NATIONAL PARK 29/3 to 1/4 & 10 + 11/04
Coming from New Edubiase we could have turned right at Assin Fosso to go to the Aboabo Camp section of the park, but because we needed a permit that is sold at the main Kakum entrance in the south, we followed the Cape Coast road then took north on Jukwa road. The park is well signposted all along and is just after the small town of Abrafo. On the way we saw a Rainforest Lodge about 10km before the park, which seemed comfortable, but we stayed at the Rainforest Lodge inside the park, basic but decent with bathroom and fan at 25c and much more convenient. There is a restaurant where we had lunch and made prepare vegetable fried rice in our boxes for dinner as it closes early. The park is very busy from 9am to 4pm, after that we had the place for ourselves. The birding was very slow and here again patience is required. We stayed 4 nights. One morning we went on the canopy walkway at 6am, booked at the office the day before. It is an abusive price of 45c/pers for the first hour, +3c/pers for the early entrance, then 5c/pers for each next hour. Mondays are the best days, very quiet, Sundays are good too. A guide led us to platform 3 then left us alone, we saw some good birds although it was not crazy, we stopped on platform 4 and 5, we left at 9am when the first tourists arrived. Finally we saw few birds for a total of 122 cedis, but it is exceptional to be so high with a view of the forest, great birds can come at any time. We came back in Kakum on our way back from Ankasa, this time we stayed at the Rainforest Lodge in Jukwa which was 70c (bargained without breakfast). We went another morning on the canopy walkway, a Birdquest tour was on platform 2 facing a fruiting tree, we did n° 3, 4 and 5 again with some new birds. The platform 5 is facing the platform 2.
There are other places to bird around without guide and for free : 1) from the car park there is a trail on the right, where the chief said that we could go alone; it goes to the campsite, from where it forks, on the left leading to the canopy trail (so you can't go far), on the right it goes down to a river; we did it several times; 2) the Bekampa track, from the main gate go back to the town of Abrafo; at the end of town there is a green and yellow sign « Natilla School Complex ». If you come from Cape Coast it is on the left side at the entrance of Abrafo, exactly at the sign « Kakum NP 2km ». Follow this dirt road (Rosy Bee-eaters around the last km) until the end after 4,2km and park, the trail enters in the forest where there are other trails; we visited the area 4 times, like the other places the birding is slow, you have to look for a fruiting tree or walk until you meet a flock, but the potential is good. In fact we knew the existence of this trail because it was mentioned in the Birdquest bird lists, and we asked some information at the park, the chief said that he didn't know it, but a guide gave us the direction. Victor Emmanuel Tours call the place Abrafo Forest.
Between Cape Coast and Kakum there is the Hans Cottage Botel where we spent one night for 55c (but we asked a double... so it was 2 large beds); the garden was teeming with birds and it was a very pleasant stop.
A place called Antikwaa (or Antwikwaa) was in the reports but we didn't know how to get there. We asked at the Kakum NP office, and they charged us 30c/pers to have the right to bird there. We thought that it was in the forest. A guide from this village (Antikwaa) led us to the place and we gave him 5c to get back by bus. Here is the direction : when leaving the NP, take right on the Twifo Praso road, after 10,5km in the village of Guantobo turn right on a potholed road for 6km, here turn right again on a dirt track. After 2,2km there is a house on the right which is the guards house, where we parked the car. The guide left us, and said that we had just to follow the track and bird. In fact there was no forest at all, the birding (not bad anyway) for about 2km was in diverse plantations and then the trail was overgrown so we came back and birded here and there on some small paths. In fact when you read the trip reports you realise that the birds seen at this place are not forest species, but it is otherwise a good place. So our advise is that you should not pay for it and just go to the place and bird. When we came back to the office we complained to the chief about this abusive payment because it was outside the NP, we are sure that he understood but he didn't care and was certainly not going to give us our money back.
To be closer to the Aboabo Camp section of the park, we went to the town of Twifo Praso (a small hour from Kakum NP) and stayed at the St Georges Guesthouse for 45c with aircon. When you are in Twifo Praso the road makes a T, on the left you to to the Pra River (1c for the bridge) for the Pratincoles, on the right it is the road to Assin Fosso. The guesthouse is just at the end of the town on the left, after it the tarred road ends and it is a track going to Assin Fosso. Go straight for 17,5km to a right bend, there are 2 big antennas, 300m further on there is a fork, take right (left goes to Assin Fosso). The village called Aboabo Camp is 7.2km further, and only the last 2km are through the forest. We didn't say to the office in Kakum that we wanted to go there because we didn't want to pay 60c again, and we went until the village; we began to bird the road on the right before the entrance but we were quickly joined by a guard who asked us a permit. We said that we didn't know that it was needed and anyway we were not in the forest, which was in the right side of the track, the left being plantations, but he said that we couldn't stay. So we said goodbye and went back, but stopped often along these 2km of forest. Our advise is don't take any permit, go there and bird the road before the village and back, it is a shame to make people pay for this road used by tro-tros and taxis.
We saw a White-spotted Flufftail on the way to Aboabo Camp. Before the end of the plantations zone (about 5km from the antennas), there is a road on the right. We parked here and walked a few meters on the Aboabo road; there is a small path on the right giving directly on a flooded area with palmtrees, the Flufftail was just at the entrance of the path, building a nest.
BRENU ROAD 5 & 9/4
We liked this site very much after the difficult birding of the forests. It is located after the town of Elmina on the left, it is the road leading to the Brenu Beach Resort. We stayed at the junction at the good Esteem Koji and Adjoa Hotel, 35c with fan, 52c with aircon. The birding is along the road mostly after 2km, with a track on the left at 2,7km, and another good one with different habitat at 3,3km on the left too, you park under the coconuts and walk along, further on some paths are leading to some fields. At dusk Long-tailed Nightjars on the tarred road.
ANKASA NP 6 & 7/04
The NP is signposted on the right a few km before Elubo. A dirt track goes until the entrance for 6km (at 1,2km there was a pond on the left and we saw the Reinchebach's Sunbird). At the park there was no accommodations, there are 2 camps built 8km further on but one is totally abandoned, the 2nd seemed still running but in bad state, but the guard wasn't really in mood to go to sleep there. We camped at the entrance building under a shelter close to the river for 2 nights for 5c/night. The entrance fee is 6c/pers, the car fee 4c. The fee for birdwatching is 20c/pers for 1 day, 30c/pers for 2 days and 50c/pers for 3 days. The day of arrival the guide joined us for an owl research, and that counted for 1 day...! Our guide was named Peter, not a birder specialist but he has a good eye and we liked him. The main dirt road that we followed until the camp was terribly muddy on 3 parts and our Nissan Patrol could pass but a smaller 4x4 wouldn't. It is possible to stop before the muddy part and then walk the last 3 km but it means to arrive later at the 3 waterholes which are further along the road after the 2nd camp and where the White-bellied, Shining Blue, Blue-breasted Kingfishers and the Hartlaub's Duck are. The forest is beautiful but the birding still very slow; we saw several White-breasted Guineafowls along the main road between camp 1 and camp 2. From the 1st camp we followed a trail in the forest finishing at the « Bamboo Castle » which is near the 2nd camp, we saw few birds but great view of a White-crested Tiger-Heron flushed around 4pm. We dipped on owls, only heard the Wood-Owl.
Back on the main road and going back east there is a sign to Mpataba on the right, a short cut for Half Assini; a few meters after the beginning there is a small bridge and we saw another Reinchebach's Sunbird there.
Note: if you don't want to camp in Ankasa there are probably some hotels in Elubo. You can also ask at the park where the Frenchman Camp is, which is a guesthouse not far from the entrance, seeming to be still running but we didn't see it.
Birdquest tour stays in Half Assini which is a long drive away; we went there to see the place and it was really without interest, we stayed 1 night at the Tubson Lodge, 36c with AC. Birdquest see the Carmelite Sunbird in the area but we didn't know where, maybe in their hotel (maybe the Beach Resort?).
WINNEBA 12/04
All the trip reports mention the Winneba plains but none of them give details about the place. So we went to Winneba, and took a room in the Lagoon Lodge for 40c (good place and good food). In the evening we went birding behind the lodge towards some waterholes and where we had a good list of waders, the tide was low so there was few water. Further on is the river mouth, and in the bushes around were Senegal Thick-knees, Zitting and Black-backed Cisticolas, Yellow-throated Longclaws... The following morning we wanted to bird the place again but it appeared difficult to spot the binoculars because many villagers were using this Ramsar Site as toilets. We decided to go away and look for these plains mentioned in the reports; we went back to the roundabout on the main Accra road, and drove towards Accra. We think that the site is on the right side of the road at the level of a village called Gomoa Mpota, a mixture of grasslands and bushes teeming with birds. We took a track going inside and birded around. But it was already a bit late and we had all our bags in the cars so we did not stay too long.
KALAKPA RESERVE 14 & 15/04
From Winneba we crossed Accra (following the Tema signs) then continued straight after the Tema entrance until the road to Ho on the left. We passed the Volta river and the countryside was green and nice. About 8km before Ho there is a cross junction in the town of Sokode Gbogame, we took right the tarred road to Abutia Kloe (11,8km). At the end of this town there is a track (signposted) on the left to Kalakpa Reserve, which is after 3,2km. There we asked for the price : 30c/pers for 1 day, 40c/pers for 2 days, guide to tip. We booked for the following morning at 6am and looked for a hotel (there is the possibility to sleep in the reserve, they have a chalet for 20c, but we wanted more comfort. Back on the main road towards Ho we found a good hotel 5km from the junction called Bishop Koning's Guesthouse (35c fan, 45c AC) on the left side.
At 6am we met our guide, Bright, who doesn't know the names of the birds, but has a very good eye. The habitat seems perfect for a good birdwatching, savanna, woodlands, and a nice forest, but sadly it was more than quiet. The forest trails on the forest were flooded after the heavy rains a few days ago. We missed our target species : Capuchin Babbler (but Bright didn't know where the bird can be, later another guide said that it was on the hill... too late!) and Puvel's Illadopsis (the last one missed in Kakum), we may have a brief look of a Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat but not 100% sure. In the savanna Black-bellied Bustards and White-throated Francolin. The 2nd morning was worse with no songs and no activity and we were disappointed so we stopped at 10am.
SHAI HILLS RESERVE 16 & 17/04
A very good site for the pleasure and for the bird list! We stayed at the Shaï Hills Resort for 40c with AC, not far from the reserve entrance. The price : 30c/pers for 1 day, 40c/pers for 2 days. Our guide was Christopher, a keen birdwatcher. We went by car (4x4 needed) until a waterhole and walked around then moved to other places. If you don't have a car you just walk. Birds were singing and flying everywhere and it was great. The guide took us to the place where the groups tape the Chestnut Owlet who answered but didn't come, but we flushed a Plain Nightjar at this site. We stopped at 11am and came back at dusk. The following day was rather bad because it rained most of the morning.
SAKUMO LAGOON 18/04
We stayed in Tema at the Harbour Terrace Hotel (a Friends Club Hotel annex), 50c. The birding site is at 5mn by car along the coastal road to Accra; the road, edged with the railway, is hanging over the river mouth and there is a good view over the wetland, although the traffic makes the birdwatching not so pleasant; beware of the trains passing. We saw a good list of birds in early morning and the tide was outgoing.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis : Sakumo lagoon
Long-tailed Cormorant phalacrocorax africanus : Hans Cottage Botel, Sakumo lagoon
Black-crowned Night Heron nycticorax nycticorax : Shaï Hills
White-crested Tiger Heron tigriornis leucolopha : nice view along a forest trail Ankasa NP
Green-backed Heron butorides striatus : Hans Cottage Botel, Shaï Hills
Squacco Heron ardeola ralloides : Hans Cottage Botel, Sakumo lagoon
Cattle Egret bubulcus ibis : widespread
Western Reef Egret egretta gularis : Brenu rod, Winneba lagoon, Sakumo lagoon
Little Egret egretta garzetta : Winneba lagoon
Intermediate Egret egretta intermedia : Hans Cottage Botel, Sakumo lagoon
Great Egret egretta alba : Hans Cottage Botel, Sakumo lagoon
Grey Heron ardea cinerea : Winneba lagoon, Sakumo lagoon
Purple Heron ardea purpurea : Hans Cottage Botel, Brenu rd, Sakumo lagoon
White-faced Whistling Duck dendrocygna viduata : Fosu lagoon (Cape Coast), Sakumo lagoon
Hartlaub's Duck pteronetta hartlaubii : nice view of 2 birds at the 3rd waterhole in Ankasa
Palm-nut Vulture gypohierax angolensis : Kakum NP
Hooded Vulture necrosyrtes monachus : widespread
Bateleur terathopius ecaudatus : 1 seen at Shaï Hills
African Harrier Hawk polyboroides typus : seen at several sites
Black-shouldered Kite elanus caeruleus : Sakumo lagoon, Shaï Hills
Yellow-billed Kite milvus migrans migrans : widespread
African Cuckoo Hawk aviceda cuculoides : Atewa
Western Marsh Harrier circus aeruginosus : Sakumo lagoon
Short-toed Snake Eagle circaetus gallicus : 1 juvenile Brenu rd
Lizard Buzzard kaupifalco monogrammicus : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Gabar Goshawk micronisus gabar : along road to Ho
Shikra accipiter badius : Kalakpa
Red-chested Goshawk : accipiter toussenelii : Bobiri, Shaï Hills
Black Sparrowhawk : accipiter melanoleucus : Kakum (canopy walkway)
Congo Serpent Eagle dryotriorchis spectabilis : Kakum (in flight from the river down the campsite trail)
Long-tailed Hawk urotriorchis macrourus : Bobiri, Kakum (Aboabo Camp rd)
European Honey Buzzard pernis apivorus : Kalakpa
Red-necked Buzzard buteo auguralis : Kakum, Shaï Hills
Long-crested Eagle lophaetus occipitalis : Shaï Hills
Cassin's Hawk Eagle spizaetus africanus : Kakum
Crowned Eagle stephanoaetus coronatus :Bobiri
Common Kestrel falco tinnunculus : several seen along the roads
Grey Kestrel falco ardosiaceus : Atewa, Shaï Hills and along roads
African Hobby falco cuvierii : Winneba lagoon, Kalakpa
White-breasted Guineafowl agelastes meleagrides : a group along the main track in Ankasa
Helmeted Guineafowl numida meleagris Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Stone Partridge ptilopachus petrosus : Shaï Hills
White-throated Francolin francolinus albogularis : Kalakpa
Double-spurred Francolin francolinus bicalcaratus :Brenu rd, Kalakpa
White-spotted Flufftail sarothrura pulchra : Kakum (Aboabo Camp rd)
Black Crake amaurornis flavirostra : Hans Cottage Botel, Fosu lagoon (Cape Coast)
Purple Swamphen porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis : Sakumo lagoon
African Jacana actophilornis africanus : Hans Cottage Botel, Ankasa, Sakumo lagoon
Black-bellied Bustard lissotis melanogaster : Kalakpa
Black-winged Stilt himantopus himantopus : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Senegal Thick-knee : burhinus senegalensis : Brenu rd, Winneba lagoon
Rock Pratincole glareola nuchalis liberiae : on the Pra River in Twifo Praso
Common Ringed Plover charadrius hiaticula : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
African Wattled Lapwing vanellus senegallus : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Spur-winged Lapwing vanellus spinosus : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Grey Plover pluvialis squatarola : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Black-tailed Godwit limosa limosa : 3 at Sakumo lagoons
Whimbrel numenius phaeopus : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Red Knot calidris canutus : Sakumo lagoon
Little Stint calidris minuta : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Sanderling calidris alba : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Curlew Sandpiper calidris ferruginea : Winneba and Sakumo lagoons
Spotted Redshank tringa erythropus : Winneba lagoon
Common Redshank tringa totanus : Winneba lagoon, Shaï Hills, Sakumo lagoon
Common Greenshank tringa nebularia : Winneba, Hans Cottage Botel, Sakumo lagoon
Wood Sandpiper tringa glareola : Fosu lagoon, Shaï Hills, Sakumo lagoon
Terek Sandpiper xenus cinereus : Winneba lagoon
Common Sandpiper actitis hypoleucos : Hans Cottage Botel, Fosu lagoon, Sakumo lagoon
Gull-billed Tern gelochelidon nilotica : Sakumo lagoon
Blue-spotted Wood Dove turtur afer : seen all around
Black-billed Wood Dove turtur abyssinicus : Winneba plains
Tambourine Dove turtur tympanistria : Atewa, Kakum and other places
African Green Pigeon treron calvus : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum...
Rock Dove columbia livia
Red-eyed Dove streptopelia semitorquata : widespread
Vinaceous Dove streptopelia vinacea : Shaï Hills
Laughing Dove streptopelia senegalensis : common
Senegal Parrot poicephalus senegalus : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Red-fronted Parrot poicephalus gulielmi : Bobiri
Grey Parrot psittacus erithacus : Kakum from the canopy walkway
Green Turaco tauraco persa : Kakum, Kalakpa
Yellow-billed Turaco tauraco macrorhynchus : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Violet Turaco musophaga violacea : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Great Blue Turaco corythaeola cristata : Kakum (a group on the Bekampa track), Ankasa
Western Grey Plantain-Eater crinifer piscator : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Levaillant's Cuckoo oxylophus levaillantii : Bobiri, Brenu rd, Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Great Spotted Cuckoo clamator glandarius : Brenu rd
Common Cuckoo cuculus canorus : Bobiri, Shaï Hills (a rufous form)
African Cuckoo cuculus gularis : Kalakpa
Red-chested Cuckoo cuculus solitarius : Shaï Hills
Black Cuckoo cuculus clamosus : Bobiri (race clamosus)
Klaas's Cuckoo chrysococcyx klaas : Atewa, Kakum
Didric Cuckoo chrysococcyx caprius : Kakum, Brenu rd
African Emerald Cuckoo chrysococcyx cupreus : Kakum, and heard in Bobiri
Yellowbill ceuthmochares aereus : Atewa, Kakum
Senegal Coucal centropus senegalensis : seen in several places, race epomidis on Brenu rd
Blue-headed Coucal centropus monachus : in the bush close to a waterhole along the Brenu rd
Black-throated Coucal centropus leucogaster : Atewa
Greyish Eagle-Owl bubo cinerascens : Shaï Hills, on the rock at the White-crowned Cliff-chat site
Fraser's Eagle-Owl bubo poensis : Kakum, taped on the left side of the car park, came behind the office
Red-chested Owlet glaucidium temhronotum : Bobiri, taped from behind the guesthouse, the bird answered then came to the edge of the forest, on a high branch and didn't stop singing.
Brown Nightjar veles binotatus : 2 attracted by tape in Bobiri
Long-tailed Nightjar caprimulgus climacurus : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills, can be nearly touched
Plain Nightjar caprimulgus inornatus : Shaï Hills, flushed near the Sayu Caves
Sabine's Spinetail rhaphidura sabini : Kakum, Ankasa
Black Spinetail telacanthura melanopygia : Kakum
Cassin's Spinetail neafrapus cassini : Bobiri
African Palm Swift cypsiurus parvus : in many places
Bates's Swift apus batesi : Kakum
Little Swift apus affinis : common
Common Swift apus apus : in several places
Striped Kingfisher : halcyon chelicuti : Kalakpa
African Dwarf Kingfisher ceyx lecontei : Kakum (before the car park of Bekampa)
African Pygmy Kingfisher ceyx pictus : Kakum, Shaï Hills
White-bellied Kingfisher alcedo leucogaster : Ankasa at the 1st water hole
Malachite Kingfisher alcedo cristata : Hans Cottage Botel, Sakumo lagoon
Shining-blue Kingfisher alcedo quadribrachys : Ankasa at the 1st waterhole
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher halcyon badia : Atewa
Grey-headed Kingfisher halcyon leucocephala : Shaï Hills
Blue-breasted Kingfisher halcyon malimbica : Bobiri, Ankasa at the 1st waterhole
Woodland Kingfisher halcyon senegalensis : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum, Kalakpa
Pied Kingfisher ceryle rudis : Hand Cottage Botel, Winneba lagoon, Sakumo lagoon
Giant Kingfisher megaceryle maxima : Kakum
Blue-headed Bee-eater merops muelleri : Atewa
Black Bee-eater merops gularis : Bobiri, Kakum (at the car park)
Rosy Bee-eater merops malimbicus : Kakum (Bekampa)
Little Bee-eater merops pusillus : Atewa, Brenu rd, Sakumo lagoon
White-throated Bee-eater merops albicollis : most of the sites
Rufous-crowned Roller coracias naevius : Kalakpa
Blue-bellied Roller coracias cyanogaster : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Blue-throated Roller eurystomus gularis : Atewa, Bobiri, Ankasa
Broad-billed Roller eurystomus glaucurus : Kalakpa
Forest Wood-hoopoe phoeniculus castaneiceps : Bobiri, Kakum
White-headed Wood-hoopoe phoeniculus bollei : Kakum
Green Wood-hoopoe phoeniculus purpureus : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
African Grey Hornbill tockus nasutus : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
African Pied Hornbill tockus fasciatus : common
Piping Hornbill bycanistes fistulator : Kakum (Aboabo Camp)
White-crested Hornbill : tropicranus albocristatus : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum
Brown-cheeked Hornbill bycanistes cylindricus : Kakum (canopy walkway and on Bekampa track)
Black-casqued Hornbill ceratogymna atrata : Kakum (from the canopy walkway)
Yellow-casqued Hornbill ceratogymna elata : Ankasa
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird pogoniulus chrysoconus : Shaï Hills
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird pogoniulus bilineatus : Kakum
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird pogoniulus subsulphureus : Atewa
Red-rumped Tinkerbird pogoniulus atroflavus : Atewa
Speckled Tinkerbird pogoniulus scolopaceus : Atewa, Ankasa, Kakum, common
Yellow-spotted Barbet buccanodon duchaillui : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Hairy-breasted Barbet tricholaema hirsuta : Atewa, Kakum
Vieillot's Barbet lybius vieilloti : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Double-toothed Barbet lybius bidentatus : Shaï Hills
Bristle-nosed Barbet gymnobucco peli : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Naked-faced Barbet gymnobucco calvus : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum
Yellow-billed Barbet trachylaemus purpuratus : Kakum, Ankasa
Cassin's Honeybird prodotiscus insignis : Ankasa, Kakum
Willcock's Honeyguide indicator willcocksi : Bobiri
Lesser Honeyguide indicator minor : Shaï Hills
Cardinal Woodpecker dendropicos fuscescens : Shaï Hills
Buff-spotted Woodpecker campethera nivosa : Kakum (Bekampa track)
Brown-eared Woodpecker campethera caroli : Kakum
Little Green Woodpecker campethera maculosa : Kakum (Bekampa track), Ankasa
Melancholy Woodpecker dendropicos lugubris : Kakum
Fire-bellied Woodpecker dendropicos pyrrhogaster : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum
Square-tailed Saw-wing psalidoprocne nitens : Atewa, Ankasa
Fanti Saw-wing psalidoprocne obsura : Kakum, Brenu rd
Rock Martin ptyonoprogne fuligula : Shaï Hills at the Cliff-chat site
Lesser Striped Swallow cecropis abyssinica : Atewa, Kakum
Rufous-chested Swallow cecropis semirufa : Atewa, Kakum
Preuss's Cliff Swallow petrochelidon preussi : near Twifo Praso, Sakumo lagoon
Ethiopian Swallow hirundo aethiopica : a few sites when we stopped
Barn Swallow hirundo rustica : on course between Kumasi and Kakum
African Pied Wagtail motacilla aguimp : Kakum
Yellow Wagtail motacilla flava : Brenu rd, Winneba lagoon
Yellow-throated Longclaw macronyx croceus : Winneba lagoon, Shaï Hills, Sakumo lagoon
Red-throated Pipit anthus cervinus : Shaï Hills
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike campephaga phoenicea : Shaï Hills
Blue Cuckooshrike coracina azurea : Atewa
Slender-billed Greenbul andropadus gracilirostris : Kakum, Ankasa
Little Greenbul andropadus virens : Bobiri, Brenu rd, Kakum
Little Grey Greenbul andropadus gracilis : Kakum
Ansorge's Greenbul andropadus ansorgei : Kakum
Cameroon Sombre Greenbul andropadus curvirostris : Atewa, Bobiri
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul andropadus latirostris : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Golden Greenbul calyptocichla serina : Kakum (Bekampa track)
Honeyguide Greenbul baeopogon indicator : Atewa, Kakum
Spotted Greenbul ixonotus guttatus : Kakum, Ankasa
Icterine Greenbul phyllastrephus icterinus : Atewa, Ankasa
White-throated Greenbul phyllastrephus albigularis : Atewa, Bobiri, Kalakpa
Simple Greenbul chlorocichla simplex : Atewa, Brenu rd
Swamp Palm Bulbul thescelocichla leucopleura : Kakum (Antwikwaa), Ankasa
Common Bulbul pycnonotus barbatus : common
Western Nicator nicator chloris : Atewa, Ankasa, Kalakpa
Green-tailed Bristlebill bleda eximius : heard Atewa, Ankasa, after a long taping
Grey-headed Bristlebill bleda canicapillus : Atewa, Kakum
Western Bearded Greenbul criniger barbatus : Atewa, Kakum
Red-tailed Greenbul criniger calurus : Atewa, Ankasa
Yellow-bearded Greenbul criniger olivaceus : Ankasa
Forest Robin stiphrornis erythrothorax : Atewa
White-tailed Alethe alethe diademata : Atewa, Kakum (campsite trail)
White-tailed Ant Thrush neocossyphus poensis : Atewa, Bobiri, Ankasa
Finsch's Flycatcher Thrush stizorhina finschi : Kakum (Bekampa track)
Snowy-crowned Robin Chat cossypha niveicapilla : Brenu rd, Winneba lagoon
African Thrush turdus pelios Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Whinchat saxicola rubetra : Brenu rd
Mocking Cliff Chat thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris coronata : Shaï Hills
African Moustached Warbler melocichla mentalis : Brenu rd
Melodious Warbler hippolais polyglotta : Kakum
Senegal Eremomela eremomela pusilla : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Rufous-crowned Eremomela eremomela badiceps : Kakum (canopy walkway)
Northern Crombec sylvietta brachyura : Shaï Hills
Green Crombec sylvietta virens : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa, Kalakpa
Lemon-bellied Crombec sylvietta denti : Atewa, Kakum
Willow Warbler phylloscopus trochilus : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Wood Warbler phylloscopus sibilatrix : Atewa, Bobiri
Green Hylia hylia prasina : common in several sites
Kempf's Longbill macrosphenus kempi : Kakum (Antwikwaa)
Grey Longbill macrosphenus concolor : Atewa
Yellow-bellied Hyliota hyliota flavigaster : Kalakpa
Violet-backed Hyliota hyliota violacea : Kakum (Bekampa track), we taped and a pair answered, but it was the only time that we heard this bird.
Red-faced Cisticola cisticola erythrops : Pra River, Brenu rd, Winneba plains
Singing Cisticola cisticola cantans : Brenu rd
Whistling Cisticola cisticola lateralis : Atewa, Kalakpa
Short-winged Cisticola cisticola brachypterus : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Winding Cisticola cisticola galactotes : Sakumo lagoon
Croaking Cisticola cisticola natalensis : Shaï Hills
Zitting Cisticola cisticola juncidis : Winneba and Sakumo lagoon
Black-backed Cisticola cisticola eximius : Winneba lagoon
Tawny-flanked Prinia prinia subflava : Kakum, Sakumo lagoon
Red-winged Warbler heliolais erythropterus : Brenu rd, Kalakpa
Black-capped Apalis apalis nigriceps : Kakum (canopy walkway)
Sharpe's Apalis apalis sharpii : Bobiri, Kakum (canopy walkway)
Grey-backed Camaroptera camaroptera brachyura brevicaudata : Atewa, Kakum, Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Yellow-browed Camaroptera camaroptera superciliaris : Kakum
Olive-green Camaroptera camaroptera chloronota : Atewa, Kakum
Fraser's Forest Flycatcher fraseria ocreata : Atewa, Bobiri
Northern Black Flycatcher melaenornis edolioides : Shaï Hills
Nimba Flycatcher melaenornis annamarulae : Atewa (near the stream before the top)
Cassin's Flycatcher muscicapa cassini : Kakum
Dusky-blue Flycatcher muscicapa comitata : Atewa, Kakum
Spotted Flycatcher muscicapa striata : Atewa, Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Lead-coloured Flycatcher myioparus plumbeus : Shaï Hills
African Paradise Flycatcher terpsiphone viridis : Atewa, Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher terpsiphone rufiventer : Atewa, Bobiri, Ankasa
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher erythrocercus mccallii : Atewa, Bobiri
Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher trochocercus nitens : Kakum
Shrike Flycatcher megabyas flammulatus : Atewa, Kakum, Kalakpa
Senegal Batis batis senegalensis : Shaï Hills
Chestnut Wattle-eye dyaphorophyia castanea : most of the sites
Common Wattle-eye platysteira cyanea : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Yellow-headed Picathartes picathartes gymnocephalus : Bonkro village
Brown Babbler turdoides plebejus : Winneba plains
Brown Illadopsis illadopsis fulvescens : Atewa, heard Kakum
Blackap Illadopsis illadopsis cleaveri : Ankasa
White-shouldered Black Tit parus guineensis : Kalakpa, Shaï Hills
Forest Penduline Tit anthoscopus flavifrons : Kakum, Ankasa
Tit-hylia anthoscopus parvulus : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Yellow White-eye zosterops senegalensis : Atewa
Fraser's Sunbird deleornis fraseri : Kakum, Ankasa
Reichenbach's Sunbird anabathmis reichenbachii : Ankasa
Green-headed Sunbird cyanomitra verticalis : Brenu rd
Blue-throated Sunbird cyanomitra cyanolaema : Atewa, Ankasa
Olive Sunbird cyanomitra olivacea : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum, Ankasa, Kalakpa
Buff-throated Sunbird chalcomitra adelberti : Kakum, Ankasa
Collared Sunbird hedydipna collaris : very common
Olive-bellied Sunbird cinnyris chloropygius : Atewa, Bobiri
Tiny Sunbird cinnyris minullus : Atewa, Kakum
Johanna's Sunbird cinnyris johannae : Kakum (canopy walkway)
Superb Sunbird cinnyris superbus : Kakum, Brenu rd
Splendid Sunbird cinnyris coccinigastrus : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Copper Sunbird cinnyris cupreus : Brenu rd, Kalakpa, Shaï Hills, Sakumo lagoon
Common Fiscal lanius collaris : common along the roads
Yellow-billed Shrike corvinella corvina : Winneba plains, Tema
Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike chlorophoneus sulfureopectus : Brenu rd
Marsh Tchagra bocagia minuta : Brenu rd
Black-crowned Tchagra tchagra senegalus : Brenu rd
Brown-crowned Tchagra tchagra australis : Atewa
Sabine's Puffback dryoscopus gambensis : Atewa
Northern Puffback dryoscopus gambensis : Atewa, Shaï Hills
Tropical Boubou laniarius aethiopicus major : Brenu rd
Yellow-crowned Gonolek laniarius barbarus : Brenu rd, Winneba lagoon, Shaï Hills
White Helmetshrike prionops plumatus : Shaï Hills
Red-billed Helmetshrike prionops caniceps : Atewa, Bobiri, Ankasa
Black-winged Oriole oriolus nigripennis : Atewa, Bobiri, Ankasa
Western Black-headed Oriole oriolus brachyrhynchus : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Eurasian Golden Oriole oriolus oriolus : Kalakpa
Shining Drongo dicrurus atripennis : Atewa, Ankasa
Fork-tailed Drongo dicrurus adsimilis : Kalakpa
Velvet-mantled Drongo dicrurus modestus atactus : Kakum, Ankasa
Piapiac ptilostomus afer : road to Accra, Shaï Hills
Pied Crow corvus albus : very common
Narrow-tailed Starling poeoptera lugubris : Atewa
Chestnut-winged Starling onychognathus fulgidus hartlaubi : Kakum (canopy walkway)
Splendid Glossy Starling lamprotornis splendidus : Bobiri
Purple Glossy Starling lamprotornis purpureus : Winneba plains, Shaï Hills
Lesser Blue-eared Starling lamprotornis chloropterus : Kalakpa
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow passer griseus : very common near houses
Slender-billed Weaver ploceus pelzelni : Hans Cottage Botel (1 in an Orange Weaver colony)
Black-necked Weaver ploceus nigricollis : Atewa, Kakum, Brenu rd
Orange Weaver ploceus aurantius : Hans Cottage Botel
Village Weaver ploceus cucullatus : common
Yellow-mantled Weaver ploceus tricolor : Atewa, Bobiri
Vieillot's Black Weaver ploceus nigerrimus : Atewa, Kakum, Hans Cottage Hotel
Maxwell's Black Weaver ploceus albinucha : Atewa, Kakum
Preuss' Weaver ploceus preussi : Kakum (canopy walkway)
Compact Weaver pachyphantes superciliosus : Brenu rd
Grosbeak Weaver amblyospiza albifrons : Atewa
Red-headed Quelea quelea erythrops : Atewa
Blue-billed Malimbe malimbus nitens : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum
Crested Malimbe malimbus malimbicus : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum
Red-vented Malimbe malimbus scutatus : Bobiri, Kakum, Ankasa
Red-headed Malimbe malimbus rubricollis : Atewa, Bobiri, Kakum
Yellow-mantled Widowbird euplectes macroura : Brenu rd
Northern Red Bishop euplectes franciscanus : Sakumo lagoon
Yellow-crowned Bishop euplectes afer : Sakumo lagoon
Black-winged Bishop euplectes hordeaceus : Brenu rd
Grey-headed Negrofinch nigrita canicapillus : Atewa, Kakum, Ankasa
Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch nigrita bicolor : Kakum, Ankasa
White-breasted Negrofinch nigrita fusconotus : Atewa, Kakum
Western Bluebill spermophaga haematina : Kakum (Antwikwaa)
Black-bellied Seedcracker pyrenestes ostrinus : Kakum (parking trail before the river)
Bar-breasted Firefinch lagonosticta rufopicta : Brenu rd, Winneba plains
Red-billed Firefinch lagonosticta senegala : Sakumo lagoon
Blue-billed Firefinch lagonosticta rubricata : Brenu rd
Orange-cheeked Waxbill estrilda melpoda : at several sites
Black-rumped Waxbill estrilda troglodytes : Brenu rd
Bronze Mannikin spermestes cucullatus : several sites
Black-and-white Mannikin spermestes bicolor : Atewa, Kakum
Pin-tailed Whydah vidua macroura : Atewa, Kakum, Brenu rd, Winneba plains
Birds heard only :
Nkulengu Rail himantornis haematopus : Ankasa, 2 singing very close to the river and our tent at dusk, we frustrately missed them.
Afep Pigeon columba unicincta : Bobiri
Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo cercococcyx olivinus : Kakum on the Bekampa track
African Wood-Owl strix woodfordii : Bobiri, Ankasa
Chestnut Owlet glaucidium castaneum etchecopari : Shaï Hills at Sayu Caves
African Scops Owl otus senegalensis : Shaï Hills
Freckled Nightjar caprimulgus tristigma : Shaï Hills at Sayu Caves
Narina's Trogon apaloderma narina : Bobiri
Rufous-sided Broadbill smithornis rufolateralis : Kakum (Bekampa track and canopy walkway)
Oriole Warbler hypergerus atriceps : Brenu rd, Shaï Hills
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye dyaphorophia blissetti : Kakum (Bekampa track)
Sooty Boubou : laniarius leucorhynchus : Kakum (Bekampa track)
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