Footsteps in the Gambia - November 2016 (1 Viewer)

Allen

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2016

• #21

Thanks everyone for the information. We're off on 28th and staying at Palm Beach Hotel next to Kotu Creek so hoping it might be a little more bird-filled by then

 

dandsblair

David and Sarah

Supporter

• Nov 18, 2016

• #22

Nice report. We stayed at Palm Beach on second trip is was OK but much preferred Senegambia

 

D

Dave Williams

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2016

• #23

In was told that the Senegambia have chopped lots of their trees down and the birds have moved in to the Kairaba gardens now. Odd thing to do for a hotel with a birding reputation unless maybe the monkeys have become such a pest they are trying to discourage them by removing their escape route!
Must admit, I didn't much like the Senegambia and the Palm Beach is a tad on the rough side . The birding outside there was the best around the Kotu Creek a week or two ago though.

 

Digbert Doobrey

Well-known member

• Nov 18, 2016

• #24

Foxy said:

I use both a DSLR and a Canon SX50, the SLR sparingly when I'm going to see something specific and the SX50 most of the time: it is brilliant for travelling when you don't use half your luggage allowance on camera and lenses, and the SX50 gives great results. Yours are superb, why lug the SLR when you get pictures like these and you are not intending to sell or publish them?
The only downsides are focussing on a bird in a bush or confusing foregrounds and trying to follow or pick up fast moving/flying birds when an SLR is needed.

Click to expand...

The bridge camera can be very versatile but on the other hand a bit limited too. There was no way I could capture shots of some of the gorgeous Sunbirds they get in The Gambia. They just flit about too quickly!

 

MKinHK

Mike Kilburn

• Nov 19, 2016

• #25

Agree with Foxy - the SX50 is a cracking entry level camera for bird photography. I loved using mine for 3 years, and was more limited by my own abilities than the camera's. The SX50 thread has load of shots that its hard to believe come from such a cheap camera and such a tiny sensor.

Those Blue-bellied Rollers are absolute stunners!

Cheers
Mike

 

Allen

Well-known member

• Nov 20, 2016

• #26

Another question if anyone can help. In the Helm guide it notes breeding and non breeding ranges - which times of the year are which for Gambia so I can brush up on the right species?

 

D

Dave Williams

Well-known member

• Nov 21, 2016

• #27

Species like the Bishops are in glorious full plumage at the moment, by the end of December they are plain as plain can be.

 

Allen

Well-known member

• Nov 22, 2016

• #28

Thanks, so on that basis breeding ranges in Helm guide equate to wet season and thus we will be unlikely to see any breeding range only species - just resident and wintering ones. Thanks