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Message: <blockquote data-quote="dandsblair" data-source="post: 3181353" data-attributes="member: 107571">On to MoleToday was a slightly later start, so it was just first light as we headed out for breakfast and we disturbed two Northern White-faced Owls in the tree right outside reception. Over breakfast Victor suggested that we might want to think about dropping Attewa Range and spending an extra night back here in Kumasi with one early start to do Offinso forest more thoroughly and get two evening and a morning visit to Bobiri to try for Owls and other forest birds. He told us that after rain the slog up Attewa was hard and that with the exception of one flycatcher all the other birds at Attewa could be found at Offinso with the main target Blue-moustached Bee-eater being much easier here. I’m in interested in Rob’s report as by the sounds of things with logging in the lower levels there isn’t much to see in the early part of this day and on the way back down. Kumasi to Mole is the longest drive of the trip so we have a stop at Offinso Forest on the way up but only spend an hour and a half there. The habitat looked pretty good and it was mainly flat with good paths into the forest / scrub. Birding was good with African Cuckoo Hawk, Grey Kestrel, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Rufous Crowned Roller, African Grey Hornbill, Pied Hornbill, the last Malimbe Red-crested, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Little Green Woodpecker, Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher, Collared Sunbird and Grey Longbill all suggesting that a longer visit would be productive.After our brief stop at Offinso we agreed that dropping Attewa sounded sensible and that we should cancel accommodation at Kofa and add an extra night in Kumasi (now two nights here) on the way back. Ashanti did the changes with no additional charges.On the way to Mole we stopped for lunch at Kintampo Falls (the central point of the country), despite the heavy rains that had fallen over the south and central parts of the country in the last week, beyond this point it was hot and very dry with most wildlife congregated around any source of water. So it was that we started stopping at water holes as we headed further North, the first stop got us Shikra (I wrongly called it Lizard Buzzard – obviously hadn’t got me eye in for Savanah birds), then the first of many Grasshopper Buzzards, with a Dark Chanting Goshawk and then some Long-tailed Glossy Starlings before we finally got a Lizard Buzzard. It was also noticeable that the common Bee-eater on every wire or bare tree was now Red-throated rather than White-throated which was now scares. Nearer Mole we started stopping more regularly best birds were Blue-breasted Kingfisher and albeit a little distant an Abyssinian Roller and just before Larabanga,  Appiah filled up with fuel shaking every little drop he could into the tank and rocking the bus so that it was completely full, he didn’t want to run out over the next 4 days. On arrival we checked into the Mole Hotel which we expected to be pretty full as it was a week-end and we had been told that it was always full at week-ends, however there were only about 20 guests and by Monday less than 10. Tourism in West Africa is really down and availability for last minute breaks is excellent even places that usually need advance booking are available and willing to negotiate on price (based on overhearing a conversation with some fellow guests). The Mole hotel, which is the only accommodation in the area, although another lodge is being built by some American’s. It is situated on a 250 meter high escarpment over- looking the 4840km² park, it offers great views and from our balcony it is an amazing feeling to be sitting watching African elephants bathing in the two nearby watering holes. On the ground are Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Hadada Ibis and Cattle Egret, whilst in the air we see a Western Banded Snake eagleIt’s been a long day and we settle for just a leisurely night with some food and beer rather than going out tonight, also didn’t want to go to Mole air strip as the Malimbe groups we saw earlier are saying here tonight and are off to the air strip tonight.Over dinner Victor tries to persuade a member of the kitchen staff to do breakfast at 5.30 we eventually settle for 5.40. We will have an armed guard (Cedo) with us when we are out walking and in the bus over the next few days.D.Chanting Goshawk; Elephants; Grasshopper Buzzard; Red-throated Bee-eater; Abyssian Roller</blockquote>

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