Pool time at Mandina Lodges - swimming with Bee Eaters
A new experience for us
13.04.2019 - 13.04.2019
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Galavanting in The Gambia 2019
on Grete Howard's travel map.
After lunch we retire to the swimming pool, relaxing, reading, swimming, birdwatching. The pool area is full of at least two dozen little White Throated Bee Eater, swooping down into the water, to catch bugs on the surface, or just for a cooling dip.
They are so fast, and never dive in the same place twice, making it impossible to catch them on the camera. This is the nearest I got:
After little success using my small waterproof camera, I risk the SLR with my long lens into the pool.
I don't do much better with the 'proper' camera.
Looking rather bedraggled after his dip in the pool
A Fanti Saw Tail joins in – a new species to us, but sadly another rubbish photograph.
Swimming with dolphins is so yesteryear – to be really hip in 2019, you've got to have been swimming with bee eaters. It really is quite something to have them splashing all around us in the pool!
David in the pool
We return to our own private balcony for the rest of the afternoon.
Strange elongated fish in the river - trumpet fish?
The river is teeming with fish of all shapes and sizes.
At times there appears to be a feeding frenzy, with the surface of the water covered in ripples.
Palm Nut Vulture flying overhead
Common Redshank
Pied Kingfisher
Tourist boat – everything around here is very low key.
Black Headed Heron
Hooded Vulture
The kingfisher keeps returning, and hovering above the river for quite some time before diving in after a fish. Again and again and again he does this, providing us with endless amusement.
We watch as Angela and Keane set off for their sunset cruise.
Malin, the chef, comes to our room to ask what we would like for dinner, and stays chatting. And chatting. And chatting. He explains he is just about to embark on a hotel management course in Camberley, UK, and says he wants to come and stay with us while he is studying. I don't think he quite realises the distances involved in England, Camberley is well over two hours' drive away from us, each way, even without traffic. Not that I have any intention whatsoever to invite him to stay with us. Sorry Malin, it ain't 'appenin'.
The lights is fading now, but I stay on the balcony taking (bad quality) photographs of the birds flying around.
Abyssinian Roller
The Pied Kingfisher is still here, skimming the surface now.
Common Sandpiper
Dinner
Soon it is time to tear myself away from the birds (which I can hardly see any more anyway, in the quickly fading light), and have a shower before wandering down to the restaurant for dinner.
Tuna Salad
Cottage Pie
Chicken Curry
Chocolate Ice Cream
The ceiling above the restaurant is home to a large colony of bats. Every evening we see them flying around.
.
When we first arrived, I wondered why the dining tables were not positioned under the domed roofs - I have since come to realise that they are strategically placed to avoid any droppings.
The end of another lovely day - the stars twinkle over Mandina Lodges.
Posted by Grete Howard 15:03 Archived in Gambia Tagged fish bird africa dinner pool birding swimming_pool bats roller heron vulture kingfisher gambia bird_watching waterproof_camera sandpiper bee_eaters the_gambia the_gambia_experience swimming_with_bee_eaters saw_tail redshank
And I love the ones of the Pied Kingfisher too
I noticed you both were wearing long pants at dinner time. Do the temperatures drop low in the evening? As always the photos are amazing. I'd love to see the bats flying at night. They fascinate me.
by littlesam1