The Birds and Bees in West Africa

摘要

I learned much about bees while with a group of birdwatchers on an expedition to The Gambia in West Africa last December. Another member of the party, from Hampshire, was also a beekeeperso we both kept an eye out for hives and honey whilst enjoying some fantastic birds. We observed nearly 300 differentspecies in two weeks, including numerous beautiful Bee-eaters, but the most interesting bird for a beekeeper, although not the most colourful, was the Honeyguide.While birding one day, an amazingly large colony of bees was sighted swarming along the tree tops at the side of the track. This was the prompt for us to search for the elusive Greater Honeyguide, a must see for the trip, especially for the two beekeepers.