Shorebirds hotspot : Keur Waly Ndiaye wetland

Amongst my favourites birding spots around Ndiaffate is what I use to call ‘Keur Waly Ndiaye wetland’. This oxbow lake on the edge of the Saloum River extends on 6.5 km length from Keur Waly Ndiaye to Bandoulou. It fills with water during the rainy season and remains interesting for birds all year round.

Keur Waly Ndiaye wetland map (image GoogleEarth); green circles indicate most interesting watchpoints

typical landscape of Keur Waly Ndiaye wetland with Spoonbills in the background. picture Frédéric Vaidie

This site is very attractive for shorebirds. Despite average overall numbers diversity is remarkably high and steady. It is possible to get very decent views of most of wintering waders species from Europe at each visit: Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Little Stint, Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover in addition to resident Senegal Thick-knee, Collared Pratincole, Black-headed Lapwing and Spur-winged Lapwing. More irregularly Spotted Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, African Wattled Lapwing and Painted Snipe are encountered.

Thi site is good to get very instructive species comparisons:

Marsh Sandpiper (left) with Common Greenshank

It’s not rare to have nice surprises like this Temminck’s Stint watched in January 2014.

Temminck’s Stint

Last January an adult Lesser Yellowlegs was present from January 3^rd to 12^th (at least). 4^th record for Senegal, my second in Kaolack’s region after this bird at Kaolack saltpans in March 2013. Any chance it could be the same individual?

adult Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs with Marsh Sandpiper

Another very interesting observation of January is a group of 2 Jack Snipes hiding with a Common Snipe in mudflats. This very elusive species had never been recorded in the Saloum before and is rarely seen in Senegal.

Jack Snipe, a rare visitor to Senegal

Keur Waly Ndiaye wetland is of course also interesting for other birds, passerines and non-passerines. Typical birds of open savannah are present. Most of herons and egrets species can be seen, and African Darter as well.

African Darter, a regular visitor to the wetland in low numbers

Black-crowned Night Heron, always hiding in tamarisk

Tamarisk bushes and thorntrees deserve a look for passerines. Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, African Quailfinch and others can be seen along with rarer Bluethroat, Wryneck or Western Orphean Warbler.

Western Bonelli’s Warbler, a rather common european visitor

It is a good place for raptors as well. Close roosting Lesser Kestrels, African Swallow-tailed Kites and Montagu’s Harriers are common, Short-toed Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle and Barbary Falcon can be seen.

All in all, Keur Waly Ndiaye wetland is a perfect roadside stop, providing very pleasant bird walk in the morning en route to the Saloum Delta or before an evening visit to Kousmar raptors roost.

classic bird landscape at Keur Waly Ndiaye: terns, gulls, shorebirds, herons, egrets and storks

Mixed flocks of Spoonbills is a regular sight (two ringed birds from France with an italian bird), here with Common Greenshanks and Pink-backed Pelicans

If you visit this place please transmit your observations (simon dot cavailles at gmail dot com).

Simon