Well here I am in Gambia on the west coast of Africa. The birds are just amazing, easy to see and easy to photograph and in great light. This is a Little Bee-eater and I was pleased, excited and keen to get down to photographing them in flight as soon as I found a small group in paddy fields near to my hotel. In actual fact I am staying at the Kombo Beach Hotel which is literally next to the famous Kotu Creak, well known to British birders and photographers. Not surprising because the bird opportunities are immense. Yesterday when I got up at dawn, (ish) by 10 past 7 I had photographed Caspian Tern, Black Kite and Hooded Vulture, all within a few yards of my room. I went on to see and photograph around 41species that day, many being 'lifers' for me. I have seen some beautiful birds and have the pictures to show for it.

However there is quite a problem with the so called professional bird guides here,  and I have already had problems with them. They  will just not leave you in peace. I was told that the best course of action was to employ a guide and in that way, you will be able to have some kind of control and stop the pestering by the others….. all well and good if you make the right choice in the first instant. These guides are charging European prices but we are in a developing country economy and they are asking you to pay for a day what working men in the Gambia get paid for a week! To me, that does not seem fair?  Yesterday I had a guide, a good man who just didn't get that I am a photographer and not a list ticker and he did show me some nice birds and it was fascinating to hear and see his skill at calling out small birds from the undergrowth and of course it is good when birds are named for you in an instant. But he wasn't for me, we didn't gell!  Once they have you though, that's it, you are their property and this morning, when, as I sat taking pictures close to the bridge he arrived…. disturbing me of course…..!  I told him that I wasn't happy to continue with him as my guide and it was as though world war 3 had broken out. But now I am a free man again and I can continue with my freedom, but unfortunatley  the others know I am "unattached" and  they have started to pester me again…..quite a problem really.

I love Bee-eaters and this is a species that I havent photographed before. It's a Little Bee-eater and they are quite approachable here.  I watched and photographed them involved in mating activity, passing food etc. I love to photograph Bee-eathers in flight and this looks like its the place to do it.

Lots of other birds.