The first PHOWN (PHOtos of Weaver Nests) records from Gambia were submitted last week. See all PHOWN records from Gambia here. Clive Barlow and Tony Fulford submitted records of five weaver species, including two species new in PHOWN.

1. Heuglin's Masked Weaver. This record includes an interesting ecological observation. One nest (found on the ground) contained four dead chicks of the Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu Uraeginthus bengalus. Many waxbill and finch species take over the nests of weavers to use for breeding. The nests are shown in the photo (below left, from phown 3725).

2. White-billed Buffalo-Weaver. The nests were in a baobab Adasonia digitata near the coast, and the nests were actively being repaired prior to the rainy season. Nests from phown 3716) photo (below right).

Gambian PHOWN records