Elizabeth Manneh
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elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Elizabeth Manneh
@elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
380 followers 240 following 340 posts
Married. Share my time between the UK and The Gambia. I love reading, crafts, wildlife, photography, plant-based food and more.
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elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A very damp and disheveled African Pygmy #kingfisher after diving for insects in our bird pool.
@balabacamp.bsky.social

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #wildlife #birds #nature
A tiny kingfisher is perched on a diagonal stick. It has an orange face and chest with a faint purple cheek. Its wings are blue and it has a blue crown. Its feathers are damp and untidy because it’s been diving into a bird pool for insects.
November 23, 2025 at 2:52 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
My contribution to the #BirdOfTheDay theme #Mr&Mrs. A pair of Western Bluebills at our bird bowl. The female is on the right.

#gambia #birds #BirdPhotography
Two small birds are perched on the rim of a clay bowl. The left-hand bird (male) has a black head and wings, red underbelly and a blue bill. The female (on the right) has a red head and belly, black wings and a black rear with white spots.
November 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A rather beautiful Yellow-throated leaflove taking a look around. 😍
@balabacamp.bsky.social

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #BirdingCommunity #wildlife #birds #nature
A medium-sized bird is perched on a diagonal branch. It’s mainly brown but it has a bright yellow throat patch and orange eyes.
November 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
The Violet turacos is one of Balaba Nature Camp’s most stunning visitors. This beauty is showing off its iridescent plumage with just a hint of its red under feathers.

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #birdingphotography #wildlife #birds #nature
A large bird is perched on the edge of a clay bird bowl. It has iridescent purple and blue plumage with a few red feathers showing on its wing edge. It has a red crown, yellow patch over its bill and a stubby orange bill.
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Our field guide describes the Western Bluebill as ‘uncommon’ so we’re delighted that we have a nesting pair here at Balaba Nature Camp. Here you can see the male taking a bath and the female enjoying a snack.

#birdwatching #gambia #birding #birdingphotography #wildlifephotography #birds #nature
A small black and red bird is bathing in a shallow pool. Its feathers are very wet. It has a shiny blue bill. A small red and black bird is perched on the ground. You can just see her black belly with white spots. She has seed residue around her bill.
November 17, 2025 at 10:36 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social has chosen ‘any bird with grey’ for today’s #BirdOfTheDay. Here’s a Western grey plantain eater having a vigorous bath in a very small bowl! 🤣

#birds #birdphotography
A large bird is taking a bath in a very small clay bowl. It can hardly fit in the bowl. It has different shades of grey in its plumage with a yellow bill.
November 16, 2025 at 9:49 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
No photo yesterday as we were out on the Allahein river watching the birds (and crocodiles!).

Today’s bird is the beautiful Lavender waxbill. 😍

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #wildlife #birds
A sparrow-sized bird is perched on a curved horizontal branch. It is mainly lavender coloured with a bright red rump and tail.
November 16, 2025 at 9:41 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
@alan678.bsky.social has designated today’s #BirdOfTheDay is ‘swan’. The alternative is a bird on a post. Here’s a little Buff-spotted #woodpecker near our bird pool in The Gambia.

#birds #gambia #birdphotography
A small woodpecker is clinging to the side of a vertical wooden pole. It has olive green wings and a speckled head and chest. Its bill is open.
November 14, 2025 at 9:01 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A pair of Snowy-crowned robinchats checking out our pool area.

#birdwatching #gambia #birding #birdingphotography #wildlife #naturephotography #birds #nature
Two medium-sized birds are sitting on a horizontal branch. They have grey wings and reddish orange underparts, collar and throat. They have black eye patches and a white crown.
November 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Surprisingly, the Hooded #vulture is #endangered so it’s nice that we have our own resident vultures. This one likes to sit on the roof of our house.

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #BirdingCommunity #wildlifephotography #wildlife #birds
A close-up shot of a Hooded vulture. It’s mainly brown with white legs. It has bare pink skin on the front of its neck and face. The back of its neck and its crown are white. It has a hooked bill and blue eyes.
November 13, 2025 at 9:58 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay from @alan678.bsky.social is #paddling. Here’s a Shikra taking a dip in our Gambian bird pool.

#gambia #birding #birdofprey #birdphotography
A medium-sized bird of prey is standing in a shallow pool. It has slate-grey head and wings, yellow legs and feet, and pink and white barring on its chest. It has piercing orange eyes.
November 12, 2025 at 9:32 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
This Agama lizard was resting on a roof beam in our bird hide in The Gambia.

#gambia #birding #wildlifephotography #wildlife #naturephotography #nature #reptile #reptilesofinstagram
The yellow head of an Agama lizard against a dark background.
October 31, 2025 at 12:03 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A rather beautiful White-crowned Robinchat taking a look around our Gambia compound.

#birdwatching #gambia #birding #wildlifephotography #wildlife #naturephotography #birds #nature
A medium-sized bird is perched on a stick with forest behind. It has a red tail and underparts, and a black eye stripe and wings. It has a white crown.
October 30, 2025 at 1:02 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
We often hear the Common Wattle-eye around the compound but we don’t often get a clear view. This little beauty was surveying the garden area.

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #wildlifephotography #wildlife #birds #nature
A small bird is sitting on a horizontal fence post. It has a white throat and belly, and black wings. It has a black bib and head and has a scarlet patch over its eye.
October 24, 2025 at 10:52 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Oops! It’s tricky to keep your balance in the wind with such a long tail! 😳 A Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher on a windy day!

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #BirdingCommunity #naturephotography #birds #nature
October 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay today chosen by @alan678.bsky.social is #green. This greenfinch is decidedly unimpressed with the rain. 🤣

#birds
A small bird is perched on a twig. It’s mainly green with a yellow flash on its wings. It’s very wet because it’s raining.
October 21, 2025 at 4:27 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
It’s hard to believe how loudly the Pied Crows can call until you’ve heard them. They are incredibly noisy! 😳

#birdwatching #gambia #birding #birdingphotography #BirdingCommunity #wildlife #naturephotography #birds #nature
A large crow is calling from a palm tree trunk. Its bill is open. It is all black except for a white band around its shoulders and belly.
October 19, 2025 at 10:37 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
All #Gambian glossy starlings have stunning colours. This Purple Glossy Starling is demonstrating why it’s called ‘glossy’. 😉

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #birdingphotography #BirdingCommunity #wildlife #birds
A medium-sized bird is perched on a fence post. It has its back to the camera but is looking over its right shoulder. It has glossy blue plumage on its back with a purple head and rump. It has yellow eyes.
October 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
I was so busy trying to photograph the White-crowned Robinchat that at first I didn’t even notice the African Beauty snake photobombing in front of it! 🤣

#birdwatching #gambia #birding #BirdingCommunity #wildlifephotography #wildlife #naturephotography #birds
A medium-sized bird is standing on the edge of a bird pool. It has red underparts, black wings and tail and a white crown. A slim snake is approaching the pool. The head of a slim snake. The top of its head and body are darker brown while its underside is cream. It has a narrow black stripe through its eye and down its side.
October 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A male Violet-Backed #starling showing off his stunning plumage.

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #birdingphotography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #birds
A bird is perched on a horizontal branch. It has white underparts and iridescent violet back, tail and head.
October 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A crowd at the bird bowl, including Lavender Waxbills, red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu, a Little Weaver and. Western Bluebill.

#birdwatching #gambia #birding #birdingphotography #BirdingCommunity #wildlife #naturephotography #birds #nature
A group of different small birds are all perched around the rim of a clay bird bowl.
September 28, 2025 at 10:11 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdIfTheDay from @robcrank68.bsky.social is ‘Any bird with three or more colours’. Here’s a White-crowned Robinchat demonstrating three colours beautifully. 😉
A medium-sized bird is perched on a fence post. It has a red tail and underparts, a black head and wings and a white crown.
September 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
The theme for #BirdOfTheDay is ‘Any bird having a bath’. Here’s a Western Grey Plantain Eater squeezing into a small bowl for its bath. 🤣

#gambia #birdwatching #birdphotography

@robcrank68.bsky.social
A bird is having a vigorous bath in a small clay bird bowl. It is mostly various shades of grey with a yellow parrot-like bill.
September 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
A pretty little Yellow White-Eye taking a look around.

#birdwatching #gambia #birdphotography #birding #BirdingCommunity #wildlifephotography #wildlife #birds
A small yellow bird is perched on a fence post. It has a white ring around its eye.
September 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
elizabethmanneh.bsky.social
#birdoftheday theme today is #notabranch. Here’s a male Buff-spotted #woodpecker ready to take a dip in our clay bird bowl.

@robcrank68.bsky.social

#gambia #birds #birdphotography
A small woodpecker is clinging to the rim of a clay bird bowl. He has olive wings and head, green and white spots on his neck and belly, and a red nape
September 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM