Birdwatching

The coast around Cape Tagarit sits at the southern edge of the Banc d'Arguin system, one of the most productive birdwatching areas in Africa. From October through March, the mudflats and shallow lagoons around the cape host extraordinary numbers of migratory waders and waterbirds that spend the northern winter here: flamingos, spoonbills, pelicans, terns, herons, and a vast assortment of sandpipers and plovers freshly arrived from European and Arctic breeding grounds.

You do not need a permit to birdwatch at Cape Tagarit — unlike the national park area to the north, this stretch of coast is freely accessible. Bring binoculars and a field guide to West African birds; the tide cycle determines where the birds are concentrated. Early morning and late afternoon, when the light is low and the birds are active, are the most rewarding times. Even a casual birdwatcher will be staggered by the numbers.

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A story
The mudflats and sandbanks between Cape Tagarit and Tidra island form part of the Banc d'Arguin complex — one of the world's most important wintering and staging sites for migratory birds on the East Atlantic Flyway. At peak migration, the flats can hold hundreds of thousands of waders: bar-tailed godwits that have flown non-stop from Alaska, knot from Greenland, dunlin from Siberia. The Banc d'Arguin as a whole is estimated to support 2–3 million waterbirds each winter.