• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

Site description (2001 baseline)
The site comprises a line of shallow freshwater and brackish lakes bordered with extensive beds of Typha swamp, mudflats and rice cultivation. The lakes are located on the north bank of the Gambia River, 150 km from the coast and to the south of the divisional capital Kaur. The northernmost lake, close to Kaur and bisected by the main north bank road, is a seasonal wetland. The other lakes may be spring-fed and permanent. They lie below a broken series of lateritic outcrops set back 3–4 km from the Gambia River.

Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The birds of the lake nearest Kaur are relatively well known; those of the remainder much less so. The lake near Kaur is one of the most important in the country for Pluvianus aegyptius, Vanellus albiceps and Charadrius pecuarius. In the early dry season over 100 Circus aeruginosus and C. pygargus, together with a few C. macrourus, have been recorded congregating around the lakes.

Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Samba Soto to Kaur wetlands (Gambia). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/samba-soto-to-kaur-wetlands-iba-gambia on 23/11/2024.