Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Shoebill |
 Great Blue Turaco |
 Rufous-bellied Heron |
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 Rwenzori Turaco |
 Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater |
 Abyssinian Ground Thrush |
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TOUR ITINERARY, Overnight
Day 1 – Introduction to Uganda’s birding, Entebbe Entebbe
Day 2 – Mabamba Swamp and Lake Mburo National Park Lake Mburo
Day 3 – Lake Mburo National Park Lake Mburo
Day 4 – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Kisoro
Day 5 – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Kisoro
Day 6 – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Ruhija Ruhija
Day 7 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Ruhija Ruhija
Day 8 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Buhoma Buhoma
Day 9 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Buhoma Buhoma
Day 10 – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Buhoma Buhoma
Day 11 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park Mweya
Day 12 – Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale National Park Kibale
Day 13 – Kibale National Park Kibale
Day 14 – Kibale to Masindi Masindi
Day 15 – Masindi, Budongo Forest Masindi
Day 16 – Masindi to Murchison Falls National Park Murchison Falls
Day 17 – Murchison Falls National Park Murchison Falls
Day 18 – Transfer to Entebbe Entebbe
Day 19 – International Flights
Overview
Interestingly enough this was one of the “birdier” Uganda tours that I have been on. Birds were generally in good voice, and fair numbers of birds were seen at most of our hotspots. Cuckoos were a little less vocal, but widowbirds, bishops, and weavers were in full breeding plumage and displaying all over the place. There were really good numbers of waxbills, cisticolas, and other agricultural and savanna species throughout the trip.
The south-western forest areas produced almost all of the usual suspects, including really great visuals of Rwenzori Turaco at Mgahinga, Grauer’s Broadbill on the Mubwindi Swamp walk in Ruhija, and the kivuensis subspecies of Abyssinian Ground Thrush on the main Buhoma trail. The savanna parks were good to us too, and we managed to find a group of Lions in Ishasha and had a highly successful boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. Murchison Falls was superb and produced Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and Black-bellied Bustard, and luck was certainly on our side as we managed to witness a Lioness kill a male Uganda Kob. Kibale was full of great birds such as Narina Trogon and three separate individuals of the enigmatic Green-breasted Pitta!
And of course not much more can be said about the iconic Shoebill, which was found at Mabamba Swamp, as well as both Mountain Gorilla and Eastern Chimpanzee! It certainly was a bucket-list trip for all who joined this magnificent set departure.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 1st August 2019. An introduction, Entebbe
The first morning of our tour had arrived. We started things with some birding around Entebbe; the gardens of the hotel as well as the Entebbe Botanical Garden were both really productive. The hotel gardens produced Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Plantain-eater (right alongside the breakfast veranda), Red-chested and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Village Weaver, Brimstone Canary, and Bronze Mannikin, as well as a pair of African Hobbies. A small flock of Meyer’s Parrots was also a treat – first seen perched on a tree on the hillside and later seen cruising by at high speed, screeching away.
The botanical garden is beautiful and never ceases to produce really enjoyable sightings. We began on the shoreline in search of the tricky Orange Weaver. We picked up Yellow-billed Kites, Hooded Vulture, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Hadada Ibis, and Grey-capped Warbler even before we made it to the shoreline. The species on the shores of Lake Victoria included Pied Kingfisher, Reed Cormorant, Black Crake, Winding Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Olive Bee-eater, African Openbill, a pair of African Fish Eagles, and a single Common Sandpiper. The amazing Great Blue Turaco made its presence felt with its incredibly loud call, and not long after that we saw two of them clambering through some foliage. Yellow-throated Longclaw displayed, while both Tambourine Dove and African Green Pigeon put in fly-by appearances. With some persistence we also picked up both Orange and Golden-backed Weavers. Other species that morning included Klaas’s Cuckoo, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Green Crombec, Northern Yellow White-eye, and Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat. Crowned Hornbill was also great, it would be our first of many on the tour.
Our afternoon session was also enjoyable; we found Striated Heron, Common Sandpiper, White-breasted Cormorant, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Spur-winged Lapwing, and African Hobby perched up high. Gathering some local information we managed to find a roosting Bat Hawk, which we also saw flying around on the lodge grounds after dusk. We enjoyed our first dinner together as we chatted about the exciting tour itinerary that lay before us.
Day 2, 2nd August 2019. Mabamba Swamp and drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Today was the day for which many from our group had been waiting for a long time, featuring a trip to Mabamba Swamp to locate the magical Shoebill. Our trip across to the swamp produced African Darter, Grey-backed Fiscal, Lizard Buzzard, and Black-headed Heron. Arriving at the swamp we set off straight away and headed down one of the channels. Long-toed Lapwing, Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, and Northern Brown-throated Weaver were among the first species we picked up for the day. It took some time, but we managed to find the “bucket-list”, must-see Shoebill! The bird was rather deep in the swamp but was sitting very nicely out in the open for all to see. It moved slowly and got itself into position to watch a small, quiet patch of open water. We sat with the bird for a while as it stood motionless, waiting for its favorite meal, the lungfish, to appear. In this same area we picked up African Swamphen, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Yellow-billed Duck, African Marsh Harrier, Cape Wagtail, and a couple of Rufous-bellied Herons, the latter being fairly uncommon at the site. A Blue Swallow flashed by overhead and unfortunately didn’t hang around for prolonged views. A majestic Saddle-billed Stork, however, was spotted moving slowly through an open section of swamp; we took our time watching this male bird trying to scrounge up some food. A bit later we headed to a massive colony of Weyns’s Weaver; many males in full breeding plumage were very actively collecting nesting material. Heading in the wooden canoes into the papyrus of Mabamba Swamp is a real treat and something I’m sure all will remember during their birding careers. We missed Papyrus Gonolek in the swamp, so we tried another known spot for it a little later toward Lake Mburo, here we were successful. Brief views of this stunning bird were more than satisfying. Striped Kingfisher and a few Angolan Swallows were also really nice to get close-up looks at.
Before arriving at our accommodation for the next two nights we did some birding on the access road. A small group of Wattled Starlings was trumped by seeing much larger groups later on. Blue-naped Mousebirds were everywhere, while a pair of Nubian Woodpeckers put in a short display. A Red-chested Cuckoo also showed surprisingly well. Other species in this dry woodland included Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Crested Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Woodland Kingfisher, and Yellow-billed Oxpecker. It was great to once again find Brown-chested Lapwing in the same area as in the previous few years. Rattling and Trilling Cisticolas were very vocal near the entrance to the park. We arrived safely at the lodge after a successful day. Before we settled in for a drink and a buffet-style dinner we added a few more species to the day list, including: Red-headed Lovebird, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Red-headed Weaver, and Black Cuckooshrike.
Day 3, 3rd August 2019. Lake Mburo National Park
We opted to have an early breakfast this morning and head straight into the park; a whole new suite of bird species awaited us. Our first new species included Senegal Lapwing and Helmeted Guineafowl, both in good numbers on the open, grassy plains. A small group of White-rumped Swifts was cruising overhead near the entrance gate. It was fantastic to find a Grey-headed Kingfisher perched at eye level in a small acacia bush. The beauty of this classy bird somehow leaves you awestruck. The open sections of the park delivered Sooty Chat, Plain-backed Pipit, a few more Senegal Lapwings, and Black-winged Kite. It was really great to get a close-up visual of a Pearl-spotted Owlet that was first heard calling in the nearby woodland. Here we also picked up Common Scimitarbill and a single Green-backed Woodpecker. After lunch and a quick rest we headed back into the park for our boat trip on Lake Mburo. This boat trip has become very well known for the magical African Finfoot. After only a short time we had already picked up Holub’s Golden Weaver, Little Egret, Squacco and Striated Herons, Lesser Striped Swallow, White-headed Saw-wing, and many Pied and Malachite Kingfishers. A few shorebirds were hanging around the edges of the lake, Common, Wood, and Green Sandpipers. It took some time, but once again amazing views of both male and female African Finfoot were had. It was a jam-packed day today, as we also had a night drive booked, which was good and produced both Thick-tailed Greater and Northern Lesser Galagos, Bushbuck, and Common Genet. Frustratingly we only had glimpses of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl and only managed to hear African Scops Owl despite being right below the tree from which it was calling. Nevertheless it was a truly successful day for us!
Day 4, 4th August 2019. Lake Mburo National Park to Kisoro
The Rwakobo Rock lodge is situated atop a small “koppie” that allows for really great views across the landscape in all directions. We took a walk that morning before breakfast and picked up the likes of Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Speckled and Blue-naped Mousebirds, Double-toothed Barbet, African Golden Oriole, and Lesser Honeyguide. Troops of Tantalus Monkeys patrolled the perimeter of the lodge, while other mammal species like Impala and Bushbuck were occasionally seen from the breakfast table. After having checked out we started the long trip to the “volcano-land” of Kisoro and Mgahinga National Park. The drive produced Green-winged Pytilia, the vocal Trilling Cisticola, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Brimstone Canary, Tawny-flanked Prinia, and Black-crowned Tchagra. A few stops en route yielded Papyrus Gonolek, African Stonechat, White-winged Swamp Warbler, and African Openbill.
The roads had been improved in a few areas in the southwest, so the drive did not take as long as it used to. After arriving in Kisoro we had time to take a walk around the grounds of our guest house. Here we picked up Bronzy Sunbird, Black-headed and Baglafecht Weavers, Grey-capped Warbler, Grey-headed Nigrita, Black Saw-wing, Black Sparrowhawk, and an amazing surprise sighting of White-collared Oliveback!
Day 5, 5th August 2019. Mgahinga National Park
The Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the most incredibly scenic reserves that we visit on this tour. Both the flora and fauna on the walk up toward Mount Sabyinyo are fantastic. We arrived at the reserve, completed the formalities quickly, and soon we had picked up the likes of White-starred Robin, Olive-breasted and Yellow-whiskered Greenbuls, and Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, as well as a whole party of Kandt’s Waxbills. We started our walk up the hillside and encountered Dusky Turtle Dove on the path in front of us. Regal Sunbird and Western Tinkerbird put in appearances throughout the day, but African Paradise Flycatcher only showed once near the start of the walk. Our first apalis of the trip was Mountain Masked Apalis; we picked up a pair of them calling in the thick bushes and with some patience managed to get some really nice views of both birds. One of our main targets today was the sought-after Rwenzori Turaco; we heard its call in the morning and enjoyed great looks of one individual on the way down from the gorge.
An amazing reptile sighting was that of a Great Lakes Bush Viper (Atheris nitschei) that – with an amazing stroke of luck for us – crossed the path in front of us. These snakes are venomous and incredibly difficult to spot in the dense foliage. I recorded the trek as almost 10 kilometers (6 miles) with a good 550 meters (1804 feet) gain in elevation, and our group was certainly a few lifers richer!
Day 6, 6th August 2019. Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park –Ruhija
This morning we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and left to bird the Echuya Forest en route to Bwindi. The forest was alive with bird song, but our first highlight was a raptor, which was probably an immature Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle. We walked slowly, watching and listening, and managed to pick up a single Sharpe’s Starling atop a tree near the road, Mountain Oriole, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, and Regal and Northern Double-collared Sunbirds. Black-faced Prinia was heard calling in the forest below us but never gave any views. White-browed Crombec and Thick-billed Seedeater did, however, show for us. Mountain Illadopsis showed very nicely right alongside the road, their distinctive little calls ringing from small bushes. A few Mountain Sooty Boubous and Mountain Orioles were calling, and we managed to see one individual of each species. Both Black Saw-wing and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters were hawking a few insects from the forested skies.
We left the Echuya Forest and tried one of the local sites around Lake Bunyonyi for Papyrus Yellow Warbler, but unfortunately we came up empty-handed. We began the journey to the eastern section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. We entered Bwindi and spent time birding the Ruhija area that afternoon – a walk on one of the nearby trails produced Grey-throated Barbet, Rwenzori, Mountain Masked, and Chestnut-throated Apalises, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Lühder’s Bushshrike, and Black-billed Turaco. Just before we wanted to head back to the lodge we got lucky with a visual of Grauer’s Warbler as it was moving through some vines. The bird was quiet, so picking it up was a spot of much needed luck. We headed back to the lodge and prepared for our long walk to the Mubwindi Swamp tomorrow.
Day 7, 7th August 2019. Magical Ruhija birding
It was time for the famous walk to Mubwindi Swamp. This walk is well known for possibly yielding Grauer’s Broadbill and Grauer’s Swamp Warbler and for the grueling uphill trek back to Ruhija from the swamp. Our enthusiastic group set off with high expectations. Mountain Illadopsis greeted us not long after we had started our walk, and soon after that we picked up the beautiful Blue-headed Sunbird. The soft calls of Dusky Crimsonwing came ringing from the undergrowth alongside the trail, but the birds did not even give us a flash of movement. Mackinnon’s Shrike and Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher were also seen. Black-billed Turaco really gave us the runaround, but we managed to see a few very well on the way back. The “one that got away” today would have to go to Grey-chested Babbler. The bird was calling quite a lot, but getting any sort of visual in the thick undergrowth seemed impossible. Before long we had made our way down to the lower levels of the walk and picked up no less than four Grauer’s Broadbills! The adult pair had successfully raised two young, and they were moving around as a family group. We spent time with them, watching them flit from tree to tree and observing their feeding habits. A few other great birds that we got to see on the way to the swamp included the Albertine Rift endemic Archer’s Ground Robin, Black-throated Apalis, Dusky Tit, and Crowned Hornbill.
Arriving at the swamp we immediately encountered both Grauer’s Swamp Warbler and Carruthers’s Cisticola. Western Citril and Cape Wagtail were flitting around, while Red-chested Flufftail was calling from the reedbed. We managed to sneak a view of a pair of African Rails moving in one of the small clearings in the reeds. The warbler did give us a bit of a runaround, but we tried another spot and had some good visuals. A drive on the main road through the forest paid off when we managed to find a pair of Handsome Francolins feeding on the roadside. Getting another one of the Albertine Rift endemics was the best way to finish the day.
Day 8, 8th August 2019. Transfer to Buhoma, birding “The Neck”
Knowing that we didn’t have many more opportunities to pick up Montane Nightjar we made an effort to leave an hour before sunrise this morning. With overcast conditions things were rather quiet for the first forty-five minutes. We saw a few Northern Lesser Galagos and then a little later picked up a Spotted Eagle-Owl in one of the agricultural areas. Not long after that we were rewarded for our persistence with a couple of Montane Nightjars, formerly known as Rwenzori Nightjar. We stayed for the dawn chorus of bird songs and watched the sun rise behind some clouds. African Goshawk was seen up high and was also calling. A couple of Black-and-white-casqued Hornbills gave a flyby, and Grey-throated Barbet was perched on a large dead snag.
We enjoyed a really great breakfast and started our journey to Buhoma on the western side of Bwindi. A forest edge spot produced Yellow Bishop, Brown-crowned Tchagra, African Olive Pigeon, African Stonechat, Copper Sunbird, and Augur Buzzard. “The Neck” is a small section of forest that one needs to travel through in order to get to Buhoma; we birded here and picked up Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, White-breasted Nigrita, Olive-green Camaroptera, Pink-footed Puffback, Blue Malkoha, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, and Hairy-breasted Barbet before the rains came down and halted our progress. So we journeyed on to our next exciting accommodation. We arrived and were met with many smiles and friendly faces at the lodge, and after a short briefing, check in, and lunch we were back in the field. A walk along the first section of the Buhoma trail was incredibly productive as usual. Here we picked up (among other beauties) three bushshrike species! Many-colored Bushshrike was the first to show, then we picked up Bocages and Lühder’s Bushshrikes. Our sharp-eyed local guide found a pair of African Wood Owls roosting right above us in the tree in which the Many-colored Bushshrike was moving around, a great sighting! We also loved seeing Equatorial Akalat, Grey-winged Robin-Chat, Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher, Pink-footed Puffback, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Grey-headed Nigrita, Tambourine Dove, and a single White-tailed Ant Thrush.
Day 9, 9th August 2019. Gorilla trekking and birding Buhoma
Three members of our group were fortunate enough to trek through the amazing forests of Bwindi to a group of Mountain Gorillas. The trio had a fantastic time and came back full of interesting stories, Bar-tailed Trogon sightings, and of course many pictures of these amazing primates. Some of the group opted not to trek for the gorillas and birded the Buhoma forested trails instead, which must be some of the best birding trails in Uganda. Forest edge and secondary growth lead into fully mature primary forest, which makes for some amazing birding. The calls of Scaly-breasted Illadopsis and Yellow-throated Tinkerbird rang through the forest. African Shrike-flycatcher, Red-tailed Greenbul, and a few Red-headed Malimbes were spotted a little further along the trail. We thoroughly enjoyed watching Red-throated Alethe come out onto the path into the open for a while. Then we made our way to a site for Abyssinian Ground Thrush (kivuensis subspecies) and managed to get amazing looks of it singing. The tricky Neumann’s Warbler was seen well after spending time tracking it down in the undergrowth.
We walked to the lower waterfall in a stunning part of the forest. Here we found Bar-tailed Trogon, Ansorge’s and Little Grey Greenbuls, Grey Cuckooshrike, the strange Grey-headed Sunbird, Sooty Flycatcher, Little Green Sunbird, Equatorial Akalat, Dusky Tit, and Dusky-blue Flycatcher. Both Dusky Long-tailed and Barred Long-tailed Cuckoos were vocal and showed to a greater or lesser degree. Throughout the morning the forest was alive with activity; also heard calling this morning were African Broadbill, Plain Greenbul, Red-tailed Bristlebill, and Buff-spotted Woodpecker. Velvet-mantled Drongo, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, and Kakamega Greenbul showed really well, and we also managed visuals of Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Black Bee-eater, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, and a large party of charismatic White-headed Wood Hoopoes on the way back. Some more rain in the afternoon luckily came down pretty late in the day, and we didn’t lose too much birding time.
Day 10, 10th August 2019. Birding the Buhoma area
The sun had risen on another glorious day in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. We made our way back onto the main Buhoma forest trail, where we saw Mountain Wagtail on the path in front of us. Blue-throated Brown Sunbird and Petit’s Cuckooshrike were flitting above us, while a flock of Narrow-tailed Starlings came cruising overhead. We spotted a Lemon Dove in the canopy of one of the trees nearby too, a shy forest dove that is not all that common in the forests of Uganda. Yellow-spotted Barbet was calling, but we couldn’t get any visuals. We did, however, get really nice views (after some hard work) of two African Broadbills and a single Willard’s Sooty Boubou. Waller’s Starling also showed well in a large flock. But before we knew it the skies had turned black, and the rains cut our day short. Totally drenched we made it back to Buhoma, grabbed a shower, and had a good rest that afternoon.
Day 11, 11th August 2019. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mweya
We left Buhoma really early this morning and enjoyed a flurry of birding activity in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. White-headed Barbet, Arrow-marked Babbler, and Village Indigobird were the first species we picked up just before entering the park. The rank grasslands delivered the likes of Moustached Grass Warbler, Southern Red Bishop, White-winged and Red-collared Widowbirds, and a few cisticolas including Croaking, Stout and Red-faced Cisticolas. Eagles were showing well, with both Brown Snake Eagle and Western Banded Snake Eagle putting in appearances. We arrived at the Mweya peninsula for a private boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. A small boat that is low in the water worked really well, and we were able to enjoy a particularly large flock of one of the birds of the afternoon, African Skimmer. A single Gull-billed Tern was also present, while small numbers of shorebirds were dotted along the shoreline. The shorebirds, presumably early passage migrants, included Common Greenshank, Marsh and Common Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, Three-banded and Kittlitz’s Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone, and a real surprising single Sanderling! The surprises kept coming, and we also managed to find Greater Painted-snipe on the shoreline. The stunning Red-throated Bee-eater was also present, and we managed to get a few pictures. We also found the likes of Black Crake, Yellow-billed Stork, Hamerkop, Malachite Kingfisher, African Spoonbill, and Pink-backed and Great White Pelicans. Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl was another really good find, a bird sitting on an open branch underneath the canopy of a thorn tree. We arrived at the lodge just after sunset and settled in for the night.
Day 12, 12th August 2019. Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale Forest
This morning we had a successful game drive into the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The area had had some good rains and was looking lush and green. An adult Dwarf Bittern was spotted on top of a large bush, a bird that is often found after good rain or in floodplain areas. Here we also picked up Quailfinch, Collared Pratincole, and Senegal, Crowned, and African Wattled Lapwings. White-backed Vultures took to the skies fairly early that morning, while White-browed Coucals were chasing each other between the thickets. A couple of Lions were seen lazing in the short grassy plains to the east – a sighting of these amazing cats was welcome. We stopped in the east of the park at a small salt pan, where we managed to scope Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, and Little Stint. We headed back to the lodge to grab a warm lunch and check out. It was great watching good numbers of White-rumped Swifts shooting in and out from under the eaves of the lodge’s dining hall. A duo of Woolly-necked Storks, Booted Eagle, and a single Common Kestrel kept us entertained on our drive to the famous Kibale National Park.
On the way to our accommodation we enjoyed some roadside birding with the likes of Chestnut Wattle-eye, male and female African Shrike-flycatcher, Red-headed Malimbe, and three Yellow-crested Woodpeckers. Alpine Swifts were also seen cruising fairly high overhead. Red-tailed Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, and many Olive Baboons were always nearby. Chestnut-winged Starling and Black Bee-eater rounded off a superb afternoon of enjoying what Kibale has to offer.
Day 13, 13th August 2019. Kibale Forest, Chimps. and Green-breasted Pitta
This was one of the earliest mornings of our tour; we grabbed breakfast and headed into the famous Kibale National Park to try and locate Green-breasted Pitta, a fairly large pitta that normally starts to call about twenty minutes before sunrise. Sure enough, we picked up a bird calling and soon after that another two were calling in a similar area. It took a little bit of time to locate one, but before long we had great looks at the first bird moving along the forest floor. A second bird was located by a member of our party, and we saw this bird display ten meters (33 feet) off the ground before it too flew off.
During our pitta foray a number of species were calling round us: Scaly-breasted Illadopsis (of which we had great looks), Red-chested and Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoos, Tambourine Dove, Brown-chested Alethe, and Fraser’s Rufous Thrush. We also managed to locate a calling Narina Trogon as well as Velvet-mantled Drongo. The muddy track through the forest attracted a few species to the verges, Red-tailed Ant Thrush and Red-capped Robin-Chat both giving super views. As if we had not already had an amazing morning we moved toward a large fig tree where we could hear some activity. About six Eastern Chimpanzees were happily moving about in the large canopy, feasting on the fruits of the tree. They were joined by a few avian species, including African Green Pigeon and Purple-headed Starling. There is always something going on in the beautiful Kibale forest, both sights and sounds are really enjoyable. Yellow-mantled Weaver, both male and female, showed well when we arrived back at the office area. In the afternoon we spent some time trying to get visuals of White-spotted Flufftail and Red-chested Owlet. We didn’t manage to find the owlet but did manage to see the incredibly elusive White-spotted Flufftail.
Day 14, 14th August 2019. Transfer from Kibale National Park to Masindi
Today we transferred north to Masindi for the Murchison Falls and Budongo Forest extension. All four tour participants were joining the extension, and everyone was pretty excited, looking forward to what the north could offer us. Except for a few bad roads we enjoyed a good trip to the north, but not before we took a walk around the Kibale Homestay trail in the morning. The trail gave us a few good species; Thick-billed Weaver, African Blue Flycatcher, White-throated Bee-eater, White-chinned Prinia, Black Bishop, and a nice sighting of Green Hylia were all welcome.
In addition to a Rolex (not the watch, but the traditional Ugandan wrapped omelet) we also picked up White-winged, Red-collared, and Fan-tailed Widowbirds, Compact Weaver, and a pair of Ross’s Turacos. Swifts and swallows were around in good numbers; Barn Swallow, Angolan Swallow, and African Palm Swift took their places in the skies. Of course today was mostly a travel day, and everyone was pretty tired by the time we arrived at the hotel, so some good rest was in order.
Day 15, 15th August 2019. Budongo Forest
The Budongo Forest is the last forest we visit on this tour and it holds a great number of new species for our trip. Before arriving at the forest itself we birded some agriculture and picked up Singing and Whistling Cisticolas, Cabanis’s Bunting, Copper Sunbird, Brown Twinspot, and African Yellow Warbler in full song. A couple of White-headed Saw-wings were perched up high. It wasn’t long before we picked up Spotted Greenbul and had a good sighting of Fraser’s Rufous Thrush as well as a pair of Fraser’s Forest Flycatchers. Ituri Batis was one of our big targets, and we actually managed to get decent scope views of one. Chestnut-capped Flycatcher and Rufous-crowned Eremomela (two more Budongo specials) followed soon after. It was great watching the former move around and glean insects from the leaves as well as watching a few members of the latter preening away. Western Nicator and Western Oriole added a splash of yellow to the forest canopy. Kingfishers also played their part; first, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher showed pretty well and later we enjoyed incredible visuals of African Dwarf Kingfisher. Nahan’s Partridge, Fire-crested Alethe, and White-spotted Flufftail were all present, but unfortunately we could not manage visuals. Many Asian countries are very well known for enormous, colorful hornbills, but Africa has a few beauties too, and we picked up another one here in the Budongo forest, namely White-thighed Hornbill, which breeds here in the forest and occasionally makes a nest along the Royal Mile stretch.
Day 16, 16th August 2019. Masindi to Murchison Falls via the western escarpment
We headed out around sunrise and started birding in the section of Budongo that one passes through to get to the escarpment. Other than a few Crowned Hornbills and a calling Forest Robin the most notable sighting was that of Crowned Eagle! A single bird was spotted perched fairly high but in the open. What a magnificent, powerful bird! Forest edge habitats produced Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-crowned Tchagra, and Pin-tailed Whydah. It was amazing to see the species change as the habitat and vegetation also changed. Black-rumped Waxbill, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, and the dapper-looking Silverbird were all on the cards in quick succession, and White-shouldered Black Tit, Foxy Cisticola, and Beautiful Sunbird sightings soon followed. We couldn’t track down a Western Black-headed Batis that was calling incessantly, but we did manage to see Black-faced Waxbill.
We proceeded toward Lake Albert, where we arrived at our safari lodge for lunch. After lunch and a quick rest in the heat of the day we birded some of the habitat on the shores of the Nile River. A pair of Red-winged Grey Warblers were a nice find right away, and then Purple-banded Sunbird and Buff-bellied Warbler gave some visuals. A local site for Spotted Palm Thrush produced the goods; two birds were hanging around in the thickets and gave some good views after some hard work. Black-billed Wood Dove also put in a good showing. A short drive that evening after dinner produced two Slender-tailed Nightjars, both of which were sitting on the dirt road just after 9 p.m.
Day 17, 17th August 2019. Murchison Falls National Park
I’m sure that many of us have experienced one of those days that is simply unbelievable, and today was one of those days! It would be our final full day’s birding, and our group decided to make it count. An early breakfast was followed by a ferry crossing to the north side of the Nile, which produced a magnificent fly-by Goliath Heron. A family group of Speckle-fronted Weavers as well as a few very active Silverbirds provided some early excitement. We did not make it very far in the first hour, as we were kept busy by a host of new trip species: Brown-backed Woodpecker, Pale Flycatcher, Black-winged Red Bishop, Northern Crombec, and a spectacular sighting of two White-crested Turacos. Vultures were active fairly early, and we picked up Hooded, White-backed, Rüppell's, and White-headed Vultures all in quick succession. Heuglin's Francolin, Spotted Thick-knee, and Wing-snapping Cisticola were seen really close to the vehicle. A pair of Black-bellied Bustards gave the most enjoyable sighting! They flew in from behind us, the black-and-white flashes in the wings taking center stage, and then they proceeded to land alongside us. Mammals included Uganda Kob, Oribi, Giraffe, Hartebeest, African Buffalo, African Elephant, Side-striped Jackal, and Common Warthog. Three Abyssinian Ground Hornbills weren’t far off the road, giving us time to watch them look for food in the open savanna. Northern Carmine Bee-eater is a stunning bird, and once we reached the west near the peninsula area they were fairly common. We added another mammal species to our day list when we were treated to another amazing Lion sighting. However, this was no normal sighting; a couple of vehicles were on site before us and let us know that this lioness was on the hunt. We waited a little while trying to keep track of the lioness in the long grass, but before we knew it she had pounced and Murchison Falls National Park had one less Uganda Kob!
A rest and a hot lunch were welcome after a morning that produced 30 odd new species for our trip. We then headed back to the boat launch, from where our boat cruise to see Murchison Falls departed. We spent a lot of the time searching the dense foliage along the banks of the Nile for White-backed Night Heron when our skipper exclaimed “There is the heron”! A great sighting, and that of a bird which had not been seen at its regular spot in Lake Mburo.
African Finfoot and a pair of Rock Pratincoles were two other avian highlights. The boat headed east to the falls, which are of course spectacular in their own right. Murchison Falls is situated between Lake Kyoga in the east and Lake Albert in the west. Here the Nile forces its way through a seven-meter/23-feet-wide gap and then plunges over 40 meters/130 feet.
Our day was far from over, though. Further birding in the park produced a family of Brown Babblers, a few Fawn-breasted Waxbills, and an amazing sighting of Red-winged Pytilia! We managed to find an area where nightjars are known to be active around dusk. Black-shouldered Nightjar was heard calling, and then suddenly both a female and a cracking male Pennant-winged Nightjar were cruising around above us. It was still light enough to get a really awesome silhouette of the male with long pennants. Greyish Eagle-Owl also showed really nicely before we arrived back at the lodge. What a day!
Day 18, 18th August 2019. Transfer to Entebbe
Despite having a fairly long drive back to Entebbe our final full day of the tour was enjoyable. Sightings of Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and Red-tailed Ant Thrush were welcome. The agricultural areas once again produced a few nice species: Purple-banded Sunbird, Marsh Tchagra, and Black-and-white Mannikin, as well as an awesome sighting of a single Cuckoo-finch.
After lunch we stopped at one of the large marshlands, where we picked up both Fan-tailed Widowbird and the similar Marsh Widowbird. Once safely back in Entebbe we added sightings of African Goshawk and Western Barn Owl.
Day 19, 19th August 2019. Departure
Today our wonderful tour came to an end with our international departures. All of us had thoroughly enjoyed a very successful Ugandan birding adventure!
Bird List - Following IOC (9.2)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen.
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.
Common name Scientific name
Guineafowl (Numididae)
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani
New World Quail (Odontophoridae)
Nahan's Partridge - VU (H) Ptilopachus nahani
Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae)
Coqui Francolin (H) Peliperdix coqui
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena
Heuglin's Francolin Pternistis icterorhynchus
Handsome Francolin Pternistis nobilis
Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae)
Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Black-shouldered Nightjar (H) Caprimulgus nigriscapularis
Montane Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus
Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma
Slender-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus clarus
Square-tailed Nightjar (H) Caprimulgus fossii
Pennant-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus vexillarius
Swifts (Apodidae)
Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis
Common Swift Apus apus
Little Swift Apus affinis
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
Turacos (Musophagidae)
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata
Black-billed Turaco Tauraco schuettii
White-crested Turaco Tauraco leucolophus
Rwenzori Turaco Ruwenzorornis johnstoni
Ross's Turaco Musophaga rossae
Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus
Eastern Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus
Bustards (Otididae)
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
Blue Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus
Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus
Swifts (Apodidae)
Cassin's Spinetail Neafrapus cassini
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis
Common Swift Apus apus
Little Swift Apus affinis
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
Turacos (Musophagidae)
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata
Black-billed Turaco Tauraco schuettii
White-crested Turaco Tauraco leucolophus
Rwenzori Turaco Ruwenzorornis johnstoni
Ross's Turaco Musophaga rossae
Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus
Eastern Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus
Bustards (Otididae)
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
Blue Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus
Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi
Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus
Red-chested Cuckoo African Cuckoo
Cuculus solitarius Cuculus gularis
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
Afep Pigeon (H) Columba unicincta
African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques
Lemon Dove Columba larvata
Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens
Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos
Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus
Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
African Green Pigeon Treron calvus
Flufftails (Sarothruridae)
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra
Red-chested Flufftail (H) Sarothrura rufa
Finfoots (Heliornithidae)
African Finfoot Podica senegalensis
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
African Rail Rallus caerulescens
African Crake Crex egregia
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis
Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Cranes (Gruidae)
Grey Crowned Crane - EN Balearica regulorum
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae)
Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis
Water Thick-knee Spotted Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus Burhinus capensis
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus
Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
Brown-chested Lapwing Vanellus superciliosus
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
Painted-snipes (Rostratulidae)
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Ruff Calidris pugnax
Curlew Sandpiper - NT Calidris ferruginea
Sanderling Calidris alba
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae)
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
African Skimmer - NT Rynchops flavirostris
Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
Woolly-necked Stork - VU Ciconia episcopus
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae)
African Darter Anhinga rufa
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
African Spoonbill Platalea alba
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii
White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus
Striated Heron Butorides striata
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola rufiventris
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great Egret Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Hamerkop (Scopidae)
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
Shoebill (Balaenicipitidae)
Shoebill - VU Balaeniceps rex
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
Hooded Vulture - CE Necrosyrtes monachus
White-backed Vulture - CE Gyps africanus
Rüppell's Vulture - CE Gyps rueppelli
White-headed Vulture - CE Trigonoceps occipitalis
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus
Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
Bateleur - NT Terathopius ecaudatus
Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus
Crowned Eagle - NT Stephanoaetus coronatus
Martial Eagle - VU Polemaetus bellicosus
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Tawny Eagle - VU Aquila rapax
Cassin's Hawk-Eagle Aquila africana
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro
Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus
African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus
Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
Mountain Buzzard - NT Buteo oreophilus
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
Barn Owls (Tytonidae)
Western Barn Owl Tyto alba
Owls (Strigidae)
African Scops Owl (H) Otus senegalensis
Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus
Greyish Eagle-Owl Bubo cinerascens
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus
African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii
Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
Mousebirds (Coliidae)
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
Trogons (Trogonidae)
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum
Hoopoes (Upupidae)
African Hoopoe (H) Upupa africana
Wood Hoopoes (Phoeniculidae)
White-headed Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus bollei
Green Wood Hoopoe (H) Phoeniculus purpureus
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Ground Hornbills (Bucorvidae)
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill - VU Bucorvus abyssinicus
Hornbills (Bucerotidae)
Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminatus
African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus
White-thighed Hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus
Rollers (Coraciidae)
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis
Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti
Blue-breasted Kingfisher (H) Halcyon malimbica
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
African Dwarf Kingfisher Ispidina lecontei
African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta
Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Bee-eaters (Meropidae)
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates
Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus
African Barbets (Lybiidae)
Grey-throated Barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus
Western Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaea
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta
Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa
White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus
Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito
Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus
Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii
Honeyguides (Indicatoridae)
Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi
Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii
Tullberg's Woodpecker Campethera tullbergi
Buff-spotted Woodpecker (H) Campethera nivosa
Brown-eared Woodpecker Campethera caroli
Bearded Woodpecker (H) Chloropicus namaquus
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Chloropicus xantholophus
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
Elliot's Woodpecker Dendropicos elliotii
African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae
Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus
Brown-backed Woodpecker Dendropicos obsoletus
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera
African Hobby Falco cuvierii
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae)
Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri
Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae)
Red-headed Lovebird Agapornis pullarius
Typical Broadbills (Eurylaimidae)
Grauer's Broadbill - VU Pseudocalyptomena graueri
African and Green Broadbills (Calyptomenidae)
African Broadbill Smithornis capensis
Pittas (Pittidae)
Green-breasted Pitta Pitta reichenowi
Wattle-eyes, Batises (Platysteiridae)
Rwenzori Batis Batis diops
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
Western Black-headed Batis Batis erlangeri
Ituri Batis Batis ituriensis
Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea
Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea
Bushshrikes (Malaconotidae)
Lagden's Bushshrike - NT (H) Malaconotus lagdeni
Many-colored Bushshrike Chlorophoneus multicolor
Bocage's Bushshrike Chlorophoneus bocagei
Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
Doherty's Bushshrike (H) Telophorus dohertyi
Marsh Tchagra Bocagia minuta
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus
Pink-footed Puffback Dryoscopus angolensis
Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis
Albertine Sooty Boubou Laniarius holomelas
Willard's Sooty Boubou Laniarius willardi
Lühder's Bushshrike Laniarius luehderi
Tropical Boubou Laniarius major
Papyrus Gonolek - NT Laniarius mufumbiri
Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster
Vangas & Allies (Vangidae)
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher Bias musicus
Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae)
Grey Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike Campephaga phoenicea
Petit's Cuckooshrike Campephaga petiti
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Mackinnon's Shrike Lanius mackinnoni
Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis
Figbirds, Orioles, Turnagra (Oriolidae)
African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus
Western Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus
Mountain Oriole Oriolus percivali
Drongos (Dicruridae)
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Velvet-mantled Drongo Dicrurus modestus
Monarchs (Monarchidae)
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Piapiac Ptilostomus afer
Pied Crow Corvus albus
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae)
African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicauda
Tits, Chickadees (Paridae)
White-shouldered Black Tit Melaniparus guineensis
White-winged Black Tit Melaniparus leucomelas
Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus
Stripe-breasted Tit Melaniparus fasciiventer
Nicators (Nicatoridae)
Western Nicator Nicator chloris
Larks (Alaudidae)
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana
Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea
White-tailed Lark (H) Mirafra albicauda
Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor
Kakamega Greenbul Arizelocichla kakamegae
Olive-breasted Greenbul Arizelocichla kikuyuensis
Slender-billed Greenbul Stelgidillas gracilirostris
Little Greenbul Eurillas virens
Little Grey Greenbul Eurillas gracilis
Ansorge's Greenbul Eurillas ansorgei
Plain Greenbul (H) Eurillas curvirostris
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Eurillas latirostris
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator
Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus
Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis
Toro Olive Greenbul Phyllastrephus hypochloris
Cabanis's Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi
White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis
Yellow-streaked Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
Red-tailed Bristlebill (H) Bleda syndactylus
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Banded Martin Riparia cincta
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Angolan Swallow Hirundo angolensis
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Blue Swallow - VU Hirundo atrocaerulea
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa
Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Crombecs, African Warblers (Macrosphenidae)
Moustached Grass Warbler Melocichla mentalis
Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura
Red-faced Crombec (H) Sylvietta whytii
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens
Lemon-bellied Crombec Sylvietta denti
White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys
Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae)
Neumann's Warbler Urosphena neumanni
Yellow Flycatchers (Erythrocercidae)
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii
Hylia, Pholidornis (Hyliidae)
Green Hylia Hylia prasina
Leaf Warblers & Allies (Phylloscopidae)
Red-faced Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus laetus
Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae)
Grauer's Warbler Graueria vittata
Lesser Swamp Warbler (H) Acrocephalus gracilirostris
African Yellow Warbler Iduna natalensis
Mountain Yellow Warbler (H) Iduna similis
Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae)
Evergreen Forest Warbler (H) Bradypterus lopezi
White-winged Swamp Warbler Bradypterus carpalis
Grauer's Swamp Warbler - EN Bradypterus graueri
Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae)
Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis
Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami
Chubb's Cisticola Cisticola chubbi
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus
Carruthers's Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi
Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
Foxy Cisticola Cisticola troglodytes
Long-tailed Cisticola Cisticola angusticauda
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
Banded Prinia Prinia bairdii
Black-faced Prinia (H) Prinia melanops
White-chinned Prinia Schistolais leucopogon
Rwenzori Apalis Oreolais ruwenzorii
Red-winged Grey Warbler Drymocichla incana
Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Mountain Masked Apalis Apalis personata
Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni
Black-capped Apalis (H) Apalis nigriceps
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema
Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis
Grey Apalis Apalis cinerea
Grey-capped Warbler Eminia lepida
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata
Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota
Black-faced Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus rufus
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps
Fulvettas, Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae)
Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus
Pale-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis rufipennis
Brown Illadopsis (H) Illadopsis fulvescens
Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
Laughingthrushes & Allies (Leiothrichidae)
Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei
Sylviid Babblers (Sylviidae)
African Hill Babbler Pseudoalcippe abyssinica
White-eyes (Zosteropidae)
Northern Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis
Dapple-throat & Allies (Modulatricidae)
Grey-chested Babbler (H) Kakamega poliothorax
Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae)
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
Purple-headed Starling Hylopsar purpureiceps
Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chloropterus
Splendid Starling Lamprotornis splendidus
Purple Starling Lamprotornis purpureus
Rüppell's Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri
Stuhlmann's Starling Poeoptera stuhlmanni
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris
Sharpe's Starling Poeoptera sharpii
Oxpeckers (Buphagidae)
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Red-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus rufus
White-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus poensis
Fraser's Rufous Thrush Stizorhina fraseri
Abyssinian Ground Thrush Geokichla piaggiae
African Thrush Turdus pelios
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus
Abyssinian Thrush Turdus abyssinicus
Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
Fire-crested Alethe (H) Alethe castanea
Brown-backed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas hartlaubi
White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
Fraser's Forest Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata
Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus griseigularis
Grey Tit-Flycatcher (H) Myioparus plumbeus
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher Melaenornis ardesiacus
Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides
Pale Flycatcher Melaenornis pallidus
Silverbird Empidornis semipartitus
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens
Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica
Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini
Chapin's Flycatcher - VU Muscicapa lendu
African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
Dusky-blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata
Sooty Flycatcher Muscicapa infuscata
Red-throated Alethe Chamaetylas poliophrys
Brown-chested Alethe Chamaetylas poliocephala
Archer's Ground Robin Cossypha archeri
Cape Robin-Chat (H) Cossypha caffra
Grey-winged Robin-Chat Cossypha polioptera
Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat Cossypha cyanocampter
White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
Forest Robin (H) Stiphrornis erythrothorax
Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis
Spotted Palm Thrush Cichladusa guttata
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra
Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)
Grey-headed Sunbird Deleornis axillaris
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea
Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Bronzy Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius
Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus
Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris stuhlmanni
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi
Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus
Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus
Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Shelley's Sparrow Passer shelleyi
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae)
Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
Slender-billed Weaver Ploceus pelzelni
Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus
Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster
Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops
Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius
Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
Weyns's Weaver Ploceus weynsi
Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni
Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor
Compact Weaver Ploceus superciliosus
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii
Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura
Marsh Widowbird Euplectes hartlaubi
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens
Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae)
Jameson's Antpecker Parmoptila jamesoni
White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus
Grey-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus
White-collared Oliveback Nesocharis ansorgei
Red-winged Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata
Dusky Crimsonwing (H) Cryptospiza jacksoni
Brown Twinspot Clytospiza monteiri
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola
Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga
Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula
Kandt's Waxbill Estrilda kandti
Black-faced Waxbill Estrilda erythronotos
Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata
Black-and-white Mannikin Lonchura bicolor
Indigobirds, Whydahs (Viduidae)
Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Cuckoo-finch Anomalospiza imberbis
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae)
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae)
Western Citril Crithagra frontalis
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica
Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata
Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata
Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex
Buntings (Emberizidae)
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris
Cabanis's Bunting Emberiza cabanisi
Total Seen 501
Total heard only 30
Total recorded 531
Mammal List
Common name Scientific name
Hyraxes (Procaviidae)
Yellow-spotted Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei
Elephants (Elephantidae)
African Elephant Loxodonta africana
Galagos (Galagidae)
Northern Lesser Galago Galago senegalensis
Thick-tailed Greater Galago Otolemur crassicaudatus
Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae)
L'Hoest's Monkey Allochrocebus lhoesti
Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis
Red-tailed Monkey Cercopithecus ascanius
Tantalus Monkey Chlorocebus tantalus
Guereza Colobus guereza
Patas Monkey Erythrocebus patas
Grey-cheeked Mangabey Lophocebus albigena
Olive Baboon Papio anubis
Ashy Red Colobus Piliocolobus tephrosceles
Great Apes (Hominidae)
Mountain Gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei
Eastern Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
Squirrels (Sciuridae)
Carruther's Mountain Squirrel Funisciurus carruthersi
Isabelline Red-legged Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium
Boehm's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus boehmi
Striped Ground Squirrel Xerus erythropus
Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae)
Bunyoro Rabbit Poelagus marjorita
False Vampire Bats (Megadermatidae)
Yellow-winged Bat Lavia frons
Cats (Felidae)
Lion Panthera leo
Viverrids (Viverridae)
Common Genet Genetta genetta
Mongooses (Herpestidae)
Common Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula
Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguineus
Canids (Canidae)
Side-striped Jackal Canis adustus
Horses & Allies (Equidae)
Plains Zebra Equus quagga
Pigs (Suidae)
Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus
Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamidae)
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
Giraffids (Giraffidae)
Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis
Bovids (Bovidae)
Impala Aepyceros melampus
Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus
Black-fronted Duiker Cephalophus nigrifrons
Yellow-backed Duiker Cephalophus silvicultor
Topi Damaliscus lunatus
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Uganda Kob Kobus kob thomasi
Oribi Ourebia ourebi
African Buffalo Syncerus caffer
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
Total seen 40
Reptile List
Common name Scientific name
Geckos (Gekkonidae)
Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia
Skinks (Scincidae)
Striped Skink Mabuya striata
Agamid Lizards (Agamidae)
Red-headed Rock Agama Agama agama
Blue-headed Tree Agama Agama atricollis
Vipers (Viperidae)
Great Lakes Bush Viper Atheris nitschei
Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
Total seen 6