Uganda birding safaris

“My journey is at an end, the tale has been told. The reader who has followed so faithfully and so far has a right to ask what message I bring back! It can be settled in three words: Concentrate upon Uganda!” Those were the words of Sir Winston Churchill in his book ‘My African journey’. He went further and said, “Uganda is alive by itself……Uganda is from end to end a ‘beautiful garden’ where ‘staple food’ of the people grows almost without labour. Does it not sound like a paradise on earth? It is the ‘Pearl of Africa’.” All those words were said and written in admiration and wonder about Uganda’s beauty. It is therefore crucial for those planning their journeys to Africa but have never experienced Uganda’s beauty, to include Uganda safaris intheir programme. Apart from the common ones today, especially Gorilla tours, Uganda offers many secret wonderful tours and the best of these being birding safaris.

 Uganda’s ultimate birding tours are designed to fulfill your wildest dreams about Uganda birds and wildlife. Uganda is home to over ten thousand bird species and in Uganda, birds can be traced any where including big cities and this is something unique only to Uganda because it is hard to locate over one thousand species in less than two hours in any city but one can do it in Kampala City! However, the best bird spots in Uganda are; Mabira Forest, Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo National Park, Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest National Park, Semliki, Bwindi area and all the National Parks in Uganda. If you are a good birder and have moved to almost all countries but failed to trace the species you want, worry not because I have the answer for you. In your next birding trip, opt for Uganda tours and below I am presenting to you a good selection of the best bird spots in Uganda with almost all the bird species present in each.

Mabira Forest; Mabira Forest Reserve is the largest block of moist semi-deciduous forest remaining in the central region of Uganda. The Reserve occupies a gently undulating country, characterized by numerous flat-topped hills and wide, shallow valleys. Some of these valleys have papyrus swamps. The topography is such that the land drains to the north, even though the reserve’s southern boundary lies only 13 km from the shores of Lake Victoria. The closeness of Mabira to Kampala, and the presence of various ecotourism facilities, makes this site popular for bird watchers supporting over 300 bird species, many of which are difficult to trace elsewhere in Uganda.

While in Mabira Forest, one can look out for the following bird species; Pied Horn bill, Forest Wood-hoopoe, Black-bellied Seed-cracker, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Speckled Tinkerbird, Toro Olive Greenbull, Green-tailed Bristle bill, Fire-crested Alethe, Forest Robin, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Nathan’s Francolin, Yellow-billed Barbet, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Tit Hylia, White-spotted Fluff tail, Superb Sunbird, White-shouldered Tit, Magpie Manikin, Green Crombec, Hairy-breasted barbet, Black-throated Apalis, Black and White Shrike-fly- Catcher, Paradise Fly-catcher, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Sabine’s Spine-tail, Dusky long-tailed Cuckoo, Velvet- mantled Drongo, Blue-throated Roller and Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike.

The Forest also represents many species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome not well-represented in other protected areas in Uganda, for instance Nathan’s Francolin; Black shouldered Nightjar, Capuchin Babbler, Grey Long-bill and the Blue-headed crested flycatcher. The site also holds one species of the Sudan-Guinea Savanna biome and four of the Afro-tropical Highlands biome. There are over 10 kilometre well maintained trail systems for birding nature walks in Mabira Forest.

Another good birding area in Uganda is Mabamba Swamp. This is an extensive marsh stretching through a long narrow bay, fringed with papyrus towards the Western main body of Lake Victoria with over a recorded total of 260 bird species which has grown into one of the most interesting and spectacular site for birding in Uganda. It has the status of unprotected area with bird categories; globally threatened species and Lake Victoria Basin biome species. It also has a status of an Important Bird Area (IBA). Apart from Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba bay is the only place and site so far rated as the best in Africa and the whole world where the elusive rare Shoebill can be spotted at any one time of the day. Recently, Mabamba has become one of the strong holds for the migrant Blue Swallow with over 100 individuals recorded every year. Mabamba has been surveyed in recent years and now boosts of over 260 species with one day’s record of 157 species.

In Mabamba Swamp, there are other four globally threatened species and other species of regional significance, and these are; the Pallid Harrier, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler and the Blue Swallow. Shoebills are regularly recorded in pairs or in threes in the marsh. Other species at Mabamba are migrants such as the Gull-billed Terns, White-winged Black Terns and Whiskered Terns, and residents such as the Grey-headed Gulls, Goliath Herons, Spur-winged and Pygmy Geese, and a number of migratory waders.

The overwhelming birding experience in Mabamba is not only at the Swamp, but along the way, there are other birding spots with a variety of habitats. After birding in the labyrinth of channels in the marsh, one can choose to follow a woodland and savanna trail up to the sand mining quarry to maximize on chances of other species apart from the wetland birds.  

Another interesting birding spot in Uganda is Budongo Forest Reserve.  Over 360 bird species have been recorded in this Forest two of which are not found else where in East Africa. The forest is the second most important in Uganda, after Semliki National Park, for species of the Guinea-Congo forest Biome.

Some of the bird species in Budongo Forest include; the Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Illadopsis puveli, Ceratogymna fistulator, Smithornis rufolateralis, Ixonotus guttatus, Neafrapus cassini, Sylvietta denti, Batis ituriensis, Zoothers camaronensis, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Chestnut-crowned Eremomera, White-spotted Fluff tail, Yellow Long-bill, Grey Long-bill, Olive-bellied Crombec, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, Forest Flycatcher,  Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Cabanis Bunting, Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Narina Trogon, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Little Green Sunbird, Green Sunbird, Negrofinches, Western Black-headed Oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Forest Robin, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Rufous-crowned Eremomera, Elusive Lemon-bellied Crombec, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Green Crombec, Crested Malimbe, Red-headed Bluebill, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Little Greenbul, Slender-billed Greenbul, White-throated Greenbul, Plain Greenbul, Spotted Greenbul and Toro Greenbul.

There are also others such as Pitta reichenowi and Parmoptila woodhousei, both with multiple recent records. Bird watching in the forest is well facilitated with an extensive well maintained 115 kilometres long trail system known as “The Royal Mile.”   

Lake Mburo National Park is also a very good habitat for birds in Uganda. In this Park 317 bird species have been recorded so far. There are different habitats for birds in this Park and these are; moist Acacia Savannah, taller mixed Woodland, Grasslands, Rocky Ridges, as well as aquatic habitats including Lakes and swamps. The common conspicuous birds encountered in this Park are; Crested Francolin, Emerald spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away bird, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Green Wood-hoopoe, common Scimitar bill, African Grey Horn bill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Northern Black Tit, Chin-spot Batis, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Marico Sunbird, Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spur fowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, African wattled Plover, Rufous-napped Larks, Lapped Larks, Rufous-chested Swallow, Yellow-throated Long claw, Southern Red Bishop, migratory Brown-chested Plover, Southern Ground Hornbills, African Scops Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Fiery-necked, White-tailed, and Pennant-winged Nightjars.

Others are the Papyrus Gonolek, the elusive irregular Shoe bill, Blue-headed Coucal, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, African Fin Foot, African Darter, Water Thicknee, Hamerkop, African Water Rail, Spur-winged Plover, Giant, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, Yellow-throated Leaf lover, Red-faced Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Long-tailed Warbler, Red-headed Lovebird, Narina Trogon, Lead-coloured Flycatcher, Green-capped Erememora and the Austral migrant Black Cuckoo Shrike.

A surprisingly large number of raptors occur in this relatively small Park with a recorded total of 35 individuals. Among these are; White-backed Reppell’s Griffon, Lappet-faced and White-headed Vultures, African Marsh Harrier, Black-chested, Brown and Banded Snake Bateleur, African Harrier Hawk, Shikra, Gabar, and Dark chanting Goshawks, Lizard and Augur Buzzards, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, Long-crested Eagle and the Grey Kestrel.

More interesting still, Kibale Forest National Park is also a must not miss spot on any birding trip to Uganda. While in Kibale Forest, birders are in for a treat with over 340bird species recorded. This Forest has the highest number of the Green-breasted Pitta which is among the most sought after birds of Uganda. Others include; the African Pitta, Grey-winged Robin, Red-winged Francolin, Joyful Greenbul, White-napped Pigeon, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Red-chested Fluff-tail, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Warbler, White-collared Olive-back, Leaf Love, African Broadbill, Willcock’s Honey guide, White-winged Warbler, White-spotted Fluff-tail, Yellow-spotted Nictor, Yellow-ramped Tinkerbird, Little Greenbul, White-thighed Hornbill, Black Bee-eater, Bar-tailed Trogon, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Red-faced Crimson Wing, and the Scaly-throated Honey guide.

From the 340 bird species in Kibale, 82 species are of the Guinea Congo Forest biome and 32 species are of the Afro-tropical Highland biome. This makes it to share some of the rare bird species in the Highland sites. Important still, the Forest has 5 out of the 32 restricted range species in Uganda and 5 out of the 12 Ugandan bird species of the Lake Victoria biome.  

Putting Kibale Forest aside, Semliki National Park is also a good bird habitat in Uganda. It is ranked number two in Uganda’s hot birding spots with West African bird species hard to find else where in Uganda.

The bird species to look out for in Semliki National Park are the; Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-throated Coucal, Grey-throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Spot-breasted Ibis, Capuchin Babbler, Yellow-throated Nictor, Northern bearded Scrub Robin, Red-chested Owlet, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red-ramped Tinkerbird, Lyre-tailed Honey guide, Zenker’s Honey guide, White-throated Blue-swallow, Bate’s Nightjar, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Black-winged Oriole, Red-billed Helmet Shrike, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Icterine Greenbul, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Crested Malimbe, Blue-billed Malimbe, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike,  Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill and White-thighed Hornbill.

Putting all the above aside, the Bwindi Area supports thousands and thousands of bird species in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park birding ranks the best in Uganda with over 357 recorded bird species. This bird watcher’s haven holds 10 of the 26 globally threatened species in Uganda, five of which are vulnerable. It also has 23 strictly localized Albertine Rift Endemics out of the 25 bird species making Uganda to take over 90% of all the Albertine Rift Endemic bird species in East Africa, and these include; the African Green Broadbill, Chapin’s Flycatcher and Shelley’s Crimson-wing all with limited distributions elsewhere in their range.

Bwindi also has 76 of 144 Guinea -Congo forest biome species that occur in Uganda, recorded especially in the North sector. The site also qualifies for Afro tropical highland biome species with 68 of 86, and for the Lake Victoria biome with 4 of 12 species. Bwindi has many birding sections the best of which being the Ruhija section and the Mubwindi Swamp Area. Bwindi is the best birding spot not only in Uganda but the whole of Africa.

Other special birds in Bwindi include; Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Banded Prinia, Black-faced Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Rwenzori Batis, Black and White Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill Babbler, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Sooty Boubou, Pink-faced Puff-back, Doherty’s Bush shrike, White-napped Raven, Montane Oriole, African Golden Oriole, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller’s Starling, Strange Weaver, Brown-capped Weaver, Black-billed Weaver, Dusky Crimson Wing, Yellow-billed Waxbill, Magpie Manikin, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater, Oriole Finch, Mountain Buzzard, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Handsome Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Wood Owl, Rwenzori Nightjar, Scarce Swift, Bar-tailed Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Elliot’s Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, African Green Broadbill, Lagden’s Bush shrike, Ludher’s Bush Shrike, Pettit’s Cuckoo Shrike, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Archer’s Ground Robin, Toro Olive Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-chat, Olive Thrush, White-tailed Ant Thrush, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Black-headed Waxbill, Stripe-breasted Tit, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Strange Weaver, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.

Another good birding area in Uganda is the Kidepo Valley National Park. The total number of recorded bird species in this Park is 480. This is Uganda’s most spectacular Park, harbouring scenery unsurpassed in any other Park in East Africa. It is home to a large number of dry, Eastern “specials” most of which are East Africa’s rarest and most sought after birds.

The bird species in Kidepo Valley include; Black-breasted Barbet, Karamoja Apalis, Lesser Kestrel, Pallid Harrier, Golden Pipit, Taita Fiscal, Rufous Chatterer, and Grey Wren Warbler. In addition, the Park has 23 out of Uganda’s Somali-Masai biome species. There are also 21 bird species of the Afro-tropical Highland species, the notable ones being the Little Rock Thrush and the Brown Parisona. It also houses 16 Sudan and Guinea Savanna plus 4 Guinea Congo Forest biome species.

From the above, any focused birder will have a wide range of choices to make and it is no doubt that one can fail to get all the species they have been seeking after for so long in vain. Uganda adventures especially birding adventures are the answer to their long pending questions. Mentioned above are only a few of the many birding spots in Uganda. This implies that there are still places where birders can enjoy their adventures from while in Uganda.  

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Carol

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