Uganda birding trip, 25 July to 13 August, 1996.

by Alan Wilkinson (aw@alanwilkinson.com)

Overview

Here is a summary of birdwatching trip I made to Uganda, 25 July to 13 August, 1996, with Barry Reed, Richard Webb and Steve Webb organised by RW based on trips made by other African Bird Club members.

Overall more than 450 bird species were seen by the group during the 3 weeks though I can list only the c.370 species I personally observed. Uganda is highly recommended: currently providing some of the best birdwatching available anywhere in Africa with a wide range of habitats from open grassland typical of Kenya to rain forest more like parts of West Africa. A good selection of mammals was seen also including Chimpanzee and the superb Mountain Gorilla.

Personal trip highlights were:

  • Chocolated-backed Kingfisher in Budongo Forest
  • Black Bee-eater in Buhoma, Impenetrable Forest
  • Shoebill on the Nile near Murchison Falls
  • Kivu Ground-thrush in Impenetrable
  • Pennant-winged Nightjar, Budongo
  • Bateleur Eagle, not uncommon (nevertheless superb!)
Some other notable sightings included:
  • African Green Broadbill in Mubwindi Swamp, Ruhiza, Impenetrable Forest
  • Nahan's Francolin in Budongo Forest
  • Lagden's Bush Shrike, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Grauer's Warbler and Grauer's Swamp Warbler at Ruhiza
  • Brown-chested Lapwing in Queen Elizabeth NP and Mburo NP
  • Rwenzori Turaco, Mgahinga NP
  • Red-faced Barbet at Mburu (seen by BR and SW, apparently on the edge of its range?)
  • Papyrus Gonolek and White-winged Swamp-Warbler at Bigodi Swamp
  • Neumann's Warbler at Buhoma.
  • Weyn's Weaver at Mpanga Forest.
We depended on excellent Henk Hendriks' Uganda trip report for site finding information which I will not try to reproduce here. Henk's report is available from African Bird Club for 6.50 pounds plus postage. Uganda was a very friendly country, with very few hassles for the overseas visitor. Nile Safaris made a fine job of the ground arrangements and provided an excellent driver (Daniel) and reliable 4WD Toyota.

Please contact me with any questions about the trip: Alan Wilkinson (wilkinson@pobox.com)

Itinerary

25/7/96: Arrived Entebbe 11-30 am. Drive to Kampala, then to Mpanga Forest. Overnight Namirembe Guest House.
26/7/96: Kampala swamp. Drove to Murchison Falls National Park via Masindi. Overnight in banda.
27/7/96: Murchison Falls boat trip am. Lake Albert/Nile delta boat trip pm ($250/boat).
28/7/96: Murchison Game Park drive am. Drove to Kaniyo Pabidi, Budongo Forest. Overnight Masindi.
29/7/96: Busingiro, Budongo Forest all day. Overnight Masindi.
30/7/96: Kaniyo Pabidi am. Royal Mile, Budongo Forest pm. Overnight Masindi.
31/7/96: Royal Mile, Budongo Forest am. Drove to Fort-Portal via Kibale Forest. Overnight Wooden Hotel, Fort-Portal.
1/8/96: Bigodi Swamp, Kibale Forest am. Drove to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Overnight Mweya Safari Lodge.
2/8/96: Queen Elizabeth National Park. Overnight Mweya Safari Lodge.
3/8/96: Drive to Bwindi, Impenetrable Forest. Overnight Buhoma banda.
4/8/96: Buhoma (Waterfall trail), Bwindi Forest. Overnight Buhoma banda.
5/8/96: Buhoma (Main trail), Bwindi Forest. Overnight Buhoma banda.
6/8/96: Buhoma, Bwindi Forest, 'Katendejere' Gorilla group (as opposed to 'Mubare' group). Overnight Buhoma banda.
7/8/96: Drove to Ruhiza, Bwindi Forest, via 'The Neck'. Overnight Ruhiza research station guest house.
8/8/96: Ruhiza, Impenetrable Forest all day. Overnight Ruhiza research station guest house.
9/8/96: Mubwindi Swamp, Ruhiza. Overnight Ruhiza research station guest house.
10/8/96: Ruhiza am. Drive to Kisoro. Overnight Umubano Hotel.
11/8/96: Mgahinga Forest, Zaire border am. Drive to Mbarara. Overnight in Pelikan Hotel.
12/8/96: Lake Mburu National Park. Overnight Rwonyo Rest Camp.
13/8/96: Lake Mburu National Park. Drive to Kampala. Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Overnight flight to Gatwick.

Systematic species list (53k)

References

  • Illustrated Checklist Birds of Eastern Africa, 1995, by Ber Van Perlo - absolutely invaluable in the field despite some inaccuracies
  • Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, 1996, by Dale Zimmerman, Don Turner, et al - in-depth coverage of about 85% of Uganda species
  • Uganda Trip report, June-August 1995, by Henk Hendriks - sections on orientation, references, itinerary, a checklist of 473 bird and 36 mammal species, detailed site guide including 10 maps. Covers all the sites we visited.

Addresses

  • African Bird Club
    c/o BirdLife International
    Wellbrook Court
    Girton Road
    Cambridge, CB3 ONA
    United Kingdom.

  • Nile Safaris
    Farmers House
    Parliamentary Avenue
    PO Box 12135
    Kampala
    Uganda. (Tel. 041 259983, 258603, 258589. Fax. 041 245092.)

  • Nile Safaris
    5 St. Albans Mansions
    Kensington Court Place
    London W8 5QH. (Fax/tel. 0171 938 4066.)
Copyright © Alan Wilkinson 1996. All rights reserved.