Norfolk Birders

Trip Report to Uganda by Sue Bryan

Nov 3rd – Nov 18th 2017

Introduction

This was a birding holiday that was organised independently by a friend of friends who used to live in Uganda. My friends and I had enjoyed a meal together and we had talked about Uganda. They inspired me to visit (it was not difficult to persuade me!) My friends contacted Harriet Kemigisha and let her know of my interest in visiting Uganda. I emailed Harriet about my desire to concentrate on the forests, as this was where most of my wanted world ticks would come from, and my desire to see Gorillas and Chimpanzees. Harriet set about arranging an amazing trip for me staying at her home as well as other accommodation suitable for where I needed to be for the best birding opportunities. She was not only good company but a wonderful bird guide as well as encouraging local bird guides.

Guide Harriet Kemigisha

Itinerary

Nov 3rd Norwich - Amsterdam – Kigali (Rwanda) - Entebbe

Nov 4th Entebbe – Mabamba -Lake Mburo

Nov 5th Mburo

Nov 6th Mburo - Rahija

Nov 7th Rahija

Nov 8th Rahija

Nov 9th Buhoma

Nov 10th Queen Elizabeth Park

Nov 11th Semuliki

Nov 12th Semuliki

Nov 13th Kibale National Park

Nov 14th Kibale - Fort Portal - Masindi

Nov 15th Masindi – Royal Mile Budongo Forest – Murchison Falls

Nov 16th Murchison Falls

Nov 17th Murchison Falls

Nov 18th Murchison Falls - Luwero - Kampala - Entebbe - Amsterdam

Nov 19th Amsterdam - Norwich

Flights

International flights to Entebbe via Amsterdam and Kigali (Rwanda) with KLM (£540return)

Gorilla Permit

US$600 (£445) A Gorilla permit is necessary if you wish to trek to see the Gorillas in Uganda. Harriet also hired a porter for me.

Visa

Visas to Uganda cost US$ 50 (£38).

Money

I used an ATM at Entebbe airport to exchange about £100 to Ugandan Shillings for a few beers for Harriet and myself at the end of the day.

Climate

Uganda straddles the equator and has a tropical climate, generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August). It is semiarid in the northeast.

Habitat

Equatorial Uganda contains several very diverse ecosystems including multi-strata tropical forest, dry deciduous forest, woodland, mosaic grassland forest, savannah woodland and savannah.

Daily Log

3rd November

I left home at 3am to fly from Norwich airport on an early morning flight to Amsterdam where I then flew to Kigali in Rwanda. After admiring Rwanda for a while I flew to Entebbe where Harriet and Bahati picked me up and whisked me away in the late night warmth to a guest house over-looking Lake Victoria.

4th November

Harriet and I were up early and I made the most of the birds in the garden of the guest house refreshing my acquaintance with some familiar African species. My first world tick was the second bird of the day, a Broad-billed Roller. A Red-chested Sunbird was next as well as an Angolan Swallow.

We were then driven to Mabamba Swamp where we sat in a canoe and were paddled out along the narrow channels and into the swamp. Slender-billed Weaver and Swamp Flycatcher were busy in their activities as was a Grey-capped Warbler. Our boatman was soon in difficulty as he had to battle with the vegetation to manoeuvre the canoe to a position where we could see the Shoebill and I could take photos. I was excited as we got nearer and soon I could see the rather large heron with the dinosaur looks! The bird took no notice of us as it caught its prey and devoured it. After taking many photos my pen was kept busy as I noted down familiar African species. Pied Kingfishers are always good to see as are Malachite Kingfisher, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Duck, Squacco Heron, Hottentot Teal, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Long-toed Lapwing. They all went on my trip list as I added Winding Cisticola to my life list.

I continued to add birds to my list as we made our back along the channel to the village. Here we wandered around the bushes and added Black Crake, Sooty Chat, Northern Brown-throated Weaver and Grey-backed Shrike as well as many birds that I have seen before in Africa. We motored on towards Lake Mburo stopping for lunch on the Equator.

We turned off the main road and onto the trackway where Harriet knew of a spot where we could see the difficult to find Brown-chested Lapwing, a lifer for me. Abdim’s Stork stood at the side of the track as I admired Lilac-breasted Roller, Diederik Cuckoo, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Marico Sunbird and lifers in the way of Black-headed Gonolek and Trilling Cisticola.

Sue standing either side of the equator

We continued our journey to the camp where the views were stunning as we settled down to an evening meal before making our way to our accommodation for the night. I had quite a walk to mine in the dark, down the hillside!

The view from the camp at Mburo.

5th November

We were up early for a game drive in the park. A Broad-billed Roller and Little Bee-eater posed for the camera and I was delighted by some Dwarf Mongeese that were playing in the road before running for safety in a rock. A Bushbuck was lurking in the roadside bushes, too shy to come out. I added White-headed Saw-wing and Brown-backed Scrub Robin as lifers as well as a Long-tailed Cisticola.

Black-lored Babblers were entertaining in the bushes as a Grey-crowned Crane strolled by. A Grey Kestrel was good to see as a Crested Barbet added itself to the list along with Striped Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher and African Pygmy Kingfisher. Several more familiar species bolstered my list in the form of Common Buzzard, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Fish Eagle and Helmeted Guineafowl.

The light conditions were good as I enjoyed taking photographs of a Bare-faced Go-away-bird and a Rupell’s Long-tailed Starling. Harriet had trained our driver, Bahati, well and I was convinced he had eyes in the back of his head as he was very good at knowing when to stop and how to place the vehicle.

Besides the birding I enjoyed views of many animals that I have seen before that posed wanting their photographs taken. These included Warthog, Waterbuck Eland and Impala.

We returned to the camp and restaurant for some lunch before setting out again for an afternoon game drive. Around the camp I took photos of Meyer’s Parrot, Speckled Mousebird and African Green Pigeon.

Topi

Spot-flanked Barbet, Cardinal woodpecker and Green Wood Hoopoe were all seen on the game drive along with Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Brown Snake Eagle, Wattled Lapwing and Nubian Woodpecker. I continued to admire the animals and Topi were enjoying wandering the savannah. African Cuckoo, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Common Scimitarbill and Golden-breasted Bunting were all seen as I admired the Zebra, especially the one with an unusual pattern on its back.

Meyer's Parrot

We returned before dark for an evening meal but there was no rest as Harriet was keen to show me the nightjars that were present around the rocks that we were camped on. We also went for a night drive and added Swamp Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar and Black-shouldered Nightjar. Water Thick-knees were often on the trackway soaking up the warm African evening.

Upon our return from the night drive I walked down a steep track to my tent in the dark. It was a bit of eerie experience as it was exceedingly dark and my senses were heightened with all the animal noises. I was in for a bad night as a tooth that the NHS had refused to repair in the summer was now giving me some grief and I was soon in agony. I lay awake all night listening to the Freckled Nightjars.

6th November

Sue having a tooth extracted!

By the morning it was clear that I needed to visit a dentist as I was in agony. Luckily today was to be a travel day and we were going to be passing through Mbarara a large town where Harriet knew she would find a dentist. We set off and stopped at Mbarara where Harriet accompanied me up to a dental surgery. We walked straight in and for the next half hour the dentist battled with extracting my tooth. It is not an experience that I wish to repeat in a hurry! The dentist equipped me with pain killers and antibiotics and coupled with malaria tablets the cocktail did nothing for the well being of my stomach!

We motored on stopping at a Papyrus reedbed where I just about could summon enough energy to look at the birds with my throbbing mouth. Leaflove was my first tick along with new trip ticks in the shape of Black-necked Weaver, Arrow-marked Babbler, Green-winged Pytilia and the specialist Papyrus Gonolek which gave itself up eventually. We also saw Holub’s Golden Weaver. We continued on our way but unfortunately I was in too much pain to appreciate the wonderful scenery as we climbed up into the mountains to 7600 feet high.

After stopping at the entrance to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park we admired McKinnon’s Fiscal Shrike, Crowned Hornbill and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater. We arrived at Rahija in rain, where I was taken to my cabin. Harriet requested some mashed potato and lentils for my tea and also found a hot water bottle for me. Bless her!!

7th November

I was up at 6am and feeling a lot better having had a good night’s sleep at The Trekker’s Tavern, Rahija. I was very excited and hoped that the pain killers would keep working.

I also have a love of volcanoes and could not believe the sight at breakfast as I was treated to a volcano erupting in the distance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

After breakfast I was taken to the Gorilla briefing at the centre where Harriet pleaded a good case for me and hired me a porter. I was assigned a guide and waved goodbye to Harriet and set off along a forest trail. We walked for about an hour along a difficult trail which was all wet and muddy before venturing up a hillside that required the use of a machete by my guide. I was glad of my porter who had carried all my camera equipment and hauled me up the slippery hillside. We stopped several times for me to catch my breath as I did not want my mouth to start bleeding again with all the effort needed. After about another half an hour of climbing we met some trackers and I spotted a Gorilla up a tree with a baby up ahead. After some quick photos I was assured that there were some more Gorillas nearby that would be easier to photograph but it would require a bit of climbing. I was hauled up a very steep slope and once round the corner came face to face with a Silverback Gorilla!!!

I quickly noticed another female Gorilla with a baby. The baby kept us entertained with its antics of making a bed with leaves and clinging onto its mother. Another Silverback was happily munching leaves a short distance away as I took photos on my various cameras that I had taken with me. I very rarely use the word awesome but the scene I was witnessing was AWESOME and I felt so privileged to be sitting amongst a group of Gorillas in the wild. I was thrilled to be here and thank Harriet so much for organising it for me.

Fire Bucket

After an hour of being with the Gorillas it was time to leave them in peace and with a bit of difficulty I was helped back down the steep slope to the trail below. It took a while as we slithered back down and was not helped by the onset of rain that started after about an hour into our return journey. The streams that we had crossed became tricky but with a few hands being offered for assistance I made it back to the road, where after a short wait a minibus picked me up and took me back to the centre where Harriet was waiting. However I first had to be presented with a certificate of having survived a Gorilla trek!!!

Harriet and I returned to the lodge where we stayed for the rest of the day as heavy rain had set in. It was now cold and I was brought my own little fire in a bucket and had my boots cleaned for me, inside and out!!! I caught up on processing photos on my new little tablet and entering my bird data.

8th November

Harriet and I were up early and walked through Rahija until we met a side track through the forest. As we walked through the village we saw very little on the degraded hillside but once we were away from the village the birds became visible. Most of the birds were world ticks because I have done very little high altitude forest birding in Africa. Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-faced Warbler and Regal Sunbird all put in appearance before I had to get to grips with all the available greenbuls. An African Golden-breasted Bunting hopped around on the track as we admired a Great Blue Turaco sitting in a far-off tree.

Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Regal Sunbird, Mountain Oriole, Mountain Greenbul and Mountain Apalis all added themselves as world ticks. Variable Sunbird and Cinnamon Bee-eaters both posed for photos whilst I added Chestnut-throated Apalis, Luhder’s Bush-shrike, Red-throated Alethe, Chubb’s Cisticola, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher and Mountain Buzzard to my world list.

Regal Sunbird

The monkeys were not to be out-done as I watched Black and White (Guereza) Colobus Monkey, L’hoest Monkey and Blue Monkey and took photos of them.

Great Sparrowhawk, Augur Buzzard, Thick-billed Seedeater, Grauers’s Warbler, Black-billed Turaco and Honeyguide Greenbul were all added to my list as I ambled along the track

Blue Monkey

We walked back for lunch where unfortunately it started raining again. We decided to leave and drove to a village where Harriet negotiated with some local women to buy some potatoes. They saw me and tried to drive Harriet a hard bargain. She was having none of it and we left with a sackful of potatoes for her homestay.

We motored on and birded ‘The Neck’ where I added Mountain Wagtail, Dusky Tit, Buff-throated Apalis, Dusky Blue Flycatcher and the much wanted Black Bee-eater.

We spent the rest of the day travelling to Buhoma where we stayed in a women’s refuge. This was run by an inspiring woman Evelyn who had set it up to give abused women some skills that they could earn some money with. There were many old Singer sewing machines that the women had made items that could be sold to tourists and mechanics that mended bikes that were hired out to tourists. It was a cause close to my heart and so I did my Christmas shopping here!

9th November

Chris-and-two-armed-guards

Harriet had hurt her leg and needed to attend the local hospital, so she arranged for me to be guided by a local guide Chris, who was going to take me into the Bwindi Impenetrable forest along with two armed guards!

Nearly every bird that I was to see was a world tick and we had a wonderful morning as I desperately tried to keep up with all the birds around. We started off in degraded forest but we were soon in primary forest in very damp conditions. I added White-chinned Prinia, Black-billed Weaver, Little Greenbul, Grey-headed Nigrita, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Brown–capped Weaver, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Ansorge’s Bush-shrike,, Green-headed Sunbird, Kakamega Greenbul, Grey-throated Barbet, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Speckled Tinkerbird, Grey-throated Tinkerbird, Grey-throated Tit Flycatcher, Grey Apalis, Cameroon Greenbul, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Equatorial Akalet, and Blue-throated Roller.

Unfortunately for me I discovered that my lens had fogged up inside with all the humidity and so this meant that I could not take any photographs. I was hugely disappointed because the birding was so good.

We continued on our track as I added White-tailed Ant-Thrush hopping along the path and White-bellied Robin Chat. Chris lead us down a side track but it soon began to rain really heavily. Luckily he knew of a shelter that we could have our lunch in. We certainly needed the shelter as the heavens opened. It was a long lunch stop as we waited for the rain to stop.

After the rain had stopped, we retraced our steps but the birding had slowed down considerably. We added White-headed Wood-hoopoe and Blue-headed Sunbird and then Chris heard an African Broadbill but could not see it. Luckily I saw it just before it took off and did a flying loop before disappearing never to be seen again! Back at the degraded forest we added Pink-footed Puffback, Slender-billed Greenbul and Vieillot’s Black Weaver before meeting up with Harriet once again.

White-tailed Ant-thrush

Later on Chris took us to see an African Wood Owl roosting in a local garden. I expressed my concern to Harriet about my lens fogging up but she said not to worry as in her experience it was a common problem here and it would probably dry out overnight. Luckily she was proved to be correct and all was well by the following morning!

10th November

We left Buhoma early in the morning with the plan of driving straight through Queen Elizabeth National Park. We passed many tea plantations before reaching the national park. As I have done a lot of savannah birding in the past in Africa, Harriet knew that there was very little in the way of available world ticks for me. However if we saw a good bird posing nicely we would stop now and again for me to take its photograph. One such bird was a White-throated Bee-eater and another was a Lesser-striped Swallow sat on a bridge. I also ticked Uganda Kob grazing at the side of the road.

I added White-headed Barbet, White-winged Widowbird, Rufous-naped Dove, Croaking Cisticola, Whinchat and African Harrier Hawk to the trip list whilst we were motoring. However all was not well with the van as a ‘clunking’ sound had developed and our driver was telling Harriet that the van was not driving as well as it should be. Given the state of the road I was not surprised that the vehicle was struggling. We kept passing huge container lorries taking food aid to the D.R. of the Congo. One lorry had lost its trailer having tipped over and had a mechanic with it, so we stopped and asked him for assistance.

Both wheels had to come off our van so I got out and went birding. It was very hot in the middle of the day and unfortunately for us, most of the men were Congolese and spoke a different language to Harriet or our driver. Later after the wheels were put back on, we continued on our way only to find that the mechanic had made the vehicle worse. We limped it to Kasese where we spent the afternoon in a garage where they attempted to repair it. Harriet summoned her husband from Kibale and he drove the van and us to Fort Portal where I was put up for the night in a hotel whilst Harriet took the ailing van on to her home in Kibale. I was given the instruction to be ready for 6am the next morning when I would be put into a taxi and taken to Semuliki where Harriet had arranged for me to be met by a local guide, Justice. I just love African adventures.........you never know what is going to happen next!

11th November

My taxi duly arrived just after 6am and I jumped in and met Justice who was to be my guide for the next few days. I was driven in the dark to Semuliki and after putting my belongings into my cabin, we walked to see some of the difficult to see monkeys. I was pleased to see Grey-cheeked Mangabey and Debrazza’s Monkey along one of the tracks from the centre.

Back at the centre, I jumped on the back of Justice’s motorbike and we sped off along the road to the forest. Because of being on the back of the motorbike I had to leave my big lens behind so sadly there are no bird photographs of the birds that I saw in Semuliki. It was a pleasant ride through the local village as it has been many years since I have been on a motorbike. We stopped and noted Grey-headed Kingfisher sitting on the wire and Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill in the trees. An Olive Pigeon and Palm-nut Vulture were added to the list before we stopped to visit some hot springs. Walking through the vegetation we noted a Red-tailed Ant-Thrush a world tick for me. The hot springs were fascinating and Justice warned me about the boiling water and not to put my hands in it!

A Black-winged Stilt was wading on the far side of the pool along with a Common Sandpiper. We wandered back to the motorbike and drove to a spot on the road where Justice was keen to show me Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill a speciality of the area with a very small range. It took a while but we saw a couple of birds eventually. We also saw Western Bronze-naped Pigeon here. We stopped at a roadside ditch with a small patch of reed and I ticked Black-crowned Waxbill as well as adding Red-faced Cisticola to the trip list. A Little Green Sunbird appeared and I admired the Orange-cheeked Waxbills there too. We motored on and Justice parked up his motorbike near some houses before crossing the road where we entered the forest. The track was exceedingly muddy and I was glad of the wellington boots that Justice had lent me. We were soon diving into the undergrowth as Justice was picking up calls. I was soon adding world ticks as Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Xavier’s Greenbul, and Yellow-throated Nicator gave themselves up to us. We also enjoyed Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Blue Malkoha, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Crested Malimba and Western Nicator.

We returned to the centre for lunch where I enjoyed Goat Soup and Matoke with my lizard friend.

View of the hot springs

After lunch Justice and I sped up to some degraded forest over-looking the hot springs. It was an interesting ride on a motorbike up a track-way! We added Tawny-flanked Prinia, Piping Hornbill, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Black Bishop and a wonderful sighting of Dwarf Kingfisher. How I wish I had had my camera with me. An Isabelline Shrike sat and posed for us too on the return journey.

12th November

Justice at the hot springs

Harriet’s vehicle was still waiting for a part to arrive from Kampala and so I stayed another night at Semuliki. Justice took me to another section of the hot springs for a bit of sight-seeing.

We saw several birds here but Justice soon decided to walk a trail that went alongside the swamp that he had not used for a while. Uganda had recently had a lot of rain so the trail was under water. It was deeper than Justice was expecting and we were soon in trouble as several bridges had either washed away or were in a poor state of repair. We then had a worrying few minutes as we could hear Cape Buffalo just the other side of the bushes where we were walking. Justice made a snorting sound and luckily they were frightened off. We continued wading along the path and crossed over some rickety bridges until we were eventually on some firmer ground. Here we saw Brown Illadopsis, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Northern Cuckoo, Red-tailed Greenbul, Fire-crested Athlete, Brown-chested Athlete, Forest Robin, Yellow-throated Cuckoo and Shining Blue Kingfisher most of which were world ticks for me.

We wandered back but had to find another route as one bridge had disappeared altogether. We came across a local house where cocoa beans were being dried and Justice explained his passion for butterflies as we passed some of his traps.

Cocoa Beans being dried.

We hopped back on the motorbike and re-visited the hillside that we had been to yesterday. Here we added Bronze Mannikin, Bi-coloured Mannikin, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Black-bellied Firefinch, Red-collared Widowbird and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater.

A short ride later along a forest trail we added Red-tailed Bristlebird and later aRed-throated Bee-eater was perched on a wire.

We returned to the lodge for lunch where Justice turned out one of his butterfly traps. He had fun sorting them all out and showed me many of them.

After a short wait Harriet appeared with a repaired vehicle. I had had a good time with Justice and thanked him for his efforts. Harriet and I drove to Fort Portal where I saw a Black-headed Heron in the river and then stopped for Harriet to pick up some supplies. Whilst we were waiting a Maribou Stork wandered around the car park.

We continued on our way and eventually arrived at Harriet’s home in Kibale where we stayed the night.

13th November

We drove the short distance to Kibale National Park where we were hoping to see the Green-breasted Pitta. I knew this was going to be a difficult species to track down but I had high hopes of Harriet as this is her home forest and she would know the likely areas to search. However it was not to be. However we added a few world and trip ticks: Brimstone Canary, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, White-throated Greenbul, Narina Trogon, Hairy-breasted Barbet and Yellow-spotted Barbet.

We came across a young Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird that had no fear of humans as I took a picture of it with my little digital camera from a couple of feet away. All of a sudden Harriet heard the sound of Chimpanzees. We walked towards the sound and high up in the branches of the tree I could see an adult and juvenile Chimpanzee. I cursed my camera as it just would not focus; there was clearly too much vegetation in line with my shot. I was thrilled at seeing Chimpanzees in the wild for the first time though.

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

We returned for some lunch before returning to the forest in the afternoon for another try for the pitta. Harriet had spoken to a guide who had seen it in the morning but heavy rain was hampering our efforts and dusk was not far off. We called it a day and returned to Harriet’s homestay. Harriet offered me another day trying to see the pitta but it would mean cutting a day from Murchison Falls. We had seen very little in the forest that day and so I decided it would be better to move on.

14th November

I had given Harriet a list of my ‘wanted’ species before I had left home and Harriet knew that a flufftail was within walking distance of her home. Today was set to be a whole travelling day so she said that if I got up early we could go for a short walk around the field near her home before we set off. We walked a path down to the fields where after seeing an Olive-bellied Sunbird we stood and waited for the White-spotted Flufftail to appear. It did a mad dash along the pathway before coming back out for me to have a good look at it. Further along the path I added Grosbeak Weaver and Compact Weaver. A Chestnut-winged Starling also went on the trip list.

Harriet’s Homestay

All too soon it was time to leave and we said goodbye to Harriet’s husband and children and set off on our long journey toward’s Masindi. We had to take a long route as the usual road was virtually impassable because of the recent rains. At Fort Portal I added Northern Fiscal Shrike to the trip list.

At Fort Portal, Harriet had been telling me about a local delicacy that is available to people in November and is a snack that is highly sought after in Uganda. She disappeared and came back with a bag of Grasshoppers. I had to try one! Let it be said, that at least I tried one, but it has to be said that I was very generous and let Harriet and Bahati finish the rest!

We drove for the rest of the day with brief stops for lunch and to add Lizard Buzzard and White-thighed Hornbill to the list at Masindi. We spent the night at Masindi where I caught up with some emails and posting pictures on Facebook with the good wifi available.

15th November

After a good breakfast we drove to The Royal Mile at Budongo Forest after brief stops to admire Whistling Cisticola and Yellow-mantled Widowbird. We also stopped to take photos of White-thighed Hornbills.

Once at the edge of the forest we stopped to pick up Raymond as Harriet likes to encourage local guides. We were soon adding world ticks in the shape of Superb Sunbird, Green Twinspot, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Yellow-crested Kingfisher, Ugandan Woodland Warbler, Rufous Thrush, African Shrike Flycatcher, Green Sunbird, Chestnut Wattle-eye, and Purple-headed Starling. Raymond and Harriet are both impressive with their knowledge on calls and the temperature was extremely pleasant as we wandered along the long straight stretch of forest on the wide track. The birding was excellent as I re-acquainted myself with Red-chested Cuckoo, Green Hylia, Rufous-crowned Eremola, Chestnut capped Warbler, Cassin’s Honeybird, Ashy Flycatcher, Black-headed Oriole and African Emerald Cuckoo.

All too soon it was time to leave as we had a long way still to go as we headed towards Murchison Falls.

We stopped as necessary to add birds to our list which included Beautiful Sunbird, Western Banded Snake-Eagle and some distant Abyssinian Ground Hornbills. A Dark-chanting Goshawk was a nice memory as it sat on a telegraph post as was a Brown Snake-Eagle.

As we neared Murchison Falls, we added Northern Red Bishop, Rattling Cisticola, Purple Heron, African Darter and a world tick of Moustached Grass Warbler. As were now into savannah habitat I was not expecting many more world ticks as I have birded savannah habitat many times before. However it was nice to catch up with the more familiar African animals once again.

We eventually arrived at our camp that Harriet had booked for the next three nights and it looked very nice but we had a slightly strange greeting as the boss would not let our driver anywhere near our cabins and expected his staff to carry my suitcase a long way when there was a perfectly acceptable road to drive on. I protested on their behalf and stood my ground and got the cases driven to our cabins. The setting was wonderful by the River Nile as we ate our dinner but all our requests were turned down. Harriet and I were not impressed with the level of service and Harriet was quick to find some alternative accommodation for the following two nights.

16th November

Harriet and I packed up early, left the lodge and took our bags to another lodge a bit further along the River Nile. As we drove along the track we saw a Long-tailed Nightjar and a roosting Greyish Eagle Owl. It was still dark as we arrived to pick up our packed lunch. We made our way down to the River and waited for the ferry to take us across the other side and into Murchison Falls National Park.

Once we had crossed the river the bird-list grew quickly as I added Black-headed Lapwing, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Palm Swift, Zitting Cisticola. A beautiful Red-necked Falcon sat and posed as I added Shelley’s Sparrow, Lesser Kestrel, Rupell’s Griffon Vulture, Vinaceous Dove and a wonderful Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. I realised how lucky I was to be out in the sun watching such an array of birds.

African animals are always a delight to see as an Oribi sat resting close to our vehicle but I have never seen so many giraffes before as here in Murchison Falls National Park. They were everywhere.

A Denham’s Bustard and Grey-crowned Crane strolled by us as we delighted in watching a Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture and a Martial Eagle with its prey.

Harriet alerted me to a new mammal tick for me in the shape of two Patas Monkeys that were hiding in a small hillock. They were not easy to photograph as they appeared to be quite shy. They are quite unusual as they are ground dwellers. After entertaining us we continued to see White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Vitteline masked Weaver and Red-backed Cordonbleu. We noted Black-billed Wood-Dove, Black-billed Barbet and just about saw Senegal Thick-knee. How Harriet spotted them hiding in the grass I shall never know!

It had got very hot by lunch time and we crossed back over the river Nile and drove back to our camp for lunch. I was given the afternoon off and delighted in sitting in the restaurant area watching all the animals and birds over-looking the River Nile. It gave me a chance to relax and catch up with my notes. The Baboons and Vervet Monkeys were entertaining me as one of the camp staff came to tell me about the African Hoopoe on the lawn.

In the evening we drove to the camp next door where I met up with Dave and Jacquie, two friends from Norfolk that were also in Uganda enjoying the wildlife and birds. My cabin at my camp was partly canvas, although one of the most luxurious tents that I have experienced in Africa with its own shower and bath that had views over-looking the river Nile.

During the night I was kept awake by Hippos that were quite clearly munching the vegetation right outside. They sounded very close, although having spent a lot of time in Africa before in tents it did not particularly bother me.

My cabin

17th November

Harriet and I had a leisurely start to the day as we wandered around the camp. She was keen to show me two birds that she had heard calling as she knew one of them was a lifer for me. We watched Red-headed Weaver and eventually we saw Spotted Palm Thrush lurking in the bushes. However it took a while before she called out Red-winged Grey Warbler, which we watched at the top of a nearby bush.

We eventually left the camp and drove along the track to the top of Murchison Falls. We passed an Abyssinian Roller on the way. It will always be one of my favourite birds. Harriet had timed it perfectly so that we could have the falls to ourselves rather than share it with all the other tourists in the area. The falls are a wondrous sight as the River Nile forces itself through a very narrow gap in the cliffs. The noise was tremendous. Harriet, Bahati and I got quite wet from all the spray but being very hot it didn’t seem to matter.

After some lunch I was taken down to the riverside where I joined several other tourists and put on a boat. I had an amazing trip on the River Nile where my birding was washed down with some beer. I am not usually a beer drinker but my friends in England had told me that I was to sample Nile Beer. I have to admit that drinking Nile beer cruising on the River Nile whilst watching Red-throated Bee-eaters at a breeding colony in the glorious sun of Uganda takes some beating! What an amazing holiday this has been!

We passed Elephants and Crocodiles on the riverbank as well as Hippos in the river. African Fish Eagles were perched in the tree tops as well as flying overhead along with Yellow-billed Kites.

I saw all the usual riverside birds that one would expect to see along an African river, Including Great White Egret, Little Egret, Green Heron, and Black-crowned Night Heron which were new for the trip list. Eventually we arrived at the bottom of the falls and stopped to let off many of the passengers who were going to walk the trail to the top of the falls.

The boat was turned around and we sailed back along the river where Wire-tailed Swallows were flying overhead. All too soon we were back at the riverside where Harriet was waiting to pick me up to take me back to the lodge.

18th November

It was to be my last day in Uganda today with Harriet and so we had a leisurely breakfast and I had my last look at the River Nile flowing by as we ate. We packed our bags, said goodbye to the camp staff and loaded them into the van for the long drive back to Kampala and Entebbe. We saw a Woolly-necked Stork in a small stream as we drove and when we reached Luwero, Harriet stopped the van for me to add my last world tick in the shape of Hartlub’s Marsh Widowbird. Just before Kampala I added a Hammerkop to the trip list before getting caught up in all the traffic in Kampala.

Eventually we reached the accommodation that we had spent the first night in near Entebbe, where I freshened up and had a last meal with Harriet, before catching my flight home. It had been a fantastic trip which I thank Harriet so much for organising for me.

Species List

Birds

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 04/11/17 Entebbe
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 04/11/17 Mabamba
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 04/11/17 Mabamba
Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota 04/11/17 Mabamba
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 05/11/17 Mburo
Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani 09/11/17 Buhoma
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer 05/11/17 Mburo
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Abdim's Stork Ciconia abdimii 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 18/11/17 Murchison Falls
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 04/11/17 Entebbe
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer 04/11/17 Entebbe
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 04/11/17 Entebbe
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Striated Heron Butorides striata 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 04/11/17 Mabamba
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 04/11/17 Entebbe
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 04/11/17 Entebbe
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 12/11/17Fort Portal
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Great Egret Ardea alba 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Little Egret Egretta garzetta 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 18/11/17 Kampala
Shoebill Balaeniceps rex 04/11/17 Mabamba
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
African Darter Anhinga rufa 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
African Harrier-hawk Polyboroides typus 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis 11/11/17 Semuliki
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus 05/11/17 Mburo
Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos 05/11/17 Mburo
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus 05/11/17 Mburo
Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus 05/11/17 Mburo
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 06/11/17 Mburo
Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi 04/11/17 Entebbe
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus 14/11/17 Masindi
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus 08/11/17 Rahija
Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius 04/11/17 Mabamba
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 05/11/17 Mburo
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 05/11/17 Mburo
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus 08/11/17 Rahija
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur 08/11/17 Rahija
Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra 14/11/17 Kibale
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra 04/11/17 Mabamba
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis 04/11/17 Mabamba
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum 04/11/17 Mabamba
Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 05/11/17 Mburo
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 11/11/17 Semuliki
Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris 04/11/17 Mabamba
Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Brown-chested Lapwing Vanellus superciliosus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 05/11/17 Mburo
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 05/11/17 Mburo
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 04/11/17 Mabamba
African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix 11/11/17 Semuliki
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques 11/11/17 Semuliki
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 04/11/17 Entebbe
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Laughing Dove [sp] Spilopelia senegalensis 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer 09/11/17 Buhoma
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 08/11/17 Rahija
African Green Pigeon Treron calvus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata 08/11/17 Rahija
Black-billed Turaco Tauraco schuettii 08/11/17 Rahija
Ross's Turaco Musophaga rossae 04/11/17 Mabamba
Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus 05/11/17 Mburo
Eastern Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus 04/11/17 Mabamba
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus 05/11/17 Mburo
Blue Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus 11/11/17 Semuliki
Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Yellow-throated Cuckoo Chrysococcyx flavigularis 12/11/17 Semuliki
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi 12/11/17 Semuliki
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis 05/11/17 Mburo
Greyish Eagle-owl Bubo cinerascens 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii 09/11/17 Buhoma
Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis 05/11/17 Mburo
Swamp Nightjar Caprimulgus natalensis 05/11/17 Mburo
Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma 05/11/17 Mburo
Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Common Swift Apus apus 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Little Swift Apus affinis 04/11/17 Mabamba
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus 05/11/17 Mburo
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina 13/11/17 Kibale NP
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum 09/11/17 Buhoma
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis 09/11/17 Buhoma
Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus 04/11/17 Entebbe
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala 11/11/17 Semuliki
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti 05/11/17 Mburo
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 05/11/1 7 Mburo
African Dwarf Kingfisher Ispidina lecontei 11/11/17 Semuliki
African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta 05/11/17 Mburo
Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys 12/11/17 Semuliki
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 04/11/17 Mabamba
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis 08/11/17 Rahija
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus 05/11/17 Mburo
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates 06/11/17 Rahija
Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki 12/11/17 Semuliki
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 12/11/17 Semuliki
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
African Hoopoe Upupa africana 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
White-headed Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus bollei 09/11/17 Buhoma
Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus 05/11/17 Mburo
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 05/11/17 Mburo
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Jackson's Hornbill Tockus jacksoni 08/11/17 Rahija
Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminatus 06/11/17 Rahija
African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Lophoceros camurus 11/11/17 Semuliki
Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator 11/11/17 Semuliki
White-thighed Hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis 14/11/17 Masindi
Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata 11/11/17 Semuliki
Grey-throated Barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei 09/11/17 Buhoma
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus 09/11/17 Buhoma
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus 09/11/17 Buhoma
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus 05/11/17 Mburo
Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui 13/11/17 Kibale NP
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta 13/11/17 Kibale NP
Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa 05/11/17 Mburo
White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 05/11/17 Mburo
Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica 05/11/17 Mburo
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa 11/11/17 Semuliki
Yellow-crested Woodpecker Chloropicus xantholophus 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescen 05/11/17 Mburo
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus 05/11/17 Mburo
Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
African Hobby Falco cuvierii 04/11/17 Entebbe
Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri 04/11/17 Entebbe
African Broadbill Smithornis capensis 09/11/17 Buhoma
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea 09/11/17 Buhoma
Bocage's Bushshrike Chlorophoneus bocagei 09/11/17 Buhoma
Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 12/11/17 Semuliki
Pink-footed Puffback Dryoscopus angolensis 09/11/17 Buhoma
Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis 08/11/17 Rahija
Lühder's Bushshrike Laniarius luehderi 08/11/17 Rahija
Tropical Boubou Laniarius major 05/11/17 Mburo
Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri 06/11/17 Mburo
Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia 08/11/17 Rahija
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava 05/11/17 Mburo
Petit's Cuckooshrike Campephaga petiti 09/11/17 Buhoma
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus 11/11/17 Semuliki
Mackinnon's Shrike Lanius mackinnoni 06/11/17 Rahija
Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides 04/11/17 Mabamba
Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis 14/11/17 Fort Portal
Mountain Oriole Oriolus percivali 08/11/17 Rahija
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 05/11/17 Mburo
Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer 11/11/17 Semuliki
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 08/11/17 Rahija
Piapiac Ptilostomus afer 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Pied Crow Corvus albus 04/11/17 Entebbe
African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda 04/11/17 Mabamba
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicauda 08/11/17 Rahija
Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus 08/11/17 Rahija
Stripe-breasted Tit Melaniparus fasciiventer 08/11/17 Rahija
Western Nicator Nicator chloris 11/11/17 Semuliki
Yellow-throated Nicator Nicator vireo 11/11/17 Semuliki
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra Africana 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor 04/11/17 Entebbe
Kakamega Greenbul Arizelocichla kakamegae 09/11/17 Buhoma
Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps 08/11/17 Rahija
Slender-billed Greenbul Stelgidillas gracilirostris 09/11/17 Buhoma
Little Greenbul Eurillas virens 09/11/17 Buhoma
Ansorge's Greenbul Eurillas ansorgei 09/11/17 Buhoma
Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris 09/11/17 Buhoma
Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Eurillas latirostris 08/11/17 Rahija
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator 08/11/17 Rahija
Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis 06/11/17 Mburo
Xavier's Greenbul Phyllastrephus xavieri 11/11/17 Semuliki
White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis 13/11/17 Kibale NP
Yellow-streaked Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus 08/11/17 Rahija
Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus 12/11/17 Semuliki
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus 12/11/17 Semuliki
White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps 05/11/17 Mburo
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 08/11/17 Rahija
Banded Martin Riparia cincta 04/11/17 Mabamba
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 04/11/17 Mabamba
Angolan Swallow Hirundo angolensis 04/11/17 Entebbe
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 17/11/1 7 Murchison Falls
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula 08/11/17 Rahija
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica 05/11/17 Mburo
Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Moustached Grass Warbler Melocichla mentalis 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura 12/11/17 Semuliki
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher Erythrocercus mccallii 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Grauer's Warbler Graueria vittata 08/11/17 Rahija
Green Hylia Hylia prasina 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Red-faced Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus laetus 08/11/17 Rahija
Uganda Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus budongoensis 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops 11/11/17 Semuliki
Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis 15/11/17 Masindi
Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Chubb's Cisticola Cisticola chubbi 08/11/17 Rahija
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Long-tailed Cisticola Cisticola angusticauda 05/11/17 Mburo
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 11/11/17 Semuliki
White-chinned Prinia Schistolais leucopogon 09/11/17 Buhoma
Red-winged Grey Warbler Drymocichla incana 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Mountain Masked Apalis Apalis personata 08/11/17 Rahija
Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni 08/11/17 Rahija
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema 08/11/17 Rahija
Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis 08/11/17 Rahija
Grey Apalis Apalis cinerea 09/11/17 Buhoma
Grey-capped Warbler Eminia lepida 04/11/17 Mabamba
Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata 04/11/17 Mabamba
Black-faced Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus rufus 09/11/17 Buhoma
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens 12/11/17 Semuliki
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei 05/11/17 Mburo
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii 06/11/17 Mburo
African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis 08/11/17 Rahija
Purple-headed Starling Hylopsar purpureiceps 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Splendid Starling Lamprotornis splendidus 04/11/17 Entebbe
Rüppell's Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus 14/11/17 Kibale
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus 05/11/17 Mburo
Red-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus rufus 11/11/17 Semuliki
White-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus poensis 09/11/17 Buhoma
Fraser's Rufous Thrush Stizorhina fraseri 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Fire-crested Alethe Alethe castanea 12/11/17 Semuliki
Forest Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucosticta 12/11/17 Semuliki
Brown-backed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas hartlaubi 05/11/17 Mburo
Grey-throated Tit-flycatcher Myioparus griseigularis 09/11/17 Buhoma
White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri 08/11/17 Rahija
Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides 04/11/17 Mabamba
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica 04/11/17 Mabamba
Dusky-blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata 08/11/17 Rahija
Red-throated Alethe Pseudalethe poliophrys 08/11/17 Rahija
Brown-chested Alethe Pseudalethe poliocephala 12/11/17 Semuliki
White-bellied Robin-chat Cossyphicula roberti 09/11/17 Buhoma
Blue-shouldered Robin-chat Cossypha cyanocampter 11/11/17 Semuliki
Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis 11/11/17 Semuliki
Snowy-crowned Robin-chat Cossypha niveicapilla 13/11/17 Kibale NP
Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis 09/11/17 Buhoma
Spotted Palm Thrush Cichladusa guttata 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 06/11/17 Mburo
Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra 04/11/17 Mabamba
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi 11/11/17 Semuliki
Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 08/11/17 Rahija
Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis 09/11/17 Buhoma
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema 11/11/17Semuliki
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae 09/11/17 Buhoma
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis 08/11/17 Rahija
Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius 14/11/17 Kibale
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi 08/11/17 Rahija
Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius 08/11/17 Rahija
Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus 04/11/17 Entebbe
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus 08/11/17 Rahija
White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser superciliosus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Shelley's Sparrow Passer shelleyi 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus 04/11/17 Entebbe
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons 14/11/17 Kibale
Slender-billed Weaver Ploceus pelzelni 04/11/17 Mabamba
Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis 06/11/17 Mburo
Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster 09/11/17 Buhoma
Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops 06/11/17 Mburo
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops 04/11/17 Mabamba
Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 04/11/17 Mabamba
Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus 09/11/17 Buhoma
Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus 04/11/17 Entebbe
Compact Weaver Ploceus superciliosus 14/11/17 Kibale
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis 09/11/17 Buhoma
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus 11/11/17 Semuliki
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps 17/11/17 Murchison Falls
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea 05/11/17 Mburo
Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii 11/11/17 Semuliki
Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus 15/11/17 Murchison Falls
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris 04/11/17 Mabamba
Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura 15/11/17 Masindi
Marsh Widowbird Euplectes hartlaubi 18/11/17 Luwero
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus 10/11/17 Queen Elizabeth Park
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens 12/11/17 Semuliki
Grey-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus 09/11/17 Buhoma
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba 06/11/17 Mburo
Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula 15/11/17 Royal Mile Budongo Forest
Black-bellied Firefinch Lagonosticta rara 12/11/17 Semuliki
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala 05/11/17 Mburo
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus 16/11/17 Murchison Falls
Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola 12/11/17 Semuliki
Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda 11/11/17 Semuliki
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 04/11/17 Mabamba
Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula 11/11/17 Semuliki
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata 12/11/17 Semuliki
Black-and-white Mannikin Lonchura bicolor 12/11/17 Semuliki
Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata 04/11/17 Mabamba
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 04/11/17 Mabamba
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara 08/11/17 Rahija
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 04/11/17 Mabamba
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 05/11/17 Mburo
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica 04/11/17 Lake Mburo
Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata 13/11/17 Kibale NP
Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni 08/11/17 Rahija
Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata 08/11/17 Rahija
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris 05/11/17 Mburo

Mammals

African Bush Elephant Loxodonta Africana 10/11/2017 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Red-tailed Monkey Cercopithecus ascanius 09/11/2017 Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
L'Hoest's Monkey Cercopithecus lhoesti 08/11/2017 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis 07/11/2017 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
De Brazza's Monkey Cercopithecus neglectus 11/11/2017 Semuliki
Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus 04/11/2017 Mburo
Patas Monkey Erythrocebus patas 16/11/2017 Murchison Falls NP
Grey-cheeked Mangabey Lophocebus albigena 11/11/2017 Semuliki
Mantled Guereza Colobus guereza 08/11/2017 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Eastern Gorilla Gorilla beringei 07/11/2017 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Common Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes 13/11/2017 Kibale NP
Bunyoro Rabbit Poelagus marjorita 05/11/2017 Mburo
Long-haired Rousette Rousettus lanosus 09/11/2017 Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguine 05/11/2017 Mburo
Common Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula 04/11/2017 Mburo
African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis 04/11/2017 Mburo
Plains Zebra Equus burchelli 04/11/2017 Mburo
Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus 05/11/2017 Mburo
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibious 16/11/2017 Murchison Falls NP
Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis rothchildi 05/11/2017 Mburo
Impala Aepyceros melampus 04/11/2017 Mburo
Jackson’s Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus 16/11/2017 Murchison Falls NP
Topi Damaliscus korrigum 05/11/2017 Mburo
African Buffalo Synceros caffer 05/11/2017 Mburo
Common Eland Taurotragus oryx 16/11/2017 Murchison Falls NP
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus 05/11/2017 Mburo
Yellow-backed Duiker Cephalophus sylvicultor 09/11/2017 Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus 04/11/2017 Mburo
Uganda Kob Kobus kob 10/11/2017 Queen Elizabeth National Park
Red-legged Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium 12/11/2017 Semuliki
Ruwenzori Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus ruwenzorii 08/11/2017 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP
Alexander's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus alexandri 15/11/2017 Masindi
Boehm's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus beohmi 08/11/2017 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP

Norfolk Birders

Norfolk Birdwatching and beyond!