Trip Report UGANDA 2016 28 DAYS UGANDA BIRDING AND NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP – PRIVATE TOUR

Date: June 24, 2016 - July 21, 2016

Participants: B. Ullrich and Dr. M. Zieger, photographies and text

Guide: Crammy Wanyama, Planning, organizing, driving and guiding whole trip

Route: generated with the free service of Openrouteservice.org based on the free data collection of Openstreetmap.org.

Scope: Not only to see as much wild-life as possible, but to get (good) photographies of birds!

417 Species seen and photogra- phed, thereoff 25 mere docu- mented quality (not mentioned in the text).

177 new species compared to our first trip to Uganda: Note: Bird links lead to my gallery at the Internet Bird Collection, also containing some videos.

Program:

Day 1 – June 24, 2016: Arrival in Entebbe, check-in, Birding Entebbe Botanical Gardens, overnight Entebbe Travellers Inn, ideal located little town hotel, close to airport & walking distance to the Botanical Gardens, rich in birds as last time, but with much more but- ter- and dragonflies.

Photographed in "good or better" quality: Woodland Kingfisher, Black-and-white casqued Hornbill, Black-and-white Shrike- flycatcher, Scarlet-chested –, Purple- banded -, Red-chested - and Olive-bellied Sunbird, Diederick Cuckoo, Bronze Manakin, Golden-backed -, Black-headed – and Vieillot's Black Weaver, White- chinned Prinia, Black-headed Gonolek

Striated Heron, juvenile Other wildlife (first sighting only): Guereza colobus, Vervet monkey

Day 2 – June 25, 2016: Preparing for some muddy trails we bought rubber- boots, Birding via Kampala to Jinja, check-in, lunch, afternoon visiting the Source of the River Nile on lake Victoria by boat, overnight Kingfisher Lodge Jinja, lovely place, nice banda, garden full of nature, pool. Could have been more!(2 nights)

Greeting committee: Green-headed Sunbird, Red-billed Firefinch, African paradise Flycatcher, Marico Sunbird, Cattle Egret in breeding plumage, Blue-breasted -, White-throated Bee- eater, Swamp Flycatcher, Purple -, Black- crowned Night Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Pink- Marico Sunbird backed Pelican, Black Bishop Red-tailed monkey, Blue-headed Tree agama, Nile Monitor

Day 3 – June 26, 2016: Birding Mabira Forest , using first main entrance. Small area, thus no long walking but amazinly many birds. Afternoon "road to the pond" in search for the Sooty Boubou, species missing documentation in the IBC (Internet Bird Collection).

Forest Robin, Buff-throated Apalis, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Red-headed Malimbe, Forest Wood-Hoopoe, Brown Illadopsis (first document in IBC), African Emerald Cuckoo, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, White-spotted Flufftail, Olive-green Cameroptera, Green Hylia, Grey Greenbull, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Lesser Honeyguide, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Plain Greenbull, Sooty Boubou Boehm's squirrel, Red-legged sun squirrel

Day 4 – June 27, 2016: Birding to the East via Tororo, Mbale to Kapchorwa, ugandan part of the Mount Elgon Area. Hike to one of the Sipi-Falls, getting quite wet because of the spray, over- night Sipi River Lodge, superb view and location. (2 nights)

Splendid Glossy Starling, Grey-headed Nigrita, Red-faced –, Singing Cisticola, Fan-tailed – and Hartlaub's Marsh Widowbird, Black- winged Red Bishop, Black Crake, Black Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, Wire-tailed Swallow, African Citril, Black Goshawk, Mountain Pintail Wydah Buzzard, Rock Martin, Pin-tailed Whydah Olive baboon, Red-headed Rock agama

Day 5 – June 28, 2016: Birding ( Mount Elgon National Park ) up to 2050 m, some rains engorged the falls remarkably and made the usually not too steep trail a bit slippery.

Variable -, and Bronze Sunbird, Brimstone Canary, Mosque Swallow, Abyssinian Ground- Thrush, Montane Oriole, Tropical Boubou, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Black-billed -, and Baglafecht Weaver, Klaas's Cuckoo, Black-throated Wattle-eye, White-bellied Tit, African Hill-Babbler, Ayre's Hawk-Eagle, Stuhlmann's Starling, Ross Turaco

Day 6 – June 29, 2016: Back to Mbale, birding to Soroti, fisher-boat on Lake Bisina for The Foxy’s Weaver (Uganda’s only endemic), lovely 3 hours on the lake, no Foxy Weaver, but a number of little Bittern (and many more) very close. Overnight Soroti Hotel, standard business-hotel.

Dusky-brown Flycatcher, Mountain Wagtail, Yellow Bishop, Striped Kingfisher, Copper Sunbird, Lesser -, and Greater Swamp Warbler, Parasitic -, and Northern brown-throated Weaver, Red-pate Cisticola, Black-shouldered Kite, Black-billed Barbet, several Little Bittern, Lesser Jaçana, Marsh Tchagra, Winding Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher Slender mongoose

Day 7 – June 30, 2016: Another look at the swamps around Soroti & Lake Kyoga, more Little Bittern with juveniles, birding via Lira to Kitgum, overnight Boma Hotel, standard business-hotel.

Mourning Collared Dove, African Marsh-harrier, Golden-backed Weaver, Abyssinian Roller, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Yellow-mantled – and Yellow-shouldered Widowbird, White-crested Turaco, Siffling Cisticola, Black-winged Bishop, Red-necked Falcon Long-toed Lapwing chasing African Marsh- harrier Day 8 – July 1, 2016: Birding to Kidepo Valley National Park, entering via Katurum gate, Narus valley with first 3 lions, quite far away, overnight Kidepo Park Bandas (Apoka Rest Camp). Banda with all needed. Incredible stars, during daylight rich wildlife in & around the camp. (3 nights)

Black-crowned Tchagra, Vinaceous Dove, Cardinal -, and Red-headed Quelea, Northern Crombec, Black-and-white -, and Levaillant's Cuckoo, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Grey Kestrel, Rattling Cisticola, Bronze-tailed -, Superb -, and Lesser Blue- eared Starling, Lizard Buzzard, Moustached Grass Warbler, Fan-tailed Raven, Violett-backed Starling, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Banded Martin, Plain-backed Pipit, Red-winged Lark, African_Jaçana, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Broad-billed Roller, Crested Francolin Striped ground squirrel, Common Jackal, white-tailed mongoose, African Lion, Boehm's Zebra, Common warthog, African buffalo, Defassa Waterbuck, Lelwel Hartbeest, Nile Soft shelled turtle, Rainbow skink, Side-striped chameleon, Slender chameleon

Day 9 – July 2, 2016: Birding Narus valley, lions very close on Kakine Circuit at Lion Rocks.

Silverbird, Clapperton's Francolin, Black -, and Senegal Coucal, Yellow-billed Shrike, European Roller, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Red- rumped Swallow, Bateleur, Red-winged Starling, White- headed -, and Lapped-faced Vulture, Black Scimitarbill, d'Arnaud's Barbet, Red- cheeked Cordon-bleu (between the bandas), African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, Foxy's Cisticola, Bruce's Green-Pigeon, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Brown Snake-Eagle, Dwarf Bittern Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Rock Hyrax, Rothschild Giraffe, Oribi, Klipspringer

Day 10 – July 3, 2016: Birding via Kidepo (Sand) River Crossing into Kidepo valley to border of South-Sudan & visiting Kanataruk (or Kanangarok) Hot Springs, main source of water for the park (full day excursion, in case of rain with too much water in the Rivers not feasably).

Chestnut Sparrow, Tawny Eagle, Helmeted Guineafowl, Beautiful Sunbird, Red-and-Yellow -, Red-fronted -, and Spot-flanked Barbet, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Stone Partridge, Yellow- rumped Seedeater, Mouse-coloured Penduline-Tit, Croaking Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, African Black Swift, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, African Grey Flycatcher, Black-billed Wood-Dove, Red-billed -, African Grey -, and Jackson's Hornbill, Mottled Swift, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, White-browed Sparrow-weaver, Grosbeak –, Vitelline Masked -, and Speckle-fronted Weaver, Rufous Chatterer, Yellow-billed Shrike, Wattled Starling, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Hartlaub's -, and White-bellied Bustard, Common Ostrich, Red-fronted Tinkerbird Patas monkey, Cape hare

Day 11 – July 4, 2016: Birding again Narus valley & visit to Karamojong village & Jump-Dance-Performance.

Yellow-spotted Petronia, Martial Eagle, Pin-tailed Whydah, Moustached Grass Warbler, Slate- coloured Boubou, Boran Cisticola, Familiar Chat, Mocking Cliff Chat, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Black-breasted Barbet, Eastern Chanting- Goshawk, d'Arnaud's Barbet, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bush Hyrax, African Elephant, common Eland, Striped skink, Olive Sand snake

Day 12 – July 5, 2016: Problem with the car. Black-bellied Bustard Transfer with Taxi (coming from Gulu) back to Gulu (5 hrs), only driving without birding. Overnight Bomah Hotel Gulu , standard business-hotel.

Lesser Striped Swallow, Blue-naped Mousebird, Brubru, Straw coloured Fruit bat, Speke's Hinged Tortoise

Day 13 – July 6, 2016: New car organised by Crammy (from Kampala). Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Ferry out of service, crossing by fisher-boat & walking. Overnight Red Chilli Camp, lovely place, scenic view and surrounded by wildlife. Hippopotamus very close to the banda ... (2 nights).

Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Black- bellied Firefinch, Goliath Heron, White-faced Whistling Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Long- toed Lapwing, Wahlberg Eagle Hippopotamus, Bohor reedbuck, Uganda Kob, Blanding's Tree snake Shoebill waiting for us at the shore Day 14 – July 7, 2016: First: Ferrying the car while ferry is working … Then: Private Boat to the Delta of the Victoria Nile. Afternoon: Drive to the falls (never crossing again!), on the way back Honeymoon Trail: more lions & a leopard crossing in front of us!

Giant Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silverbird, Shoebill, Grey-hooded Gull, White-winged Tern, Eurasian Mash Harrier, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, African Harrier- hawk, Rock Pratincole, Yellow-throated Greenbull, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Long-tailed Nightjar Mauritian tomb bat, Yellow-winged bat, Uganda grass-rabbit, (Leopard), Nile Bushback, Nile crocodile More lions Day 15 – July 8, 2016: Birding via Hoima to Fort Portal Town, long way to go. Overnight Mountains of the Moon Hotel. Excellent place to stay! (3 nights)

Tambourine Dove, Whistling Cisticola, Yellow-fronted Canary, Black-crowned Waxbill, Village Indigobird, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike Grey cheecked mangabey, Tantalus monkey

Day 16 – July 9, 2016: Birding to Rwenzori Mountains to Semuliki Forest National Park. Very impressive scenery, newly constructed "alpine" road! Hike with useful rubber-boots.

Grey-headed Sunbird, Xavier's Greenbul, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Little Greenbul, Grant's Bluebill, Crested Malimbe, Red-rumped Tinkerbird Central African Red colobus, Dent's monkey, Alexander's dwarf squirrel. African giant squirrel

Day 17 – July 10, 2016: Back to Semuliki Forest NP, more birding, same trail, different opportunities, afternoon visiting Sempaya Hot Springs.

Arrow-marked Babbler, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Piping Hornbill, Fire-crested Alethe, Little Bee-eater, Yellow-billed Barbet, Red-tailed Greenbul, Rameron Pigeon

Day 18 – July 11, 2016: Leisurely morning (leaving around 9 a.m.) then Birding to Lake George, Queen Elizabeth National Park , Nightdrive, overnight The Bush Lodge, nice romantic place with view to the Kazinga channel (2 nights)

Red-eyed Dove, Black-shouldered Kite, Grey- crowned Crane, White-naped Raven, Brown- throated Wattle-eye, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Buff-bellied Warbler, Laughing Dove, Slender-billed Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, Water Thickknee Marabou with catch Variable skink

Day 19 – July 12, 2016: Successful morning search for Papyrus Gonolek. Visiting the Salt Lakes, later private boat from Mweya Safari Lodge to Kazinga channel

Brown Babbler, Black-lored Babbler, Palmnut Vulture, Red-necked Spurfowl, Flappet Lark, White-winged Widowbird, Spectacled Weaver, Senegal Lapwing, Collared Pratincole, Kittlitz Plover, Rufous-naped Lark, Long-crested Eagle, Ring-necked Dove, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Rufous-chested Swallow, Short-toed Snake- Eagle, Brown-chested -, and Spur-winged Lapwing, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Lesser Flamingo, Black-winged Stilt, Gull-billed Tern, Hamerkop false mounting Marsh Sandpiper, Three-banded Plover, Black- tailed Godwit, Madagascar Bee-eater, Squacco Heron, Marabou, Hamerkop, Long-tailed Cormorant, Sacred Ibis, African Skimmer, Common Greenshank, Green-winged Pytilia, Stout Cisticola

Day 20 – July 13, 2016: Birding to Ruhija in Bwindi, Buhoma. On the way in private garden pair of African Wood Owls. Passing „the Neck“ & Black Bee- eater. Overnight Broadbill Forest Camp idyllic place to stay amidst pure nature (2 nights)

Green Crombec, African Blue Flycatcher, Golden-breasted Bunting, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Violett-backed Starling, African Wood-Owl, Cape Wagtail, Black -, and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, African Black Duck, Little Grebe, Black-billed Turaco, African Pied Wagtail, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Strange Weaver L'Hoest's monkey, Blue monkey, Mountain fruit bat, Rwenzori Three- horned chameleon

Day 21 -July 14, 2016 Birding along the Forest Road & Community Trail, both easy walking trails Yellow-bellied Waxbill Brown-capped Weaver, Lühder's Bush-shrike, Grey-throated Barbet, Slender-billed Greenbul, Banded Prinia, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Speckled Mousebird, Black Sawwing, White-starred Robin, Streaky Seedeater, Regal -, and Northern Double Collared Sunbird, Chestnut- throated Apalis, Mountain Illadopsis, Abyssinian Thrush, Yellowbill, Yellow-bellied Waxbill Carruther's mountain squirrel, Rwenzori sun squirrel, (Rwenzori red duiker), Great Lakes Bush Viper

Day 22 – July 15, 2016: Hike to Mubwindi Swamp. Long way to go, a porter will be helpful, but, finally, a very impressive spot. Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Rwenzori Batis, Montane Oriole, Mackinnon's Fiscal, Rwenzori Hill-Babbler, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow- eyed Black Flycatcher, Waller's Starling, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Mountain Masked & Black-throated Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Dwarf Honeyguide, Western Citril, Cardinal Woodpecker, White-headed Wood-Hoopoe

Day 23 – July 16, 2016: Birding into Virunga Mountains . Overnight Kisoro Travellers Inn, historical & touristic place, some birds in garden and trees (2 nights)

Kandt's Waxbill, Olive (Abyssinian) Thrush, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Handsome Francolin, Blue-headed Sunbird, Angola Swallow, Ruaha & White-headed Black Chat, Augur Buzzard, Long-billed Pipit, Doherty's Bush-shrike, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Ruaha Chat, female Grey-capped Warbler

Day 24 – July 17, 2016: Birding Hike to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park .

African Pipit, Plain Martin, Rwenzori Double- collared Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, Cape Robin- Chat, Common Waxbill Montane Side-striped chameleon

Day 25 – July 18, 2016: Birding along Lake Bunyonyi via Mbararo to Kaku Swamp Area (Lyantonde), overnight Skyblue Hotel modern, nice hotel (2 nights) Ruaha Chat, juv. male Wooly-necked Stork, Thick-billed Seedeater, African Stonechat, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red- headed Lovebird

Day 26 – July 19, 2016: Morning and afternoon birding to the Swamp using rubber boots to wade "through the waders"

Speckled Pigeon, Holub's Golden Weaver, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, African Swamphen, Blue-headed Coucal, Spur-winged Goose, Glossy Ibis, African Wattled Lapwing, Comb Duck, Saddle-billed Stork, Hottentot Teal

Day 27 – July 20, 2016: Last visit to the swamp, Birding via Masaka To Entebbe, Glossy Ibis overnight again Entebbe Travellers Inn

African Green Pigeon, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Lilac-breasted Roller, White-browed Robin- Chat

Day 28 – July 21, 2016: Last visit to the Botanical Garden & Departure Yellow-billed Duck, Grey Parrot, Egyptian Goose, Black Kite

In brief: a good guide should know which birds have been seen on the current trip, even before several weeks. An excellent one (which we had) can tell you that you have photographed a bird during the last trip, but not very well. So you can restart trying better!

Mein Blog. Reisebericht Uganda 2015.

European Roller Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Pink-backed Pelican Klaas's Cuckoo

Superb Starling Allen's Gallinule

Goliath Heron Long-tailed Nightjar

Defassa Waterbuck