Uganda & Rwanda Birds & Gorillas Trip Report 1st to 19th July 2014 Shoebill by David Hoddinott Trip Report Compiled by Tour Leader: David Hoddinott Trip Report - Uganda 2014 2 Tour Summary Uganda, the “Pearl of Africa” as it is often referred to, is a remarkable country of astonishing diversity. It is small in size, has a good road network, excellent infrastructure, great food, is friendly and peaceful, and – most importantly – has a staggering bird list of over 1000 species, plus the added benefit of amazing wildlife including Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, tree climbing Lions, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and so much more; no wonder it’s rated as one of the top birding and wildlife destinations in the world! Our exciting adventure started off with a visit to Mabamba Swamp in search of the unique Shoebill. After a good deal of scanning two of Yellow-lored Bristlebill by David Hoddinott these stately birds were spotted some way off. Our local guides assisted us greatly in manoeuvring our canoes to gain a closer look and soon we were enjoying magnificent views, as can be seen in the photo above. Absolutely delighted we continue birding in this productive swamp situated on the edge of the vast Lake Victoria. Other notable sightings during our canoe trip included several Long-toed Lapwing, sought-after Lesser Jacana, a flock of White-winged Terns, confiding Malachite Kingfishers, beautiful Blue- breasted Bee-eaters, a very bold and showy Papyrus Gonolek and, just as we ended our boat trip, two fabulous Blue Swallows appeared, a most unexpected sighting and a great way to end off a marvellous start to our trip. Ovambo Sparrowhawk by David Hoddinott Thereafter we started to make our way towards Jinja at the source of the Nile. En route we picked up Orange Weaver on the edge of Lake Victoria and also the nomadic Weyns’s Weaver. In the late afternoon we enjoyed our first forest birding at the great Mabira Forest before making our way to Jinja. We then enjoyed a delicious dinner before a good night’s rest. Our time in Mabira Forest was very fruitful and our sightings of interest included Crested Guineafowl, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetails, beautiful Narina Trogon, localised Forest Wood Chimpanzee by David Hoddinott Hoopoe, African Pied Hornbill, Brown-eared Trip Report - Uganda 2014 3 Woodpecker, Western Nicator, scarce Toro Olive Greenbul, elusive Yellow-lored Bristlebill, Fraser’s Rufous Thrush, a startled juvenile Fire- crested Alethe, Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher, Green Twinspot and Yellow-mantled Weaver. We also enjoyed great sightings of a troop of Grey- cheeked Mangabey. Leaving Jinja we made our way north to Masindi, stopping for a lovely pair of Red-necked Falcons, and then went via Luwero Swamp and the Kafu Ranches. After recent rains the Luwero Swamp was buzzing with activity and we quickly found White-shouldered Black Tit, Purple Starling, smart Red-headed Lovebird by David Hoddinott Marico Sunbird, Golden-backed Weaver, small flocks of Cardinal Quelea and a superb Marsh Widowbird in full breeding plumage. Moving on to the woodland around the ranches is most rewarding and this time was no different. Highlights in this area included a lovely Western Banded Snake Eagle, superb juvenile Martial Eagle soaring nearby, Vinaceous Dove, Bruce’s Green Pigeon dashed across the road, stunning White-crested Turaco, Eurasian Hoopoe, White-headed Barbets, superb Grey-headed Bushshrike, Buff-bellied Warbler, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Spotted Palm Thrush, Little Weaver and several White-browed Sparrow-Weavers. The next morning there was an air of excitement as we departed early for the drive to the Royal Equatorial Akalat by David Hoddinott Mile in Budongo Forest, well known to offer some of the finest forest birding in Africa! Before arriving at the forest we stopped off at some farm bush and a small patch of woodland, which produced a variety of species including lovely Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Brown-backed Scrub Robin, superb Marsh Tchagra, smart Brown Twinspot, Black- bellied Firefinch, a small flock of Compact Weaver, handsome Black Bishop and delightful singing Cabanis’s Bunting. Tearing ourselves away from this active spot we headed to the forest and enjoy an outstanding day on the mile. Highlights included fabulous Nahan’s Partridge which at one point appeared shocked and stood motionless on the trail allowing us superb views, a European Honey Buzzard, magnificent perched Crowned Eagle, superb Red-chested Cuckoo, male Narina Trogon, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, African Dwarf Kingfisher, White-thighed Hornbill, Yellow-billed Barbet, Yellow-crested Willard’s Sooty Boubou by David Hoddinott Trip Report - Uganda 2014 4 Woodpecker, tiny Ituri Batis (which gave great views for an elusive canopy species) and a nice flock of Spotted Greenbul. From Masindi we next made our way to Kibale Forest. A comfort stop en route saw us enjoying a male Orange-tufted Sunbird and cracking scope views of Heuglin’s Francolin. Kibale holds some highly desired species and top of the list is Green- breasted Pitta, one of only a select few sites in the world for this scarce and tricky species and certainly the most reliable. Pittas are notoriously shy and elusive and this one is no exception, but Doherty’s Bushshrike by David Hoddinott with patience and persistence we finally managed to see this forest gem! Delighted with our success we then went in search of our other targets which included Red-chested Owlet and Chimpanzee. We enjoyed good sightings of both and then set about exploring the rest of the park, including the Sebitole and Bigodi Swamps. Some of our star sightings here included a soaring Ayres’s Hawk- Eagle, rare Ovambo Sparrowhawk, confiding male White-spotted Flufftail, Afep and rare White- naped Pigeons, flocks of Grey Parrot, Ross’s Turaco, resplendent male African Emerald Cuckoo, huge Alpine Swift, Black Bee-eater, rare Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, African Shrike- Grauer’s Broadbill by David Hoddinott flycatcher, Dusky Tit, localised Joyful Greenbul and Lowland Masked Apalis, Chestnut-winged Starling and Tiny Sunbird. From Kibale we travelled to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via the Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Highlights on the drive through Ishasha included White-headed Vulture, several majestic Bateleurs, an African Crake, Olive Bee-eater and White-tailed Lark. The mammals were great as well and we had superb sighting of African Elephant alongside the road, numerous Uganda Kob and African Buffalo. Lagden’s Bushshrike by David Hoddinott Trip Report - Uganda 2014 5 Our time in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park included covering all the altitudes including the sites of Buhoma, the Nek and Ruhija. We enjoyed so many wonderful sightings here; the heart of Albertine Rift endemism! Some of the highlights included Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, a superb Western Bronze-naped Pigeon sitting up in the open and giving wonderful scope views, Black-billed Turaco, Horus Swift, beautiful Bar-tailed Trogon, noisy White-headed Wood Hoopoes, cute Western Tinkerbird, Willcock’s Honeyguide, Tullberg’s & Elliot’s Woodpecker, spectacular and rare Grauer’s Broadbill, Ruwenzori Batis, a plethora of bushshrikes including highly elusive Lagden’s, Many-coloured and stunning Doherty’s, Pink- footed Puffback, recently described Willard’s Scaly-breasted Illadopsis by David Hoddinott Sooty Boubou (see photo), Mackinnon’s Shrike, Mountain Oriole, Stripe-breasted Tit, Kakamega, Ansorge’s and Cabanis’s Greenbul, White- browed Crombec, Grauer’s Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Ruwenzori, Mountain Masked and Chestnut-throated Apalis, Black- faced Rufous Warbler, Scaly-breasted and Mountain Illadopsis, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, Slender-billed and sought after Sharpe’s Starling, Red-throated Alethe, Equatorial Akalat, Archer’s Ground Robin, White-bellied and Grey-winged Robin-Chats, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-headed, magnificent male Purple-breasted and Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing and confiding Purple-breasted Sunbird by David Hoddinott Dusky Twinspot. We also lucked out with a superb sighting of the huge Yellow-backed Duiker. Whew!!! What a remarkable haul of stunning and sought after species! Leaving Bwindi we made our way back into the savanna at Lake Mburo National Park. During our time here we enjoyed several game drives taking us through wonderful woodland as well as a most memorable boat trip. Some of the more noteworthy sightings included stunning White- backed Night Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Lappet-faced Vulture, Black-chested Snake Eagle, several African Finfoot, Brown-chested Lapwing, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, African Scops Owl, four nightjar species (Black- White-backed Night Heron by David Hoddinott shouldered, Swamp, Square-tailed and Pennant- Trip Report - Uganda 2014 6 winged – the latter seen soaring overhead at dawn), Spotted Eagle-Owl, African Hoopoe, Red-faced and Black-collared Barbet, White-winged Black Tit and tiny Grey Penduline Tit. From Lake Mburo we then travelled back to Entebbe, en route stopping at a fabulous ephemeral wetland. Here were observed not one but two more magnificent Shoebills, hundreds of Grey Crowned Cranes, both Lesser Moorhen and Allen’s Gallinule, a plethora of waterfowl including Hottentot Teal, Fulvous Whistling Duck and Knob-billed Duck, as well as African Spoonbill, African Openbill and Pink-backed Pelican. Thereafter we stopped off at the equator where participants had some time for shopping and then continued on to Entebbe, where our final birding for the day was at the Entebbe Botanical Brown-chested Lapwing by David Hoddinott Gardens. The gardens were very productive as usual and we notched up some new trip birds including Grey-headed Gull, Saddle-billed Stork and our target, Orange Weaver. Thereafter we travelled to our guesthouse where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and good night’s rest. The following morning we made our way to the airport and boarded our flight to Kigali.