Uganda

22 July - 6 August 2006

Leader: Malcolm Wilson

Introduction

It was a great privilege to have been a guide on this trip as two participants were none other than Bob and Laura Payne. Over the course of Bob Paynes’ career he has contributed enormously to African Ornithology. Most widely renowned for his discovery of Rock Firefinch in Nigeria, he is a leading authority on the families Estrildidae, Honeyguides, and Cuckoos.

22nd July, Entebbe – Mabamba swamp – Lake Mburo NP
23rd July, Lake Mburo NP – Bwindi Impenetrable NP
24th July, Buhoma, Bwindi Impenetrable NP
25th July, Ruhija, Bwindi Impenetrable NP
26th July, Buhoma, Bwindi Impenetrable NP
27th July, Ruhija, Bamboo Zone, Bwindi Impenetrable NP
28th July, Buhoma – Kasese.
29th July, Ngogo Research Station, Kibale Forest
30th July, Ngogo Research Station, Kibale Forest
31th July, Bigodi Wetland - Semliki Game Reserve
1st August Semliki Valley National Park
2nd August Semliki Game Reserve
3rd August Semliki Valley National Park
4th August Ntoroko, Lake George – Semliki Flats
5th August Semliki – Masindi
6th August Royal Mile, Budongo Forest
7th August Masindi - Entebbe

July 22nd
Entebbe to Lake Mburo

Leaving Entebbe is always hard as there is so much happening; birds are just everywhere! Long-crested Eagles are common here perched upon telegraph poles, while the extremely noisy and impressive Black-and-white Casqued Hornbills glide overhead. Flocks of Marabou and Open-billed Storks thermalling together with Hooded Vultures, Black Kites and Pink-backed Pelicans made a very exciting first hour.

A little out of town we started to pick up the typical forest edge species of the peninsula. Pied and Crowned Hornbills were seen along with great raptors such as Palm-nut Vulture, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, African Harrier-hawk, Lizard Buzzard, Wahlberg’s Eagle, and Grey Kestrel. Great-blue and Ross’s Turacos made spectacular flights across our path, the Ross’s Turaco arguably more impressive in flight than perched.

Every now and then we would pass through tiny forest remnants and be rewarded with birds like African Emerald Cuckoo, Chattering Yellowbill (as Bob now insists it is called!), the striking Red-headed Malimbe, Double-toothed Barbet, Ashy Flycatcher, Olive-bellied and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds and Grey-headed Negrofinch.

At the canoe landing site we were rewarded with a fine flurry of different swallow species including Angola, Lesser-striped, Grey-rumped, Mosque, Red-rumped and an early Barn. While Blue Swallow are often seen here, they were unfortunately absent during our visit. Nearby a Diederik Cuckoo was upsetting a colony of Orange Weavers while Blue-chested Bee-eaters hawked dragonflies. Having a quick look from the vehicle roof, we found a distant Shoebill which we took a bearing on so we could get a closer view later on.

Once in the canoe we were soon picking up waterside birds such as Swamp Flycatcher, Malachite Kingfisher, White-faced Whistling and Yellow-billed Ducks, Black Crake, African Jacana, and Long-toed Lapwing. Searching carefully through some lily pads we found a pair of Pygmy Geese; these delightfully attractive birds re also very well camouflaged. Out over the papyrus Olive Bee-eaters swooped and African Marsh Harriers worked the swamp. While watching an early Osprey soaring overhead, we were treated to the spectacular sight of an adult Saddle-billed Stork flying across the marsh. The water level of Lake Victoria has over the past year dropped about a metre and a half, so we struggled to get close to the Shoebill and had to be content to watch it from the landing site.

Heading off to Lake Mburo we encountered large flocks of Weyns’s Weaver flying overhead. This numerous, but uncommonly seen, Lake Victoria basin endemic has yet to officially have its nest described. However, Laura took a few pictures of nests at Mabamba Swamp where local guides were able to point them out. Along the way to Nabbajuzi swamp, Masaka, we stopped at the wetland and found another Shoebill! Again it was standing out in the middle of the marsh motionless, listening for lungfish.

We arrived at Lake Mburo late in the afternoon and began to pick up birds representative of this Akagera-Savannah system, which is related to the greater Serengeti systems. Just before Sanga gate we came across a roost of 8 Bateleur, including 5 juveniles, which is a great sign of breeding success. With them were 7 White-backed and a single Lappet-faced Vulture, a great sight we would not have seen 10 years ago. From the park entrance we viewed the sunset and out came the birds of the night. Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Scops Owl and Black-shouldered Nightjar were making their evocative calls while along the track we saw Swamp, Square-tailed and Pennant-winged Nightjars, males with full pennants flying behind them.

July 23rd
Lake Mburo to Bwindi

After a night of a leopard giving its rasping coughing call around camp, we sat just before dawn on the veranda. From here we had the most wonderful views of several male Pennant-winged Nightjars, in full breeding regalia, coasting overhead and at eye-level in the camp lights. When it was light enough to see, we set off down the track on foot with an attendant bearing an AK47. This was to protect us from the buffalo around, given away by the flocks of Yellow-billed Oxpecker.

We soon got into mixed bird parties where we picking out Grey Tit-flycatcher, African Penduline and White-winged Tits, flocks of Meyer’s Parrot, and Grey-headed Kingfisher. Spot-flanked, White-headed and a pair of Red-faced Barbets (the latter a regional endemic only found in this area), Long-tailed Cisticola (another specialty of the area), the very striking White-headed Saw-wing, Black Cuckooshrike, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Buff-bellied Warbler, Tropical Boubou, Broad-billed Roller, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-headed Weaver, and Orange-breasted Bushshrike were also picked up in this area. After breakfast we birded the riparian woodland along the lake side and got Buff-spotted Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Greenbul. We were almost got ourselves by 3 large bushpigs which crashed out of a thicket and crossed the road in front of us!

Just 30 minutes into our boat ride we had already found 2 Finfoot and obtained excellent views as we quietly approached them. Whilst watching a pair of Ross’s Turaco fly across a clearing, we were distracted by a very excited troop of vervet monkeys reacting to something very much to their dislike. This soon became apparent when a very large male leopard stepped out from behind a thicket, proceeded to defecate in front of us, and saunter off to the general bedlam and abuse of the vervets!

Leaving the park we encountered a great variety of raptors including Martial Eagle (which has increased in the park), African Harrier Hawk, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, and no less than 15 Bateleur! We also saw many afro-tropical migrants which would be heading to Southern Africa to breed including a Tawny Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, and 17 Wahlberg’s Eagle. At Mbarara, 40ks further, we got a pair of Auger Buzzard and a Black-chested Snake Eagle.

Arriving at a nice camp in Buhoma, we had enough time to get a few forest edge birds such as Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Magpie Mannikin, Black Saw-wings, White-eyed Slaty and Dusky-blue Flycatchers, Makinnon’s Shrike, and Narrow-tailed Starlings. That night the calling of Buff-spotted Flufftails and Wood Owls could be heard round the camp.



July 24th
Buhoma Main Trail

One of the most special things about waking up in a Ugandan forest is the dawn calls and cacophony of the Great Blue Turaco interspersed with the screaming of chimpanzees. Setting out for the day we were bombarded with bird calls of every description and soon were picking out the singers. In the first forest edge section we picked out Levaillant’s and Black Cuckoos, Pettit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Luehder’s and Grey-green Bushshrikes, Black-billed Weaver, and Black Sparrowhawk. Along the trail inside the forest we watched White-tailed Ant-thrush and a Red-throated Alethe picking at a swarm of ants. We soon began to sift through the more difficult birds with Toro Olive, Slender-billed, Honeyguide, Plain, Kakemega, Red-tailed, Olive-breasted Mountain and Ansorge’s Greenbuls all seen. There were quite a few fig trees fruiting and in attendance were the usual Grey-throated and Yellow-spotted Barbets. With them were Waller’s and Sthulman’s Starlings and every so often we got glimpses of a stunning flash of crimson and green before finally getting views of the Black-billed Turaco. We slowly added a few more Albertine Rift endemics to the growing list: Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, and Blue-headed Sunbird. Great excitement was had when a Willcock’s Honeyguide was seen--a great find given the company! All morning Little Green, Green, Grey-headed and Tiny Sunbirds kept fliting in and out of flowering shrubs. Not done yet, we added Elliot’s Woodpecker, displaying African Broadbill, Montane Oriole, Grey, Buff-throated and Black-throated Apalises, White-browed Crombec, Rufous Flycatcher-thrush, and a real forest jewel, the Black Bee-eater. Another good find for Bob was not a Green Coucal, Malkoa or Yellow bill, but most definitely a ‘Chattering Yellowbill’ as he insisted it was! We wandered back slowly in the afternoon, as Western Bronze-naped Pigeons called mournfully from dead tree-snags high up in the canopy and above them small flocks of Scarce Swifts fed.

25th July
Ruhija, Mubwindi Swamp

Setting off at 0400hrs, we got to the trail head just after dawn and in time to see the spectacular hunting performance of an adult Ayre’s Hawk Eagle diving at fleeing Rameron Pigeons. The bird circled over our heads and would suddenly go into a breathtaking stoop and disappear into the canopy after its quarry. The trek down to what is considered by some as the Holy Grail of Uganda’s birds is, to put it mildly, a killer of a hill! To see the African Green Broadbill we had to do it. The cruel twist to the hill is that you have to first go up to go down! Along the way we got a pair of Mountain Buzzards, otherwise we just concentrated on the hill. At last we reached the bottom, and in the very special place we began to see birds. Strange Weaver, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Blue-headed Sunbird, Montane Masked Apalis, Regal Sunbird and Rwenzori Apalis all appeared in no time at all.

Very fortunately for us our luck and timing was perfect. A small trail through some thick undergrowth led us to a small clearing where a research team had set up camp 30m away from a 15m high Megabotrys sapling African Green Broadbill in its canopy. With baited breaths we sat and waited until suddenly, out of nowhere, emerged this very green bird, which when turned to face us had the purest of pastel blue breasts. We watched as the pair of adults took turns to feed large grasshoppers to the two easily visible chicks in the shaggy, pendulous nest. It is amazing to think how restricted and rare this bird is, and how lucky we were to have a couple of Ugandan researchers scouring these valleys with their eagle eyes and allow us to see this special bird. Looking for needles in haystacks seems an easier task!

We had another difficult task which was to find the endangered and range restricted Grauer’s Rush Warbler. Tactics here required waiting for the males to call as they flew across the tops of the sedges and rushes. We had to try a few sites round the edge of the huge swamp, and finally not only saw a displaying male but got great views of him sitting out in the open. We also managed to see another special bird here, Carruther’s Cisticola.

The prospect of a 3 hour hike back up the steep hill did nothing to dampen our euphoria over the birds we had just seen. Before heading up, still more birds revealed themselves. These included Rwenzori Hill-babbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Chetnut-throated Apalis, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, and Fine-banded Woodpecker. On the ascent, we managed to get views of the massive Crowned Eagle as it freaked out a troop of blue monkeys across a small valley from us! Another great find for Bob was a Thick-billed Honeyguide.

July 26th
Buhoma Main Trail

Taking it easy today we spent a very rewarding morning along the gentle incline of the main trail. Dusky and Olive Cuckoos were very vocal and we finally managed to get the latter interested enough in our playback to see him. Rain was threatening, but we still managed a few more species including Blue-throated Roller, Least Honeyguide, African Broadbill, the handsome little Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Sooty Flycatcher, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robinchat, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted and Mountain Illadopsis, and Oriole Finch.
At the camp we patently scrutinized a large tangle of creeper for a spectacular and very skulking songster, Grey-capped Warbler. We had a few false alarms in the form of Green Crombec and Black-necked Weaver, but did finally see the bird well. There were also plenty of White-eyed Slaty Flycatchers around of the confusing race ‘toruensis’ without the ‘white eye-ring’! We also saw the tiny African Dusky and Dusky-blue Flycatchers.

In the afternoon we paid a visit to ‘The Farm’, an area further below the forest in the same valley. It was deforested long ago, leaving a grazing marsh and series of dense thickets along a stream. It’s a great place for all sorts of birds and we soon started seeing some good stuff. Auger Buzzards circled overhead (including 2 black morphs) and an African Goshawk flew along a hedge ahead of us. We were going to check on a Bat Hawk roost which had been reliable in the past, but on arrival we were unlucky to dip on this bird. However a fine adult African Hobby was sitting at the top of the tree. We found a nesting Palm-nut Vulture in a nest which had previously been occupied by a Wahlberg’s Eagle. Working the thickets along the stream we got White-collared Oliveback, African Blue Flycatcher, Snowy-headed Robinchat, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher, Black Bishop, and another good find for Bob, the Black-crowned Waxbill. We were able to watch a pair of Grey-crowned Cranes elegantly perform their courtship display with a grace and devotion that is often hard to find in humans! In a likely looking bed of rush and sedge, we played the call of Red-chested Flufftail and it was not long before we were rewarded with looks of the little crake running across cattle tracks in the reeedbed.

July 27th
Ruhija, Bamboo Zone

Another early morning and we were back at Ruhija, in the bamboo zone at 2700m. Our main quarry here was the splendid looking Kivu Ground Thrush, but all attempts at getting a response from one failed. We did eventually get onto a family of Dusky Crimson-wings, an adult pair with 5 juveniles, and as we watched we could see the distinctive gape markings as they begged the adults for food. Along the roadside verges we picked out other small birds feeding on seed heads such as Yellow-bellied and Kandt’s Waxbills (which, as Bob informed us, is the correct name for what was formerly know here as Black-headed Waxbill), and every so often the stunning White-starred Robin which would perch just over the road in low foliage. We got into some great bird groups here and picked out some real gems like Rwenzori Batis and Stripe-breasted Tit, both Albertine Rift endemics. A flock of Sharpe’s Starling feeding on a fruting tree, Western Green Tinkerbird, great views of the normally skulking Doherty’s Bush-shrike as well as Mountain Sooty Boubou and two more Albertine Rift endemics, Grauer’s Warbler and Archer’s Robinchat, were also seen. It was a perfect morning, following the road along the mountainside with fantastic views over the forest and and unusually light wind. We spent a little while at one spot coaxing out an Evergreen Forest Warbler and another tricky bird, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, both of which we were treated to great views of. Quite a few plants were flowering along the roadside and with them good numbers of Regal Sunbirds which afforded us great views of this stunning endemic. During the course of the morning we encountered 3 Black-fronted Duiker, a beautiful little antelope.

On the way back to camp we stopped off to find some Brown and Dusky Twinspots, but the site had been cleared and all we found were flocks of Black and White Mannikins, a Jackson’s Pipit (race of African Pipit), and an African Goshawk. Along the track every so often a pair of Dusky Crimson-wings would fly up and dive into the undergrowth. Stopping off at ‘The neck’ bridge we saw the riparian Cassin’s Flycatcher and a pair of Mountain Wagtails.

July 28th
Buhoma Kasese

Heading off after breakfast, we birded along the way in the Shamba (garden) type of habitat so common in Uganda. Long-crested Eagles seemed to frequent every village, looking so intently beneath their telegraph poles they seemed oblivious to people walking underneath them. At one village great excitement was had when a singing male Village Indigobird was spotted. This was very special to Bob and Laura who have done so much work on the genus. Scrambling out of the vehicle we were rewarded with a couple more. With them was their brood host, Red-billed Firefinch, feeding on the baked earth floor outside a huts entrance.

Driving through the Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth National Park we began to see large herds of Uganda kob, topi, buffalo and the occasional elephant. We found a distant kill with an attendance of 20 or so White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures. Olive Bee-eaters swooped across the car and Plain-backed Pipits got up off the track on our approach. Raptors along this stretch of road were plentiful with plenty of Bateleur and Wahlberg’s Eagles, one of the former feeding on a huge dead cobra in the road. The Ishasha road is 80kms long and very quiet, it does not pass through any habitation of service stations, so it was rather disappointing to have the misfortune of getting two punctures, rendering us marooned in the afternoon. However, with good cell phone reception we organised our rescue and enjoyed an afternoon birding in the immediate area.

Typical habitat here is tall Imperata grassland with island clusters of Acacia and Ficus species. We soon added some good species: African Moustached Warbler, Croaking and Red-faced Cisticolas, Flappet Lark, Black-crowned Tchagra, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, and flocks of Violet-backed Starlings. Wire-tailed, Angola, Mosque, Lesser-striped and Rufous-chested Swallows were all around us as the sun set. A group of 7 Pennant-winged Nightjars flew over the vehicle and kept going, obviously on migration and still heading south.

This beautiful setting was suddenly shattered by the very close bellow of a spotted hyena. It had come to inspect us and, unimpressed, gave voice to this effect and set off down the road for a night's foraging. The animal must have been asleep in a den not 20m from the vehicle. As if this were not enough, considerably further away, a volley of lion roars drowned out the churring of a dozen Swamp Nightjars.

Eventually our other vehicle arrived and without incident made it to the famous mountaineering base of the Rwenzoris, the Margaretha Hotel.

July 29th
Ngogo Research Station Kibale Forest

A pleasant walk in the hotel gardens produced some interesting birds; a pair of Rock Kestrel were feeding a chick in a large mango tree, White-necked Raven circled over the hotel, and a Little Sparrowhawk allowed us to approach within 10m for great views. Flocks of Bronze Manikins were being harrased by a single Gabar Goshawk on the lawns, as was a Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. A Black Sparrowhawk also flew up the valley, concluding an excellent hour of raptors.

As is usual in the dry season the visibility was poor, but we could just make out the distant forests high up on the slopes of the Rwenzori massif. Stopping for lunch at one of the hundreds of explosion crater lakes in the region we added Giant Kingfisher to the list. Arriving in the late afternoon at Ngogo research station we were met by John Mitani, a colleague of Bob's from the University of Michigan who conducts chimpanzee research in Kibale Forest. We had a quick walk in the forest before dark and, among others, got Rufus Flycatcher Thrush, Grey-throated Tit Flycatcher, and Western Black-headed Oriole. During the night Wood Owl and Red-chested Owlet could be heard calling.

July 30th
Ngogo Research Station Kibale Forest

Up early and into the forest, we picked up the calls of a Narina Trogon which soon responded by flying in to the playback and landing above us. The pops, whistles, and shrieks of a flock of African Grey Parrots came to us through the canopy as a flock passed overhead. Finding a fruiting fig we were treated to views of Hairy-breasted and Yellow-billed Barbets, and a pair of Purple-headed Glossy Starlings. A Yellow-spotted Nicator was very vocal and in a clearing we watched a flock of Sabine’s Spinetails circling the canopy edge. The forest floor produced Scaly-breasted Illadopsis and a Common Bristlebill with the ever attendant Green Hylia making the call it got its name from.

At lunchtime we set off for our next camp at the other side of Kibale Forest and made our way back through a very beautiful 15kms of forest track. After lunch we took a short walk around the camp through swamp forest and found an obliging White-spotted Flufftail and then headed off to bird along the road at Kanyanchu. Our first find was a flock of Crested Guineafowl gritting on the road; its always good to see such birds which are normally deep inside the gloom of a forest thicket. Alpine Swifts, which would have come from their nesting sites high up on the Rwenzori Mountains, screamed overhead. Mottled Spinetails fluttered over the canopy as well.

After concentrating on flocks of Common, Black-crowned and Yellow-bellied Waxbills we retired to a night of clanging hammerhead bats which lulled us to sleep.

July 31st
Bigodi Wetland – Semliki Game Reserve

The dawn chorus started well before dawn with the somewhat haunting and very loud ‘burping’ of the resident troop of black-and-white colubus monkeys. At first light we set off round the Bigodi Swamp, adding Black Bishop, Brown Illadopsis, Compact Weaver, Grey-throated Tit-flyctcher, and Cuckoo Hawk. We also got the first record of Bateleur for the reserve, a young bird heading south, possibly dispersing from the northern savannah to Queen Elizabeth National Park. We found a great deal of activity in a flowering Acacia, getting Blue-throated Brown, Purple-banded, Superb, Scarlet-chested and Copper Sunbirds. Deep in the papyrus, Papyrus Gonoleks called but refused to come to tape. Instead we got great views of the normally frustrating White-winged Warbler.

Leaving the forest we stopped for lunch at a stream where we found a nesting pair of Cassin’s Flycatcher and a Shining-blue Kingfisher which we watched perched on an emerging stick for a few seconds. The canopy around us was thrashing with leaping black-and-white colobus and red-tailed monkeys.

Dropping down 1500m into the Lake Albert basin at 700m we entered a different savannah system--the Guinea-Somali system. It was not long before we started to pick out the new birds associated with this system. We stopped at a dead tree to watch a family of 5 Black-billed Barbets enter the hole and generally perform their co-operative breeding duties. We also stopped at a gathering of 7 Palm-nut Vultures with 7 Bateleur which had discovered a dead Uganda kob. There were no signs of the animal having been killed, so we presumed it was a natural death.

Arriving at the sumptuous and luxurious lodge, a lovely walk in the gardens produced Pale Flycatcher, Senegal Coucal, Red-throated Bee-eater, Whistling Cisticola, Spotted Morning Thrush, Brown Babbler, Black-headed Batis, and Northern Red Bishop.

August 1st
Semliki National Park: Kirumia Trail

Leaving well before dawn, we drove through the reserve putting up a total of 17 male Pennant-winged Nightjars, some of which floated along in front of the vehicle headlights. Dropping down off the escarpment into the Semliki Valley we stopped for a look at a Black-shouldered Nightjar in the road.

We were greeted upon arrival at the trailhead by the calls of a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, grunting in the new day! The trail was fairly quiet to start with, but all that changed when the whooshing sound of three considerably large birds tore through the air above us, suddenly stopping on the very top of a large Cyanometra tree. We desperately tried to get an angle on the birds through the dense foliage and eventually succeeded getting a decent view of the west-central African giant Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill.

Very pleased with this first of the many ‘western’ hornbills, we made our way to the familiar sound of a broadbill and eventually located the displaying bird--a Rufous-sided Broadbill. We managed to get on to a few more hornbills, adding White-thighed and Piping to the list of ‘westerns’ while hearing plenty of Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill calling high in the canopy. The trail here was fabulous for birding. Open areas and swampy areas provided us with an exciting flow of birds.

Further adding to our list of ‘westerns’ we added Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch and spent a while trying to entice a calling Black-throated Coucal to no avail. Working the trailside vegetation we picked out Cabanis’s Greenbul and Icterine Greenbul before stopping just past the first oxbow lake for lunch.

Whilst sitting here in this cathedral-like atmosphere of the forest, I noticed some movement up on the trail ahead and on inspection found a pair of Chestnut Wattle-eyes making a nest. It was an amazing opportunity to watch these tiny birds gather strands of spider webs to add to the little nest.
Just then a bird in the canopy distracted me, and finding a pair of Crested Malimbes, I realised there were a lot more birds further back. Trying to get onto some of the movement, I spotted a pair of forest weavers, which after a few seconds I presumed must be Brown-capped Weaver. However, on closer inspection I realised these were birds I had never set eyes on before! We all had gotten onto the birds now and taking in as much detail as possible penned in some descriptions in the notebook.

After some few minutes, when the birds had gone, I looked through the Sinclair and Ryan which has all the sub-Saharan species. Going carefully through all the weavers I remained at a loss. It was only after some slow pondering that I came down on the picture of Golden-naped Weaver, which, if it were not so dark, would match the bird. I felt pretty sure this must be the one, and on return to Kampala later and looked at the plate in the Birds of Africa, was even more satisfied we had the bird. Later still, Bob sent over some photos of museum skins which clinched it for me as I had seen an adult male of the pair in more detail. It was indeed the bird. Discovered in 1923 and seen only a handful of times, the last being 1986, it is (was) an Ituri forest endemic and a new species for Uganda. Seeing it here was not out of the question as Semliki Valley is contiguous with the Ituri Forest. All in all a great and historical find!

Once the forest quietened off, we made our way back to the lodge and a well earned rest.

August 2nd
Semliki Game Reserve

Taking it easy today after our long hike in the forest, we explored the savannah and the riparian forest. With a spectacular backdrop of the Western Escarpment we made our way to the airstrip to look for possible Brown-chested Lapwings. En route we picked out 4 Black Coucals sitting up on the tops of small shrubs in the grassland and keeping an eye on each other. The airstrip was quite busy with Uganda kob, waterbuck, and warthog! In among these herds we picked out 25 Black-headed Lapwing, a significant count compared to several years ago. Working the bush along the edge of the airstrip we added to the list Cabanis’s Bunting, Green-backed Eremomela and Red-winged Pytilia. Little Weavers here replace their more numerous Slender-billed counterparts to the south and we picked out a few pairs in the many Acacia trees.

Stopping at a chimpanzee research and habituation camp, we took a short walk into the riparian forest where we found a local speciality in the form of a pair of Leaflove. Back in the savannah we worked on the many larks flying up in front of the vehicle and got Flappet and White-tailed Larks. We decided to head down to the Semliki Flats but first had lunch overlooking the river where a colony of Horus Swifts came and went. A big fig tree close by was buzzing with Green Pigeons, Ross’s Turaco, and Splendid Glossy and Violet-backed Starlings. Overhead a pair of Tawny Eagles were interacting with a young Bateleur. A bit of raptor passage migration was occurring at this time in the day and we made a count of 100 Black Kites (of the race parasitus) heading south and with them a few Wahlberg’s Eagles sharing the route.

Heading cross-country through the bush we dropped down again to the Semliki Flats, comprised of the Semliki River floodplain with its vast grazed grassland and marshes. We stopped at one of the ancient man made cattle drinks; a long dam fringed with reeds and other low vegetation. Here we made an exciting find of 5 Black-chinned Quailfinch; another species Bob has worked on in the past. A pair of stunning Saddle-billed Storks flew over our heads to land in a muddy lagoon, where they joined an African Spoonbill. We were very lucky to find a single Brown-chested Lapwing here. This scarce afro-tropical migrant is very regular to burned grasslands in Uganda in August and September.

We spent a great afternoon exploring the flats and got an immature Martial Eagle. This is a good sign in this inhabited area for this particularly persecuted species. Piapiacs were seen following the huge herds of multi-coloured Ankole cows with their enormous horns. On the way home we stopped for a pair of Abyssinian Ground Hornbill on the side of the road. Such ugly but elegant creatures do well in the riparian woodland. We also got a pair of Scaly Francolin at the bridge.

About 1km away from the lodge, I saw what looked for a second like a log across the road until it raised itself in a single movement and disappeared into the grass! Stopping I jumped out and located the thing keeping perfectly motionless. It was a python of monstrous proportions. Carefully parting the long grass to get a look at the snake, it sensed me and took off fast! I ran with it, watching the movement of the long grass to a tamarind tree growing out of a large termite mound. Once there we were treated to the most fantastic view of this magnificent creature. It slowly made its way up the tree, enabling us to get a fairly accurate estimate of its length which we put at between 5 and 6 metres!

Leaving it in peace we returned to the lodge to be told that last year in a controlled savannah burn, there had been an accident where a large python had succumbed to the fire because it had an adult Uganda kob inside it!!

August 3rd
Kirumia Trial

One more visit to the Semliki Valley where we this time counted 9 male Pennant-Winged Nightjars and an early Cliffchat on the way. Continuing with the Kirumia trail we saw more Piping and White-thighed Hornbills and at last good views of a pair of Red-billed Dwarf Hornbills. It appeared very quiet this morning and we battled somewhat. Working the trailside vegetation we got Fire-crested Alethe and Pale-breasted Illadopsis and, in the canopy, Afep Pigeon, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, and an African Golden Oriole. No sign of the Golden-naped Weavers! We also located a calling honeyguide, which was probably Wilcock’s, but could not be enticed below the canopy.

We made a visit to the hot springs and were surprised to find a solitary Lesser Flamingo here with a Three-banded Plover and Yellow-billed Stork. On the way back we picked up Cape Robin-chat, White-crested Helmet-shrike, and Black-winged Red Bishop.

August 4th
Ntoroko, Lake George

This morning was cool and overcast and we made our way down to Lake George to have a look at the spectacular escarpment running along the eastern side of the lake. It was also a great morning for raptors, starting at dawn with a Bat Hawk having a last feed on its quarry before heading to roost. Very soon after leaving the lodge we picked out an adult Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, more Wahlberg’s Eagles heading south, an adult and immature Martial Eagle, and an early returning adult female European Marsh Harrier. Other raptors included Cuckoo Hawk, a couple of African Harrier Hawks, Brown Snake Eagle, Grey Kestrel, and finally after working the many Borossus Palms, we were rewarded with a Red-necked Falcon.

At the lake we walked the beach and found a pair of Water Dikkops on eggs, a pair of Grey-crowned Cranes, and most interesting of all was what sounded like the hybrid of Vinaceous and Ring-necked Doves. These two are supposedly allopatric, with the escarpment being the border. The Vinaceous Dove occurs to the north and Ring-necked Dove to the south of the escarpment. The two species have been the subject of researchers looking at evidence of interbreeding.

Several Common Sandpipers worked the shoreline of the lake as did a couple of Kittlitz’s Plover. Grey-headed Gulls flew by and with the sun out in force, three African Fish Eagles were seen on the thermals. We had another look at the flats again and found another pair of Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, a Woolly-necked Stork, and a hunting Shikra. We also flushed Black-rumped Buttonquail a couple of times.

August 4th
Semliki to Masindi

Leaving after breakfast we left the luxury of the lodge and picked up a pair of Heuglin’s Francolin and a Broad-tailed Warbler before getting on the long road north to Budongo Forest. The road was quite an arduous trek and we stopped only to see Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, 4 Lizard Buzzards, and 6 Long-crested Eagles perched on poles.

Nearer to Masindi we stopped at a small farm yard to watch several Village Indigobirds interact with each other. There were several males and females courting and chasing each other. Brown Parrots were common here and in a forest patch on the road we found four White-thighed Hornbills. The hotel grounds provided easy birding and an interesting roost for lots of Lesser and Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starlings and a few Red-headed Lovebirds, which was all we could do after our drive!

August 5th
Royal Mile, Budongo Forest

Getting to this awesome stretch of track through magnificent forest was so exciting after the previous day; the cacophony of calls made our expectations soar. Almost immediately on entering the forest we picked out the stunning little Dwarf Kingfisher and then a Blue-breasted Kingfisher. Both were very confiding and offered great views. A Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo presented itself in a fashion unlike the tricky Bwindi birds. Suddenly we heard the distant calls of Nahan’s Francolin, a real gem and special bird for the area. Positioning ourselves on a transect path I called them in and after a while they responded very close by. Eventually they decided to cross the path, one bird actually freezing for a few seconds offering great views. Unfortunately all our expectations were dashed when the heavens opened and the rain came down effectively putting a stop to our birding.

August 6th
Masindi to Entebbe

This day was spent driving to the airport. After 16 days of great birdwatching we had amassed a total of 463 species without going too mad! We stayed in some great and very memorable camps, had great food, and saw how Uganda has re-emerged from its dark era of war and poaching. Parks wildlife are responding to the 20 years of peace and with elephant populations growing at 16% per year and a booming bird-safari industry, Uganda has realised its fantastic heritage.

Trip Birdlist

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great Egret Ardea alba
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron Butorides striatus
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus
Shoebill Balaeniceps rex
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
African Spoonbill Platalea alba
Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor
White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
African Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda cuculoides
Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus
Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
Banded Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus
African Marsh-Harrier Circus ranivorus
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro
Shikra Accipiter badius
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus
Black Goshawk Accipiter melanoleucus
Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi
African Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster
Ayres' Hawk-Eagle Hieraaetus ayresii
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
Cassin's Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus africanus
Crowned Hawk-Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
Common Kestrel Falco t. rufescens
Gray Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera
African Hobby Falco cuvierii
Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena
Scaly Francolin Francolinus squamatus
Nahan's Francolin Francolinus nahani
Heuglin's Francolin Francolinus icterorhynchus
Red-necked Spurfowl Francolinus afer
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani
Black-rumped Buttonquail Turnix hottentotta
Grey Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum
White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra
Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
African Finfoot Podica senegalensis
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus
Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
Spur-winged Plover Vanellus spinosus
Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus
Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
Brown-chested Lapwing Vanellus superciliosus
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Gray-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus
Rock Dove Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta
Rameron Pigeon Columba arquatrix
Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba iriditorques
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur afer
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
African Green-Pigeon Treron calva
Red-headed Lovebird Agapornis pullarius
Gray Parrot Psittacus erithacus
Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri
Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata
Black-billed Turaco Tauraco schuettii
Ross' Turaco Musophaga rossae
Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus
Eastern Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus
Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus
Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi
Klaas' Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
Chattering Yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus
Black Coucal Centropus grillii
Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus
Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis
White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis
Swamp Nightjar Caprimulgus natalensis
Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii
Pennant-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx vexillarius
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus
Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri
Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini
African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis
Common Swift Apus apus
Little Swift Apus affinis
Horus Swift Apus horus
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina
Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata
African Pygmy-Kingfisher Ispidina picta
Dwarf Kingfisher Ispidina lecontei
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia
Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Black Bee-eater Merops gularis
Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates
White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudata
Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
White-headed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus bollei
Common Scimitar-bill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill Tockus camurus
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus
African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus
African Gray Hornbill Tockus nasutus
Piping Hornbill Ceratogymna fistulator
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna subcylindricus
White-thighed Hornbill Ceratogymna albotibialis
Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata
Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus
Gray-throated Barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei
Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus
Western Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaeus
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui
Hairy-breasted Barbet Tricholaema hirsuta
Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lachrymosa
White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus
Red-faced Barbet Lybius rubrifacies
Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito
Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus
Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
Thick-billed Honeyguide Indicator conirostris
Willcock's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi
Least Honeyguide Indicator exilis
Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
Tullberg's Woodpecker Campethera tullbergi
Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
Golden-crowned Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus
Elliot's Woodpecker Dendropicos elliotii
Gray Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae
African Broadbill Smithornis capensis
Rufous-sided Broadbill Smithornis rufolateralis
Grauer's Broadbill Pseudocalyptomena graueri
White-tailed Lark Mirafra albicauda
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana
Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea
Banded Martin Riparia cincta
Gray-rumped Swallow Hirundo griseopyga
Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Angola Swallow Hirundo angolensis
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Lesser Striped-Swallow Hirundo abyssinica
Rufous-chested Swallow Hirundo semirufa
Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
White-headed Sawwing Psalidoprocne albiceps
Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne holomelas
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
Gray Cuckoo-shrike Coracina caesia
Petit's Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga petiti
Black Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga flava
Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga phoenicea
Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
Shelley's Greenbul Andropadus masukuensis
Little Greenbul Andropadus virens
Gray Greenbul Andropadus gracilis
Plain Greenbul Andropadus curvirostris
Slender-billed Greenbul Andropadus gracilirostris
Yellow-whiskered Bulbul Andropadus latirostris
Eastern Mountain-Greenbul Andropadus nigriceps
Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator
Yellow-throated Greenbul Chlorocichla flavicollis
Leaf-love Phyllastrephus scandens
Cabanis' Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi
Toro Olive-Greenbul Phyllastrephus hypochloris
Yellow-streaked Bulbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
Ansorge’s Greenbul Phyllastrephus ansorgi
Icterine Greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus
Common Bristlebill Bleda syndactyla
Yellow-spotted Nicator Nicator chloris
Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus
Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush Neocossyphus fraseri
White-tailed Ant-Thrush Neocossyphus poensis
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus
African Thrush Turdus pelios
Red-throated Alethe Alethe poliophrys
Fire-crested Alethe Alethe diademata
Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis
Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami
Chubb's Cisticola Cisticola chubbi
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
Long-tailed Cisticola Cisticola angusticaudus
Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes
Carruthers' Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
White-chinned Prinia Prinia leucopogon
Banded Prinia Prinia bairdii
Ruwenzori Apalis Apalis ruwenzori
Black-capped Apalis Apalis nigriceps
Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni
Black-faced Apalis Apalis personata
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis
Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema
Gray Apalis Apalis cinerea
Gray-capped Warbler Eminia lepida
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota
White-winged Scrub-Warbler Bradypterus carpalis
Grauer's Scrub-Warbler Bradypterus graueri
Cameroon Scrub-Warbler Bradypterus lopezi
Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus
Black-faced Rufous-Warbler Bathmocercus rufus
Moustached Grass-Warbler Melocichla mentalis
African Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus
Lesser Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris
Mountain Yellow Warbler Chloropeta similis
Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella
Grauer's Warbler Graueria vittata
Green-backed Eremomela Eremomela canescens
Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps
Green Crombec Sylvietta virens
White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys
Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura
Green Hylia Hylia prasina
Red-faced Woodland-Warbler Phylloscopus laetus
Fan-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola brevirostris
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus
White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
Northern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides
Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis ardesiacus
Sooty Flycatcher Muscicapa infuscata
Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica
Chapins' Flycatcher Muscicapa lendu
African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
Dusky-blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata
Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens
Gray-throated Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus griseigularis
Gray Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax
Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis
White-bellied Robin-Chat Cossyphicula roberti
Archer's Robin-Chat Cossypha archeri
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra
Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat Cossypha cyanocampter
White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla
Spotted Morning-Thrush Cichladusa guttata
Red-backed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
African Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra
Mocking Cliff-Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher Bias musicus
Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea
Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea
Ruwenzori Batis Batis diops
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
Black-headed Batis Batis minor
African Blue-Flycatcher Elminia longicauda
White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher Elminia albicauda
White-bellied Crested-Flycatcher Elminia albiventris
Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer
African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus
Pale-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis rufipennis
Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens
Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
African Hill Babbler Illadopsis abyssinica
Black-lored Babbler Turdoides melanops
Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
White-winged Black-Tit Parus leucomelas
Dusky Tit Parus funereus
Stripe-breasted Tit Parus fasciiventer
African Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus caroli
Gray-headed Sunbird Deleornis axillaris
Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
Green Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema
Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae
Western Olive-Sunbird Cyanomitra obscura
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius
Tiny Sunbird Cinnyris minullus
Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris preussi
Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius
Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocerca
Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus
Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus
Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus
African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis
African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus
Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrhynchus
Black-tailed Oriole Oriolus percivali
Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis
Gray-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
Mackinnon's Shrike Lanius mackinnoni
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris
Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis
Pink-footed Puffback Dryoscopus angolensis
Marsh Tchagra Tchagra minuta
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
Luehder's Bushshrike Laniarius luehderi
Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus
Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster
Montane Sooty Boubou Laniarius poensis
Gray-green Bushshrike Telophorus bocagei
Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus
Doherty's Bushshrike Telophorus dohertyi
White Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Piapiac Ptilostomus afer
Pied Crow Corvus albus
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Lesser Blue-eared Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis chloropterus
Splendid Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis splendidus
Rueppell's Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis purpuropterus
Purple-headed Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis purpureiceps
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri
Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris
Stuhlmann's Starling Poeoptera stuhlmanni
Sharpe's Starling Pholia sharpii
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
Gray-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster
Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus
Holub's Golden-Weaver Ploceus xanthops
Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius
Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops
African Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Vieillot's Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
Weyns' Weaver Ploceus weynsi
Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni
Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis
Compact Weaver Pachyphantes superciliosus
Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus
Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps
Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii
Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
Orange Bishop Euplectes franciscanus
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
Yellow-shouldered Widowbird Euplectes macrourus
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens
Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
White-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita fusconota
Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch Nigrita bicolor
Gray-headed Negrofinch Nigrita canicapilla
White-collared Oliveback Nesocharis ansorgei
Red-winged Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
Green-backed Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula
Dusky Crimson-wing Cryptospiza jacksoni
Brown Twinspot Clytospiza monteiri
Dusky Twinspot Euschistospiza cinereovinacea
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
Black-bellied Firefinch Lagonosticta rara
African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu Uraeginthus bengalus
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Estrilda quartinia
Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula
Black-headed Waxbill Estrilda atricapilla
Red-billed Quailfinch Ortygospiza gabonensis
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata
Black-and-white Mannikin Lonchura bicolor
Magpie Mannikin Lonchura fringilloides
Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Oriole Finch Linurgus olivaceus
Cape Canary Serinus canicollis
African Citril Serinus citrinelloides
Black-throated Canary Serinus atrogularis
Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus
Brimstone Canary Serinus sulphuratus
Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus
Thick-billed Seedeater Serinus burtoni
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris
Cabanis' Bunting Emberiza cabanisi