THE BEST OF UGANDA 7 21 SEPTEMBER 2013

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1 It s not often that you will see a mammal instead of a bird in the front cover of a Birdquest report, but Gorillas are certainly a major highlight of our Uganda tours. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) THE BEST OF UGANDA 7 21 SEPTEMBER 2013 LEADER: DANI LOPEZ-VELASCO What a trip! Uganda, commonly quoted as being the Pearl of Africa, is certainly a must-see destination for any world birder, being an excellent place to enjoy the stunning Shoebill as well as a good selection of Albertine Rift endemics and lots of other african birds. Given the combination of unrivalled Gorilla and Chimpanzee encounters, plus excellent accommodation, food and very friendly people, it makes for one of the top wildlife-watching countries in the world, and anyone with an interest in nature should visit this 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

2 wonderful country at least once during a lifetime. This year s Best of Uganda, lived up to its high expectations, recording an impressive 541 species of birds in just over 2 weeks, as well as 38 species of mammals! Amongst these great lists were a number of highlights. Special mention goes to our unforgettable encounters with Gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Chimpanzees at Kibale, as well as walk-away views of a trio of tree-climbing Lions at Queen Elizabeth NP. There were of course many avian highlights too, including great views of the bizarre-looking Shoebill, an amazing day encounter with the very rare Fraser s Eagle-Owl, excellent looks at a pair of perched Crowned Eagles near their nest, showy African Finfoots, several Brown-chested Lapwings, White-spotted and Red-chested Flufftails in the open, the gorgeous Purple-breasted Sunbird as well as many other Albertine Rift endemics. Amongst the many other specialities that we recorded were Little Sparrowhawk, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Mountain Buzzard, Whitebacked Night Heron, African Crake, Black-billed Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered and Ruwenzori Nightjars, Red-faced Barbet, Bar-tailed and Narina Trogons, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, 11 species of Bee-eaters including Black and Swallow-tailed, Willcock s Honeyguide, Elliot s and Specklebreasted Woodpeckers, Ruwenzori Batis, African Broadbill, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Papyrus Gonolek, Mountain (Montane) Oriole, Stripe-breasted Tit, Kakamega, Olive-breasted, Joyful and White-throated Greenbuls, Grauer s Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, White-winged and Grauer s Swamp Warblers, Trilling, Chubb s, Carruthers s and Foxy Cisticolas, Black-faced Prinia, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Ruwenzori and Mountain Masked Apalises, Mountain, Scaly-breasted and Puvel s Illadopsises, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Stuhlmann s and Sharpe s Starlings, Silverbird, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-throated Alethe, Whitebellied Robin-Chat, Archer s Ground Robin, Equatorial Akalat, Grey-headed, Blue-headed, Regal and Redchested Sunbirds, Shelley s (Rufous) Sparrow, Strange and Orange Weavers, Jameson s Antpecker, Dusky Crimsonwing, Kandt s Waxbill, Red-headed Bluebill, Brown Twinspot and Western Citril. Our epic two-week tour around Uganda began early in the morning in the grounds of our lovely hotel near Entebbe, where we enjoyed a good variety of species, including two good raptors in form of Bat Hawk and Little Sparrowhawk. A pair of African Hobbies also showed well, while other interesting species included African Green Pigeon, Grey and Meyer s (Brown) Parrots, White-browed Coucal, a single Woodland Kingfisher, several impressive Black-and-white Casqued Hornbills, a pair of Double-toothed Barbets, three showy White-browed Robin-Chats, a small group of Tawny-flanked Prinias and a couple of brightly coloured Black-headed Gonoleks. After breakfast we set off for Mabamba Swamp, not too far from our accommodation, to search for what is arguably the most exciting bird in Uganda the stunning and unique Shoebill. We arrived at the swamp by mid morning and started exploring the swamp in three motorized pirogues. Over the next hour we travelled through narrow channels amongst the extensive papyrus swamps that surround lake Victoria, flushing many jewel-like Malachite Kingfishers and seeing a good assortment of species, including a somewhat surprising sighting of a pair of Crowned Eagles displaying and actively calling overhead, as well as several African Fish Eagles, uttering their evocative calls, a pair of African Marsh Harriers, plenty of egrets and herons, White-faced Whistling and Yellow-billed Ducks, African Swamphens, 2 Lesser Jacanas, a pair of Long-toed Lapwings, hundreds of White-winged Terns, small flocks of Bluebreasted Bee-eaters, two Banded Martins amongst the masses of hirundines, three Swamp Flycatchers, several Winding Cisticolas and two Yellow-mantled Widowbirds. However, our main target was so far eluding us, and we were beginning to worry Luckily, within half an hour we got a phone call: a Shoebill had finally been found by one of the canoes, and we quickly motored towards the spot. After turning a corner there it was, a stunning, massive and prehistoric-looking Shoebill in all its glory! What a bird! We spent some time watching this fantastic bird at close quarters, and once everyone was fully satisfied with their views, we returned back to dry land. We had a nice lunch while looking at a small Orange Weaver colony by the lakeshore. Other species seen in the afternoon included a pair of Black-winged Kites, our first Lizard Buzzard, two Palm-nut Vultures, single Wahlberg s and Long-crested Eagles, colourful and noisy Great Blue Turacos, a tiny African Pygmy Kingfisher, flocks of Olive (Madagascar) and White-throated Bee-eaters, both African Pied and Crowned Hornbills, African Grey Woodpecker, a pair of Mosque Swallows, Splendid Starlings and Northern Black Flycatchers, Copper and several gorgeous Red-chested Sunbirds, and a few Vieillot s Black Weavers. 2 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

3 Uganda is THE place to see the unique Shoebill. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) The shores of Lake Victoria (Kevin Stracey) and the scarce Orange Weaver. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) We woke up early next morning, and spent most of the day travelling towards the Kaniyo Pabidi part of the sprawling Budongo Forest. We made various stops along the way, and were rewarded with sightings of several interesting species. A marshy area revealed our only Dwarf Bittern of the trip, a pair of wonderful Grey Crowned Cranes, which is Uganda s national bird, Marsh (Hartlaub s Marsh), Yellow-shouldered and 3 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

4 Fan-tailed Widowbirds, Blue-headed Coucal, Yellow-throated Leaflove and Green-backed Eremomela. While having lunch, a distant dot in the sky proved to be a soaring Shoebill! A couple of stops in open woodland areas gave us Red-necked Falcon, which gave really close views, Western Banded Snake Eagle, our only Bruce s Green Pigeon of the trip, two stunning White-crested Turacos, Spot-flanked and White-headed Barbets, Short-winged (Siffling) Cisticola, a colony of White-browed Sparrow-Weavers, Northern Crombec, a flock of Purple Starlings, good views of the scarce Bronze-tailed Starling, a pair of Marico Sunbirds, two Compact and a single Golden-backed (Jackson s G-b) Weaver and a singing Golden-breasted Bunting. As we were approaching our accommodation, we had fantastic views of a pair of Abyssinian Ground Hornbills. At night, an African Wood Owl was seen briefly. We had great views of several impressive Abyssinian Ground Hornbills during the tour. Palm-nut Vultures were widespread too. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) The main reason for tourists for coming to this part of Budongo is to see Chimpanzees, but our main target here was Puvel s Illadopsis, and right after an early breakfast we set off in search of this localized species. Within minutes we had heard one, and it didn t take long before everyone in the group had excellent views of this skulker. The rest of the morning was spent walking slowly along the forest trails. The birds here are quite shy, but with patience and persistence we eventually had good views of the spectacular Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, a brief sighting of a Blue-breasted Kingfisher and an all-too brief, untickable African Dwarf Kingfisher, and also recorded Blue Malkoha (Blue Yellowbill), African Emerald Cuckoo, a pair of brilliant Narina Trogons, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Buff-spotted and Brown-eared Woodpeckers, Yellow-whiskered, Spotted and White-throated Greenbuls, Brown Illadopsis, excellent looks at a pair of Fire-crested Alethes, Red-tailed Ant Thrush and Fraser s Rufous Thrush, a single Grey-throated Tit-flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Yellow Longbill, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, a pair of smart Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Western (Black-headed) Oriole and Western Olive Sunbird. Satisfied with our sightings, we had an early lunch and soon departed towards our next destination, Murchison Falls National Park. The journey was uneventful, and once we settled in our cabins, we drove a short distance for some initial exploration of this wonderful park. New species came quickly one after the other, and included Bateleur, Helmeted Guineafowl, Vinaceous Dove, Wire-tailed Swallow, Snowy-Crowned Robin-Chat, Sooty Chat, Pale Flycatcher, Croaking Cisticola, Western Black-headed Batis, a pair of Western Violet-backed Sunbirds, Speckle-fronted and Black-necked Weavers, two Brown Twinspots feeding on the roadside and Fawn-breasted and Blackrumped Waxbills. We then continued up to the top of the falls. Here, the Nile forces its way through a gap in the rocks, only 7 metres wide, then flows westward into Lake Albert. We watched in amazement as the huge volume of water surged through the narrow ravine and over the edge of the falls, while a number of Rock Pratincoles rested on the rocks. We waited patiently for the usual large numbers of bats to appear at dusk but for some reason they didn t show up, not a single one in fact! We then made our way back in the dark, seeing Uganda Grass Hare and a single Long-tailed Nightjars. Although not the best season for them, the usual numbers of Pennant-winged Nightjars were completely absent. 4 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

5 Narina Trogon, left, and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, right, were two of the highlights of our stay at the Kaniyo Pabidi part of the wonderful Budongo Forest. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) You don t want to fall into the river here...the falls at Murchison Falls are always an impressive sight. (Kevin Stracey) The next morning we drove before it was light but no nightjars were seen. We headed towards Paraa, on the banks of the river, where we met our boat for a very enjoyable excursion downstream towards the delta of the Victoria Nile. We had a very comfortable small boat all to ourselves that was smooth and better still very quiet. Large Nile Crocodiles and many Hippopotamuses wallowed in the shallows, and lots of birds were also 5 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

6 logged. Both Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, plenty of African Darters, huge Goliath Herons, a single Western Osprey, several showy African Fish Eagles as well as an adult Martial Eagle, both Senegal and Water Thick-knees side by side and more Rock Pratincoles. A gorgeous pair of Giant Kingfishers showed very close to the boat, as did lots of Pied Kingfishers, and we had another Shoebill in flight. It took some time, but eventually we had good views of a colourful Papyrus Gonolek, and in the same area several nesting Thick-billed (Grosbeak) Weavers were also noted. After viewing the delta itself we headed for land to continue with a game drive on the north side of the Nile spending that afternoon birding in the short grasslands and rolling hills next to the delta. Bird activity was in full swing, and raptors were much in evidence: Four species of vultures, Hooded, White-backed, Rüppell s and Lappet-faced, many Bateleurs, Dark-chanting Goshawk and Martial and Long-crested Eagles were all seen. A magnificent Denham s Bustard performed well, our excellent local guide and driver, Livingstone, saw a Heuglin s Francolin, and while looking at some nice Black-headed Lapwings we found two beautiful Brown-chested Lapwings, which showed very well. It was Bee-eater heaven, with six species seen, including the always stunning Northern Carmine, as well as the scarce Swallow-tailed. No less than seven impressive Abyssinian Hornbills were seen, while Black-billed Barbet, Lesser Honeyguide, Brown Babbler, Spotted Palm Thrush and Silverbird, Buff-bellied warbler, African Paradise Flycatcher, Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Shelley s (Rufous) Sparrow, Vitelline Masked Weaver were all added to our list. The park is very good for cisticolas, and we scored with Singing, Croaking, Foxy, Rattling, Short-winged and Zitting. Mammals were also plentiful, and included Unstriped Grass Rat, Side-striped Jackal, huge African Savanna Elephants, Common Warthog, Rothschild s Giraffe, Lake Chad Buffalo, Nile Bushbuck, Sudan Oribi, Defassa Waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Uganda Topi and Lelwel Hartebeest (Kongoni). Giant Kingfishers, left, huge Goliath Herons, right, and angry-looking Hippos, below, were seen during our boat ride at Murchison. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 6 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

7 The first few hours of the following morning were spent at Murchison, looking for a few specialities we had missed the previous day. The birding was superb in the early morning and there were birds everywhere. A Brown-rumped Bunting was first heard singing and eventually tracked down, while at the same spot we had Black-billed Wood Dove, Senegal Coucal, Greater Honeyguide, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Grey Penduline Tit, Yellow-billed Shrike, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike and a pair of Red-winged Pytilias. Red-winged Grey Warbler and Red-winged Warbler were high on our wish list, and after some time we managed to find a couple of singing individuals of both species. An impressive Saddle-billed Stork was seen, and as we were leaving the park, we saw Village Indigobird and White-rumped Seedeater. We had lunch near an escarpment, where we saw our only Mocking Cliff Chats and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings of the trip. The rest of the day was spent travelling towards Kibale, although a couple of brief stops gave us Ross s Turaco, Whistling Cisticola and Black Bishop. After a long day we eventually reached our accommodation at Kibale. The scarce Brown-chested Lapwing, a transequatorial migrant from western and central Africa, was seen several times throughout the tour. A family of Defassa Waterbucks at Murchison Falls. (Dani Lopez-Velasco and Kevin Stracey) September is not a good month for seeing Green-breasted Pitta, one of the stars of Kibale, as they are usually not singing, but we of course decided to give a good try early next morning. We arrived at the favoured area, taken by two local rangers, as dawn broke, but although we spent a couple of hours waiting, no pittas were heard. We decided to walk the trails through their territories, in case one popped out, but again, no luck. A few other good birds were seen though, including stunning views of a pair of impressive Crowned Eagles near their nest, a single Black-billed Turaco, Blue Malkoha, Yellow-spotted, Yellow-billed and Streaky-throated Barbets, Tullberg s (Fine-banded), Buff-spotted and Yellow-crested Woodpeckers, our first Little, Honeyguide and Slender-billed Greenbuls, a single Red-tailed Bristlebill, good views of Scalybreasted Illadopsis, skulking Red-capped Robin-Chat, White-tailed Ant Thrush, Grey-throated Tit Flycyatcher, Green Hylia, Lowland Masked Apalis, Green Crombec, Purple-heded Starling, Green-headed and Blue-throated Brown Sunbirds and both Grey-headed and White-breasted Nigritas (Negrofinches). Kibale Forest is surely the best place in the world to see Chimpanzee as it now boasts of at least a 90% hit rate chance of seeing members of their habituated troops. Leaving the pitta territories behind we were taken into the heart of a group, hearing their loud and somewhat scary cries in the distance, and within half an hour, and after a brief encounter with three apes, we found ourselves face to face with a small group, which couldn t have cared about our presence. We watched our closest relatives for a lengthy time, experiencing all kinds of behaviours, including some frantic copulation. All in all, a definitely overwhelming experience that was surely one of the highlights of the trip. In the afternoon we did some forest birding along the road, catching up with some new species, including Black (Great) Sparrowhawk, Afep Pigeon, Klaas s Cuckoo, a group of Sabine s Spinetails, two stunning Black Bee-eaters which gave excellent scope views, a pair of Speckled Tinkerbirds, two delightful Mountain Wagtails foraging in a stream, where a pair of Cassin s (Grey) Flycatchers also obliged, Ashy and Sooty flycatchers, a group of Dusky Tits, a pair of Velvet-mantled Drongos, two noisy Black-and-white Shrike-flycatchers, Narrow-tailed Starlings and striking Red-headed Malimbes. 7 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

8 Kibale is probably the easiest place in the world to see Chimpanzees. It also harbours a good selection of birds, including the impressive Crowned Eagle and the striking Black Bee-eater. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 8 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

9 The next morning was spent at Bigodi Swamp, walking through different habitats and recording a good assortment of species. After some work, we were rewarded with great views of the usually shy White-spotted Flufftail, a Levaillant s Cuckoo was seen very well, while a Shining-blue Kingfisher was only seen briefly. Joyful Greenbuls and Western Nicators eventually showed well too. Single Speckle-breasted Woodpecker and Grey Tit-Flycatcher (Lead-coloured Flycatcher) were our only ones of the trip, and finally a Green Hylia was seen well by everybody. Several African Blue Flycatchers were singing around the parking lot, and both Marsh Tchagra and Bocage s Bushshrike obliged. Sunbirds were common in the area and included Green, Collared, Green-throated, Scarlet-chested, Olive-bellied and the always-stunning Superb. A trio of brightly coloured Red-headed Bluebills were most welcome, and Black-bellied and Bar-breasted Firefinches, as well as Black-crowned Waxbill and Black-and-white Mannikin were also seen. A very good morning indeed! After lunch we set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park and a completely new set of birds. We stopped briefly at the equator for the obligatory photos before reaching the open savannas of Queen Elizabeth, where we spent the next couple of nights. We had an interesting situation along the way, when we were forced to stop while a group of elephants took their time in crossing the main road. Raptors were plentiful and included Bateleur, Tawny and Martial Eagles, and other birds seen in the journey included Collared Pratincole, Rednecked Spurfowl, Southern Red Bishops in breeding plumage, displaying Yellow-throated Longclaws and a noisy group of Black-lored Babblers. Once inside the park we were pleased to find our first African Crakes, as well as a close Black-bellied Bustard, several Senegal Lapwing, a group of Arrow-marked Babblers and a singing Brown-backed Scrub Robin. After a long day we finally arrived at our luxurious accommodation overlooking the Kazinga Channel, and had a sumptuous dinner before going to bed. A major storm building up over the savanna. (Kevin Stracey) 9 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

10 Colorful and noisy Great Blue Turacos are still a common sight in Uganda. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) A mom and a baby elephant crossing the track at Queen Elizabeth NP. (Kevin Stracey) Next day we explored the extensive savannas, acacia woodland and waterways both in our sturdy landcruiser and by boat. In the morning, as we drove through the open grasslands, we found several Black Coucals while three African Crakes gave close albeit brief views by the roadside. A large group of Lesser Flamingos quietly fed at a crater lake, joined by some Yellow-billed Storks. Two White-headed Vultures showed very well near a carcass, together with White-backed, huge Lappet-faced and Hooded Vultures. Tail-less, kite-like Bateleurs were commonly seen soaring over the grasslands, and a Lanner Falcon was our only one of the tour. A few flocks of Senegal Lapwings were encountered, which hosted smaller numbers of Brown-chested, Crowned and African Wattled Lapwings. Cheerful Little Bee-eaters flew along the track, and displaying Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks were much in evidence too. Amongst the masses of hirundines we found small numbers of Red-breasted (Rufous-chested), Red-rumped and Lesser Striped Swallows. Moustached Grass Warblers (African Moustached W) and Fan-tailed Grassbirds skulked in the tall grass although eventually we obtained good views of both. Flocks of Wattled Starlings flew past and several species of weavers were also logged, including Slender-billed and Red-headed, and our only White-winged Widowbirds were also seen here. In the afternoon we had an exciting boat trip on the Kazinga Channel that offered excellent wildlife viewing and plenty of photographic opportunities for water birds that included a nice flock of African Skimmers. There were unbelievable numbers of Pied Kingfishers, probably in the thousands, as well as smaller numbers of Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Goliath Herons African Openbills, African Spoonbills, Black Crakes, Water Thick-knees, Kittlitz s Plovers, a couple of Ruddy Turnstones and a single Heuglin s (Lesser Black-backed) Gull. Over the water were large numbers of Whiskered, Gull-billed and White-winged Terns, and along the reedy edges we saw a few Lesser Swamp Warblers. After dinner we set off on a short night drive, which produced good views of three Short-tailed (Gabon) Nightjars, as well as an impressive African Rock Python. A great variety of birds were seen during our boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. (Kevin Stracey) And this African Fish-Eagle certainly showed very well. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 10 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

11 African Skimmer using its lower bill to skim through the water. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) The first couple of hours of the morning were spent in the outskirts of the national park, adding a few species to our list, such as Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Black-chested Snake Eagle and Gabar Goshawk. In the papyrus along the Kazinga Channel we enjoyed great views of the colourful Papyrus Gonolek as well as the secretive White-winged Swamp Warbler and Carruthers s Cisticola. We then embarked on a long game drive that took us towards and through the Ishasha sector of the park, where saw several Trilling, Stout and Croaking Cisticolas, and also found Common Scimitarbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Plain-backed Pipit, Tropical Boubou, and Quailfinch (Black-faced Q). The highlight of the drive was the trio of Lions, including a powerful male, that gave the best possible views from our vehicles, as they rested on two large trees. This treeclimbing habit is typical of the lions at Ishasha (and are therefore commonly called tree-climbing Lions), and is quite uncommon elsewhere. We reached our destination of Buhoma on the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest at the end of the day and settled into our comfortable lodge with rooms that overlooked the valley and theimpressive steep forested slopes beyond. A trio of the so-called tree-climbing Lions gave great views at the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 11 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

12 Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is considered to be the richest in East Africa for plant, mammal, bird and butterfly species: over 330 bird species have been recorded here, for example. The Impenetrable is a wonderfully evocative name and often appears in the ornithological literature for Africa. The forest was so named not because it was any more densely vegetated than other forests, but because of the steepness of the hills which made progress almost impossible. Fortunately it is possible to see most of the special birds of this wonderful area by walking along the roads or along gently sloping tracks. Bwindi is one of the world s best-known areas for gorilla trekking, and we had all decided to go in search of these marvellous creatures. This year our group was split into two, as we had permits to visit Bitukura or B Group and Habinyanja or H group. One of the groups had to walk a bit more than the other, but thanks to our expert guides, guards and trackers we all got to enjoy one of the ultimate wildlife experiences on earth. The world population of Mountain Gorillas is less than 1000 individuals, and an estimate 400 animals is thought to inhabit Bwindi itself. After some (well worth!) effort, eventually we all reached our desired price: the Gorilla groups, and patiently our guides and trackers introduced us to the various family members. The time spent amongst these great and so closely related to us apes, deep in the forest, is a heart catching experience that everybody with an interest in nature should experience at least once during a lifetime. Most of the time, the gorilla group members were oblivious of our presence, mainly interested in eating plants or resting, although experiencing a big silver-back male attempting to charge against us (just as a remainder of who the big boss was there!) was something none of us will ever forget. What a moment! The hour passed by very quickly, and sadly, hundreds of photos later and with our minds full of unforgettable memories, it was time to leave. The day was mostly focused on the gorillas, although a few good birds were also seen: Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Bar-tailed Trogon, African Olive Pigeon, Dusky Turtle Dove, Black-billed Turaco, Olive Longtailed Cuckoo, Western (Green) Tinkerbird, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Archer s Ground Robin (Archer s Robin-Chat), Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Chubb s Cisticola, Mountain Masked (Black-faced) and Blackthroated Apalises, White-tailed Blue Flycatchers and, best of all, a stunning Purple-breasted Sunbird, a beautiful Albertine Rift endemic. Drab Streaky and Brown-throated Seedeaters were also seen, and Kevin photographed a Green (Green-backed) Twinspot at the lodge. An excellent day by all means! A close encounter with a family of Gorillas leaves nobody indifferent. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 12 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

13 Watching a baby Gorilla playing with a stick is just like watching a human baby. Big Silverbacks are really powerful creatures. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Next day was spent birding at the lower part of the Bwindi forest near Buhoma. The weather was good in the morning but unfortunately started to deteriorate by noon and then it started raining pretty heavily during the afternoon. However, we made the best of the morning, seeing a good selection of specialities. A Cassin s Hawk-Eagle was seen soaring low over the forest, a male Bar-tailed Trogon was seen briefly and a single Blue-throated Roller gave excellent scope views. A trio of White headed Wood Hopoes eventually performed well, and after some time we tracked down a displaying African Broadbill. Several greenbuls were seen, including Ansorge s (first discovered in the country during 2001 Birdquest tour), Little, Slender-billed, Red-tailed, Kakamega and Cabanis s. Skulking Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-Chat and Redthroated Alethes all showed well, but we weren t lucky with the rare Neumann s (Short-tailed) Warbler, which wasn t heard nor seen in spite of all our efforts. On the other hand, Red faced Woodland Warblers were seen several times in the forest, the scarce Jameson s Antpecker was also seen by some of us and we had great views of a pair of brilliantly colored Many-colored Bushshrikes. Other interesting species seen during the day included Willcocks s Honeyguide, Elliot s Woodpecker, Scarce Swift, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Chubb s Cisticola, Olive-green Camaroptera, Buff-throated, Grey and Blackthroated Apalises, White-browed and Green Crombecs, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Bocage s Bushshrike, Pinkfooted Puffback, Petit s Cuckooshrike, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Stuhlmann s and Purple-headed Starlings, many sunbirds including Grey-headed, Collared, Western Olive, Green-headed, Blue-headed, Little Green, Northern Double-collared and Bronzy, Black-billed and Black-necked Weavers and Red-headed Malimbes. White-bellied Robin-Chat and Red-faced Woodland Warbler showed well at Buhoma. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 13 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

14 Our next short journey took us from the lower part of the forest at Buhoma to the higher areas around Ruhija. We began in the cultivated areas not too far from our lodge, where we saw a large flock of Grey Crowned Cranes, several Grey-rumped Swallows, Yellow-throated Leaflove, African (Dark-capped) Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Canary and Mackinnon s Shrike. In a nearby swamp we managed to lure into view a secretive Red-chested Flufftail, which was seen very well by all of us. At the neck section of the park we saw several forest species, such as Black Bee-eater, although Dusky Twinspot eluded us. We continued onto Ruhija where the air was cooler and we began to find some of the higher-level specialities of the Impenetrable Forest, most importantly the skulking Grauer s Warbler, which showed pretty well. Other species in this area included Chestnut-throated, Mountain Masked and Ruwenzori (Collared) Apalises and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers. At dusk we heard a Ruwenzori Nightjar, but it was pretty distant, so we called it a day and settled into our comfortable lodge at Ruhija, with its panoramic views, and rested up for a good nights sleep to prepare for the long hike the next day. Grey Crowned Crane, Uganda s national bird. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Half of the group decided to hike to Mubwindi Swamp where some major targets occur, while others decided to take it easy and do some birding with Livingstone near the road. During our descent to the swamp we already saw a bunch of specialities: a calling Red-chested Owlet, Olive-breasted Greenbul, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler (split from African Hill Babbler), Mountain Illadopsis, Abyssinian (Mountain) Thrush, Evergreen Forest and Mountain Yellow Warblers, Black-faced Prinia and Stripe-breasted Tit, while on the mammal front we added Black-fronted Duiker and a brief Bush Pig. As we were getting close to the swamp we noticed some very agitated passerines, and within a few minutes we found the reason: a day roosting Fraser s Eagle-Owl, first spotted by Lizzie. This is a rare and very little known owl in Uganda, which has only been seen a few times, so we couldn t believe our luck! We spent some time watching this magnificent owl, and then moved on to the swamp. Mubwindi Swamp is the best place to look for the rarely seen Grauer s (or African Green) Broadbill. We spent the rest of the morning near a fruiting tree where the broadbill had been seen recently, and were also shown this year s nest, but to no avail, the broadbills, which, if not calling, can be very easily missed, didn t show up. By noon the weather started to deteriorate, and before it started raining we decided to go to the swamp itself to look for the other main target, the secretive Albertine Rift endemic Grauer s Swamp Warbler. This time we were luckier, and as soon as we arrived we found a couple 14 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

15 of fairly obliging individuals, which showed very well. We then decided to give another try at the broadbill, but It soon started to rain heavily, and after an hour we reluctantly decided to start with the ascent. On the walk up, we added a few more species, including Mountain Sooty Boubou, Strange Weaver, White-starred Robin, Archer s Ground Robin, Grey Cuckooshrike, Regal Sunbird and amazingly found what was most likely the same Fraser s Eagle-Owl roosting further up along the trail! We eventually made it back to the road and met up with the, who had seen several good birds including Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver and Kandt s Waxbill. Some final birding in the bamboo zone produced little of note except for some calling Handsome Francolins. This day-roosting Fraser s Eagle Owl was definitely one of the avian highlights of the trip. Cute-looking L Hoest s Monkeys were seen at Bwindi. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) The following day was mostly spent travelling to our next and final destination, lake Mburo, although we made a few stops on the way, which gave us a few new species. Dusky Crimsonwing eventually showed well for all of us; after some frustrating scanning, we were finally rewarded with great views of a singing Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, while other notable additions included Mountain Buzzard, Speckled Pigeon, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, African Black Swift, Lilac-breasted Roller, Lesser Honeyguide, White-winged Black Tit, Brubru and Greater Blue-eared Starling. Amongst mammals, Common Zebras, Cape Buffalos and Impalas were also seen as we entered the park. During a short night drive we got good views of Blackshouldered Nightjar, and heard a calling Buff-spotted Flufftail. Cape Buffalo and Black-shouldered Nightjar at Mburo. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) The following morning we took a boat trip around lake Mburo, which produced a single White-backed Night Heron and allowed us to get mega views of a pair of very showy African Finfoots. It was time to start heading back to the airport, but there was still an important target missing, and after a couple of stops, we succeeded in getting great views of the range-restricted Red-faced Barbet, while Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Yellow- 15 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

16 breasted Apalis, Red-faced Crombec, Black Cuckooshrike and Southern Black Flycatcher were all added to our by now pretty impressive list, and a group of Slender Mongooses put on a great show. We ate lunch near a marsh, where White-faced and Fulvous Whistling Ducks and Spur-winged Geese were seen, but sadly this marked the end of the tour, arriving at the airport a couple hours later. The near-endemic and scarce Red-faced Barbet was seen on our last day of the tour, as was this adult White-backed Night Heron. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) It had surely been an amazing trip, full of unforgettable memories. Uganda has a list of over 1000 species of birds, as well as large numbers of game and wonderful facilities for unrivalled primate watching, including chimps and gorillas, making this one of the ultimate eco-destinations anywhere in the world. And not forgetting the extremely high standard of comfortable accommodation that is on offer. The people are friendly and helpful and I would like to say a big thank you to Livingstone, our excellent driver/guide, who really made a difference during our tour, making it a very pleasant and extremely successful one. Mburo is surely the best place in Africa to see the usually secretive African Finfoot. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 16 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

17 This African Hobby gave exceptional views as it fed on a Common Swift. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) The stunning Red-throated Bee-eater is a fairly common Bee-eater at various locations in Uganda. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 17 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

18 An incomparable african sunset at Queen Elizabeth NP. (Kevin Stracey) SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR The species names and taxonomy used in the report mostly follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). IOC World Bird Names. This list is updated several times annually and is available at Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL). Species marked with the diamond symbol ( ) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered special birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species). White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata Seen at various wetlands. Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor Two birds seen near Mburo. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Four birds at Mburo. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Fairly common and widespread. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Small numbers at Mabamba. 18 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

19 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Fairly common and widespread. Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani (H) Heard only at Kibale. Coqui Francolin Peliperdix coqui (H) Heard at Mburo. Ring-necked Francolin Scleroptila streptophora (H) Heard at Murchison Falls. Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena Seen at various localities. Handsome Francolin Pternistis nobilis (H) Heard several times at Ruhija. Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer Particularly common at Queen Elizabeth NP. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Good numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis Small numbers noted at Queen Elizabeth NP. African Openbill (A Open-billed Stork) Anastomus lamelligerus Scattered sightings throughout the trip. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Seen on two dates. Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Two sightings of this impressive stork. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer Common and widespread. African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Small numbers seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash Common and widespread. African Spoonbill Platalea alba Three birds in Queen Elizabeth NP. Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii A single bird seen well on a marshy area on the way to Budongo. White-backed Night Heron Gorsachius leuconotus Great views of an adult at Mburo. Striated Heron Butorides striata Small numbers at various wetlands. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Recorded at several locations. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common and widespread. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Fairly common. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala Common and widespread. Goliath Heron Ardea goliath Small numbers seen at Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth. Goliath Heron at Queen Elizabeth NP. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Recorded at various wetlands. Great Egret Ardea alba Seen at Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Fairly common and widespread. 19 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

20 Little Egret Egretta garzetta Fairly common and widespread. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Common and widespread. Shoebill Balaeniceps rex Bird of the trip. Great views at Mabamba, and then singles at two other locations. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Good numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens Small numbers seen at various localities. Reed Cormorant (Long-tailed C) Microcarbo africanus Small numbers at several locations. White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus Large numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. African Darter Anhinga rufa Recorded at Murchison Falls and Mburo. Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus A single bird seen at Murchison Falls. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus Scattered sightings throughout the tour. African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) Polyboroides typus A total of four birds seen during the tour. Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis Widespread. European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Three birds recorded. African Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda cuculoides Good views of one near Ruhija. Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus Fairly common. White-backed Vulture (African W-b V) Gyps africanus Small numbers seen at various locations. See Note. Rüppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli A single bird seen at Murchison Falls. See Note. White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis Good views of two birds at Queen Elizabeth NP. Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos A total of 5 birds seen during the tour. Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis Singles at Queen Elizabeth and Mburo. Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus Scattered sightings during the trip. Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens Four birds recorded through the tour. Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus Fairly common and widespread. Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus Great views of one at the Boma hotel grounds. Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus A soaring pair seen on our first day and great views of a pair at Kibale. Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus A total of 4 birds seen throughout the trip. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis Fairly common and widespread. Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi Widespread. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Four birds seen during the tour. Cassin's Hawk-Eagle Aquila africana Two birds seen well at two different locations. Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus Widespread. Lizard Buzard. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar A single bird seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. 20 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

21 Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates Several birds seen during the first half of the trip. Shikra Accipiter badius Seen at various localities. Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus Great views of one at Boma hotel grounds. Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris A pair seen briefly at Ruhija. Black Sparrowhawk (Great S) Accipiter melanoleucus Good views of one at Kibale. African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus Two birds seen at Mabamba. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius Fairly common. African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer Fairly common and widespread. Mountain Buzzard Buteo oreophilus Seen well at Ruhija. Augur Buzzard Buteo augur Eight birds recorded during the tour. Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami A single bird seen at Murchison Falls. Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster Two seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra Cracking views of one at Bigodi swamp. Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans (H) Heard only at Mburo. Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa Stunning views of this rarely seen species near Buhoma. African Finfoot Podica senegalensis Fantastic views of a pair at Mburo. African Crake Crex egregia Five birds seen well at Queen Elizabeth NP. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra Fairly common at wetland habitats. African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis Seen at Mabamba and Murchison Falls. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A single bird seen at Mabamba. Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum Widespread. See Note. Senegal Thick-knee Burhinus senegalensis Seen on the boat at Murchison Falls. Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus Several seen in Queen Elizabeth NP. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Small numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris Seen at Mabamba and Murchison Falls. Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus Widespread. Black-headed Lapwing Vanellus tectus Several birds seen at Murchison. Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris Good numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Senegal Lapwing at Queen Elizabeth NP. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Six birds seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus Small numbers at various localities. Brown-chested Lapwing Vanellus superciliosus Two birds at Murchison Falls and six at Queen Elizabeth NP. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Four birds recorded at Queen Elizabeth NP. Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius Small numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis Two birds seen at Mabamba. African Jacana Actophilornis africanus Fairly common in wetlands. 21 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

22 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Two at Queen Elizabeth NP. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Five seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Three birds recorded throughout the trip. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Noted at various wetlands. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Small numbers seen at various localities. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Two birds seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Little Stint Calidris minuta Three birds seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Two birds seen at Murchison Falls. Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii Three birds recorded at Queen Elizabeth NP. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola Ten birds seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis Good views of at least 20 birds at Murchison Falls. African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris At least 40 birds gave excellent views at Queen Elizabeth NP. Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus Good numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Heuglin s (Lesser Black-backed) Gull Larus (fuscus) heuglini One bird at Queen Elizabeth NP. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Good numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Ten birds recorded at Queen Elizabeth NP. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Large numbers at Mabamba swamp. Large numbers of White-winged Terns were seen at Mabamba. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) Columba livia Small numbers seen at various villages. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea A few birds seen near Mburo. Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta A single bird seen briefly at Kibale. African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix Several birds seen well at Bwindi. White-naped Pigeon Columba albinucha (H) Heard at Kibale. Dusky Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens Three birds seen at Bwindi. Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens Small numbers noted at various locations. 22 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

23 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Fairly common and widespread. Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola Fairly common at Queen Elizabeth NP. Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea Small numbers seen at various places during the first half of the tour. Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis Most commonly recorded at Queen Elizabeth NP. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos Three birds seen at Mburo. Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus Seen at Murchison Falls. Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer Small numbers recorded at various locations. Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria Seen at several localities. Bruce's Green Pigeon Treron waalia Three birds seen on the second day of the tour. African Green Pigeon Treron calvus Small numbers recorded throughout the trip. Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata This impressive turaco was fairly common. Black-billed Turaco Tauraco schuettii A total of eight birds seen during the tour. White-crested Turaco Tauraco leucolophus Good views of a pair on the second day of the tour. Ross's Turaco Musophaga rossae Five birds seen. Bare-faced Go-away-bird Corythaixoides personatus Four birds seen at Mburo. Eastern Plantain-Eater Crinifer zonurus Fairly common during the first half of the trip. Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis Two seen near Murchison Falls. Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus Five scattered sightings. White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus Fairly common and widespread. Black Coucal Centropus grillii Two birds seen well at Queen Elizabeth NP. Blue Malkoha (Blue Yellowbill) Ceuthmochares aereus A total of 7 sightings during the trip. Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii Three scattered sightings. Diederik (Didric) Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius Two birds recorded. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas Widespread. African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus One female seen and several more heard. Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi (H) Heard only at Bwindi. Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx montanus One gave great views as we left Ruhija. Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitaries Scattered sightings throughout the trip. Greyish Eagle-Owl Bubo cinerascens Two birds seen at Murchison Falls. Fraser's Eagle-Owl Bubo poensis One of the highlights of the trip. This rare owl was seen well at Bwindi. Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus One seen at Murchison Falls. African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii One was seen at Budongo Ecolodge. Red-chested Owlet Glaucidium tephronotum (H) Heard only at Bwindi. Black-shouldered Nightjar Caprimulgus nigriscapularis Seen at Mburo. Ruwenzori Nightjar Caprimulgus ruwenzorii (H) Heard only at Ruhija. Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus Seen at Murchison Falls. Long-tailed Nightjar at Murchison Falls NP. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) Square-tailed Nightjar (Gabon N) Caprimulgus fossii Three seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. 23 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

24 Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus Small numbers seen at Bwindi. Sabine's Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini Seen at Kibale. African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus Fairly common and widespread. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Small numbers noted at various places. Common Swift Apus apus Common. African Black Swift Apus barbatus Seen on the way to Mburo. Little Swift Apus affinis Fairly common and widespread. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Scattered sightings. Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus Fairly common and widespread. Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus Fairly common and widespread. Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina Two birds seen well at Budongo Ecolodge. Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum Two brief sightings at Bwindi. Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus Seen at Mburo. Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis One seen well at Bwindi. Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus Scattered sightings. Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Halcyon badia Great views of this stunning kingfisher near Budongo Ecolodge. Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala Fairly common and widespread. Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti Fairly common and widespread. Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica One bird seen at Budongo. Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis Singles and pairs seen at various locations. African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta Recorded at various localities. Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus Fairly common. Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys One bird seen at Bigodi swamp. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima A pair seen at Murchison Falls. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Widespread, with at least 500 birds at Queen Elizabeth NP. Black Bee-eater Merops gularis Great views at Kibale and Bwindi. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus Small numbers recorded at Murchison Falls. Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus Small numbers at Queen Elizabeth NP. Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus Small numbers on the first two days of the tour. Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates Recorded at Bwindi. Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki Recorded at various localities. White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis Widespread. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus A single migrant was recorded at Murchison Falls. Olive Bee-eater (Madagascar Bee-eater) Merops superciliosus Scattered sightings throughout the trip. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Widespread. Northern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus Small numbers of this stunning species at Murchison Falls. This beautiful Bee-eater was seen well at Murchison Falls NP. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) 24 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

25 White-headed Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus bollei Seen well at Bwindi. Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus (H) Heard only at Murchison Falls. Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus Scattered sightings throughout the trip. African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus Only seen on the first day of the tour, near Mabamba. African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus Fairly common during the first half of the trip. White-thighed Hornbill Bycanistes albotibialis (H) Heard only at Budongo. Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus Fairly common and widespread. An impressive hornbill. (Kevin Stracey) Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus 2 seen near Budongo Ecolodge, and then 7 at Murchison Falls. Grey-throated Barbet Gymnobucco bonapartei Several birds seen at Bwindi. Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus Four birds seen during the tour. Western Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaea Two birds seen at Bwindi. Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Pogoniulus subsulphureus Two sightings. Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus Fairly common. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus Several birds seen during the first few days of the tour. Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui Seen at Kibale. Streaky-throated Barbet Tricholaema flavipunctata Four birds seen at Kibale. Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa Scattered sightings throughout the tour. White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus Three birds seen on the second day of the trip. Red-faced Barbet Lybius rubrifacies Two birds gave great views at Mburo. Black-billed Barbet Lybius guifsobalito Seen at Murchison Falls. Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus Four birds recorded. Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus Three scattered sightings. Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis Singles at Kibale and Bwindi. Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi Two brief sightings at Bwindi. 25 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

26 Thick-billed Honeyguide Indicator conirostris (H) Heard at Kibale. Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor Seen at Murchison Falls. Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator Seen at Murchison Falls. Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica Several sightings during the trip. Tullberg's (Fine-banded) Woodpecker Campethera tullbergi A total of 5 birds seen. Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa A single bird seen at Kibale. Brown-eared Woodpecker Campethera caroli One brief sighting at Budongo Ecolodge. Speckle-breasted Woodpecker Dendropicos poecilolaemus One seen well at Bigodi. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens Widespread. Yellow-crested Woodpecker Dendropicos xantholophus Two birds seen well at Kibale. Elliot's Woodpecker Dendropicos elliotii Three birds gave good views at Bwindi. African Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae Scattered sightings throughout the tour. Brown-backed Woodpecker Dendropicos obsoletus Two sightings. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A single bird seen on the first day. Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus Widespread at suitable habitat. Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera Two birds gave great views on our second day. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Three scattered sightings. African Hobby Falco cuvierii A total of 5 birds recorded. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus One bird seen in Queen Elizabeth NP. Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Three sightings. Meyer's Parrot (Brown P) Poicephalus meyeri A total of five birds recorded. African Broadbill Smithornis capensis Good views of one at Bwindi. Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher Bias musicus Seen at Kibale and Bwindi. Ruwenzori Batis Batis diops Good views at Bwindi. Chinspot Batis Batis molitor Five birds recorded. Western Black-headed Batis Batis erlangeri A single bird seen at Murchison Falls. Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea A total of 5 birds seen throughout the tour. Brown-throated Wattle-eye (Common W-e) Platysteira cyanea Widespread. Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti (H) Heard only at Murchison Falls. Lagden's Bushshrike Malaconotus lagdeni (H) Heard only at Ruhija. Many-colored Bushshrike Chlorophoneus multicolor A pair was seen well at Bwindi. Bocage's Bushshrike Chlorophoneus bocagei Several birds seen at Bwindi. Doherty's Bushshrike Telophorus dohertyi (H) Heard at Bwindi. Marsh Tchagra Bocagia minuta Two scattered sightings. Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis Widespread. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus Small numbers seen on the second half of the trip. Pink-footed Puffback Dryoscopus angolensis Four birds recorded at Bwindi. Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis Fairly common and widespread. Mountain Sooty Boubou Laniarius poensis One bird seen at Bwindi. Lühder s Bushshrike Laniarius luehderi Seen at Bwindi. Tropical Boubou Laniarius major Scattered sightings. Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri Excellent views at a couple of locations. Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster Fairly common and widespread. Immature Black-headed Gonolek. (Kevin Stracey) 26 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

27 Brubru Nilaus afer Only seen at Mburo. Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia Several seen at Ruhija. Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava A single bird seen at Mburo. Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike Campephaga phoenicea Two birds seen at Murchison Falls. Petit's Cuckooshrike Campephaga petiti Several birds seen at Bwindi. Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvine Recorded at Murchison Falls. Mackinnon's Shrike Lanius mackinnoni Seen at Bwindi. Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides Widespread. Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis Widespread. African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus A single bird at Murchison Falls. Western Oriole (W Black-headed O) Oriolus brachyrynchus Three birds seen during the first week. Mountain (Montane) Oriole Oriolus percivali Fairly common at Bwindi. Black-headed Oriole (Eastern B-h O) Oriolus larvatus Scattered sightings. Fork-tailed Drongo (Common D) Dicrurus adsimilis Common and widespread. Velvet-mantled Drongo Dicrurus modestus Seen at Kibale and Bwindi. Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer Seen well at Budongo Ecolodge. African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis Scattered sightings. Piapiac Ptilostomus afer Fairly common during the first half of the trip. Pied Crow Corvus albus Common and widespread. White-necked Raven (White-naped R) Corvus albicollis A pair at Ruhija. African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda A total of three birds seen during the tour. White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicauda Seen at Bwindi. White-shouldered Black Tit Melaniparus guineensis A small flock seen on our second day of the tour. White-winged Black Tit Melaniparus leucomelas Three birds seen at Mburo. Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus Flocks were encountered at Kibale and Bwindi. Stripe-breasted Tit Melaniparus fasciiventer Seen well at Bwindi. Grey Penduline Tit Anthoscopus caroli Two birds seen at Murchison Falls. Western Nicator Nicator chloris Two birds gave great views at Bigodi swamp. Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea Several recorded at Queen Elizabeth NP. Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor Common and widespread. Kakamega Greenbul Arizelocichla kakamegae Two seen at Bwindi. Olive-breasted Greenbul (O-b Mountain G) Arizelocichla kikuyuensis Fairly common at Bwindi. Slender-billed Greenbul Stelgidillas gracilirostris Seen at various locations. Little Greenbul Eurillas virens Recorded at various places. Ansorge's Greenbul Eurillas ansorgei Seen at Bwindi. Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Eurillas latirostris Seen at Budongo and Bwindi. Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator Seen at Kibale. Spotted Greenbul Ixonotus guttatus Seen at Budongo. Joyful Greenbul Chlorocichla laetissima Seen at Bigodi Swamp. Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis Recorded at several locations. Cabanis's Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi Seen at Bwindi. White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis Seen at Budongo Ecolodge. Yellow-streaked Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus Several seen at Bwindi. Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus Two sightings. Red-tailed Greenbul Criniger calurus Several recorded at Ruhija. White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps Widespread. Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera Fairly common around Bwindi. Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga Several mixed with other hirundines near Ruhija. Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola Scattered sightings. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Widespread. Banded Martin Riparia cincta Two seen at Mabamba. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Common and widespread. Angolan Swallow Hirundo angolensis Widespread. 27 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

28 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Small numbers noted at various localities. Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula Noted at three locations. Common House Martin Delichon urbicum Two sightings. Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Red-breasted Swallow (Rufous-chested S) Cecropis semirufa Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP and Mburo. Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis Two seen on our first day. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Scattered sightings throughout the trip. Moustached Grass Warbler (African Moustached W) Melocichla mentalis Two seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Yellow Longbill Macrosphenus flavicans One seen at Budongo Ecolodge. Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura Two scattered sightings. Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii Two seen at Mburo. Green Crombec Sylvietta virens Singles seen at various locations. White-browed Crombec Sylvietta leucophrys Two seen at Bwindi. Grauer's Warbler Graueria vittata One bird seen well at Ruhija, and several more heard. Green Hylia Hylia prasina Singles recorded at three different locations. Red-faced Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus laetus Several seen at Bwindi. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Small numbers recorded throughout the trip. Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris Seen at Queen Elizabeth. African Yellow Warbler (Dark-capped Y W) Iduna natalensis One sighting near Buhoma. Mountain Yellow Warbler Iduna similis Three recorded at Ruhija. White-winged Swamp Warbler Bradypterus carpalis One seen in a papyrus swamp near Queen Elizabeth NP. Grauer's Swamp Warbler Bradypterus graueri Two seen well at Mubwindi swamp. See Note. Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus (H) Heard only. Evergreen Forest Warbler Bradypterus lopezi One seen very well at Ruhija. Fan-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola brevirostris Two seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops Scattered sightings throughout the trip. Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans Recorded at a couple of locations. Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis One sighting. Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Chubb's Cisticola Cisticola chubby Common at Bwindi. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana Several seen at Murchison Falls. Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus Common at Mabamba. Carruthers's Cisticola Cisticola carruthersi Two seen well near Queen Elizabeth NP. Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis Recorded at various locations. Short-winged Cisticola (Siffling C) Cisticola brachypterus Recorded at various locations. Foxy Cisticola Cisticola troglodytes Seen at Murchison Falls NP. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Widespread. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Widespread. Black-faced Prinia Prinia melanops Seen well at Ruhija. White-chinned Prinia Schistolais leucopogon Widespread. Red-winged Warbler Heliolais erythropterus A pair was seen well at Murchison Falls. Ruwenzori Apalis (Collared A) Oreolais ruwenzorii Several seen at Ruhija. Red-winged Grey Warbler Drymocichla incana Two seen at Murchison Falls. Buff-bellied Warbler Phyllolais pulchella Seen at Murchison Falls. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida Two seen at Mburo. Lowland Masked Apalis Apalis binotata (H) Heard at Kibale. Mountain Masked Apalis (Black-faced A) Apalis personata Seen well at Ruhija. Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni Several seen at Bwindi. Chestnut-throated Apalis Apalis porphyrolaema Recorded at Bwindi. Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis Seen at Bwindi. Grey Apalis Apalis cinerea Seen at Bwindi. Grey-capped Warbler Eminia lepida Widespread. Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata Common and widespread. 28 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

29 Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera superciliaris One seen at Budongo Ecolodge. Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota Seen at Bwindi. Black-faced Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus rufus Seen at Bwindi. Green-backed Eremomela Eremomela canescens Two seen on our second day of the trip. Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus One was seen well at Kibale. Puvel's Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli Two gave excellent views at Budongo Ecolodge. Pale-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis rufipennis (H) Heard only. Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens (LO) One leader-only bird at Budongo. Mountain Illadopsis Illadopsis pyrrhoptera Seen well at Ruhija. Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei Scattered sightings. Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus Seen at Murchison Falls. Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Ruwenzori Hill Babbler Pseudoalcippe atriceps Seen well at Bwindi. African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis Fairly common and widespread. Yellow-bellied Hyliota Hyliota flavigaster Two scattered sightings. Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea Several flocks seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Purple-headed Starling Hylopsar purpureiceps Several groups seen at Kibale. Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus Seen at Mburo. Lesser Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chloropterus Recorded at a couple of locations. Bronze-tailed Starling Lamprotornis chalcurus A single bird seen well on our second day. Splendid Starling Lamprotornis splendidus Several sightings during the first week of the tour. Purple Starling Lamprotornis purpureus Recorded twice throughout the trip. Rüppell's Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera Widespread. Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Seen at Kibale. Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris (LO) One leader-only bird at Ruhija. Waller's Starling Onychognathus walleri Seen at Ruhija. Stuhlmann's Starling Poeoptera stuhlmanni Seen at Ruhija. Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris Recorded at Kibale and Bwindi. Sharpe's Starling Poeoptera sharpie Five seen well at Ruhija. Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus Recorded at various locations. Red-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus rufus Seen at Budongo Ecolodge. White-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus poensis Three scattered sightings. Fraser's Rufous Thrush (Rufous T) Stizorhina fraseri Two seen at Budongo Ecolodge. African Thrush Turdus pelios Widespread. Abyssinian Thrush (Mountain T) Turdus abyssinicus One seen at Bwindi. Fire-crested Alethe Alethe castanea Two seen well at Budongo Ecolodge. Brown-backed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas hartlaubi Three sightings throughout the tour. White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys Two birds seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher (G-t F) Myioparus griseigularis Three scattered sightings. Grey Tit-Flycatcher (Lead-coloured F) Myioparus plumbeus One seen at Bigodi swamp. White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri Fairly common at Bwindi. Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher Melaenornis ardesiacus Several seen at Ruhija. Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides Scattered sightings. Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina Two seen at Mburo. Pale Flycatcher Melaenornis pallidus Seen at Murchison Falls. Silverbird Empidornis semipartitus Several seen at Murchison Falls. Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens A total of four birds recorded. Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatic Seen at several locations. Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini Noted at a couple of locations, always in streams. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta Recorded at various localities. Dusky-blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata A total of six birds seen. Sooty Flycatcher Muscicapa infuscate Two sightings. Red-throated Alethe Pseudalethe poliophrys Seen at Ruhija. White-bellied Robin-Chat Cossyphicula roberti One seen well at Bwindi. 29 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

30 Archer's Ground Robin (Archer s Robin-Chat) Cossypha archeri Two seen well at Ruhija. White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini Fairly common and widespread. Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis Three scattered sightings. Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla Several sightings. White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellate Three seen at Ruhija. Forest Robin Stiphrornis erythrothorax (H) Heard only at Budongo. Equatorial Akalat Sheppardia aequatorialis Seen well at Bwindi. Spotted Palm Thrush Cichladusa guttata Seen at Murchison Falls. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Two sightings. African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus Seen at Mburo. Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris Seen at Murchison Falls. Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra Scattered sightings. Grey-headed Sunbird Deleornis axillaris Seen well at Bwindi. Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei Seen at Murchison Falls. Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi Two seen at Bwindi. Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris Three sightings. Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris Widespread. Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis Four records. Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema Seen at Kibale. Blue-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra alinae Three seen at Bwindi. Western Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra obscura Scattered sightings. Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens Recorded at a couple of locations. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis Widespread. Purple-breasted Sunbird Nectarinia purpureiventris One male seen well at Ruhija. Bronzy Sunbird (Bronze S) Nectarinia kilimensis Fairly common at Bwindi. Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius Recorded at a couple of locations. Northern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris reichenowi Fairly common at Bwindi. Regal Sunbird Cinnyris regius Several seen at Bwindi. Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus Seen at Murchison Falls. Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis Seen on the second day of the trip. Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus Recorded at various locations. Red-chested Sunbird. (Kevin Stracey) Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus Two seen on the second day of the tour. Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus Seen at Kibale. Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus Recorded at Bwindi. 30 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

31 Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus Widespread. White-browed Sparrow-weaver Plocepasser mahali Seen on the second day of the trip. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Only seen twice during the tour. Shelley's Sparrow Passer shelleyi Seen at Murchison Falls. Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus Widespread. Speckle-fronted Weaver Sporopipes frontalis Seen in Murchison Falls. Thick-billed Weaver (Grosbeak W) Amblyospiza albifrons Widespread. Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht Fairly common at Bwindi. Slender-billed Weaver Ploceus pelzelni Recorded at various locations. Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus Seen at Murchison Falls. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis Two scattered sightings. Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis Small numbers recorded at various locations. Strange Weaver Ploceus alienus Good views of four birds at Ruhija. Black-billed Weaver Ploceus melanogaster Seen at Bwindi. Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops Scattered sightings. Orange Weaver Ploceus aurantius Five on a small colony of these localized weavers near Mabamba. Northern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus castanops Seen near Mabamba. Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius Several in Queen Elizabeth NP. Vitelline Masked Weaver Ploceus vitellinus Recorded at two locations. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus Common and widespread. Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus Widespread. Black-headed Weaver (Yellow-backed Weaver) Ploceus melanocephalus Widespread. Golden-backed Weaver Ploceus jacksoni A single bird seen on our second day. Compact Weaver Ploceus superciliosus Two sightings. Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis Several seen at Bwindi. Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis Seen at Kibale and Bwindi. Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea Seen at Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP. Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii Three scattered sightings. Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus Seen at Murchison Falls. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix Recorded at a couple of locations. Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus Seen in Murchison Falls. Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis One sighting. Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris Seen on the first two days of the tour. Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes (macroura) macroura Several seen at Murchison Falls. Yellow-shouldered Widowbird Euplectes (macroura) macrocercus Seen in a marshy area on our second day. Marsh Widowbird (Hartlaub s M W) Euplectes hartlaubi Ten seen on our second day. White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Jameson's Antpecker Parmoptila jamesoni A single bird seen at Bwindi. White-breasted Nigrita (W-b Negrofinch) Nigrita fusconotus Several records. Grey-headed Nigrita (G-h Negrofinch) Nigrita canicapillus Various sightings. Red-winged Pytilia Pytilia phoenicoptera Two pairs seen at Murchison Falls. Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba A single bird at Murchison Falls. Dusky Crimsonwing Cryptospiza jacksoni Four seen at Ruhija. Red-headed Bluebill Spermophaga ruficapilla Three gave great views at Bigodi Swamp. Green (Green-backed) Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula Seen at Buhoma. Brown Twinspot Clytospiza monteiri Seen well at Muchison Falls. Black-bellied Firefinch Lagonosticta rara Seen at Murchison Falls and Bigodi. Bar-breasted Firefinch Lagonosticta rufopicta Recorded at Murchison Falls. Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala Several sightings. African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata Two seen at Bwindi. Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu Uraeginthus bengalus Widespread. Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola Recorded at various locations. Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga Two seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. 31 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

32 Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes Seen at Murchison Falls. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Recorded at several locations. Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula Seen at Bigodi Swamp. Kandt's Waxbill Estrilda kandti Several flocks at Bwindi. Quailfinch (Black-faced Q, A Q) Ortygospiza atricollis Seen at Queen Elizabeth NP. Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata Common and widespread. Black-and-white Mannikin Lonchura bicolor Recorded at various locations. Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeate Seen at Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Fairly common and widespread. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis Recorded at a couple of locations. Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara Seen at Kibale and Ruhija. Mountain Wagtail. (Dani Lopez-Velasco) African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp Common and widespread. Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus Common in Queen Elizabeth NP. African Pipit (Grassland P) Anthus cinnamomeus Fairly common at Queen Elizabeth NP. Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys One at Queen Elizabeth NP. Western Citril Crithagra frontalis Several flocks near Ruhija. White-rumped Seedeater Crithagra leucopygia Two at Murchison Falls. Black-throated Canary (B-t Seed-eater) Crithagra atrogularis Seen at Bwindi. Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica Widespread. Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata Recorded at various locations. Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni Seen at Ruhija. Streaky Seedeater Crithagra striolata Several birds seen at Bwindi. Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex Seen at Bwindi. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi A pair at Murchison Falls. Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris Seen in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP. Brown-rumped Bunting Emberiza affinis One bird gave great views at Murchison Falls. MAMMALS Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes Seen in Kibale forest. Eastern Gorilla Gorilla beringei Great views of two family groups, B and H, at Bwindi. Central African Red Colobus Piliocolobus oustaleti Seen in Kibale Forest area. Guereza Colobus (Eastern Black-and-white C) Colobus guereza Widespread. Olive Baboon Papio anubis Common and widespread. Grey-cheeked Mangabey (White-c M) Lophocebus albigena Two seen in Kibale Forest area. Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus pygerythrus A couple of sightings. 32 BirdQuest Tour Report: The best of Uganda

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