ORNITHOLIDAYS TOUR TO UGANDA Birds & Primates 03 – 15 July 2016

Leaders: Simon Boyes, Sam Mugisha and Saul Ampeire

ORNITHOLIDAYS TOUR TO UGANDA Birds & Primates 03 – 15 July 2016 A Personal Diary

This was Ornitholidays tenth visit to Uganda, and over the years we have altered and refined the itinerary. We have removed the long road journey to Murchison Falls and had added more time in the Bwindi area. Of the eight clients who travelled, five decided to pay the extra money to visit the Mountain Gorillas. The permit for this is now USD 600 per person – but is it worth it? I am sure that all of the group would say it’s an experience of a lifetime and would love to do it again! To sit a few metres away from a giant silverback, as he munches vines, is unforgettable! The infrastructure in Uganda is improving all the time. The pot-holed roads are having major work done on them and by next year the road between Ruhija and Kampala will be largely finished. All the lodge and hotel staff are extremely attentive and friendly. Our vehicles are four-wheel drive Toyota Landcruisers. And what of the wildlife? We saw (or heard) over 350 species of birds as well as ten species of primate (including Mountain Gorilla and Chimpanzee). The birds included some of the scarce Albertine Rift endemics (African Green Broadbill, Dwarf Honeyguide and Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher) as well as some other great birds (Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, African Green Broadbill and Great Blue Turaco). For many the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel will be remembered as a particular highlight, with vast herds of Hippos and African Buffalos wallowing and drinking on a shoreline dotted with wading birds and crocodiles. All in all a great tour with many superb memories. Sunday, 3 July Six of us gather in Heathrow’s Terminal 4 for the early morning hop to Amsterdam with KLM. Here we meet the other three, and head south on a KLM Airbus 330. Overflying Southern Greece and Abu Simbel, we touch down in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, just after dark. From here it is a short hop to Entebbe, where entry formalities, buying visas, luggage retrieval and money-changing are all easy and quick. We are now two hours ahead of BST. We meet our team: Saul, our main birding guide for the first four days, and his replacement Sam; and drivers Matia and Moses with their fine Toyota Landcruisers. It’s only a short hop to our hotel, where we’re all soon catching up on rest. Monday, 4 July At dawn we’re up for breakfast and a quick departure. Shoebills are our quarry this morning, and the sooner we meet them the better. An hour’s drive takes us to the Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar site on the shore of Lake Victoria, not far west of Entebbe Airport. Three dugout canoes await us, and soon we are in a watery world of purple-flowering water lilies and giant papyrus beds. Here we enjoy Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, Winding Cisticolas, and Blue-headed Coucals. Now the scene opens out into much shorter vegetation, with wide views over the swamp. Many pairs of Long-toed Lapwings have young chicks, and mob the overflying African Marsh Harriers. Knob-billed Duck and Spur-winged Goose are also here, among many Squacco and Purple Herons. Suddenly a massive Shoebill comes into view, standing watching us as we slowly approach to 30 metres. After 20 minutes, we try another channel, and soon find a second Shoebill, even closer. A lone Saddle-bill Stork makes a wonderful silhouette against the sky. Next Saul finds us a small group of four Lesser Jacanas, with conspicuous black underwings when they fly. As we head back to base, the second Shoebill takes to the air and flies a short distance. Delighted with our boat-trip, we drive a short way to watch a variety of weavers, including Orange, Slender-billed and Golden-backed, at their nests over the Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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water. There is so much else besides, from tiny Malachite Kingfishers and Red-chested Sunbirds to yelping territorial Fish Eagles, but no room to mention all our sightings. After a picnic lunch taken in a garden café on the outskirts of Kampala, we pick up the Fort Portal tarmac road and head west. It’s a long journey with few stops, but highlights along the way include an obliging group of ten Great Blue Turacos, Long-crested Eagles, Broad-billed Rollers, a Grey Kestrel, and a briefer view of a Bat Falcon in flight. We scope a Grey-backed Fiscal as Matia and Moses replace a punctured tyre. At dusk we arrive at our lovely hotel on the edge of town, where a hearty dinner and cold beers await us.

Tuesday, 5 July After a 6.30 breakfast, we head out of Fort Portal on a good tarmac road to Semliki Forest, on the Congo border. A stop on the way turns up a fine pair of Ross’s Turacos that stay put for long scope views. Also here are Grosbeak Weavers, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, and Black Bishop (among much else). As we enter the national park, a forest edge stop turns up Pygmy Kingfisher and Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird. Here we are at only 700 metres altitude, by far the lowest on the itinerary. We meet up with Justice, the local guide, who tells us the main track is too boggy to access. However, he has an alternative trail through beautiful open forest with plenty of palms among the mature trees. Starting off with Red-tailed Ant Thrush, we gradually add more local specialities such as Black-casqued Wattled and Piping Hornbills, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Forest Robin, and a wonderfully obliging Fire-crested Alethe, which behaves like a large robin almost at our feet. We spend time trying to tease out a Green-tailed Bristlebill, but it remains heard only. As for mammals, there are Grey-cheeked Mangabey and a Blue Monkey; as well as a great number of spectacular butterflies. We eat our picnics on a shady bank overlooking the flat plains of the Congo below us. A Brown-backed Scrub Robin serenades us. Before we leave, Saul works hard at another Semliki special, the Leaflove, but it offers only the briefest of views. Northern Puffback, Blackand-white Mannikin and Northern Black Flycatcher are also here. Back in Fort Portal, we drink sodas and cups of tea while Matia and Moses replace the shredded tyre. A walk along a small stream in the busy town is productive, with nesting African Openbills and Black-headed Herons, Northern Brown-throated and Yellowbacked Weavers, Mackinnon’s Fiscal and Olive-bellied Sunbird - among much else! At the end of the tarmac we watch an area of reeds where Black-crowned Waxbills show well. Now Saul entices out a beautiful Whitecollared Oliveback, a little-known waxbill that perches atop a reed. It takes an hour to reach Kibale Forest, due to the ongoing roadworks. Velvet-mantled Drongo and Whitebreasted Negrofinch show up in the canopy at a short stop, before we reach our lodge. Our spacious tents each have bathrooms attached; and we have the place to ourselves. The four-course meal is excellent, and after the checklist, Saul outlines our plans for chimp tracking tomorrow. On the walk down to our tents, Colin and Pete pick out an African Wood Owl in torchlight. Wednesday, 6 July Only a three minute drive from our lodge, we register for the chimp safari and meet our tracker Gerard. We meet a happy group of other visitors returning from the experience with their ranger. The first one we see is a male - Gerard reckons a 17 year old - on the ground in front of us. After a while, he ambles off and climbs a tree, giving more views. Nearby are several more, up in the canopy, including a male grooming a female. Another, still higher up, feeds in a fig tree, though the figs are still green and not ripe yet. We learn that there are three study groups of these primates, two for researchers and one for

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visitors like ourselves. Red-tailed Monkey, Redlegged Sun Squirrel and an unidentified fruit bat add to the mammal list. Kibale Forest is a tricky place for birding, as many species are in dense undergrowth or else in high canopy. Narina Trogon is our best find, since a male allows long scope views and photos. The morning also produces Brown Illadopsis, Grey Apalis, Tambourine Dove, Yellowbill (a coucal), Yellow-spotted Barbet and African Paradise Flycatcher with a tiny nest by the track. Two Crested Guineafowl rush across the track near us. However, not everyone sees everything! Many more species are heard only, such as Emerald Cuckoo, Red-tailed Bristlebill, and White-tailed Ant-thrush. Our hopes for the rare Green-breasted Pitta, (which we search for early, before chimp tracking) are dashed since neither Gerard nor Saul hear or see any. They must have covered miles in the attempt. A tasty lunch and siesta follow. Birds around the lodge include Yellow White-eye, overflying African Harrier Hawk, and a Black-and-White Shrike-Flycatcher. Pete finds a Western Nicator as we leave for Bigodi at 1530. Here we walk slowly around the land of a community conservation project, guided by Leo and Sam. We enjoy using the scope for species such as Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Red-faced Cisticola, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, a sluggish Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Compact Weaver, Purple-headed and Violet-backed Starlings and a Yellow-billed Barbet. Others that we see well, though not in the scope, include White-chinned Prinia, White-headed Saw-wing, Green Hylia and Joyful Greenbul. There are Great Blue Turacos and Blackand-White-casqued Hornbills perched above recently slashed and burned areas, surveying their smoldering habitat. Meanwhile, Saul has returned to the forest with Colin, Mark and Pete for another Green-breasted Pitta hunt. This time they are successful, with two birds seen, one perched and another in flight. As both groups arrive back at the lodge, a pair of Snowy-headed Robin-Chats sing their evening song around the restaurant. Thursday, 7 July After breakfast we leave the friendly staff at Kibale at 0800. There is plenty of bird life in the garden as we leave, including Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Brimstone Canary, Diederik Cuckoo and African Blue Flycatcher. One stop in the forest turns up a great variety of species in a short time, notably Dusky Long-tailed and Red-chested Cuckoos, Grey-throated Barbet and Least Honeyguide, Petit’s Cuckooshrike and Yellowmantled Weaver. Between Fort Portal and Kasese the undulating landscape is mostly given over to banana and maize cultivation. There are several Longcrested Eagles, mostly perched on poles, in this section. After a photo stop at the Equator sign, we call in at the Queen Elizabeth National Park Telecentre - where our drivers pre-pay for our visit. Here we enjoy Nubian Woodpecker, Blue-naped Mousebird and a male Bateleur overhead. When we reach the park gate, we are waved through with no delay. Now the landscape is dominated by huge Euphorbia candelabras. Lunch on the verandah overlooks the Kazinga Channel, enabling us to watch Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob and much else in the distance. Nearer to us, the bird table is popular with three species of weavers. Swamp Flycatchers perch on the dining room chairs and a Northern Black Flycatcher is up on the verandah too. An hour’s rest gives the opportunity to enjoy the swimming pool with one of the finest views imaginable. White-rumped Swifts, Lesser Striped Swallows and White-headed Saw-wings are usually overhead. The Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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afternoon walk is very relaxed, only as far as the airstrip. Highlights include Double-toothed Barbets, Greycapped Warbler, Black-headed Gonoleks and Mourning Doves. A group of 30 Banded Mongoose pass right by our feet, too close for the long lenses. They are the subject of a long-term Exeter University research project. The airstrip itself has Crowned, Wattled and Senegal Lapwings all seeking the invertebrates of the short grass. From the swimming pool deck, a Goliath Heron can be seen far below, among the other birds and mammals we will see in close-up from the Kazinga Channel boat trip. We say farewell to Saul, and wish him good luck with a fundraising trip to Kampala, for an environmental project in Bwindi. Friday, 8 July This morning’s game drive takes us across the main road towards Lake George, where the plains have short, green grass. The park has a strategy of controlled burning to make the best habitat for the abundant Uganda Kob. There are also good numbers of Waterbuck, Buffalo and Warthog. Luckily rain has fallen during the night to lay the dust on the tracks. We start the birding with two babblers (Arrow-marked and Black-lored) and two tchagras (Black-crowned and Browncrowned). Madagascar Bee-eaters share a dead tree with a Spot-flanked Barbet, and Wattled Starlings perch up on bushes. We have two superb Martial Eagles at point-blank range, first an adult and later a pale immature. A crater lake with Lesser Flamingos makes a good spot for our breakfast picnic. Taking a different way back, we enjoy close-ups of the nesting lapwings: Crowned, Wattled and Senegal are all on territory. Kittlitz’s Plovers also have a young chick. Many Bateleurs and White-backed Vultures fly overhead. The two vehicles head back at different speeds and find different wildlife: Padmi finds a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl on the ground, presumably hunting unusual in late morning. Moses’ team also come across Lappet-faced Vulture and Brown Snake Eagle with a snake. Meanwhile in Matia’s vehicle we find Collared Pratincoles, Banded Martins, and both Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks. From the restaurant we watch Elephants coming to drink. After lunch and siesta or swim, we head down to the jetty for the Kazinga Channel boat trip. We start with a close flock of over 100 African Skimmers, mostly at rest but several in flight too. Everything from the boat is in closeup, since the skipper steers very near the shore and all the wildlife is used to boats. So, we have hundreds of Hippos (almost underneath us) and Buffalos, a few with attendant Yellow-billed Oxpeckers. There are many Water Thick-knees and Black Crakes, Pink-backed Pelicans and a few Malachite Kingfishers including a totally white (leucistic) one, with red legs and bill. A Ruddy Turnstone is a surprise, turning not stones but elephant dung. There are Marsh Sandpipers and Three-banded Plovers, and frequent Fish Eagles posing in trees. Sacred Ibis, Yellow-billed Storks and African Spoonbills also deserve a mention. Wire-tailed Swallows fly past among the Angola Swallows and White-headed Saw-wings. Most amazing is the number of Pied Kingfishers, hundreds of them, all nesting colonially in several banks. It’s an extremely photogenic two hours!

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Saturday, 9 July We say farewell to the wonderful Mweya Lodge after breakfast, and leave at 0800, heading south for Bwindi. A short stop in papyrus by the Kazinga Channel turns up a brief view of a Papyrus Gonolek, and a pair of Grey-capped Warblers. The road passes through a section of forest, where Ross’s Turacos show well, and an Emerald Cuckoo flies over the road. Matia’s vehicle has to wait for a herd of Elephants to cross in front of them. From the other vehicle, a Hairy-breasted Barbet can be seen on a dead tree. We reach the Ishasha Loop, and explore a part of it with the roofs up. Sooty Chats are everywhere, and a Tawny Eagle shares the sunny skies with a few Bateleurs. We arrive at an ancient fig tree with a pride of Lions draped in the branches! We make two circuits of the tree, to see all the lionesses and cubs from various angles, both asleep and watching us. Birds of this section include Golden-breasted Bunting, Green Woodhoopoe, and Fork-tailed Drongo. Leaving the park, we rejoin the road south and stop for lunch in Kihihi, a small town which is close to Moses’ home. “Feel free here,” he says, “these are my people!” Next stop reveals Augur Buzzards and a Lesser Honeyguide, but the target species, Red-throated Wryneck, only shows itself to a few of the group. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is our destination. We will stay at the two main centres, Buhoma at 1400m altitude, and Ruhija at 2300m. First we head up to Ruhija, for three nights. The good murram road has been improved out of all recognition since my last group experienced its huge pot-holes five years ago. Most of the Ruhija road passes through cultivation, often on steep slopes, but there are two good patches of forest. The lower patch is known as The Neck, and reveals birds such as Grey-headed and Green Sunbirds, Little and Ansorge’s Greenbuls, Buff-throated and Grey Apalis. The highlight is a group of four Black Bee-eaters, so smart with red throats and turquoise bellies. They favour tall trees high above us, and look magnificent in the scopes. Our plans to stop at the river bridge are dashed by a sharp rain shower. Our final stop is in open country above The Neck, now under blue skies again. Here we enjoy Cinnamonchested Bee-eater, Tropical Boubou, Thick-billed and Streaky Seedeaters, and Mountain Buzzard, before the last few miles up to our rustic highland lodge. We are warmly greeted on arrival, and shown to our tents or rooms. Pete soon finds a family of Chubb’s Cisticolas. A tasty buffet, beers, checklist and plans for tomorrow bring another full-on Uganda day to a close. The nights are cold enough at this altitude for the hot water bottles in our beds to be appreciated. Sunday, 10 July We have a very relaxing morning in good forest, all within two miles of base. We leave at 0800, and meet Amos, our local birding guide, just outside the village. The morning walk takes nearly four hours but covers only about 200 metres each way. Highlights include Luehder’s Bush-shrike, Montane Oriole often seen carrying food to a nest, a skulking but easily visible Mountain Illadopsis, Black-billed Weaver, and the restless White-tailed Blue Flycatcher. Six Albertine Rift Valley endemics show up: Dwarf Honeyguide (a great spot by Sam), Regal Sunbird, Mountain Masked Apalis, Red-faced Woodland Warbler (photo), Rwenzori Batis and Stripe-breasted Tit - a ringed individual. We see several nestboxes put up for them. A Banded Prinia shows well in the undergrowth below Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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us. Various other apalis and three greenbul species test our eyesight and patience as they spend most of the time hidden by leaves. Three mammals - Black-and-White Colobus, the tiny Boehm’s Squirrel and much larger Carruther’s Mountain Squirrel - are worth a mention, and the variety of beautiful butterflies would be a great study in itself. At midday, Variable Sunbird and Long-crested Eagle are in the lodge garden: the eagle perching on the thatched roof of one chalet. After lunch and an hour’s rest, we set out again, but again only a few miles down the road. We bring today’s number of local endemics up from six to eight, starting with a Handsome Francolin by the roadside with two young chicks. The eighth is not so easy: a very skulking Strange Weaver that only gives brief views before hiding again. A White-starred Robin behaves similarly, but others are more obliging: Mountain Greenbul, Collared Sunbird, Black-headed Waxbill and Mountain Yellow Warbler. As for raptors, there are Augur and Mountain Buzzards, and a surprising migration of 80 Yellow-billed Kites flying south and then thermalling to gain height. Two Crowned Hornbills fly across the road by the Ruhija gorilla reception centre. Monday, 11 July Having heard stories about the long and exhausting hike that some birders make down to the Mabwindi Swamp, we are pleased to get an update from Amos and Sam. A new trail has been cut, making the 10kilometre hike much less steep and demanding. So, after breakfast, all but Ann decide to try it. At the park office we collect two guards (in case of stray Forest Elephant or Gorilla) and three porters, and set off on the 280 metre descent. It’s a beautiful forest, and our progress is frequently halted by good bird stops. Black-billed Turacos perch and show off magenta wings. Sharpe’s, Waller’s and Stuhlmann’s Starlings appear here and there. An African Hill Babbler - the local subspecies often split as Rwenzori Hill Babbler - shows black head and chestnut back. We have better views of Mountain Masked Apalis and Strange Weaver than yesterday. Brown-capped Weavers inspect mossy trunks and White-headed Woodhoopoes offer views at rest and in flight. Archer’s Robin-Chat comes next, an arch-skulker that Amos and Sam lure into view for us all. Soon after 1100 we arrive at a deserted rangers’ camp-site where Amos has found an active nest of African Green Broadbill. As soon as we arrive, we watch one adult feeding in a small tree nearby. Only four inches long, this is the most sought-after of all the Albertine Rift Valley endemics. It is very restricted in range and rare within it. Moving round to the other side of the nesting tree, we watch the mossy, domed structure and see a small yellow bill inside, and later the head of the well-grown chick. A parent soon comes to feed it, allowing us great photos. The camp-site is the spot for our lunch picnic. Next comes a pair of Yellow-eyed Black Flycatchers allowing scope views in a dead tree. A little further on, we reach the swamp and soon find Grauer’s Rush Warbler, a skulker that never gives long views - nor does Carruthers’s Cisticola. Cape Wagtails are more obliging, and nearby a group of Chapin’s Flycatchers work through a tree canopy. Sam tells us they are often gregarious; and that they rarely return to the same perch. Previously thought to have been an endemic, they have now been found at Kakamega Forest in West Kenya. At 1400 we start the hike back, coming across Dusky Tit, Olive Thrush, White-browed Crombec, and three apalis: Chestnut-throated, Black-throated and Collared. A Black-fronted Duiker feeds on the track ahead. Moses and Matia welcome us back as we emerge on the road just before 1700. It’s been a great hike with great birds, none more special than the broadbill. We have added five more to yesterday’s eight local endemics: the black flycatcher, broadbill, robin-chat, rush-warbler and Collared Apalis. Tuesday, 12 July …is the eagerly anticipated gorilla day! After breakfast and farewells to the friendly camp staff, we are soon at the reception centre for the rather slow process of registration. We are allocated the family named Oruzogo, Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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and told it entails a drive of 30 minutes before we start the trek. Oruzogo has 17 members, led by a young silverback; it also has a beta-male almost as old. We collect porters and armed guards, and begin a steep descent at 0910. The two trackers hack our way with a machete to cut the vines and saplings. The porters soon prove essential not just for carrying our packs but for pushing and pulling us, helping us to stay upright on slippery terrain. Luckily it is dry and cool, but falling over is a hazard since the mountainside is so steep. Now we begin to understand why the forest is officially called Impenetrable! After an hour, and a drop of 200 metres, we start to hear various grunts, squeals and branches breaking. The gorillas are all around us but well hidden in thick vegetation. And they are on the move! They are climbing the opposite hillside, as steeply up as the one we’ve just come down. Skilfully the trackers position us in various spots where we can watch them stripping vine leaves - snacking here and there as they go. Eventually the family settles down to feed more seriously, and to rest in the sunshine that has now spread across the valley. We can finally rest too, cameras poised, seated on a bank of thick vegetation. To our left is the silverback, stuffing leaves into his mouth with huge fingers, so like ours. Their favourite food is a vine, Basella alba. A younger male is even closer, half way up a small tree, reaching up with long arms for the next mouthfuls, and breaking off large branches to save him moving. To the right are the little ones, more actively climbing about and sometimes falling out of their saplings with a crash. Gorillas can eat up to 25 kg of leaves in a day, so it’s a fairly constant activity. So much fibre makes them windy and noisy! They often watch us with their soulful brown eyes as they munch. Albert, our head tracker, allows us an hour and a half contact, since for the first half hour both we and our new primate friends were on the move. But eventually he says it’s time to leave. Some of our best photo opportunities come now, as we head upwards close to other family members - by now very relaxed, lying back and chomping vines. Soon we reach a clearing where we sit and enjoy our own lunches, and replace lost fluids after a tiring hike we have regained the 200 metres upwards on the other side of the valley. We can hear the gorillas below us. A Crowned Eagle flies overhead. One last effort upwards brings us out on the road, some distance from where we started four hours earlier. Meanwhile, Ann, Andrew and Colin H have opted not to go trekking gorillas. Instead, they wander round the reception area with Sam while Matia waits to collect the trekking certificates. They find Petit’s Cuckooshrike, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Stripe-breasted Tit and a close-up Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird. Once we are all re-united, Albert makes a formal presentation of our certificates and we pay the porters. We wouldn’t have made it without them! Down at The Neck, at 1600 metres, it is now hot and sunny. The forest is quiet, but Colin finds a pair of fine Mountain Wagtails on the river. Round the corner Sam puts us onto a pair of African Black Duck. At a duckweed-covered pond a little further on, there’s another Black Duck and a pair of Little Grebes in breeding plumage, clearly not common here as it’s a lifer for Sam and Moses! We decide to press on to Buhoma and check in. Our camp is very welcoming, with damp towels, welcome drinks and even samosas. Tents are allocated, and we take an hour’s rest. A stroll towards the forest at 1700 produces Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Green-throated and Green-headed Sunbirds, Pink-footed Puffback, Olive Sunbird and Cameroon Sombre Greenbul. All in all, an unforgettable day!

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Wednesday, 13 July After breakfast a Snowy-headed Robin-Chat appears by the top tier of tents. The family theme continues with Red-capped and White-browed Robin-Chats in the track towards the forest. A skulking Grey-winged Robin Chat gives a brief view to a few of the group in the undergrowth. The main Waterfall Trail into the forest is wide and almost flat, ideal for us. This morning its best birds include Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird at its mossy domed nest, Black-faced Rufous Warbler and Red-throated Alethe. The last two are undergrowth specialists that don’t readily yield plumage details! The alethe is our 14th local endemic. Favourites from other days include Black Bee-eaters and Great Blue Turacos. There are less good views of Elliot’s and Yellow-crested Woodpeckers, and an African Shrike Flycatcher appears on the way back. Pete tries to put us onto a Blue-throated Roller, but it disappears too soon. Overhead are African Goshawk and Crowned Eagle, both in display flight. Butterflies are varied, abundant, and beautiful. Mammals include L’Hoest’s and Red-tailed Monkeys and Fire-footed Rope Squirrel. We also see recent gorilla signs: broken branches and stems split to reveal pith that they eat. A group of eager gorilla trekkers come past us heading out - three hours later they are back, with smiles and thumbs up. A pasta and fruit lunch and a siesta follow. The afternoon walk on forest edge starts with Bronze Sunbird and Vieillot’s Black Weaver mobbing a black snake in a small tree in the village. The locals are excited by the snake too. Research back at home suggests it is either a Forest Cobra or a Black-necked Spitting Cobra but sending the photograph to experts is unsuccessful as there is no agreement. We see much that we’ve seen before, but also find Cassin’s Honeybird, Buff-spotted Woodpecker and Black Cuckoo. Three Ayres’ Hawk Eagles fly over the well-forested ridge to the east. On the way back, a great shout from Pete helps us to find a magnificent Many-coloured Bush-shrike, moving slowly in a vine tangle. It’s not in a hurry and gives us all good views. As the light begins to fade, an African Grey Parrot flies high overhead, and an African Goshawk perches close to us below eye level, before flying powerfully off. In the evening, Carren shows me an amazing photo she has taken of a Red-billed Firefinch feeding its three recently fledged chicks. Close inspection shows that one chick is a firefinch, but the other two are juvenile Village Indigobirds, with streaked backs, already appearing larger than their fosterparent. Indigobirds are nest parasites on firefinches, but both species are raised together in the nest. Thursday, 14 July We leave camp after an early breakfast, saying our warm farewells to the friendly staff. We will miss these peaceful forests. Our road takes us north to Kihihi, before turning east and hitting the tarmac at Rukunjiri. Several Crowned Cranes and a few African Harrier Hawks show up along the way. We stop in a suitable habitat for Papyrus Gonolek, which obliges beautifully and offers Carren a lovely photo. Lunch is in Mbarara, just before a few miles of acacia savannah. Here we start seeing Lilac-breasted Rollers on the wires; and at one point we look across to grazing Impala and Zebra. We hear that Entebbe airport renovations are causing delays: our agents advise us to be there by 1900. So, we press on, passing Black-shouldered Kites and Broadbilled Rollers; and African Openbills on the shore of Lake Victoria. At dusk we arrive at the terminal, just as Little Swifts come screaming back to their nests. The KLM Airbus is on time, Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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Friday 15 July We have an easy connection in Amsterdam and we land at Heathrow punctually at 0900. Saying our farewells at the carousels, we disperse to our various homes, no doubt still reflecting on Gorillas, Shoebills and the friendly welcome we received everywhere in Uganda! Acknowledgements Many thanks to Sam for guiding us so well, and to Saul for joining us for the first four days. There was no bird sound in Bwindi that Sam failed to put a name to! Thanks also to a whole host of local bird guides, trackers, porters, and armed rangers who also added to our knowledge, comfort and security! Great driving from Matia and Moses deserve our thanks too. Most of all, many thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm, patience and good humour even on the roughest and dustiest of roads. I hope we may meet up on another Ornitholiday again soon. Many thanks also to Mark, Carren and Colin whose excellent photographs illustrate this report. Simon Boyes Ornitholidays 29, Straight Mile, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 9BB Tel: 01794-519445 E-mail: [email protected] August 2016

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Itinerary and Weather Wherever possible, shade temperatures at dawn and midday are given. 3 July

Arrive Entebbe 2220. To local hotel. Dry, 23oC (73oF)

4 July

Entebbe. Mabamba Swamp. Fort Portal. Dry, partly sunny. 23-29oC (73-84oF)

5 July

Fort Portal. Semliki Forest. Kibale Forest. Dry, mostly sunny, 23-30oC (73-86oF)

6 July

Kibale Forest. Bigodi Swamp. Dry, 17-30oC (63-86oF)

7 July

Kibale Forest. Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). Dry, sunny, 15-29oC (59-84oF)

8 July

QENP. Game drive. Kazinga Channel boat trip. Dry, sunny, 18-29oC (64-84oF)

9 July

QENP (Ishasha Loop) to Ruhija. Mostly dry; one light shower p.m. 15-29oC (59-84oF)

10 July

Ruhija. Local walks in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Dry, sunny, 14-24oC (57-75oF)

11 July

Ruhija: hike to Mabwindi Swamp. Dry, partly sunny. 16-23oC (61-73oF)

12 July

Ruhija Gorilla trek. To Buhoma. 15-29oC (59-84oF)

13 July

Buhoma. Waterfall Trail in Bwindi Forest. Dry, sunny, 16-28oC (61-82oF)

14 July

Buhoma to Entebbe. Dry, sunny, 15-30oC (59-86oF). Depart 2335.

15 July

Arrive London

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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CHECKLIST OF BIRDS SEEN DURING TOUR Abundance Scale (max. seen on 1 day) 1= 1–4 2= 5-9 3= 10 - 99 4= 100 - 999 5= 1000 - 9999

No of days recorded 1 2h means seen on 1 day and heard on 2 other days

Taxonomic notes (1,2, etc) follow the list. This list follows the order and nomenclature Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Stevenson and Fanshawe. Albertine Rift Valley endemics in bold. SPECIES

No of days recorded

Little Grebe Pink-backed Pelican Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant Great (White-breasted) Cormorant Western Cattle Egret Striated (Green-backed) Heron Squacco Heron Great Egret Little Egret Black-headed Heron Goliath Heron Grey Heron Purple Heron Hamerkop Yellow-billed Stork African Openbill Shoebill Marabou Stork Saddle-billed Stork African Sacred Ibis Glossy Ibis Hadada Ibis Lesser Flamingo African Spoonbill Knob-billed Duck Egyptian Goose Spur-winged Goose White-faced Whistling-Duck Yellow-billed Duck African Black Duck Yellow-billed (Black) Kite 1 Black-winged (-shouldered) Kite African Fish-Eagle Osprey Palm-nut Vulture Hooded Vulture African White-backed Vulture Lappet-faced Vulture Black-chested Snake-Eagle Brown Snake-Eagle Western Banded Snake-Eagle African Marsh-Harrier Lizard Buzzard Shikra (Little-banded Goshawk) African Goshawk

Abundance Scale 1 2 3 2 5 1 3 4 4 7 2 3 2 5 2 5 1 6 2 4 1 6 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 5 1 7 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 2

SCIENTIFIC NAME

1 3 2 4 3 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 3 2 3 1 3 1 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 1 1 3 1 3 2 3 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

Tachybaptus ruficollis Pelecanus rufescens Phalacrocorax africanus Phalacrocorax carbo Bubulcus ibis Butorides striatus Ardeola ralloides Ardea alba Egretta garzetta Ardea melanocephala Ardea goliath Ardea cinerea Ardea purpurea Scopus umbretta Mycteria ibis Anastomus lamelligerus Balaeniceps rex Leptoptilos crumeniferus Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Threskiornis aethiopicus Plegadis falcinellus Bostrychia hagedash Phoenicopterus minor Platalea alba Sarkidiornis melanotos Alopochen aegyptiacus Plectropterus gambensis Dendrocygna viduata Anas undulata Anas sparsa Milvus (migrans) aegyptius Elanus caeruleus Haliaeetus vocifer Pandion haliaetus Gypohierax angolensis Necrosyrtes monachus Gyps africanus Torgos tracheliotus Circaetus pectoralis Circaetus cinereus Circaetus cinerascens Circus ranivorus Kaupifalco monogrammicus Accipiter badius Accipiter tachiro Page 11

Great (Black) Sparrowhawk Bat Hawk African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) Augur Buzzard Mountain Buzzard Tawny Eagle Wahlberg's Eagle Ayres's Hawk-Eagle Bateleur Long-crested Eagle African Crowned Eagle Martial Eagle Common Kestrel Grey Kestrel Crested Guineafowl 2 Helmeted Guineafowl Handsome Francolin Red-necked Spurfowl White-spotted Flufftail Red-chested Flufftail Black Crake African Jacana Lesser Jacana Grey Crowned Crane Black-winged Stilt Water Thick-knee (Dikkop) Collared Pratincole African Wattled Lapwing Long-toed Lapwing Spur-winged Lapwing Crowned Lapwing Senegal Lapwing Kittlitz’s Plover Three-banded Plover Common Sandpiper Marsh Sandpiper Ruddy Turnstone Grey-headed Gull Gull-billed Tern African Skimmer White-winged Tern African Green-Pigeon Olive (Rameron) Pigeon Feral Pigeon (introduced) Speckled Pigeon Tambourine Dove Blue-spotted Wood-Dove African Mourning Dove Red-eyed Dove Ring-necked (Cape Turtle) Dove Laughing Dove Brown (Meyer's) Parrot Grey Parrot Great Blue Turaco Ross’s Turaco Black-billed Turaco Bare-Faced Go-away-bird 3 Eastern Grey Plantain-eater Levaillant’s Cuckoo

1 1 5 3 2 2 1 1 3 7 2 2 2 5 2 2 1 3 4 4 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 2 6 2 3 2 4 6 3 6 4 5 1 1 4 3 2 1 4 3

2h 1h

2h

1h 1h

1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 2 2 3 1 3 1 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 4 2 2 3 2 2 1 3 1 3 3 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

Accipiter melanoleucus Macheiramphus alcinus Polyboroides typus Buteo augur Buteo oreophilus Aquila rapax Aquila wahlbergi Hieraaetus ayresii Terathopius ecaudatus Lophaetus occipitalis Stephanoaetus coronatus Polemaetus bellicosus Falco tinnunculus Falco ardosiaceus Guttera (pucherani) verreauxi Numida meleagris Francolinus nobilis Francolinus afer Sarothrura pulchra Sarothrura rufa Amaurornis flavirostris Actophilornis africanus Microparra capensis Balearica regulorum Himantopus himantopus Burhinus vermiculatus Glareola pratincola Vanellus senegallus Vanellus crassirostris Vanellus spinosus Vanellus coronatus Vanellus lugubris Charadrius pecuarius Charadrius tricollaris Actitis hypoleucos Tringa stagnatilis Arenaria interpres Larus cirrocephalus Sterna nilotica Rynchops flavirostris Chlidonias leucopterus Treron calva Columba arquatrix Columba livia Columba guinea Turtur tympanistria Turtur afer Streptopelia decipiens Streptopelia semitorquata Streptopelia capicola Streptopelia senegalensis Poicephalus meyeri Psittacus erithacus Corythaeola cristata Musophaga rossae Tauraco schuettii Corythaixoides (personatus) leopoldi Crinifer zonurus Oxylophus levaillantii Page 12

Black Cuckoo Red-chested Cuckoo Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo African Emerald Cuckoo Diederik Cuckoo Klaas’s Cuckoo (Chattering) Yellowbill 4 Blue-headed Coucal White-browed Coucal African Wood Owl Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Pearl-spotted Owlet Red-chested Owlet Little Swift White-rumped Swift African Palm Swift Blue-naped Mousebird Speckled Mousebird Narina Trogon Grey-headed Kingfisher Pied Kingfisher Striped Kingfisher Blue-breasted Kingfisher Woodland Kingfisher African Pygmy Kingfisher Malachite Kingfisher Blue-breasted Bee-eater Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Little Bee-eater Black Bee-eater Madagascar Bee-eater Blue-throated Roller Broad-billed Roller Lilac-breasted Roller Green Wood-Hoopoe White-headed Wood-Hoopoe Crowned Hornbill (Eastern) Piping Hornbill 5 Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill Speckled Tinkerbird Western Green Tinkerbird Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Yellow-throated Tinkerbird Grey-throated Barbet Spot-flanked Barbet Hairy-breasted Barbet Double-toothed Barbet White-headed Barbet Yellow-billed Barbet Lesser Honeyguide Least Honeyguide Dwarf Honeyguide Cassin’s Honeybird Red-throated Wryneck Buff-spotted Woodpecker Nubian Woodpecker Cardinal Woodpecker

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 1 1 5 3 4 3 11 1 2 5 3 6 3 2 1 4 2 2 2 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 7 1 1 4 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

4h

2h 2h

4h 1h 1h

1h

1h

2h 1h 1h 2h

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 4 3 3 3 1 1 4 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

Cuculus clamosus Cuculus solitarius Cercococcyx olivinus Cercococcyx mechowi Chrysococcyx cupreus Chrysococcyx caprius Chrysococcyx klaas Ceuthmochares aereus Centropus monachus Centropus superciliosus Strix woodfordii Bubo lacteus Glaucidium perlatum Glaucidium tephronotum Apus affinis Apus caffer Cypsiurus parvus Urocolius macrourus Colius striatus Apaloderma narina Halcyon leucocephala Ceryle rudis Halcyon chelicuti Halcyon malimbica Halcyon senegalensis Ispidina picta Alcedo cristata Merops variegatus Merops oreobates Merops pusillus Merops gularis Merops superciliosus Eurystomus gularis Eurystomus glaucurus Coracias caudata Phoeniculus purpureus Phoeniculus bollei Tockus alboterminatus Bycanistes (fistulator) sharpii Bycanistes subcylindricus Ceratogymna atrata Pogoniulus scolopaceus Pogoniulus coryphaeus Pogoniulus bilineatus Pogoniulus subsulphureus Gymnobucco bonapartei Tricholaema lacrymosa Tricholaema hirsuta Lybius bidentatus Lybius leucocephalus Trachylaemus purpuratus Indicator minor Indicator exilis Indicator pumilio Prodotiscus insignis Jynx ruficollis Campethera nivosa Campethera nubica Campethera fuscescens Page 13

Elliot’s Woodpecker Speckle-breasted Woodpecker Yellow-crested Woodpecker African Green Broadbill Green-breasted Pitta Flappet Lark Rufous-naped Lark Banded Martin Plain (Brown-throated) Martin Rock Martin Lesser Striped Swallow Red-rumped Swallow Angola Swallow Barn Swallow Wire-tailed Swallow Black Saw-wing White-headed Saw-wing African Pied Wagtail Cape Wagtail Mountain Wagtail Yellow-throated Longclaw Grassland Pipit Plain-backed Pipit Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike Grey Cuckoo-shrike Western Nicator Common (Black-eyed) Bulbul Little Greenbul Mountain Greenbul Slender-billed Greenbul Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Yellow-streaked Greenbul Cameroon Sombre Greenbul Toro Olive Greenbul Ansorge’s Greenbul Joyful Greenbul Green-tailed Bristlebill Red-tailed Bristlebill Honeyguide Greenbul Leaflove White-starred Robin Forest Robin Red-throated Alethe Fire-crested Alethe Snowy-headed Robin-Chat White-browed Robin-Chat Red-capped Robin-Chat Archer’s Robin-Chat Grey-winged Robin-Chat Olive Thrush African Thrush White-tailed Ant-Thrush Red-tailed Ant-Thrush Sooty Chat Common (African) Stonechat Brown-backed Scrub-Robin Mountain Yellow Warbler White-winged Warbler Grauer’s Rush Warbler

1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 6 7 2 9 2 1 6 5 9 1 1 2 2 1 3 2 1 11 5 2 6 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 5 1 4 3 1 1 1

1h

2h

1h 1h 1h

1h

1h

1h 1h

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

Dendropicos ellioti Dendropicos poecilolaemus Dendropicos xantholophus Pseudocalyptomena graueri Pitta reichenowi Mirafra rufocinnamomea Mirafra africana Riparia cincta Riparia paludicola Hirundo fuligula Hirundo abyssinica Hirundo daurica Hirundo angolensis Hirundo rustica Hirundo smithii Psalidoprocne holomelas Psalidoprocne albiceps Motacilla aguimp Motacilla capensis Motacilla clara Macronyx croceus Anthus cinnamomeus Anthus leucophrys Campephaga petiti Coracina caesia Nicator chloris Pycnonotus barbatus Andropadus virens Andropadus nigriceps Andropadus gracilirostris Andropadus latirostris Phyllastrephus flavostriatus Andropadus curvirostris Phyllastrephus hypochloris Andropadus ansorgei Chlorocichla laetissima Bleda eximia Bleda syndactyla Baeopogon indicator Pyrrhurus scandens Pogonocichla stellata Stiphrornis erythrothorax Alethe poliophrys Alethe diademata Cossypha niveicapilla Cossypha heuglini Cossypha natalensis Cossypha archeri Cossypha polioptera Turdus olivaceus Turdus pelios Neocossyphus poensis Neocossyphus rufus Myrmecocichla nigra Saxicola torquatus Cercotrichas hartlaubi Chloropeta similis Bradypterus carpalis Bradypterus graueri Page 14

Green Hylia Red-faced Woodland Warbler Green Crombec White-browed Crombec Black-faced Rufous Warbler Zitting Cisticola Winding Cisticola Carruthers’s Cisticola Chubb’s Cisticola Red-faced Cisticola Whistling Cisticola Banded Prinia Tawny-flanked Prinia White-chinned Prinia Grey-capped Warbler Grey-backed Camaroptera Olive-green Camaroptera Grey Apalis Chestnut-throated Apalis Buff-throated Apalis Collared (Rwenzori) Apalis Black-throated Apalis Mountain Masked Apalis Northern Black Flycatcher White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher African Dusky Flycatcher Grey-throated Flycatcher Swamp Flycatcher Dusky-blue Flycatcher Chapin’s Flycatcher Sooty Flycatcher Chinspot Batis Rwenzori Batis African Shrike-flycatcher Black-and-White Shrike-flycatcher Brown-throated Wattle-eye Chestnut Wattle-eye African Paradise-flycatcher Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher African Blue-Flycatcher White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher Ruwenzori (African) Hill Babbler 6 Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Brown Illadopsis Mountain Illadopsis Grey-chested Illadopsis Arrow-marked Babbler Black-lored Babbler Dusky Tit Stripe-breasted Tit Yellow White-eye Bronze Sunbird Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Green-headed Sunbird Northern Double-collared Sunbird Olive-bellied Sunbird Regal Sunbird Green Sunbird

2 3 2 1 1 2 2 1 4 1 2 5 4 2 3 3 3 2 1 2 2 4 5 1 4 1 3 2 1 2 4 1 1 2 4 1 7 2 2 4 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 6 4 1 3 4 2 2 4

1h

1h 1h

1h 3h 1h

1h

1h

1h

1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 3 2 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

Hylia prasina Phylloscopus laetus Sylvietta virens Sylvietta leucophrys Bathmocercus rufus Cisticola juncidis Cisticola galactotes Cisticola carruthersi Cisticola chubbi Cisticola erythrops Cisticola lateralis Prinia bairdii Prinia subflava Prinia leucopogon Eminia lepida Camaroptera brachyura Camaroptera chloronota Apalis cinerea Apalis porphyrolaema Apalis rufogularis Apalis ruwenzorii Apalis jacksoni Apalis personata Melaenornis edolioides Melaenornis fischeri Melaenornis ardesiaca Muscicapa adusta Muscicapa griseigularis Muscicapa aquatica Muscicapa comitata Muscicapa lendu Muscicapa infuscata Batis molitor Batis diops Bias flammulatus Bias musicus Platysteira cyanea Dyaphorophyia castanea Terpsiphone viridis Terpsiphone rufiventer Elminia longicauda Elminia albicauda Pseudoalcippe (abyssinica) atriceps Illadopsis albipectus Illadopsis fulvescens Illadopsis pyrrhoptera Kakamega poliothorax Turdoides jardineii Turdoides sharpei Parus funereus Parus fasciiventer Zosterops senegalensis Nectarinia kilimensis Cyanomitra cyanolaema Cyanomitra verticalis Cinnyris preussi Cinnyris chloropygia Cinnyris regia Anthreptes rectirostris Page 15

Green-throated Sunbird Copper Sunbird Little Green Sunbird (Western) Olive Sunbird 7 Grey-headed Sunbird Red-chested Sunbird Scarlet-chested Sunbird Collared Sunbird Variable Sunbird Common (Fiscal) Shrike Grey-backed (Fiscal) Shrike Mackinnon’s (Fiscal) Shrike Tropical Boubou Luehder’s Bush-Shrike Black-headed Gonolek Papyrus Gonolek Mountain Black (Sooty) Boubou Brubru Northern Puffback Pink-footed Puffback Black-crowned Tchagra Brown-crowned Tchagra Bocage's Bush-shrike Doherty’s Bush-shrike Many-coloured Bush-shrike Fork-tailed Drongo Velvet-mantled Drongo Pied Crow African Black-headed Oriole Montane Oriole Western Black-headed Oriole Yellow-billed Oxpecker Narrow-tailed Starling Stuhlmann’s Starling Waller’s Starling Purple-headed Starling Rüppell's Long-tailed Starling Splendid Starling Violet-backed Starling Sharpe’s Starling Wattled Starling Grey-headed Sparrow Black-headed (Village) Weaver Lesser Masked Weaver Black-necked Weaver Baglafecht Weaver Grosbeak Weaver Golden-backed Weaver Slender-billed Weaver Yellow-backed Weaver Northern Brown-throated Weaver Compact Weaver Orange Weaver Strange Weaver Black-billed Weaver Brown-capped Weaver Vieillot's Black Weaver Yellow-mantled Weaver Black Bishop

1 2 2 2 1 3 3 3 2 5 6 4 1 3 3 2 4 2 1 6 2 1 3 1 11 1 3 1 4 3 2 1 1 6 2 1 1 1 9 6 1 3 4 2 1 4 4 2 1 1 2 2 3 6 1 1

1h

2h 1h 1h

1h 1h

1h

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 3 3 1 1 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

Chalcomitra rubescens Cinnyris cuprea Anthreptes seimundi Cyanomitra (olivacea) obscura Deleornis axillaris Cinnyris erythrocerca Chalcomitra senegalensis Hedydipna collaris Cinnyris venusta Lanius collaris Lanius excubitoroides Lanius mackinnoni Laniarius aethiopicus Laniarius luehderi Laniarius erythrogaster Laniarius mufumbiri Laniarius poensis Nilaus afer Dryoscopus gambensis Dryoscopus angolensis Tchagra senegala Tchagra australis Malaconotus bocagei Malaconotus dohertyi Malaconotus multicolor Dicrurus adsimilis Dicrurus modestus Corvus albus Oriolus larvatus Oriolus percivali Oriolus brachyrhynchus Buphagus africanus Poeoptera lugubris Poeoptera stuhlmanni Onychognathus walleri Lamprotornis purpureiceps Lamprotornis purpuropterus Lamprotornis splendidus Cinnyricinclus leucogaster Cinnyricinclus sharpii Creatophora cinerea Passer griseus Ploceus cucullatus Ploceus intermedius Ploceus nigricollis Ploceus baglafecht Amblyospiza albifrons Ploceus jacksoni Ploceus pelzelni Ploceus melanocephalus Ploceus castanops Ploceus superciliaris Ploceus aurantius Ploceus alienus Ploceus melanogaster Ploceus insignis Ploceus nigerrimus Ploceus tricolor Euplectes gierowii Page 16

Black-winged Bishop Southern Red Bishop Grey-headed Negrofinch White-breasted Negrofinch White-collared Oliveback African Firefinch Red-billed Firefinch Black-crowned Waxbill Black-headed Waxbill Black-and-white Mannikin Bronze Mannikin Pin-tailed Whydah Village Indigobird Brimstone Canary Yellow-crowned Canary Yellow-fronted Canary Thick-billed Seedeater Streaky Seedeater Golden-breasted Bunting

1 1 6 5 1 1 5 1 1 2 5 1 1 1 2 3 4 3 3

1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Euplectes hordeaceus Euplectes orix Nigrita canicapilla Nigrita fusconota Nesocharis ansorgei Lagonosticta rubricata Lagonosticta senegala Estrilda nonnula Estrilda atricapilla Lonchura bicolor Lonchura cucullata Vidua macroura Vidua chalybeata Serinus sulphuratus Serinus canicollis Serinus mozambicus Serinus burtoni Serinus striolatus Emberiza flaviventris

Taxonomic Notes (ref: Handbook of Birds of the World/Birdlife International Checklist, vol. 1, and the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, sixth ed.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Yellow-billed Kite: HBW/BI lump resident yellow-billed African kites with the migrant Black Kite. 1 Crested Guineafowl: HBW/BI split western birds verreauxi (including those in Uganda) from Kenya coastal birds 2 pucherani. Bare-faced Go-away-bird: HBW/BI split Tanzanian & Ugandan birds (Black-faced C. leopoldi) from Ethiopian Brown-faced C. personatus. Yellowbill: HBW/BI split West and Central African birds (Chattering Yellowbill C. aereus) from east coast Whistling Yellowbill C. australis. Piping Hornbill: HBW/BI split Western B. fistulator from Eastern B. sharpii. Ugandan birds are in the Eastern group. African Hill Babbler: Albertine Rift Valley birds are usually lumped in with other African Hill Babblers, but one treatment splits this black-headed form as Rwenzori Hill-Babbler P. atriceps. Olive Sunbird: A split has been proposed (accepted by Clements) of Western Olive C. obscura (including Ugandan birds) and Eastern Olive C.olivacea.

MAMMALS Mountain Gorilla Chimpanzee Olive Baboon Red Colobus Black-and-White Colobus Grey-cheeked Mangabey Blue (Gentle) Monkey Red-tailed Monkey L'Hoest's Monkey Vervet Monkey Yellow-winged Bat Boehm's (Bush) Squirrel Red-legged Sun Squirrel Carruthers’ Mountain Squirrel Fire-footed Rope Squirrel Banded Mongoose Lion African Elephant Burchell's (Plains) Zebra Hippopotamus Warthog African Buffalo

1 1 4 1 4 1 2 2 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 3 1 3 1 2 3 3

3 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 7 3 2 4 3 4

Gorilla gorilla beringei Pan troglodytes Papio anubis Colobus oustaleti Colobus guereza Lophocebus albigena Cercopithecus mitis Cercopithecus ascanius Cercopithecus l'hoesti Cercopithecus aethiops Lavia frons Paraxerus boehmi Heliosciurus rufobrachium Funisciurus carruthersi Funisciurus pyrropus Mungos mungo Panthera leo Loxodonto africana Equus quagga boehmi Hippopotomus amphibius Phacochoerus africanus Syncerus caffer

Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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Bushbuck Black-fronted Duiker Uganda Kob Defassa Waterbuck Impala Topi

1 2 3 3 1 1

1 1 4 3 2 1

2 1 4 5 1

3 1 1 2 1

Tragelaphus scriptus Cephalophus nigrifrons Kobus kob Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa Aepyceros melamphus Damaliscus lunatus jimela

REPTILES Nile Crocodile Nile Monitor Blue-headed Tree Agama Tropical House Gecko Cobra

Crocodylus niloticus Varanus niloticus Acanthocerus atricollis Hemidactylus mabouia Naja sp.

This list represents those birds and other animals seen by party members of this tour.

Front cover: Mountain Gorilla

All photographs © C Holden, M Holden & C Mackenzie-Grieve

© Ornitholidays Ornitholidays’ Tour to Uganda 03 – 15 July 2016

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