Uganda - 2018 part 2

Uganda is a relatively small country and our three main sites are to the north of Lake Albert (Budongo and Nile Safari in Murchison) and to the south of the Lake (Sunbird Hill adjacent to Kibale), as you can see from the map all in the far west of the country.

Malcolm first ringed at Nile Safari in 1996. Great to catch a White-browed Robin-Chat that was ringed 7 years ago.
 

The Robin-chat above was perhaps our most significant retrap of the c30 recaptures during the trip.


Species ringed during the trip November 2018

 

LITTLE GREENBUL	34
WHITE THROATED GREENBUL	9
SPECTACLED WEAVER	3
YELLOW-STREAKED GREENBUL	2
RED-BILLED FIREFINCH	6
WILLOW WARBLER	10
GREEN TWINSPOT	5
BUFF-BELLIED WARBLER	2
SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD	2
RED-TAILED ANT-THRUSH	1
WHITE-BROWED ROBIN-CHAT	2
BROWN-CHESTED ALETHE	4
FIRE-CRESTED ALETHE	6
PYGMY KINGFISHER	13
DARK-CAPPED BULBUL	15
BLACK-HEADED GONOLEK	2
AFRICAN THRUSH	5
RED-TAILED BRISTLEBILL	2
PUVEL'S ILLADOPSIS	2
BROWN-EARED WOODPECKER	1
BROWN-CROWNED TCHAGRA	2
KLASS'S CUCKOO	2
BUFF-SPOTTED WOODPECKER	1
SNOWY-HEADED ROBIN-CHAT	3
NARINA'S TROGON	1
WESTERN NICATOR	1
VEILLOT'S BLACK WEAVER	6
WHITE-BROWED COUCAL	3
SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD	5
GREEN-HEADED SUNBIRD	9
BRIMSTONE CANARY	1
RED-BELLIED FLYCATCHER	5
FOREST ROBIN	4
RED-THROATED BEE-EATER	19
GABON NIGHTJAR	1
BROWN ILLADOPSIS	2
GREEN HYLIA	4
BROWN TWINSPOT	3
REED WARBLER	6
AFRICAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER	1
GREEN-WINGED PYTILLA	1
GREY-THROATED FLYCATCHER	1
CARDINAL QUELEA	2
BROWN-THROATED WATTLE-EYE	2
YELLOW-RUMPED TINKERBIRD	2
RED-WINGED GREY WARBLER	1
LITTLE WEAVER	1
RATTLING CISTICOLA	2
OLIVE SUNBIRD	4
BRONZE SUNBIRD	5
WHITE-CHINNED PRINIA	7
GREEN CROMBEC	4
BLACK-BILLED WOOD-DOVE	1
SHIKRA	1
YELLOW-BILLED BARBET	1
TAMBOURINE DOVE	3
AFRICAN FIREFINCH	1
BLACK-CHEEKED WAXBILL	1
COPPER SUNBIRD	1
AFRICAN BLUE FLYCATCHER	1
BLACK-NECKED WEAVER	4
SLENDER-BILLED GREENBUL	1
RED-HEADED BLUEBILL	2
TORO OLIVE GREENBUL	1
GREY-HEADED NEGRETA	7
BLUE-SHOULDERED ROBIN-CHAT	1
COMPACT WEAVER	1
YELLOW WHITE-EYE	1
BROWN-BACKED SCRUB ROBIN	1
COMMON WAXBILL	1
BRONZE MANNIKIN	1
BLUE-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE	1
BARN SWALLOW	3
STEPPE BUZZARD	1
GREY KESTREL	2
DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK	1
LONG-CRESTED EAGLE	1
LIZARD BUZZARD	2
WESTERN BANDED SNAKE-EAGLE	1
Total new birds ringed	363

Reed Warblers, Willow Warblers and Barn Swallows were the Palearctic migrant species caught.
Always interesting to see birds in moult - especially a species whose wing moult we don't see at home.

Reed Warbler in wing moult.

Barn Swallow in wing and body moult.

The smaller ring sizes we use in Africa, the Porzana range supplemented with rings sourced elsewhere

 A good start at Sunbird Hill involved 90 birds including 5 species of  Greenbul !
 We had some retraps and a few new species for me, here a Toro Olive Greenbul.

Greenbul identification  in the hand, tricky for visiting birders !

Sunbird Hill is adjacent to Kibale Forest NP. This is Chimpanzee and Elephant forest, with the Gorillas a little way further into the mountains. We were based here for our final four days. Plenty of variety in the forest here...very different species from the lower drier grassland and scrub of  Murchison.

Bronze Sunbird - the largest Sunbird in the area and they loved feeding on the flowers around the camp.

 African Blue Flycatcher

This Narina Trogon caused a stir, not only a great species to see, but caused Malcolm to run when he saw the bird in a net !

This juvenile Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat was a surprise too. They breed in the nearby Kibale NP but this juvenile providing breeding evidence for breeding at Sunbird Hill.

This Brown-backed Scrub Robin a highlight too.

Yellow White-eye, common in the mixed flocks.

Guides from the locality and Kibale NP always showed fascination and a hunger to learn.

Julia Lloyd is developing Sunbird Hill as a base camp for further studies. A couple of the locals have limited ringing experience, most are excellent local guides, both for birds and Chimpanzee tracking.

Malcolm is planning further ringing training visits with the objective of Sunbird Hill becoming a regular ringing site with local trained staff becoming part of the East Africa Ringing Scheme.

Julia is  developing accommodation and facilities to encourage visiting by other birding and ringing parties.

The communal area

The site has recently taken part in the Uganda Big Day - the Sunbird Hill team recording 152 species, the highest and winning total for a non National Park based team

See these links for  more about  Sunbird Hill     
                            and    Diary of a Muzungu


A couple of fine biting beaks, Yellow-billed Barbet - the largest of the Barbets and Tinkerbirds we caught.

Compact Weaver, of the c100 species captured the only species Malcolm hadn't ringed.

The  trip focused on the 4 ringing sites and we did have some opportunity for raptors.

This an adult Long-crested Eagle caught on an afternoon break whilst at Sunbird Hill

Many thanks to all on the trip, Graeme Dunlop provided the ringing totals above, photos from Graeme, Natasha, Roly, Malcolm or myself. Malcolm and Ambrose provided the local expertise and the driving.
Another stunning visit to Africa, many animals and birds seen, great hospitality from our hosts and  fun with all the enthusiastic guides, local trainees and staff from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Nature Uganda and staff from Sunbird Hill Kibale Forest Edge.

Dawn at Nile Safari...... with the next team we visit South Africa with Malcolm in February