Uganda’s great treat for avid birders like no other -Uganda safari news

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

One of the birders greatest safari destination is Uganda for the numerous bird species with about 1,072 confirmed birds. Classified as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birding International, birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park offers the largest bird checklist of any protected area in East Africa with over 600 bird species recorded within its boundaries. This is the greatest of any East African national park, and such a phenomenal number for that small area 1 978 sq. km.

Queen Elizabeth Park’s great variety of habitats ranging from savannah to wetland and to forests linking to the expansive forest of Congo offers home to the big number of birds and a prime Uganda birding safari destination. Several birds in the park are regarded as specials within East Africa yet as well the park offering chance to sight several East as well as Central African species. Within the confines of the park are numerous water birds, woodland and forest bird species found in the Maramagambo Forest.

The swamp areas in the Ishasha sector are a good place to look out for the elusive shoebill stork. About 54 raptors as well can be found in the park alongside various migratory species. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park

As stated, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a numerous number of bird species inclusive of which are the Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Skimmer, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Pink backed Pelican, African Broadbill, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Black Bee-eater, White-tailed Lark, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Corncrake, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Shoebill, Bar-tailed Godwit, the thin-tailed Nightjars.

Other bird species include Spur-winged Plovers, Squacco Heron, African Fish Eagle, White backed Pelicans, Long tailed Cormorants, African Jacana, Yellow backed Weavers, Open-billed Stork, Water-Thick knee, Pied kingfishers, Wattled Plovers, the Black Crake and the Knob-billed Ducks especially seen along the Kazinga Channel. The White -spotted fluff tail is spotted along the waters. Forest species that you can see on your Uganda birding tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park include; the Grey Wood pecker, black & African Emerald Cuckoos, Hairy breasted Barbet, speckled Tinker bird, the purple-headed starling as well as the Green Hylia.

Best birding spots in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Every avid birder on a birding safari in Uganda should look out for these spots for the best birding experiences; the 32km long Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, Ishasha Sector, Kasenyi Area, Mweya Peninsula, Lake Kikorongo.

Best time for birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Every time of the year can be birding time however, the finest timing to enjoy bird watching within Queen Elizabeth is from December up to February. For great experiences, at least choose to spend about 2-3 days within the park such that you can sight several bird species and have a large count.

Queen Elizabeth National Park isn’t only home to birds but also one of the popular Uganda wildlife safari destination because of the numerous wildlife including the highest population of hippopotami in Africa within the kazinga Channel. On a visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park, many tourists also tailor their safaris with a Uganda gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.