Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the South Western part of Uganda known to be one of the prominent destinations good for bird watching with over 600 uniquely spotted bird species recorded sightable with in its suburbs.
This park is characterized with tropical rain forests comprising of big tree species, Savannah grasslands and Woodlands and fertile swampy areas characterized along the shores of Kazinga Channel, bird watching is one of the outstanding activities done in Uganda with Queen Elizabeth National Park being among the major birding hot spots habituating mostly East African bird species which are a must see in Africa.
The best way of reaching Queen Elizabeth National Park at a cheap cost is by use of a stable 4×4 wheel drive safari jeep via Kampala – Masaka- Mbarara highway with en-route stop over at the equator for some brief explanation, photographs and snacks, lunch is also provided en-route then continue with the Journey up to Queen.
If not, road transport means you can travel luxuriously by use of air transport means since private charters are always arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajansi airstrip up to Mweya airstrip in Queen. The reason why most birders like to lock it in Queen Elizabeth National Park is because it’s associated with the high population of birds and big game viewing in that you will be exposed to other wildlife which include wild animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards, famous tree climbing lions, Antelopes, Kobs, aquatic species like Crocodiles, hippopotamus and more since birding in Queen is mostly done while on Game drives and launch trip cruise. Listed below are some of the major bird spotting areas with their habituated species while in Queen Elizabeth National Park on your ultimate Uganda birding safari.
Kasenyi Area. This indigenous birding area is where almost every tourist vehicle head in the morning because of the big game viewing, but it is also situated with different African bird species, making it a must-see wildlife destination. In this open, grassy area dominated by savanna, birders can see species like: Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, Grey kestrel, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, African Wattled Plover, Crowned Plover, Senegal Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Rufous napped Lark, Flappet Lark, White-tailed Lark, Brown –backed Srub-Robin, Zitting Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-lored Babbler, Grey backed Fiscal, Black-headed Gonolek, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fork-tailed Drongo and Pin-tailed Whydah.
Mweya Peninsula. This enormous birding area is between the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward where most tourists are based in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Dwelling around this birding hot spot you will be able to see different bird species like Raptors, African Mourning dove, Diederik Cuckoo, Squire-tailed Night jar, Slender-tailed Night jar, Swamp Night jar, Blue-naped mousebird, Grey – Headed kingfisher, Pygmy Kingfisher, little bee-eater, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-capped Lark, Martins, Swallows, Swifts, Grey-capped Warbler, Swamp Fly catcher, Scarlet-chested sun bird, Red-chested sun bird, Black-headed Gonolek, Lesser Masked Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver and pin-tailed Whydah.
Katunguru Bridge Area. If you venture to the Katunguru Bridge, where you cross the Kazinga Channel from the Kasese district to the Rubirizi district, be sure to peek beneath the bridge as there is a papyrus swamp hosting species that include: Pink-backed pelican, Gull-billed tern, White-winged tern, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, White –winged Warbler, Carruther’s Cisticola and Papyrus Gonolek.
Maramagambo Forest. This forest covers a big part of Queen Elizabeth along the Kichwamba escarpment on the right side of the western rift valley arm. From the Mbarara-Kasese road to the forest itself, you can find species like: Little Grebe, African finfoot, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow bill, Black Coucal, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Black bee-eater, Blue-throated roller, Barbets, Red throated Wryneck, Brown –eared woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Honey guide green bul, Blue-shouldered robin-chat, Dark-capped Warbler, Green Crombec, Broad-tailed Warbler, African Moustached Warbler, Croaking Cisticola, Black-headed batis, Black-and-white shrike flycatcher, Chestnut wattle-eye, African paradise flycatcher, Brown Illadopsis, Brubru, Marsh Tchagra, Sulphur-breasted bush-shrike, Western black-headed Oriole, Black bishop and White-breasted Negro finch.
Katwe Area. In this area, there are several crater lakes and swamps. Here, Lake Munyanyange is favored by various water birds, especially a concentration of Lesser Flamingos and a few Greater Flamingos. Here different bird species spotted include: – Lesser flamingos, Greater flamingos, Eurasian mash harrier, Montagu’s harrier, Pallid harrier, Avocets, Common greenshank, little stint, Curlew sandpiper, Lesser black-backed gull, Gull-billed tern, Red-capped lark, Broad-tailed Warbler, African Moustached Warbler, Croaking Cisticola and Southern Red bishop.
Lake Kikorongo. This extension of Lake George is a habitat to several waders (waterbirds or waterfowl). The species likely to be seen here include: Common Squacco heron, Saddle-billed stork, Shoe bill, Sacred Ibis, Knob-billed duck, Black crake, African Jacana, Yellow Wagtail, Lesser swamp Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, Carruther’s Cisticola, and Papyrus Gonolek.
Ishasha Sector. This Part is located in the Southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, although its popularly known for the tree climbing lions it yields a good sight for different bird species and these include:- Rare shoe bill, Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, African white backed vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Helmeted Guinea fowl, African Cake, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Senegal Plover, African Green Pigeon, Ross’s Turaco, Striped kingfisher, Broad-billed roller, Double-toothed barbet, White-headed barbet, Greater honey guide, Grey woodpecker, White – browed robin-chat, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Green Crombec, Cisticolas, Grey-backed Fiscal and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.