Birdwatching In Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) is a paradise of birds, one of the most fascinating and diverse birding sites in Africa and is located in the western part of Uganda. The park is not only the best wildlife attraction site in Uganda but also a bird paradise with more than 600 species of birds. Its diverse ecosystems, including expansive savannahs, thick forests, wetlands, crater lakes, as well as the Lake Edward and Lake George sides, offer a home to the amazing diversity of the bird life, including endemic and migratory birds. Due to this fact, Queen Elizabeth National Park has been internationalised as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birdlife International.
Birding in Queen Elizabeth is not only an activity but a whole experience that can be taken to the senses that joins together the beauty of the scenery, the harmony between the birds and the excitement of seeing the rare and beautiful species. Birdwatching in this park will be an experience that will be remembered by anyone, whether you are an experienced ornithologist or a nature enthusiast.
A Bird Lover’s Paradise
Queen Elizabeth National Park is found in the Rwenzori Mountains, along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, with an area of about 1,978 square kilometres and is located between the Ishasha sector to the south and the foothills to the northeast. The variety of habitats that the park has renders it the habitat of a staggering list of bird species, savannah species and forest species, waterfowl species, and migratory species.
The bird population in the park consists of Albertine rift endemics and migratory birds, which come to the park around the months of November and April mostly. It is worth mentioning that Queen Elizabeth National Park is the most recognised park in East Africa with the largest number of recognised bird species in one protected park, and therefore, it is a must-visit site for any birding lover.
Important Birding Sites within Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Kazinga Channel
One of the most fruitful birding locations within the park is the Kazinga Channel, which is a natural 32-kilometre waterway that links Lake Edward and Lake George. The banks of the channel are covered in rich vegetation, and this attracts several types of water birds and waders.
The African skimmer, pelicans, African fish eagle, saddle-billed stork, yellow-billed stork, grey-headed gull, spoonbill, malachite kingfisher and pied kingfisher are some easy to find during a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Egyptian geese and African jacanas are also frequent, the swamps of papyrus at the edges of the channel being the home of the papyrus gonolek and white-winged warbler.
The boat cruise is regarded as being among the best birding activities within the park since close-up views of both water birds and land birds are realised, as well as the hippos, crocodiles and elephants on the shores.
Maramagambo Forest
A totally different birding experience is provided by the Maramagambo Forest, which is a birding site at the southern end of the park. This thick tropical forest boasts a variety of forest birds, and some of the exotic and elusive birds can also be found in this area. The African green pigeon, forest flycatcher, white-napped pigeon, black bee-eater, red-tailed bristlebill, white-tailed ant thrush, and the red-capped robin-chat are some of the birds that can be seen here.
Bat caves are present in the forest also, and attract birds and raptors that feed on insects like the bat hawk. Morning or evening walks with birds in Maramagambo would be a great opportunity to observe the specialists of the forest and listen to the lovely songs that are reverberating in the trees.
Mweya Peninsula
Another birdwatching destination is the Mweya Peninsula, which is found close to the Kazinga Channel. Its open grass fields, acacia woodland, and water borders have put it in a good position to view resident and migratory birds. The slender-billed weaver, grey-headed kingfisher, pin-tailed whydah, and black headed gonolek, as well as red-chested sunbird, are some of the most common species.
The location is also very suitable for casual birders since they can easily view birds directly in the lodge gardens or the walking paths that overlook the channel, which is located next to the Mweya Safari Lodge.
Ishasha Sector
The Ishasha sector, which also has tree-climbing lions, is also rewarding to the birdwatchers. The open savannahs and riverine vegetations provide shelter to numerous species of grassland and woodland birds. The African crowned eagle, martial eagle, helmeted Guinea fowl, black coucal, grasshopper buzzard, and African crake can be found in Ishasha.
Moreover, water-related birds like spur-winged lapwing, black headed heron, and African jacana are also attracted by the Ishasha River.
Katwe Salt Lakes and Lake Kikorongo.
The crater lakes in the north of the park, particularly Lake Kikorongo and the Katwe Salt Lake, are great places where one can observe flamingos and other migratory animals. Larger and smaller flamingos can be observed feeding at the salty waters in huge flocks during the dry season and form a magnificent sight in pink. The other birds in these lakes are the black-winged stilt, avocet, little egret and black-tailed godwit.
Unique and notable birds that are found in this region.
Out of the hundreds of bird species present in Queen Elizabeth National Park, some are rare, beautiful or of a unique species. These include:
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) – This is a hardly seen bird that can occasionally be found in the marshlands near Lake George and the Kazinga Channel, which has a prehistoric appearance.
Papyrus gonolek – This is a vivid and timid bird that lives in the papyrus swamps.
Black bee-eater – This is a very beautiful bird frequently seen in the wooded places of the country, such as Maramagambo.
African broadbill – This belongs to heavy forests where it is known to make mechanical clicking noises of display.
White-winged warbler – A Rift Valley endemic species commonly found in wetlands made of papyrus.
With such special sightings, Queen Elizabeth is the ultimate visit in the list of both serious birders as well as casual photographers.
Best Time for Birding
Birdwatching in Queen Elizabeth National Park is possible all year round, although the best period is in the wet seasons of the year, March to May and September to November, when the migratory birds arrive in Europe and Asia. The park is alive this season, and food is available in plenty.
Nevertheless, dry seasons (June-August and December-February) are also very good for birding, and there are fewer complications on the trails and better visibility.
Tips for Birdwatchers
To enjoy yourself in the process of bird watching:
Bring a pair of field glasses and a book of birds so that one can identify them easily.
Carry a zoom lens camera to take shots of the far-flung species.
Wear neutral colored clothes in order to integrate into the environment.
Birds are most active at the beginning of the morning.
It is also advisable to consider employing a local birding guide since he or she is well versed at spotting and identifying common and rare species.
Conclusion
Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an unbelievable adventure that brings both the adventure of exploration and the calmness of nature. In the papyrus swamps of the Kazinga Channel, the forests of Maramagambo and the open savannahs of Ishasha, each section of the park holds something not found anywhere else by the bird lover.
