East Africa – Day 3

Uganda 21 July 2015

Last night, we were staying in a nice hotel in Jinja. I think there had been a large Sikh community before and my friend Shinda had told me that her relatives used to live here. This morning we arrived for breakfast at our hotel at 6 am to find they were not ready for us. Mum chivvied them along and eventually, we were leaving at almost 7 am. There is no point getting too stressed as things seem to happen at their own pace here.

On our way to Mabira Forest, we passed over the River Nile again, which was dammed here.

The Nile River, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Then we drove back to Mabira Forest Reserve but to a different section where we birded until 11 am. The morning was quite slow but we just dug out each bird.

Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

We had to be careful, as there were motorcycle taxis ferrying villagers back and forth along the forest track really fast.

Monkey sp, Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Yellow-mantled Weaver, Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

It was a great morning’s birding with lots of Greenbul species (including Slender-billed, Yellow-Whiskered, Honeyguide, Cabanis’s and White-throated), Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Brown and Scaly-breasted Illadopsis and Little Green Sunbird.

Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Great Blue Turaco, Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Ant trail, Mabira Forest, Jinja, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

We then back to the Flufftail pool to check for Shining Blue Kingfisher with no luck.

Back to the vehicle, we had a quick packed lunch before starting our four hour journey to Mbale Town.

On the way, we made a quick roadside stop at some open crop habitat where we picked up Black Bishop and Black-Bellied Firefinch.

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig, Mabira to Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

Shortly afterwards we stopped at a roadside river stop where we saw two Rufous-bellied Heron and White-Rumped Swift which was a catch up bird for me, which are always extra special.

Between Mabira and Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

African Open-billed Stork, between Jinga and Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Woodland Kingfisher, between Jinga and Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig between Jinga and Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

Next stop was at some paddy fields next to the road. Not much here except. A large flock of White-faced Whistling Duck and African Open-billed Stork.

African Open-billed Stork, between Jinga and Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig

Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig between Jinga and Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig

It was a long journey with lots of sleep, blogging and reading to catch up with. At our hotel in Mbale, we did some birding around the grounds and I managed to get photos of a showy Black Bishop as well as seeing Grey-capped Warbler.

White-browed Robin-Chat, Mbale, Uganda
Photograph taken by and copyright Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig