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Birds of Kibale forest and Bigodi
The 795 sq Km Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. There are 325 bird species found in the park including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine Rift region, namely black-capped apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared apalis, dusky crimsonwing, purple-breasted sunbird and red-faced woodland warbler. Other Kibale specials include the African pitta, green breasted pitta, black bee-eater, yellow spotted nicator, yellow rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, brownchested alethe, blue-breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian groundthrush, and the crowned eagle.
Birding can also be done in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary that is found some 5 km from the Kibale Forest National Park on the road to Kamwenge.
Birding is a major activity around the swamp with paths cut and areas of the swamp board walked to give access to areas of the swamp that would be otherwise inaccessible. Several tree houses have also been constructed to give vantage over the swamp. Specialities for Bigodi include Great Blue Turaco, Black Billed Turaco and White Spotted Crake.
Semiliki National Park.
Semiliki National Park is an extension of the Congo Ituri rainforest set at the base of the Northern Rwenzori, covering an area of 220 sq km of lowland forest on Lake Albert.
The park is comprised of 40 congolese bird species recorded nowhere else in the country.
Other bird species include: Congo serpent eagle, Rail (Nkulengu & Grey throated), Spot breasted ibis, Yellow throated nicator, Red rumped tinker bird, Black winged oriole, Horn bills (Black dwarf, Red billed ,Piping, White crested, White thighed ,Black casqued wattle), Western bronze napped pigeon, Capuchin babbler, White bellied king fisher, Black collared love bird, Zenkers honey guide.
Nearby, is the spectacular Semliki Wildlife Reserve, which is one of the best localities for sightings of the enigmatic, swamp-dwelling shoebill.
Birds of Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi is located in Kabale district south western Uganda and was formed due to lava damming, blocking the outlet river by volcanic eruption hence forming the lake, the deepest in Africa. The word Bunyonyi means “place of little birds”. Its 200 species of birds are found both on main land and on the islands. There are 29 islands with the biggest being Bwama Island, which is popularly known as” lepers colony”, and the smallest the “punishment island”, where the Bakiga used to drop unmarried girls who got pregnant before marriage to die of hunger. The lake is free from bilharzias, no hippos and crocodile are present, only otters which are not dangerous.
This is the list of common birds of Lake Bunyonyi: Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Cinnamon chested bee eater, Bronzy sun bird, Knobed coot. Very rara, Pied wagtail, Black clake, Common stone chat, Grey shrike, Grey crowned crested crane, Hadada ibis, Swamp fly catcher, Black heron, Great commrant, Fan tailed widow bird, Streaky seed eater, Speckled mouse bird, Pin tailed whyder, Bronze manikin, Black headed weaver.
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