Uganda2009-1

For more information (including
and easy to print itinerary),
contact us at 1-888-203-7464
or by email at
travel@nestlingtours.com.

To learn about our other great
trips, click here.

Small Group Adult Trip to Uganda: June 20 to July 8, 2009
and Special December 2008 Trip

Uganda: June 20 to July 8, 2009

with Johnnie Kamugisha

Ted Floyd, as Host, to a Covey of Adults
with John Drummond, as Co-Host

Birding begins in Kampala as we travel to Mabamba Swamp on June 20 in the morning. Other
destinations over the next two weeks will include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park,
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Budongo Forest
Reserve, Lake Mburo National Park, Muchison Falls National Park and many other bird
watching spots along the way. 400 to 450 species of birds are expected to be seen.

Brief Itinerary

Flight In: Assure you can start with the group on Saturday
morning, June 20.

June 20, 2009: Birding on foot and by boat at Mabamba
Swamp, and birding in the Kampala area.
June 21: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and
birding in the area.
June 22: Lake Mburo National Park and birding in transit to
Bwindi area/Ruhija. Start Ruhija area birding.
June 23 to June 27: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
National Park

Day 1 BIFNP: Ruhija and Bamboo Zone
Day 2 BIFNP: Mubwindi Swamp/Ruhija Area
Day 3 BIFNP: More Ruhija Area & transfer to Buhoma
Day 4 BINFP: Buhoma Main Trail
Day 5 BIFNP: Other Buhoma Lodge Area Birding

(or Optional Mountain Gorilla Trek)
June 28: Bwindi early morning birding and the birding in
transit to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
June 29: Queen Elizabeth National Park
June 30 and July 1: Semuliki National Park, including the
new birding trail and Kirumia Trail.
July 2: Semuliki in the morning, birding in transit to Kibale
National Park, and afternoon birding along the Sebitoli Trail
in Kibale National Park.
July 3: Kibale National Park in early morning, and birding
in transit to Misindi.
July 4: Budongo Forest Reserve and the Royal Mile
July 5: Enroute birding to Murchison Falls National Park,
including Lake Albert views and birding from the rift valley
escarpment and birding near top of falls and on ferry
crossing.
July 6: Murchison Falls National Park
July 7: Transfer back to Kampala with bird stops in transit
(including Kainio and other locations).
July 8: Start flights back home.

With Uganda's Top Bird Guide: Johnnie Kamugisha was
featured in Birder's World Magazine as one of the top
guides in Uganda. One of our trip hosts has been
exploring Uganda birding possibilities for several years
and has spoken to many bird watchers to learn about the
best birding spots and the best local guides. Johnnie was
highly recommended by everyone who birded with him.
Johnnie has been guiding throughout Uganda for over a
decade and is recognized by many as the top bird guide in
the country.

With Great Team of Trip Hosts: This trip will be hosted by
two different but very keen birders. Ted Floyd is the editor
of the American Birding Association's Birding Magazine.
Ted will host the trip during the first week before returning
to promote the 2008 edition of the Smithsonian Guide to
North American Birds (which he authored). John
Drummond (who has extensive world birding experience)
will serve as host during the second week of the trip.
These two hosts are serving our participants during our
trip to Bolivia in 2008, and their reputations help sell this
trip out in six weeks.

This full itinerary is available below. Please contact us at
1-888-203-7464 if you are interested in birding in Uganda,
as we want to discuss flight and lodging details with you.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Full Itinerary for Uganda in 2009

Flight In: Either fly into Entebbe airport on June 19 during the day or evening, or fly overnight
and arrive the morning of Saturday, June 20. Nearly all flights will leave the United States or
other locations on June 18. Fly earlier, and add a few days birding in the London area or
Amsterdam area and add more time for adjustments to a new time zone (if you so choose).
Contact us before making flight arrangements to assure you can start with the group on
Saturday morning, June 20. We plan to leave the airport shortly after the arrival of the 8:30 AM
flight from London (or points elsewhere).

Saturday, June 20, 2009: Mabamba Wetlands, Lake Victoria and Kampala Area

After leaving the airport, we will meet our guide and head towards the Mabamba
Wetlands. After taking a few birding stops along the way, we will arrive at the boat
dock. After enjoying views of a few birds at the boat dock, we will begin our search for
the Shoebill by canoe. As we are paddled by canoe and as we look for the Shoebill, we
hope to find Long-tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco Heron, Yellow-billed Duck,
African Open-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, and Long-toed Lapwing. We may even
find Blue-headed Coucal and Blue-breasted Bee-eater in the area.
After our journey through the wetlands, we will travel and bird our way back towards
Kampala. We will look out for Grey Kestrel, African Green-Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco,
Ross's Turaco, Angola Swallow, Splendid Starling, Black-headed Weaver, Northern
Brown-throated Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, other Weaver species, White-rumped
Swift, Little Swift, African Palm Swift, and Red-billed Firefinch. We will begin our
observations of the beautiful Sunbird family (including Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Red-
chested Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, and Green-headed Sunbird) and have our chance to
see a number of other bird species during our travels on this first day.
Our lodging for the evening will be a nice bed and breakfast near Lake Victoria.

Nestlings Itinerary for Uganda in 2009 to be continued below to under the Martial Eagle.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults
Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Continued

Sunday, June 21: Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, we will begin out travels to Lake Mburo National Park. Our route will
include a number of opportunities to bird along the way. We will plan to arrive at the
Lake Mburo area and at our lodge in the early afternoon, as we anticipate several
hours of good bird watching as we travel along the road to Mburo. We hope to find
Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Lilac-breasted Roller, Broad-billed Roller, White-headed
Barbet, African Green-Pigeon, and Long-crested Eagle.
After checking in, we will head out for some late afternoon birding. Birding here is a
delightful experience, and often one of the highlights of a birding trip to Uganda. We
will search for birds like Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Spot-
flanked Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Black-headed Gonolek, and many others.
Other birds we may find here include Carruther’s Cisticola, Saddle-billed Stork,
African Jacana, Purple Heron, Yellow-billed Egret, White-faced Whistling-Duck,
African Fish Eagle, Black Crake, Long-toed Lapwing, White-winged Tern, and Pied
Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, and Fan-tailed Widowbird.
Night birding will include a try to see African Scops-Owl, Square-tailed Nightjar,
Swamp Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar, and Black-shouldered Nightjar.

Monday, June 22: Birding in Transit to Bwindi area/Ruhija

After breakfast, we will start the day with some early morning birding in the Lake
Mburo as we head through the National Park by jeep. We may add Lagden’s Bush-
shrike, Dwarf Honeyguide, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, and Bar-tailed Trogon to the
trip list.
We will then travel further along towards the Ruhija area of Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest National Park. Along the way, we will take a number of birding stops in search
of Handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Mountain Masked
Apalis, White-browed Crombec, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Doherty's Bush-
shrike, Montane Oriole, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed
Waxbill and a number of others.
We will arrive in Ruhija and continue birding until dinner.
We will stay at a research location which gives us access to bird watching in this
fantastic area in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This research location offers bunk
beds in two different guest houses.

Nestlings Itinerary for Uganda and 5 more days at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
National Park to be continued under the Luhder's Bush-shrike below.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults
Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Continued at Bwindi

Tuesday, June 23 to Friday, June 26: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
National Park

Day 1 at BIFNP: Bamboo Zone from Ruhija:

After breakfast, we head out in search of a number of birds in the
bamboo forests. In the bamboo zone, we will hope to find the Kivu
Ground-Thrush, Dusky Crimsonwing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill,
Bamboo Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Mountain Yellow
Warbler, Collared Apalis and White-starred Robin. We will hope to
add to our list of Albertine Rift endemics.
Other interesting birds we may encounter include Sharpe’s
Starling, Western Green Tinkerbird, Doherty’s Bush-shrike,
Mountain Black Boubou, Sooty Boubou, Brown Twinspot, Dusky
Twinspot, Black and White Mannikin, Jackson’s Pipit, and African
Goshawk. We will also be on the look out for Augur Buzzard, Olive
Pigeon, Black-billed Turaco, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Grey
Cuckoo-shrike, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul,
Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer's Warbler, Chubb's Cisticola
and Stripe-breasted Tit.
Depending upon the productivity of the birding in the bamboo zone,
we will head back towards the guest houses at the research
station with a few birding stops along the way.
After getting back to the guest houses, we will take a short break
for a late afternoon tea (or coffee) and continue to bird a number of
trails nearby the research station before dinner.
That night, we will do a little night birding and hope to find Rwenzori
Nightjar and African Wood Owl.

Day 2 at BIFNP: Mubwindi Swamp and More Birding in Ruhija:

After breakfast, we hike down to the Mubwindi Swamp looking out
for a number of birds including the Black-billed Turaco, Western
Green Tinkerbird, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Strange Weaver,
African Green Broadbill, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-streaked
Greenbul, African Hill-Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed
Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer's Warbler,
and Montane Masked Apalis.
This will certainly be one of the highlights of our birding trip, but
please note this walk is physically challenging. We will go slowly
and keep the pace manageable (as we will be bird watching). We
also hope to find Chestnut-throated Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit,
Rwenzori Batis, Doherty's Bush-shrike, Bar-tailed Trogon, Blue-
headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird and more.
We will have opportunities to continue birding throughout the day
include the hike back to our research camp location. On the way
back, we may find Rwenzori Hill-Babbler, and Grey Cuckoo-shrike,
and other birds new to our trip.
That evening, we will again stay at the guest houses at the
research station.

Day 3 at BIFNP: Morning Final Try for Ruhija Endemics and Specialties,
and Birding Transfer to Buhoma Area

We will start in the morning expanding our Ruhija area finds. We
will hope to add (and nearly complete) our list of Albertine Rift
endemics with Rwenzori Batis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer’s
Warbler and Archer’s Robin-Chat. We are bound to add a few
surprises.
After finishing birding in the area, we will start the drive to the
Buhoma area of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest. We will
birding en-route throughout the National Forest and looking for
birds like Kivu Ground-Thrush, Black Bee-eater, Red-throated
Wryneck, Mountain Wagtail, Toro Olive Greenbul, White-starred
Robin, Olive Thrush, Cassin's Grey Flycatcher, Red-faced
Woodland Warbler, Grauer's Warbler, Chubb's Cisticola, Banded
Prinia, Mountain Masked Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis,
Collared Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Sharpe's
Starling, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Twinspot, Yellow
Bishop, Black-throated Seedeater and many others.
We should arrive at the lodge before dinner, allowing time to clean
up well before enjoying a good meal together.

Day 4 at BIFNP: Buhoma Main Trail

We will start after an early breakfast at 7 AM when the National Park
opens.
We will start birding the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by penetrating
it along the Buhoma Main Trail. We will search for species like the
Africa Goshawk, Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, African
Broadbill, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Ayre’s
Hawk-Eagle, Chapin's Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler,
Grauer's Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Dusky Tit, Bocage's
Bush-shrike, Ludher's Bush-shrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Petit's
Cuckoo-shrike, Blue-headed Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver, Brown-
capped Weaver, Red-fronted Antpecker, Magpie Mannikin and
many others. We should add several new species of Tinkerbirds,
Barbets, Woodpeckers, and Greenbuls to our trip list as well.
We will return from birding in time for dinner at our lodge. A full
nights rest will be in order for those who are lucky enough to try for
the Mountain Gorilla the following day.

Day 5 at BIFNP: Other Buhoma Lodge Area Birding
(or Optional Mountain Gorilla Trek)
There are two very good options for spending the day.

(1)

For those wishing to spend an additional $500 to search for the

Mountain Gorilla, this thrilling experience will start at 8 AM in the

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We recommend you to wear good

walking shoes, carry good rain gear and bring along plenty of

drinking water. This hike can be tough and challenging and so you

must be in reasonably fit condition. You will carry a picnic lunch

with you into the forest. If you find these rare primates (no

guarantee), you will likely find this to be you most thrilling mammal

find of the trip.

(2) For those who prefer another day of bird watching with Johnnie,

we will head out to bird the Waterfall Trail as the National Park

open and after seeing the Gorilla Trek group off after breakfast. We

will look out for species like Black Bee-eater, White-headed Wood-

hoopoe, African Broadbill, Red-throated Alethe, Pink-footed

Puffback, Petit's Cuckoo-shrike, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon,

Blue-headed Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-chested

Owlet and many others.

At the end of the day, we will all again assemble for dinner back at our
lodge.

Nestlings Itinerary for Uganda continued with Queen Elizabeth National
Park, Semuliki National Park and Kibale National Park in the right hand
column under the Ross's Turaco.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults
Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Continued

Sunday/June 28: Bwindi Early Morning, Birding in Transit to Queen
Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, the group will head towards Queen
Elizabeth National Park (QENP). We will be able to find a number
of interesting mammals and should find a number of new bird
species for the trip on our way to QENP. We should find Grey-
headed Kingfisher, Lesser Striped Swallow, Zitting Cisiticola, Grey-
backed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Widowbird, several Babbler
species, and others.
Good and productive birding will make the trip to Queen Elizabeth
National Park very enjoyable.
Night birding (likely as we come in) will focus on Slender-tailed
Nightjar and include another try at Square-tailed Nightjar and
Swamp Nightjar.

Monday, June 29: Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a cup of tea or coffee in the lounge, we will set off early by jeep
to search the National Park for a number of bird and mammal
species. We would hope to find Martial Eagle, Common Button-
quail, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Red-capped Lark, Rufous-naped
Lark, Black-lored Babbler, Arrow-marked Babbler, Yellow-backed
Weaver and a number of other new trip species. At our breakfast
stop, we will enjoy a complete breakfast along with terrific bird
watching.
After completing the morning of bird watching, we will have lunch at
the Lodge. After lunch, we will take a boat ride down the Kazinga
Channel. Along the boat route, we will see a variety of wildlife,
hundreds of Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile and numerous water
birds. We will look out for Pelicans, Green-backed Heron, Yellow-
billed Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, African Spoonbill, Kittlitz's Plover,
Senegal Lapwing, African Wattled Lapwing, and numerous other
species. We will also look out for mammals like Uganda Kob,
Bushbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, African Buffaloe, African Elephant,
and Common Warthog. If we are very lucky we may also see
Leopards and Lions.

Tuesday, June 30: Transfer to, and begin Birding at, Semuliki National
Park

After an early breakfast, we will depart for Semuliki National Park,
getting there in time to bird the trails around the hot springs.
We will spend the rest of the day birding the National Park which
has a number of interesting birds likely to be new to the trip.
Besides starting to find a few Hornbills (see July 1 description), we
hope to also add Grey-backed Fiscal, Common Fiscal, Helmeted
Guineafowl (wild), Black-headed Gonolek, Croaking Cisticola,
Brown Babbler, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver,
White-tailed Lark and a number of other species to the trip list.
After this whole day birding, we will drive to Bundibugyo township
where we will spend two nights.

Wednesday, July 1: Semuliki National Park: Kirumia Trail

Starting after breakfast, we will spend the whole day birding the
Kirumia Trail.
This will be a great opportunity to find Hornbills, including the
possibility of White-thighed Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled
Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf
Hornbill, and Black Dwarf Hornbill. Other terrific birds in the area
include Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Rufous-
sided Broadbill, Crested Malimbe, Swamp Palm Bulbul, and many
others. This is our one opportunity to find the very rare and range-
restricted African Piculet.

Nestlings Itinerary for Uganda continued as we go to Kibale National
Park and Muchison Falls National Park. Continued below under the
White-throated Bee-eater and the Abyssinian Hornbill below.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults
Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Continued

Thursday, July 2: Semuliki Early Morning, Birding in Transit to, and Begin Birding Kibale
National Park

In the morning after an early breakfast, we will head back to Semuliki for a morning
bird walk (based upon how successful we have been and finding area specialties in
the previous days). If need be, this will again be a chance to see a number of
Hornbill species and a try at some of the other species most easily found in this area.
After the morning bird walk, we will transfer to Fort Portal near Kibale Forest. Several
good birding stops along the way will likely add birds to the trip list and keep the
transfer fun for all. We will hope to find Black Bishop, Slender-billed Starling, Red-
winged Starling, Crested Malimbe, Lizard Buzzard, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
and many others.
That afternoon, we will bird along the Sebitoli Trail in Kibale National Park.

Friday, July 3: Kibale National Park in Early AM and Birding in Transit to Misindi

After breakfast, we will drive northwest to Masindi with a number of good birding
stops en-route. We will look out for birds like Striped Kingfisher, Lesser Striped
Swallow, Joyful Greenbul, Masked Apalis, Cassin's Grey Flycatcher, African
Stonechat, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, White-naped Pigeon,
Many-coloured Bush-shrike, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, and Green-headed
Sunbird and many others.
That afternoon, we should arrive at our lodge with a little time to bird before dinner.
That night we will try to find Standard-winged Nightjar and Long-tailed Nighjar.

Saturday, July 4: Budongo Forest Reserve and the Royal Mile

After an early breakfast, we will proceed to bird the Royal Mile. We will have again
have a chance to find White-thighed Hornbill. Best of all, we will likely find a number
of new Kingfishers, including Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dwarf Kingfisher,
African Pygmy Kingfisher and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher. We will have a better
chance to find examine the Barbet and Tinkerbird families, as we look for Yellow-
rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-
breasted Barbet, and Grey-throated Barbet. We will also have a better chance of
finding Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Forest Flycatcher,
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Western Black-headed Oriole, Purple-headed Starling,
Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Spotted Greenbul, White-breasted Negrofinch, and
African Crowned Eagle. We will also likely see Blue Monkey, Red Tailed Monkey,
and Black and White Colobus and several other new mammal species.

Nestlings Itinerary for Uganda continued as we go to Murchison Falls National Park.
Continued under the Saddle-billed Stork.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults
Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Continued

Saturday, July 5: En route birding to Murchison Falls National Park, including Lake Albert

After an early breakfast, we shall depart for Murchison Falls National Park. On the
way, we will be able to bird the rift valley escarpment where we will likely find new
species for the trip and where we will have good views of Lake Albert.
We will hope to stop at Kanio Pabidi to look for the Puvel’s Illadopsis.
After another drive, we will take a short walk around the top of the falls. From here,
we will enjoy additional beautiful view points and some additional good bird
watching. Along the walk to the river's edge, the waters narrow as they are forced
through a rocky cleft and plunge down 35 meters into a majestic cascade.
Next, we will continue with the drive to Paraa in time for the ferry crossing.
During the day, some of the new birds we are more likely to see include Striped
Kingfisher, Foxy Cistcola, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Black-headed Batis, Cliff Chat,
Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Greater blue-eared Starling, Red-
winged Pytilia, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver and several others.

Monday July 6: Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, we will take the 20 minute drive to the Murchison Falls National Park,
staying in the southern end of the park. From here, we will enjoy another trip by jeep
in search of wildlife and new bird species for the trip. We will look out for birds like
Denham's Bustard, Abyssinian Ground-hornbill, Black-headed Lapwing, Swallow-
tailed Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Spotted Morning-
Thrush, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver and many more.
Some of the mammals we are likely to see here include the graceful Rothchild
Giraffe, Jackson's Hartebeest, Uganda Kob, Bushbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, African
Buffaloe, African Elephant, Common Warthog, and Hippopotamus.
Following the morning trip through the National Park, we will head back to the lodge
for lunch.
Following lunch, we will transfer to Paraa and the northern bank for the boat trip up to
the bottom of the Falls. From here it is possible to view hundreds of Hippopotamus,
Nile Crocodile, and a variety of bird life. Nesting Rock Pratincole is very likely here.
We should also find Red-throated Bee-eater, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-
winged Goose, African Darter, Winding Cisticola, and Giant Kingfisher.
If need be, the boat trip may provide another opportunity to find the Shoebill; however,
the Shoebill may require an additional launch and a change to our plans.
At some point during the day, birding the dry woodland area around the lodge may
prove worthwhile to find Shikra, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater,
Grey-headed Oliveback and Bar-breasted Firefinch.
Evening birding may also prove productive here.

Nestlings Itinerary for Uganda wraps up as we bird our way back to Kampala and catch
our flights home. Continued below to the left of the African Paradise-flycatcher.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Finale

Tuesday, July 7: Transfer back to Kampala with Birding in Transit, including Kainio and other locations.

After breakfast, we will proceed for a whole day drive for the return journey back to Kampala. That being said, we
will likely have time for a number of birding stops along the way, depending on our progress along the road. We
will look out for birds like White-crested Turaco, Greater Blue-eared Starling, White- headed Barbet, African
Paradise-flycatcher, and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu along the way. Some stops may add a few new species of
Waxbills, Finches, Sunbirds, Cuckoos, Weavers, and raptors as we move along to Kampala.
We will end the day back at our hotel with a reasonable transfer to the Entebbe airport (about 5 minutes).
Please call before booking your flight or you may have to pay for additional transfer or lodging costs.

Also Note: We are
running a December
2008 trip to Uganda as
well. This will be a one
week trip with a one
week extension.
Please contact us now
if you are interested.

Species Lists: A
complete bird list
of 1,014 species is
available upon
request. We also
have a list of the
141 mammals
which could be
seen on this trip.