Well the next day we visit the Bigodi forest, and it's quite tense as we approach the 4 I still need. This is another Community project with the locals dealing with the conservation work and earning a living from preserving the forest for their own benefit. Great stuff - we once again have a guide with us, but no need for AK47 this time!
997) Black Weaver
998) Ashy Flycatcher
999) Ansorge's Greenbul
1000) Red-headed Malimbe
1001) Brown Illadopsis - when we were trying to find this I thought it was No. 1000, so when I saw this dull brown bird in a bunch of dead palm leaves I really wasn't that excited, but we all shook hands anyway!!!
1002) Willcock's Honeyguide
1003) Yellow-spotted Barbet - Very smart indeed!
1004) Grey Parrot - missed on the first morning so good to see!
1005) Grey Tit-Flycatcher
1006) Joyful Greenbul - what a lovely name!
1007) Shining Kingfisher - wow, Maroon Jay you need to see this too!
1008) Magpie Mannikin
1009) Compact Weaver
1010) Dusky Blue Flycatcher
1011) White-spotted Flufftail - anyone familiar with this species will know how hard it is to see, brief but decisive!
After this great reserve we headed east again, and stopped briefly at the Skyblue Motel (admin job for Valéry) and Thibaut found this flying over:
1012) Gabar Goshawk
So we arrived at Masaka for the night and still Tib's amazing hearing is in overdrive, and while Valéry is dealing with the staff Tib hears a Woodpecker, we head out into the street and there it is, in the tree he thought it was in:
1013) Grey Woodpecker
A Nightjar is calling from the roof, but I'm too tired to try and find my way up there!
Next, and final day we drive on to the Mabamba Swamp, take a boat ride into the papyrus for the real BIGGIE!
1014) Long-toed Lapwing - several on floating vegetation
1015) Blue-breasted Bee-eater - here and there all around the swamp
1016) Lesser Jacana - delightful
We then leave the boat and head for a small hill overlooking the swamp:
1017) Banded Martin - one flies past
1018) Banded Snake-Eagle - this one was displaying then swooped own to land in a nearby tree!
1019) SHOEBILL - FINALLY, Valéry shouts SHOEBILL, and there it is flying high and a bit distant but it drifts slowly our way and eventually swoops down and lands - out of sight! However after a brief flight then another it does walk out into the open - good enough for telescope but not great photography.
We intended to head for Entebbe for some final birding in the Botanic Gardens, but the traffic around Kampala and along the Entebbe road defeats us. On the plus side, we have lunch at the best restaurant in Kampala!
So there we are - never in doubt!!!!
Still like to see the Penduline Tits in Exeter!
