Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in the major spots of Maramagambo Forest, Kasenyi plains, Ishasha sector and Mweya peninsula. Queen Elizabeth National Park is found in the southwestern region of Uganda. The park is unique with the Ishasha plains, fresh water lakes, salty lakes, acacia and euphorbia bushes, rain forests, lowlands and wetlands plus birds. The park inhabits almost 600 bird species thus being considered as the best destination for bird watchers. You will watch migratory birds in the months of November to April but still you can watch them throughout the year. Observatory area was established in Queen Elizabeth National Park in a year 1997 and the main purpose was to study the resident and migratory birds in the park.

Birds in the park are endemic and some migratory en route from Europe and South Africa has summer nesting sites. Birds can be spotted in the following areas below;

Bird Maramagambo Forest

Maramagambo forests hosts over 60 bird species and is a worth place to watch birds from. The trek of almost half day gives visitors a chance to find crater lakes like Lake Nyamusingire and Kamunzuku that harbor forest and water birds like African Finfoot, Little Grebe, and Red-chested Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Black Coucal, Yellow bill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher and many more. Primate species like Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Baboons, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Red Tailed Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys can also be met along the way.

Bird Kazinga channel.

Kazinga channel links Lake Edward and George.  Kazinga channels main activity is boat cruise that lasts only for two hours. Visitors get an opportunity to watch at unique vegetation and scenic view of various bird species. Many bird species surround the shores of the kazinga channel and also some wild animals like elephants, hippos, antelopes, crocodiles and others make Kazinga channel an outstanding site for wildlife in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Bird Mweya peninsula

All travelers who come to Mweya Peninsula have to take part in bird watching. Peninsular is the best place where various bird species like African Mourning Dove, Raptors, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Diederik Cuckoo, Swamp Nightjar and Slender-tailed Nightjar. The northern piece of the northern sector where the National Park encounters. As you are at Mweya, you will thank the scenic views of water that is sighted flowing to Rwenzori Mountains.

Bird Ishasha sector

Do not miss to watch bird species at Ishasha sector if you are truly a bird watcher. Some of the birds are Hooded Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Palm-nut Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture and Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture. As you are watching bird species at Isahsha sector, you can also get a chance to spot tree climbing lions in the park.

Bird Lake Edward

Lake Edward in Queen Elizabeth National park is also the best place for bird viewing. Lake Edward is a home to many bird species and these include African Crake, Grey Kestrel, Black-bellied Bustard, Helmeted Guineafowl and African Wattled Plover and among others. The water’s edge has got diverse animals like buffaloes, elephants, lions, hippopotamuses and crocodiles can be spotted.  Lake Edward and its surrounding are also home to the perennial.

Bird Lake George

Lake George in Queen Elizabeth National Park covers a total surface area of 250 square kilometers (97 sq mi) and is a part of Africa’s Great Lakes system that have unique bird species such as Grey-backed Fiscal, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, White-browed Robin-Chat, Green Crombec, Yellow-billed Oxpecke, Cisticolas and many more.  Here a visitor can also see wildlife such as Uganda Kobs, hippos, warthogs, antelopes, Buffalos, zebras, monkeys, hyenas, baboons and many more.

Bird Kasenyi plains

Kasenyi plains is a best place for game viewing and it is also best for bird watching. Many bird species welcome you as you drive to Kasenyi plains and more including birds of prey are spotted when driving through the tracks in the plains. These bird species include; the African Crake, African White-backed Vulture, Palm-nut Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Senegal Plover, African Wattled Plover, Bateleurs, White-tailed Lark, Martial eagle, Black-crowned Tchagra, Grey Kestrel, Rufous napped Lark , Brown Snake Eagle, Hooded Vulture, Temmick’s courser, Kittlitz’s Plover, Long-created Eagle, Black-headed gonolek, Crowned Plover and among others.

Best time to go bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National park is best during late May to September. However it is also okay throughout the year. During the month of June to July the rain is less and lack of food, while April to May and September to November have the highest rainfall in the park. You have to note that during this period the roads are impassable due to the muddy and slippery hiking trails thus it may limit your chances of bird viewing. Migrating birds can be seen from November to April.