»New to Uganda: Blue-Capped Cordon-Bleu (Uraeginthus Cyanocephalus)
During a recent NatureUganda research trip to the Karamoja region of eastern Uganda on 4th September 2011, we were very pleased to record a pair of Blue-capped Cordon-bleu. We had been conducting Timed Species Counts (TSCs) in an area of thick Acacia scrub at Kobere Buffer Zone, some 60k north-west of Moroto Town in Karamoja region, in eastern Uganda, GPS reading 0678178-0290678, alt 1270 ASL...

»New bird specie discovered in Uganda
NatureUganda has been conducting biannual Waterfowl counts at Lutembe since 1994, usually in January and July. During one of these counts on 8th December 2010 we found an unusual bird which was clearly worthy a second look. The bird appeared to be an adult in non breeding plumage and its general size and dark spotting on the breast sides lead us to think the bird was a Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris.

»New Species of Crane discovered in Uganda
The new bird, the largest of the crane family, is normally resident in southern Africa. It was found by a group of bird watchers at Kibimba Rice Scheme in Bugiri district, eastern Uganda.

Recent sightings
This is intended to be a frequent update of what has been seen and where in Uganda, aiming to be topical but it must be stressed that some of the records will be unverified. For records pertaining to National Rarities these will not have been vetted by the official rarity committee. This article is purely intended to provide an insight into what has been seen or in the case of migrants, first and last dates.

December 2011

Booted Eagle: A single bird flying south over Ggaba on 2nd. There are only five previous Kampala records of this Western Palearctic migrant.
Red-backed Shrike: Immature bird seen at Port Bell on the 5th.
Lesser Flamingo: 33 birds on Lake Munyanyange in QENP on 7th are unusually at this time of year.
Greater Flamingo: An adult bird on Lake Nyamunuka in QENP from 7th-9th.
Weyns’s Weaver: A flock of over 300 in Mpanga Forest on 9th-10th included many breeding males.
Water Thicknee: Two birds at Ggaba on 11th are uncommon visitors to the Kampala region.

November 2011

Little Sparrowhawk: Single bird recorded at Gayaza on the 3rd. This species often goes un-recorded due to its small size and secretive nature.
Red-backed Shrike (in photo below): A good showing with three birds, two of them adult males at Ggaba on the 4th and again three, all immature at Ggaba on the 26th.
Magpie Mannikin: Single bird trapped at Ggaba on 4th. This species is much localised in Uganda and not often recorded.
Crested Guineaufowl: A flock of thirty in Mabira Forest on 11th is a good congregation.
Steppe Eagle: An immature bird picked up dead at Mbende was ringed and satellite tagged in Romania, Eastern Europe, and its cause of death unknown, although poisoning is suspected.
Barred Warbler: A single bird at Entebbe Zoo on 27th, this is an uncommon Western Palearctic migrant to Uganda.
Whimbrel: A single bird on the beach at Entebbe on 27th. Formally not uncommon it has, in recent times, become very rare.
Grey Pratincole: Between three and five birds were located on the Kasinga Channel on the 10th. This is the first record for Uganda.

Roger Q Skeen. NatureUganda