theragingbirder: African Green Broadbill

Is the African Green Broadbill Uganda's best-looking bird? In 2016 I spent a lot of money coming to Bwindi with Martha to see one, which we did and it was epic.

Therefore it would make sense to skip Bwindi this time or at least look for something else like Chapin's Flycatcher or something. But I wanted Steve and Wilson to experience the awesomeness of the Broadbill as well as the hospitality of Broadbill Forest Camp again because I knew they'd love it.

Our visit did not go exactly as planned due to the rains. We were at the height of rain season and the road in was in poor shape. Driving in was easy, all you had to do was Tokyo drift down the hill and try your best not to ram the bank.

The next morning was a different story. We were unable to leave the lodge because it had rained so heavily (and continued to rain) so we had to make due with birding on foot. To be honest, the birding was quite good! We found a Strange Weaver nest , Mountain Yellow Warblers and got my lifer Archer's Robin Chat and Sharpe's Starlings (nesting). Shockingly, we even heard a pair of Green Broadbills on the main road, but they took off before we could see them. By the end of the day, with the help of local residents, we managed to get the Land Cruiser up the hill but it was too late in the day to go anywhere.

Strange Weaver making his nest

The rains brought a huge earthworm to the surface

Note: the 4-wheel drive was not working so if you have a 4x4 you're totally fine! Plus, this was the height of wet season. 2 years ago we drove this road in a Toyota Corolla.

Fun times!

Adding traction to the road surface

Contemplating our next move

Originally we'd planned to hike the Mabwindi swamp on day 1 then do the neck or Buhoma on day 2 (like last time) but since we'd lost a day we decided to just go for the Broadbill at the swamp.

Of course, before seeing any rare bird in Uganda you need to first show your passports and pay at the office.

A charging rig to rival Steve's

"Two non-residents, two East Africans and our guide" I said to the clerk, and presented him with our passports. He examined Ramata's passport, perplexed. "This is Senegal" he said. "I was born in Nairobi" replied Ramata, pointing at the 'city of birth'. Unexpectedly, he then addressed her in French and they cracked up a conversation about Senegalese wrestling coaches, footballers and musicians. Everyone in the room agreed that Senegal has great music, Sadio Mané is an amazing footballer and that Ramata is definitely an East African. Therefore, she paid 10$ as opposed to the 70$ that Steve and I shoveled over, respectively. This saved her a good amount of money throughout the trip, which made me in turn feel less guilty about spending longer looking at birds, hehe. Not that I had to though, look at her discovering the joys of birding:

(with Green Broadbill camouflage)

Broadbill trekking, so much cooler (and cheaper) than gorilla trekking

Every morning, gorillas poop in their bed then make a new one the next night

It was hard to live up to last trip's hike (perfect views of Red-chested Flufftail and Great Lakes Horned Viper) but we worked hard and did well nonetheless. Emmy scouted ahead in stealth mode while we took a rest on the bench as Steve had an injured knee. To be honest, it was impressive we'd made it this far but the group was determined to not leave a man behind. We heard a loud yell from quite far away and so off we went down the hill, hoping Steve would not completely tear a ligament and we arrived to the scene of two beautiful Broadbills weaving together a nest of lichens. This could be one of several nests, we were told, but only use one of them once they figure out which one is in the safest location.