Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is located in North Western Uganda in two Districts of Masindi district in west and Nwoya districts in northern Uganda. This is one of the largest national parks of Uganda covering 3,480 square kilometers. The park is 300kilometers drive from Uganda's capital city, Kampala. Murchison Falls is the name that was given to the point at which the world's longest river, the river Nile, is channeled through a narrow gorge within the Rift Valley, descending almost 50 metres below.

The park is named after Sir Roderick Murchison (1851 - 1853), who was President of the Royal Geographical Society, which was the catalyst for many explorations within 'colonial' Africa, most notably the search for the source of the river Nile. The national park is sometimes referred to as Kabalega National park. Kabalega was the Omukama of Bunyoro Kingdom from 1870 to 1899. He resisted colonization by the British, was arrested and was exiled by the British to the island nation of the Seychelles.

The Murchison Falls conservation Area includes Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls wildlife reserves. Uganda's largest park has untamed wilderness and savannahs, split through the middle by the river Nile. The Nile River banks are a host to birds, hippos, buffalos, waterbucks and crocodiles. The vegetation in Murchison is savannah and woodland. Murchison Falls National park has received well-known international visitors and some movies have been shot in this place. These among others include Winston Churchill, Prince of Wales, Edward VII in 1930 and Queen Mother in 1959. In 1951, a movie was also shot with back ground scenery of the Murchison falls that was Humphrey Bogart in John Huston's prominent movie. Another movie was the African Queen which was shot on the vicinity of the Murchison Nile along with Lake Albert.

Murchison Falls National Park has 451 bird species. Bird Species commonly seen between Paraa Rest Camp and Ferry crossing are; Spotted Mourning Thrush, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Silver Bird, Bluff-bellied Warbler, Blue-napped Mousebird, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Green-winged Ptyilia, and Black-headed Batis, this is the best site for the localised White-rumped Seed-eater. Nocturnal species in the area include; Verreaux's owls and Nightjars i.e. tailed and Pennat-winged nightjar seen from November to February. Other bird species include: White African fish eagle, Gray Crowned crane, African Skimmer, long-toed plover, Goliath Heron, Black-bellied Bustards, Open-billed Storks and more.

At Nyamsika Cliffs; Woodland, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers; Francolin; Hornbills, Grey heron; Hamerkop; Shrikes; Flycatchers; Cuckoos; Woodpeckers; Crombecs and Warblers. The riverbanks are also home to ducks, geese, stilts and plovers can be seen. From November to April, black-headed lapwings and other migratory birds can be seen.