As the new Omicron Covid variant spreads faster than its counterpart Delta, eleven birders from the US and the United Kingdom could not help jump in their travel boots to sample birding in Uganda. 

The twelve days itinerary kicked off in Mabamba Swamp on November 28, where they were awed by a solitary confined Shoebill.

“I can’t believe it has taken me more than 30 years scouting for this bird across the world,” Catherine Hamilton beamed with smiles of expectation. “This does not happen in Los Angeles where I come from. Seeing more than ten different species in one location!”

This was after riding in four wooden motorboats for 45 minutes. There came a time when the vessels were muscled out of the marsh towards the solitary grey bird. It ignored their presence as it dined on mudfish, frogs and snakes.

A birder battling to get award winning photos of birds in Mabamba Swamp

“Shi” hissed the seasoned bird guide Herbert Byaruhanga as the excited guests pointed at a beautifully feathered Kingfisher hovering in one spot before nose-diving in the water. “You risk disturbing the bird’s peace.”

A deafening silence engulfed the area save for insects chirping in the swamp and birds tweeting different tunes. Cameras with mega lenses were fished out. Modern ones that used to be seen in James Bond movies followed suit. Everybody wanted to get an award winner of the Shoebill. It enjoyed the photo moment and threatened to dive, winked and lazily flapped its wings.

“This is fat luck,” announced the guide Herbert Byaruhanga after 30 minutes. “There are days birders come here and see the African Jacana, Cattle Egret and Kingfisher and the Shoebill is nowhere to be seen.”

The bird guide Herbert Byaruhanga (second from left) asks the pilot to switch off the engine of the wooden motorboats to prevent sound that would irritate the birds

Byaruhanga enlightened the foreign birders to brace for lots more in the wilderness.

“There are those that dwell in mountainous, Savanah grasslands and forests,” Byaruhanga tipped the impressed guests before they drove to Mburo National Park. “And there are bonuses as you watch birds. Many a time we cross paths with reptiles slithering in the underwood, mammals and primates.”

A couple, Peter Burke with his spouse Dawn from Canada sucked in huge sighs of relief.

“Two years of solitary confinement is horror,” said Peter. “It is fantastic opening up our travel with destination Uganda. So far so good. We have more than a week to see what Uganda has in store for us.”

A journalist from UK Dominic Couzens was impressed by the health precautions put in place by the ministry of health to contain the pandemic.

Proud and elegant, the shoebill enjoys a photo moment with birders in Mabamba Swamp

“Even the birds seem to be keeping a distance from us,” joked Couzens. “I have instantly fallen for birding in Uganda. I expected my number of logged birds to shoot up while here.”

The expo is destined to be concluded at Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) from December 10-12 with discussions and clinching deals between the hosts and destination dealers.