In a recent tour to Saiwa Swamp National Park I managed to spot over 70 species of bird in a period of 48 hours. I stayed at the a self-catering Tree Top House which was quite unique. Just after I checked in, from the balcony, I had brilliant view of a female Sitatunga with a young baby!! That was the better way to begin birding and in a few minutes of observation I had recorded: Little Rush Warbler, Grey-crowned Crane and Chubb’s Cisticola. That evening I did a long walk to platform (Tower) 4 where I was lucky enough to see the male Sitatunga and Yellow-billed Duck. The next day I hiked to Tower 5 route, Acacia Nature trails and Bushback observatory tower. It will be unfair not to mentioned the great view I had of a group of endagred De Brazza monkey and the curious looking Colobus Monkey. It is indeed a great place to spend a weekend and as for birders and Twitchers, it is a must visit place.
Below is the list of birds I observed:
Bird List for Saiwa Swamp National Park seen on 28th to 30th October 2011
- Long-tailed Cormorant
- Little Bittern
- Goliath Heron
- Grey Heron
- Yellow-billed Stork
- Hamerkop
- Sacred Ibis
- Hadada Ibis
- Yellow-billed Duck
- Great Sparrow hawk
- African Hawk-Eagle
- Long-crested Eagle
- Grey-crowned Crane
- Spur-winged Lapwing
- Common Sandpiper
- Blue-spotted wood-Dove
- Tambourine Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Ross’s Turaco
- Black-and-white Cuckoo
- African Cuckoo
- Klaa’s Cuckoo
- African Emerald Cuckoo
- Blue-headed Coucal
- Woodland Kingfisher
- Malachite Kingfisher
- Lilac-breasted Roller
- Crowned Hornbill
- Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
- Lesser Honeyguide
- Cape Wagtail
- African pied Wagtail
- Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
- Cabanis’s Greenbul
- White-headed Saw-wing
- White-starred Robin
- Grey-winged Robin-Chat
- African Thrush
- Little Rush Warbler
- Cinnamon Bracken Warbler
- Chubb’s Cisticola
- Tawny-flanked Prinia
- Grey-capped Warbler
- Grey-backed Camaroptera
- Black-collared Apalis
- African Dusky Flycatcher
- Swamp Flycatcher
- Black-throated Wattle-eye
- African Paradise-flycatcher
- Yellow White-eye
- Green-headed Sunbird
- Northern Double-collared Sunbird
- Green-throated Sunbird
- Ludhers’s Bush-shrike
- Pringle’s Puffback
- Marsh Tchagra
- Forked-tailed Drongo
- Eurasian Golden Oriole
- Lesser Blue-eared Starling
- Grey-headed Sparrow
- Grosbeak Weaver
- Northern Brown-throated Weaver
- Fan-tailed Widowbird
- Yellow-mantled Widowbird
- Black-bellied Firefinch
- African Firefinch
- Common Waxbill
- Black-crowned Waxbill
- Pin-tailed Whydah
- Thick-billed Seedeater
Birding from Tree Top House in Saiwa Swamp National Park
Kenya Birding 
So cool to see these species in the wild. Over here in the US we would have to go to the zoo … not quite the same thing. thanks for posting these beauties!
I love the crowned crane. There is a pair at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park near the entrance. They love being gawked at and having their picture taken.
Great insights on line. We have similar beliefs here at Stephenson Equipment when it comes to anything crane or construction equipment related – whether it’s Maintenance, sales or service we stand behind our word, just as you have here. Great post my friend.
I look forward to reading more in the future and if there is anything I can ever do for you please don’t hesitate to call or email my friend.
Truly yours,
Rob
Stephenson Equipment
I’ve always wanted to here, now I’ll be going for sure. Nice article.