WHY LUTEMBE BAY IS BIRD WATCHERS PARADISE

Situated on the Northern Lake Victoria shore, Lutembe wetland is exceptionally popular for avian safaris in Uganda. It is one of the wetlands that are internationally of great importance for bird enthusiasts. Due to its abundant biodiversity it was designated as a Ramsar site in 2006. This Ramsar site comes with variety of papyrus and vegetation that thrives along its spectacular Islands. It serves as one of the best spots for migratory birdlife which makes it one of the best birding spots for you to catch a glimpse of varied avian species while on Uganda safari. With over 1060 birds that are confined within Uganda, Lutembe bay features both indigenous and million of Palearctic migrants particularly the countless White winged terns and Grey headed gulls. And not to forget other species like the Hottentot teal, Caspian tern, Broad billed sandpiper, Great knot and Temminck’s stint.

Based on the continuous waterfowl counts from 1993, about 108 water birds thrived at the site 26 of which are Palearctic migrants and its ability to support them attained it the status of being Important Birding Area and Ramsar site. It is also famous for 8 out of 12 species of the Lake Victoria basin biome. This stunning site also features shoebill stork, tawny pipit and the Madagascar squacco heron as well as the purple starling, house sparrow, fawn breasted waxbill, brown twin spot, black necked weaver, holub’s golden weaver, African pygmy kingfisher, speckle breasted woodpecker, Grey backed fiscal, black headed gonolek, black kite, scaly francolin, barn swallow, helmeted guinea fowl, wired tailed swallow, yellow fronted canaries, brimstone, little ringed plover, splendid sterling, blue spotted wood dove, pin tailed whydah, collared pratincole, yellow browed camaroptera, Marico sunbird, tree pipit, yellow throated long claw, African queen pigeon, Senegal lapwing, African wattled lapwing, grosbeak weaver, blue breasted bee eater, cape wagtail, brown backed scrub robins, sooty chat, plain backed pipit, tropical boubou, lead colored flycatcher and many more.

Lutembe bay forms part of the mighty Murchison bay which is famous for its abundant plant and wildlife species. It offers construction materials and craft products to the local residents, energy products, medicine, fish and drinking water. The wetland also offers refuge to enormous fish species especially the endangered cichlid fish, lung and clarius fish, and acts as waste water cleaning, transport, retention of pollutants and sediments and defending floods. While on birding safari to this stunning spot, expect more than birds, there are also about 100 butterflies for you to catch a glimpse. The Lutembe wetland is located near Kampala city centre and the Entebbe International Airport and as an important bird area it has a support group headed by the local community in charge conservation and sustainable utilization of the area’s natural resources and the group is called Lutembe Wetland Users Association (LWUA).

Lutembe wetland is such a natural wonder worth visiting for bird watching in Uganda. Over millions of avian species thrive in this bay today as most of them fly in turns at once making a shadow after blocking the sun and then they land again and this makes the site one of the best spots for you catch a glimpse of spectacular birds. Migratory bird species come all the way from Liberia without stopping anywhere but only in Lutembe wetland in Uganda which makes the site to be exceptionally one of the best birding areas in Africa and world at large. The avian species come from Scandinavia, Russia and Europe, where they thrive for 9 months time in Uganda and then fly back to Europe to breed while the rest fly without stopping to or from the popular Caspian Sea. In 2000, Lutembe bay features over 3.5 million birds. The birds are always sighted arriving around September and October and depart around mid February and March.

In conclusion, Lutembe bay is incredibly bird watchers paradise. If you are planning your safari holiday in Uganda, never miss to visit this stunning wetland. A visit to this wetland rewards visitors with amazing bird sightings of lifetime.