Rwanda

In February of 2022 I threw a dart at a map and made some very last-minute plans to see a new part of the world. With help and guidance from Claudien at Birding Rwanda, I spent 10 days getting to know this lovely little country and its wildlife.

Umusambi Village

Right near the capital city of Kigali, there’s a little conservation area called the Umusambi Village. It’s a great introduction to the Rwandan birding scene, packed will all sorts of colorful (and big!) species. Claudien likes to start his tours there and had to help me the ID 50 or so species that we saw that morning as I hadn’t done any research before arriving. The first album is just a few of the pictures that turned out pretty well, despite the drizzle.

1. Klaas's cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas); 2. African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus); 3. Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala); 4. Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum); 5. Speckled mousebird (Colius striatus); 6. Grosbeak weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons); 7. White-browed robin-chat (Cossypha heuglini); 8 & 9. Grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum); 10. Fan-tailed widowbird (Euplectes axillaris)

Nyungwe Forest National Park

The southwestern part of Rwanda features a large, dense mountain jungle called Nyungwe. 12 or 13 primate species live there, including chimpanzees, which is pretty neat. The birds are also lovely! Claudien knows all of the guides and interns in the park, and together we IDed loads of Albterine rift endemics on our walks along the trails.

1. Variable sunbird (Cinnyris venustus); 2. Black-crowned waxbill (Estrilda nonnula); 3. Pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura); 4. Black-billed weaver (Ploceus melanogaster); 5. Black saw-wing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera); 6. Black-billed turaco (Tauraco schuettii); 7. Dark-capped bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor); 8. Abyssinian ground thrush (Geokichla piaggiae) ; 9. Great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata) ; 10. Regal sunbird (Cinnyris regius)