The African Pygmy Kingfisher was another bird we were eager to see, alongside the African Dwarf Kingfisher. This tiny kingfisher had been high on our wish list from the beginning of the trip.
Plenty of Sightings, Few Photography Opportunities
We had several chances to observe the species.
We saw it twice in Queen Elizabeth National Park and twice in Lake Mburo National Park. However, despite these encounters, getting a photograph proved surprisingly difficult.
The only time we managed to take a photo was at Lake Mburo, and even then, the bird was far away and in very low light. At that point, we began to think that might be our only photographic record of the trip.
An Unexpected Stroke of Luck
Just when we had accepted that outcome, something unexpected happened.
While driving from Lake Mburo toward Kampala, heavy rain from the previous day had flooded parts of the road. As we were turning back to find an alternative route, my wife suddenly shouted for the driver to stop.
At first, I had no idea why. Then I saw it.
An African Pygmy Kingfisher was perched on a wire just five meters from the car.
A Perfect Ending to the Search
The moment felt almost unreal. After all the distant and difficult sightings, the bird appeared calmly and clearly right in front of us. It turned into one of the most enjoyable birding moments of the entire trip.
And yes — from that moment on, I can safely say I owe my wife a great deal.
Looking Ahead
Of course, next time I would love to photograph this species perched on a natural branch. But for now, we couldn’t have been happier. The experience was more than enough to make the African Pygmy Kingfisher one of the most memorable birds of our Uganda journey.