July 2024 marked my second butterfly watching trip to Uganda. Unlike my previous trips, this two-week journey incorporated not only butterfly watching but also observations of African large mammals.
The primary targets for butterfly watching included genera such as Charaxes and Euphaedra from family Nymphalidae, as well as colourful species from the family Pieridae. Different beautiful species can be observed in forest and savannah habitat respectively.
Five days were allocated for photography in Murchison Falls National Park and Budongo Forest. Weather permitting, these days were dedicated to butterfly photography. However, in the event of adverse weather conditions, we shifted our focus to observing large mammals in the savannah to optimize our time. Due to unpredictable weather, only two days were suitable for butterfly photography, with the remaining three days spent observing mammals. Fortunately, we managed to capture stunning images of several beautiful Charaxes species, the Blue Mother of Pearl, and a variety of colorful Pieridae species.
Beyond butterflies, our mammal observations were also fruitful. In addition to common herbivores, we were incredibly lucky to encounter a young lion and a leopard, both resting on tree branches. These unexpected sightings were truly exhilarating.
The itinerary also included several other Ugandan forests, each offering unique butterfly species due to varying environmental conditions. One particularly special species was Pseudopontia mabira. This small butterfly inhabits dark forest ground and is characterized by its translucent wings, large green eyes, and a slow fluttering flight pattern. It rarely perches on plants but constantly flies through the forest floor in search of small blooming flowers and host plants. In these dark forest environments, we also encountered beautiful Euphaedra species such as Euphaedra hybrida and Euphaedra edwardsii. These species can be found feeding on rotting fruits, providing excellent opportunities for close-up observations.
In conclusion, this 14-day expedition was incredibly rewarding, offering not only a wealth of butterfly observations but also encounters with a variety of larger mammals and birds. It was a truly enriching field study experience.
