So I have been back in the small town of Katakwi to continue project development and research at Lake Opeta.
Katakwi is not on the electricity network so power is sourced by those rich enough to purchase solar panels and fuel powered generators - this is just a small part of the population here.
I have been on various sites in the field for the last few days and...
...YESTERDAY was back at Lake Opeta again in search of the shoebill - a worldwide endagered bird of which a small number reside here in Uganda with excellent possibilities of viewing.
We set off early shortly after sunrise in our beaten up but still strong landrover with Robert Emmanuel at the wheel - also joined by Sophie from Conserve Uganda, Fred, the manager of my guest house who I brought along as he continually tells me of his dream to be a wildlife park ranger and has great enthusiasm and also another future guide - Robert who is a local expert on the lake and the habitats of its wildlife.
Hitting the road in the pouring rain, hopes were high for a break in the clouds. The journey was to be around 1.5hrs covering unsealed bumpy dirt roads and offroad tracks. The tracks were slick with rain and a layer of wet mud. Whilst seemingly making good progress, we suddenly hit a bad patch and slid uncontrollably off the road, into the ditch. Trying to maneuver back and forth we became stuck in a god couple of feet of mud. Trying to direct Robert we managed to pull out of the ditch and onto the wasteland on the bank away from the road.
The ditch continues into the distance next to the road, so I jumped back in, ready for us to drive down into and out of the ditch back onto the road again. We managed it, but went out of control when back on the road and ended in the ditch on the other side! Less lethal than the first ditch we all pushed the Landrover hard as robert hit the gas and reversed back up onto the road.
Our arrival at Lake Opeta was still consumed by the steady rainfall. Hopes lower now that we would even get a chance to get onto the water let alone see the the renowned shoebill.
The rain stopped to a drizzle and we took our chances. Making a deal with local fishermen to take us out. All the while excited conversation occurring in the local Iteso language between my staff and any fishermen we met about previous sightings in the last few days.
We headed to the first sight which we were told was 'nearby' - however, 3kms with on guy with a stick pushing the boat is a fair journey!
No shoebill in the vicinity of the first few islands, so we headed to the opposite side up skirt along the shore from a distance. No such luck.
We had yet another tip off from a fisherman who said there were a collection of shoebills around some other small floating islands. This was the last chance.
The journey across was painfully slow for another 2 hours, but the rain started to clear and as we pulled in, the head of a shoebill was seen amongst the tall grasses past some grassy huts of the local fishermen. We had found it! Everyone excitedly made their comments as none of our party had seen this bird before.
A very odd looking character, the shoebill stands at above waist height and has a large un-proportionate beak. It stands silently for long periods of time and then dives forwards opening its large mouth to clamp down on the fish it has spotted. I personally think the bird looks like something from a prehistoric period, not really fitting in with the rest of the wildlife. I was lucky enough to capture some great shots with the long telephoto lens and the mission of the day was accomplished.
I felt a sense of relief, seeing as the main reason Lake Opeta had been designated a conservation site was due to this bird. It is also the main reason the majority of visitors would visit. It was of huge importance that I see and even more important that I capture professional shots of it for the promotion of ecotourism....
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