Birding at Mida Creek: Mangroves, Mudflats and Coastal Waders

At high tide, the creek fills and birds roost in the mangroves and on sandbars. At low tide, wide mudflats open and waders spread out to feed, so timing is everything.

It is an easy, scenic and rewarding stop, often combined with Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, and very pleasant for those who like gentle paddling or a walk along a boardwalk rather than long game drives.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

The Creek and the Tides

Mida Creek is a sheltered tidal inlet with mangroves along its edges. Tides decide when birds feed, roost or move, so local guides plan visits using tide tables. Often the best time to see waders on the mudflats is within a few hours of low tide, while high tide brings roosting flocks closer together. Always check local information with your guide, and avoid walking on the flats without them, because tides rise quickly. Read about the coast in the Malindi guide.

Waders

From about October to April, the flats fill with Eurasian waders. Look for whimbrel, Eurasian curlew, grey plover, greater sand plover, lesser sand plover, bar-tailed godwit, terek sandpiper, ruddy turnstone, sanderling and curlew sandpiper. The crab-plover, a striking black-and-white wader that nests in the Arabian region, is a sought-after winter visitor. Guides help identify similar species. See the Kenya migrant birds guide for the wider picture.

Terns, Gulls and Herons

Sandbars hold roosting terns and gulls, including lesser crested tern, sandwich tern, little tern and gull-billed tern at various times of year. Grey heron, little egret, western reef heron, striated heron and African spoonbill hunt in shallow water, and ospreys are regularly seen fishing. Watch for flocks lifting off at high tide as small raptors pass over.

Mangrove and Coastal Birds

Among the mangroves and coastal scrub, look for mangrove kingfisher, various sunbirds, white-browed coucal, black-headed weaver and other coastal species. Birds in the trees can be shy, and a local guide knows where they are. The boardwalk, where available, allows views into the mangrove canopy without damaging roots. Be careful on wet planks and in the sun.

Best Months

Waders and migrant terns are most numerous in the northern winter, roughly November to April. Residents can be seen all year. The coast has two rainy periods, broadly April to June and October to November, which can make birding wetter. The cooler, drier months are often more comfortable. Consult the Kenya birding calendar for national patterns.

How to Visit

Visit with a local guide arranged through a Watamu lodge or community group, because they know tide times, safe routes and the birds. Wear a hat, sunscreen and shoes that can get wet. Bring a scope if you have one, because waders can be far away. Respect nesting and roosting areas. For places to stay, see where to stay at Watamu and Malindi.

Combining Mida Creek With Arabuko-Sokoke and the Coast

A classic day is forest birding at Arabuko-Sokoke in the morning, then the creek on a falling tide in the afternoon. Further south, Diani Beach gives a different coastal base, linked by the Mombasa to Diani route. A coastal extension after a safari is described in the Kenya birding itinerary planner.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team