A new convert to Birding

[KageraSafaris]

I would not be quick to call myself a birder. I am rather more into sightseeing, cultural and ofcourse big game. I recently had a tour to the southwestern part of uganda in the famous Bwindi Impenetrable forest- Ruhija, Echuya Forest and Nyamuliro Swamp and I must say that is where my conversation took place.

I had no clue what fun and joy the birders have. Ofcourse being my first detailed birding trip I was very ethusiastic but also tired from the many species, hence I could not remember alot of the birds. Here are a few I managed to recall, my teammates who are avid birdwatchers and guides ended up with a longer list.

 

1. African black Duck
2. African Dusky Flycatcher
3. African Mash Harrier
4. African Pied wagtail
5. Augur Buzzard
6. Black Sawing
7. Blue headed waxbill
8. Brimstone Canary
9. Bronze manikin
10. Cape reed Warbler
11. Caruthers Cisticola
12. Chubbs Cisticola
13. Chinspot batis
14. Cinnamon chested Bea-eater
15. Common Bulbul
16. Common stonechart
17. Dusky crimsonwing
18. Dwarf honey guide-endemic
19. Fawn breasted waxbill
20. Grey crowned crane
21. Grey throated barbet
22. Hadada Ibis
23. Handsome Francolin
24. Ludhers Bushrike
25. Mackinons Fiscal
26. Marabou Stork
27. Mountain Masked Apalis
28. Mountain Yellow Warbler
29. Northern double collard Sunbird
30. Olive bellied Sunbird
31. Olive Pigeon
32. Papyrus yellow warbler
33. Red faced woodland Wobler
34. REDCHESTED SUNBIRD
35. Regal Sunbird
36. Rwenzori Batis
37. Rwenzori NightJar
38. Sacred Ibis
39. Savanah chested beaeater
40. Sharp’s sterling
41. Strange weaver
42. Swamp flycatcher –n Nyamuliro
43. Variable Sunbird
44. Western Green Tinkerbird – high altitude bird
45. White Necked Raven
46. White tailed flycatcher
47. Yellow rumped tinkerbird
48. Yellow Wagtail
49. Yellow Whiskered Greenbul
50. Yellow white eye

I sure will enjoy my new hobby especially considering that in Uganda one can find birds everywhere.

 

Miriam

 

 

[Game Warden]

@@KageraSafaris Miriam, this topic needs photos

[KageraSafaris]

I agree photos would such a great delight but unfortunately I was engrossed in the birds and didnot take any, also because the camera I carried would need one to be upclose to get a good shot which was close to impossible in the forest - I will need a "birders" camera, one with good lenses. The current one serves well with big game or nature not birds.

[Sharifa]

@@KageraSafaris I am also "hooked on birds' So a warm welcome to this new addictive hobby

 

A very impressive list for your first birding trip.

[Rainbirder]

Welcome to a higher level of enlightenment Miriam!

Some real birders birds on that list.

[KageraSafaris]

Welcome to a higher level of enlightenment Miriam!

Some real birders birds on that list.

thanks Rainbirder

Let me enjoy this "higher level of enlightement"

[kittykat23uk]

@@KageraSafaris You can get a lot of good bird shorts with a relatively cheap superzoom camera. I used to use a Panasonic FZ18 before I upgraded to an olympus 4/3 system. The FZ series of cameras have been regularly upgraded since then too. Here is a link to a trip I took to Brazil. Nearly all of the photos were taken with the Panasonic on that trip:

 

[owenshaffer]

Dear Miriam,

 

Many people including of course learn to love birding on safari. I've even met those on the first safari who were already appreciating the sheer joy of it. I learned to love on my second safari because my guides in Namibia ,

Zimbabwe , and Tanzania at least made an effort to identify to me and my fellow tourists various birds. I've never met anyone on at least their second safari who didn't love birding. You can go birding anywhere in Africa, I'd even describe the Kilimani area of Nairobi where I live as a decent place fro birding because I see and hear plenty of lovely birds daily.

I also learned to appreciate many other things on safari such as walking safari, the smaller animals, etc.

The joy of safari is that the only limit to it is one's imagination.

[KageraSafaris]

@@KageraSafaris I am also "hooked on birds' So a warm welcome to this new addictive hobby

 

A very impressive list for your first birding trip.

Thank you. I am hooked, now I am working on learning the different birds - very addictive indeed.

My friends think therez something fundamentally wrong with me- heheheh

[KageraSafaris]

@@KageraSafaris You can get a lot of good bird shorts with a relatively cheap superzoom camera. I used to use a Panasonic FZ18 before I upgraded to an olympus 4/3 system. The FZ series of cameras have been regularly upgraded since then too. Here is a link to a trip I took to Brazil. Nearly all of the photos were taken with the Panasonic on that trip:

 

@@kittykat23uk, thats helpful. Will keep that in mind. beautiful shots you took!

[KageraSafaris]

Its been an interesting season here in Uganda for me and the people at Kagera Safaris. On personal note, I have enjoyed birding the environs of Kampala and been amazed at the population of bird species in and around Kampala. Of course the seeing the Shoebill is exciting every time. Miriam