Michael‘s Seventh Year

[michael-ibk]

216/U92) Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) / Gaukler

 

Only two birds, doesn´t seem to be that common in Uganda.

 

 

217/U93) Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus) / Einfarb-Schlangenadler

 

Three sightings, Murchison, QENP and Mburo.

 

 

218/U94) (Western) Banded Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) / Bandschlangenadler

 

And also three of this one, all on the road between parks.

 

 

219/U95) Long-Crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) / Schopfadler

 

Absurdly common, saw them all the time, interestingly enough more in populated areas than in parks.

 

[michael-ibk]

220/U96) Wahlberg´s Eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi) / Silberadler

 

Did not see many Brown Eagles. Three Wahlberg´s in total, all roadside.

 

 

221/U97) Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) / Savannenadler

 

And just this one Tawny in Murchison.

 

[michael-ibk]

222/U98) Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus) / Sperberbussard

 

Pretty common in Uganda, regular sightings throughout.

 

 

 

223/U99) Dark Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax metabates) / Graubürzel-Singhabicht

 

One sighting driving over the Butiaba Escarpment.

 

 

224/U100) Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar) / Gabarhabicht

 

One in Murchison.

 

[michael-ibk]

225/U101) Grasshopper buzzard (Butastur rufipennis) / Heuschreckenteesa

 

A bird of the Sahel zone. Two sightings in Murchison.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

-/102) Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) / Rohrweihe

 

Several sightings in Murchison and QENP.

 

 

226/U103) Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) / Steppenweihe

 

One female in Murchison.

 

 

 

Also saw a very distant African Marsh Harrier in Mabamba but did not try for a photo.

[michael-ibk]

227/U104) African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro) / Afrikahabicht

 

One bird in Ruhija.

 

 

228/U105) Shikra (Accipiter badius) / Shikrasperber

 

Also in Ruhija. For some reason we first thought it was a Long-Tailed Hawk and were very excited about that. No idea why in hindsight.

 

 

229/U106) Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus) / Zwergsperber

 

Seen just outside the Royal Mile.

 

[michael-ibk]

230/U107) Yellow-Billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) / Schmarotzermilan

 

Regular sightings throughout.

 

 

Not quite sure about this one from Murchison - Black or juv. YB?

 

 

 

231/U108) African Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) / Schreiseeadler

 

The voice of Africa. A fixture on all boat tours.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

232/U109) Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) / Bergbussard

 

In Semliki of all places, and later in Bwindi.

 

 

233/U110) Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur ) / Augurbussard

 

Only seen in and around Bwindi where they are common.

 

[michael-ibk]

234/U111) Verreaux´s aka Giant Eagle-Owl (Bubo lacteus) / Milchuhu

 

One sighting in Semliki. Actually a disappointing one because we first thought it could be an Akun´s Eagle-Owl until we got a "better" line of sight.

 

 

Not an owly trip - that´s it. Also had an African Wood Owl serenading us to sleep in Ishasha but never found it.

[michael-ibk]

235/U112) Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus) / Braunflügel-Mausvogel

 

One of the most common trip birds, basically everywhere.

 

 

236/U113) Blue-Naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus) / Blaunacken-Mausvogel

 

Much scarcer, only a few birds in Ishasha and Mburo.

 

[michael-ibk]

237/U114) Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina) / Narinatrogon

 

In Ruhija.

 

 

238/U115) Bar-Tailed Trogon (Apaloderma vittatum) / Bergtrogon

 

And Buhoma.

 

 

Two important target birds, very happy about both sightings (which we had to work for). I would have expected the locations the opposite way around - the books say Bar-Tailed is found at higher elevations where both species occur.

[michael-ibk]

239/U116) Green Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) / Baumhopf

 

Only one ebc sighting in Murchison.

 

 

240/U117) White-Headed Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus bollei) / Weißmaskenhopf

 

Only seen deeper inside the forest in Ruhija where they seem to be quite common. The only other place I´ve ever seen this species is high up in the Aberdares.

 

 

 

Missed my favourite, the (Eurasian) Hoopoe. Saw one during a lunch stop but could not get a picture.

[michael-ibk]

Uganda is Hornbill country:

 

241/U118) Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus) / Sudanhornrabe

 

Only in Murchison.

 

 

242/U119) Crowned Hornbill (Lophoceros alboterminatus) / Kronentoko

 

A handful of sightings in Entebbe, Murchison and Kibale.

 

 

243/U120) African Pied Hornbill (Lophoceros fasciatus) / Elstertoko

 

One sighting only on the Royal Mile. A Western and Central African species, seen quite a few of these in Gabon.

 

 

244/U121) White-Crested Hornbill (Horizocerus albocristatus) / Weißkopf-Hornvogel

 

Found in Semliki with some effort. One I really had wanted to see, another "Westerner".

 

 

245/U122) Black-Casqued Hornbill (Ceratogymna atrata) / Schwarzhelm-Hornvogel

 

Immensely cool, huge bird. Heard them in Gabon but this was my first sighting. Another "Congo bird" only really to be found in Semliki.

 

 

 

 

246/U123) Black-and-White-Casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus) / Grauwangen-Hornvogel

 

By far the most common Hornbill, pretty much everywhere.

 

 

 

 

247/U124) White-Thighed Hornbill (Bycanistes albotibialis) / Weißschenkel-Hornvogel

 

Another Central African species, a few birds around the Royal Mile and one on the way to Murchison.

 

 

 

 

 

248/U125) Piping Hornbill (Bycanistes fistulator) /West-Schreihornvogel

 

Another one only really possible in Semliki.

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2022 by michael-ibk

[Galana]

4 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Black or juv. YB?

My book says Imm. Black migrans.

You enjoyed your Hornbills.

[Kitsafari]

what a flourish of birds from Uganda! awesome!

 

a smiling dinosaur bird to celebrate your 2nd century - Congrats!

 

 

[PeterHG]

18 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

but did not try for a photo.

What is this?

Amazing collection of Hornbills and raptors! 

[pedro maia]

Wow, the massacre started .

 

What a colection and some great photos, congrats for the second ton!

[michael-ibk]

Thanks!

 

18 hours ago, Galana said:

My book says Imm. Black migrans.

That´s what I thought but my book does not show any depictions for juv. Yellow-Billed Kites.

 

4 hours ago, PeterHG said:

What is this?

 

The common "Will surely see this bird later in the trip" mistake.

 

4 hours ago, pedro maia said:

Wow, the massacre started

 

No birds were killed in the making of this Big Year!

[michael-ibk]

249/U126) Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristatus) / Haubenzwergfischer

 

Multiple sightings on all boattrips. Always a delight, this one.

 

 

 

250/U127) African Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina picta) / Natalzwergfischer

 

Not as common as the Malachite but they seem to like Uganda - four sightings (Royal Mile, Murchison, Semliki and QENP).

 

 

 

251/U128) African Dwarf Kingfisher (Ispidina lecontei) / Braunkopf-Zwergfischer

 

Lifer! Even better - Kingfisher Lifer! Really wanted to see this one so delighted we found it eventually.

 

 

 

252/U129) Chocolate-Backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia) / Kastanienliest

 

And another lifer - also on the Royal Mile.

 

 

253/U130) Grey-Headed Kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) / Graukopfliest

 

Common, especially in Murchison and QENP.

 

 

 

254/U131) Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis) / Senegalliest

 

One of my favourites, am very fond of their song. Lots of sightings throughout the trip.

 

 

255/U132) Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti) / Streifenliest

 

Particularly common in Mburo, a few scattered sightings elsewhere.

 

 

256/U133) Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) / Riesenfischer

 

One distant ebc-sighting from the Paraa bridge in Murchison.

 

 

257/U134) Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) / Graufischer

 

The most common Kingfisher. Saw dozens (maybe hundreds) on the boat outings.

 

 

 

Still need White-Bellied (tough) and White-Collared (impossible) Kingfisher to "complete" my African Kingfishers.

[michael-ibk]

258/U135) Black Bee-Eater (Merops gularis) / Purpurspint

 

Another important target bird (although I´ve seen it before in Gabon). Elusive for quite a while until we did find two in Buhoma.

 

 

 

259/U136) Red-Throated Bee-Eater (Merops bulocki) / Rotkehlspint

 

The default Bee-Eater in Murchison, did not see it anywhere else. Wonderfully confiding from the boat.

 

 

260/U137) Little Bee-Eater (Merops pusillus ) / Zwergspint

 

So often the easiest Bee-Eater to get a good photo of but not this time. Only four sightings (Murchison, QENP and Mburo), and all of them very distant.

 

 

I somehow counted on seeing Blue-Breasted Bee-Eater and was prepared to thoroughly check all the (similar) Little ones. Not an issue since we saw so few of those, and no Blue-Breasted at all.

 

261/U138) Cinnamon-Chested Bee-Eater (Merops oreobates) / Bergspint

 

Quite common in Kibale and Bwindi.

 

 

262/U139) Swallow-Tailed Bee-Eater (Merops hirundineus) / Schwalbenschwanzspint

 

A somewhat surprising sighting in Murchison, not seen again after that.

 

 

263/U140) White-Throated Bee-Eater (Merops albicollis) / Weißkehlspint

 

A few scattered sightings in Entebbe and QENP.

 

 

 

264/U141) Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater (Merops persicus) / Blauwangenspint

 

Most of them in Semliki, afterwards a few on the Kazinga Channel and then in Mburo.

 

 

 

-/U142) European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) / Bienenfresser

 

Just two quite distant sightings, one in Masindi, one in Kibale. Already counted at home.

 

 

265/U143) Northern Carmine Bee-Eater (Merops nubicus) / Karminspint

 

They do occur in Murchison but are much scarcer there than the Red-Throated Bee-Eater. Only three or four individuals.

 

 

 

No new Bee-Eaters for me but a lot of them - certainly made me happy. The one I´m missing is Black-Headed (West African bird), Somali (need to return to Northern Kenya anyway) and Madagascar (good idea for a trip there).

 

Edited May 23, 2022 by michael-ibk

[TonyQ]

Congratulations on passing 200 (and 250!).

Stunning birds from Uganda and a fine collection of Kingfishers and Hornbills.

Given you are going to Ecuador and  Zimbabwe I think you may be going for our record (whatever that is  )Big Year 

(And while I was writing you posted a wonderful collection of Bee-eaters)

[michael-ibk]

266/U144) Abyssinian Roller (Coracias abyssinicus) / Senegalracke

 

A surprise sighting on the way South from Murchison.

 

 

267/U145) Lilac-Breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) / Gabelracke

 

Not a widespread bird in Uganda. Just had a chance for it in Mburo, and was happy we did find it - a safari without an LBR just does not feel right.

 

 

 

268/U146) Broad-Billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus) / Zimtracke

 

This one was pretty common though. I mainly know them as migrants in South Africa and was surprised to learn they like to hang around the villages here where they are breeding. Mostly saw them on the wire.

 

 

269/U147) Blue-Throated Roller (Eurystomus gularis) / Blaukehlracke

 

Important target bird - lifer! One on the Royal Mile, one in Kibale.

 

 

The one Roller I´m missing is Blue-Bellied - a trip to Senegal or the Gambia could fix that.

[michael-ibk]

Thanks @TonyQ.

 

5 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

Given you are going to Ecuador and  Zimbabwe I think you may be going for our record (whatever that is  )Big Year

 

Ah, the pressure!

 

Well, let´s see. As we have all learnt during the pandemic - you are only there when you are actually there.

[michael-ibk]

Almost a shame to churn out all the most colourful families in one go but since I decided to go with taxonomy:

 

270/U148) Yellow-Billed Barbet (Trachyphonus purpuratus) / Gelbschnabel-Bartvogel

 

One in Semliki, one in Buhoma. Beautiful species.

 

 

 

271/U149) Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) / Haubenbartvogel

 

Reaching the Northern end of their range in Lake Mburo. Only present here for about 10 years apparently.

 

 

272/U150) Grey-Throated Barbet (Gymnobucco bonapartei) / Trauerbartvogel

 

Really weird looking one. One in Kibale, one in Buhoma.

 

 

273/U151) Speckled Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus scolopaceus) / Schuppenbartvogel

 

Heard all the time, their song is very distinctive. But only saw them twice. This one here in Kibale was obviously not in a healthy state.

 

 

274/U152) Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus subsulphureus) / Gelbkehl-Bartvogel

 

Very similar to the next one but more of a real forest species. Seen in Kibale and Bwindi.

 

 

275/U153) Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus) / Goldbürzel-Bartvogel

 

The more commonly seen of these two. Mainly in Bwindi.

 

 

276/U154) Yellow-Fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus) / Gelbstirn-Bartvogel

 

One of the first birds of the trip, in Entebbe´s Botanical Garden.

 

 

277/U155) Yellow-Spotted Barbet (Buccanodon duchaillui) / Gelbfleck-Bartvogel

 

Would have loved to get a better look at this one. Glimpsed only in Buhoma.

 

 

278/U156) Hairy-Breasted Barbet (Tricholaema hirsuta) / Fleckenbartvogel

 

A distant sighting in Semliki.

 

 

279/U157) Spot-Flanked Barbet (Tricholaema lacrymosa) / Tränenbartvogel

 

Seen in Murchison, Ishasha and Mburo.

 

 

280/U158) Black-Billed Barbet (Lybius guifsobalito) / Purpurmasken-Bartvogel

 

One sighting in Murchison Falls.

 

 

281/U159) Double-Toothed Barbet (Lybius bidentatus) / Doppelzahn-Bartvogel

 

Very cool-looking bird, and surprisingly common, multiple sightings in Kibale, QENP and Mburo.

 

 

 

 

Delighted to see so many Barbets, many of these being lifers.

[michael-ibk]

282/U160) Willcock´s Honeyguide (Indicator willcocksi) / Guineahoniganzeiger

 

A sign of the quality to come when I´ll delve deeper into all the small forest birds.  Seen on the Royal Mile.

 

 

Blew a perfect sighting of a Dwarf Honeyguide in Ruhija. Also heard Greater Honeyguide a couple of times but no sighting.