Michael‘s Seventh Year

[michael-ibk]

283/U161) Speckle-Breasted Woodpecker (Dendropicos poecilolaemus) / Tropfenspecht

 

One sighting in Buhoma.

 

 

284/U162) Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) / Kardinalspecht

 

Several sightings - always slightly disappointing since it´s such a familiar bird and I was always hoping for a new species.

 

 

285/U163) Bearded Woodpecker (Chloropicus namaquus) / Namaspecht

 

One distant sighting in Mburo.

 

 

286/U164) Golden-Crowned aka Yellow-Crested Woodpecker (Chloropicus xantholophus) / Scheitelfleckspecht

 

Seen on the Royal Mile, Semliki and Kibale. Like all the other proper forest species tough to get a shot.

 

 

287/U165) African Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) / Graubrustspecht

 

One in Entebbe, one in Masindi.

 

 

289/U166) Brown-Eared Woodpecker (Campethera caroli) / Braunohrspecht

 

One uncooperative individual in Kibale. Well, at least I got the brown "ears".

 

 

290/U167) Tullberg´s Woodpecker (Campethera tullbergi) / Tullbergspecht

 

One very distant sighting in Ruhija.

 

 

291/U168) Nubian Woodpecker (Campethera nubica) / Nubierspecht

 

A more cooperative one. In camp in Ishasha.

 

 

Also saw Elliot´s and Olive Woodpecker but could not get a picture.

[michael-ibk]

292/U169) Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) / Graufalke

 

Four sightings in Murchison, Kibale and QENP.

 

 

 

-/U170) Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) / Baumfalke

 

In Entebbe and Kibale. Already counted.

 

 

Why modern taxonomy seems to think Falcons are more closely related to Woodpeckers than Birds of Prey is quite beyond me but there you go.

[michael-ibk]

293/U171) Red-Headed Lovebird (Agapornis pullarius) / Orangeköpfchen

 

Delightful little bird. Quite furtive unfortunately. A few just outside the Royal Mile, then a few in Ishasha.

 

 

294/U172) Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) / Graupapagei.

 

Such an iconic African bird! Did not see many of them, some in Entebbe and some outside the Royal Mile. The best sighting was at the Chimpanzee Guesthouse in Kibale.

 

 

 

295/U173) Meyer´s Parrot (Poicephalus meyeri) / Goldbugpapagei

 

One right after arrival at the Airport Guest House, then only in Mburo.

 

[michael-ibk]

296/U174) Grey Cuckooshrike (Ceblepyris caesius) / Waldraupenfänger

 

A little family in Ruhija. Adult and juvenile.

 

 

 

297/U175) Petit´s Cuckooshrike (Campephaga petiti) / Kongo-Raupenfänger

 

One bird in Buhoma. Very similar to the other Blackish Cuckooshrikes.

 

 

Both lifers.

[michael-ibk]

298/U176) Western (Black-Headed) Oriole (Oriolus brachyrynchus) / Dschungelpirol

 

As the German name "Jungle Oriole" suggests a proper rainforest species. One sighting on the Royal Mile.

 

 

299/U177) Black-Tailed aka Mountain Oriole (Oriolus percivali) / Bergpirol

 

A more familiar species, several sightings in Bwindi.

 

[michael-ibk]

300/U178) Brown-Throated Wattle-Eye (Platysteira cyanea) / Bindenlappenschnäpper

 

Not exactly a photo to set the world on fire but I´ll just stick to the taxonomy order now. Seen in Buhoma.

 

 

And Hey, I can do much worse. Case in point:

 

301/U179) Chestnut Wattle-Eye (Platysteira castanea) / Weißbürzel-Lappenschnäpper

 

Please do consider this one for our Oscars, ie. the ebc of the year contest. Really had been looking forward to see some Wattle-Eye species but they did not share that sentiment about me.

 

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on your third century and what has to be one of the contenders for EBC of the year!

[TonyQ]

300, wow. Lovely Barbets and Rollers

(you would see your missing Roller in The Gambia and it is a beauty)

[pedro maia]

200 was just a while ago and already 300, congrats Michael!

[Kitsafari]

I thought i just congratulated you on the 200th? and now you've stormed to 300th! well, then quick get through the next 100 please. 

 

Wonderful series of the kingfishers, bee-eaters and barbets! i really enjoyed them, especially many that I've not seen before. 

[Galana]

16 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

my book does not show any depictions for juv. Yellow-Billed Kites.

 

My book, Fanshawes has imm Black migrans with Pale streaking below as opposed to dark on the YB.

15 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Madagascar (good idea for a trip there).

Not wishing to put one off from seeking it in the Island but it is a regular in season in Northern Namibia (Kunene) too as well as most of TZ. Blue-breasted BEater is the "default" species at Mabamba.

 

But you certainly got a fair share of your targets and more to come no doubt.

And don't give up on the 'impossible' White-collared'. Think of it as a challenge.

[Galana]

14 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Please do consider this one for our Oscars, ie. the ebc of the year contest.

Undoubtedly.

Congratulations on your 300. I never doubted that Uganda would provide a welcome 'rush'. And some lovely photos too.

[PeterHG]

Three hundred already! Congratulations and undoubtedly more to come. Looking forward to those!

[michael-ibk]

Thanks!

 

7 hours ago, Galana said:

My book, Fanshawes has imm Black migrans with Pale streaking below as opposed to dark on the YB.

 

Which Fanshawe is that? My Stevenson/Fanshawe "Birds of East Africa" does not even have a separate entry for YB-Kite. My Redman/Stevenson/Fanshawe "Birds of the Horn of Afrika" does list them separately but says "some immature YB may be indistinguishable from Black". The Borrow/Demey "Birds of Western Africa" depicts juvenile YB Kite heavily(pale) streaked. Says for BK "Juvenile very similar to YB Kite but more streaked on head and underparts." All quite confusing.

 

7 hours ago, Galana said:

Not wishing to put one off from seeking it in the Island but it is a regular in season in Northern Namibia (Kunene) too as well as most of TZ. Blue-breasted BEater is the "default" species at Mabamba.

 

Yes, I know, but as a Green season fan I´m always there when Madagascar is "back home". I did remember that you said that about Mabamba and was on the watch-out for them but nothing. Maybe the Shoebill excitement clouded my senses.

 

7 hours ago, Galana said:

And don't give up on the 'impossible' White-collared'. Think of it as a challenge.

 

Normally I´d shout "Accepted!" But I think not even for a Kingfisher would I go to Eritrea or Somalia. Well, I could cheat, and get it in Asia.

[michael-ibk]

302/U180) Chinspot Batis (Batis molitor) / Weißflankenschnäpper

 

The classic and most widespread Batis. One each in Buhoma and Ruhija.

 

 

303/U181) Rwenzori Batis (Batis diops) / Ruwenzorischnäpper

 

New Batis for me - one of 37 Albertine endemics. Two sightings in Ruhija.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

304/U182) African Shrike-Flycatcher (Megabyas flammulatus) / Schnäppervanga

 

Another lifer. Female in Kibale, Male in Buhoma.

 

 

 

305/U183) Black-and-White Shrike-Flycatcher (Bias musicus) / Haubenvanga

 

One sighting in Buhoma. Know this one from Gabon.

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

306/U184) Northern Puffback (Dryoscopus gambensis) / Gambia-Schneeballwürger

 

A couple of sightings in Bwindi.

 

 

 

307/U185) Pink-Footed Puffback (Dryoscopus angolensis) / Blassfuß-Schneeballwürger

 

One sighting (of the female) on the Buhoma entrance road to the park. Another lifer.

 

 

308/U186) Black-Crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) / Senegaltschagra

 

A familiar species. Only one sighting in Kibale, in the garden of Chimpanzee Guesthouse.

 

[michael-ibk]

309/U187) Lühder´s Bushshrike (Laniarius luehderi) / Braunscheitelwürger

 

Quite common in Bwindi but (like most Bushshrikes) not easy to get.

 

 

310/U188) Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) / Tropenwürger

 

Normally a very common bird but not this time. Only a handful of "hearings" and one sighting - actually the very last bird of the trip.

 

 

311/U189) Black-Headed Gonolek (Laniarius erythrogaster) / Scharlachwürger

 

The striking North African equivalent to the Crimson-Breasted Shrike. Quite common, multiple sightings.

 

 

 

 

312/U190) Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) / Papyruswürger

 

Undoubtedly one of the trip´s birding highlights. A rare, shy and range-restricted species.

 

 

313/U191) Gray-Green aka Bocage´s Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus bocagei) / Bocagewürger

 

One in Kibale, one in Bwindi. Always prefer the less generic name - "Gray-Green Bushshrike" is so much more boring.

 

 

 

314/U192) Sulphur-Breasted aka Orange-Breasted Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus) / Orangebrustwürger

 

A widespread and familiar Bushshrike. Just two distant sightings in Ishasha.

 

 

315/U193) Doherty´s Bushshrike (Telophorus doherty) / Rotstirnwürger

 

A bit of an obsession for me. Spent days trying to find this one in the Aberdares and failed. A bit more lucky in Bwindi but the sighting did leave a lot to be desired. I want more!

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

315/U194) Fork-Tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) / Trauerdrongo

 

A safari classic. Particularly common in QENP.

 

[michael-ibk]

316/U195) African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridi) / Graubrust-Paradiesschnäpper

 

Regular sightings pretty much everywhere.

 

 

A white morph seen in Kabalega:

 

 

317/U196) Black-Headed aka Red-Bellied Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone rufiventer) / Senegalparadiesschnäpper

 

Three sightings, Entebbe, Budongo and Semliki. Unfortunately never really gave me an opportunity. Pity since it´s a lifer.

 

[michael-ibk]

318/U197) Red-Tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) / Rotschwanzwürger

 

One sighting in Murchison. A migrant breeding in Central Asia.

 

 

319/U198) Grey-Backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides) / Graumantelwürger

 

Common in all savanna areas (Murchison, QENP and Mburo).

 

 

 

320/U199) Mackinnon´s Shrike (Lanius mackinnoni ) / Mackinnonwürger

 

More of a rainforest Shrike - one in Kibale, one in Ruhija. Have seen it before in Kakamega.

 

 

321/U200) Northern Fiscal (Lanius humeralis) / Nördlicher Fiskalwürger

 

A familiar species that we saw regularly. Mostly on the road between parks.

 

 

322/U201) Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) / Rotkopfwürger

 

One individual in Murchison. Bird of the trip for our guide Emma - it was a lifer for him.

 

 

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

323/U202) Piapiac (Ptilostomus afer) / Spitzschwanzelster

 

Lots of them in Murchison, nowhere else.

 

 

324/U203) Pied Crow (Corvus albus) / Schildrabe

 

Common in and around villages.

 

 

325/U204) White-Necked Raven (Corvus albicollis) / Geierrabe

 

Just one individual on the road from Bwindi to Mbabara.

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

326/U205) African Blue Flycatcher (Elminia longicauda) / Blauhaubenschnäpper

 

Very pretty species. A garden bird apparently, one at the Chimpanzee Guesthouse, one at Buffalo Lodge.

 

 

327/U206) White-Tailed Blue Flycatcher (Elminia albicauda) / Weißschwanz-Haubenschnäpper

 

Lifer. One in Masindi, one in Ruhija.

 

 

328/U207) White-Bellied Crested Flycatcher (Elminia albiventris) / Weißbauch-Haubenschnäpper.

 

Another new one, seen in Ruhija. Interesting range for this species. An Albertine but there´s a second population far away in the Cameroon mountains.

 

 

Also saw Dusky Crested Flycatcher in Semliki but it was so dark the camera could not focus.

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

329/U208) White-Winged Black-Tit (Melaniparus leucomelas) / Weißflügel-Rußmeise

 

One sighting in Mburo. Lifer.

 

 

330/U209) Dusky Tit (Melaniparus funereus) / Einfarb-Rußmeise

 

Another Lifer, seen in Budongo and Kibale. I always fail in getting decent photos of African Tits, and this trip was no exception.

 

 

331/U210) Stripe-Breasted Tit (Melaniparus fasciiventer) / Schwarzbrust-Rußmeise

 

Lifer Nr. 3, an Albertine endemic. A struggling species but simple conservation efforts (nesting boxes) have helped a lot.

 

[michael-ibk]

332/U211) Rufous-Naped Lark (Mirafra africana) / Kurzhaubenlerche

 

The classic safari Lark. Common in QENP.

 

 

333/U212) Flappet Lark (Mirafra rufocinnamomea) / Baumklapperlerche

 

A few in QENP.

 

 

Uganda is not exactly Lark country - Andreas was not entirely unhappy about that.