Michael‘s Seventh Year

[michael-ibk]

334/U213) Western Nicator (Nicator chloris) / Graukehl-Tropfenvogel

 

Reaching the Eastern end of its range in Uganda. One sighting in Semliki, seen before in Gabon.

 

[michael-ibk]

335/U214) Green Crombec (Sylvietta viren) / Grünmantelsylvietta

 

Seen in Bigodi and Bwindi.

 

 

336/U215) White-Browed Crombec (Sylvietta leucophrys) / Weißbrauensylvietta

 

One sighting in Ruhija.

 

 

Both new.

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

337/U216) White-Chinned Prinia (Schistolais leucopogon) / Weißkehl-Feinsänger

 

Lifer. One sighting in Bigodi. Apparently not closely related to the other two coming up. ebird taxonomy has quite a few other birds between them but I decided to group all Prinias.

 

 

338/U217) Tawny-Flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava) / Rahmbrustprinie

 

The most common Prinia. A trip regular.

 

 

 

339/U218) Banded Prinia (Prinia bairdii) / Zebraprinie

 

Fantastic little bird, lifer! Common in Bwindi but extremely restless and skulky.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

340/U219) Green-Backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura) / Meckerbogenflügel

 

The common Camaroptera. Never really tried for it, better photos should not have been too difficult for this one.

 

 

341/U220) Yellow-Browed Camaroptera (Camaroptera superciliaris) / Gelbbrauen-Bogenflügel

 

Pretty for a Camaroptera. One (unfortunately too distant) sighting on the Royal Mile. Lifer.

 

 

342/U221) Olive-Green Camaroptera (Camaroptera chloronota) / Olivbogenflügel

 

Seen in Buhoma. Incredibly loud for such a tiny bird. Another lifer.

 

[michael-ibk]

A group I had been looking forward to, most are lifers. But difficult ones, normally high up in the canopy.

 

343/U222) Rwenzori Apalis (Oreolais ruwenzorii) / Ruwenzorifeinsänger

 

An Albertine endemic, seen on our "jungle walk" in Ruhija. Another one where the ebird taxonomy seems counterintuitive- it´s placed apart from the other species, before the Camaropteras. Wiki says: "The Rwenzori apalis was formerly placed in the genus Apalis but was moved to the new genus Oreolais when Apalis was shown to be polyphyletic." I´m sure you all know what polyphyletic means but just in case: "A polyphyletic group or assemblage is a set of organisms, or other evolving elements, that have been grouped together based on characteristics that do not imply that they share a common ancestor that is not also the common ancestor of many other taxa."

 

 

344/U223) Black-Throated Apalis (Apalis jacksoni) / Schwarzkehl-Feinsänger

 

Seen on the entrance road to the park in Bwindi.

 

 

 

345/U224) Black-Faced aka Mountain Masked Apalis (Apalis personata) / Kivufeinsänger

 

Another Albertine endemic, seen in Ruhija.

 

 

346/U225) Buff-Throated Apalis (Apalis rufogularis) / Weißbauch-Feinsänger

 

Seen in Budongo and Buhoma.Only the female has the buff throat.

 

 

 

346/U226) Chestnut-Throated Apalis (Apalis porphyrolaema) / Bergfeinsänger

 

Seen in Buhoma and Ruhija.

 

 

347/U227) Grey Apalis (Apalis cinerea) / Graurücken-Feinsänger

 

Seen in Buhoma. The only of all these Apalises I´ve seen before (in the Aberdares).

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

348/U228) Black-Faced Rufous-Warbler (Bathmocercus rufus) / Graubauch-Fuchssänger

 

Not uncommon in Buhoma but another one of these dang nervous and skulky tiny things. Lifer.

 

[michael-ibk]

Everyone´s favourite group now:

 

349/U229) Trilling Cisticola (Cisticola woosnami) / Miombozistensänger

 

The default species in Mburo. Fitting that I´ve seen it before in Akagera - those two parks share quite a lot of species.

 

 

350/U230) Chubb´s Cisticola (Cisticola chubbi) / Farnzistensänger

 

A high altitude species common in Bwindi. Very similar to the Aberdare´s Hunter´s Cisticola.

 

 

351/U231) Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana) / Rotscheitel-Zistensänger

 

The most common Cisticola. Regularly seen in Murchison and QENP.

 

 

352/U232) Winding Cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) / Heuglinzistensänger

 

The wetlands one. Seen in Mabamba, Murchison, the Bugoigo Marshlands and Semliki.

 

 

353/U233) Stout Cisticola (Cisticola robustus) / Amharazistensänger

 

Only seen in QENP.

 

 

354/U234) Croaking Cisticola (Cisticola natalensis) / Strichelzistensänger

 

In Masindi and QENP.

 

 

355/U235) Tabora aka Long-Tailed Cisticola (Cisticola angusticauda) / Taborazistensänger

 

Only present in Uganda´s very South, an Mburo special.

 

 

356/U236) Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) / Zistensänger

 

Seen in Ishasha, IDed mainly by voice.

 

 

357/U237) Wing-Snapping Cisticola (Cisticola ayresii) / Zwergzistensänger

 

In QENP.

 

 

I have more Cisticola photos but gave up on trying to figure them out. Definitely saw Red-Faced Cisticola but could not find a photo.

 

Edited May 24, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

358/U238) Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida) / Blassspötter

 

A migrant. One bird in Murchison.

 

 

359/U239) African Yellow Warbler (Iduna natalensis) / Natalspötter

 

One bird just outside Budongo Forest. Another one I only know from the Aberdares.

 

 

360/U240) Cinnamon Bracken Warbler (Bradypterus cinnamomeus) / Zimtbuschsänger

 

One bird when driving out from Bwindi.

 

 

361/U241) Grauer´s Swamp Warbler (Bradypterus graueri) / Kivubuschsänger

 

Albertine Endemic and lifer. Walked through half of Ruhija to get to the swamps where it lives. It did not have the decency to reward those efforts with being a good poser.

 

[Galana]

5 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Which Fanshawe is that?

My original hard backed 2002 edition Pge 48. Palearctic migrant race......after the italics  "imm may be paler still , (almost white-headed) and pale streaked below."

I will rely on that.

More superb photos and excellent sightings. Superb Papyrus Gonalek. My go to bird that can be called in if you are primed and ready. Will pose also.

Good to see your Life list growing so well.

[michael-ibk]

362/U242) Bank Swallow aka Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) / Uferschwalbe

 

Common, a lot of them migrating through QENP particularly.

 

 

363/U242) Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) / Steinschwalbe

 

Only in Kibale - in the Chimpanzee Guesthouse dining room.

 

 

-/U243) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) / Rauchschwalbe

 

Abundant.

 

 

364/U244) Angola Swallow (Hirundo angolensis) / Angolaschwalbe

 

Very similar to Barn but the chestnut throat extends through the broken breast band. Have only seen it in Akagera before - or simply did not recognize it elsewhere. Most common in Murchison, but also seen in Bwindi.

 

 

365/U245) Wire-Tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) / Rotkappenschwalbe

 

A common bird on safari but only a few seen in Murchison this time.

 

 

366/U246) Lesser Striped Swallow (Cecropis abyssinica) / Zwergrötelschwalbe

 

Very common pretty much everywhere.

 

 

367/U247) Rufous-Chested aka Red-Breasted Swallow (Cecropis semirufa) / Rostbrust-Rötelschwalbe

 

Generally quite scarce, only two individuals near Murchison Falls.

 

 

368/U248) Mosque Swallow (Cecropis senegalensis) / Senegalrötelschwalbe

 

Only one sighting in Kibale.

 

 

369/U249) Black Sawwing (Psalidoprocne pristoptera) / Erzschwalbe

 

Common in Bwindi particularly but not very cooperative.

 

 

Also saw Red-Rumped Swallow, House Martin and White-Headed Sawwing.

[michael-ibk]

Walking on thin ice now, getting to the most problematic chapter. Some of these ebcs are probably impossible to safely ID from the photo but it´s what the birding guides said, mostly based on call and their knowledge of these particular species being around. So I´ll go with that.

 

370/U250) Slender-Billed Greenbul (Stelgidillas gracilirostris) / Schmalschnabelbülbül

 

In Kibale. A bird I´m fairly familiar with so a safe bet.

 

 

371/U251) Eastern Mountain or Olive-Breasted Greenbul (Arizelocichla kikuyuensis or Arizelocichla nigriceps)

 

There seems to be some taxonomic debate on this one, xeno-canto and ebird have different names for it, also different scientific ones. Several sightings in Ruhija. Unmistakable for a Greenbul.

 

 

372/U252) Yellow-Throated Greenbul aka Yellow-Throated Leaflove (Atimastillas flavicollis)

 

Another species distinctive enough. Two on the road from Kibale to QENP, one more in Mburo.

 

 

373/U253) Red-Tailed Greenbul (Rotschwanz-Haarbülbül ) / Rotschwanz-Haarbülbül

 

Seen in Budongo. Shy bird, very distant shot, but the puffed-out white throat is probably enough for a safe ID.

 

 

And another one from Bwindi.

 

 

374/U254) Little Grey Greenbul (Eurillas gracilis) / Zwergbülbül

 

In Semliki. A pretty featureless bird, site guide Alex had no doubt about the ID.

 

 

375/U255) Ansorge´s Greenbul (Eurillas ansorgei) / Ansorgebülbül

 

In Buhoma. IDed on voice by site guide. "Birds of East Africa" says they do not occur in Uganda but that cannot be correct - ebird has 317 records for Uganda.

 

 

376/U256) Plain Greenbul (Eurillas curvirostris ) / Alexanderbülbül

 

On the entrance road to the park in Bwindi, also IDed by guide. Probably the one I have the most doubts about.

 

 

377/U257) Little Greenbul (Eurillas virens) /Grünbülbül

 

In Bigodi Swamp, and heard elsewhere regularly.  No doubt about this one.

 

 

378/U258) Xavier´s Greenbul (Phyllastrephus xavieri) / Xavierbülbül

 

Site guide Alex was sure about this one in Semliki.

 

 

379/U259) Common Bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus) / Graubülbül

 

Phew, finally an easy one. I can proudly say that I took exactly one picture of it.

 

 

Yellow-Whiskered Greenbul was heard a lot but refused to show. I noted the next one from Buhoma as Cabanis´s Greenbul (don´t remember how sure the guide was) but really does not look right for that one?

 

Edited May 25, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/U260) Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) / Waldlaubsänger

 

Atrocious photo - glad I got a better one back home. From Buhoma.

 

 

-/U261) Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) / Fitis

 

A few sightings here and there.

 

 

380/U262) Red-Faced Woodland Warbler (Phylloscopus laetus) / Braunwangen-Laubsänger

 

Another Albertine endemic and lifer. In Buhoma.

 

 

381/U263) Chestnut-Capped Flycatcher (Erythrocercus mccallii) / Rotkappen-Spreizschwanz

 

Lifer. Very nice bird but unfortunately very fast, restless and high up.

 

 

-/U264) Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) / Mönchsgrasmücke

 

Only one sighting driving out from Bwindi.

 

 

382/U264) Rwenzori Hill Babbler (Pseudoalcippe atriceps) / Schwarzkopf-Grasmücke

 

Another Albertine und thereby lifer. Finally a bird that behaved. In Ruhija.

 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

383/U265) Green White-Eye (Zosterops stuhlmanni) / [no German name]

 

Seen in Masindi. White-Eyes have been re-classified extensively in the last few years, and many of the new splits don´t have German names yet.

 

 

384/U266) Northern Yellow White-Eye (Zosterops senegalensis) / Senegalbrillenvogel

 

The more common of these two, mainly in Bwindi.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

385/U267) Arrow-Marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii) / Weißstrichel-Schwatzhäherling

 

In camp in QENP and Mburo.

 

 

386/U268) Black-Lored Babbler (Turdoides sharpei ) / Schwarzzügel-Schwatzhäherling

 

One sighting in QENP. All Babblers have really long and complicated names in German.

 

 

387/U269) Yellow-Billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) / Gelbschnabel-Madenhacker

 

Common in Murchison and QENP. If we ever saw a Red-Billed I did not notice. Seems to be missing from Western Uganda.

 

 

Edited May 25, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

388/U270) Violet-Backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) / Amethystglanzstar

 

One pair in the Chimpanzee Guesthouse garden in Kibale.

 

 

 

389/U271) Waller´s Starling (Onychognathus walleri) / Wallerstar

 

Like many of Uganda´s Black Starlings they were quite frustrating subjects. The light certainly did not help. One sighting in Ruhija. Lifer still.

 

 

390/U272) Sharpe´s Starling (Poeoptera sharpii) / Rostbauchstar

 

A more interesting-looking species. Seen in Ruhija while Gorilla trekking.

 

 

391/U273) Narrow-Tailed Starling (Poeoptera lugubris) / Spitzschwanzstar

 

A few in Buhoma, another new one for me. Yellow Eyes are the ID marks here.

 

 

392/U274) Stuhlmann´s Starling (Poeoptera stuhlmanni ) Stuhlmannstar

 

A few birds in Buhoma. Have seen this one before in Kakamega.

 

 

393/U275) Purple-Headed Starling (Hylopsar purpureiceps) / Samtglanzstar

 

Extremely distant sighting in Kibale.

 

 

394/U276) Rüppel´s (Long-Tailed) Starling

 

One of the most common birds of the trip.

 

 

 

 

395/U277) Greater Blue-Eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) Grünschwanz-Glanzstar

 

Only one sighting of this familiar bird in Kabalega.

 

 

Also saw Splendid Starling but it was so high up in very bad light that I did not even try. And I´ve seen it in Gabon otherwise I probably would have.

[TonyQ]

Racing ahead with your collection. Some excellent photos, and some that are very good given the difficult conditions (in the dark an high up a tree). You are very committed !

[michael-ibk]

396/U278) Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush aka Fraser´s Rufous Thrush (Stizorhina fraseri) / Fraserdrossel

 

A very patient bird on the Royal Mile. Lifer.

 

 

397/U279) White-Tailed Ant-Thrush (Neocossyphus poensis) / Weißschwanz-Fuchsdrossel

 

My second sighting of this bird (1st one in Kakamega). Also in deep and dark forest but another one sitting still motionlessly for some time so one can work with that.

 

 

398/U280) Abyssinian Thrush (Turdus abyssinicus) / Abessiniendrossel

 

Quite an embarrassing photo. Pretty much at the very last minute did I realize that the Thrushes in Bwindi are not the same ones as those in Entebbe. Both species are common.

 

 

399/U281) African Thrush (Turdus pelios) / Afrikadrossel

 

Easy, like our Blackbirds. Taking the Abyssinian´s place at lower altitudes.

 

[michael-ibk]

Thanks Tony, very kind.

 

Tempted to jump forward to Sunbirds for the next batch but I´ll just stick to my self-imposed order:

 

400/U282) African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) / Dunkelschnäpper

 

A regular in Bwindi but I would have expected to see many more of them. Nondescript bird but I´m quite fond of them - like their cute face.

 

 

-/U283) Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) / Grauschnäpper

 

My pet peeve - whoever named this bird really did not look at the Latin name.

 

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on yet another century (yawn…..) 

[Zim Girl]

Enjoying your Uganda birds Michael.

I missed out on the 200 and 300, so will go straight to congratulating you on 400 birds!!

 

[michael-ibk]

Thanks!

 

Public holiday today in Austria - so off to the mountains.

 

401/E138) Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) / Weidenmeise

 

Navis/Tirol, 26/5/2022. The Marsh Tit twin.

 

 

 

Mistle Thrushes avoid me like the plague normally but this freshly-fledged one did not know about that mission statement yet.

 

 

Bit cloudy today at first but still beautiful. Two mobile snaps:

 

 

Edited May 26, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

402/U284) Swamp Flycatcher (Muscicapa aquatica) / Sumpfschnäpper

 

Very common near water everywhere.

 

 

 

 

403/U285) Dusky-Blue Flycatcher (Muscicapa comitata) / Waldrandschnäpper

 

Several sightings in Bwindi (Buhoma and Ruhija).

 

 

404/U286) African aka Fraser´s Forest-Flycatcher (Fraseria ocreata) / Sperberwaldschnäpper

 

One sighting on the Royal Mile. Previous sightings in Gabon.

 

 

405/U287) Silverbird (Empidornis semipartitus) / Silberschnäpper

 

Quite a unique Flycatcher, common in Murchison.

 

 

406/U288) Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher (Melaenornis ardesiacus ) / Gelbaugen-Drongoschnäpper

 

Albertine endemic, lifer. Seen in Ruhija.

 

 

407/U289) Northern Black Flycatcher (Melaenornis edolioides) / Senegaldrongoschnäpper

 

A few sightings, Kibale and QENP.

 

 

408/U290) White-Eyed Slaty Flycatcher (Melaenornis fischeri) / Bergdrongoschnäpper

 

Very common in Kibale and especially Bwindi. Looking very different from the Kenyan population, missing the huge eyering here.

 

[michael-ibk]

409/U291) Brown-Backed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas hartlaubi) / Hartlaubheckensänger

 

Quite common in Murchison but did not get a photo there. Another distant sighting in Mburo.

 

[michael-ibk]

410/U292) White-Bellied Robin-Chat (Cossyphicula roberti) / Weißbauchrötel

 

One pair in Buhoma, very shy bird. Lifer.

 

 

411/U293) Archer´s Robin-Chat aka Ground Robin (Cossypha archeri) / Ruwenzorirötel

 

Albertine endemic, lifer. Seen in Ruhija.

 

 

412/U294) Grey-Winged Robin-Chat (Cossypha polioptera) / Grauflügelrötel

 

Seen in Bigodi Swamp, an atypical habitat for this forest bird. Previously seen in Kakamega.

 

 

413/U295) White-Browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini) / Weißbrauenrötel

 

The most common Robin-Chat. Surprisingly only one sighting on the road from Kibale to QENP.

 

 

414/U296) Snowy-Crowned Robin-Chat (Cossypha niveicapilla) / Schneescheitelrötel

 

One bird in Entebbe´s Botanical Garden. Also previously in Kakamega.

 

 

415/U297) White-Starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata) / Sternrötel

 

One shy bird in Ruhija.

 

 

416/U298) Equatorial Akalat (Sheppardia aequatorialis) / Ugandarötel

 

Seen in Buhoma, another lifer. Very similar to White-Bellied Robin-Chat.

 

 

Also heard Red-Capped Robin-Chat a couple of times but no sighting.

Edited May 26, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

417/U299) Spotted Morning-Thrush aka Palm Thrush (Cichladusa guttata) / Tropfenrötel

 

Only in Murchison.