Michael‘s Seventh Year

[michael-ibk]

-/U300) Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) / Braunkehlchen

 

Particularly common in Murchison, many of them on the move.

 

 

418/U301) African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) / Afrikanisches Schwarzkehlchen

 

Just one bird on the road from Bwindi to Mburo.

 

 

419/U302) Sooty Chat (Myrmecocichla nigra) / Hadesschmätzer

 

Common in Ishasha and Mburo particularly.

 

[michael-ibk]

420/U303) Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) / Steinschmätzer

 

 

421/U304) Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) / Isabellschmätzer

 

 

Both most common in Murchison.

[michael-ibk]

Sunbirds - a delightful bird family, and Uganda has many of tehm.

 

422/U305) Little Green Sunbird (Anthreptes seimundi) / Stutzschwanz-Nektarvogel

 

In Buhoma. Lifer.

 

 

423/U306) Green aka Grey-Chinned Sunbird (Anthreptes rectirostris) / Gelbkehl-Nektarvogel

 

Not the most cooperative one. In Buhoma. Lifer.

 

 

424/U307) Collared Sunbird (Hedydipna collaris) / Halsband-Nektarvogel

 

A familiar species. Regular sightings.

 

 

425/U308) Green-Headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra verticalis) / Grünkopf-Nektarvogel

 

Fairly common in Uganda.

 

 

426/U309) Blue-Headed Sunbird (Cyanomitra alinae) / Ruwenzorinektarvogel

 

Really beautiful one, seen in Ruhija. Albertine endemic and lifer.

 

 

 

427/U310) Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) / Olivnektarvogel

 

A few sightings in Kibale.

 

 

428/U311) Green-Throated Sunbird (Chalcomitra rubescens) / Grünkehl-Glanzköpfchen

 

One bird in Buhoma. Have seen it before in Gabon.

 

 

429/U312) Scarlet-Chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensi) / Rotbrust-Glanzköpfchen

 

Widespread and familiar species. A couple of sightings.

 

 

430/U313) Bronze aka Bronzy Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis) / Bronzenektarvogel

 

Another common species in Uganda.

 

 

431/U314) Olive-Bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris chloropygius) / Olivbauch-Nektarvogel

 

Common in Entebbe and Kibale.

 

 

432/U315) Northern Double-Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris reichenowi) / Nandinektarvogel

 

Extremely similar, replacing Olive-Bellied at higher elevations.

 

 

433/U316) Regal Sunbird (Cinnyris regius) / Königsnektarvogel

 

Fantastic-looking bird, seen in Ruhija.

 

 

 

434/U317) Mariqua aka Marico Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis) / Bindennektarvogel

 

Seen in Kibale.

 

 

 

435/U318) Red-Chested Sunbird (Cinnyris erythrocercus) / Schmucknektarvogel

 

From what I´d read I assumed this would be a super-common bird. Not really, just a handful of sightings in QENP. Lifer.

 

 

436/U319) Purple-Banded Sunbird (Cinnyris bifasciatus) / Zweiband-Nektarvogel

 

Seen in Murchison. This one is apparently a juvenile or moulting, but a fully-plumaged male was right next to it. Missed that one unfortunately.

 

 

437/U320) Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) / Ziernektarvogel

 

A family living in the garden of Bakiga Lodge in Ruhija.

 

 

 

438/U321) Copper Sunbird (Cinnyris cupreus) / Kupfernektarvogel

 

Pretty unsatisfying sighting of this cool species outside Budongo Forest. A female here.

 

 

Also saw Grey-Headed and Beautiful Sunbird but could not get a photo.

Edited May 26, 2022 by michael-ibk

[Galana]

Have you stopped for a breather? Hard to keep up on my netbook and with all Field Guides safely back at home 300 miles south I can confirm your Bulbuls  I only know your specimin as 'Mountain' Bulbul and no West or East and I think your other doubtful IS a 'whiskered'.

Well done on 300 & 400 in one posting. Not many can do that (but Uganda will help.)

[pedro maia]

One gets tired by following your BY .

 

Congrats on the fourth ton, I think I read in another topic that you’re going to Equador and Zimbabwe, that means you’ll pass the 1000 mark this year

[Kitsafari]

The  2022 race is over. i'll withhold my congratulations for the 400th for the half century which you will undoubtedly cross swiftly to hit 600th by the next time i return to read your BY. 

 

beautiful sunbirds! 

[PeterHG]

Really fantastic Uganda additions again, Michael. Congrats on reaching 400 and way beyond and thanks for showing such a wonderful sunbird collection!

[michael-ibk]

Thanks!

 

On 5/27/2022 at 12:30 AM, pedro maia said:

Congrats on the fourth ton, I think I read in another topic that you’re going to Equador and Zimbabwe, that means you’ll pass the 1000 mark this year

 

You know I hate you for saying that!

Edited June 3, 2022 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

439/U322) Speckle-Fronted Weaver (Sporopipes frontalis) / Schuppenkopfweber

 

Only seen in Murchison. Quite a cute Weaver species IMO.

 

 

440/U323) White-Browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali ) / Somaliweber

 

This species is often abundant but to my surprise we only had two sightings in Murchison.

 

 

441/U324) Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht) / Baglafechtweber

 

Had expected to see this one a lot but only three individuals on the grounds of Bakiga Lodge in Ruhija.

 

 

442/U325) Little Weaver (Ploceus luteolus) / Zwergweber

 

Quite common in Murchison, then two more birds in Ishasha.

 

 

 

443/U326) Slender-Billed Weaver (Ploceus pelzelni) / Mönchsweber

 

Most prolific on Lake Mburo, many of them in the reed.

 

 

444/U327) Black-Necked Weaver (Ploceus nigricollis) / Kurzflügelweber

 

Always near settlements, sightings in Entebbe, near Masindi and at the Ride 4 A Woman Guesthouse.

 

 

445/U328) Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis) / Brillenweber

 

Familiar species. Just two sightings, one at the Chimpanzee Guesthouse, one on the Kazinga Channel.

 

 

446/U329) Black-Billed Weaver (Ploceus melanogaster) / Schwarzbauchweber

 

Lifer. Unfortunately only one extremely distant sighting in Ruhija.

 

 

447/U330) Strange Weaver (Ploceus alienus) / Meisenweber

 

Albertine endemic (and lifer). Seen deep in the forest in Ruhija.

 

 

448/U331) Holub´s Golden Weaver (Ploceus xanthops) / Safranweber

 

Two sightings, Ishasha and Mburo.

 

 

449/U332) Northern Brown-Throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) / Riedweber

 

Lake Victoria area endemic, another lifer. Lots of them seen on the Mburo boat trip.

 

 

 

450/U333) Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius) / Cabanisweber

 

In QENP and Mburo.

 

 

451/U334) Vieillot´s (Black) Weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus) / Vieillotweber

 

Seen a couple of times (Kabalega, Chimpanzee Guesthouse, Ishasha) but nowhere near as common as I had expected.

 

 

452/U335) Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) / Dorfweber

 

Everywhere. So abundant I almost forgot to get it.

 

 

453/U336) Black-Headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) / Schwarzkopfweber

 

One of the few Weavers also "at home" in Europe, I´ve seen this species in Portugal. A few outside Budongo Forest, more on the Kazinga Channel.

 

 

454/U337) Golden-Backed Weaver (Ploceus jacksoni) / Jacksonweber

 

Only in Entebbe Botanical Garden.

 

 

455/U338) Yellow-Mantled Weaver (Ploceus tricolor) / Dreifarbenweber

 

Lifer. Another Forest Weaver that refused to cooperate, very distant.

 

 

456/U339) Brown-Capped Weaver (Ploceus insignis) / Braunkappenweber

 

As Forest Weavers go a bit easier to get. The name is not as confusing as it might appear here, the male does have a brown cap, this is a female. Several sightings in Bwindi.

 

 

457/U340) Compact Weaver (Ploceus superciliosus) / Augenbrauenweber

 

Another new one for me, seen in the fields outside Bugondo Forest.

 

 

 

Well, this was an exhausting group, I need a drink now!

 

 

Edited June 3, 2022 by michael-ibk

[Galana]

12 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

I need a drink now!

I should make it a double.

[pedro maia]

48 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Thanks!

 

 

You know I hate you for saying that!

No pressure .

[Soukous]

a fine collection of weavers, most of which I've never seen

[michael-ibk]

458/U341) Red-Billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) / Blutschnabelweber

 

Unlike the few million @Soukoussaw here in Uganda not exactly plentiful. Recorded three sightings of a few individuals (in Murchison and QENP).

 

 

459/U342) Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) / Oryxweber

 

Pretty common in QENP.

 

 

Also saw Black Bishop outside Budongo Forest but not picture.

[michael-ibk]

460/U343) White-Winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) / Spiegelweber

 

 

461/U344) Fan-Tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) / Stummelweber

 

 

Both species only in Ishasha, one group each.

[michael-ibk]

462/U345) Grosbeak aka Thick-Billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) / Weißstirnweber

 

A forest species seen in Semliki. Did not forget to group it with the other Weavers, apparently it´s not that closely related to them.

 

[michael-ibk]

463/U346) Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata) / Kleinelsterchen

 

Common, as this one usually is.

 

 

464/U347) Black-and-White Mannikin (Lonchura bicolor) / Glanzelsterchen

 

Only seen in Bigodi Swamp.

 

 

Failed to get a shot of a Magpie Manikin outside Budongo Forest. Another species that did not like me was Dusky Crimson-Wing. Very pretty species, and saw several of them in Ruhija, but just too small and fast.

[michael-ibk]

465/U348) White-Breasted Nigrita (Nigrita fusconotus) / Mantelschwärzling

 

In Budongo and Kigali.

 

 

466/U349) Grey-Headed Nigrita (Nigrita canicapillus) / Graunackenschwärzling

 

In Bwindi.

 

 

Both lifers. High canopy birds so not the easiest ones. Used to be the "Negrofinches". Always flinched a bit when I read that name in my Stevenson so for once a name change I approve of.

[michael-ibk]

467/U350) Black-Crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) / Nonnenastrild

 

Pretty common, especially in Kibale and Bwindi.

 

 

 

468/U351) Orange-Cheeked Waxbill (Estrilda melpoda) / Orangewangenastrild

 

An interesting species to get in Uganda - according to Stevenson and xeno-canto it does not even occur! Those maps only show a small population in Burundi in East Africa. But there are several ebird records for it in and around Semliki.

 

 

I was quite surprised not to get more Waxbills - lots of them in Uganda. Even failed with Common which I only saw once. And not a glimpse of one of the others.

[michael-ibk]

469/U352) Red-Cheeked Cordon-Bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) / Schmetterlingsastrild

 

One of the best-known birds in Africa. Not that plentiful, scattered sightings here and there.

 

 

470/U353) Brown Twinspot (Clytospiza monteiri) / Monteiroastrild

 

Love Twinspots, and this one (outside Budungo Forest) was a lifer. Still it did not appreciate that and kept well clear from me.

 

 

471/U354) African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata) / Dunkelamarant

 

Always when I see a Firefinch I hope it might NOT be a Red-Billed. Correct in this case as site guide Roger confirmed but the b*§"$&(& refused to cooperate. One of my glorious ebc efforts.

 

 

472/U355) Red-Billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) / Senegalamarant

 

The classic, and thereby always a disappointment to me. For some reason I was totally convinced this was a Bar-Breasted and I took a thousand photos in Kibale. Of course it was not.

 

[michael-ibk]

473/U356) Pin-Tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) / Dominikanerwitwe

 

A few sightings in the savanna areas. Very cool bird, especially when they "dance".

 

 

 

474/U357) Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata) / Rotfußwitwe

 

Regularly on the wire when driving through villages.

 

[michael-ibk]

475/U358) Northern Grey-Headed Sparrow (Passer griseus) / Graukopfsperling

 

Not the most exciting species. Common in villages and lodge gardens.

 

 

Missed Shelley´s Rufous Sparrow in Murchison which would have been a lifer. Sitting on a bush for just a second before it jumped into the grass.

[michael-ibk]

476/U359) Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis) / Kapstelze

 

Only two distant birds in Semliki of all places.

 

 

-/U360) Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) / Schafstelze

 

Common regular sightings pretty much everywhere. Lots of them on the move.

 

 

477/U361) African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp) / Witwenstelze

 

Common in Kibale and Bwindi. The locals believe they bring luck, so I was always happy seeing them before a trek.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

478/U362) African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) / Zimtspornpieper

 

Not many of them. Two birds in Kasenyi, one in Ishasha.

 

 

479/U363) Plain-Backed Pipit (Anthus leucophrys) / Braunrückenpieper

 

A few individuals in Mburo.

 

 

480/U364) Yellow-Throated Longclaw (Macronyx croceus) / Gelbkehlpieper

 

Pretty common in Murchison, QENP and Mburo.

 

[michael-ibk]

481/U365) Yellow-Fronted Canary (Crithagra mozambica) / Mosambikgirlitz

 

Only one bird in Mburo. The very yellow rump is a key feature for this one.

 

 

482/U366) Brimstone Canary (Crithagra sulphurata) / Schwefelgirlitz

 

More common, several sightings (Masindi, Murchison, Kibale and Mburo).

 

[michael-ibk]

483/U367) Cabanis´s Bunting (Emberiza cabanisi) / Cabanisammer

 

A lifer in the fields outside Budongo Forest.

 

 

And that´s it! Poor Buntings always come last.

 

I will never go back to Uganda - way too many birds there.