Uganda Edition: Black-headed Heron
Uganda Edition: Black-headed Herons, on the grounds of Bird’s Nest Lodge on Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda, August 2022 — The nest was in the tree overhanging the veranda, and clearly the birds were not bothered by the constant observation of the guests. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Common Chlorsphingus
Common Chlorosphingus: Las Cruces Biological Research Station, San Vito, Costa Rica, December 2022 — Indeed the most common Chlorosphingus in Costa Rica and probably in Central America. One of the most common birds around feeders and often the flock leader in mixed feeding flocks in the forest. They are pretty much everywhere, at higher elevations though I think the Sooty-capped is more common at the highest elevations. Sony Rx10iv at 485 and 600mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 800 and 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .7EV.
Uganda Edition: Slender-billed Weaver
Slender-billed Weaver: Bird’s Nest Lodge, Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda, August 2022 — Bird’s Nest Lodge on Lake Bunyonyi is a luxurious rest stop after Gorilla or Golden Monkey trekking in the mountains. A place to clean off the mud, take a hot shower, and enjoy the views out over “the lake of many little birds” (which I think is the translation of the name). There are always birds on the grounds as well. These Slender-billed Weavers were nesting over the veranda above the lake. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications and multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 6400 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Lesson’s Motmot
Lesson’s Motmot: Las Cruces Biological Research Station, San Vito, Costa Rica, December 2022 — If you remember, I posted a Lesson’s Motmot from our very first day in Costa Rica, from the grounds of the Hotel Bougainvilla, This one came for the bananas on the terrace behind the dinning hall at Las Curces. Lesson’s and the Blue-capped Motmot with a range in Northeast Mexico both used to be the Blue-crowned Motmot when I first birded in Central America. The Lesson’s is perhaps the most common Motmot in Central American and certainly in Costa Rica. Sony Rx10iv at 580mm and 493mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. Upright: ISO 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Horizontal: ISO 800 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .7EV.
Uganda Edition: Eastern Mountain Greenbul
Eastern Mountain Greenbul: Kisaro-Kabale Road, Uganda, August 2022 — One last bird from the roadside on our way to Birds Nest Lodge on Lake Bunyonyi. The typical Greenbul of high elevations in East Africa, this apparently was just the Mountain Greenbul, lumped with the Western Mountain Greenbul of west Africa, until recently. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Eastern Mountain Greenbul
Eastern Mountain Greenbul: Kisaro-Kabale Road, Uganda, August 2022 — One last bird from the roadside on our way to Birds Nest Lodge on Lake Bunyonyi. The typical Greenbul of high elevations in East Africa, this apparently was just the Mountain Greenbul, lumped with the Western Mountain Greenbul of west Africa, until recently. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Crested Guan
Crested Guan: Las Cruces Biological Research Station, San Vito, Costa Rica, December 2022 — The Crested is the lowland and foothills Guan in Costa Rica…replaced by the Black Guan at higher elevations. There were several around the grounds of the Wilson Botanical Gardens at Las Cruces. This one came out into a patch of sun for us. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 320 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Fiery-billed Aracari
Fiery-billed Aracari: Las Cruces Biological Research Station, San Vito, Costa Rica, December 2022 — Though we see Fiery-billed Aracari on the Osa Peninsula, I alway enjoy them at the feeders on the deck behind the dinning hall at Las Cruces. Up close and personal. And such intense birds! They, like most of the Toucan family, are terrible bullies and nest predators, but you have to admire their plumage and that massive bright bill. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 486 and 587mm equivalents. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th and 1/640th.
Uganda Edition: Three birds in a bush…
Baglafecht Weaver, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Black-faced Apalis: Kisaro-Kabale Road, Uganda, August 2022 — When we left Mgahinga National Park for. the drive to Lake Bunyonyi and the Bird’s Nest lodge we stopped at the edge of the highlands for a mixed feeding flock working the road edge. This is three birds for the price of one! The Baglafecht Weaver (yellow bird) is common throughout East Africa at certain elevations. It is highly variable and used, in fact, to be 4 separate species, now lumped into one. It still has 5 named races. The White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher (grey bird) is the Albertine variety, without the bold white eye ring common further east, and the Black-faced Apalis is an actual Albertine Rift endemic, which we also encountered in Bwindi. So, not only three birds for the price of one, but three geographically special birds. Sony Rx10iv at 567mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Uganda Edition: Black Cuckoo-shrike
Black Cuckoo-shrike: Mgahinga National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — The Cuckoo-shrikes of East Africa are one of those species where the male and female look like two different species, they are so no alike! This is the female of the Black Cuckoo-shrike from the slopes of Mgahinga above the ranger station. Sony Rx10iv at 541mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f5.6 @ 1/1000th