Antelope edition: Oribi
Oribi are small, graceful antelope, and are very common in the tall grass savannah of Murchison Falls National Park…apparently less common elsewhere in Uganda. The females and young can be seen at the edges of grazing herds of Uganda Kob, or off by themselves. The males seem to be more secretive, at least in my experience. I have only seen males twice in Uganda. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 and 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
White-faced Whistling Duck
White-faced Whistling Duck: Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — These White-faced Whistling Ducks were in the same little puddle-pond/water-hole with the Crake from yesterday, along the road into Pakuba Lodge in Murchison Falls National Park. A look at the range map tells me that the White-faced Whistling Duck has perhaps one of the widest distributions in East Africa and Uganda, and can be seen just about anywhere there is appropriate habitat. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 250 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Antelope edition: Jackson’s Hartebeest
In Uganda they call this the Jackson’s Hartebeest…but a little research this morning indicates that the Jackson’s Hartebeest is considered to be a cross between the Lewel’s and Coke’s subspecies…and in Uganda, at least at Murchison Falls National Park where we saw this one, is most probably identical to the Lewel’s…it is certainly counted as Lewel’s for conservation status purposes. On the other hand, other websites and local guides seem confident that this is the Jackson’s ??? Whatever it is, it is a handsome beast, closely related to the Wildebeest. The name, apparently, means “tough ox”… 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.
Black Crake
Black Crake: Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — According to my field guide, there are 7 Crakes we might have seen Uganda, but we only saw the Black Crake…and we saw that pretty much wherever there was water…from the marshes of Lake Victoria, to the banks of the Nile, to little puddles in the savannah…like this one we passed on our way to our lodge in Murchison Falls National Park. Crakes, like most rails, are active, somewhat secretive, foragers of shallow waters. Their big feet allow them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallows. Orange and yellow and black…a striking color combination. 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.
Martial Eagle
Martial Eagle: Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — On our way out for our first game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, we spotted this Martial Eagle in the top of an Acacia Tree a hundred yards from the road, sitting up in the early sun. The Martial Eagle, according to my brief research this morning, is the largest Eagle in Africa…with a wingspan of over 6 feet and weight of almost 10 pounds (huge for a bird). It is reportedly capable of some impressive feats of strength. Some say it can knock a grown man off his feet. It is heavily persecuted throughout its declining range, by farmers who are convinced it takes livestock…and by game rangers who think they are protecting vulnerable mammal species. It is certainly a big, heavy eagle, with just enough crest to make it stand out. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 125 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Bishops
Black Bishop and Northern Red Bishop: Bodongo Forest and Murchinson Falls National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — These two Bishops were not that far apart as the crow (or the Bishop) flies. The Black Bishop was in the fields at the edge of the Bodongo Forest just south of the Nile, and the Red Bishop was on the savannah just north of the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park. It is a long drive, but a short flight. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 400 and 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th and 1/640th. (Very different light…the Black Bishop had 1EV and added exposure for the cloudy dark morning.)
Dog edition: Black-backed Jackal
We were still on our way to the lodge in Murchinson Falls National Park when we spotted a Black-backed Jackal crossing the road behind us. It was in and out of deep grass and hard to photograph, but not much further on we stopped for antilope and found what was probably its mate enjoying the late day sun in the grass much nearer the road. These are of course, from the northern, East African population of Jackals, far removed from the South African population that hunts similar savannahs. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent (the first shot considerably enlarged in post processing). Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 500 and 400 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus 1.3EV.
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Blue-breasted Kingfisher: Royal Mile, Bodongo Forest, Uganda, August 2022 — I posted one photo of this Kingfisher…my second life Kingfisher from our visit to the Royal Mile (see a few posts back for more info on the Royal Mile) in Uganda’s Bodongo Forest adjoining Murchinson Falls National Park, but it deserves a couple more shots 🙂 We had given up and were turning back on the Royal Mile when our guide’s head snapped around and he said “Kingfisher.” I was still hoping for the Chocolate-backed (a Royal Mile speciality), and was totally surprised to see the Blue-breasted…a bird that was not even on my radar for the Royal Mile. What a bird! What a Kingfisher!. Again with the poor light under the dense canopy, but still 🙂 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. Nominal exposure: ISO 6400 @ f4 @ 1/500th. Plus .3EV.
Antelope edition: Ugandan Kob
Ugandan Kob: Murchinson Falls National Park, Uganda — As far as antipopes go, the Impala, by sheer numbers and its wide distribution, could be said to rule the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. Except in Uganda, where the very closely related, but separate species, the Uganda Kob replaces them over much of the country. The Kob has very similar horns, much the same life-style and habits…but lacks the distinctive M on the butt. It is also, to my eye, a very slightly more “chunky” version of the Impala, with less of the elegance, and more of the sturdiness. This early morning shot captures some of the “peacefulness” of a herd of Kob grazing the lush savannah of Murchinson Falls National Park. Sony Rx10iv at 477mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 ! 1/640th.
African Dwarf Kingfisher
African Dwarf Kingfisher: Royal Mile, Bodongo Forest, Uganda — If I thought the African Pygmy Kingfisher was small (and I did), the African Dwarf Kingfisher is absolutely tiny! In fact, according to some references, the African Dwarf is the smallest Kingfisher in the world. On average it is just under 4 inches long, half an inch shorter than the average for the African Pygmy Kingfisher. It also lacks the blue cap and has that back bar across the forehead. Though eBird shows sightings on the Royal Mile, the Birds of East Africa only shows a range spot around Entebbe and a band along the south-western border of the country. It is a more common bird in the rainforests of West Africa, though it is not common or easily seen anywhere, especially as it sticks to low vegitaion deep under the canopy…often far from any watercourse.. So, all in all, it was a surprise to see it on the Royal Mile, only a few hundred yards down the road from the Pygmy. With the low light under the canopy and the diminutive size of the bird, I had to work my way cautiously closer to get any photos at all. And again, special processing was required even with multi-frame noise reduction engaged. The Dwarf was a life bird for me, one of two life Kingfishers I picked up on the Royal Mile (again, look back two posts for more information on the Royal Mile). 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. Nominal exposure: ISO 6400 @ f4 @ 1/160th and 1/125th. Plus .3 EV.