Posts in Category: Kibale National Park
Primate edition: Vervet Monkey
Another primate from the same stretch of back road between Fort Portal and Hima where we saw yesterday’s Black and White Colobus. The Vervet does not seem to be nearly as prevalent in Uganda as it is in Kenya or South Africa. Among the most “naughty” (as they say in Africa) of the monkeys…we might say mischievous. It is always into something it should not be, has no fear of man, and can open almost any door. I would not put it past them to pick locks! Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 1000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Collared Sunbird
Collared Sunbird: Crater lake near Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Male and female Collared Sunbirds from our little walk along the woodlot on the back road from Kabale to Hima. Too far away! 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.
Primate edition: Black-and-white Colobus Monkey
We stopped for a patch of second growth forest along the road just past where it passes between the two Crater lakes, on our way from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth, and were greeted by a troop of Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys…by far the most common primate on this trip. This gentleman (assuming here) was definitely tracking our movements and intent. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/800th.
Little Greenbul
Little Greenbul: Crater lakes near Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Another bird from our productive stop between the lakes where the Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters nest. The Little Greenbul is not as spectacular as a Bee-eater, but it is louder! It is in full song here. I had to wonder why it is a “greenbul” and it turns out it is pretty logical. It is green and it is a member of the bulbul family. I will save finding out what a bulbul is a bulbul for another day. 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.
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher: Crater lakes near Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Where we stopped for the Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, we also saw a pair of Black-and-white Shrike-flycatchers. They were way in the top of the huge tree by the road were it runs between the two crater lakes, and just within reach of the Sony’s 600mm lens, with some creative enlargement in post. Beautiful little perky birds. Notice the very different look of the male and female. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/1000th and 1/800th.
Chimpanzee edition: last one
Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — The elder of the troop, this large male did not climb up to the high perches with the rest of the chimps. He took his ease on the ground in the shade, and younger chimps came to groom him. Looks like he earned his privileged status. Sony Rx10iv at 591mm 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 @ 1/100th (dark under the canopy).
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater: Crater lakes near Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — Leaving the Chimpanzee Forest Lodge on our way to Queen Elizabeth National Park, we take a back road over the ridge, past a few of the many crater lakes (sink hole lakes) in the area, and always stop for the colony of Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters that nests along the road where it passes close between too of the lakes. Like all bee-eaters, the Cinnamon-breasted is an active bird…and, while it might perch, it is continuously “sallying” out for insects. Beautiful bird! And of course we saw a good number of other species while watching the bee-eaters. More to come. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 and f4.5 at 1/800th and 1/1000th.
Chimpanzee edition #2
A bit closer shot of the infant and mom from our Chimpanzee Trek at Kibale National Park in Uganda last August. I am not a good judge but I would guess this chimp is only a few months old. Certainly it was still very clingy on its mom. Sony Rx10iv at 595mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications with multi-frame noise-reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 5000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Butterflies of Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — When we got back to the wood road from our Chimpanzee Trek in Kibale National Forest we had a longish wait for our vehicle (our guide was taking the opportunity to wash and clean the Land Cruiser). Fortunately we had at least 14 species of butterflies to entertain us…or at least I was entertained by them. The true birders in the group pretty much sat on the ground and watched for birds. I do not know the butterflies of Maine as well as I should, and I know the butterflies of Uganda and East Africa not at all! I had no hope of identifying these butterflies but I did find an excellent publication on the Butterflies of Kibale National Park, available as a download PDF, this morning while doing a bit of research and I should be able to ID these and most of the others. Consider this a teaser. My intention is to come back to this post with IDs over the next few days as I have time to dig out the names. 🙂 All shots with the Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos, and assembled in FrameMagic. ISO was all over the place, from 2500 (with multi-frame noise reduction on) for the shots on the ground to 100 for the shots on the sunny foliage @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Chimpanzee edition: baby!
Even when the chimpanzees came down lower, they were still high enough in the tree and up against the light behind the canopy to make photography difficult. Still, this youngster and mom were interesting to watch as he clambered around on her lap. Sony Rx10iv at 547mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications with multi-frame noise reduction. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. Equivalent ISO 5000 @ f4 @ 1/500th.