Monthly Archives: October 2019
Defassa Waterbuck
The first official day of our #Epic_Uganda_Vacations safari was spent getting to Murchinson Falls National Park, with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary along the way for Rhino Trekking, and we drove through the Murchinson gate at sunset, did not reach the Nile Ferry until 7PM, and Pakuba Safari Lodge deep in the park until well after dark. We woke the next morning to a herd of Defassa Waterbuck feeding around our cabins. These shots were taken before sunrise, using the Sony RX10IV’s Anti-Motion Blur mode for the low light levels. Two of the young bucks were testing their combative skills. 600mm equivalent. Processed in Polarr.
African Jacana
As we were turning the boat around after our first Shoebill sighting in the Mabamba Wetlands near Entebbe, Uganda (no easy task as the channel was choked with water plants), one of the African Jacanas that had been feeding nearby decided to come really near. This shot, taken at 1200mm equivalent (2X Clear Image Zoom) is cropped only for composition. The bird was close! Note that unlike most water-weed-walking birds, the Jacana does not have webbed or lobbed toes. It relies on the huge spread of its foot to support it on floating vegetation. Sony RX10IV. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr. #Epic_Uganda_Vacations.
Shoebill in the rain
One of the participants on my #Epic_Uganda_Vacations safari in Uganda decided to come in a day early to look for the Shoebill Stork in the Mabamba Wetlands near the airport in Entebbe. Though I had already made my flight arrangements, on mature reflection (the only kind I am capable of at my age) I decided it was worth the money to change my flight to join her. It turned out to be a magical day. We saw, not one, but two Shoebill Storks, and many other interesting birds, both at the Mabamba Wetlands and at Entebbe Botanical Gardens. And we got our only good soaking of the trip. A storm came up as we were watching the first Shoebill and we huddled under a beach umbrella in the boat and tried to take photos through the rain. This bird mostly just stood and endured the wetting, but it became more active toward the end of our observation, stalking slowly forward and obviously intent on something below water level. If you look closely you can see the rain in the air. 🙂 Shoebills are solitary, except during their mating season, which only comes around once in 5 years. That, and habitat reduction, accounts for their small numbers and isolated distribution. We did see a third Shoebill on the trip…an isolated individual in the Delta of the Victoria and Albert Niles in Murchinson Falls National Park…and that is a high count for any trip to Uganda. Sony Rx10iv at 1200mm equivalent (2x Clear Image Zoom). This is stretching the limits of what the camera can do…using digital enhancement in low light for distant shots…but it was the only way to get the image. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Polarr and Apple Photos.