Daily Archives: December 29, 2022
Black-faced Apalis
Black-faced Apalis: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda, August 2022 — This used to be the Mountain-masked Apalis, and is another Albertine Rift endemic…restricted in range to the highlands forests of Western Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. It is a very active bird, often found, as we encountered it along the edge of the parking for the Gorilla Trek in Bwindi, in mixed feeding flocks…though typically higher in the canopy than we found it here. Sony Rx10iv at about 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. In the changing light of the understory, ISO 1600 down to ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Bronzed Cowbird
Bronzed Cowbird: Danta Corcovado Lodge, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, December 2022 — Another bird from the wet field just as you turn toward Danta Corcovado Lodge. There were many Bronzed Cowbirds, a few Shiny Cowbirds, and at least one Giant Cowbird in the field around the cattle. I had only a limited view out the windows on that side as I was sitting on the “wrong” side of the van, but I managed this portrait of a Bronzed on the wire. In other light that iridescence would be more bronze and gives the bird its name. I have seen these birds in Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and they have a foothold in California and Louisiana. They are occasionally seen along the coast as far as Florida. You can see them almost anywhere in lowland Central America where there are cleared fields and cattle. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Photo and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f5.5 @ 1/1000th.