Uganda Jaunt - a sequel

[Kennyakagera]

The photos quality doesn't make it easy, but I almost surely Lycophidion spp. on the first one and most likely capensis, it doesn't seems to have keeled scales so it cant be Meleya spp.
Only chance to get a better shot of the second one, the shape doesn't look like olive house snake. And the Olive house snake we get up there is Lamprophis olivaceous which is a forest dwelling species. Only few records on the western side of Uganda, (Albertine rift side).

[zetik]

Nice big chameleon.
Wonder if anyone can confirm ID?
The only similar one I see in Spawls shows very limited distribution and not in Uganda.
It's one of the biggest chameleons I've come across.
I've included the blurry shot showing the body pattern as only one I got. As you can see it was bit annoyed to be disturbed while crossing a road. Did not have time to stop and let it settle - jumped off my hand at the first chance and I had to carry on.

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[zetik]

Pretty Puff

Great the way they move away at a rock steady pace, head looking sideways straight to camera in a 'make my day' pose.
Rest of the body dead straight and moving in a perfect straight line.

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grrrr! I eat gravel for breakfast...

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Look! I've grown haven't I, haven't I

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[Westley Price]

I have a feeling you chameleon might be Chamaeleo gracilis, but I am not 100% sure on distribution so I cannot confirm.

[zetik]

Thanks Westley.
Checked it in Spawls and as far as I can see your suggestion is a match - including the distribution that show it extends to Albert valley. I'd only skimmed the pics and Spawls has a dark, dull one, but description states very variable including light to very dark green.

[zetik]

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Another Puff Adder
demonstrates how fast the iris responds to change in light...
firing with flash at least a couple of shots a second and this is the difference between 2 consequetive shots. Recovery to original position was very fast also.

[zetik]

any birders checking this thread and would like a string of birds to ID?
Alternatively does someone have a forum to recomend for posting birdies?

[Kennyakagera]

That second pictures of the puffy is absolutly brilliant.
Please post birds picture, I am guiding in Akagera National Park so I might be able to help.

[zetik]

Young Egyptian.

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[zetik]

Kenny, I guess you will have most of the same birds then - googled a few pics of the park and quite similar to local parks/reserve areas here. I hope I can get down there one day.
Many of these bird pics not in conservation areas so not even of particularly elusive species I imagine.
I've got at least about 10 that I don't know and don't have any bird books here - will pick one up next time in Kampala.
I'll post slowly in threes when I get the time!

young malachite or pygmy? Probably flew into window or side of building. Eventually seemed to fully recover after long time and released:

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Dry season - edge of reserve after burning:

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Mixed use community conservation area, bit far away and don't have decent telephoto for the birdies:

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[Kennyakagera]

Ok from top to bottom:

Malachite kingfisher
Abdim's stork
and Crowned eagle.

Keep the nice pictures coming!
Kenny.

[Kev]

Wow that picture of the puff adder is really something.

As for the birds that's a pygmy kingfisher and a Abdim's/white belied stork.
The eagle I'm leaning towards a black chested snake eagle but not 100% sure I'm a bit rusty with the raptors.

[Kennyakagera]

Kev, I think you are right checking in the book this morning the Eagle is not a crowned eagle as I said yesterday but looks more like an snake eagle. And the white belly would make it Black chested snake eagle. Thanks for the correction Kev, haven't been birding for long now time to go back to work...

[zetik]

Marvellous, thanks. Really like to put names to the faces!
Glad the puff pic is appreciated. Most of my shots are a bit rushed - catch, sometimes hold for a day or two until get an opportunity to drop it somewhere safe but too busy to take time to get the right light and setting etc for great pics. My focus is on getting better pics that may help with ID. Was lucky with the timing of dropping that puff in the bush and able to get some better shots. Would be great to have the time every time. Opened one of your threads Kenny and was captured into reading start to end. And the pics are stunning. Hope you're not going to say they are rushed snaps. Time for me to give up if so!

Anyway... few more birds:

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[zetik]

And...

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It's a tough life in Africa.