Uganda part 4 - Kibale Chimpanzees

Our next leg of the Uganda FAM tour took us to Kibale National Park. It was a long drive on December 5th 2025, through spectacular landscape. It was very interesting to watch the habitats change while we climbed up the mountains of the Albertine Rift.  There were many birds to be seen en route so we made several birding stops. A stop at Fort Portal wetlands (eBird checklist here) was productive, with several cool weavers seen. Northern Masked-Weaver has a highly restricted range in Uganda, this is the prime location to see it:

Black-headed Weaver

Northern Brown-throated Weaver

A pair of White-collared Olivebacks whizzed through very quickly - too quick for my camera (or for the camera operator) to focus, but such great wee birds:

We arrived to our wonderful accommodation at Guereze Canopy Lodge in the afternoon. It was a pleasure to stay at this beautiful lodge, established and operated by the Ugandan female birding legend Harriet Kimigasha. Soon after our arrival we headed out birding in the lodge grounds and environs. It was spectacular, so many excellent birds just there. Highlights included the rare and patchily-distributed Masked Apalis, that showed pretty well while singing:

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and White-breasted Nigrita in the background:

Masked Apalis distribution map from Birds of the World

Wait until the end to see how this male Klaas's Cuckoo stretches his neck while singing:

This stunning Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat was bathing in the lodge garden:

Not a bad way to end the day, with a bottle of Nile. Eric is so huge!

At night, Red-chested Owlet, African Wood-Owl and Fiery-necked Nightjar were calling in the garden.

The main course was on December 6th, our first encounter with great apes. We met up with our guides and armed escorts from Uganda Wildlife Authority, and set off on Robin Hill trail to search for Chimpanzee family groups. It was a nice, long walk through beautiful forest.

We listened out for Chimpanzees, and before not too long heard one family group, high up in trees. Our excitement was peaking, being so close to these incredible animals. But we couldn't see them! We walked around in the forest, trying to locate them, without luck at first. After a good search and bush whacking through the dense undergrowth we finally spotted them, sitting high up in a tall tree. Wow. They stayed high up, hiding in the trees, but eventually we got good views. Admittedly, I failed miserably to photograph them. This is the only half-decent photo I got of a powerful, large male jumping down from a large tree to check us out, so quickly I couldn't get a photo when it was close:

My digiscoping efforts paid off a bit more than my DSLR efforts, I think. Honestly, it was a bit of a schlep to carry my scope everywhere. However, when digiscoping opportunities materialized, my Swarovski ATX85 proved to be so sharp and good and I don't regret carrying it around.

While admiring this Chimpanzee family, another family approached from the forest. The vocal interaction between the two groups is amazing - turn your volume up!

The Chimpanzee experience was outstanding and thrilling. Birding was tough, as it is normally in jungles. We heard lots of birds, and got mainly fleeting views of silhouettes in the canopy, or back sides of shapes flying away... Still, lots of quality in that forest (eBird checklist here), including Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Narina Trogon, White-tailed and Red-tailed Ant-Thrushes. A pair of obliging and beautiful Blue-breasted Rollers waited for us by our vehicles when we returned to the road.

That afternoon we took the Bigodi Community Walk, where we experienced local village life, crafts and coffee making, while enjoying excellent countryside birding (eBird checklist here). I love African countryside birding. Often, on normal bird tours in East Africa, there isn't enough time to appreciate the diversity and quality of birding in typical countryside habitat with heterogenous, extensive cultivation in small plots, rich hedges, and forest patches and edges. Therefore, our time birding in Bigodi village was hugely appreciated, and photo opps were plenty, as birds are very used to human activity.

Human activity

This child was crawling through a wall of skirts during a dance show

Lesser Striped Swallow

Angola Swallow

White-chinned Prinia is an attractive little bird

Brown-throated Wattle-eye is common and stunning.

I love it when bird names are given according to the female plumage - check that beautiful brown throat! 

Those red wattles

We obtained better views of African Blue Flycatchers - that little crest is gorgeous:

The cherry on top was a Red-headed Bluebill - super bird!

After dinner we went to Bigodi swamp for a night walk. We saw a few night mammals, including Demidoff's Dwarf Galago and East African Potto, two cool small primates, check their links in iNaturalist. We had good views of them but I failed to get any photos. Luckily Yousif did:

With the use of a thermal we spotted a few night-roosting common birds, including sleepy Collared Sunbirds, and a Green-backed Camaroptera all tucked in, looking like an alien.

Special summary - my birding year in 2025

It’s that time of year again when I look back on the standout birding and wildlife moments of 2025. It has been a very strange year. From a birding perspective, it was remarkable—both in Israel and abroad. Yet on a national and human level, it was dreadful. I rarely write about politics here, but the situation in Israel is so severe that it touches every part of my life. As my beloved country continues to deteriorate, and life grows harder for a liberal, secular person, birding, nature, and time with like-minded people in the nature and science communities have become a growing beacon of light and hope.

2025 was a year of intensive birding in Israel, complemented by several fantastic trips overseas. In this summary, I’ll revisit the year’s highlights at home and beyond—local and national birding, twitching, fieldwork, photography, travel, and more. Enjoy.

A year of birding in Israel

The year 2025 has been exceptional for birding in Israel, marked by massive migrations during both seasons, and a productive breeding period despite ongoing drought conditions. Throughout the year, I proudly maintained my eBirding streak, recently celebrating seven consecutive years of birding. In 2025, I submitted 870 checklists and uploaded to the Macaulay Library 561 photos, 141 videos, and 72 sound recordings.

A significant portion of my birding consists of local outings. Thankfully, living in Israel offers a wealth of excellent birding opportunities within a 10 km radius of my home, and I take full advantage of local sites. Additionally, I continued my fieldwork with BirdLife Israel, participating in breeding bird surveys, various studies, and migration counts.

As of December 29th, an impressive 415 species have been reported on eBird this year, and I have observed 386 of them, which is quite satisfying. I was so busy towards the end of the year and missed several easy birds. Below are my annual totals for birding in Israel over recent years:

In 2025 I had two Israel ticks (Eastern Red-rumped Swallow in January, and Common Grasshopper-Warbler in May), bringing my eBird Life List in Israel to 493 species. At this rate, 500 isn't unimaginable, in a few years...

January

The year started well with a trip up north that produced several great birds, including Radde's Accentors, and Red-wattled Lapwing.

Close to home, my friend Micha found a Pine Bunting, coupled with a Yellowhammer, enjoyed with Piki.

On the last day of January I travelled down to Eilat, to twitch an Eastern Red-rumped Swallow, found by Noah konopny and Zvi Schwarzfuchs. The swallow showed very well!

February

In February I had some fieldwork duties in the far south, which was good fun. Towards the end of the month, first spring migrants - always fun to find my first Rüppell's Warbler of the season.

Nothing special, just a photo I liked

March

In March migration picked up, and I was all over the place. Early in the month I said goodbye to the overwintering Pied Bushchat before it departed.

I travelled down to Eilat twice during March. On the first visit I was rewarded with brilliant views of this neat Menetries's Warbler in the city.

In late March I headed down to Eilat for the Eilat Birding Festival and Champions of the Flyway. It was a wonderful time of year to be there, so many birds, great people and atmosphere - bliss. Race day was on April 1st.

Caspian Plover

Two long-staying Lesser White-fronted Geese

Black Scrub-Robin

Champions of the Flyway 2025 group photo by Yuval Dax 

April

In April, post Champions of the Flyway, despite not seeing any proper rarities, I thoroughly enjoyed massive spring migration.

Blackcaps in the Golan Heights

Semicollared Flycatcher in Yeruham

May

May is always a busy month for migration. May 2025 did not disappoint, in that respect. On May 8th I dipped on Israel's first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in Eilat. Long drive for a dip. However, there were so many birds down there that we were only a tiny bit disappointed.

Mixed shorebirds

Gull-billed Terns

Terek Sandpiper

On May 11th it was Global Big Day. We had a fantastic day up north, with so many special birds and moments.

Rosy Starlings in Agamon Hula

On May 14th I was delighted to see a Common Grasshopper-warbler at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory. An Israel tick for me, actually it was my bogey bird, laid to rest,

June - July

The summer months were slower, though I enjoyed many breeding birds. A traditional trip up to Mt. Meron to appreciate the Eleonora's Falcons that spend the summer there was enjoyable.

August

In August autumn migration picked up, and good birds pored in. This stonking male White-throated Robin, part of a nice arrival in southern Israel, was a real poser.

September

In September shorebird migration peaked. I enjoyed visiting migration sites to take it all in. The Tel Avivian Pacific Golden-Plover returned for another winter.

 

 

This Pectoral Sandpiper I found on September 11th at Ma'agan Michael was well appreciated by many birders.

A pelagic trip off Eilat on the 19th produced a single Swinhoe's Strom-Petrel:

This year we counted raptors, and conducted research at our restoration projects. Phenomenal.

European Honey-Buzzard, one of many that roosted on the 8th at our restoration site in Kfar Ruppin

Levant Sparrowhawks over home, September 23rd

Obliging Red Knot at Ma'agan Michael, 26th

October

In early October I enjoyed counting large numbers of Lesser Spotted Eagles.

And White Pelicans

This fearless young Red-footed Falcon was near home, at Tal Shachar:

November

I enjoyed several morning with excellent active migration during the month. No outstanding photos from these events, but I enjoyed this Rook at Arsuf:

December

I was away in Uganda during the first half of the month, then super busy after my return. My final year bird was Cinereous Vulture - two birds in Haifa on December 24th.

World birding

In April I went with my family to Greece. It was my first visit to this wonderful country. I enjoyed birding the countryside, where Cirl Buntings and Eastern Subalpine Warblers were common. I had one global lifer there, Rock Partridge, that I didn't succeed to photograph.

In late May I flew to California, where I presented at a conference in Stanford University. Before the conference I spent two days of whirlwind birding with my friends Brian and Aaron - thanks guys! those two bird-packed days blew my mind.

Black-footed Albatross

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Mountain Quail

Lazuli Bunting

Wilson's Phalarope

In July I participated in Global Birdfair, representing Birds of the World. Here I am with my Cornell Lab team mates, Iain, Alex, Ali and Ian.

I didn't neglect my role as director of BirdLife Israel, and supported Alen from my team when she shared her experience in a panel on the healing power of nature.

In late November I flew to amazing Uganda, to participate in an exceptionally awesome FAM tour. We saw so many incredible birds and mammals. I am slowly posting about this trip. I took so many photos that it's taking me too long to sort and edit them. Stay tuned for more updates.

Shoebill

Papyrus Gonolek - poor photo of a great bird

Mountain Gorilla

Serval

That's it for 2025, more or less. There's a storm blowing outside now, seawatching tomorrow, so maybe one last good bird tomorrow morning? In the meanwhile, I am so thankful for the opportunities I had in 2025 to be outdoors, to spend time with good people, to experience nature at its best.

My love and appreciation to my family for their support throughout the year and always. 

We had an incredible year together, with so many happy moments and also sad periods, including the loss of our beloved dog Lola.

Huge thanks to all my birding mates, who share those wonderful moments with me. Love you all.

I thank my employers at SPNI/BirdLife Israel and Cornell Lab/Birds of the World for enduring my birding. Swarovski Optik have been providing me with the best optics, for which I am grateful.

I thank all my supporters and followers in Israel and worldwide, here on my blog and on my social media platforms. Please, keep on birding, be good to each other an to our world. I wish us all a wonderful 2026!