Birding Ethiopia: My Unusual Introduction to Africa
It turns out that birding Ethiopia is an unusual choice for a first-time vacation to Africa. There are no big game safaris like in areas to the south, and it has no gorilla treks like in countries to the southwest. And those other countries tend to have more tourists and, of course, the infrastructure to provide more comfort to those tourists. But what it lacks in big game and infrastructure, it makes it for in compelling history, unique wildlife, tasty cuisine, and the best darned coffee you’ll find anywhere. It might be an unusual first trip to Africa, I will admit that much. But Ethiopia still warrants a visit for…
Bird of the Week: Abyssinian Roller
Everyone needs gateway bird, and I am here to convince you that wild birds deserve your adoration. Let's take a look at our first Bird of the Week!
An Entertaining Wildlife Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
We’d reached the halfway point – Day 6 of my Uganda Highlights tour. What began as my quest for shoebills quickly morphed into a regular maelstrom of butterflies, frequent big game sightings, and – as luck would have it – some fine feathered friends. Uganda had made a very positive impression thus far, and the afternoon promised to continue that trend. We were scheduled to spend a couple hours on a boat, seeing all the birds and other wildlife Queen Elizabeth National Park could offer. A Morning Drive We started our day with a big game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, during which we spotted more birds than big…
Great Apes and Green-Breasted Pittas in Kibale
Day 4 of a 12-day Uganda “highlights” tour held the promise of the green-breasted pitta, one of the country’s most difficult species, and a short chimpanzee trek. We left our lodge early. No, I mean seriously early. It was still dark. We spent time stargazing after arriving at Kibale National Park, our birding destination for the day. Yes, this is how I choose to spend my vacation. I do admit to questioning my choices from time to time, but usually those times are around 4a.m. Treasure Hunting (for Birders) I have to admit that I didn’t know much about this pitta. The pittas are almost unmistakable in shape and structure…
The Spectacular Shoebill Swamps of Uganda
My bird tour of Uganda began in late May 2019. I arrived in Entebbe at about midnight for the tour that began at 6am the next morning. This was a highlights tour – about 12 days rather than the 19 days of the full, classic tour. And for duration and price, this option fit my needs perfectly. Especially since I was in Uganda for one bird. Yep, I paid for this tour and spent about 18 hours in transit to see one single bird: the Shoebill. #priorities? Operation Shoebill A bird named for its most noticeable feature, an impressive bill that is not, in fact, a shoe. It’s probably shoe-shaped.…
Costa Rica: Sea Turtles, Canyoning, and Walking in the Clouds
I don’t actually remember feeling extreme wanderlust before going to Costa Rica. I did not choose a career based on any reasonable factors, like income potential, and did not expect to be able to afford many adventures. But after a few years of full-time employment, I decided I could afford to give myself a great birthday present – a trip to Costa Rica! As international destinations go, Costa Rica is pretty affordable. It’s a great country to dip your toes into a new culture without being overwhelmed. The country gets plenty of tourism, and the supporting infrastructure provides lots of options to a new traveler. And so a friend and…
