Back to Guiding

It has been a while since Jops and I last helped conduct a guided trip for first-time birdwatchers, so when WBCP member Tony requested an afternoon trip to Candaba for him and his colleagues, we made sure to make time for it.

Jops giving the introductory talk about birdwatching.

We started our walk at the big pond just before the mayor's house. There were lots of Grey Herons, Chestnut Munias, and Barn Swallows keeping still in the area, which already made the participants eyes go wide. Little did they know that they would be seeing so much more!

Just standing in the area, we saw Common Kingfishers, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, White-shouldered Starlings, and Red Turtle Doves. Lots of Wandering Whistling Ducks would also fly by only to land hidden in the grass. One of them, however, chose to land in a small clearing right in front of us. It stayed a long while, giving us great views!

The very bold Wandering Whistling Duck posed a while for our group.

It even gave us a great view of its "behind" -  a view I rarely see!

By this time, the group was really getting into birding and were pointing out birds to each other. We moved on to the inner ponds and saw a small flock of Philippine Ducks. After a few minutes, some Wandering Whistling Ducks flew in to join them, allowing for everyone to study the difference between the two species.

Participants pointing out birds to each other.

A couple of Wandering Whistling Ducks wading with the
larger Philippine Ducks.

We were observing the ducks when Jops and Brian (who also volunteered to help guide) spotted a raptor flying very low over the rice fields just behind us! This got everyone excited as we all followed the huge light-brown raptor fly over the fields, gliding confidently just inches from the planted rice! We followed it until it perched on a pole sticking out from the middle of the vast rice field and we were able to put in on the scope. It stayed long enough for us to identify it as a female Pied Harrier, a lifer for me and Jops and for everyone else as well! It was such a treat because I rarely see raptors in Candaba.

Some of us were able to digiscope the Pied Harrier
even though it was quite far.

Our last stop was by the watchtower. Most of the fields were planted with rice, leaving just one pond with water. Here we saw Tufted Ducks, more Philippine and Wandering Whistling Ducks, but added Little Grebes and some male Green-winged Teals to our bird list. The first-time birders were starting to point out new birds to us... Long-tailed Shrikes, Little Egrets, Purple Herons, and Black-crowned Night Herons. 

During the activity, I would overhear our new birders talk among themselves, discussing the differences between the ducks they saw, "Yung may black sa mata, Philippine Duck yun." ("The one with black across the eye is the Philippine Duck.") and listing the birds we saw on a small piece of paper, already making their life list. Taking people out to experience birdwatching remains a huge source of joy for both me and Jops and we are so looking forward to our next trip.

A Great Crested Lifer

I was really only praying for good weather. The skies weren't looking too good as Jops, Mark Jason, and I drove to Balanga, Bataan yesterday. We were on our way to conduct a guided birdwatching trip for delegates of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) which was organized by CORE, the advocacy arm of the Primer Group of Companies. After a number of rained-out trips, I so wanted the sun to shine on us that day.

That prayer was answered and I guess, even my unsaid prayer for a lifer was heard loud and clear =)

Our trio arrived earlier than the official meeting time, of course to bird a bit before the activities start. We went straight to the Puerto Rivas fishponds to check out what waders were there. Turned out, it was also the site where the group would board the motorized boats that would take us to the Balanga Wetland Park.

One of the boats waiting for the participants.

We were able to get great views of Little Grebes, Little Egrets and Intermediate Egrets, as well as a few Marsh Sandpipers and Common Sandpipers. The other usual subjects were also present despite the overcast skies and occasional drizzle. Lots of Whiskered Terns flew overhead.

We were greeted by the City Administrator Sir Rudy and after a short while, the convoy arrived. After putting on our life jackets, we boarded the bancas and were on our way through the mangroves. We went around the newly planted mangroves and headed towards the Wetland Park. It was a pleasant ride and something new to do in Balanga. Something I want to do again as Jops wasn't able to join us on the boat =(

Headed out to open sea!

The participants were welcomed at the park by no less than Mayor Joet Garcia. We were all treated to a scrumptious lunch at the information center accompanied by the beautiful singing of the Koro Bangkal-Magbikin, an all Aeta children's choir.

The Koro Bangkal-Magbikin. Always a pleasure hearing them sing =)

After lunch, we proceeded with a short introduction to birdwatching and then proceeded to the view decks to spot birds. It was a slow start at first, the Whiskered Terns not generating much reaction from the participants. I had just showed the participants a Striated Heron when Mark Jason called me to look through his scope. He asked me nonchalantly if I had already seen a Great Crested Tern. I shook my head but didn't run to the scope since it was a guided trip and I felt the need to let the participants see birds first. But Mark gave me a look that made me go straight for the scope. 

Then I saw them. I couldn't contain my excitement! I guess my yelp of joy and surprise got the others excited and lining up for their turn at the scope. I had to let them see the birds, there were two of them, perched on the wooden poles together with lots of Whiskered Terns.

I went to my scope and spotted them! Much larger than the Whiskered Tern, with bright yellow bills, and black heads with visible crests! Such beautiful birds! I called Jops to see them too. But when he looked through the scope... they were gone!!! 

After a few minutes, Mark was able to spot more of them on a distant but still scope-able sand bar. This time Jops and the rest of the group were able to see them.

I was able to digiscope two Great Crested Terns! Gorgeous lifers! =)

We had to turn away from the birds to continue with our guided trip. We knew we would still see them later after the activity. The group birded a bit more, spotting a handsome Collared Kingfisher in the area. 

Collared Kingfisher on the roof of the view deck.

After a yummy snack of turon and fresh buko juice, the participants went ahead to go on a city tour and to buy pasalubong from the market. Jops, Mark Jason, and I stayed behind to bird some more in the park. We spent most of our time looking at the Great Crested Terns and also IDing Common Terns which were mixed in confusingly with the other terns. We also saw Greater Sand Plovers, Kentish Plovers, and Rufous-necked Stints running around the terns.

We also checked out the mudflats but only saw Little Egrets, Whiskered Terns, and some Striated Herons. We packed up and headed home to Manila for a celebratory dinner of burgers and burritos: we didn't get rained out! Plus we got a lifer! =)

Sunday Birdy Sunday

Just spent my Sunday with birder friends in two nearby sites to see some pretty amazing birds.

Birding at the tunnel entrance leading to the petroglyphs, one of the sites we visited last Sunday.

Sunday started early in La Mesa Ecopark to conduct a guided birdwatching trip. We entered the park and immediately saw some of our friends observing a pair of Ashy Ground-Thrushes, hopping on the ground. The beautifully spotted birds looked like they were gathering nesting materials!

When we all had our "fill" of the Thrushes, our group decided to proceed to the trail to try and spot the Slaty-legged Crake that has been seen there. A few meters down the road, an Emerald Dove flew in front of us to perch on a nearby tree. Some of us continued walking on while I spent some time observing the Dove with a few friends. Suddenly, the first group of birders started gesturing frantically at us! As we neared them, their news was: the Slaty-legged Crake just crossed the path in front of them! Wah! We missed it!

We waited a bit for the Crake to show itself but it didn't come out from the foliage. We proceeded towards the trail and waited. We saw more Ashy Ground-Thrushes hopping around AND I was able to see a Hooded Pitta! It was the first time I saw it there and even if it was only for a few seconds, I was really happy with the unobstructed view I got.

Jops, Jon J., Clemence and I headed back to the Drilon Orchidarium to meet up with Mike and the participants of the guided trip. It was a pretty amazing bird list for most of the first-time birders: Ashy Ground-Thrush, nesting Lowland White-Eyes, Collared Kingfisher, Philippine Coucal, Scaly-breasted Munias... not bad at all for their first set of lifers! We ended the trip birding at the old boating pavillion.

The birding group spotting an Ashy Ground-Thrush.

After packing up and grabbing a quick lunch, members of the WBCP (and a couple of very eager participants) convoyed to the Angono Petroglyphs in Rizal to see the family of Philippine Eagle Owls who have taken up residence in the site. When we arrived, we saw Vincent, fellow WBCP member who first spotted the owls. He said when he arrived a couple of hours earlier, two owls were perched on the trees but one flew away before we got there. We went up to the view deck and enjoyed the views of one Philippine Eagle Owl, peering curiously down at us from his high perch.

Digiscoped photo of the Philippine Eagle Owl.

We stayed just for a bit, also enjoying great views of a White-throated Kingfisher and a small flock of Elegant Tits which flew so close to us (thanks, Rob!)

Digiscoped photo of the very behaved White-throated Kingfisher.

When the thunder started rolling in and the sky got a bit darker, we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed back home. Great way to spend a Sunday: easy birding with great company =)