Mixed Flocks and Last-Minute Hornbills

I literally could not see anything! It was 4AM and we were on the Marilaque Highway, navigating through dark roads and fog, meeting an occasional horse or cow in the middle of the road. Thank goodness for Spotify and birding friends who shared the same taste in music (more or less hehe, my age got in the way), I was not too stressed with the lack of visibility while Djop drove us safely to the meeting point. Signal disappeared completely and Spotify conked out just as the Cranberries were building up to the chorus of Zombie, but by then the sky was lightening up a bit. Whew!

This was a Club Trip of members of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) and I haven't joined one in years (except Guided Trips, of course!) 

We caught up with the first car of birders by the highway and I finally completely relaxed as I took in the cool air, surrounded by trees and the beginnings of the dawn chorus. The air was still damp with fog and a very light drizzle so birds were scarce when we started scanning the trees, save for the swifts darting through the sky and some early Blue-headed Fantails. 

As the day started heating up, more birds appeared and we were treated to a mixed flock of Flowerpeckers, Elegant Tits, Yellowish White-Eyes, and Philippine Bulbuls. As the weather cleared, we were greeted by Philippine Fairy Bluebird, Guaiabero, Yellow-bellied Whistler, and Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker.

Birding in the fog

After a while, we decided to move to a different spot and try for Rufous Hornbills, which was a most-wanted bird for many of us. We parked alongside the road and were greeted by a friendly old lady manning the sari-sari store, telling us the Kalaws were in the trees just before we arrived. In classic birding fashion, the birds disappeared before any of us could find them and did not show in the area for the rest of the morning. Entertained myself with bugs and butterflies in the area instead 🦋

Luzon Grass Dart

We moved to the small trail and were rewarded by a very active mixed flock! Male and female Scarlet Minivets, lots of Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, more Blue-headed Fantails and Elegant Tits, and even a pair of Yellow-wattled Bulbuls gave the group good views! I also got an unexpected lifer: a female Short-crested Monarch! Ok, maybe half a lifer since I did not see the male 😅

Got my unexpected lifer on this trail!

The Rufous Hornbills called us back to the roadside again but still did not show. By this time, more and more motorcycle riders were also making their way up and down the highway. The group decided to have an early lunch since most of the group needed to head back to the city before lunch. 

Thank you, Karen, for organizing this club trip!

After the mandatory group photo, our group – Djop, Denise, Joshua, Noel, and I said our goodbyes to the rest of the group and decided to head to Palo Alto for a quick side trip since everyone in our car did not need to be back early. 

A quick stop to view the sunbirds at Sidlakan gave us good views of Flaming Sunbirds – male, female, and immature. Suddenly hungry, we decided to have a quick lunch before reaching Palo Alto and Denise treated us to celebratory pizza for her whopping 19 lifers that morning!

Male Flaming Sunbird resting from
actively feeding on the red flowers

The early afternoon heat yielded not too many birds in Palo Alto but we still racked up around 18 birds in our list that afternoon including White-throated Kingfisher, Whiskered Treeswift, Pied Bushchat, Barred Rail, Paddyfield Pipit, Pacific and Striated Swallows, and a Lesser Coucal.

Male Pied Bushchat

Pacific Swallows and a Striated Swallow

While waiting for birds, I was also able to photograph some beautiful butterflies also which I have not done in a while. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many of them flitting around! Was able to ID most of them thanks to the my copy of A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of the Philippines! Yay for field guides!

Brown Pansy

Common Mapwing

Dark-branded Bushbrown

Malayan Cruiser

Riding on Denise’s high and coffee-boost (she added more lifers to her 19!), we celebrated with semi-cold drinks from our cooler while we packed up our gear. Just as we were winding down - all optics already secure in our bags - Luzon Hornbills called loudly from the roadside! We initially did not try to find them, but when they called LOUDLY again – that got us brisk walking back down the road!

Spotting the pair of Luzon Hornbills!

With drinks clasped in our hands instead of binoculars or cameras, the pair of hornbills sat for a while before flying off into the trees. What an ending to a great birding day!

Paying It Forward

It was on April 09, 2010 that I joined my first birdwatching trip with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) in UP Diliman. I remember Mike pointing out my first bird on that trip: a Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker climbing a kapok tree in the NIGS area. The tree is no longer there and a building has taken its place, but I will always remember that afternoon with fondness.

There are other kapok trees on campus,
but I still remember THAT other one

Six years has passed and I found myself with a perfect chance to "pay it forward" as a celebration of my sixth year as a birder: I volunteered to guide (mostly) first-time birdwatchers in UP Diliman!

I met up with the group on the steps of the main library and it was nice seeing familiar faces who've signed up for the activity. We walked to pick up their binoculars and saw Mike gesturing us to look through the scope. There was a nest of a Black-naped Oriole atop a tall tree with a chick peeping out! The parent would perch on the nest to feed the chick before flying off again.

Meeting place

It was a great way to start the morning! We divided the group into two and went our separate ways. Our group made its way to the oval and spent some time there spotting quite a number of birds: Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Collared Kingfisher, Pied Triller, Lowland White-eyes, and another nest! A pair of Golden-bellied Gerygones were flitting in and out of their nest that looked like a hanging clump of dirt!

It's a messy but well-camouflaged nest ;)

We were also treated to a low-flying flock of egrets in v-formation as well as a big flock of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters that flew over our group. We continued our walk and headed to the lagoon. Some of us in the group were able to spot a Yellow Bittern sitting in the grass by the water's edge but it quickly disappeared after a couple of minutes. Moving along, we spotted Brown Shrikes, a Grey Wagtail, and Yellow-vented Bulbuls.

More birds in the lagoon area

We made our way out of the lagoon area and took some time admiring the flowering Salingbobog tree (aka Balai Lamok.) The flowers are now changing from white to yellow!

This native tree only blooms for around two weeks,
once a year!

Beautiful blooms!

We went to the other side of the oval and checked out the usual roosting site of the Philippine Nightjar. The bird was there on its usual tree, seemingly unaffected by the big fire that gutted the building just beside it a little more than a week ago.

Philippine Nightjar, fast asleep

We made a last stop to see the Blue Rock Thrush, which has become a yearly visitor in the campus from since I started birding. The handsome thrush did not disappoint and stood tall on a high branch as the group observed it through the spotting scope.

We walked back to the parking area and ended the activity. It was a good 2 1/2 hours well-spent! I wish I was able to chat with more people but I'm sure I'll be seeing some of them again soon ;)

Group pic!
Photo from Karen O.

After we said goodbye to the group, Fredd, Karen, and I made the birdlist while having a late breakfast of waffles and burgers. The three of us are birding batchmates, having joined the club in 2010. It was such a great way to celebrate and I went home with my heart full and very very happy to have paid it forward (and possibly infecting other people with the highly addictive birding bug!) =)

Me, Karen, and Fredd: 6-year old birders!

Waffles and bird lists

5th Asian Bird Fair - Langkawi, Malaysia

I feel very privileged to have been able to attend the 5th Asian Bird Fair (ABF) in Langkawi, Malaysia last month. Bird fairs are always great events! This was my second ABF (my first was the 1st ABF in Davao back in 2010) and the second international bird fair I've attended (my first was the 14th Taipei International Birdwatching Fair in 2012.)

Jops and I, together with fellow Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) members Doc Charo and Doc Suga, weren't able to attend the pre-festival activities and the Welcome Dinner as our flight arrived in Langkawi too late in the evening. Still, we were picked up from the airport and we checked in the Alia Residence Business Resort, the official lodging of the ABF participants.

Alia was very nice, clean, and comfortable!
As usual, I wasn't able to take a dip in the pool...
Note to self: always bring swim suit to bird fairs.

There was a nice patch of mudflats just behind the hotel where we could see
waders and huuuuuge mudskippers!

The 5th ABF was held in the Oriental Village in the Geopark on November 29-30, 2014. We were shuttled to the site and soon the WBCP team was busy setting up our booth, and we did it very quickly and efficiently. Soon, the bird background was up and the merchandise were laid out on our table. The first shift of WBCP members were ready to entertain guests and the rest of us were free to roam around. 

Babie and Tin manning the WBCP booth

WBCP merchandise

Since the WBCP had a big contingent attending the ABF, we had light shifts manning the booth, allowing us to go around the fair grounds, mingle, and explore. And by explore, I mean bird! But I'll save those adventures for my next blog post =)

Part of the WBCP delegation
Photo from Tinggay Cinco

Mike and I were able to make a quick round of some of the booths. There was so much wonderful merchandise from the different participating organizations and bird clubs! It was also nice seeing familiar faces and also meeting new friends.

Shirts, stickers, post cards, binocular straps...

There were also lots of interesting finds!

I wasn't able to buy so much although I was tempted to buy so many of the books on sale! I'll make sure to bring more cash for the next bird fair and make more room in my luggage for everything I will buy! ;)

Aside from the booths, the 5th ABF also had a photography competition, nature talks, and a bird race. Some of the WBCP members joined the mini-bird race on the second day, while I went birding with Catherine, a new friend from the Malaysian Nature Society. More on that in my next post! =)

Bird race!
Photo by Tinggay Cinco

I was also able to participate in the International Forum on Eco-tourism on the second day of the ABF. I spoke on behalf of the WBCP and the club's efforts in promoting birdwatching as an ecotourism activity in the Philippines. It was fun hearing from other bird clubs and organizations and learning about their efforts in their respective countries. A total of 18 organizations participated in the forum! Lots to share and lots to learn =)

That's me!
Photo by Tinggay Cinco (thank you, Tinggay!)

As fate would have it, in the dwindling hours of the last day of the 5th Asian Bird Fair, one of the star birds of Langkawi showed very well in the stream just behind the stage: a handsome Brown-winged Kingfisher perched out in the open and stayed there in front of us happy birders =)

Birders enjoying the great views of the kingfisher

This is my shot of the friendly Brown-winged Kingfisher

It was such a perfect way to end the 5th Asian Bird Fair! Oh, but there was still some great food to be partaken of! The Farewell Dinner was sponsored by the Nature Society (Singapore), which will host the 6th Asian Bird Fest in 2015. Crossing my fingers I will be able to go =)

A very big and heartfelt thank you to the Malaysian Nature Society, led by our good friend Andrew Sebastian, for organizing a successful ABF! Also to the Langkawi Development Authority and Tourism Malaysia! It truly was an amazing and unforgettable experience!

Thank you for the loot bag and goodies!

Thank you also to the WBCP delegates! It was a blast sharing the adventure with everyone! =)

Too bad we didn't have a photo with everyone in it! But I love this photo just the same =)
Photo from Tinggay Cinco

Birding adventures, coming up next!

Wishful Thinking and Wishes Granted

I got my excitement back for birding at the right time: very close to a national holiday. That meant I had an opportunity to go birding for at least for half a day on Philippine Independence Day (which fell on a Thursday this year)! I wanted to check out a possible birdy site in Antipolo and that's where I drove to early on June 12. I was silently hoping to see a white morph coucal, especially since our friend Mark Jason texted me a few days earlier to say he had just also seen it! I crossed my fingers for it =) I arrived in the subdivision around 6:30AM and drove around some streets with vacant lots.

Just a couple of houses along this road

I rolled the windows down and immediately heard the distinct calls of Tawny Grassbirds coming from the grassy lots. I stopped and tried to stop them but the first birds seen were a couple of Barred Rails on the road. There were two birds out in the open were actually calling! It was the first time I actually SAW Barred Rails making all that noise! Usually, it's either you see them OR you hear them. I was so happy to have been able to see and also get a short video of this behavior.

A passing motorcycle flushed the birds away and so I drove on. Upon reaching a dead end and got out to survey the area. A small flock of Scaly-breasted Munias perched on some tall grasses close to the car while lots of Yellow-vented Bulbuls flew in the area.

Scaly-breasted Munias

The Munias soon flew off and we decided to turn back and explore another area. As I was heading back, I saw a couple of Tawny Grassbirds preening atop some blades of grass. It was nice getting to observe all their field marks out in the open as they are notorious skulkers.

Tawny Grassbird

While watching the grassbirds, a tiny Bright-capped Cisticola suddenly started calling from a very high and exposed perch. Silhouetted against the brightening sky, all I could really see was the shadow of a small, round bird! It flew away, calling noisily as it did. I decided to move to another area and stopped when I heard an Elegant Tit! I didn't see it but I saw some Buzzing Flowerpeckers joining the morning chorus.

I moved to another area and stayed there the longest. The birds seemed to be all coming out to sing and have breakfast. The Black-naped Orioles came out to sun themselves and the Collared Kingfishers started becoming noisy. As I was observing some flowerpeckers above, something white and chicken-like started gliding from one tree to the next! Was it really one of my most-wanted birds??? It was!!! A white-morph Philippine Coucal! It was soon followed by a Philippine Coucal. How exciting!

But, just like any self-respecting coucal, they both just stayed out in the open for a few seconds, just enough for a good, brief view through the bins, before skulking into the leaves to hide.

I FINALLY see the white-morph coucal!!!
Well, this photo shows only its back and tail...

It was followed by this regular Philippine Coucal

The white-morph even glided over the street I was standing in and settled into a mango tree, yes, unseen. I was thrilled at the sighting and I was thankful I had my wish granted! To top off the experience, a Plain Bush-hen also crossed the same street! Another bird I wanted to see, was a pitta. I laughed at the thought and then it started to drizzle.

I got in the car and decided to start driving back down. The rain started to pour but as I neared the exit, it stopped and the sun came out. Birding potential! I decided to explore a much greener part of the area and as I passed a thick clump of vegetation I heard it: Hooded Pitta. Would you believe, I found myself staring at a bright blue Hooded Pitta in the middle of an opening! Wish granted!

Spot the jewel on the forest floor!

I slowly got out of the car but as I did the pitta flew above to perch on some electric wires, giving great views of its bright red bottom =)

Such bright, wonderful colors!

The pitta flew back to the trail but was flushed further into the vegetation when a tricycle passed by. The people in the neighborhood were starting to go about their business and so were the Grey-backed Tailorbirds! One was singing very close to us and I could see it hopping around the low branches. I waited until it perched out in the open and sang!

Grey-backed Tailorbird
Really happy with this pic!!!

It sang and sang and sang until another motorcycle drove past. Two tailorbirds actually just stayed in the area, singing very loudly until I left.

I was starting to spot an Elegant Tit that started singing above when a group of young boys came out to inspect what I was doing. Luckily, we were able to spot the black and yellow tit and showed it to the boys through the scope.

When the bird left, a little birdwatching crash course was due for these curious boys. It was nice to see them genuinely interested in what we were saying. Soon they were calling to point out a bird that was singing (it was the Tailorbird.)

Before we left, I gave the boys the new brochure that friends Adri and Trinket put together for the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines featuring the common birds one can find in the city. Happy with the morning spent birding and with wishes granted, I left the kids with reminders to "just watch and don't catch" the birds. As I drove off, I saw the kids sitting on the sidewalk, seriously studying the birds in the brochures I gave them. =)

I hope they won't ever forget their first birdwatching experience
 and also the "lessons" they got that day =)

Getting My Birding Juju Back

It has been a while since I last blogged mainly because it has been a while since I was out in the field. I guess the horrible experience of seeing a Colasisi die made me a bit hesitant to go out again. I even feared for the pair of Pied Fantails in our front yard when I saw some of the neighborhood kids pay attention to it. They disappeared that afternoon and I could feel a sense of foreboding creeping in. Thankfully, they returned the next morning =)

I have gone out on short trips with Jops and some of our friends, but there was still a sense of negativity and expectation of something bad to happen. I guess due to that bad juju, I didn't get to see much birds on those trips.

Fast forward to last Sunday. The WBCP partnered with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR) to celebrate the 16th Philippine Eagle Week.

The tent area for the event

Jops and I signed up to be volunteer guides for the bird walks in the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center and for the first time in a long while, I was excited to bird. =)

Spotting some Philippine Pied Fantails

It wasn't as birdy as we would have wanted it to be but I really enjoyed the morning bird walk. Even if we didn't see many species, it was refreshing to see the delighted expressions of the brand new birders as they discover new birds in the city. And since birds were few and far between, even the Yellow-vented Bulbuls were a source of excitement when they did finally show.

After the bird walk, we were able to attend the morning lectures and listen to friends share their experience seeing the Philippine Eagle. It was very nice to hear them reliving their experiences, as if they were bringing us back with them to the time they saw the eagle.

Ixi shared her Philippine Eagle experience in Davao

Arnel shared his Philippine Eagle experience in Zamboanga

Listening to their amazing stories made me think when will Jops and I get to have our own Philippine Eagle experience. Soon, hopefully. GAME! =)

After the lectures, we went outside to help in the activity booths. There was coloring, sticker tattoos, and origami for the kids who dropped by the tents while a tree walk and a tour of the rescue center was ongoing.

Bird origami

The coloring booth with naughty boys and
prim and proper girls =P

As always, I enjoyed chatting with the kids, answering their questions and trying to teach them about caring for birds and the environment. And then it was time for lunch!

The birders had a fun picnic lunch under the trees, chatting and laughing and getting distracted by a Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker who decided to perch low and very near us while we were all eating.

Picnic time!
Photo by Jops

The afternoon was also filled with activities: lectures, a raptor tour, and another bird walk. While waiting for the 4pm bird walk, I sat again at the coloring booth and spent some time with a group of kids.

The afternoon bird walk wasn't any birdier than the morning walk but we did see a different set of birds. The Striated Herons and Common Moorhens were out in the pond giving even the kids good views through the scope.

As we ended the day, I was tired but at the same time recharged. It wasn't a hard core birding trip, but it was more than enough to get my birding juju back! On to the next adventure!