Philippines 2014 - Pt 7 Palawan

First morning on Palawan was birding madness! In a good way. Jojo our driver and Rommel our guide picked us up from the hotel and we headed to the old Zigzag road. We got out of the vehicle and immediately found a few trees that would keep us occupied for the next few hours... Pale Spiderhunter, Spot Throated Flameback, Purple Throated Sunbirds.



Multiple Drongos, Flycatchers and a Striped Tit Babbler amongst many other species. We were very happy to pick up Pygmy Flowerpecker here too as we had already missed this species at other places. A pair of Great Slaty Woodpeckers showed incredibly well, a hard bird to locate on Palawan. We then got a flash of a White Vented Sharma, we couldn't re-track it down though. Later on we witnessed two Lovely Sunbirds mating, and yes they really are a lovely species. Chestnut Breasted Malkohas loads of Bulbul species including Sulpher Bellied and my favourite Black Headed Bulbul, not an endemic species but lovely to see. We called the Melodious Babbler which responded but didn't show so we stopped for coffee. While we took a break 2 individuals were now calling in the same area, one flew across the road in front of us, Rommel took us off the road into a small densely covered ravine where we eventually got stunning views of  a pair of Melodious Babblers foraging on the floor, one was fighting a large moth! Rommel said a sighting of this bird would be a 50/50 chance at best, even he was taken back by the views we got, we were beaming from ear to ear, this was a good find and certainly a top ten target bird.

We moved to Irawan and picked up more lovely sunbirds



More great birds continued with Rufous Tailed Tailorbird, Blue Paradise Flycatcher, Pink Necked Green Pigeons and Asian Drongo-Cuckoo were all like birds. We then got onto the gorgeous looking race of Olive Backed Sunbird. This Philippine race (aurora) looks completely different to the same species anywhere else and surely must be a split soon.



A little while later we staked out a small wood area along side a river , but this is where we dipped on the Palawan flycatcher, which was a shame as this was an island target, however it didn't stop us getting more goodies. A Blue Eared Kingfisher was a small bonus for just missing out on the Palawan Flycatcher, also giving a brief view above us we had a Pied Harrier which showed its white rump very well before disappearing out of sight.. We tried for the Copper Throated Sunbird and dipped, but managed a very confiding Philippine Pied Fantail.



and then watched a brilliant Stork Billed Kingfisher fishing from a tree near the mangroves.

 



Chinese Egret, Kentish Plover, Greater Sand plover were on the beach area near a fishing port and the evening finished with a short boat trip to an island for the Mantanani Scope Owl

The small island off Palawan, home of the Mantanani Scops Owl

 

Mantanani Scops Owl. The unusual "White Eyed" individual



we threw in a Large Tailed Nightjar just for good measure to end a wonderful day.

Day two and we headed for Leang Forest where we picked up close views of Blue Napped Parrots and the Spot Throated Flameback close to its nest hole. Large numbers of Green Imperial Pigeons were either commuting through the area or sat perched giving great views.



We now got onto our first Palawan Tits (albeit high up in the trees).



and not long after I got my best views of the smart Yellow Throated Leafbird. Plenty of birds were about with Spangled Drongos, Ashy Drongos, Ashy Fronted Bulbul and Palawan Bulbuls in large numbers. Common Iora, Palawan Flowerpecker, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Emerald Dove, there really were plenty of opportunities to see birds including this Blue Naped Parrot.



We managed to see a Palawan Hornbill as it flew towards our vehicle, we were only just able to get out in time to see it fly past and away.

We headed for another of Rommels sites where he would get us onto crippling views of male and female Blue Headed Raquet tails, we spent a few hours here where at least two birds were doing flybys. The female eventually perched only short distances away.... what a great bird.

male Blue Headed Raquet-tail

female Blue Headed Raquet-tail



We added Dollarbird and Asian Brown Flycatcher then our first Dark Throated Oriole was this female which gave us stunning views.



The afternoon didn't let up either as we visited Magayan where we had a Fiery Minivet, Palawan Flowerpecker, Lovely Sunbird, yet more Chestnut Breasted Malkohas and our first Striped Flowerpecker. The bird of the afternoon though were a pair of courting Palawan Blue Flycatchers who displayed for us only a few meters away.

the male

the female



Now we head off to a viewpoint looking for Philippine Cockatoos, after an hour we managed a  distant bird flying to roost, shortly after we had two more, this time a little closer just giving us a glimpse of the head-crest. This is another endangered bird and we had to be happy to get any sort of view, unfortunately we weren't to do any better than that. Two White Bellied Sea-Eagles came into the forest edge to roost and we managed to scope their landing..... right onto their nest, we had brilliant and uninterrupted views of this pair.

The evening finished off with two fine birds with some superb spotlighting. First species gave us a little run around but eventually we got the Palawan Scops Owl - a very ropey image, but hey ho...



then Palawan Frogmouth (Batrachostomus chaseni) which is now a full species



both were brief but great views nonetheless. Another very successful day and leads us nicely onto our last day of this Philippine trip......

We get the earliest boat to the Underground River area Wiki: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National_Park. Eastern Reef Egret is the only thing to note on the short crossing.

What a great start we would have once we came ashore. Tabon Scrubfowl were first to appear, a pair scurried off one of the paths. We got brief but good views even though it was barely light and the canopy kept what light there was out.



Having read the many reports of the Palawan Peacock Pheasant being habitualised it was kind of refreshing to not find it waiting for us. Rommel and some locals went off looking for it while we were kept company by at least 4 Monitor Lizards. Rommel came back after 20 minutes with no sighting, so we followed him down another track where we again found the Tabon Scrubfowl lurking 30 foot away in the undergrowth.

Eventually Rommel hears the Palawan Peacock Pheasant and we get this view of it, we would have been happy with this, very happy.

 



 With a little more gentle persuasion and after some sensitive coaxing Rommel got its attention and sure enough it came fairly close to give us stunning views.

Possibly one of the best birds I have ever seen.

 



 



It really is a lovely species, one that any birdwatcher would appreciate. Rommel was concerned that it was limping, I didn't notice this, however Rommel has got to know this bird over the last ten years and showed some concern, hopefully nothing more than a little old age. The experience was better than I expected, like I say it was better to have to look for it than to have it displayed waiting ..... Maybe I wouldn't have said that if I had dipped!

We carried on walking and got brilliant views now of the Scrubfowl, but thing were about to change. Movement in the deep vegetation about 40 yards off the track revealed a Hooded Pitta. It was skulking underneath a fallen tree trunk, we got 5 minutes of brilliant views and even managed some half descent images, only my second ever Pitta species, what a great end to the trip.

We then sat out on the shoreline hoping to get a better view than we had had of Hornbills but were treated to another White Bellied Sea-Eagle.

Rommel and Jeff taking a minute or two out from the serious job of bird spotting

 



We then heard a White vented Sharma that really did give us the run around, we didn't manage a sighting even though it was close, so having given up we headed off and did the touristy trip on the underground river, we had the whole river to ourselves going out, brilliant, and only met other sightseers as we ended the trip.

Now back on the trail but heading back to our boat we had the most amazing luck..... two Hooded Pittas in the open! I got onto the female quickly before Rommel ushered us towards him where at eyelevel, completely out in the open and perched was a Male in full courtship postures, dipping down then stretching high in "look at me" postures. What a finish, images to die for and views of this courtship that can only be dreamt about, seriously privileged for sure.

 



 



 



I was kind of hoping that would be the last new bird of the trip, a stunning way to end, however the Pitta was eventually to be knocked off its perch by two further trip sightings. We tried in vein for the Falcated Babbler but eventually missed this one, but we were treated to stunning views of the White Vented Sharma, down to a few feet and posing nicely.... I had given up with photography after the Pitta and had left the camera in the vehicle! then my last bird of the trip flew from a perch in the forest and flew past us... a Crested Goshawk. Three Grey Faced Buzzards were probably the last birds we saw, certainly the last birds I recorded.

This post is long..... however I think it needed to be to ensure I do Palawan justice. What a place Palawan is, and for me it was very difficult to split with Mindanao for the birding experience.

We dipped some good uns on Palawan - Falcated Babbler, Palawan Flycatcher and Red Bellied Pitta, but we got some megas, and some incredibly good views of them too.   



 

Philippines 2014 - Pt 6 Los Banos (Mt Makiling)

We arrived in Laguna late evening and checked into our hotel Riverview Hotel. We had a good meal in the town and had an early night ready for an early start in the morning. How disappointed were we when we woke up on our First day to find heavy rain and dark heavy clouds. We managed a life bird in the hotel gardens with a few Lowland White-eyes. We made the 30 minute drive to Los Banos university campus. We started by picking up our pass for the mountain entrance (on the corner of the largest building in front of the campus gates to the right). Easy or so we thought. We quickly found the entrance gates to the mountain road but found that we had a walk in pass only! Not allowed to take the car, we would need a different pass, it was frustrating but we decided to walk with bins and umbrellas.

We soon picked up a raptor perched just inside the gates, a Besra. Other birds were scarce as the rain teemed down. We hitched a lift from a van driver who took us up half way the mountain road...We got out when we met an Australian couple who had also found it pretty quiet but had at least got  onto a Spotted Wood Kingfisher way further down the mountain.... Lucky sods!

A after a chat we set off  down hill, of course it is much easier on the spirits to walk down hill in the rain! and unbelievably we picked up and subsequently were followed by target bird number one, a fine Scale Feathered Malkoha. Brilliant bird but a real pity about the weather and extremely poor light, attempting images was fruitless but at least it kept us company for a while, yes it was still pissing down with rain but we were a bit more cheerful now. We did pick up a Luzon Hornbill on the way down, but nothing else. Just to ensure the mornings birding became a near complete wash out, I now dipped a White Browed Sharma (for at least the fourth time on this trip) even though it was calling very close, this was now certainly my bogey bird.

Back at the bottom we headed for lunch but not before getting onto  some Striated Swallows.

Thank goodness the afternoon brightened up and we headed to the IRRI rice fields. I watched a farmer crossing a long grassed field and as I expected he flushed a Barred Buttonquail, shortly after a second took flight. A larger buttonquail was flushed as we walked along the paths (can only realistically be a Spotted Buttonquail), Jeff also flushed a snipe species. Oriental Skylarks and Richards Pipits were in the area as was the constant droning of a Coppersmith Barbet.



Later in the evening we looked for Plain Bush hen but only found Buff Banded Rail, also Scaly Breasted Munias, Ashy Minivet and Tawny Grassbirds. Dozens of Cattle Egrets came to roost just as the dairy man brought the cattle to an adjacent field, clever birds eh.



Weather looked better for tomorrow, where we will try for the Kingfisher again.

Up mega early today to try the mountain again but unfortunately we beat the guy who gives out the passes so we were still not allowed to take the car up the mountain road. Se we set off walking but at least today there was no rain ... Hoorah!

We only had half a morning here so we made haste up the road.

A much better start with Luzon Hornbills, Stripe headed Rhabdornis and Red Crested Malkohas.



We had walked up for about an hour and I don't mind admitting that I did have a quiet word with the birding gods.... And boy did they deliver. We stopped for a breather and tried a little play back and the most handsome of creatures perched 20 Meters from us, Spotted Wood Kingfisher... Male! Close! Perched! And very photogenic.



 This was a big result, it was a huge target bird, it was perched on the very edge of the forest road and so close too, it even let us edge closer and into slightly better light, stunning.





Phew we can walk down hill now. The luck continued, we tried for the White Browed Sharma again and after getting a little bit of a run around from it, this showed too, yes only for a few seconds, but I was more than happy to put that bogey bird to bed!

We finished off with a Lesser Coucal.

Mt Makiling eventually came good, the rain ruined one day but not our spirits, and we bagged some real quality birds.

We were now on the road again to the airport where we would fly to Palawan

Philippines 2014 - Pt 4 Luzon (Subic Bay Area)

Subic Bay

Day 1:

The less said about the journey through Manila the better, but we did eventually arrive at our hotel near Subic Freeport. We had the very helpful sketched map from the Birding2asia website that made the driving around the Subic area a little easier. This would be the only Island that we would not have a guide. We expected the birding therefore to be a little harder and no doubt we would miss a few things along the way, but hey ho lets see how we go on. We arrived well after  midnight but needed a beer (or two) then bed for an early start.

Our first location was a road leading up to Subic heights, which looked like a complex of now disused accommodation.  Our first birds on the road were Elegant Tits, a pair of Guaiabero

 



 and a pair of the brilliantly funky Red Crested Malkoha.

 

The most prolific bird were certainly the Black Naped Orioles who seemed to over run this particular section of roadside woodland. Philippine Bulbul, Bar Belied Cuckoo Shrike and an un-identified Raptor that now  having re- read my notes could have been a Jerdons Baza , unfortunately it will have to go un-recorded..... a Grey Faced Buzzard was identified though. We drove a little further up the road to the disused complex and recorded dozens of White Breasted Wood swallows, Yellow Vented Bulbuls and a pair of obliging Stripe Headed Rhabdornis.

 

 

We continued up towards the hospital and past an abandoned US telecom point that had some promising looking habitat, however  it only provided an Olive Backed Sunbird a few Red Capped Bee-eaters, as well as a Guard that caught me snooping around.... for birds of course.

We continued on towards the Boton falls Trail where along he way we picked up this stunning  Whiskered Tree-swift

 



 

Other birds in good numbers were Streaked Flycatchers and Brown Shrikes and a perched Crested Serpent Eagle.

 



 

A flock of around a dozen Brahminy Kites flew over while this wonderful White Eared Brown Dove gave close up views



 



 



Not long after we came across a party of the weird looking Coleto. They could have entertained us for even longer than the 10 minutes we stood and watched their antics.

 



 

New birds were quickly seen with Slender Billed Crows, Crested Myna and then a raft of woodpeckers. White Bellied Woodpecker (we only heard this species on Bohol) Luzon Flameback and a pair of Sooty Woodpeckers! One of which perched motionless on this tree trunk for well over 15 minutes.

 



 

We moved location and headed past the airfield and headed toward the ocean adventure park for lunch. We picked up a good flock of Red Capped Bee-eaters in the grounds of a derelict building and then some more near the park itself.

 

 

We drove to the checkpoint and after having a hard time from an over zealous policeman we eventually snook past him and were able to park up near the bunkers and walk an area of road towards Hill 394. After some sorting of IDs we could nail down the Blackish Cuckoo-Shrike and now figured we had indeed seen the dark form of Balicassiao, play back helped us sort this lot out. Philippine Green Pigeon a largish flock of Black & White Triller (after much deliberation, this species is definitely going on the trip and life list). 

 

The gate at Hill 394 was always going to be tricky to get past, and sure enough the guards were in no mood to let us in but did give us details of how to do it in future, a bit late for us on this occassion but this info may help people in future who wish to visit and maybe able to contact them before arriving in Subic. I have no idea how to find this place but here are the contact details anyway.

 

Limay Factory: Barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan.

Tel Nos: 047-2445772 (73) or (74)

Fax: 047-2445810

  

We spent the early evening trying in vein to locate a Scale Feathered Malkoha but did add some Purple Needletails, Dollardbird whist Blue Naped Parrots ended the days birding and to be honest it was good to get out of the searing heat. We stopped at the Giant Fruit Bat colony for spectacular views of 1000s taking to the air, an amazing sight. 

 

 

 

Day 2:

 

An early return to Hill 394 fto try to find the Scale feathered Malkoha again.... and again no luck. A cracking view of a Yellow Breasted Fruit Dove and Green Racket Tail were probably the highlights of the morning as we walked up and down a stretch of this road.

 

 

 

An afternoon lunch at the amazing Bunker Bob restaurant close to the dilapidated Botanic gardens recharged the batteries. The afternoon got us good views of  a pair of Red Jungle Fowl perched low in a bushy tree, Black Chinned Fruit Dove and more Sooty Woodpeckers

 



 

Bar Bellied Cuckoo-Shrike

 



 

 and a new trip species with Blue Headed Fantail

 

 

Day 3: Only an hours birding before the long drive to Los Banos brought us a pair of wonderful Luzon Hornbills

male Luzon Hornbill

 

female Luzon Hornbill

 



 

Jeff and myself always knew this leg of the trip would be more difficult. We didn't hire a guide so we were aware that the logistics or just being being in the exact location for a particular species was crucial. Not knowing all the calls and the ID of tricky birds or birds that the views were either obscured or very distant. However the real frustration was the heat. It wilted both myself and Jeff but also it made the birding very quiet from around 10am onwards.

 

It was enjoyable in a masochistic sort of way, certainly the beer in the evenings was just reward for a tough days birding.

 

Next stop Los Banos and a trip to Canadaba