The Palawan Hornbill

When I started birding two years ago, my father told me that they used to see a lot of Kalaws (Hornbill) and Katalas (Philippine Cockatoo) in Coron when they first came (in the mid '50's).  Since then, seeing and being able to photograph these two birds in the wild within the Calamianes archipelago has been part of my birding bucket list.  

The Kalaw seemed an easier target. Reports of Kalaw sightings began trickling in last year.  Tour guides reported seeing Kalaws in the Kayangan Lake area in Coron Island but no photos.  A cousin of mine told me of a pair of Kalaws that saw in their farm in Sitio Tulawa.  Birdwatch Coron members Michell de Guia and Maween Reyes talked about seeing it somewhere in the Yulo King Ranch (YKR).  Maween even showed me a photo in her camera but somehow the photo got deleted from the memory card... (hmmm).  Michell was also able to photograph one at Sitio Quince Dias. Then Birdwatch Palawan member Cathy Estrada was able to photograph one in Culion while doing Yolanda relief efforts.  So I thought of going to Culion.  Then fellow WBPP photographer Bj Capacite, was able to photograph it in Capayas and Mabentangen last March 2014! I went to where Bj saw it but we never saw it. I knew I could probably get the Palawan Hornbill if I go to Puerto Princessa but being able to photograph it in Coron, holds special meaning.

Last July, I had to make a short trip to Coron.   Since I knew that I will not have time to bird, I left the SLR and telephoto in Manila.  I brought along a recently purchased second hand Canon SX50. On my way to the airport for my flight back to Manila, I was half dozing in our van when our driver suddenly blurts, Kalaw!  and stops the van as two black Palawan Hornbills fly across and perch on an open branch on the left side of the road.  I fumble with my bag and camera (silently cursing myself for not bringing my SLR/telephoto combo).  The SX50's slower auto-focus allowed me only three shots (Grrrr!!!).  The last one was blurred as the bird was on the act of flying away already.

Sharing the first two shots.  Hoping to see it again on the same perch in the near future.

If only its head were turned towards me a bit!

Palawan Hornbill, preparing to fly away. 

Really thankful that I was finally able to see and get a couple of photos of the Palawan Hornbill in Coron.  Painful lesson learned, never leave home without by birding camera.

Birding in UP-D: The Coppersmith Barbet

Sometime in June of this year, some WBPP photographers posted photos of a colorful bird found somewhere in the UP Diliman campus.  I immediately asked Prof. Bert Madrigal, Bj Capacite and Alex Ting for directions.  After I got the location, I headed there on June 25th.  This was the day before I was to leave for a business trip to Beijing and my to do list was kilometric.  But I knew that if I wait until I get back (after 6 days), the chance of catching the bird in its nest, was very slim.  So after dropping my son Leon to his school in Katipunan, I headed to UP. I found the place with no difficulty and after about five minutes, Prof. Bert, also arrived.  We did not wait long as the adult bird arrived shortly. It flew away after a few seconds.

After a several minutes, it came back with some food.

And promptly fed its young chick...

After feeding, the adult bird went inside the hole and went back out taking "trash".  This bird is practising 5S!

It would fly away taking the trash with it and come back after a few minutes with food.  In between the trips of "mama" Barbet, the "baby" Barbet would poke it's head out of the hole and curiously look at its surroundings.

The routine was repeated several times.  I wanted a photo showing both the adult and the chick but I could not catch them together.  Soon it was time for me to leave so I gave myself my last five minutes. As I was about to head back to the car, the adult bird showed up once again and fed the chick.  I managed to get just two shots and only one (1) that is sharp.  

note: I do not normally post photos of nesting birds in order to protect the location of the nest.  By now, the chick has already fledged and not in the nest anymore (I checked the nest yesterday).  Incidentally, even if the nest was located on a tree beside a pedestrian pathway, it was photographed from a safe distance.  Photos posted in this blog were cropped and enlarged to show the bird more closely.  

Having gotten the shot that I wanted, I bade goodbye to Prof. Bert and did my errands.  

Coppersmith Barbet, a lifer for me.