A quick trip to Quince Dias

Quince Dias...fifteen days... when I was a kid, I asked my uncle Nonong (Neri), where was this place and why it was called Quince Dias. He told me it was a far away place. So far that it took fifteen days to get there. It was obviously an exaggeration but because the road was so bad (in the 60's to the early 70's), that it took a long time to get there.  And only 6x6 army surplus trucks can make the trip.  Today, it takes twenty-minutes from the outskirts of the Poblacion to Quince Dias - ten minutes up to the beginning of the dirt road that leads to the aforementioned sitio and another ten minutes to travel the half a kilometer dirt road from the highway to the river, which is where we bird.

I have been to Quince Dias for birding three times - twice in March 2013 and once in August 2014. Not that many species seen but our friend, and fellow Birdwatch Coron member, Michell de Guia, who has a property and a house, in the area, has seen quite a number of species.  I was going with Hilbert Enriquez, another Birdwatch Coron member. 

The last time we were at Quince Dias, we saw a Palawan Hornbill from afar.  I was hoping to be able to get a good shot of this bird.  And along the river, the Stork-billed and Common Kingfishers were "regulars" so I was hoping to photograph them too.  This is also the place where I first saw a female Blue Rock Thrush.  

Michell was waiting for us and as soon as we got out of Hilbert's pick-up, she said that the Kilit has been circling around for the past hour.  After a few minutes, we did see a three Blue-headed Racquet Tailed Parrots do a flyby.  But they did not perch.  So no photos.  We trekked towards the river.  Along the way we heard a peculiar bird call but none of us can ID it.  When we got to the spot where we saw the Hornbill last August, we stopped and scanned the trees.  Michel commented that she has not seen the Kalaw lately. I saw a grayish bird fly and perch in a nearby branch.  Hilbert and I began clicking. My initial ID was Plaintive Cuckoo.  It has since been confirmed as such. Lifer for Hilbert and Michell, I think.

Plaintive Cuckoo

We trudged to the river.  Saw another Kilit flying by. But still no photo opportunities. We had to cross the river so I had no choice but to submerge my shoes (%$#@). But after walking for about 200 meters, we saw a blur of blue dart from one bush near us to another farther upstream.  We were walking towards it when a Grey Wagtail flew by and landed about twenty meters behind us.  I tried stalking it but it was very skittish and never really settled down.  

I went back to where Michell and Hilbert were standing.  A couple of Slender-billed Crows started calling loudly.  No wonder, the Cuyonon name for this bird is "Gak-gak" (aside from the more popular uwak).  Perhaps because there were not many birds, Hilbert started shooting a noisy Chiwit, (Olive-backed Sunbird) and then the Gakgak.  While waiting for him to finish shooting the Crow, a Cattle Egret flew overhead.  I was not planing to shoot it but when I saw it heading straight for us, I made a last minute decision to do so.  I had just enough time to aim my camera and get off two shots. 

Cattle Egret 

After a few more minutes, we saw a blur of blue perch on a bush on the opposite bank. We froze, for fear of scaring the bird and started shooting from where we stood.  We were only able to get a few distant captures.  Sharing one of the better ones.  This is a cropped photo and by no means near the image quality of the recent captures in LMEP and Candaba featuring tack sharp images with perfectly creamy bokeh. But this will have to do for me - for now.  

Common Kingfisher

After the Common Kingfisher left, we headed back towards Michell's house.  Along the way, we saw a raptor circling in the air.  From some of my poor quality shots (due to the distance), the bird was later identified as a Crested Goshawk.

While resting on a bench, we saw a bird with blue-green feathers perch on a nearby tree.  Hilbert was on the phone so I quietly made my way to said three.  When I was near, two Blue-headed Racquet Tailed Parrots flew off and perched on another tree.  Through a small gap, I saw that one perched in an open branch but I had no shot.  So I inched closer but the ever elusive Kilit again flew away. They must have sensed me approaching. I saw one perch on a distant open branch and I took some docu shots but nothing worth sharing.  I stayed crouched where I was, hoping they would come back to the tree near me.  But they never did.  Since Hilbert, and I, had a 10am meeting in town, I decided to go back.  I saw Michell calling out to me saying Kilit and pointing to a big tree across the street. I did see a couple of birds.  Suddenly four birds - three Kilit and one Ashy Drongo took off and perched on another tree.  I wanted to use a tripod but I left mine at the pick-up so I had to shoot handheld for fear that if I go get the tripod, the birds will fly away.

Sharing a photo of two male Blue-headed Racquet Tailed Parrots.         

Blue-headed Racquet-tailed Parrots (male). Kilit in our Cuyonon dialect. The bird that we hope someday will be declared as Coron's Municipal Bird.

The Kilits did not stay very long.  I was hoping that the female, who was perched on a much lower branch, would move up so I can get them all in one frame but it never did.  After just a few minutes, the three BHRT's flew off into the forest.  Needless to say, I was a very very happy birder that morning. 

And I am guessing, that this will not be my last trip to Quince Dias...bad roads notwithstanding.   

Birding in Calauit

I have not been to Calauit since December 2013 when I accompanied the TV crew of Aga Mulach's defunct Pinoy Explorer TV show.   I did not realize that it has been that long. So when I found out that we had a group of Russian tourists going to Calauit last January 12, I decided to tag-along.  In previous trips before typhoon Yolanda, the Green Imperial Pigeons (local name: Balud) were an almost sure capture as they flew around the trees in the big open plain in front of the Calauit management office.  During the December 2013 visit, I noticed the absence of these pigeons.  I was hoping that they were back.  I was also looking forward to a good photo of the Blue-headed Racquet Tail Parrot or Kilit.  I was able to get some decent (but not great) photos of the Kilit during the December 2013 trip.

While we were logging in at the Visitors Center, I saw some birds at the Aratiles tree just outside the door.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a couple of Palawan Flowerpeckers.  I have not had a close encounter with this bird since December 2013 in Capayas.  So I quickly set up my gear and started taking photos.

Palawan Flowerpecker (male)

There is only one vehicle servicing all Calauit guests nowadays, a small jeepney (Dios Mio!). So I let our Russian guests ride the jeep together with our guide and the Calauit guide.  I asked permission from the Calauit personnel if I could just roam around the area and bird.   After some photos of the Flowerpecker, I walked on, excited to see the Balud and hopefully the Kilit. 

Alas, there was no Kilit, neither was there any Balud.  What I saw were the usual suspects: Cattle Egret, Asian Glossy Starling, Olive-backed Sunbird, Ashy-fronted Bulbul, Black-naped Oriole, Ashy Drongo, Yellow-throated Leafbird, Paddyfield Pipit, and a Grey Streaked Flycatcher. here are some images of the birds that I saw in Calauit island last January 11:

Black-naped Oriole, Tutulyaw in Cuyonon

Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Tuldikan, in Cuyonon

I kept away from the tourist area and roamed the area near the cluster of admin buildings.  I came across a couple of deers. 

Doe, a deer, a female dear...A female Calamian Deer, endemic to the Calamianes

A Calamian stag

Through a break in the leaves, I saw a raptor lazily circling the air. Thinking that it might swoop down, I made my way to the edge of the clearing so I will have an unobstructed view of the sky.  However, when I got there, the raptor was nowhere to be seen (I thought it was a Crested Serpent Eagle).  But on a branch nearby was another Palawan endemic, the Ashy-fronted Bulbul.

Ashy-fronted Bulbul, Tabeleklek in our Cuyonon dialect.

A very polite bird. After I took it's photo, the Tabeleklek gave me a bow.  I am kidding of course, but that's what happens to birders on a slow day.  We photograph whatever is there, including a bowing Tabeleklek.

Estimating that the tour of the Russians will soon be over, I made my way back to the Visitors Center near the Calauit wharf.  Along the way, I saw a pair of Lovely Sunbirds.  

The female Lovely Sunbird readily posed for me

But the more colorful male Lovely Sunbird proved more elusive.  Hence, this docu shot.

The Lovely Sunbird pair flew off after a couple of minutes and didn't come back. So I proceeded to the Visitors Center where I used up all my remaining time in the island, photographing the Palawan Flowerpeckers.  At one point there were as many as six birds in the tree feasting on the Aratiles fruit.  Most of these images were taken three to four meters away.  There were three Calauit personel chatting noisily with me asking bird and photography related questions. And the birds just kept feeding.  Not minding us at all.  Just goes to show how wild birds act around humand if they are not harmed. 

Looking at me as if saying, how many more pictures are you going to take?

And soon, the Russians arrived from their tour and it was time to go. My favorite Calauit guide encouraged me to sleep over and so we will have more time to shoot.  Hmmm.... something to look forward to.

BY2014, the year that was...

Twelve months, more than seventy birding sorties (both planned and random), almost sixty trip reports submitted. At the beginning of the year, I set modest goals of seventy (70) lifers and one hundred and seventy (170) total species. By my count my year-end totals are seventy-one, (71), lifers and one hundred seventy-three, (173), total species. Funny how the figures ended up. At a certain point during the middle of the year, when my father was ill and my wife and daughter were abroad, I didn't think I would even reach a hundred and forty species. But that is the joy of birding, you never know what nature will give you.  I do not know who won the race because the committee has not yet announced the final tally.  But I would like to congratulate not only the yet to be proclaimed winners but all those who joined from BWP and BWC (kahit yung hindi nag submit ng trip report ;-)).  To borrow a phrase from another birder, well done and mabuhay!!! 

Sharing some of the images I was able to take during this incredible year... 

Philippine Falconet, January 4, 2014, Mt. Palay-palay. One of my first lifers for the year.

Ruddy Kingfisher, January 16, 2014, Capayas. I took almost 200 shots of this bird.  The last few, we were four meters apart, face-to-face. It never left. I was the one who gave up.

Citrine Canary Flycather, Feb 8, 2014, Bangkong Kahoy. One of my 12 lifers that day.

Scale-feathered Malkoha, Feb 8, 2014, Bangkong Kahoy. Part of the big haul that day.

Blue-eared Kingfisher, March 12, 2014, Capayas.  This photo made it as the banner page of the WBPP page for a week.  My first and so far, only photo to do so (hopefully not the last).

Philippine Duck, April 1, 2014, Kingfisher Park, Coron. I was surprised to see this duck in the Calamianes because the Kennedy Guide does not list it as present in Palawan.  It is most likely the FIRST photographic record of this bird in the Calamianes. 

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, April 14, 2014, Capayas. My first time to photograph the male and female together.

Black-hooded Pitta, May 21, 2014, Capayas. A sentimental favorite. My first target bird when I started birding in 2012. 

Red-bellied Pitta, May 21, 2014, Capayas.  A very difficult bird to see, much less photograph in Coron.

Indigo-banded Kingfisher, June 10, 2014, Bangkong Kahoy. 

Elegant Tit, June 10, 2014, Bangkong Kahoy. I just love the composition of this shot. 

Coppersmith Barbet, June 25, 2014, UP Diliman. Taken on the day before I would leave for Beijing.  I had a ton of things to do that day in various locations around the Metro but I went to UP early to get this shot, thanks to the directions given by fellow birders.

Eurasian Magpie, June 28, 2014, Beijing. A very common urban bird in Beijing.  Nevertheless, it is a lifer for me. 

Palawan Hornbill, July 12, 2014, YKR, Coron. Of all the times to be without my SLR and telephoto. Taken with my SX50 point and shoot.

Long-tailed Shrike, September 3, 2014, UP Diliman.  First bird post using the new toy (Tammy 150-600mm).  Taken while waiting for my son to finish his math class. 

Buff-banded Rail, Sept 21, 2014, IRRI, Los Banos. First time to bird after the passing of my father, first time in IRRI. Thanks to Prof. Tirso Paris.

Hill Myna, Oct 7, 2014, YKR, Coron.  Thank you Philippine Airlines for a three-hour flight delay. 

Ferruginous Flycatcher, Nov 1, 2014, LMEP. One of two lifers that day. 

Greater Racquet Tailed Drongo, Nov. 6, 2014, Penang.  One of 20 lifers on that fateful day.

Red-wattled Lapwing, Nov 6, 2014, Penang. Another one from the Penang bonanza.

Male Olive-backed Sunbird, Dec 21, 2014, Darayonan. My spark bird, the bird from which this blog is named after, my "friend" who always gives me something to "shoot" whenever I dip on my target birds in Coron.  The Chiwit of Darayonan.

Changeable Hawk-eagle, Dec 22, 2014, YKR, Coron. A rare lifer and the last bird I photographed in Coron for 2014.

A flock of Northern Pintails, Dec 26, 2014, Candaba. One of my last lifers for the year.

I hope you enjoy viewing these photos as much as I did in taking them. I thank all my birder friends who somehow helped make these images possible (too many to mention but you know who you are).  Of course, a big thank you to my wife, Lorna (for allowing me to go on birding sorties), and my children (for doing their best to understand the addiction).  To end this post, here are a three photos of me taken by fellow birders.  The things we do in pursuit of the birds...

Taken by Choy Wai Mun at Air Hitam Dalam, Penang, shooting the Streak-breasted Woodpecker

Trudging through mud and knee-deep water somewhere in Coron Island in pursuit of the Red-Vented Cockatoo.  Was so afraid that I would fall and damage my gear. Photo courtesy of Al Linsangan III.

Shooting the fantastic landscape in this corner of Coron Island.  This was after getting great captures of the Stork-billed Kingfisher. My normal lens was  left in the banca so I had to make do with my tele-zoom.  Photo courtesy of Al Linsangan III. 

Wishing everybody a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2015!