Sometime in late January to early February, Prof. Reuel Aguila, and Pio Aguila, went to Coron on a birding trip. By their 3rd day, we had already seen most of the Capayas regulars (except for the Blue-eared KF). So in the afternoon, we decided to explore other areas. We first went to the area in YKR where the Palawan Hornbill is often seen. But after traipsing about for an hour or so, we came up empty handed. We decided to head back for town and try our luck at Villa Khadine Grandvista Resort. It was already 5pm when we reached the place and we were greeted with a cacophony of bird sounds - European Tree Sparrows, Asian Glossy Starlings, and Crows were making noises and flying around.
We also saw a Grey-streaked Flycatcher, a couple of Ashy Drongos and some Olive-backed Sunbirds. It was while we were shooting one of the Olive-backed Sunbirds that bird guide Erwin blurted, "iba nga chiwit dan!" (It's a different sunbird!). But the bird already flew away. And because of the fading light, all our photos were poor so we debated while trying looking at our camera LCD screens.
The Aguilas were flying out the following afternoon so early in the morning we went back to Villa Khadine to search for this mysterious Sunbird. Being morning, we were rewarded by abundant and beautiful sunlight and before long, we saw our target bird. And it was indeed a "new chiwit"...
The Brown-throated Sunbird... my first lifer for 2015.
The Brown-throated Sunbird... my first lifer for 2015.
Very pretty! Congrats on the lifer! May I ask if it is feeding on mangkono blossoms in the photo?
ReplyDeleteThanks Trinket! We call the tree "Bungan" in our dialect. I don't know if that is the same as Mangkono
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your lifer, Chin. You managed some good shots of it as well.
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