The Usual Suspects at Capayas and Darayonan

After being quarantined in Metro Manila since March 16, I was finally able to manage a short trip to Coron last December 16-19.  The main purpose of the trip was to check on Darayonan and attend a couple of important meetings.  Of course I brought my birding gear along... 😁😁😁

I went to Capayas on the morning of the 18th hoping to photograph the three kings and the usual suspects. But the feeding stations were washed out by recent rains and the property owner of the opposite bank did some clearing.  So the kingfishers were a no show at the tree house that morning.  I did see a Common Emerald Dove perched in a buho (small wild bamboo).

Common Emerald Dove, Mamatad in Cuyonon

After some minutes, we boarded Erwin's tora-tora and went to the area where the leucistic Pied Fantail was usually seen.  But we did not see it.  All we saw was a White-vented Shama.

White-vented Shama, Saya-saya in Cuyonon

Then we went to the big river in search of the kingfishers.  We did see the Blue-eared and the Rufous-backed Kingfishers but they were quite far and the pictures I got were of the docu-shot variety.  We also saw a male Blue Paradise Flycatcher, female Black-naped Monarch and Grey Wagtail.  I wanted to get some close up photos so we went back to Erwin's house.  We found a mixed flock in the trees in front of Erwin's house.  

The first bird was a Hair-crested Drongo but I was not able to get good photos.  However, as we have observed in the past, this bird is usually followed by a Chestnut-breasted Malkoha.  True enough, a few short minutes later, we saw a Malkoha.

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Manok-manok in Cuyonon

Then the usual suspects began making an appearance one by one...

Yellow-throated Leafbird

Ashy-fronted Bulbul, Tabeleklek in Cuyonon

Palawan Bulbul

Palawan Flowerpecker, female

Palawan Flowerpecker, male

Ashy Drongo, Salang-ikog in Cuyonon

Soon, it was time to go.  I reluctantly bade my avian friends goodbye but happy with my photos.  None of them were lifers and I have hundreds, maybe thousands of photos of them.  However, I have not seen them for more than nine months and have missed taking the usual easy-birding and close-up photos that Capayas is known for.  

When I got to Darayonan, while having my lunch at our bar, our resident Olive-backed Sunbird made an appearance.  So what else am I to do but oblige.

Olive-backed Sunbird, male, Chiwit in Cuyonon

Thank you Lord for a productive trip (business and birding wise).