Spotting Spotty (part 2)

Because I was not that happy with my Spotty photos and because I wanted to be able to photograph the Cuckoos (Brush and Philippine Hawk), I was back at UP-D on February 11 where I again bumped into Jonas Liwag.  Spotty and the Cuckoos were a no show but the ever reliable Blue Rock Thrush entertained us. This time on the big tree in the parking lot.

Blue Rock Thrush (juvenile male)

On February 12, I posted on Facebook that I predict a lot of people in UPD the next day.  True enough, when I got there at 7am the following day, I saw fellow bird photographers Atty. Ramon Quisumbing, Wins Tornado, Prof. Bert Madrigal, Roy de Guzman Daantos, and Rocky Sison. Collectively, I call them the big guns on account of their big prime lenses (600, 800, 500, 600 and 800 respectively).  Miss Becky Chung Santos was also there and of course Jonas Liwag, who is in UP almost daily. 

The big guns were looking shooting the Blue Rock Thrush.  Bert and I went to the biology forest in search of Spotty and the Cuckoos. We saw some Barred Rails and White-breasted Water Hens in a creek.  Then a Cinnamon Bittern emerged from the bushes and flew across us and settled in some of tall grass.  Bert and I parted ways after that.  I went behind the Biology building to check if the Spotty was there but no such luck.

I was walking back to the Scops Owl area when I met a young bird photographer named Jon Villanueva.  I pointed the Barred Rails to him and while he was shooting it, the Cinnamon Bittern did another appearance. I then met a group of bird watchers led by Jops Josef who told me that the Spotty and the Cuckoo appeared near the Sops Owl area.  I hurriedly went there and found Jonas who showed me a photo in his LCD Screen - that of the Spotty with a grasshopper in its beak!!! 

Somebody called us to go to the other side because the Cuckoo was there so off we went but it had already left.  Then the big guns arrived but before they could even set up, we were called again by somebody (can't recall if it was Wins' or Ramon's driver) to go to the other side (near the Scops area).  When we got there, both Jonas and Jon were clicking away at Spotty who was kind enough to perch on an open branch about 5 meters away from the concrete pathway.  The big guns had to move back because it was not within their minimum focusing distance.  And for the next thirty minutes, we happily pressed our shutters as Spotty obliged. I even had to change memory cards at one point.  In the end, it was us who gave up. 

Presenting, UP-D's Spotted Wood Kingfisher, in various poses:

Spotted Wood Kingfisher (male)

Thank you Lord for Spotty!!!

Postscript: The Brush Cuckoo appeared but true to its name, it kept under the brush so we didn't get many shots.  Ramon and I both left at a little past 10am only to find out that the Philippine Hawk Cuckoo also made an appearance that enabled those still there full frame captures! 

Ahhh... the joys of birding...but still thank you Spotty.

Spotting Spotty (part 1)

The Spotted Wood Kingfisher is one of the more colorful birds that I have come across in the past three and a half years.  I first became aware of it in late 2013 when said bird appeared at the La Mesa Ecopark and stayed for several months.  It would perch for long minutes beside the trail allowing the many photographers who trooped to LMEP, close and eye-popping captures.  Except me, it seems.  I saw the bird in LMEP twice in October 2013 and once in January 2014.  All close distances but somehow non of my shots were "exhibit" quality.  They were okay but not good enough to be framed. I again saw Spotty again in October 2015 while guiding a group of foreign bird photographers but sadly same results.  In November 2015, during the APEC break, I saw the female Spotty in Mabitac, Laguna but again, I was not happy with the results.  

When Jonas Liwag, a birder friend started posting his shots of the Spotted Wood Kingfisher in the UP Diliman campus, I got excited because I am in UP-D practically everyday so I felt I would finally be able to get a good photo.  I started looking for it on January 26 but no luck.  Same results on January 27, 28, and February 1.  Went to Coron for a short trip on February 2 to 5. On February 8, Chinese New Year, I was back in UP where I bumped into several bird photographers at the parking lot frequented by the Blue Rock Thrush. 

From left: Sean Melendres, Jonas Liwag, Ben Go, myself, Conrad Olayres, Ed Santos, Djop Tabaranza, Tony Lim, Caloy Pangilinan and Ven Rojas (photo courtesy of Ven Rojas).

As usual, the Blu Rock Thrush didn't disappoint. 

BRT posing on one of the chimneys

BRT on a natural perch for a change

Then the guard called our attention to a Philippine Pygmy Flowerpecker which was boring a hole in a tree at the edge of the parking lot allowing us to have close captures.  

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, boring a hole

The bird stayed busy oblivious of our presence that I was even able to do my first bird video.

Video of a Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker in action

After shooting the Pygmy, we went separate ways.  Ed, Djop and I went to the Scops Owl area where we saw the adult owl but it was hidden behind so many twigs. 

Then Spotty made an appearance and we were busy for the next thirty minutes or so.  I was able to get many decent shots but when Djop and Ed posted theirs on Facebook later that day, I found my shots not as nice in terms of sharpness.  I am not sure if it was my technique, or my settings, or my gear.  I did have a loose screw on my tripod which made it a bit wobbly. Whatever the case, though my shots were good, I was not fully satisfied because I felt they could be better. Sharing some of them. 

Spotted Wood Kingfisher (male)

After Spotty, we were able to photograph the baby Scops Owls although there were no clear shots.

Baby Philippine Scops Owl

Just as we were about to call it a day, another bird showed up. My first lifer for 2016! Unfortunately, it burrowed itself in a dark thicket that it was also difficult to shoot, especially with a wobbly tripod.  Conrad identifed it as a Brush Cuckoo.

Brush Cuckoo

After getting a stiff neck with the owls and the cuckoo, we decided to call it a day...

Finding Blue in Maroon Land

Migratory birds are just amazing.  They fly vast distances and appear in the same area every year.  One such bird is the Blue Rock Thrush. Almost every year, between October to March, it appears in a certain area in the UP Diliman campus.  Unfortunately, I was never able to get a good photo since I got into birding in 2012.  

Last January 26, I went to UPD to photograph the Philippine Scops Owl family and the Spotted Wood Kingfisher. I met up with fellow birders Jonas Liwag, Mark Chang and Albert Tamayo at the MSI parking lot. Before proceeding to the Owl area, Jonas suggested that we pass by the area frequented by the Blue Rock Thrush.  My face must have lit up at the mention of this bird.  Shortly after we arrived at the spot, the bird showed up but left before we could get good shots. It stayed in another tree too high and too far. I was crestfallen again. However, Albert was able to post a very decent shot of it later that day.  

We then went to the Owl area and met Nes Santiago, another fellow birder.  We saw the adult owl but not the babies.  And in keeping with our luck, there was no clear shot.  After a while we trudged to the new location of UP's Spotty.  Again, no such luck.  All we saw was a Pied Fantail and some Yellow-vented Bulbuls.

Going back we decided to swing by the Owl area again and found that one of the babies was there snuggled beside the parent. Again no clear shot. 

Philippine Scops Owl, parent and child

We left Jonas and Nes and went back to where we parked our cars. We looked at the Thrush again. Albert and I stayed a few minutes while Mark to the Philippine Nightjar. But no such luck and needing to work, we all called it a day.

The following day, January 27, after I dropped my younger son to his school in Katipunan, I made a quick trip to UPD to look for the thrush.  When I got to the place, I saw that there were people working on the roof of the building where we saw the bird the day before.  Grrrr.... Looking at the other (and taller), building, I saw the bird perched way up. I also looked at the owl family but saw only the parent on an even more difficult perch. I gave up and went home.

January 28, Thursday, my elder son had an early class at UP. So after I dropped him, I swung by the Thrush area and to my delight, there were no workers on the roof.  And saw that my target bird was already there.  It flew away before I could set up my gear. But within ten minutes, it was backed and I was able to get some decent shots.  

Blue Rock Thrush

Blue Rock Thrush

Encouraged by my luck with the Thrush, I decided to look at the owls once more.  Unfortunately, even the parent was not around.

Still I was very happy that I was finally able to get a decent photo of a Blue Rock Thrush, one of my favorite birds because of its color and because I find the name so cool.

Till the next sortie... 

 

Birding birding din pag may time...

I have not been doing much birding lately. But I have been itching to do so because I wanted to try my new Tamron 150-600mm lens.  A week before, I was able to take a few shots with it while waiting for my son at UP Diliman.  I had hoped that I will get to really try out the lens during WBPP's 2nd Anniversary at Bangkong Kahoy but the Philippine Travelmart and the hospitalization (and subsequent death) of my father, did not allow me to go to Bangkong Kahoy or even to LMEP.  So on Friday, September 12th, when I drove my son Luis to UP, I decided to bring along my camera.  Since he only had one class, I decided to stay and wait for him. However, since it was the middle of the day (Luis' class was 1-2:30pm), I did not expect much.

After I parked, I rolled down the windows and soon heard a bird call.  I stepped out of the car and began scanning the tree tops.  As expected, my long lens drew some curious stares.  I soon spotted a pair of Brown Shrikes but no shot presented itself so I walked several yards to a tree covered area.  A few minutes later, I heard a unfamiliar bird call and soon spotted a bird creeping on the trunk of an Acacia tree.  I immediately fired a few shots, checked the screen, and saw that it was a bird that I was not familiar with.  A lifer!  I spent the next several minutes looking up and photographing it in different branches (and getting a stiff neck).

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, a lifer

While waiting for the Woodpecker, I saw a slight movement in one of the branches and saw a familiar bird.

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Then I saw a Brown Shrike perched on another tree. 

Brown Shrike

I was already thinking of going back to my car when I heard another unfamiliar bird call.  I looked up and saw a swarm of small birds noisily flitting from branch to branch.  It was so difficult to take a shot because most of them were above the canopy and all I could see were shadows moving around.  But I patiently waited for my chance because I felt that this would be another lifer.  After getting more stiff neck, I was able to take several photos.  I immediately texted my friend and (birding mentor), Maia Tanedo and described the two unfamiliar birds.  She identified them as Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker and Lowland White-eye, both lifers.

Lowland White-eye

I was waiting for a better look at the White Eye or the Woodpecker but my phone rang and it was Luis looking for me.  Four species in an hour, with two lifers.  Not bad for an hour of random birding in a crowded place. I love UP Diliman!  

As to the Tamron?  I love this lens!  Can't wait to go to Capayas with it.

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.