Birding at the Maambeng Farm

Maambeng... a deep Cuyonon word that is rarely heard in Coron today, especially in the Poblacion (town proper) where Tagalog (okay, Pilipino...) is becoming more and more the norm. Maambeng is one of those difficult to pronounce Cuyonon words that non-Cuyonon speakers will always mispronounce (like Abeh/Abuh, pagkaen, or maaslem).  It is a bit difficult to transtlate too. It is an adjective that describes a feeling. Perhaps the simplest translation is happy.  For instance, a lot of tarps during late August says: Maambeng nga Kapistahan sa Coron, (Happy Fiesta to Coron), accompanied with a photo of a smiling politico.  But why not use the more popular "sadya" (Joy, Merriment).  We even used that word to name our town fiesta, Kasadyaan Festival.  

To me, maambeng means more than happy. To me, aside from happy, it also means contented, gratified, even fortunate. Which makes me think that it is a fitting name for a vegetable farm. Being a cuyonon, I am happy that a non-Palaweno, has chosen to name her business enterprise using a cuyonon word. Thank you Ms. Ichay Bulaong for doing so. At the moment, I think aside from Darayonan, this is the only other business with a cuyonon name in Coron (which goes to show how little cuyonon is used these days).    

For the past several months, my friend, and fellow birdwatcher, Hilbert Enriquez, has been egging me to bird at Maambeng Farm in Sitio Balisungan, Bgy. Tagumpay. We have scheduled it a couple of times, only to be cancelled due to other obligations. Finally, we were able to go last Septmeber 30 with another Birdwatch Coron member, Michel de Guia.  

The farm is not located beside the road so we were met by Ichay and her staff, Divine, who coincidentally, joined our 2nd Birdwatching Basics Training last August 30, 2013.  We walked single file for about a kilometer over a narrow trail which some minor uphill treks, a walk through a small community and crossing a small stream.  Midway into the trail, after passing the small community, we were joined by, Douglas, an askal (aspin, to the politically correct), belonging to one of the residents but who obviously considers Ichay its supreme master.

The farm is located on 3+ hectares of land nestled on the foothills of Mt. Tundarala (Busuanga's highest mountain). It is surrounded by a river/stream, lots of trees, away from the town, yet near enough (about 30 mins drive over a challenging dirt road). We proceeded to a Ichay's cozy office - a small nipa hut with a bamboo table and benches.  It turned out that our gracious host was already a budding birdwatcher. She promptly showed us her sketches (colored!) of the birds that she has seen in her farm and at other areas in Coron, (I drooled at her neat Bushnell waterproof bins, hahaha). From her drawings, we recognized a male Olive-backed Sunbird, a Yellow-throated Leafbird, a Spot-throated Flameback, among others.  After a few more minutes of chit-chat, we went birding.  Immediately, we saw some Asian Glossy Starlings at a nearby tree.

Asian Glossy Starlings

We walked uphill for a while and I saw a Leafbird flying in the distance.  Then a we spooked small colorful bird from a bush by the trail.  I believe it was a male Lovely Sunbird but I am not sure.  There was not much birds uphill but we could hear lots of chirping below, in the trees near the river. We did notice this on the slope of Mt. Tundarala, much higher up:

This looks like an upland rice plantation/farm, what we locally call an "uma". The white flags are most likely makeshift scarecrows to drive away birds from the rice. In many instances, it is a "kaigin" or slash and burn.  Considering that it is high up on the slopes of Mt. Tundarala, surrounded by forest, it most likely is. 

After a several minutes of not seeing any birds, we decided to descend and go to the river.  Ichay asked one of her farmhands to guide us to the river (there was no visible trail).  It was a short walk and when we got there, it was silent, no more chirping.  It was just one of those not so birdy days.  After sometime, a couple of Ashy Fronted Bulbuls darted about but that was it.  

Ichay had to leave to pick up her family from the airport so we went back up to the "office" where we had breakfast of pan de sal and coffee, served on "Starbucks" mugs! 

While taking our coffee, the Starlings came back.

Asian Glossy Starling, local name Losyang (I think this is the Tagalog name, not sire if there is a Cuyonon name)

Then an Ashy Drongo perched on a nearby tree.

Ashy Drongo, local name Salang-ikog

Then a Brown Shrike perched on a bare tree and stayed several minutes to be photographed.

Brown Shrike, tagalog name Tarat

After photographing the Shrike, a large bird suddenly flew across and perched on a distant tree. I fired several shots but it was so far and backlit. Hilbert, Michel, Rommel (Michel's partner), and Divine went to another part of the farm because Hilbert wanted to buy some veggies for Santino's.  I stayed and took some more shots but with similar results.  I was hoping that the bird would fly (so I could catch it in flight) and perhaps (hopefully!) perch on a nearer tree.  But I had no such luck.  So I reluctantly packed my gear and headed to where they were, all the while keeping an eye on the perched bird. When I got to where they were weighing the vegetables, I saw that the bird was slightly nearer and the light was a bit better.  So I took out the camera, set up the tripod and fired several shots.

Crested Goshawk with prey. This made my day. (I do not know what the prey is. Initially, I thought it's a mouse/rat).

After a few more minutes, we trekked back to the road where Hilbert's pick up was parked.  Not so many birds but nevertheless a satisfying birding experience.  Thank you again to our host, Ichay Bulaong. We will surely be back in the area. 

  

Capayas and Jolo Revisited

I was itching to try the Tamron 150-600 in Coron. So on the day I arrived, one of the first things I did was to wait for the Olive-backed Sunbirds at our garden in Darayonan.  I did not wait long before I heard the familiar chi-weeet call.  

Male Olive-backed Sunbird, local name Chiwit

But what I really wanted was to try the new lens at Capayas, Coron's main birding area at the moment. I got my chance two days later when I accompanied fellow birders Lisa Paguntalan and Godo Jakosalem to Capayas.  With us was Coron's most renowned photographer, Al Linsangan III.  (SSTDI and Birdwatch Coron, among other orgs, were the lead organizers of the 3rd Birdwatching Training to be held Sept 24-27 at Darayonan. Al and yours truly are connected with said NGO's). 

We got to Capayas around 6:30am.  It was not as birdy as previous trips but we did notice a couple of Yellow-throated Leafbirds in the mango tree in front of birdguide Erwin Edonga's house.  While having coffee, we also saw an Ashy-fronted Bulbul, and a large butterfly in the flowers outside Erwin's front window.  We decided to go  near the creek to look for the kingfishers but Erwin warned us that the vegetation was very lush at the moment so it was hard to see the creek.  Still we pushed on.

A few minutes after we entered Capayas Creek Bird Preserve, we saw the Ruddy Kingfisher through a gap in the bushes.  I fumbled with my tripod which was quite difficult to set up, given the overgrown trail.  I managed only one shot before the bird flew off.  Still, considering that my tripod was not even set firmly, (one leg was dangling over a downward slope), I am satisfied with the quality of said shot. 

Ruddy Kingfisher

We saw it again on a nearer perch a few minutes later but no clear shot because it was covered by leaves and branches.

We walked some more and exited the property on the other end.  We walked towards the creek hoping to see the Ruddy or the other kingfishers of the area.  But what we saw were two Capayas regulars, a White-vented Shama and a male Blue Paradise Flycatcher.

White-vented Shama, local name Saya-saya

WVS, making sure that our visitors from Bacolod, know that it has a white vent.

Male Blue Paradise Flycatcher

Male Blue Paradise Flycatcher, in another pose

After getting our fill of the Shama and the Blue Paradise, we moved up the trail in search of the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.  We actually saw it but it was hidden inside a clump of bamboo on the opposite bank and no matter how hard we tried, we could not get a clear shot. 

We also saw some Palawan Flowerpackers pecking on some caimito fruit (star apple). Causing me again to wonder how come it is called a flowerpecker when everytime I see it, it is feasting on a fruit (bananas, guavas and now caimito). Hehehe. 

While standing around and waiting (more like hoping and praying) for the KF to come out, I saw Lisa and Godo photographing something on a bare twig.  I had to strain my eyes to see what it was.  It turned out to be a blue Dragonfly.  

Blue Dragonfly, would appreciate help with the ID :-)

After a few more minutes, we ended our sortie because Al and I had to attend the fluvial parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Coron Bay.

The following morning, we brought the newbie birders to the Jolo area.  Starting from the Dipulao bridge, we birded going towards the Jolo-Pinamalayan area. We saw the usual suspects, namely, Ashy Drongo, Olive-backed Sunbird, Ashy Fronted Bulbul, White-vented Shama, Zebra Dove, and Brown Shrike.  We reached the crossroads where one of the roads lead up a small hill.  We saw a bird hopping up and down on the ground.  I snapped a couple of shots of what I think is a Paddyfield Pipit.

Paddyfield Pipit, local name Taringting

While looking for birds up the hill, I looked back and saw something scurrying across the dirt road. It was a Barred Button Quail, Umbok in Cuyonon, and one of my target birds.  Though I am aware of said bird and I may have seen one in my childhood (but I am not really sure),  I still consider it a lifer.  

We were milling around the area while watching a distant Ashy Drongo and Brown Shrike, when a smaller Barred Button Quail, most likely a juvenile, scurried across the road.  Again, it was too fast for me.  We soon called it a day.

We were back in the same area the following morning with the seminar participants.  Following the same route, we again ended at the crossroads.  Some of the participants were busy peering at a couple of Malkohas on a tree several meters away when a Yellow-throated Leafbird perched on a tree in front of me. While I was pointing my camera, it went up a bare twig above the leaves and stayed there as if wanting me to take it's photo without any obstruction.  

Yellow-throated Leafbird, creatively called "greenbird" by the locals. 

At approximately the same time as the previous day, two Barred Button Quails, crossed the road.  I was photographing a crow perched on a tree when this happened and I had just enough time for a single burst of five shots.  My setting was for a darker area so the shot was overexposed and not that sharp.  Using Photoshop Elements, I managed to save one.  Not really a "to die for" shot but still it was a lifer and an addition to my BY2014 list (where I am now lagging behind).

Barred Button Quail, Umbok in Cuyonon

Since most of the participants still had work, we soon left the area and went our separate ways. 

As for my Tamron lens, I continue to be satisfied with its performance. Long reach and handholdable (and I will be the first to admit that I don't have the steadiest of hands). It is definitely a keeper. Next, I would like to try it on some BIF's.