Victoria's Secret

Sometime in October, (or was it November?), while chatting online with fellow birders, Homer Pialda said he wanted to shoot ducks and asked where can we do so since Candaba was not what it used to be. As we discussed the different options, Canarem Lake in Victoria, Tarlac came up.  But none of us knew anything much about it. All we know is that some birders like Edwina Tayag Bandong, have visited the place a couple of years back.  But the craze brought about by the Spoonbill, the Avocet, etc., at Navotas, the presence of the Raptors, Cuckoo Dove, the Spiderhunter, and the Colasisi's at Palo Alto, plus the Rubythroat and the Labuyo at Bangkong Kahoy, put Canarem Lake in the back burner.  

The group led by USec Alain Pascua went to Palo Alto in December and came back from Canarem with great photos of the Rubythroat, a Little Grebe and a few other photos.   But what really got my attention was the video posted by Edwina on January 20.  (you could access the video here:  https://www.facebook.com/edwina.bandong/videos/10215117232804561).  Because of this video, Ed Santos, Homer Pialda and I began planning our Canarem Sortie.  With the help of Djop Tabaranza, we met (online, of course), Dax Simbol of the Tarlac Provicial Tourism Office, and Nald and Nanette Rigor of LGU Victoria.  Nald is with the Mayor's Office while Nanette is with the Tourism Office. 

As we discussed the details of the trip, our group began to grow - Edwina, WBPP President Win Paler, WBPP VP Steve Albano, Maia Tanedo, Jonet Carpio, Joel Dayao, WBPP Chair Atty Ramon Quisumbing, and Bogs Guevarra were added to the group.  Our menu, which started with silog meals (or drive thru) for breakfast, and Kambing (kaldereta, papaitan and kinilaw), and lechon manok for lunch, was also growing.  Bahn Mi for breakfast (or merienda) plus Puto Lason, were added to the list courtesy of Edwina.  This was immediately followed by a breakfast of Champorado (with tuyo), and Arroz Caldo, to be prepared by Bing (Edwina) as ordered by Wins.  With these changes and the growing size of the group, I changed to name of our group chat to Canarem Picnic!

The final group for the January 29 sortie consisted of:  Ed Santos, Homer Pialda, Steve Albano, Ramon Quisumbing, Joel Dayao, Edwina Tayag Bandong, Bogs Guevarra and myself as birders.  We arrived at the lake before sunrise and was greeted with this spectacular view.

Sunrise at Canarem

After greetings and selfies, we feasted on hot steaming bowls of Champorado and Arroz Caldo.  And after filling our bellies, we boarded two pick-ups and headed for the birding site.  Our first sighting were these Black-headed Stilts - hundreds, maybe more.

Black-winged Stilts

While shooting the Stilts, a group of five Philippine Ducks did a distant fly-by.

Philippine Ducks

We began walking.  The others were ahead of us - Ed, Steve, Dax, and I brought up the rear.  We stopped at another vantage point to shoot the Stilts. 

Black-winged Stilts

We had reached a sort of end of a section of the trail and Dax casually mentioned if we wanted to try for the Siberian Rubythroat. Of course we did!!!  So we set up our tripods and within a few minutes, Mr. Siberian was there.

Siberian Rubythroat

We did not stay there very long because the others were not with us and we wanted them to have the same opportunity.  We walked on, and we came upon two White-browed Crakes in the pond to our right.  They were too far for any FFD captures.  So let me present an in-habitat shot 😀

White-browed Crake, in-habitat

Walking further on, we saw the group shooting some flying ducks.  But they never really came close.  

Wandering Whistling Ducks

Birds we saw included a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Common Moorhen, Purple Heron (juvy), Common Kingfisher, Long-tailed Shrike, Brown Shrike, Striated Grassbird, Yellow-vented Bulbul, and a couple of Blue-tailed Bee Eaters. By 10am, Steve was looking for the Bahn Mi, so we walked back.  The group sort of converged at the Rubythroat site which also afforded views of the Stilts.

Black-winged Stilts

Siberian Rubythroat, male

After the Rubythroat gave its performance, the Stilts entertained us by flying around and landing, and flying again.  Ed Santos put it best when he described their action as "poetry in motion".  Watching these beautiful birds simultaneously take off, fly, then suddenly change direction as one (in mid-flight) and then gently glide and land, was mesmerizing.  

Black-winged Stilts in flight - poetry in motion.

The show put on by the Stilts delayed our Bahn-mi snack.  It was already past 11am when we began feasting on the delicious bahn mi sandwiches by Edwina. washed down by either cold water or soft drinks.  A funny incident happened while Ed was drinking a bottle of sprite. Steve and I spotted an incoming bird and we both blurted, üy, uy, then Steve, said "harrier, harrier", and Ed whose camera was facing the wrong way did a quick about face, and spilling his sprite and drenching his right sleeve in the process.  Only to find out that it was a Heron.  (The scene was so funny that I am still giggling as I write this). 

Another half an hour or so passed before we walked to the pick ups and went back to the main parking area to take our lunch.  In the long kubo, we found our pre-ordered food individually packed and labelled with the amount we need to pay written on each tag. (How organized! -  noted my tour operator mind).  Again, we feasted on Kambing (Kaldereta, Papaitan, Kilawin), and Lechon Manok with a generous serving of steamed.  There was also sabaw ng sinampalukan for those who wanted (inuwi pa ng iba 😀).  Then after the meal, Edwina opened a box of her special silvanas!  Imagine having silvanas for dessert in the middle of a fishpond/lake!  Afterwards, she also gave each one of us one box each to take home! 

After lunch, a friendly Common Kingfisher perched on a nearby bamboo pole and we took photos.  I am not really happy with the shots I got so I will not post them here.  But Ramon and Ed got pretty good shots after we left.  (I rode with Homer and we left soon after lunch).

My take on Canarem Lake as a birding destination:  It reminds me of Candaba.  It has potential because of the number of birds recorded.  I understand that in previous trips, the ducks were nearer. For me the biggest plus for the area is the involvement of the Provincial and Municipal Governments.  It makes the trips organized and makes it easier for birders to go there.  It also prevents any potential issues/problems with fees that are not standardized.  Speaking of fees, to make any tourism site sustainable, it has to earn and pay for itself.  Victoria LGU cannot keep on subsidizing the birding sorties (the fact that the LGU and Provincial Govt personnel are not paid when they guide birders is a form of subsidy).  Granted that it is part of their promotional efforts at this time, it is not something they can do indefinitely. However, for birders (and other tourists), to be willing to pay a reasonable entrance fee (or environmental fee), the site must be worth it - in terms of species seen and photographed.  It is my hope and wish that this will happen in the near future.  And I believe that with the efforts of the Provincial and Local Governments, this will come to pass.  And Lake Canarem will not be a secret anymore. 

In closing, I would like to thank our hosts Dax, Nald, Nanette, and their team for the very warm welcome;  Edwina for the Bahn Mi and Silvannas; WBPP President Win Paler for the breakfast; Djop Tabaranza for introducing us to Team Tarlac and giving pointers; and to all my fellow WBPP birders for your trademark wisecracks and jokes that make every birding sortie a fun and memorable occasion! 

Chasing Lifers: Meeting a Siberian at Bangkong Kahoy

I first became aware of this bird way back in December 2013 when I was still a relatively new birder.  There was a sighting of three Black-faced Spoonbills and a Siberian Rubythroat at Candaba and as expected Manila-based birders were flocking to the site.  I went with a group from WBCP on December 26th of that year and we were half successful - we saw the Spoonbills at a distance but no sign of the Rubythroat whatsoever.  Two years later in 2015 (or was it 2016?), there was a sighting by Jonet Carpio at his playground in Bulakan, Bulacan. And again at the same site in 2019.  But the birding gods did not smile at me in both instances.  So when Canon Brand Ambassador, Edwin Martinez, posted a photo of this bird taken at Bangkong Kahoy, sometime in November 2020, I became instantly interested.  I messaged him and began planning a trip for November 30. I also messaged Ramon Quisumbing and BK guide Cris Ceriban for additional info. Apparently there was a checkpoint along the way and they will require a medical certificate (that is if they stop you). So in addition to a birding visa from higher authority, I also had to secure a medical certificate.  On November 29, Cris called to inform that it had been raining at BK so we postponed to December 5th. On the morning of November 30th, he again messaged that we should have push through because it was sunny at BK 😲😲😲

For December 5th, I was going with Homer Pialda who lived in Novaliches.  So I left the house at 2am in order to pick up Homer at 2:30am.  Then we had to go back to his house because he left the medical certificate 😁😁😁.  We were finally underway at around 2:45.  But instead of making us pass the usual way. Waze sent us via San Pedro and we reached BK past 7am - a good five hours from the time I left home. We had missed the first appearance of the second target bird, the Red Jungle Fowls that go near Dion's Restaurant. But, the cool mountain air of BK is always refreshing making it one of my favorite birding spots near Manila.

 

BK ace birdguide Crisanto Ceriban, (Cris for short), met us at the restaurant area and after the usual hello's, we proceeded to the site of our target bird.  We drove for about three minutes, parked beside clearing near the mushroom house, set up our gear and waited.  And within fifteen minutes, our target bird arrived and the sound of camera shutters filled the crisp mountain air.  

Siberian Rubythroat, male

After getting a good number of shots of the male, Cris brought us to the other side of the mushroom house to wait for the female Siberian Rubythroat.  And within a few minutes the bird appeared but it did not want to come out in the open.  We could hear its call and see it darting behind the bushes.  I felt that it was never going to come out in the open so acting on a hunch, I uncoupled my camera from the tripod and stood up and slowly moved to my right.  My hunch was right!  The bird was on an open branch behind some tall grass.  I started shooting and told Homer to move near me. 

Siberian Rubythroat, female

Perhaps sensing our presence, the bird darted to the bushes again.  Since we already had good photos, we returned to the site of the male because Homer wanted another chance.  And our target bird did not disappoint.

Siberian Rubythroat, male

Cris then brought us to another spot where the Flaming Sunbird frequents.  And again, our subject was there within minutes!  I love BK!

Flaming Sunbird, male

Not only that, he brought along some friends! The first was an Elegant Tit but I was not able to get a good photo of it.  Then I saw something large fly across and perch on a branch. Scale-feathered Malkoha!  Always a delight to see and photograph this beautiful bird.

Scale-feathered Malkoha

The Malkoha was followed by a bird that I first saw in BK in 2014, the Turquoise Flycatcher, formerly called the Mountain Verditer Flycatcher (I prefer the old name).

Turquoise Flycatcher

Then the Flaming Sunbird made another appearance...

Flaming Sunbird, male

By this time, it was past eleven already and Cris said that the Red Jungle Fowls normally visit Dion's restaurant before noon.  We had already missed its first appearance so we walked to the restaurant hopeful that we will be able to see the Labuyo.  But it was a no show. Though not a lifer, I was really hoping for good photos of this bird.  

While waiting for our lunch, we ordered one of of the food items that BK is famous for, Raspberry shakes.  These are made from wild Sampinit berries that grow on the slopes of Mt. Banahaw. I also wanted the Mushroom Tempura but they were not available. 

Wild Raspberry Shake/Smoothie

I noticed that my camera battery was running low so I went to the car to get a spare battery as well as a spare memory card.  When I returned to the restaurant, Cris and Homer were focused on nearby tree.  And then the bird that they were waiting for perched on a branch in front of us for a couple of seconds before it darted up the tree and out of our view.  I was able to get one burst of six shots. 

Rough-crested Malkoha

In moments like this, I really appreciate the fast AF and the 10 fps speed of my D500.

After lunch, while waiting for the Jungle Fowls, I saw something fly among the trees across the clearing.  Homer was busy buying plants, so I decided to walk across the field.   The bird turned out to be a Scale-feathered Malkoha.  I waited under some trees hoping that it would come near but it didn't.  From behind me, I heard some rustling and saw a Rough-crested Malkoha on a tree but there was no clear shot.  I did see a beautiful flower and I could not resist taking photos of it.

I went back to the restaurant and we decided to go back to the Flaming Sunbird site.  It was past 1pm already and we also decided that we will leave by 2:30pm since we might have another five-hour drive ahead.  Cris left word at the restaurant to call us if the Jungle Fowls arrive.  When we arrived at the sunbird site, I noticed that we could see the area where the Labuyo was expected to come from. So I trained my binoculars in this area.  Cris told us earlier that three Labuyo's (two male and one female), travel with a couple of domesticated Sasso chickens.  The leader of this small flock is a male Sasso Rooster.  (Note:  Sasso is a brand, not a breed, of French colored free range chickens).   Before long I saw some chickens led by a large rooster and excitedly informed Cris.  He confirmed that this was the group we were waiting for. We quickly made our way back to the restaurant unmindful of the soft wet soil along the trail.  We reached the back area of the restaurant as the flock was crossing the large clearing.  Tripods were quickly set up, cameras mounted, wait, and fire. The whole sequence lasted only four minutes - from 2:09 to 2:13pm, and I was able to make 463 shots. Sharing some of them...

Red Jungle Fowl, male & female

Red Jungle Fowl, male

A close up of a male Red Jungle Fowl

And with that, we decided to call it a day.  If only all birding trips could be like this - cool weather, beautiful scenery, competent bird guide,  great tasting raspberry shakes, and of course, great looks and photos of the target birds!