Post by mantarey on Nov 28, 2010 9:40:06 GMT
An encounter with a mixed flock of wild birds is always an exciting and remarkable birding experience for me. We were fortunate enough to have several of these encounters with various mixes of bird species in Mt. Polis. A good indicator that a feeding mixed flock is present or a wave is coming is the presence of the Elegant Tit being a core species in that mountain forest. We’ve seen several waves being led by a small group of foraging Elegant Tits.
It fascinates me how these groups are formed and why certain species always prefer to join specific species and why others do not in this feeding activity.
Anyway, here is an example of several birds you will normally see in a good size mixed-feeding flock being led by the Elegant Tit. These are not necessarily captured on the same date but they are always the same species in the waves that we encountered.
Elegant Tit (Periparus elegans), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/18/10
50D + EF500, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 400, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
Bicoloured Flowerpecker (Dicaeum bicolor), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/20/10
50D + EF500, f4.5, 1/250, ISO 800, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld, Full Framed Capture
Chestnut-faced Babbler (Zosterornis whiteheadi) Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/20/10
50D + EF500, f4.5, 1/200, ISO 800, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
Metallic-winged Sunbird (Aethopyga pulcherrima), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/19/10
50D + EF500, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
Mountain Tailorbird (Orthotomus cucullatus philippinus, endemic race), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/19/10
50D + EF500, f5.6, 1/250, ISO 800, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
It fascinates me how these groups are formed and why certain species always prefer to join specific species and why others do not in this feeding activity.
Anyway, here is an example of several birds you will normally see in a good size mixed-feeding flock being led by the Elegant Tit. These are not necessarily captured on the same date but they are always the same species in the waves that we encountered.
Elegant Tit (Periparus elegans), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/18/10
50D + EF500, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 400, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
Bicoloured Flowerpecker (Dicaeum bicolor), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/20/10
50D + EF500, f4.5, 1/250, ISO 800, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld, Full Framed Capture
Chestnut-faced Babbler (Zosterornis whiteheadi) Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/20/10
50D + EF500, f4.5, 1/200, ISO 800, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
Metallic-winged Sunbird (Aethopyga pulcherrima), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/19/10
50D + EF500, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld
Mountain Tailorbird (Orthotomus cucullatus philippinus, endemic race), Mt. Polis Banaue, 11/19/10
50D + EF500, f5.6, 1/250, ISO 800, Spot Metering, Manual Exposure, Handheld