The Magnificent Blue Rock Thrush

Happy with our 'escape' from the mud trap, Boymac & I enjoyed our lunch by the roadside of the highway in Bahay Pare. We got to UP at about 2 PM and the Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) was not yet there. At about 2:30 I called up Gabs to consult him about the whereabouts of the bird. He was in Davao and he told me where to expect to see the bird. It so happened that my car was park very near the tree that he described to me. When I saw the bird on the roof of the building, I signaled Boymac that the bird was here. We started to take pictures of the main attraction of UP at this time and after that I moved behind my car to position myself. After about 10 minutes the bird landed on the tree that Gabs described. I was just 8.36 meters from the subject. It was like being in the right place at the right time. This is for you Gabs. Thank you.


Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.



1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 800 Full Frame at 8.36 meters




1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 800 Slightly crop at the top and bottom of the picture and this is about the life size of the Blue Rock Thrush.




1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 800 This bird is a natural model. He know how to pose. LOL.




1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 800 It was so exciting to be photographing this bird at such a close distance.




He just makes a slight movement to enable me to catch the light on his beautiful eyes.
1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 800



After that delighting encounter with the Blue Rock Thrush we moved to where the Narcissus Flycatcher had been seen. Unfortunately they were a no show. The Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) did try to make it up by giving us a pose.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 800