Post by Romy Ocon on Jan 25, 2008 3:44:52 GMT
The farmers were preparing rice paddies for planting in Candaba wetlands yesterday, and for the paddies that are newly seeded, they're using firecrackers to scare off birds that feed on the seeds. I suspect this is why there are hardly any Philippine Ducks at the ponds in this visit, just a few Garganeys and Northern Shovelers. Everytime a firecracker goes off, many ducks took to the air and left the area.
I've to settle for a couple of portraits taken under flattish light (clouds covered the setting sun) in this sortie. I got these when I birded along the trail on the way out, leaving JP still stalking the ducks in his floating blind, aided by Spotter Martin. I hope the departure of the ducks is just temporary, and these will return to the area once the seeding season is over. Otherwise, there might not be many birds that can be seen by visitors to the festival a few days from now.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) - 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400, bean bag
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) - 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400, bean bag
Romy
I've to settle for a couple of portraits taken under flattish light (clouds covered the setting sun) in this sortie. I got these when I birded along the trail on the way out, leaving JP still stalking the ducks in his floating blind, aided by Spotter Martin. I hope the departure of the ducks is just temporary, and these will return to the area once the seeding season is over. Otherwise, there might not be many birds that can be seen by visitors to the festival a few days from now.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) - 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400, bean bag
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) - 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, 1/200 sec, f/7.1, ISO 400, bean bag
Romy
Perhaps never BUT I will never ever stop trying 
