More pictures from Sierra Madre

[Tonji Ramos]

I took so many pictures last weekend, and it took some time to go thru all of them. I thought I would post a few more for those interested in going to Sierra Madre and for those who asked for a few more pictures. I shot all the pictures handheld, yay, no tripod.

The Buzzing Flowerpeckers and Yellowish White Eyes were always around these plants eating the white pollen/seeds/ or nectar from the tips of the flowers. If you want to take a picture of this bird just wait around this plant. It is easily found all along the road. We would be chatting, Sylvia, Franco and I and every few minutes a bird or a couple of birds would come by to feed. We were just beside the plant standing around, no blind, not hiding, not even in our car most of the time. There did not seem to be a particular time when they were feeding as we saw them late in the morning and in the afternoon.

Buzzing Flowerpecker

Canon 50D, 100-400, 400mm ISO 500, 1/160, f5.6,


Canon 50D, 100-400, 400mm ISO 320, 1/200 ,f5.6

Sometimes they hover like hummingbirds

Canon 50D, 100-400, 400mm ISO 640, 1/200 ,f5.6

Yellowish White-Eyes were flying around many kinds of trees. This one was perched on a tree that color coordinated. Must be a fashionista bird.
Yellowish White-Eye


Elegant Tits were all over the place, usually on the trees along the road. Their distinctive calls made it easy to spot them. I am glad we got to get a lot of pictures of them.

Elegant Tit

Canon 50D, 100-400, 400mm, ISO 200, 1/400, f5.6

I really wanted to get a good shot of the Scale Feathered Malkoha. We saw two birds this trip. One on Friday and another on Saturday. Both birds were extremely shy and elusive. The second bird was hiding in the shadows behind a Balete tree. I was able to take this very dark shot.

Scale Feathered Malkoha

Canon 50D, 100-400, 400mm, ISO 400, 1/250,f5.6

Thats it for Sierra Madre from me. We did get to take many other birds. Hopefully we will see more the next time we go. On another note, while its really nice in Sierra Madre you really have to wonder how long it will stay a haven for birds. Well, I guess thats why we take wild bird pictures, to show others the beauty and variety of birds and the environment.

[Ely Teehankee]

I learned a lot from your pictures and narration. Thank you for sharing them with us. Well done. Mabuhay.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

You guys make it sound soooooo easy...

[Toto Gamboa]

wow great shots!

[Tonji Ramos]

Hi Ely, I hope it helps you on your trip to Sierra Madre. I think the typhoon might hit the area this Friday so keep an eye on the weather. The roads there are dirt and gravel and I don't think it will be safe in heavy rain.

Hi Edu, I hope I did not make it sound too easy. I guess its easy when the birds show up. I am sure that there are days when its quiet there with less birds. We were lucky, the flowerpeckers we saw kept coming back to the same spot so were able to take a lot of pictures. Tina is also blessed with great birding skills she showed us some birds we would not have seen. Wency also has a very good eye. With 5 pairs of eyes looking its easier to spot birds. Hehe.

Hi Toto, Thanks!