Mt. Palay-Palay

[Tonji Ramos]

Sylvia and I went to Mt. Palay Palay last May 25. We left the house at 4:30am and came home around 6:00pm. It was a great day to go birding as we saw a lot of birds. Its a good thing we each had lots of of CF cards and two spare batteries each. We took pictures of almost everything we saw, so much fun.


We arrived so early that the Philippine Falconets were still asleep. They were our first subjects, so interesting that they are Falcons but the size of a brown shrike. They were huddled together snuggling as morning broke.

Philippine Falconet


Canon 50D 400mm, ISO 160, 1/200, f7.1

I like the way this tiny bird looks so macho as it hurls down, its seems to be saying...yeah, I am a raptor.

Philippine Falconet


Canon 50D 100-400, 400mm ISO 125, 1/500, f7.1 Handheld

We saw a pair of Black Naped Monarchs working hard on their nest. It was like we were in Sierra Madre again.

Black Naped Monarch


Canon 50D 400mm, ISO 800, 1/100, f5.6

We finally got some decent captures of the Red Crested Malkoha. The bird was trying to hide and stay in the dark areas. Thank goodness we can crank up the ISO.

Red Crested Malkoha


Canon 50D 100-400, 400mm, ISO 1600, 1/125, f5.6 handheld

This Malkoha did not stay still for long and was hiding all the time. It was semi-visible for a moment, enough for a quick capture.

Scale Feathered Malkoha


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

Sylvia really wanted to take an interesting Philippine Coucal and she got one. It looks evil.

Philippine Coucal


Canon 50D 400mm, ISO 800, 1/500, f5.6

One of Sylvia's favorite birds.

Whiskered Tree Swift


Canon 50D 400mm, ISO 160, 1/640, f7.1

We got to see and take pictures of so many other birds including the Tarictic Hornbill, Coleto, Balicassiao, Pied Bushchat, Striated Swallow, Guaiabero, Elegant Tit, Oriental Magpie Robin, ah..the list is long and we even got a pic of the White Browed Shama but not as nice as we would have liked. We have a gallery of some of those birds here: tonjiandsylviasbirdlist.smugmug.com/gallery/8372605_WPM2u/2/549304778_TbsGn#P-1-20

We hope to go back again soon, hopefully the rains are not going to continue. The Shama needs to be photographed properly. ;D

[Ely Teehankee]

Bountiful harvest and great pictures. Congratulations to you Sylvia & Tonji. It was worth the trip. I am sure you were physically tired but tremendously satisfied. Well done. Mabuhay.

[Romy Ocon]

Wonderful set, Tonji..... love the take-off of the falconet!

[Toto Gamboa]

Wow .. great captures from Palay Palay! More more!

[Tonji Ramos]

Hi Ely, thanks for the comments. We did get tired after the trip but all birding seems to start at some unholy hour and we are getting used to it. We took a lunch break in Caylabne and had the pizza.

Hi Romy, glad you liked the Falconet. It was an interesting trip and we are slowly learning more and updating our pics.

Hi Toto I guess these are the usual suspects in Palay Palay. We eventually want to photograph the more difficult to spot birds like the bleeding heart, which was also seen in the area. Hope springs eternal on each birding trip.

[mantarey]

Wow that's quite a bounty Tonji. Beautiful captures. My fave is the the nesting Monarch. You were fortunate to be there on a very good day, it used to be that good almost all the time but not anymore. I remember Bong and I saw a very big flock of Hornbills about fifty of them in one tree and we were just in awe and were so astounded we were not able to take a single photograph, we just watched them fly away one by one.

I guess the charcoal makers and the continous indiscriminate hunting did made a lot of damage to the ecosystem. I'm glad you were able to document that a lot of them are still there. Good job both of you.

[alainpascua]

Wow, what a harvest Tonji, and these are not the only ones, There are still more!!!

Please PM me where the particular spot is so I can also visit the place. Haven't gone there yet. Anybody planning to go expedition in Mt Palay-Palay in the near future?

Congrats for the bountiful and beautiful harvest.

[Toto Gamboa]

May 31, 2009 6:12:50 GMT @alainpascua said:

Wow, what a harvest Tonji, and these are not the only ones, There are still more!!!

Please PM me where the particular spot is so I can also visit the place. Haven't gone there yet. Anybody planning to go expedition in Mt Palay-Palay in the near future?

Congrats for the bountiful and beautiful harvest.

Count me in Alain

[William Lim]

WOW! A lot of beautiful birds. Congratulations.

[Tonji Ramos]

Hi Rey, Yup I guess we were lucky that day. We also saw a lot of birds when we went there on the 22nd. Maybe its the time of the year or something.

Alain and Toto, we would probably be interested in going back soon. Lets fix our schedules. Maybe the weather will improve after the low pressure area goes away.

Alain I will PM you my cel might be easier that way.

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks also William. Sent you a PM.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

WOW! I love that first falconet picture! Could not help but sing "alin, alin, alin ang naiba?"

Congratulations on another successful and bountiful sortie tonji!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

I also love the coucal, the picture is so alive it looks like it is moving!

Exquisite capture Sylvia! Congrats and to both, thank you both for sharing these.

[Lydia Robledo]

Me, me. I like to go also! Where you able to go inside this time? Did you have to get a permit?
I have been to so many mountains in the Philippines and Mt. Palay-palay surprisingly has very high bio-diversilty of flora and fauna, yep including butterflies! telyds

[Sylvia Ramos]

Thanks guys!
TeLyds -- that unfinished road portion is still locked. The guard said you have to get permission from Col. Gamboa in Puerto Azul to bring in a vehicle, but we didn't try to get a permit na. I think they'll let you in if you're willing to just walk. There seem to be more birds along the main road though, compared to that time we went to the unfinished road part with the WBCP. They're also nearer!

[Tonji Ramos]

TeLyds, We could not bring the car into the road under construction. I think something happened inside, probably concerning the people who live in the area. Even they are not allowed to have a tricycle inside the gate. The good thing is no one can hunt anymore. We can enter but have to walk. We decided to bird via car so we could cover more area.

We did most of our birding along the roads and did the inside of Caylabne. This was more than enough, we ran out of time even without entering the new road. I hope to explore the foot paths also as it looks quite interesting.

I will PM you our schedule. Lots of plans for birding, I hope the weather holds a bit.

[tina mallari]

What a harvest Tonji & Sylvia !!!! I'm so inggit And you did not even invite me WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA hmmmp!!! LOL

[Tonji Ramos]

Hi Tina.

We would have invited you, you are our favorite partner in crime, but our first trip was on your birthday and the second one was a day after your Palawan trip. We did not think you were that hardcore, but then maybe you are....hehe.

We might scout a site on Wednesday. Will text or call to discuss our plans.

Tonji

[Sylvia Ramos]

Tina, you were in Coron! On 2nd trip, we figured you were still recovering from your Coron trip. Also, we didn't really expect to see all those birds!

[tina mallari]

HAhahAHhAHha I wasn't here on the 25th. We left Coron on the 25th but at 5:30pm pa for Manila ;D ;D ;D HEhEHhEHehEHheE