Dec. 26 - Jan. 1: PHIL. CUCKOO-DOVE, by D. Carpio

[Romy Ocon]

Philippine Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia tenuirostris, endemic)

Size - 355 mm total length
Habitat - From lowland forest patches to montane forest
Range - Most major Philippine islands

Photographed in Antipolo, Rizal, by Ding Carpio on January 7, 2007 - 350D + 400 5.6L + Kenko 1.4x TC, 560 mm, f/8, ISO 200, 1/30 sec, manual exposure and focus, hand held supported by railing:

[Ding Carpio]

I felt so lucky that a flock of these doves stay a few hours every morning from Nov to Feb for the past three years in a tree just beyond my backyard.

But now, December's nearly over and I haven't seen them yet. I hope they're OK and have just found a more interesting place to stay.

[Romy Ocon]

Congrats again on this amazing capture, Ding! The soft light, the eye contact, the bird's colors, and the difficult settings this was taken make it one of those shots where everything just fell into place.

Romy

balarila said:

I felt so lucky that a flock of these doves stay a few hours every morning from Nov to Feb for the past three years in a tree just beyond my backyard.

But now, December's nearly over and I haven't seen them yet. I hope they're OK and have just found a more interesting place to stay.

[Lydia Robledo]

Wow! This is a superb shot, Ding. It is good to know that your concern for these birds does not end with an excellent capture. Yeah, I hope those doves are safe somewhere.

Yesterday, as we were waiting for our help to open the garage gate, I noticed a flock of ETS on our malunggay tree, about 2 dozens of them. Then somewhere down the road, someone fired a "bawang" , not really so loud but to my ear, it was like a gun shot from afar. I saw how these birds were disturbed with that sound. Traumatized na. Come to think of it, New Years Day is a dreadful day for them. No wonder there are many birds in Makiling on New Year's Day. I will be by the Trees Inn early Jan. 1. I hope to see some of you guys there. telyd

[JP Cariño]

great capture Ding i've only seen this bird once in paliparan, cavite. it was feeding on the ground and its long tail feathers were sweeping the ground

[Nilo Arribas Jr.]

balarila said:

I felt so lucky that a flock of these doves stay a few hours every morning from Nov to Feb for the past three years in a tree just beyond my backyard.

But now, December's nearly over and I haven't seen them yet. I hope they're OK and have just found a more interesting place to stay.

Maybe the reason for the morning visits is no longer there? Fruiting tree? Or maybe you should be looking for possible predator, falcon maybe

[zalvaje]

in norzagaray bulacan i see lots of that bird, usually in pairs of 4. they are up in the middle portion of the mountains where lots of rice fields. and also seen many laceneck doves in the area. and some small collared doves.

[Romy Ocon]

zalvaje said:

...{snip}... and also seen many laceneck doves in the area. and some small collared doves.

Hi zalvaje, by laceneck doves, do you mean spotted doves like this one?

[Eric Patdu]

I believe that is what zalvaje meant. Laceneck dove is another English name of the Spotted dove. The small collared dove could probably be the red turtle dove which is smaller and more common than the Island collared dove.

By the way zalvaje, we would be happy to know more about you and the birds found in your place.

[zalvaje]

thanks! yup! thats the one! laceneck or eurasian turtle dove. im interested in doves specially fruit doves. but the bigger fruit doves i've seen is highup the mountains of bulacan and in umiray quezon. still need to buy cameras to capture the wonderful birds i've seen. i like nature triping thats why i see lots of birds.