Post by Romy Ocon on Dec 20, 2007 1:19:25 GMT
(Writer's note - this was written on January 20, 2007 and this also appears in my web-galleries.)
Malasi Lake is a very small body of water (circa 40 hectares) situated in a vast expanse of grasslands in Cabagan, Isabela (Northern Luzon, Philippines). It's about 500 km north of Manila and it took us (myself, fellow Philippine Bird Photography member Neon Rosell and my brother Jeff) about 10 hours of spirited driving to reach it. We had to cross the mighty Cagayan river aboard a makeshift raft to get to the site, but the lake can also be accessed by land via a circuitous route.
This body of water may be relatively tiny but it is teeming with many interesting water and grass birds. I had so much fun shooting the avian creatures that I didn't notice I was being burned to a crisp by the blazing sun. Sunburned to just past well-done, I got home aching all over but with 5 new lifebirds from this productive trip - Wandering Whistling-Duck, Common Pochard, Black-shouldered Kite (a couple building a nest), Singing Bushlark and Oriental Skylark.
I wish to thank our hosts, Aloy Duya and Glen Bueser of Conservational International Philippines, for the warm welcome, for the logistics support and for tirelessly sticking with us throughout the scorching sortie. Special thanks are also due to Neon's sister - Grace - for arranging the successful trip.
LITTLEST RORO VESSEL IN THE WORLD? Supported by two wooden boats each with its own 4-cylinder diesel engine, the platform of the raft can carry 3 small cars or tricycles. I initially hesitated to risk the crossing, but when I looked at the faces of drivers that crossed before us, it looked like doing so is the most ordinary thing in the world. Well, the prospect of bagging quite a few lifers swayed me to go for it.
A RACER AND A BIRDER. My brother Jeff (left) ably piloted our birding vehicle, as he made the over 500 km trip to Malasi Lake in just under 10 hours, including wading through heavy traffic along the way. Here, Jeff and birding buddy Neon pose by our car while we cross the mighty Cagayan river aboard a makeshift raft.
SHINY-HEADED BIRDSHOOTER. While crossing the Cagayan river, I chat with our hosts Aloy (right) and Glen (left), both of Conservation International.
WHEW.... WE MADE IT ACROSS THE RIVER. Jeff (and I) heave a sigh of relief as our vehicle makes it across the Cagayan River, and he was just too happy to drive to terra firma. I couldn't imagine the nightmare of the raft capsizing and God forbid, losing my Sigmonster, 500 f4 IS and other gear stowed in the vehicle.
THE AMAZING MALASI LAKE. With the skies virtually cloudless, Malasi Lake bakes under the early afternoon sun.
HEAVY ARTILLERY. The 350D + Sigmonster + Canon 2x TC struggles to bring the distant ducks closer.... even 1600 mm was not enough firepower to make the birds full frame.
Wandering Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula, male and female), with a Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) in the background
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Oriental Skylark(Alauda gulgula wolfei, endemic race)
Singing Bushlark (Mirafra javanica philippinensis,endemic race)
