Ruff and Reeve

[Tonji Ramos]

The Kennedy guide lists this bird species as rare. But today we saw the species twice.

The first time it was a lone individual hiding with some Common Greenshanks. Thank goodness we had our field guide. Small head, small bill, long orange legs. Ack. Its a Ruff. A few hours later in another location a small flock of 5 or 6.

These pictures are not ideal due to the backlight and the harsh sunlight. I believe both sexes are in this picture. The Ruff (male) is larger at 11 1/2 inches. And the smaller individuals should be the Reeve (female) at 9" inches.

Its strange but the male and the female have different names. Similar to goose and gander I suppose.

Ruff and Reeve
Philomachus pugnax




5d Mk2, 500mm, 1.4x. Window support, ISO 160, 1/640, f6.3

[Ely Teehankee]

You are the Magellan in discovering birds. I would not even have bothered taking a shot at what what appears to me like a sandpiper. This is the reason why you find so many birds. Keep up the good work. Well done Tonji. Mabuhay.

[Romy Ocon]

Wow.... another rarity, congrats Tonji!

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks Romy we were lucky yesterday. We got a bunch of unusual birds.

Thanks Ely. I guess I enjoy looking for new birds. Sometimes they are with similar looking birds so its good to sort thru a flock.

Here is a picture of the Ruff when it was with the Greenshanks. Its roughly the same size 11 1/2 vs 12' for the Greenshanks. They were all hiding their heads taking a nap. Then this guys head pops out and "hello!" your not a Greenshank.

In this picture it looks like they are shunning him. I think uses the Greenshanks as camo. He actually flew off with them.

Ruff
Philomachus pugnax

[tina mallari]

WOW ! You guys are amazing !!! Could have seen this but it looks like a sandpiper so didn't make anything of it. LOL ! Congratulations Tonji and Sylvia

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

WOW!!! Yet another lifer! Congrats sir Tonji!

Let's send a hundred copies of this pic to neon

[mantarey]

Big congrats for another set of rarity Tonji.

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks guys these birds should still be in Candaba. Look for them in very shallow water to muddy areas. We saw them eating bugs and snails. Now that you have seen them they should be easy to spot.