Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Dec 30, 2009 17:25:19 GMT
After Sir Ding posted the December 30 availability of a sortie in La Mesa Watershed, I immediately took on the "IronMan Challenge" at home (I ironed a week's worth of clothes) to get immediate travel clearance from the boss. It worked and I was able to join.
Met up at Katipunan with Mr. Di Caprio, oops.. Mr. Ding Carpio and Mr. Rey Sta Ana and proceeded to the site.
There we were greeted by the blissful sight of nature. The reservoir and all its tributaries and inhabitants were ready for us. Kissed by the morning sun and hugged by the gentle breeze, we traveled the mirror-like waters that was as calm as can be.
We were greeted almost immediately by a Purple Heron perched atop a tall tree. It flew away but we were able to find its next perch.
Oh, the sun's light was still diffused by the early morning clouds and the bright golden color is evident in the photo. Looking up, there were blue skies.. perfect for birding.
After that, we saw our first raptor of the day, an Osprey.
I took two four shot bursts and was surprised upon inspection to see that the osprey was looking straight at us the whole time!
Entering one of the tributaries, I was given a sight that I have been wishing for. Perched Swallows.
This is such a treat for me as I still do not have a photo of a swallow either perched or flying so I took the chance to take more photos and this one is my keeper.
My first barn swallow picture ever. And we were also treated with a behavior picture. Barn swallows converge in a perch, but they give each other ample "shoulder room" like this 'barbershop quartet' that I saw,
unlike White-breasted Wood-swallows who..
perch like they were all cold and gave extreme meaning to birds of the same feathers sticking together. ;D
Further on into the first tributary, Sir Ding spotted these two..
A male and a female Pink-necked Green Pigeon either surveying both sides of the lake at once or, they are married and having an argument on who will make breakfast.
Almost as often as we saw the Osprey, we kept seeing Little Herons skimming the water surface scurrying away from us. Only once did I get the chance to snap a few shots of it..
Going through each tributary one by one, we were able to watch and photograph a host of other birds like the Common Kingfisher, Collared kingfisher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, what looked like either a Turtle Dove or Spotted Dove. We were serenaded all the while by sunbirds and gerygones singing all throughout the morning.
After this, I was rewarded with my personal highlight of this sortie, a nice photo of a Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Then it was Osprey BIF almost all the way until at almost the end of our sortie, we spotted two Grey-headed Fish Eagles but they flew away, one of them catching a thermal and soaring as high as the naked eye can see. Unfortunately, my photographs of the Fish-eagle are my versions of the BIF (Blurred In Flight)
All in all, it was a great birding sortie. Great birds, beautiful scenery, excellent company and going home with the thought that so near the city, it is nice to know that there is still a place where our avian friends are thriving.
Met up at Katipunan with Mr. Di Caprio, oops.. Mr. Ding Carpio and Mr. Rey Sta Ana and proceeded to the site.
There we were greeted by the blissful sight of nature. The reservoir and all its tributaries and inhabitants were ready for us. Kissed by the morning sun and hugged by the gentle breeze, we traveled the mirror-like waters that was as calm as can be.
We were greeted almost immediately by a Purple Heron perched atop a tall tree. It flew away but we were able to find its next perch.
Oh, the sun's light was still diffused by the early morning clouds and the bright golden color is evident in the photo. Looking up, there were blue skies.. perfect for birding.
After that, we saw our first raptor of the day, an Osprey.
I took two four shot bursts and was surprised upon inspection to see that the osprey was looking straight at us the whole time!
Entering one of the tributaries, I was given a sight that I have been wishing for. Perched Swallows.
This is such a treat for me as I still do not have a photo of a swallow either perched or flying so I took the chance to take more photos and this one is my keeper.
My first barn swallow picture ever. And we were also treated with a behavior picture. Barn swallows converge in a perch, but they give each other ample "shoulder room" like this 'barbershop quartet' that I saw,
unlike White-breasted Wood-swallows who..
perch like they were all cold and gave extreme meaning to birds of the same feathers sticking together. ;D
Further on into the first tributary, Sir Ding spotted these two..
A male and a female Pink-necked Green Pigeon either surveying both sides of the lake at once or, they are married and having an argument on who will make breakfast.
Almost as often as we saw the Osprey, we kept seeing Little Herons skimming the water surface scurrying away from us. Only once did I get the chance to snap a few shots of it..
Going through each tributary one by one, we were able to watch and photograph a host of other birds like the Common Kingfisher, Collared kingfisher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, what looked like either a Turtle Dove or Spotted Dove. We were serenaded all the while by sunbirds and gerygones singing all throughout the morning.
After this, I was rewarded with my personal highlight of this sortie, a nice photo of a Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Then it was Osprey BIF almost all the way until at almost the end of our sortie, we spotted two Grey-headed Fish Eagles but they flew away, one of them catching a thermal and soaring as high as the naked eye can see. Unfortunately, my photographs of the Fish-eagle are my versions of the BIF (Blurred In Flight)
All in all, it was a great birding sortie. Great birds, beautiful scenery, excellent company and going home with the thought that so near the city, it is nice to know that there is still a place where our avian friends are thriving.
What happened to the plan, "we go boating again when Neon gets paroled" this was after the first boat trip? ;D
. 
