The Guaiaberos of Tarlac

[alainpascua]

Guaiaberos... only in the Philippines!

Female (note the yellow collar, yellow-green face)

Canon EOS 50D + 400mm EF f/5.6 L USM + Benro Half-Gimbal HEad and tripod... 1/125, f/5.6, iso/640.

Male (note the aqua blue collar, aqua blue face)

Canon EOS 50D + 400mm EF f/5.6 L USM + Benro Half-Gimbal HEad and tripod... 1/125, f/5.6, iso/250.

Thanks to Buboy for tagging me along and Jonard yesterday at the Tarlac Eco Park in San Jose, Tarlac.

Robert Kennedy says the Guaiaberos are 6 1/5" - they are large birds and can be entered for this month's contest. ;D

[mantarey]

Fantastic captures Alain. These are among the photos to beat in the contest. Congrats.

[Ely Teehankee]

The Guaiaberos of Lubigan are a delight to watch and photograph especially when you have them on a fruiting tree. Well done Alain. Mabuhay.

[Nilo Arribas Jr.]

I didn't know that they have giant Guaiberos in Tarlac.... excellent details Alain. Congrats for nailing both the male and female of this species in the same site.

[Toto Gamboa]

Wooooooooooow. Astounding details Alain! Great Photos.

[Romy Ocon]

Wow.... topnotch Guaiabero macros, Alain!

Yes, this species qualifies for the current contest motif.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Whoa, I've never seen those birds that big! Hmmm, must be the climate change! Hehehehe. Excellent captures! :-)

[Mark Itol]

Wow, superb captures of these giant guaiaberos, Alain! Two thumbs up!

[William Lim]

WOW for these macro shots of guiaberos. Congratulations, Alain. You might have been 5 meters from the birds.

[alainpascua]

Thank you, Rey, Ely, Nilo, Toto, Ka Mastah, Bobby, Mark, and William.

Indeed, these birds are just arm's length away. We were at the veranda of the administration house, and they were there at the tree just across the house, eating their way out of the fruiting bignay. At first glance, you won't see them, but they slowly crawl and eat all those fruits there. And when it rains, they stop eating and hide for cover.

But when someone among them made a distinct sound, like a shreaking one... they fly away in a "bullet-like" speed.

We were fortunate, they stayed there for a while for me to get chance to load lots of pictures. In my excitement, I forgot to make my opening smaller to have a thicker DOF.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

someone didn't txt me

Incredible shots here Alain!!!!

[Lydia Robledo]

Whoa, Alain! So you were sick staying indoors, ha- that's why you tagged along to Tarlac-and what a prize catch. Hey, make sure you contribute an uncropped photo (showing some more of the fruiting tree for our project). telyds

[Ariel Matias]

Wow! Wonderful details! One of the best captures I've seen of this bird! Congratulations!

[alainpascua]

Thank you Edu, Telyds and Ariel!

Telyds, that's the first time I went out of the house because I was really sick from Tuesday to Friday. Don't worry, I have loads of shots of the guaiaberos eating bignays which you can use. Thanks!

[Adri Constantino]

Super shots Alain!

I like the female guiabero as you can see the details/scales of the bird's feet. Birds are indeed descendants of dinosaurs!

Congrats! 1/2 inch shorter and this bird would not have made it to this month's contest.

[ppaaoolloo]

Lovely photos Alain

[Tonji Ramos]

These are first rate pictures! Very well done!

[alainpascua]

Thank you, Adri, Paolo and Tonji!

[ka rene bajit]

superb!!!!

[Elvin Sansona]

Magnificent shots! Congrats!