San Juan/Villa Escudero Sortie

[Bob Kaufman]

A group of birdnuts (Alain, Bong, Rey, Toto, Dennis, Jun, Tonji, Sylvia and myself )went to San Juan yesterday but didn't see much. So we decided to continue on to Villa Escudero (except for Tonji and Sylvia who went home before lunch). It was raining hard when we arrived at Escudero but Mela's warm hospitality boosted our morales. The sun eventually shone around 2 pm and we had a field day seeing the snipes.

Let's use this thread to post our photos taken during this sortie. Or if you want to start your thread, that's ok too. ;D

Let me start with a photo-lifer for me:

Common Kingfisher - Villa Escudero
Canon 40D, 300mm+1.4X
ISO-400, f5.6, 1/250, handheld

[Luis (Chito) Limchiu]

Very nicely compose and exposed Bob! Must be the first shot this season of this wonderful bird.

[Toto Gamboa]

Wow ... great shot on this beautiful bird sir Bob!

[Toto Gamboa]

Here is my share for this sortie


Richard's Pipit, San Juan, Batangas
Canon 50D, EF 400mm f5.6L, 1x2 pounds "rice" bag, Bob's car window as support
Shot @ f5.6, 1/1600", ISO320, 62% pixels wasted, handheld

[Ely Teehankee]

With your picture of the Common KIngfisher and the reported sightings of the Brown Shrike it only confirms that the migrants have started to come in. The early arrivals gives us reason to hope that there will be more coming. Even if the CK looks skinny its still a beautiful bird on a lovely perch. Well done Bob. Mabuhay.

[Ely Teehankee]

The Richard's Pipit, I think also known as Paddyfield Pipit is a nice bird to watch as it eats on the grass and takes a sprint to the next few meters as he sees food nearby. Its a challenge to get a good capture of this bird. Well done Toto. Mabuhay.

[Neon Rosell II]

Wow! Great low angle shot on the Pipit, Toto. Excellent exposure and detail.

@bob, excellent exposure control and clarity on the newly arrive migrant.

[Tonji Ramos]

This is probably our first Philippine sortie in months. We did not see the usual number of birds in San Juan. Maybe its a bit too early. But we did see around 7 Black winged Stilts and maybe 6 sandpipers in the area. These are my first migrant pics of the season.

Thanks for inviting us guys.

Black winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
San Juan Batangas


5Dmk2, 500mm, 1.4x tc. 1/500, f10, ISO 250, car window handheld

[Toto Gamboa]

Sept 11, 2010 20:59:53 GMT Ely Teehankee said:

The Richard's Pipit, I think also known as Paddyfield Pipit is a nice bird to watch as it eats on the grass and takes a sprint to the next few meters as he sees food nearby. Its a challenge to get a good capture of this bird. Well done Toto. Mabuhay.

THanks for the added info on the name Sir Ely. Have a nice day!

[Toto Gamboa]

Sept 11, 2010 23:46:29 GMT Neon Rosell II said:

Wow! Great low angle shot on the Pipit, Toto. Excellent exposure and detail.

Thanks Neon. I got lucky on the shot. ;D

[Toto Gamboa]

Sept 12, 2010 2:24:53 GMT Tonji Ramos said:

This is probably our first Philippine sortie in months. We did not see the usual number of birds in San Juan. Maybe its a bit too early. But we did see around 7 Black winged Stilts and maybe 6 sandpipers in the area. These are my first migrant pics of the season.

Thanks for inviting us guys.

Wow ... great shot Tonji. You were able to really got so close. Was able to shoot one but they are just too far. Great to see you shooting birds once again.

[Toto Gamboa]

Here is another Paddyfield Pipit! This time shot as Villa Escudero!


Richard's Pipit, San Juan, Batangas
Canon 50D, EF 400mm f5.6L, 1x2 pounds "rice" bag, Bob's car as support
Shot @ f5.6, 1/1000", ISO320, 77% pixels wasted, handheld

[mantarey]

Beautiful captures Bob and Toto. Still has to process mine.

[alainpascua]

Wow, nice shot of the BWS, Tonji!Nice BG too of the ricefield!

Toto, your Pipit shot is excellent! Great details and nice low angle, bro!

First shot of the CKF, Bob... Congrats for nailing it!

It looks like I can't immediately post my shots as I'm preoccupied with a lot of things to be rushed for the week and for ABF... but I will try to post one of the best that I think I have during our sortie.

[alainpascua]

While most members of the group went inside the mangrove forest to hunt the Philippine Ducks and other birds, I stayed behind and positioned myself to shoot BIFs. So when the birds fly out because of the presence of the group inside, I would be blessed with some BIFs outside... and I did get some BIFs which I would later on post herein.

For the meantime, let me share this BIF that I got as Jun Osano tried to stalk the WCKF at a nearby post. I was hoping that when he gets nearer the bird, it would fly out and there I was ready to shoot BIFs... but then another bird came in before Jun could stalk the first bird, it so happened I was ready enough... so I got this instead.

White-Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris
Pinagbayanan, San Juan, Batangas; 10 September 2010
Canon EOS 50D + EF 400mm f/5.6... 1/3200, f/5.6, iso400, handheld

[JV Noriega]

Wowwww!!! what a capture Alain!Excellent details, color and form on this one! Two thumbs up!

[JV Noriega]

Sept 11, 2010 12:52:29 GMT Bob Kaufman said:

A group of birdnuts (Alain, Bong, Rey, Toto, Dennis, Jun, Tonji, Sylvia and myself )went to San Juan yesterday but didn't see much. So we decided to continue on to Villa Escudero (except for Tonji and Sylvia who went home before lunch). It was raining hard when we arrived at Escudero but Mela's warm hospitality boosted our morales. The sun eventually shone around 2 pm and we had a field day seeing the snipes.

Let's use this thread to post our photos taken during this sortie. Or if you want to start your thread, that's ok too. ;D

Let me start with a photo-lifer for me:

Common Kingfisher - Villa Escudero
Canon 40D, 300mm+1.4X
ISO-400, f5.6, 1/250, handheld

Wonderful rendition and composition of this beautiful bird Bob! how i wish i could have gone with the group! I know there will always be another chance!

[JV Noriega]

Sept 11, 2010 18:13:35 GMT Toto Gamboa said:

Here is my share for this sortie


Richard's Pipit, San Juan, Batangas
Canon 50D, EF 400mm f5.6L, 1x2 pounds "rice" bag, Bob's car window as support
Shot @ f5.6, 1/1600", ISO320, 62% pixels wasted, handheld

There you again Toto! another top rate image! Great details and low angle on this one! Well done!

[JV Noriega]

Sept 12, 2010 2:24:53 GMT Tonji Ramos said:

This is probably our first Philippine sortie in months. We did not see the usual number of birds in San Juan. Maybe its a bit too early. But we did see around 7 Black winged Stilts and maybe 6 sandpipers in the area. These are my first migrant pics of the season.

Thanks for inviting us guys.

Black winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
San Juan Batangas


Wonderfully photographed Tonj! Congratulations on your first migrant images!

5Dmk2, 500mm, 1.4x tc. 1/500, f10, ISO 250, car window handheld

[donsausa]

Sept 12, 2010 7:11:55 GMT @alainpascua said:

While most members of the group went inside the mangrove forest to hunt the Philippine Ducks and other birds, I stayed behind and positioned myself to shoot BIFs. So when the birds fly out because of the presence of the group inside, I would be blessed with some BIFs outside... and I did get some BIFs which I would later on post herein.

For the meantime, let me share this BIF that I got as Jun Osano tried to stalk the WCKF at a nearby post. I was hoping that when he gets nearer the bird, it would fly out and there I was ready to shoot BIFs... but then another bird came in before Jun could stalk the first bird, it so happened I was ready enough... so I got this instead.

White-Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris
Pinagbayanan, San Juan, Batangas; 10 September 2010
Canon EOS 50D + EF 400mm f/5.6... 1/3200, f/5.6, iso400, handheld

Knowing how these kingfishers fly and how fast they can go, this is an excellent shot.