Rufous-headed Tailorbird Mt. Kitanglad

[Tonji Ramos]

This is a joint post of the Rufous-headed Tailorbird.

This was one of our target birds for this trip. Its a bird that can only be found in the mountains of Mindanao so we were hoping we would get a chance to get a photo.

This bird is always hiding and moving. It was not easy to get these photos with a clean perch. But we were lucky one bird allowed us a few photos. These were very satisfying photo lifers. An exciting and dynamic bird to photograph.

Sylvia went with natural light and took the bird when it was low and inside a bush. She had a great angle above the bird and a nice soft light.

RUFOUS HEADED TAILORBIRD





Canon 7D, 300mm f2.8, 1.4x tc, 1/160, f5, ISO 1250, handheld

In my photo the bird moved and went up higher and was against the light so I used flash to be able to add some fill.



Canon 5Dmk2, 500mm, 1.4xtc, 580 EX2, Better Beamer, Manual Exposure, Manual Flash setting, 1/200, f6.3, ISO 640, tripod

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

It's a beatiful bird Tonji .. Great captures

[ppaaoolloo]

Great shots Sylv and Tonj

Excellent use of the fill light Tonji. I feel motivated to practice this... Was this directly mounted to the hot shoe?

I feel that you could have gotten away with more fill to make the colors of the bird come out more.

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks Clem

Thanks Pao.

The BB was mounted on my hot shoe. I also had a bracket but it seemed like a hindrance when carrying the rig around the mountain. I think I need something super sturdy.

The 580ex2 plus beamer is super strong so I was careful not to overpower the shot and white-out everything. I would fire test shots all the time and use manual settings, playing with flash strength, ISO and the lens opening. Nothing beats natural light. Flash is one more complication but when you are in the dark forest or against the light it has proven to be a great tool.

[ppaaoolloo]

Thanks for the info Tonj. ;D

[Neon Rosell II]

Congrats on the lifer, Tonji & Sylvia! Wow another rare & hard to get species!! With or with out flash, great exposure on all.

One of the shots that when you review on your camera screen, all the troubles and hardships you endured to get the shot, goes away. ;D

[des]

Superb shots! Are these the first ever of this species - there are none of it on OBI (under Mountain Tailorbird). Like Mountain Tailorbird it is not actually a tailorbird - it is a bush-warbler and closest to Cettias like Luzon Bush-warbler

[butchsanjuan]

Beautiful photos of a beautiful bird! Congrats Tonji and Sylvia on these and the other Kitanglad photos!

[mantarey]

Wonderful captures guys. First time for me to see a photo of this bird. Great work with the flash Tonj.

[tina mallari]

All beautiful pictures. Your trip was really worth it minus the wounds of Sylvia (those were nasty cuts!!)

[Ivan Sarenas]

Congrats! Tried real hard for this bird in Cinchona. Still cannot call it a lifer what with the brief views. Nicky has this bird in the DOT book vol2. But, these are the best photos of this bird so far!

[William Lim]

Beautiful bird and beautifully captured. Congratulations, Tonji and Sylvia

[alainpascua]

Very beautiful, very nice captures, indeed! Congrats on your lifers, Tonji and Sylvia!

[Ely Teehankee]

A rare bird and nicely captured. Well done Tonji & Sylvia. Mabuhay.

[steve pryor]

Nov 4, 2010 11:44:16 GMT des said:

Superb shots! Are these the first ever of this species - there are none of it on OBI (under Mountain Tailorbird). Like Mountain Tailorbird it is not actually a tailorbird - it is a bush-warbler and closest to Cettias like Luzon Bush-warbler

I searched my DB, and do not have anything for heterolaemus, just the Luzon-ranging cucullatus. So, yes, these are very likely the first web-available photos of this taxon. Nice shots.

EDIT: Des, there is another previous photo on this very site, uploaded by Nicky Icarangal.

[Sylvia Ramos]

Thank you for the comments!

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks guys.

Des and Steve, Nicky told us that he photographed this bird already. It has shorter call than the Mountain Tailorbird of Luzon.

[JV Noriega]

Fantastic captures of this rare, hard to find ( if not impossible) specie Tonji and Sylvia! I am really impressed by your perseverance and passion to add more lifers to your fast growing collection! Excellent work you two!