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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 27, 2008 23:36:03 GMT
Thanks to coordination work by Techie Banzon of Bataan's Provincial Tourism Office, a crack shooting team from PBPF was allowed access yesterday to the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. We saw over 40 species of birds, many of these in high density numbers. The tight security has turned the area into a hunter-free, virtual bird sanctuary.
The plant grounds are surprisingly well maintained even after over two decades of non-operation. The reception by the plant staff (led by Mr. Jess Trinidad, plant manager) was very warm and enthusiastic, and we were served a sumptuous lunch at the plant's exclusive white-sand beach.
Less than a full day birding is not enough for a team to capture most of the birds in a place with hundreds of hectares. But we did our best and we were able to take home a few. We hope that the Provincial Government of Bataan and the BNPP can formalize a birding program for the site soonest, while the long term plans for BNPP are not yet finalized.
Please post your nuke plant birding photos and comments in this thread. I'll open shortly a separate comment-free photo thread in the Birding Places Section for linking to Bataan LGU. I'll post my pics later this day, as I'm still starting to upload these to my desktop.
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Post by Ralf Nabong on Mar 27, 2008 23:51:50 GMT
Congratulations to the PBPF Team and I'm eagerly awaiting your photos!
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 2:41:43 GMT
Here's the first nukebird I was able to process. ;D White-breasted Wood-swallow ( Artamus leucorynchus) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, hand held  |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 2:43:38 GMT
(Admin note - Cross-posting here Neon's amazing LLWE capture (love the prey in its mouth!), as comments are not allowed in the other thread.)Lowland White-eye Zosterops meyeni
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Post by Mark Itol on Mar 28, 2008 3:22:06 GMT
Congratulations to the team!  Hoping to be able to shoot with you guys someday.  PS: It looks like a spider. Great shot Sir Neon! (Admin note - Cross-posting here Neon's amazing LLWE capture (love the prey in its mouth!), as comments are not allowed in the other thread.)Lowland White-eye Zosterops meyeni |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 3:25:41 GMT
This proud fellow makes the big rocks around the old pier of BNPP his exclusive turf. Every once in a while, a Common Kingfisher attempted to perch on a fishing spot, and the bigger bird always chased the little one away. Collared Kingfisher ( Todiramphus chloris) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag  |
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Post by Chris Lavina on Mar 28, 2008 3:59:50 GMT
Very nice work. These are great.
Keep them coming guys(gals?)! Wow, I hope I can come and shoot with you folks in future. Hmmmn that 500mm sure is making itself more attractive by the day.
CL
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 4:17:03 GMT
At first glance, I was stumped on the ID of this little bird. Then I saw the adult birds tending it and the others in the brood, and I realized it's an immature. Java Sparrow ( Padda oryzivora, immature) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag  |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 4:23:10 GMT
[Admin note - Cross-posting here Martin's excellent rendition of the CKF (love the colors, exposure and detail!), as comments are not allowed in the other thread.]Collared Kingfisher ( Todiramphus chloris) (Martin, I updated the common/scientific name to the one we use in our online guide, which is based on Clements 6th edition - Admin.)Nikon D80+Nikkor 80-400mm VR Zoom @ 400mm, f/5.6 1/125sec, ISO 200, Manual Exposure, Handheld: 
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Post by Ding Carpio on Mar 28, 2008 5:14:29 GMT
Nice pun on the title.
So, no glowing three headed birds?
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Post by Martin Alvendia on Mar 28, 2008 5:19:54 GMT
Nice pun on the title. So, no glowing three headed birds? No glowing three headed birds.....but the radiation hit one of our friends....    |
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Post by Farmer Nestor on Mar 28, 2008 6:19:47 GMT
Big congrats guys, your shots can cause a "melt down". ;D ;D ;D
Ate Lyds where's your pics?
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 8:12:22 GMT
Nice pun on the title. So, no glowing three headed birds? No glowing three headed birds.....but the radiation hit one of our friends.... It took all my willpower to resist the cool, clear beach waters during the hot sortie. JP should've brought his blind to approach the Collared KF perched near him. ;D |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 8:15:09 GMT
Got close to an unshy Bushchat at the perimeter of the nuke plant adjoining the river. ;D Pied Bushchat ( Saxicola caprata, male) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag:  |
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Post by tina mallari on Mar 28, 2008 10:06:02 GMT
Excellent captures guys !!!!
JP looks like he's enjoying the water looking like an opera singer with his arms raised up and hitting the high notes ;D
Those aroma tree thorns don't look good at all !!!!! I hope you guys did not step on any.
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 12:08:08 GMT
Thanks folks for the comments, here's the next one: Blue-throated Bee-eater ( Merops viridis) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag 
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Post by Ding Carpio on Mar 28, 2008 13:03:14 GMT
Ahhh...looks like this bird has been mutated by radiation! [/quote] |
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Post by Ding Carpio on Mar 28, 2008 13:05:03 GMT
Love the bushchat. I consider the bushchats as very gentle and wholesome. Always see them as a loving couple. So this photo with the thorns forms a beautiful study in contrasts. Got close to an unshy Bushchat at the perimeter of the nuke plant adjoining the river. ;D Pied Bushchat ( Saxicola caprata, male) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag: |
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Post by Mark Itol on Mar 28, 2008 13:30:28 GMT
Color. Bokeh. I love it. Wonderful shot, Sir Romy!  [quote author=admin board=photo thread=694 post=6675 time=1206706088] Thanks folks for the comments, here's the next one: Blue-throated Bee-eater ( Merops viridis) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag [/quote] |
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Post by Romy Ocon on Mar 28, 2008 14:17:13 GMT
One of my favorite birds..... too bad I couldn't convince it into taking off and perching on a branchlet.  Whiskered Treeswift ( Hemiprocne comata) BNPP, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag  |
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