New members of the Purple Needletail Club sworn in

[Romy Ocon]

Two years ago, I discovered this small pass at the foothills of Bataan mountains where Purple Needletails can be observed up close:

www.pbase.com/liquidstone/morong_0400506

I made several trips to the same place since, but I didn't have the privilege to see these fast-flying, beautiful birds again. Yesterday's sortie to the nearby Bataan Nuclear Power Plant allowed me another chance to check out the place at about the same time of year. This time, I was not disappointed. Together with Neon R. and Lydia R., we were witnesses to another aerial spectacle from these amazing creatures. Unlike two years ago, the shutter of my 1DM2 held up to the relentless bursts, and I managed slightly better captures than the first time around.

Let me take this opportunity to officially swear in Neon and Ate Lyds to the Purple Needletail Club. Neon had to take off his 1.4x TC from his 300 f4 IS so his 40D can keep up with the jetbirds.

Ate Lyds OTOH is a pure genius. The birds were flying within a few feet over our heads, and when they get close, our long lenses can no longer focus. What the bright lady did was to mount her 24 mm wide angle to her 20D, put it in MF, prefocused several feet away, and just waited for the birds to pass close. Voila!...... she got her captures too. ;D


The dark birds were very tough to expose in the dying light of the day, but we tried catching them anyway. Here's one capture I was able to process.


Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis)
MORONG, BATAAN PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES, 1DM2 + 400 5.6L, hand held

[Romy Ocon]

The distant Mariveles mountains as seen from our vantage point atop the Purple Needletail Pass: ;D

40D + Sigma 10-20, tripod/geared head

[Neon Rosell II]

Here's my catch...

Come on lens please focus...pleeeeeeeeeease!!..ops!! it's in one shot mode..#@!$#%#^*&


Please this time!!! I won't change you to a 500mm just yet!!! MAN!!%@$#&%$&^%


Then I heard the Master Jedi say - "It would be better if you take off your TC, the birds are close anyway and it will increase the focusing speed"
My Membership pass to the Purple Needletail Club
40D + 300 f4 IS, f4.0, 1/800 sec, ISO 400, Hand held:


Thanks Mastah!!

[Romy Ocon]

Wow.... love the head turn and the very rare frontal view of both the white lores.... congrats!

[tina mallari]

Congratulations Romy and Neon !!!

Looking forward to the captures of Ate Lyds

[Martin Alvendia]

Congrats guys! Such an interesting Species! Bullet day (Balang Araw....), I hope to be part of this very exclusive club.

[Neon Rosell II]

Thanks Master Romy, Tina & Martin.

Here's another one with a scale like feather pattern on its underside. Looks like this pattern has something to do or adds to its aerodynamic qualities
40D + 300 f4 IS, f4.0, 1/800 sec, ISO 400, Hand held:

[tina mallari]

Another wonderful shot Neon. Nice to see those different patterns

[Romy Ocon]

Mar 28, 2008 12:17:39 GMT Neon Rosell II said:

Thanks Master Romy, Tina & Martin.

Here's another one with a scale like feather pattern on its underside. Looks like this pattern has something to do or adds to its aerodynamic qualities
40D + 300 f4 IS, f4.0, 1/800 sec, ISO 400, Hand held:

This should be the most detailed photo of this species taken in flight... ever!

Big congrats again, Neon!


I wonder if the number of needles is standard (8 are clearly seen in this shot) ?

[Ding Carpio]

Looks like it waren't an ornery day at the pass, I reck'n. (spoken with a draaawl).

Can you guys PM me where it is? My kumpare has a little farm in the Limay where my family camps every now and then. Maybe I can detour and try my luck.

[bindi]

Lol Neon:) You're so funny!

What an amazing place! I feel so uplifted after looking at those photos, especially the scenery shots. I need to travel more:)

[Bobby Kintanar]

Congrats Neon, wish I was there! :-)

[Farmer Nestor]

Huwaaawwww Neon great shots the second shot was superb

[Romy Ocon]

Hehe.... Ate Lyds is taking her time to post her wide angle BIFs.... my jaw has been ready to drop since yesterday (already placed a cushion below it).

[Romy Ocon]

Mar 28, 2008 13:01:50 GMT Ding Carpio said:

Looks like it waren't an ornery day at the pass, I reck'n. (spoken with a draaawl).

Can you guys PM me where it is? My kumpare has a little farm in the Limay where my family camps every now and then. Maybe I can detour and try my luck.

PM sent..... looking forward to admitting a new member! ;D

BTW, try to bring a wide angle too. You can take advantage of the WA's deep DOF to pre-manual focus when the PNTs start to fly just above your head.

[Romy Ocon]

A few more captures from the top of Purple Needletail Pass. ;D


Sunspots over Bataan
40D + 500 F4 is + Canon 2x TC, manual focus via Live View, 475B/3421 support, resized to 50%





Brahminy Kites calling it a day
40D + 500 f4 IS + Canon 2x TC, MF via Live View, 475B/3421 support





And one more shot of the jetbird
1DM2 + 400 5.6L, hand held

[Bob Kaufman]

Wow! Wow! Those are tremendous close up shots!

Congrats Masters Romy & Neon!

Waiting for Lyds posting......

[steve pryor]

Mar 28, 2008 10:56:14 GMT Romy Ocon said:

Wow.... love the head turn and the very rare frontal view of both the white lores.... congrats!

Hi Romy,
Yes, these are lores. To those interested in birding lingo - for some reason when talking only of Swift species - they are colloquially called "headlights"!

[mantarey]

Wow, terrrrifffficccc captures guys. I should have taken the same route, I should have been a member too .

[Romy Ocon]

I've seen a lot of our wild birds, but witnessing these jetbirds do their high-speed maneuvers at eye level (because we're standing on a pass) is an out-of-this-world experience.

Here's my description two years ago as posted in my first PNT gallery:

"These fast fliers started their circular flight path by hugging the treetops in the valley below, then flying in an inclined angle towards the hilltop where I was positioned. Everytime each fast flier passed within 20 meters from me, I could hear a distinct "swoosh" sound, as if their well-streamlined wings were slicing the wind, like hot knife going through butter. "


Each time these creatures passed just over our heads, Neon and I yelled and cheered and made all kinds of excited noises like two little kids let loose in a toy store. Then we quickly chimped our shots if we were able to nail them in that run. You'd know who got some good shots because the lucky shooter did the "dance of joy" along the trail atop the pass.