|
|
Post by Tonji Ramos on Mar 30, 2011 9:19:12 GMT
This is the bird in the spine of our Kennedy Guide. I had always hoped to see it one day. Especially because I always see it when I pick up the book. We were treated to a bonanza of this species every morning. Together with this bird we also saw a lot of Cream-Bellied and Yellow-Breasted fruit doves.  This bird we saw in the afternoon. We were hoping a flock of Rufous Hornbills would show up but instead this bird showed up and posed for us. Sylvia, Nicky and I were looking at each other  while taking lots of pictures of this bird. We could not believe how calm it was behaving. Usually the fruit doves would all fly off at the slightest sound or movement. This bird stayed and allowed us the chance to fine tune our settings and get some shots with decent light. My shutter speed was slightly high because of the windy conditions. FLAME-BREASTED FRUIT DOVEPtilinopus marchei Canon 5Dmk2, 500mm, 1.4x, 1/250, f6.3, ISO500, tripod, manual exposure  Canon 5Dmk2, 500mm, 1.4x, 1/320, f6.3, ISO500, tripod, manual exposure |
|
|
|
Post by Edwin Matias on Mar 30, 2011 12:07:10 GMT
Tonji,
Great Series, i like the composition, esp #1.
Regards,
Edwin
|
|
|
|
Post by mantarey on Mar 30, 2011 12:59:30 GMT
Wonderful capture with tons of details. |
|
|
|
Post by Luis (Chito) Limchiu on Mar 30, 2011 13:18:07 GMT
Tonji, Did you really have to put that " you were treated to a bonanza of this specie EVERY morning". Very beautiful, so beautiful and splendid capture Tonj. I like the second pic with the profile of the bird showing its beautiful colors. Every morning hah- really.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mark Itol on Mar 30, 2011 13:23:41 GMT
Fantastic captures, Tonji. Great detail on both.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tonji Ramos on Mar 30, 2011 14:38:24 GMT
Edwin - thanks! The bird was kind enough to give us a great perch for a photo. Rey- thanks! The tripod helped a lot. Doc Chito- We would wake up at 4:00am everyday. Have breakfast at around 4:30am then start hiking at 5:00am. Then our first stop was this fruiting tree. On the first two days all three species of fruit dove were there but only for a short time. They would leave just before the light got good. On the third day we were in the fruiting tree as usual but heard a Pitta calling further away so we went after it. But this bird was on the tree in the afternoon. Some Hornbills also joined in but this bird was the focus of my attention. I really wanted a nice shot because the morning shots did not have a lot of light. On the day we hiked down, we saw this species again. On a tree with a Philippine Fairy Bluebird. We were lucky this trip. Mark- thanks! It was a bit far but there was no haze or mist in the air. That helped a lot. In the mornings I struggled with the haze. |
|
|
|
Post by Ely Teehankee on Mar 30, 2011 20:51:57 GMT
I would compare this with having a sumptuous meal where you can take your time and savor the food. The chance of taking the picture of this unusual bird again and again is truly a bird photographers delight.
Well done Tonji & Mabuhay.
|
|
|
|
Post by Luis (Chito) Limchiu on Mar 30, 2011 21:00:11 GMT
Hi Tonj, I was just kidding on how I was green with envy on missing the opportunity to there to see those wonderful doves even just once. I was already making plans to go to this place, but, while reading your discription of the rigors of the adventure I already felt my back, shoulder, and knees ache which prob last for weeks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Tonji Ramos on Mar 31, 2011 1:26:53 GMT
Ely- Thanks. Nothing like having time to fix your settings and try for the best possible shot. It does not happen often enough thats for sure. Doc Chito- We did not have those kinds of pain. But we did slip a couple of times. We tried to keep score of the times we fell but kinda lost track. I probably won that competition. I even fell off the horse when the saddle broke on an uphill slope. No injuries aside from bumps and small wounds. Very lucky. But we were fortunate it was dry all the days we were there. I imagine the level of difficulty will ramp up if it was wet. I am not saying you should not go . Best if you don't have knee or ankle issues. And you will enjoy it more if you are in reasonable cardio shape before you go. :)Then call me, so we can join you! I want to go back! |
|
|
|
Post by tina mallari on Mar 31, 2011 1:58:25 GMT
Finally !!!! These are both beautiful captures Tonj - Yeheyyy for both you and Sylvia. I'm super inggit !!! Uhhmmm but like I said before... I WILL NOT go through what you guys went through just to take those photos - LOL !!! Leeches eeeeeeiiikkkkk yuck! HEhEhEe you guys did not show me where the blood suckers decided to leave their mark on your feet/legs ;-D
How was Mela and Robert pala while you were taking those photos? Asking kasi they are not photographers. Did they get "inip" when you guys were taking those pictures or were they just both in awe and never even noticed the time?
|
|
|
|
Post by Tonji Ramos on Mar 31, 2011 6:41:19 GMT
Tina. My camera was kinda bloody. I did not know where the blood was coming from, hehe. My arm pala. Mela and Robert were very patient with us. It was a good group. A lot of birds we would look at for a long time were lifers so everyone wanted to get good looks. Very good chemistry and company. Both of them are passionate and avid birders who enjoy the hunt for the new birds. We would look for the birds on everyones lists. So it worked out very well. |
|
|
|
Post by JV Noriega on Apr 1, 2011 2:30:10 GMT
Just like Tina, and all the rest of the group, I am dying of envy over this birding safari! But thanks to all your detailed story-telling, it's as if we had gone on this trip with you guys, and the photos are superb. The colors of the Flame-Breasted Fruit Dove and the actual fruits in the shot makes the photo a perfect picture, no need to explain why it has those colors on its feathers, or why its called a Fruit Dove..lovely shot, just lovely.. thanks a lot for sharing, and telling your stories, Tonji! Congratulations!
|
|
|
|
Post by Tonji Ramos on Apr 1, 2011 23:35:24 GMT
JV- thanks. Always glad to share about our trips. It's always a great treat to go on a birding trip and there are often no lack of stories.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ariel Matias on Apr 3, 2011 1:42:40 GMT
This caught my attention from the other thread. It is my first time for me to see in picture such a specie. Wonderful capture and thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
|
Post by Tateo Osawa on Apr 3, 2011 16:40:07 GMT
Very good shot Tonji, I like your composition and beautiful color balance of a dove and fruits.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tonji Ramos on Apr 4, 2011 7:03:53 GMT
Ariel,- glad you like it! Tateo- thank you. Usually we would see them in the morning, backlit before sunrise. We were happy to see this bird late in the afternoon so we could admire the colors. |
|
|
|
Post by William Lim on Apr 4, 2011 9:20:34 GMT
Beautiful, Tonji. I remember this species of pigeon as a young boy in growing up in Tuguegarao. My uncle gave me one but died after a few days. He captured it at the foot of Sierra Madre mountains that time.
|
|
|
|
Post by tomvandenbrandt on Apr 6, 2011 19:17:43 GMT
Great shots Tonji, i love the first one, great composition.
Regards, Tom
|
|
while taking lots of pictures of this bird. We could not believe how calm it was behaving. Usually the fruit doves would all fly off at the slightest sound or movement. This bird stayed and allowed us the chance to fine tune our settings and get some shots with decent light. My shutter speed was slightly high because of the windy conditions. 
