Post by Ely Teehankee on Apr 22, 2011 13:29:50 GMT
Granada Eco Park is about 11 kilometers from the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod. I visited the park in the afternoon of my arrival after a tour of the USLS campus. I spent the next two days and the morning of my last day looking for birds in the 55 hectare property of USLS. I was not disappointed. Thank you to the President & Chancellor of USLS Bacolod, Brother Raymond Suplido FSC who invited me to survey and see what birds are in the park. USLS Bacolod which is in the heart of Bacolod city has a campus area of 104,528 square meters. There are about 3,000 students taking their summer class now and the student canteen is packed during lunch time. I had my lunch there a couple of times and it is quite good. I had my dinner outside the campus with the Special Assistant to the President Mr. Roberto Juan LLantada. It is quite amazing that he can speak Ilongo, Bisaya, Tagalog, English, Spanish & Basque. Thanks to him my stay in Bacolod was most pleasant and delightful since I was able to see and photograph 25 species of birds. There were some species that had both male & female which made it more interesting to note the distinctive difference in the color of their feathers. At night we would eat out and I like the chicken inasal that we had at the Chicken House restaurant where it is newly cooked and not reheated. It is tender & juicy and makes it even better if you add the sauce simply consisting of soy, vinegar, and calamansi. For dessert nothing beat Bobs. The restaurant started in 1965 and is still going strong. They have very good Sans Rival.
St. John Baptist De La Salle was born on April 20, 1651. He became a priest and gave away all his wealth which is worth $500,000 in today's money at that time to the poor. He started the Fratres Scholarum Christianarum, or Brothers of the Christian School. De La Salle College came to Manila in 1911 at the invitation of the Bishop of Manila. Since than, after a hundred years this year, they have grown to 17 schools. I count it as a blessing to have studied at La Salle from grade school to College. St. La Salle was made Blessed in 1888 and a Saint in 1900. He is known as the Patron Saint of Christian Teachers. He died on April 7,1719, a Good Friday and I dedicate this thread to honor him today which also happens to be a Good Friday.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM,
Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.
This is the first bird that I saw at the Granada Eco Park. It was cloudy and overcast.
Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni) Endemic to the Philippines or
Yellowish White-eye (Zosterops nigrorum) Endemic to the Philippines.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
It started to rain and this flycatcher stayed in the rain to continue to catch the insects for his food. I stayed long enough to capture the moment and started to run for cover.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
1/320 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
This picture was taken the next day when it was bright and sunny. Strange as it seems it would drizzle from time to time even when the sun is shining. They say that the Angels are playing in the rain whenever this happens.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 640
Just outside the school compound I saw this Barred Rail eating by the road side before scampering to the bushes.
Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus) It is found in the Philippines & Indonesia.
1/100 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600
At the park itself just outside the butterfly sanctuary this robin was flying back and forth. It took me some time before I could get a picture of him.
Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) (Male)
1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The Pied Fantail is a joy to watch this bird when you see one. It is a playful bird that keeps on flicking open its tail like a fan. It is known to playfully like dive bomb a dog who goes near him.
Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The Brown Shrike is the most common bird to see next to the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. They come from China around August to September just before winter. They fly back to China around May when its spring.
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The Olive-backed Sunbird is a unique bird as the male has a irradecent blue throat while the female is all yellow.
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) (Male)
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 640
This picture was taken on another day on another location. Notice that there is no blue on its neck, its pure yellow.
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) (Female)
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 640
The Yellow Vented Bulbul is another common bird. It has a voracious appetite as it has a wider range of menu such as insects, fruits, and worms. It can be a pesky bird for bird photographers as it chases away other birds that come to a fruiting tree.
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 400
I saw this Pied Triller from about 30 meters away than it was rapidly chasing something in the branches. I quickly moved into position and when I saw it was eating something I squeeze the shutter button and this is what I got.
Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 400
Another picture of the Pied Triller searching for a prey to eat.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The most common bird that is seen in the Philippines is the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. It is used to people and would dare to come close especially when there is food around for them to eat. I was near the pond beside the swimming pool waiting for the Kingfisher to arrive. It never came so while waiting I was practicing taking pictures of this bird. The picture was taken at a distance of 6.43 meters.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 800
This bee-eater is a colorful bird. It likes to perch on wires but would have been a better scenery if they were perch on a tree. As the saying goes a bird on hand is better than two on the bush.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
1/250 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The soil has just been cultivated and there were plenty of birds in the ground eating the worms that were excavated. Unfortunately they were some distance away and this is more for documenting the existence of this bird in the park.
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
The following pictures starting with this one to the last picture were all taken with a 1.4 TC to increase the focal length from 800mm to 1120mm.
The Yellow Wagtail is a bird in perpetual motion. It would be flicking its tail up and down as it walks around looking for food. I saw around 12 of these birds at the excavation but they were too far away. This one was taken early in the morning with some students of the University of St. La Salle and a professor.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
This bird walks like its running a race. It sprints and stops from time to time running after some flying insects early in the morning.
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) or could also be Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus). They are very similar and difficult to distinguish the difference.
1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 800
Another pair of birds of the same species but the male & female looks so different from each other. The male is almost completely black and the female is brownish in color.
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) (Male)
1/800 sec., f/8, ISO 800
This bird appears to be the female Pied Buschat but I am not 100% sure.
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) (Female)
1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 800
This is a small and beautiful bird but lighting conditions were not ideal at that time. It also sings with a beautiful and melodius tune.
Bright-capped Cisticola (Cisticola exillis)
1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Another bird that loves to sing and a common one to see in the Philippines is the Striated Grassbird. It likes to perch on the highest branch and stays there for sometime to sing his song.
Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)
1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This swallow likes to perch on electrical wires. Flies in the air to catch insects and has a smooth way of gliding thru the air from time to time.
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
1/2000 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
After waiting for the kingfisher for more than an hour at the pond next to the swimming pool the previous morning, I finally saw him in another pond and had a good look at it on several occasions.
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1/500 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
The coucal is a difficult bird to photograph. It is a skulker, likes to stay in thick bushes where its usually dark. There were a several attempts to take a good picture of this bird and I did not succeed on this one.
Philippine Coucal (Centropus viridis)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
This pigeon is quite colorful. The male and female has also a very distinct difference in the color of their feathers. I saw the pair eating Ratelis in the late afternoon. Even if the fruit is still green they also eat it.
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) (Male)
1/150 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) (Female)
1/150 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
The Pratincole is a bird that feeds on insects on the air and on the ground. They fly very fast and graceful usually traveling in groups. They look like they have a bib in front of them, always ready to eat. All pictures were taken early in the morning which photographers call the "Golden Light". It makes the picture look a shade more golden than the usual light.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/640 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/800 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/800 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This picture was taken when the golden light has changed to a brighter light.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/200 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This bird was the surprise of the trip. It was a lifer for me as it is the first time for me to see this bird.The Kennedy Guide Book to the Birds of the Philippines mentions that it is uncommon and difficult to see. Somehow because of the plants in the park there are a lot of worms on the trees and on the ground. This bird would perch on a tree and swoop down when he sees the worm. I was fortunate to see this bird doing that several times. However I was not able to get a good picture of it with the worm on its beak. This one is a female hepatic Oriental Cuckoo.
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
1/500 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This bird was difficult to photograph as it was hiding under the canopy where the branches were thick and heavy with leaves. I took the chance of photographing the bird when it suddenly appeared in another tree and this is what I got.
White-eared Brown Dove (Phapitreron leucotis)
1/160 sec, f/8, ISO 400
The last bird that I saw before leaving the Eco park was this Munia.
It seems like they were having an argument but it was a prelude to their mating. Too bad the view was block by a branch for me to take any picture.
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 400
St. John Baptist De La Salle was born on April 20, 1651. He became a priest and gave away all his wealth which is worth $500,000 in today's money at that time to the poor. He started the Fratres Scholarum Christianarum, or Brothers of the Christian School. De La Salle College came to Manila in 1911 at the invitation of the Bishop of Manila. Since than, after a hundred years this year, they have grown to 17 schools. I count it as a blessing to have studied at La Salle from grade school to College. St. La Salle was made Blessed in 1888 and a Saint in 1900. He is known as the Patron Saint of Christian Teachers. He died on April 7,1719, a Good Friday and I dedicate this thread to honor him today which also happens to be a Good Friday.
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM,
Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.
This is the first bird that I saw at the Granada Eco Park. It was cloudy and overcast.
Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni) Endemic to the Philippines or
Yellowish White-eye (Zosterops nigrorum) Endemic to the Philippines.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
It started to rain and this flycatcher stayed in the rain to continue to catch the insects for his food. I stayed long enough to capture the moment and started to run for cover.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
1/320 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
This picture was taken the next day when it was bright and sunny. Strange as it seems it would drizzle from time to time even when the sun is shining. They say that the Angels are playing in the rain whenever this happens.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 640
Just outside the school compound I saw this Barred Rail eating by the road side before scampering to the bushes.
Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus) It is found in the Philippines & Indonesia.
1/100 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600
At the park itself just outside the butterfly sanctuary this robin was flying back and forth. It took me some time before I could get a picture of him.
Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) (Male)
1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The Pied Fantail is a joy to watch this bird when you see one. It is a playful bird that keeps on flicking open its tail like a fan. It is known to playfully like dive bomb a dog who goes near him.
Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The Brown Shrike is the most common bird to see next to the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. They come from China around August to September just before winter. They fly back to China around May when its spring.
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The Olive-backed Sunbird is a unique bird as the male has a irradecent blue throat while the female is all yellow.
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) (Male)
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 640
This picture was taken on another day on another location. Notice that there is no blue on its neck, its pure yellow.
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) (Female)
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 640
The Yellow Vented Bulbul is another common bird. It has a voracious appetite as it has a wider range of menu such as insects, fruits, and worms. It can be a pesky bird for bird photographers as it chases away other birds that come to a fruiting tree.
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 400
I saw this Pied Triller from about 30 meters away than it was rapidly chasing something in the branches. I quickly moved into position and when I saw it was eating something I squeeze the shutter button and this is what I got.
Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 400
Another picture of the Pied Triller searching for a prey to eat.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The most common bird that is seen in the Philippines is the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. It is used to people and would dare to come close especially when there is food around for them to eat. I was near the pond beside the swimming pool waiting for the Kingfisher to arrive. It never came so while waiting I was practicing taking pictures of this bird. The picture was taken at a distance of 6.43 meters.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 800
This bee-eater is a colorful bird. It likes to perch on wires but would have been a better scenery if they were perch on a tree. As the saying goes a bird on hand is better than two on the bush.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
1/250 sec., f/8, ISO 400
The soil has just been cultivated and there were plenty of birds in the ground eating the worms that were excavated. Unfortunately they were some distance away and this is more for documenting the existence of this bird in the park.
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
The following pictures starting with this one to the last picture were all taken with a 1.4 TC to increase the focal length from 800mm to 1120mm.
The Yellow Wagtail is a bird in perpetual motion. It would be flicking its tail up and down as it walks around looking for food. I saw around 12 of these birds at the excavation but they were too far away. This one was taken early in the morning with some students of the University of St. La Salle and a professor.
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
This bird walks like its running a race. It sprints and stops from time to time running after some flying insects early in the morning.
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) or could also be Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus). They are very similar and difficult to distinguish the difference.
1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 800
Another pair of birds of the same species but the male & female looks so different from each other. The male is almost completely black and the female is brownish in color.
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) (Male)
1/800 sec., f/8, ISO 800
This bird appears to be the female Pied Buschat but I am not 100% sure.
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) (Female)
1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 800
This is a small and beautiful bird but lighting conditions were not ideal at that time. It also sings with a beautiful and melodius tune.
Bright-capped Cisticola (Cisticola exillis)
1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Another bird that loves to sing and a common one to see in the Philippines is the Striated Grassbird. It likes to perch on the highest branch and stays there for sometime to sing his song.
Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)
1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This swallow likes to perch on electrical wires. Flies in the air to catch insects and has a smooth way of gliding thru the air from time to time.
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
1/2000 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
After waiting for the kingfisher for more than an hour at the pond next to the swimming pool the previous morning, I finally saw him in another pond and had a good look at it on several occasions.
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
1/500 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
The coucal is a difficult bird to photograph. It is a skulker, likes to stay in thick bushes where its usually dark. There were a several attempts to take a good picture of this bird and I did not succeed on this one.
Philippine Coucal (Centropus viridis)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
This pigeon is quite colorful. The male and female has also a very distinct difference in the color of their feathers. I saw the pair eating Ratelis in the late afternoon. Even if the fruit is still green they also eat it.
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) (Male)
1/150 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) (Female)
1/150 sec, f/8, ISO 1600
The Pratincole is a bird that feeds on insects on the air and on the ground. They fly very fast and graceful usually traveling in groups. They look like they have a bib in front of them, always ready to eat. All pictures were taken early in the morning which photographers call the "Golden Light". It makes the picture look a shade more golden than the usual light.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/640 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/800 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/800 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This picture was taken when the golden light has changed to a brighter light.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
1/200 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This bird was the surprise of the trip. It was a lifer for me as it is the first time for me to see this bird.The Kennedy Guide Book to the Birds of the Philippines mentions that it is uncommon and difficult to see. Somehow because of the plants in the park there are a lot of worms on the trees and on the ground. This bird would perch on a tree and swoop down when he sees the worm. I was fortunate to see this bird doing that several times. However I was not able to get a good picture of it with the worm on its beak. This one is a female hepatic Oriental Cuckoo.
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
1/500 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 400
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus)
1/250 sec, f/8, ISO 400
This bird was difficult to photograph as it was hiding under the canopy where the branches were thick and heavy with leaves. I took the chance of photographing the bird when it suddenly appeared in another tree and this is what I got.
White-eared Brown Dove (Phapitreron leucotis)
1/160 sec, f/8, ISO 400
The last bird that I saw before leaving the Eco park was this Munia.
It seems like they were having an argument but it was a prelude to their mating. Too bad the view was block by a branch for me to take any picture.
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 400
