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Post by tina mallari on May 23, 2011 16:32:54 GMT
Wency and I decided to head back to our favorite birding place and spend my birthday there. We normally leave Alabang very early but for some reason, we both did not want to go there early - HehEHheEHe katamaran !!! Looks like our decision to go there later in the morning was a blessing. We decided to go birding at around 3:30pm. The birds were calling everywhere so that was a good sign. As usual, the road going towards Hill 394 did not disappoint us at all. Hornbills, guaiaberos, coletos, white collared kingfishers, white-throated kingfishers, cuckoo shrikes, orioles, coucals, malkohas, ballicasiaos, pigeons, doves and even a few of the elusive koels were all present. This was dude birding all the way. Did not go down the car to take any of these shots. Here are a few of my captures. I don't know what I did with my processing but I lost the exif data - hehehe I guess I need to process the shots again. Shots were taken with either of the 2 combos, 40D + 500mm f/4L or 1DMk2 + 400mm f/5.6L. Blue-Naped ParrotCommon Koel As usual, this bird always gives us a hard time because it hides inside the darkest of places. This shot is way better than my first photo of it.Rufous Coucal - there were 3 of them but couldn't fit them in one frameSooty Woodpecker there were 2 of these in one tree. The other one was always hiding!By Sunday I wasn't feeling well but we still decided to wake up early to check out hill 394. The birds were there but oh so far away Tried to catch the purple needletails but only one showed up and it was gone before I could even raise my camera. I did get something though.... hehehhe Large-Billed Crow
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on May 23, 2011 21:00:45 GMT
Nice pics Tina! I will follow your suggestion to go dude birding in Subic; I have not been there in over a year.
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Post by Tirso Paris on May 23, 2011 21:37:57 GMT
Belated happy birthday! I just might follow your trail to Hill 394 and hope that I'd be lucky as you were. You have nice captures of birds not common seen here. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by Farmer Nestor on May 23, 2011 23:50:18 GMT
Belated Happy B'Day idol
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Post by Adri Constantino on May 23, 2011 23:57:40 GMT
nice pics tina! belated HBD too!
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Post by Bob Kaufman on May 24, 2011 0:33:37 GMT
Wow, Tins, what lovely presents you got for your birthday!!
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Post by mantarey on May 24, 2011 0:51:28 GMT
Beautiful set as always, Plain Idol.
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Post by Ely Teehankee on May 24, 2011 0:57:11 GMT
Congratulations Tina and belated Happy Birthday. It looks like you had a nice present from the birds when they presented themselves to you for a photo shoot. Does one still have to get permission to go birding around Subic? I like the Blue Naped Parrot best of all. Well done Tina & Mabuhay.
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on May 24, 2011 1:07:44 GMT
Nice images again, Plain Idol! I hope to bird in Subic again soon :-)
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Post by tina mallari on May 24, 2011 1:40:13 GMT
Thank you Ramon, Tirso, Nestor, Adri, Bob, Rey, Ely and Bobby.
Ramon and Tirso: Now is the time coz there are a lot of fruiting trees. Try to go on a weekday so there won't be too many people. Quite hard to drive around when there are so many cars and bikers racing on the roads kasi. I'll have to agree that these birds are not commonly seen except for the crows and blue naped parrots - hmmmm I think every time we visit Subic, there seems to be a blue naped parrot convention ;D The common Koel has been eluding me for so many years, I keep on hearing it but it's so hard to see. The rufous coucals are ALWAYS quite a challenge coz they like playing under the canopy or behind so many foliage.
Nestor: Super great to see you posting kahit comments lang. When tayo birding ulit kaya?
Ely: No need for a permit na AGAIN. Even the road to Botanical is open again. Meron harang half of the road but on our last 2 visits there were no guards in sight.
Bobby: Uy you'll be in Manila! Let us know baka we can go birding with you.
Tips: The bee-eaters are still there but very few are left. Drive slowly with your windows open when you are in the forested areas so you can hear the calls of the birds. I'm sure you already know what time to go so that birds are active ;D
Thank you for the birthday greetings.
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Post by Enrique Frio on May 24, 2011 1:46:58 GMT
A great birthday gift to you, Tina! I like the sooty woodpecker the most. Well done!
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Post by tina mallari on May 24, 2011 2:22:51 GMT
Thank you Enrique :-)
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Post by alainpascua on May 24, 2011 2:32:28 GMT
Belated happy birthday, Tina! Best regards and God bless!
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Post by tina mallari on May 24, 2011 2:50:14 GMT
Thank you Alain.
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Post by Tonji Ramos on May 24, 2011 12:46:09 GMT
Tina, you got the Koel again! And a nice open perch of the RC. Bird magnet indeed Tita Tina.
Happy Birthday! This set is making me want to go to Subic.
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Post by Mark Itol on May 24, 2011 12:54:18 GMT
With these wonderful captures, it looks like you had a great birthday celebration, Plain Idol! Happy for you!
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Post by tina mallari on May 24, 2011 23:09:50 GMT
Tonj, thanks. Dali hurry na and go to Subic while they are not strict pa again - hehehe we'll never know when they'll prevent us from entering the trails na naman.
Mark - Thanks a lot :-)
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Post by Nilo Arribas Jr. on May 25, 2011 2:16:51 GMT
Belated Happy Birthday Tina!! Wonderful present you got here. Big congrats...
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Post by Lydia Robledo on May 25, 2011 16:31:09 GMT
Aaaaargh! Getting old na talaga. I missed your birthday... there's nothing like wishing a dear friend on the day itself... please forgive the senior citizen and stay far away from my age by doing what you like to do as often as you can for as long as you can. You are so blessed to have Wency by your side and vice versa... yes he is the Vice... he, he. Super duper happy birthday and a fun and memorable year ahead with a powerful avian magnet and lots of lifers + all the wishes that you wish - that they all be granted. to borrow from Bird Queen Lala... labidabs Idol. telyds
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Post by Neon Rosell II on May 26, 2011 2:25:14 GMT
Wow, almost didn't see this, looks like a lot of Subic friends attended your birthday celebration, Tina! I'm still wanting to get a good capture of the Blue-nape and all the rest would be lifers save for the crow. Lets go back! celebrate again!
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