Post by alainpascua on May 25, 2011 7:54:22 GMT
Last weekend, Rey Sta. Ana, Val Borja, Olan Balbido and I birded in Bangkong Kahoy Valley in Dolores, Quezon. Ramon Quisumbing lent us his view deck and Bangkong Kahoy Valley owner Dion Pullan gave us tips on the birds and graciously accompanied us.
The mixed flock encounter at Ramon's view deck was reminiscent of similar encounters in Bislig's PICOP Forest in Surigao del Sur. The difference, however, is in Bangkong Kahoy, there were not just one or two birds per magnificent species but lots of them - 3-4 blue-headed fantails, 3-4 citrine canary flycatchers, more than 4 sulfur-billed nuthatch, there were numerous elegant tits, yellowish and lowland white-eyes, etc. all at the same time!... and flock waves went on for more than 30 minutes and more than three times! It was a real frenzy! A nuthatch and a tit even went past our DOFs to perch at nearby branches!
Here are some of my catch at the view deck:
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/30, f/5.6, iso800
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/100, f/5.6, iso1250
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/80, f/5.6, iso400
During lunch, I was able to capture this at the cafeteria area:
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/800, f/6.3, iso400
After lunch and some siesta, we went on a short but stiff hike lasting to more than 30 minutes to have an encounter with a baby owl earlier photographed by Dion. Unlike other situation where birds are too far away to be photographed thus one would just give up or just fire some docu shots, this one we almost gave up, not because it was too far, but because it was too near! Normally we could just move back to remedy the situation but the place is an almost 45-50 degree angled slope planted with vegetables. As soon as we arrived at the place and as soon as we were showed where the baby owl was, Rey started going back to my surprise at first, but then realized his gear is 500mm prime and the slopes kept on sliding as he stepped on them. Since mine is just 400mm and Val's a 100-500mm, we tried our best to have some decent shots, albeit with our feet always finding solid grounds and our bodies angled to follow the slope to avoid sliding down, with only one thing in mind, "We've hiked and perspired buckets, we have to have a picture even if only the eyes could be framed!"
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/125, f/7.1, iso320
And fortunately, before we call it a day, Olan and I were able to chance upon the famed cuckoos which Dion's sister-in-law said she was able once to approached and touch one without it flying fast. It was sleeping she said.
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/250, f/7.1, iso800
I wasn't able to have a decent shot of the sulfur-billed nuthatch, the yellowish white-eye, red-crested malkoha and others. As Rey said, we have solid reasons to go back to Bangkong Kahoy.
Thanks you Ramon and Dion!.... Thank you too, Rey, for bravely driving your car up to Bangkong Kahoy Valley never minding the boulders and rocks as long as we could bird! Yes, things we do just to bird!... and we bird to conserve! ;D
Other pictures with comments from the public may be viewed at: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150208902504857.324919.747044856&l=4ec3c749de
The mixed flock encounter at Ramon's view deck was reminiscent of similar encounters in Bislig's PICOP Forest in Surigao del Sur. The difference, however, is in Bangkong Kahoy, there were not just one or two birds per magnificent species but lots of them - 3-4 blue-headed fantails, 3-4 citrine canary flycatchers, more than 4 sulfur-billed nuthatch, there were numerous elegant tits, yellowish and lowland white-eyes, etc. all at the same time!... and flock waves went on for more than 30 minutes and more than three times! It was a real frenzy! A nuthatch and a tit even went past our DOFs to perch at nearby branches!
Here are some of my catch at the view deck:
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/30, f/5.6, iso800
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/100, f/5.6, iso1250
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/80, f/5.6, iso400
During lunch, I was able to capture this at the cafeteria area:
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/800, f/6.3, iso400
After lunch and some siesta, we went on a short but stiff hike lasting to more than 30 minutes to have an encounter with a baby owl earlier photographed by Dion. Unlike other situation where birds are too far away to be photographed thus one would just give up or just fire some docu shots, this one we almost gave up, not because it was too far, but because it was too near! Normally we could just move back to remedy the situation but the place is an almost 45-50 degree angled slope planted with vegetables. As soon as we arrived at the place and as soon as we were showed where the baby owl was, Rey started going back to my surprise at first, but then realized his gear is 500mm prime and the slopes kept on sliding as he stepped on them. Since mine is just 400mm and Val's a 100-500mm, we tried our best to have some decent shots, albeit with our feet always finding solid grounds and our bodies angled to follow the slope to avoid sliding down, with only one thing in mind, "We've hiked and perspired buckets, we have to have a picture even if only the eyes could be framed!"
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/125, f/7.1, iso320
And fortunately, before we call it a day, Olan and I were able to chance upon the famed cuckoos which Dion's sister-in-law said she was able once to approached and touch one without it flying fast. It was sleeping she said.
50D + 400mm f/5.6 + Tripod & Head... 1/250, f/7.1, iso800
I wasn't able to have a decent shot of the sulfur-billed nuthatch, the yellowish white-eye, red-crested malkoha and others. As Rey said, we have solid reasons to go back to Bangkong Kahoy.
Thanks you Ramon and Dion!.... Thank you too, Rey, for bravely driving your car up to Bangkong Kahoy Valley never minding the boulders and rocks as long as we could bird! Yes, things we do just to bird!... and we bird to conserve! ;D
Other pictures with comments from the public may be viewed at: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150208902504857.324919.747044856&l=4ec3c749de
. I must get a saw somehow to cut some iron bars soon or I'll go insane. 
