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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 15, 2011 20:30:13 GMT
The first time I went to Bangkong Kahoy to see the bird flock that were appearing at that time, I missed it. It could be that it was raining, I was too late, or just plain luck. When Ramon posted that the birds are back, I wasted no time to planning a trip. I arrived as scheduled at 5:30 AM. 7:00 AM still no bird flock. 8:00 AM still no bird flock. They came at past 8:15 AM. To me they sounded happy, chirping and catching the insects and worms that come across their path. There were many of them at the same time. The Everett's White Eye, Blue-headed Fan Tail, Flaming Sunbird, Citrine Canary, Nuthatch, and other birds that I missed seeing. Some were near and some were far but altogether it was fun to see so many birds and you just have to choose the one closest to you at that particular time. Most of these birds I have to go to Baguio and Banaue to see them. BK is less than a hundred kilometers from Manila. Thank you Ramon for your hospitality and Dion for your encouragement. This is one time I did not return empty handed. Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light. Yellowish White-eye (Zosterops nigrorum) which is endemic to the Philippines is the first bird that I saw in the morning. The GPS indicated an altitude of 710 meters. 1/1000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800  Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) that I thought was an Olive-backed Sunbird. Fortunately Ivan the "Ironman" was there and told me that the Flaming Sunbird is endemic to the Philippines. He just competed in the event not expecting to win but just to have the personal satisfaction of knowing that he can do it. You have to swim 1.9 kilometers, bike 90 kilometers, and run 20 kilometers. He made it and looking as good as the cat that swallowed a canary. Accomplished, satisfied, and happy. 1/32 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800  Blue-headed Fantail Rhipidura cyaniceps another bird that is endemic to the Philippines. Very similar in behavior with the Pied Fantail but comes in technicolor. 1/320 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800  1/125 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800 Distance from bird: 8.36 meters  The Citrine Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea) was the star of the day at Bangkong Kahoy. This bird seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the sun as he opens up his feathers and posed for this picture. 1/2000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800 Distance from bird: 9.07 meters  1/640 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800  1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800  Another Philippine endemic bird is the Sulphur-billed Nuthatch (Sitta oenochlamys). I did not have a chance to get a close up of this bird but just seeing it creeping around is quite a sight to see the gracefulness of this creeping bird. 1/200 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800  |
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Aug 15, 2011 22:29:18 GMT
Beautiful set of pics as always, Ely! I am happily surprised that you found a sunbird in BK Valley, much less a Flaming Sunbird (which I have seen only once before). I have never seen a sunbird in BK (although there are many in Dolores and Sta. Lucia below BK), and I had concluded it must be too cold or too high in elevation at BK for sunbirds.
Are you sure about #1 being an Everett's White-Eye? I have always thought these White-Eyes in BK were Yellowish White-Eyes. The KG says the Everett's WE is found in Palawan, whereas the Yellowish WE is in Luzon. Also, the KG says the Everett's WE has gray sides, which #1 does not.
Great pics!
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 16, 2011 1:37:09 GMT
Beautiful set of pics as always, Ely! I am happily surprised that you found a sunbird in BK Valley, much less a Flaming Sunbird (which I have seen only once before). I have never seen a sunbird in BK (although there are many in Dolores and Sta. Lucia below BK), and I had concluded it must be too cold or too high in elevation at BK for sunbirds. Are you sure about #1 being an Everett's White-Eye? I have always thought these White-Eyes in BK were Yellowish White-Eyes. The KG says the Everett's WE is found in Palawan, whereas the Yellowish WE is in Luzon. Also, the KG says the Everett's WE has gray sides, which #1 does not. Great pics! Thank you Ramon. You are right it is the Yellowish White-eye (Zosterops nigrorum) also an endemic to the Philippines. I have made the necessary correction. |
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Post by Bobby Kintanar on Aug 16, 2011 3:33:27 GMT
Nice set, Ka Ely! It's good that you are still actively engaging in this activity. Birding has been kinda slow over here in my neck of the woods. :-)
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 16, 2011 10:32:09 GMT
Nice set, Ka Ely! It's good that you are still actively engaging in this activity. Birding has been kinda slow over here in my neck of the woods. :-) Thank you Bobby for your appreciation. It is getting more difficult with the rainy weather. But we have to use our equipment to keep them in good working condition so even common birds in the garden will be good enough to practice on. LOL |
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Post by William Lim on Aug 16, 2011 13:01:26 GMT
Beautiful captures, Ely. Can you PM how to go there and what else to do there? I might have time during the long weekend.
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Post by Eric Patdu on Aug 16, 2011 14:41:34 GMT
Nice set Sir Ely. I specially like these two.  1/125 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800 Distance from bird: 8.36 meters 1/640 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800 |
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 16, 2011 21:00:40 GMT
Beautiful captures, Ely. Can you PM how to go there and what else to do there? I might have time during the long weekend. Thank you William. I will get in touch with you. |
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 16, 2011 21:08:54 GMT
Nice set Sir Ely. I specially like these two. Thank you Eric. We have the same flavor for the Blue-headed Fantail. However on the Citrine Canary, that is my wife's favorite too. When I asked her why, she said it is the pose of the bird, facial expression, and composition. I am now convince. LOL |
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Post by Ariel Matias on Aug 17, 2011 2:47:27 GMT
I definitely agree with Eric. Those two shots are outstanding!
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 17, 2011 11:49:46 GMT
I definitely agree with Eric. Those two shots are outstanding! Thank you Ariel for your appreciation. |
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Post by alainpascua on Aug 17, 2011 15:21:16 GMT
Wow, great set, Ely! BK is getting better and better!
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 17, 2011 20:59:33 GMT
Wow, great set, Ely! BK is getting better and better! Thank you Alain. What makes the place unique are the mountain birds that can be seen there and there is always the possibility of seeing them at a close distance. |
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Post by ka rene bajit on Aug 18, 2011 1:39:06 GMT
hi ely! some discoveries here:
1. BK is quezon, and in Tiaong?
2. what a bounty of sights! i think we shld schedule a birding trip here one day. i wanted to join, for as long as it's a saturday-sunday.
3. Ivan really did that? OMG! he's really the pinoy ironman! hahahaha! Sanamagan, 1.9 km swim is like surviving a ship that sunk offshore, and making it alive. if all passengers in the ship near romblon could swim, no one could have died! and its only about 600 meters from the shore. And to bike for 90km? wooohooo!!! and to run for 20km??? wooohoooo!!! i can imagine the stamina, the power, the energy man. the best record i keep was when i hiked cutting across the mountains of ifugao from banaue going thru cambulo, batad, patpat, sinakbat, majaojao, to aguinaldo to jacmal, aguinaldo-- covering a distance of 65km, in 1986. where there's no people, i preferred to go bold than to wet my minolta x700 set and clothes crossing 2 rivers. we started the hike at 4:00 AM. reached the place at 9:00pm same day. of course i was only 27 then..hehehehe
4. nice set ely!! ang ganda.
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Post by S. Kieron Tan on Aug 18, 2011 5:01:16 GMT
Whens your next schedule to this place guys?
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 18, 2011 5:17:14 GMT
so many species in one trip.. i wish i could be that lucky.
great set sir!
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 18, 2011 13:55:33 GMT
hi ely! some discoveries here: 1. BK is quezon, and in Tiaong? 2. what a bounty of sights! i think we shld schedule a birding trip here one day. i wanted to join, for as long as it's a saturday-sunday. 3. Ivan really did that? OMG! he's really the pinoy ironman! hahahaha! Sanamagan, 1.9 km swim is like surviving a ship that sunk offshore, and making it alive. if all passengers in the ship near romblon could swim, no one could have died! and its only about 600 meters from the shore. And to bike for 90km? wooohooo!!! and to run for 20km??? wooohoooo!!! i can imagine the stamina, the power, the energy man. the best record i keep was when i hiked cutting across the mountains of ifugao from banaue going thru cambulo, batad, patpat, sinakbat, majaojao, to aguinaldo to jacmal, aguinaldo-- covering a distance of 65km, in 1986. where there's no people, i preferred to go bold than to wet my minolta x700 set and clothes crossing 2 rivers. we started the hike at 4:00 AM. reached the place at 9:00pm same day. of course i was only 27 then..hehehehe 4. nice set ely!! ang ganda. Thank you Rene. It is a little bit before Tiaong in a town called Dolores. The Barangay is Kabuhayan. I hope I got it right this time. I seldom bird on a weekend because of other commitments. But most photographers go out on weekend because that is when they are free. Perhaps you can join them. It is a feat for Ivan the Ironman to be able to complete the course. I don't know if there is anybody in the WBCP & PBPF who would want to try to do that. It is a physical and endurance test for anyone. Mabuhay to Ivan. Did anyone record the 2 river crossing that you did au natural? The pictures would be interesting to see. LOL. That is quite a long walk thru the mountains. The longest walk I ever did was from La Salle Taft to the Antipolo church when I was still in school as part of a pilgrimage. I never did that again after that. |
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 18, 2011 13:59:38 GMT
so many species in one trip.. i wish i could be that lucky. great set sir! You are right Edu. You have to be lucky to be able to see all these birds on one trip. As I said, the previous trip I hardly saw them except for one Blue-headed Fantail from a distance. I would say that this set was a great accomplishment for me after experiencing that previous trip. Thank you Edu. |
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Post by mantarey on Aug 18, 2011 15:22:17 GMT
Very nice set Ely. You were fortunate to catch the BHF in good light. This bird always stay under the dark canopies and seldom comes out in the open. |
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Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 18, 2011 21:44:59 GMT
Very nice set Ely. You were fortunate to catch the BHF in good light. This bird always stay under the dark canopies and seldom comes out in the open. Thank you Rey. All bird photographers experienced the difficult lighting conditions whenever we take pictures of birds. So it is in instances like this when the bird comes out in the open that we feel elated and fortunate to have such an encounter. Just to be able to take the picture of a bird is a victory for me and to have it in good light is a double victory. Heres hoping we have more double victories. |
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