Frisky Birds of Coron

[Ely Teehankee]

It would always be a delight to take a picture of a bird that is picture perfect but as much as we all want to do this, we cannot do it all the time. Rather than being frustrated, I comfort myself that it is better to have something than nothing. Because the next time an opportunity presents itself, the result of a better picture gives one a bigger satisfaction. I have to put in more time in choosing and processing the pictures taken in Coron so that I can share these pictures before they continue to accumulate as I look forward to new opportunities that will be coming soon now that the rainy season is almost over.



Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.



The Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a common bird but it is a migratory bird. It comes to the Philippines around the month of September and leaves around April when its spring from where it came from. While waiting for the Olive-backed Sunbird that I saw feeding on the flowers of the Malungay tree the previous day, I had the opportunity to take some pictures of the Brown Shrike. It helps me to warm up with the settings of the camera so that I will be familiar with it by the time the action starts.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




I have learned a lot from people who share their experiences at the PBPF. Now I am sharing my experiences and joy in bird photography and hopefully people will also learn from it.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




Thank you Des for identifying this Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) that was difficult to photograph and ID. It is a frisky little bird and I got that brief moment to photograph it when she was on top of the tree almost at a 90 degree angle.
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800




It is always difficult to get a good shot of the Blue Paradise-flycatcher (Terpsiphone cyanescens). It is endemic to the Philippines and this is one of those instance that I console myself with better something than nothing. Heh heh heh.




The Lovely Sunbird (Aethopyga shelleyi) is one of my favorite Sunbirds. It is endemic to the Philippines. Again this time was not my time to be catching the moment.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




This brings back good memories of the time I was in Coron and it was raining like cats and dogs. What look like it was going to be a gloomy day turned out alright when this Lovely Sunbird appeared and stood atop the banana blossoms. You can see them here:
birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=4150



Another missed opportunity this time is the Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea). Wikipedia says that they are sexually dimorphic with males having a distinctive black patch on the back of the head and a narrow black half collar ("necklace") while the female is duller and lacks the black markings.
1/60 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




The Blue-headed Racket-tail (Prioniturus platenae) also known as the Palawan Racket-tail is endemic to the Philippines. It is truly a beautiful bird with the extra pair of tails that reminds me of the feathered end of an arrow. It was too far with too many obstructions to get a good picture. But again better something than nothing.
1/60 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




On a sortie such as this where there were no real opportunities to get a good shot of the good birds a consolation for me is the opportunity to take new pictures of the Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus).
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600

[Neil Konrad III]

"It would always be a delight to take a picture of a bird that is picture perfect but as much as we all want to do this, we cannot do it all the time. Rather than being frustrated, I comfort myself that it is better to have something than nothing. Because the next time an opportunity presents itself, the result of a better picture gives one a bigger satisfaction."

As a newbie, I find this very encouraging sir.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Excellent harvest, Ely.

[Ely Teehankee]

Dec 7, 2011 3:46:46 GMT Neil Konrad III said:

"It would always be a delight to take a picture of a bird that is picture perfect but as much as we all want to do this, we cannot do it all the time. Rather than being frustrated, I comfort myself that it is better to have something than nothing. Because the next time an opportunity presents itself, the result of a better picture gives one a bigger satisfaction."

As a newbie, I find this very encouraging sir.

That is a good attitude to have Neil. We all experience the same thing.

[Ely Teehankee]

Dec 7, 2011 6:53:31 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Excellent harvest, Ely.

Thank you Ramon. Hopefully the future posting will have a better image quality of the birds.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Ely, your female Narcissus Flycatcher looks just like the female NF that I captured about a month ago in BK.

[Ely Teehankee]

Dec 7, 2011 13:05:58 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Ely, your female Narcissus Flycatcher looks just like the female NF that I captured about a month ago in BK.

Even after I have seen this bird it is difficult for me to remember this particular bird. I took a second look at it and you are right its exactly the same bird. birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=8039 I hope I will remember this bird the next time I see it.
When you are in BK try putting a fresh banana everytime. It may attract birds like Colasisi and should it rot leave it there for the insects to come. Maybe when it is consistently there the birds will continue to come.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Ely, we already started placing bananas on tree trunks in 2 places in BK since last week. Let's see if the birds start hanging out there.

[Ely Teehankee]

Dec 7, 2011 21:23:18 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Ely, we already started placing bananas on tree trunks in 2 places in BK since last week. Let's see if the birds start hanging out there.

Now I find that exciting. If it works you will have more birds than you can handle. Soon more people than you can handle. Let me know soon so I can avoid the Christmas rush for birds. Heh heh heh.