Back to Birding in Los Banos

[Tirso Paris]

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

I finally had the chance to go birding again since my surgery over a month and a half ago, just around UP Los Banos. I had hoped to see some buttonquails but they were nowhere to be found in the area where early this year they regularly showed up. As a consolation, some pretty common birds gave me an opportunity to rediscover the joys of birding!

All pictures below were taken using my Canon EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm L IS USM, in natural light and car window support.


Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 07:31, 1/1000 sec, Shutter priority, F 5.6, ISO 100, 400 mm



White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 07:42, 1/800 sec, Shutter priority, F 5.6, ISO 160, 400 mm



Paddyfield Pipit (Anthuis rufulus), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 07:54, 1/800 sec, Shutter priority, F 6.3, ISO 250, 400 mm



Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatelllus ), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 07:59, 1/800 sec, Shutter priority, F 6.3, ISO 320, 400 mm



Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 08:03, 1/800 sec, Shutter priority, F 5.6, ISO 250, 400 mm



Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 08:12, 1/1000 sec, Shutter priority, F 5.6, ISO 200, 390 mm



Philippine Falconet (Microhierax erythrogenys), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-23 08:53, 1/1000 sec, Shutter priority, F 9, ISO 640, 560 mm(with 1.4 TC)



Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos, Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-24 08:21, 1/1000 sec, Shutter priority, F 5.6, ISO 800, 400 mm



Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus),Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-24 08:29, 1/640 sec, Aperture priority, F 8, ISO 1000, 400 mm



Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-05-10 16:05,1/500 sec, Aperture priority, F 7.1, ISO 250, 400 mm



Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-1914:14, 1/1250 sec, Shutter priority, F 6.3, ISO 1600, 400 mm



Gray-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta), Los Banos, Laguna
2011-12-2014:14, 1/250 sec, Aperture priority, F 8, ISO 3200, 400 mm

[Renoir Abrea]

nice set' merry christmas'

[Ely Teehankee]

Glad to know that you are up and about. It may be of interest for you to know that the White-throated Kingfisher is now endemic to the Philippines as reported by our Italian friend Steve. Its good to see the old Brown Shrike on his usual perch. Well done Tirso & Mabuhay.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Excellent set, Tirso.

[Lydia Robledo]

How can healing not be fast? Nature has a way of soothing the tired body and is always there to cheer up the soul. Your photos are superb, consistently superb like the Ka Mastah! I see the cameo appearances of the bees (?) and the dragonfly which I seldom see in postings in this forum. The mirror image of the wagtail, the dewdrops, the habitat ... ye, you very well delivered the joy of the season, the birth of the Creator. A blessed Christmas to you Prof. Tirso and your loved ones and the members of this Forum. Lots of cheerps, lyd

[William Lim]

Great harvest and outstanding details, Prof.

[Edward Legaspi]

Hi Sir Tirso,

Thanks for posting these birds, it's because of these pictures that we have interest in bird photography today. I've been in UPLB grounds for 4years and I've never thought how diverse the birds species is, only until I've been in bird photography.

Yesterday, maybe you're still out that time (4PM) me and my wife went out to bird shoot in lower campus, we've been several places like back of ansci but couldn't find any other bird species aside from shrike and sparrow.

If you don't mind, is it possible to share some trails on where to look and shoot for these birds?

Note: Rest be assured that we are not poachers :-)

Thanks,
Edward

[Tirso Paris]

Thanks a lot Renoir, Ramon and William for your kind comments.

[Tirso Paris]

Dec 24, 2011 11:42:14 GMT Ely Teehankee said:

Glad to know that you are up and about. It may be of interest for you to know that the White-throated Kingfisher is now endemic to the Philippines as reported by our Italian friend Steve. Its good to see the old Brown Shrike on his usual perch. Well done Tirso & Mabuhay.

Thanks for the info and generous comment Ely! I'm a bit concerned that I'm not seeing the buttonquails yet, whereas last year they appeared regularly in our favorite area.

[Tirso Paris]

Dec 24, 2011 14:38:12 GMT Lydia Robledo said:

How can healing not be fast? Nature has a way of soothing the tired body and is always there to cheer up the soul. Your photos are superb, consistently superb like the Ka Mastah! I see the cameo appearances of the bees (?) and the dragonfly which I seldom see in postings in this forum. The mirror image of the wagtail, the dewdrops, the habitat ... ye, you very well delivered the joy of the season, the birth of the Creator. A blessed Christmas to you Prof. Tirso and your loved ones and the members of this Forum. Lots of cheerps, lyd

Thank you very much indeed Telyd for your heartwarming comments. Here's wishing you and your family a merry Christmas and a bountiful birding new year!

[Tirso Paris]

Dec 25, 2011 2:24:00 GMT Edward Legaspi said:

Hi Sir Tirso,

Thanks for posting these birds, it's because of these pictures that we have interest in bird photography today. I've been in UPLB grounds for 4years and I've never thought how diverse the birds species is, only until I've been in bird photography.

Yesterday, maybe you're still out that time (4PM) me and my wife went out to bird shoot in lower campus, we've been several places like back of ansci but couldn't find any other bird species aside from shrike and sparrow.

If you don't mind, is it possible to share some trails on where to look and shoot for these birds?

Note: Rest be assured that we are not poachers :-)

Thanks,
Edward

Hi Edward. First of all, welcome to the club and the forum! There are several of us in LB who have keen interest in bird photography so indeed we can share ideas and experiences. There are so many types of birds around, but they depend on location and time of the year. By all means we should get together. I will send you a PM for my contact details.

[mantarey]

Welcome back Prof. That's quite a bountiful harvest. My favorites are the Grey Streaked, Sunbird and Brown Shrike which have excellent details and are well exposed. Glad to hear you're okay.

[Tirso Paris]

Thanks a lot Rey. Happy new birding year to all of us.