UPDATED - Birds of Capayas Creek Bird Preserve

[Ramon Quisumbing]

On 9-11 August 2012, I visited Coron, Busuanga, Palawan. I purchased 2 more properties, so that the new "Capayas Creek Bird Preserve" now has 4,300 square meters of contiguous, forested, creekside land. The fencing work will start next week. We will plant indigenous flowering and fruiting plants in the few open areas (hopefully with the help of Lydia Robledo) to attract more sunbirds and butterflies. Birdguide Erwin Edonga, who lives next door, will be the caretaker. ;D

Here are some photos of birds of CCBP taken this week.

Canon 1D Mark IV camera, 800 mm lens, tripod.

ASHY-FRONTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus cinereifrons), split from OLIVE-WINGED BULBUL (Pycnonotus plumosus cinereifrons).
Endemic to Palawan.
My birdguide Erwin Edonga identified this as a Philippine Bulbul. But when I checked the KG, the PB is not found in Palawan. I then identified this as an AFB/OWB, which is a lifer for me! This photo is full-frame, as this AFB landed only 6-7 meters in front of me.
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-1600, 1/200 second, manual exposure.


BLUE PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone cyanescens) - Female
Uncommon endemic of Palawan.
F/5.6, ISO-4000, 1/50 second, manual exposure.


The star is the RUFOUS-BACKED KINGFISHER (Ceyx rufidorsa) - split from ORIENTAL DWARF KINGFISHER (Ceyx erithacus)
Endemic to the Philippines.
F/11, ISO-3200, 1/20 second, manual exposure.


RUFOUS-BACKED KINGFISHER
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-3200, 1/30 second, manual exposure.


RUFOUS-BACKED KINGFISHER
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-3200, 1/50 second, manual exposure.


PALAWAN FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus plateni culionensis) - Male
Endemic to Palawan.
F/11, ISO-3200, 1/320 second, manual exposure.


PALAWAN FLOWERPECKER
F/11, ISO-1600, 1/200 second, manual exposure.


RUDDY KINGFISHER (Halcyon coromanda)
The linae race is an uncommon endemic of Palawan.
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/50 second, manual exposure.


ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella tweeddalei) – Female
The tweeddalei race is endemic to Palawan.
F/11, ISO-3200, 1/160 second, manual exposure.


A documentary shot of a RUFOUS-TAILED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sericeus sericeus)
Common resident of Palawan.
1.4x extender, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/4000 second, manual exposure.
This was a second lifer.


PALAWAN BLUE FLYCATCHER (Cyornis lemprieri) - Male
Uncommon and shy endemic of Palawan.
1.4x extender, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/60 second, manual exposure.


WHITE-VENTED SHAMA (Copsychus niger)
Uncommon endemic of Palawan.
This WVS is missing its long black tail feathers, exposing the white vent feathers. Perhaps this specimen should be called White-Tailed Shama!
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/320 second, manual exposure.


WHITE-VENTED SHAMA - Juvenile
The brown feathers of this juvenile are being replaced by black feathers.
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-3200, 1/20 second, manual exposure.


ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus leucophaeus)
Common resident of Palawan.
F/8, ISO-1600, 1/400 second, manual exposure.


A long-distance shot of a BLUE-EARED KINGFISHER (Alcedo meninting amadoni) – Male
The amadoni race is endemic to Palawan and uncommon.
Taken near CCBP. This BEK caught and ate 3 fish in 10 minutes.
1.4x extender, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/80 second, manual exposure.


BLUE-EARED KINGFISHER
You can still see the tail of the fish being swallowed whole.
1.4x extender, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/80 second, manual exposure.


PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus merulinus)
Taken in Coron. This was a third lifer.
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-1600, 1/80 second, manual exposure.


PLAINTIVE CUCKOO
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-1600, 1/30 second, manual exposure.


CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus palawanus) - probably a male, according to Desmond Allen.
The palawanus race is endemic to Palawan.
Taken on 8/11/12 outside Coron. This CG was perched in the dark understorey about 60 meters away.
1.4x extender, F/11, ISO-1600, 1/250 second, manual exposure.

[Ely Teehankee]

That is a nice collection of the various birds that are not so difficult to find only in Coron. I really hope that with your purchase of the 4,300 square meters of contiguous land along the Capayas Creek, the place will become a sanctuary for the resident birds in the area and increase their numbers. I don't know of anyone who be willing to do what you did and I wish you success in what you have done. I think you literally filled up your frame with the Rufous-backed Kingfisher and its the best that I have seen of this bird. Well done Ramon & Mabuhay.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Ely. The 2 photos are my best ever of the RBK but not quite as good as your many spectacular shots of the RBK.

Regarding Capayas Creek Bird Preserve, Erwin and I discovered yesterday that an Italian-Filipino family is building a very nice 10-cottage resort with swimming pool only 150 meters away, directly across the road and beside the clean river. Their property is 3,000 sqm with huge trees. It will open in October and will be called La Natura (Nature in Italian). I would expect that they will have good Italian food. This would be a great and very convenient place for birders to spend the night. I can't wait to try it out.

[tina mallari]

So many variety of birds and you got a lot of them. Happy for you Ramon :-)

You have been so lucky with all the birds that you have been able to capture lately. That's really great.

[Mark Itol]

Fantastic harvest of endemics, Ramon! Beautiful!

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Tina and Mark. Finding new birds is a lot of fun.

[Bob Kaufman]

Birding in Coron definitely got better now that you've taken measures to ensure that that area will be protected. Thank you for your efforts, Ramon!

The news that there will be a hotel opening nearby is certainly encouraging. Hopefully it will be open already when we visit in October.

Oh, and awesome shots of the endemics! Amazing close-ups of the Rufous-backed KF.

[Ely Teehankee]

Aug 12, 2012 4:35:44 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Thanks, Ely. The 2 photos are my best ever of the RBK but not quite as good as your many spectacular shots of the RBK.

Regarding Capayas Creek Bird Preserve, Erwin and I discovered yesterday that an Italian-Filipino family is building a very nice 10-cottage resort with swimming pool only 150 meters away, directly across the road and beside the clean river. Their property is 3,000 sqm with huge trees. It will open in October and will be called La Natura (Nature in Italian). I would expect that they will have good Italian food. This would be a great and very convenient place for birders to spend the night. I can't wait to try it out.

That is certainly something to look forward to. The food at the hotel I frequent is not good at all but sometimes there is no choice. I wonder if this hotel you are referring to is the one beside the "malaking ilog". It has been under construction for the past 2 years and I was wondering why it is taking so long. As much as it would be nice to go now with so many birds around, I will try to be patient and wait for the rainy season to come to an end which is probably at least a couple of months more. Thank you Ramon for the update. Cheers.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Bob. Jillian, the daughter of the Italian-Filipino couple, said La Natura will open in October. Birdguide Erwin Edonga has their mobile number, so you can call them. Even if they are not yet open, there should be cottages that will be ready for occupancy, and perhaps you can convince them to let you rent one.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Ely. Are you referring to Sunz en Coron Resort as not having good food? I have been staying at Asia Grand View Resort, which has a very good dining room with great views of the islands and sea. Nice pool and some birds in the garden. But AGVR is 15 minutes by tricycle from Capayas Creek.

I bet La Natura will have good Italian food.

[Ely Teehankee]

Aug 14, 2012 11:10:44 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Thanks, Ely. Are you referring to Sunz en Coron Resort as not having good food? I have been staying at Asia Grand View Resort, which has a very good dining room with great views of the islands and sea. Nice pool and some birds in the garden. But AGVR is 15 minutes by tricycle from Capayas Creek.

I bet La Natura will have good Italian food.

You are right. AGVR is out of my budget. It is also much further to your CCBP than from Sunz en Coron. I will wait with patience and see what La Natura has to offer.

[Juan Manuel C. Del Prado]

Ramon, very nice photos. When do I go with you to Coron? I will get an OK from my Cardiologist.... Tito Poch.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Tito Poch. We can go to Coron anytime.

[Ely Teehankee]

This Ashy-fronted Bulbul, is different from the Grey-cheeked Bulbul that I often make the mistake of wrong ID. What a nice shot, the head turn, feather details and the catch light. Well done Ramon & Mabuhay.

[Ariel Matias]

Wonderful captures of these beautiful birds! Congratulations on your new property and I wish nothing but success.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Ely. I have a number of photos of the Gray-Cheeked Bulbul but none worth posting.

Thanks, Ariel.

[Tirso Paris]

Congratulations Ramon, first for the beautiful additions of lifers to your Coron album, and secondly, for the additional property you purchased with the end in view of providing a sanctuary for the beautiful birds of Coron. Its a win-win for you and us bird enthusiasts.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thank you, Prof. Tirso.

[Renoir Abrea]

beautiful' very beautiful

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Thanks, Renoir.