Post by Ely Teehankee on Aug 29, 2012 11:20:21 GMT
This is my first time for me to go to Majayjay and it is a beautiful place. The majestic water falls, and a variety of birds in the forest beside a stream of running water coming from the falls. It was even more interesting for me to discover that a small dam was built to store the water. The water from the dam is than diverted to an irrigation canal that was built in December 2011 and finished on March 2012 for Peso 4,939,113.93 It benifited 83 farmers to irrigate 69 hectares of rice land in Barangay Taytay, of Majayjay, Laguna. Congratulations & Mabuhay to all those who were responsible for this project. I saw some tourist both local & foreign who go to the falls for a swim. Some would even camp in the vicinity of the falls. The best news is that there are a variety of birds. They were not so near this time but perhaps on other occasions they would give us the pictures that we all want. I had my camera and lens calibrated at the Canon service center and I am truly happy with the results. I did not have any problem in focusing and the result was satisfying. I was surprised to see the feathers of the Indigo-banded Kingfisher having a rich blue color and the beak of the White-throated Kingfisher was more red that what I have seen before. Is it because of the food that they eat or the water that they drink that gives that added luster. I once read an article about the water where the Koi fish lives and the food that they eat gives them a deeper shade and brighter colors. Could this be the same in the case of these birds?
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, M-3.6 Mongoose Gimbal Action Head. Manual exposure in available light.
Note:Only the first two pictures of the Indigo-banded Kingfisher were taken with the 800mm without a TC. The rest of the bird pictures were all taken with the 800mm with a Canon TC 1.4X II.
My friend Tirso Paris with the beautiful Taytay falls and lagoon as the background. He has been to Majayjay before and took time out to show me where the birds are at the falls.
Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopecta) 141 mm (5 1/2 inches) Endemic to the Philippines.
This is a full frame shot of the bird in its habitat with the 800mm. It is a very small bird and so much fun to watch it stalk its prey and getting to eat it. It is quite easy to identify this one as the male because it has two bands while the female has only on band.
1/50 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
Here is the little blue thunderbolt with a small grasshopper in between his beak.
1/50 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
Looking around to see if there is anything to eat.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
Another grasshopper in another location.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
Still another grasshopper in another location. Sometimes I see the grasshopper being able to escape. I think this happens when he tries to turn the grasshopper around and the grasshopper flies away to live another day.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
The light is getting harsh but I could not have enough pictures of this beautiful bird.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
I kept telling myself, enough, the light is too harsh, it is time to go as the sun was almost right on top of us. So this was the last picture of the Indigo-banded Kingfisher.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
If you will look at the center of the picture, slightly to the left off center, on top of a small boulder, you will see the indigo blue color at the back of the bird with the iridescent blue on the middle of the back.
Grey Wagtail (Montacilla cinerea) 176 mm (7 inches)
I classify this bird as one of those tail flickers like the crakes, rails, fan tails, and swamp hens. It just keeps on flicking its tail. Some say that this is to make the insect take off so that they can see and catch it.
1/250 sec., f/8, ISO 400 with 1.4 X TC
Scale-feathered Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus cumingi) 406 mm (16 inches). I consider this bird as the most beautiful of the malkohas. It is endemic to the Philippines.
1/30 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
Just like the other malkohas and coucal, this bird is considered a skulker and any opportunity to photograph this bird is really appreciated. The eye lashes of this bird is gorgeous. He/she would be a good model in a bird runway.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
The last time I saw this bird was about 2 years ago and this was in Bongabon, Aurora, Quezon. It is so nice to see this at the Taytay Falls of Majayjay.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
These is how the forest looks like with the clean stream of water running thru the middle. Everything looks green even the stones are covered with green moss. The climate and environment is such that moss and epiphytes is conducive to growing everywhere. There are several fruiting trees in the area that attracts the various birds.
Buzzing Flowerpecker (Dicaeum hypoleucum) 89 mm (3 1/2 inches) Endemic to the Philippines. Super hyper and I consider myself lucky to have photograph this bird.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
Even a change in position is worth to have a picture of this bird.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon gularis) 265 mm (10 1/2 inches) Endemic to the Philippines. Although this kingfisher is not as difficult to find as the Indigo-banded Kingfisher it is still so much fun to photograph this double in size bird.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
This is my favorite setting of the kingfisher. He poses like he is the king of the forest.
1/20 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
This WTKF would move from time to time and it gives us the opportunity for a different setting.
1/30 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X
Every pose is different.
1/40 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X
Even where he perches is also different.
1/100 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X
I have some friends from other countries and they would like to see the places that I go to. I hope this will do. I have my binoculars with the shoulder straps which make it lighter to carry around the shoulders instead of the neck, my Canon S100 on my belt so that I can take pictures of the habitat, and a bottle of water to stay hydrated. Thank you Tirso for taking my picture.
g][/img]
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, M-3.6 Mongoose Gimbal Action Head. Manual exposure in available light.
Note:Only the first two pictures of the Indigo-banded Kingfisher were taken with the 800mm without a TC. The rest of the bird pictures were all taken with the 800mm with a Canon TC 1.4X II.
My friend Tirso Paris with the beautiful Taytay falls and lagoon as the background. He has been to Majayjay before and took time out to show me where the birds are at the falls.
Indigo-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo cyanopecta) 141 mm (5 1/2 inches) Endemic to the Philippines.
This is a full frame shot of the bird in its habitat with the 800mm. It is a very small bird and so much fun to watch it stalk its prey and getting to eat it. It is quite easy to identify this one as the male because it has two bands while the female has only on band.
1/50 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
Here is the little blue thunderbolt with a small grasshopper in between his beak.
1/50 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
Looking around to see if there is anything to eat.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
Another grasshopper in another location.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
Still another grasshopper in another location. Sometimes I see the grasshopper being able to escape. I think this happens when he tries to turn the grasshopper around and the grasshopper flies away to live another day.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
The light is getting harsh but I could not have enough pictures of this beautiful bird.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
I kept telling myself, enough, the light is too harsh, it is time to go as the sun was almost right on top of us. So this was the last picture of the Indigo-banded Kingfisher.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
If you will look at the center of the picture, slightly to the left off center, on top of a small boulder, you will see the indigo blue color at the back of the bird with the iridescent blue on the middle of the back.
Grey Wagtail (Montacilla cinerea) 176 mm (7 inches)
I classify this bird as one of those tail flickers like the crakes, rails, fan tails, and swamp hens. It just keeps on flicking its tail. Some say that this is to make the insect take off so that they can see and catch it.
1/250 sec., f/8, ISO 400 with 1.4 X TC
Scale-feathered Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus cumingi) 406 mm (16 inches). I consider this bird as the most beautiful of the malkohas. It is endemic to the Philippines.
1/30 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
Just like the other malkohas and coucal, this bird is considered a skulker and any opportunity to photograph this bird is really appreciated. The eye lashes of this bird is gorgeous. He/she would be a good model in a bird runway.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
The last time I saw this bird was about 2 years ago and this was in Bongabon, Aurora, Quezon. It is so nice to see this at the Taytay Falls of Majayjay.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
These is how the forest looks like with the clean stream of water running thru the middle. Everything looks green even the stones are covered with green moss. The climate and environment is such that moss and epiphytes is conducive to growing everywhere. There are several fruiting trees in the area that attracts the various birds.
Buzzing Flowerpecker (Dicaeum hypoleucum) 89 mm (3 1/2 inches) Endemic to the Philippines. Super hyper and I consider myself lucky to have photograph this bird.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
Even a change in position is worth to have a picture of this bird.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon gularis) 265 mm (10 1/2 inches) Endemic to the Philippines. Although this kingfisher is not as difficult to find as the Indigo-banded Kingfisher it is still so much fun to photograph this double in size bird.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4 X TC
This is my favorite setting of the kingfisher. He poses like he is the king of the forest.
1/20 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X TC
This WTKF would move from time to time and it gives us the opportunity for a different setting.
1/30 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X
Every pose is different.
1/40 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X
Even where he perches is also different.
1/100 sec., f/8, ISO 1600 with 1.4 X
I have some friends from other countries and they would like to see the places that I go to. I hope this will do. I have my binoculars with the shoulder straps which make it lighter to carry around the shoulders instead of the neck, my Canon S100 on my belt so that I can take pictures of the habitat, and a bottle of water to stay hydrated. Thank you Tirso for taking my picture.
g][/img]
