Purple-throated Sunbird of UPLB

[Ely Teehankee]

I guess I could liken UP Los Baños as Tirso Paris's Disneyland. He can go there by himself and have fun the whole day. I was so lucky to be there last Thursday with fine weather to boot. It was cloudy and hazy. The sun did not shine, neither did it rain, enabling us to see so many birds and to be able to photograph them without the harsh light that one experiences after 9:00 AM. Rufina Ward, a bird watcher from Alabama joined us and she had 25 lifers just before lunch. She treated us to a sumptuous lunch at Kamayan and the food there was very good. We had inihaw na baboy (charcoal grilled pork), Pinakbet (Ilocano vegetable dish) Bicol Express (pork with green finger pepper cooked with coconut milk) and inihaw na Tilapia (charcoal grilled pork). The food was so good I forgot to take pictures of it. Good for me, I did not forget to take the pictures of the birds. I have chosen 42 pictures to be posted on this thread. For those who want to know if there are any new one, just look at the first figure. There will be 12 for now and when I add new ones this figure will change. When it reaches 42/42, I have completed my posting for this wonderful playground of Tirso Paris. Thank you very much Tirso for being such a good host & birding companion. Ditto to Rufina for the best lunch that I ever had at UP Los Baños.



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.



For the first 36 pictures, I did not have to use the tripod. It was birding with our "motorized hide" enabling us to shoot from the car window using a bean bag for lens support.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 210 mm (8 1/4 inches)
1/500 sec.,f/8, ISO 800




1/400 sec.,f/8, ISO 800




Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) 166 mm (6 1/2 inches)
1/400 sec.,f/8, ISO 800




1/500 sec.,f/8, ISO 800




1/500 sec.,f/8, ISO 800




I decided to add a TC in taking the next 3 pictures because I saw that these Little Ringed Plovers had broad yellow eyerings which is their breeding plumage.
1/500 sec.,f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




1/640 sec.,f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




1/640 sec.,f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Chestnut Munia (Lonchura malacca)109 mm (4 1/4 inches)
1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) 190 mm (7 1/2 inches)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800




1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 200




1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 200




Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/400 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/400 sec., f/9, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/400 sec., f/9, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/500 sec., f/9, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




This is my first time to see over a hundred Pratincoles over two rice plots covering about 5,000 square meters. They are usually just sitting and preening but when one or several starts to take off the rest will follow.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




I hope that they will still be here when they are in their breeding plumage.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) 228 mm (9 inches)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) 254 mm (10 inches)
I will always remember the red beaks of this bird when they are in their breeding plumage. Here is a picture of the Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage:http://birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=5634
1/2000 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) 254 mm (10 inches)
1/1600 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)



This pair of Little Grebe is still in the same pond as the one we saw last year. They must really like it there.
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 250 mm (10 inches)
1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 200 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)




Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 250 mm (10 inches)
1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 200 with 1.4X TC (1120 mm)





Barn Swallow (Hirundo gutturalis) 178 mm (7 inches) There were many of them and they like to perch on the stick where the rice planted are identified.
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with TC 1.4X




1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with TC 1.4X




1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with TC 1.4X




1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with TC 1.4X




1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 800 with TC 1.4X




Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 480 mm (19 inches)
1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 200




1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 200




1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 200




Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) 152 mm (6 inches)
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 200 with TC 1.4X




1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 200 with TC 1.4X




1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 200 with TC 1.4X




1/640 sec., f/8, ISO 200 with TC 1.4X





This was the main reason in going to UP Los Banos. Tirso has tamed this frisky Purple-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma sperata) 99 mm (4 inches) to stay put after he has his fill of nectar from the Torch Ginger. I have seen this bird in Bohol and they never stop moving. I have also seen them in Bislig and they look like they have an itch to scratch even if they are just perching. I would not have been able to take these pictures as slow as this shutter speed if the bird did not keep still from time to time. I was just 6.08 meters from the bird after having to move back more than 2 meters.
1/60 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Tirso, Rufina, and I had a good laugh when we saw this picture on my laptop. It was like a vapor trail of a jet plane, only this was not flying but answering the call of nature. LOL.
1/25 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




This bird does not have complete feathers yet there are still some stubs that can be seen on the throat that should open in a few days.
1/20 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/15 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/13 sec., f/8, ISO 1600




This one is my favorite as it turned momentarily to face me enabling me to get a frontal shot.
1/13 sec., f/8, ISO 1600

[Edwin Matias]

Sir Eley,

Another Great Set, I've been in UPLB once, and i love it, indeed it was a great place

Regards,
Edwin

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 14, 2012 8:37:51 GMT Edwin Matias said:

Sir Eley,

Another Great Set, I've been in UPLB once, and i love it, indeed it was a great place

Regards,
Edwin

Thank you Edwin. There will be more pictures to be posted on this thread. I am hoping to complete it by Tuesday. Cheers.

[Ely Teehankee]

Tirso with Rufina and myself at the end of our birding tour of UPLB.

[Ely Teehankee]

I received the good news from Desmond Allen that this Purple-throated Sunbird is indeed endemic to the Philippines, specifically to Central & Southern Luzon. The scientific name is Leptocoma sperata sperata. Thank you Des for sharing your expertise.

[Ariel Matias]

Wow! These look like close shots! All the details really came out! Well done Ely!

[mlgocon]

I saw the Purple-throated Sunbird in Bohol, too, on Panglao at the Bohol Bee Farm. That's the only place I've seen it so I'm anxious to get over to UPLB and look for them. I was in Bohol 5 days but only saw it twice. Such a beautiful bird. Those Plover pictures were great, too.

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 15, 2012 20:51:58 GMT Ariel Matias said:

Wow! These look like close shots! All the details really came out! Well done Ely!

Thank you Ariel. It was only 6.08 meters from me. I wished we can take pictures of birds this close all the time. Pura Vida.

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 16, 2012 2:57:18 GMT mlgocon said:

I saw the Purple-throated Sunbird in Bohol, too, on Panglao at the Bohol Bee Farm. That's the only place I've seen it so I'm anxious to get over to UPLB and look for them. I was in Bohol 5 days but only saw it twice. Such a beautiful bird. Those Plover pictures were great, too.

Thank you for your appreciation. I saw the Purple-throated Sunbird at Simply Butterflies. I heard about the Bohol Bee Farm, but have never been there. Could you tell me more about it and if there are plenty of birds or just a few. To see it twice in 5 days means that the PTSB does not go there regularly or maybe for lack of flowers. The Purple-throated Sunbird is really beautiful and I am really happy that I was able to take a close shot of it. The Little Ringed Plovers were in their breeding plumage and that is why they look nice.My email address is [e-mail]

[Tirso Paris]

Wow! I didn't realize you had such a bountiful harvest that day. This is a nice album of you best shots. You missed, however, the common sandpiper. All are beautiful captures especially the purple throated sunbird which look better with you superior lens and sensor. It was nice birding with you Ely!

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 16, 2012 17:50:47 GMT Tirso Paris said:

Wow! I didn't realize you had such a bountiful harvest that day. This is a nice album of you best shots. You missed, however, the common sandpiper. All are beautiful captures especially the purple throated sunbird which look better with you superior lens and sensor. It was nice birding with you Ely!

Thank you Tirso for your appreciation. I am convinced that the longer the lens the better the image quality. I hope to find out if the new 600mm with the new technology will be as good or better. Hopefully I can get some documentary evidence to show you. Thank you again for making this possible.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Those are all amazingly clear and crisp images Ka Ely!! I specially love the details on the Purple-throated Sunbird and the swallow, though all the other images are exceptionally well captured as well. Excellent series!

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 17, 2012 6:54:53 GMT Bobby Kintanar said:

Those are all amazingly clear and crisp images Ka Ely!! I specially love the details on the Purple-throated Sunbird and the swallow, though all the other images are exceptionally well captured as well. Excellent series!

Thank you Bobby for your appreciation and comments. I am hoping that I will be able to post some new birds sometime next week. Cheers & Mabuhay.

[gabriel buluran]

this is a nice set ely. i captured a purple throated sunbird in the Philippine Eagle Conservation Center in Malagos, Davao. they look very much the same except that the ruff are more yellowish in my picture. would the color change as the bird matures? attached a photo for reference.


Untitled by gabsbuluran, on Flickr

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 17, 2012 9:36:48 GMT gabriel buluran said:

this is a nice set ely. i captured a purple throated sunbird in the Philippine Eagle Conservation Center in Malagos, Davao. they look very much the same except that the ruff are more yellowish in my picture. would the color change as the bird matures? attached a photo for reference.


Untitled by gabsbuluran, on Flickr

Thank you Gabs. As I am not an expert on birds I don't know if the color will change, but one thing I know is that there are 5 races of Purple-throated Sunbirds in different parts of the Philippines. I hope that explains it.

[Tateo Osawa]

All nice shot Ely. Difficult to choose but I like Purple-throated Sunbird.

[Ely Teehankee]

Oct 17, 2012 14:55:19 GMT Tateo Osawa said:

All nice shot Ely. Difficult to choose but I like Purple-throated Sunbird.

Thank you Tateo. The PTSB is really a beautiful bird. The Filipino name for this bird is 7 Colors and this does not happen very often with other birds.