Post by Ely Teehankee on Dec 22, 2012 14:17:25 GMT
This is my first trip to Coron for the year 2012 and the birds that I found there are still the same birds but a lot friendlier. They still behave in the same manner where the White-vented Shama would come as close as 2 meters and stay put for a couple of minutes. The Lovely Sunbirds and the Rufous-tailed Tailorbird are as skittish as ever but comes closer where there are flowers, insects and food to eat. Different birds have different habits and behavior. Overall I got to see about 30 species and what was difficult to locate before like the Palawan Flowerpecker were much easier this time. But because these birds are frisky it becomes a challenge to photograph them. On top of that you hope that the birds position will not be backlighted, and if there is no sun, you will be able to get the catchlight on their eyes. Most of all, you would wish that you could get to photograph them at a close distance. All these makes me say that this place is still the best birding place in the Philippines.
Canon EOS 1DX, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, M-3.6 Mongoose Gimbal Action Head. Manual exposure in available light.
The Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) 8 inches is a common bird in Coron but seldom will you see it near. I had a lucky break at the palm tree was fruiting and these birds were feasting on them. This picture was taken at the house of Lia Ramos the proprietress of Maquinit Hot Springs. This natural wonder is the only salt water hot spring that I know of. Normally they would be ordinary hot water like that of Pansol in Laguna. After a full day of birding and the sun has gone down, it certainly would be nice to soak in that big hot water pool.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
Grey-throated Bulbul (Alophoisus frater) 9 inches or formerly known as Grey Cheeked Bulbul but now it is recognized as a sub species that is endemic to the Philippines. Similar to the Olive-winged Bulbul but a little bit more colorful with its yellow breast. These birds were all taken at Mount Darala during the afternoon.
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600
White-vented Shama (Copsychus niger) usually seen in Palawan and endemic to the Philppines. I noticed that this bird likes to forage for insects near people's houses. This is because of the open drain system that attract different kind of insects that this bird feeds on.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
The back view of a White-vented Shama. This is one of the rare times that the sun shined on the birds eye enabling me to photograph the eyes clearly.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Rufous-tailed Tailorbird (Orthotomus sericeus) 5 inches. Just like other Tailorbirds, these little live dynamo are as frisky as other mountain birds. I certainly am happy that the fast capabilities of the camera focussing on the subject enabled me to get a shot of this bird.
1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Palawan Flowerpecker (Prionochilus plateni) Male at 3 1/2 inches is as small as the Lovely Sunbird. Both are colorful birds and a delight to be able to photograph.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Blue Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone cyanescens) Female 8 1/2 inches. Almost like clockwork this bird appears late in the afternoon feeding on small insects. Most of these birds were taken at Mount Darala. Erwin the bird guide used by most bird photographers has a house that somehow attract the birds to it. It is armchair birding, as I would sit on a chair and wait for the birds to come for the flowers, fruits, and insects. I wish this can happen more often.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Canon EOS 1DX, Canon EF 800mm f5.6L IS USM, Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, M-3.6 Mongoose Gimbal Action Head. Manual exposure in available light.
The Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) 8 inches is a common bird in Coron but seldom will you see it near. I had a lucky break at the palm tree was fruiting and these birds were feasting on them. This picture was taken at the house of Lia Ramos the proprietress of Maquinit Hot Springs. This natural wonder is the only salt water hot spring that I know of. Normally they would be ordinary hot water like that of Pansol in Laguna. After a full day of birding and the sun has gone down, it certainly would be nice to soak in that big hot water pool.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
Grey-throated Bulbul (Alophoisus frater) 9 inches or formerly known as Grey Cheeked Bulbul but now it is recognized as a sub species that is endemic to the Philippines. Similar to the Olive-winged Bulbul but a little bit more colorful with its yellow breast. These birds were all taken at Mount Darala during the afternoon.
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600
White-vented Shama (Copsychus niger) usually seen in Palawan and endemic to the Philppines. I noticed that this bird likes to forage for insects near people's houses. This is because of the open drain system that attract different kind of insects that this bird feeds on.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
The back view of a White-vented Shama. This is one of the rare times that the sun shined on the birds eye enabling me to photograph the eyes clearly.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Rufous-tailed Tailorbird (Orthotomus sericeus) 5 inches. Just like other Tailorbirds, these little live dynamo are as frisky as other mountain birds. I certainly am happy that the fast capabilities of the camera focussing on the subject enabled me to get a shot of this bird.
1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Palawan Flowerpecker (Prionochilus plateni) Male at 3 1/2 inches is as small as the Lovely Sunbird. Both are colorful birds and a delight to be able to photograph.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
Blue Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone cyanescens) Female 8 1/2 inches. Almost like clockwork this bird appears late in the afternoon feeding on small insects. Most of these birds were taken at Mount Darala. Erwin the bird guide used by most bird photographers has a house that somehow attract the birds to it. It is armchair birding, as I would sit on a chair and wait for the birds to come for the flowers, fruits, and insects. I wish this can happen more often.
1/60 sec., f/8, ISO 3200
