Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 26, 2013 11:23:32 GMT
Two weeks ago, a birder Chris Ferrer discovered a flowering tree in Makiling Botanical Gardens that was attracting lots of sunbirds and flowerpeckers. I rushed there and found it to be a magical flowering tree, as it had 4 species of Sunbirds, 3 species of Flowerpeckers, and several other species. Neon Rosell identified it as a Lipote tree.
There were challenges however. The birds were tiny and always moving. The lighting was terrible in the dark leaves, especially when it rained, which was often. The backlighting was severe. And my neck and back hurt from shooting upwards. But it was worth it as I got a couple of LIFERS! ;D
Canon 1DX camera, Canon 800 mm lens, tripod.
HANDSOME SUNBIRD (Aethopyga bella) - Male
Endemic. This is presumably the minuta subspecies in central/ southern Luzon. This was my first time to see this subspecies.
F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/160 second.
PURPLE-THROATED SUNBIRD (Nectarinia sperata) - Immature Male
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/500 second.
HANDSOME AND PURPLE-THROATED SUNBIRDS
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/500 second.
GREY-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes griseigularis) - Male
Endemic. The Grey-Throated Sunbird was recently split from the resident Plain-Throated Sunbird, which is now called Brown-Throated Sunbird. This was a LIFER for me!
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/160 second.
GREY-THROATED SUNBIRD - Female
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/125 second.
GREY-THROATED SUNBIRD - Male
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/160 second.
FLAMING SUNBIRD (Aethopyga flagrans) - Male
Uncommon endemic. This is presumably the flagrans subspecies in central/southern Luzon. This was another LIFER for me!
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/160 second.
FLAMING SUNBIRD - Male
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/80 second.
BUZZING FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum hypoleucum)
Endemic. This is presumably the obscurum subspecies in central/southern Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/160 second.
RED-KEELED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum australe)
Endemic. This is the australe subspecies in Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/320 second.
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) - Male
This is presumably the xanthopygium subspecies endemic in Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/160 second.
One time, the tree went completely silent. I then saw why -- a BROWN SHRIKE had perched right in the center, apparently hoping to catch one of the Sunbirds or Flowerpeckers for lunch.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/160 second.
COLASISI (Loriculus philippensis)
Endemic. This is presumably the philippensis subspecies of Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/200 second.
BALICASSIAO (Dicrurus balicassius)
Endemic. This is presumably the balicassius subspecies of central/southern Luzon.
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/250 second.
STRIPE-HEADED RHABDORNIS (Rhabdornis mystacalis)
Endemic. This is presumably the mystacalis subspecies in Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/100 second.
STRIPE-HEADED RHABDORNIS
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/640 second.
There were challenges however. The birds were tiny and always moving. The lighting was terrible in the dark leaves, especially when it rained, which was often. The backlighting was severe. And my neck and back hurt from shooting upwards. But it was worth it as I got a couple of LIFERS! ;D
Canon 1DX camera, Canon 800 mm lens, tripod.
HANDSOME SUNBIRD (Aethopyga bella) - Male
Endemic. This is presumably the minuta subspecies in central/ southern Luzon. This was my first time to see this subspecies.
F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/160 second.
PURPLE-THROATED SUNBIRD (Nectarinia sperata) - Immature Male
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/500 second.
HANDSOME AND PURPLE-THROATED SUNBIRDS
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/500 second.
GREY-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes griseigularis) - Male
Endemic. The Grey-Throated Sunbird was recently split from the resident Plain-Throated Sunbird, which is now called Brown-Throated Sunbird. This was a LIFER for me!
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/160 second.
GREY-THROATED SUNBIRD - Female
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/125 second.
GREY-THROATED SUNBIRD - Male
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/160 second.
FLAMING SUNBIRD (Aethopyga flagrans) - Male
Uncommon endemic. This is presumably the flagrans subspecies in central/southern Luzon. This was another LIFER for me!
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/160 second.
FLAMING SUNBIRD - Male
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/80 second.
BUZZING FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum hypoleucum)
Endemic. This is presumably the obscurum subspecies in central/southern Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/160 second.
RED-KEELED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum australe)
Endemic. This is the australe subspecies in Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-5000, 1/320 second.
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) - Male
This is presumably the xanthopygium subspecies endemic in Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/160 second.
One time, the tree went completely silent. I then saw why -- a BROWN SHRIKE had perched right in the center, apparently hoping to catch one of the Sunbirds or Flowerpeckers for lunch.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-3200, 1/160 second.
COLASISI (Loriculus philippensis)
Endemic. This is presumably the philippensis subspecies of Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/200 second.
BALICASSIAO (Dicrurus balicassius)
Endemic. This is presumably the balicassius subspecies of central/southern Luzon.
F/5.6, ISO-3200, 1/250 second.
STRIPE-HEADED RHABDORNIS (Rhabdornis mystacalis)
Endemic. This is presumably the mystacalis subspecies in Luzon.
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/100 second.
STRIPE-HEADED RHABDORNIS
1.4x extender, 1120 mm, F/8, ISO-4000, 1/640 second.
