Post by Ely Teehankee on Mar 19, 2014 13:40:38 GMT
It was my first time to go to Mount Apo and I am glad that I went. It was my friend Ramon Quisumbing who told me about the Philippine Eagle having a nest there but roughly over 70 meters in distance from where it could be seen. It turned out to be 95.9 meters but it was still a memorable trip that I will treasure forever. We also saw the Serpent Eagle on the day we arrived. It was very different from the one that I saw in UP Diliman as this one was matured and had all the features of a Philippine Serpent Eagle. I had a long distance glimpse of the Mindanao Hornbill. The big bonus was being able to see and photographed the Writhed Hornbill, a Philippine endemic that is seldom seen and photographed.
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.
Canon EF 600mm f4 IS USM-courtesy of Ramon Quisumbing
We took the early morning flight to Davao at 4:05 in the morning and upon arriving at the Davao International Airport we went straight to Mount Apo. We started setting up our gear and on the way up to the mountain at about 50 meters we were greeted by this beautiful Philippine Serpent Eagle. As the name implies it is endemic to the Philippines.
Philippine Serpent Eagle (Spilornis holospilus) 20 inches a split from the Crested Serpent Eagle.
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100
1/250 sec., f/8, ISO 100
d
Upon reaching the Vantage Point 2, the eagle's nest was pointed out to us and it was quite farther than I imagined it to be. I decided to attached my 1.4X Teleconverter to magnify the subject. We waited for hours and except for a raptor which I cannot identify no Philippine Eagle came. We had lunch at about 2:00 PM at the site and when you are hungry everything taste good.
After lunch I noticed a bright colored object was flying around the Eaglet. I thought it was a giant butterfly but looking thru the lens it was a Braminy Kite. It look like it was surveying the eaglet for his next meal. Micky and I started taking pictures except for Ramon who was on a long distance call doing business with a client. Micky & I were conversing about the possibility the Braminy Kite sizing up his target. With all the excitement going on, Ramon was able to end his conversation and got just as excited to photograph the event. In my excitement I was not able to change my shutter speed for BIF but ended up with a picture of the blurred Braminy Kite buzzing the Eaglet. As the Braminy Kite approached the Eaglet positioned himself with his wings wide open on an embraced posture. I don't know whether he was cowering in fear or ready to pounce on the Braminy should he come any closer. This was the kind of excitement that we experienced and fortunately the Braminy Kite gave up and abandoned any plans he may have had for the Eaglet. This is the reason why the mother stays with the Eaglet all the time after the egg was hatched to protect the hatchling. Now that it is growing bigger and has a bigger appetite both parents leave the hatchling alone to go out and hunt for food.
1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 400
Earlier in the morning Micky who was in Vantage Point 1 was able to take a picture of the Writhed Hornbill. He showed us the picture and Ramon & I knew that we missed a lifer. We decided to go back and hoping that we will get to see it when it goes back to its nest to feed his mate. True enough it went back but it was a distant 126 meters from where we were positioned. Better to have something than nothing, this is what I got when the male was inserting the fruit berry thru the small opening that was covering the nesting hole.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 800
The next day we traveled from Eden Ridge to Kidapawan, North Cotobato. It took us about 3 hours with a brief stopover for breakfast to get to Agko Mahomanoy Mountain Resort, 1199 meters above sea level. We saw a variety of mountain birds and you can see it on this thread:
birdphotoph.proboards.com/thread/9196/birds-lake-agko
On the third day we went back to Mount Apo hoping to see the adult Philippine Eagle. It was reported to us that they have not been there for two days. It is most likely that they should be bringing some food for the Eaglet as this is now the third day. That is how difficult a bird's life can be, just imagine not eating for two days. It was early in the morning, Ramon & I decided to go to where the Writhed Hornbill was nesting while the others stayed to wait for the appearance of the stars of this trip. As far as I know this is the first time that bird photographers will have the chance to photograph the Philippine Eagle in the wild. We got to Mount Apo about 6:00 in the morning and waited for the Writhed Hornbill (Aceros leucocephalus) 30 1/2 inches. It was almost 10:00 when the male arrived and from where I was I could not get a clear shot. Ramon suggested that I just bring my camera body and used it on his 600mm lens. This enabled me to get pictures of a bird that I never even dreamed of seeing on this trip. It was a bird photographers delight to see this bird at about 60 meters or about half the distance from where we first saw it the first time. By nature the Hornbill would perched around the nest, making sure that there are no predators around before going to the nest to feed his mate &/or hatchling. In this picture, he was so relaxed that he sat on his belly for quite a while.
1/50 sec., f/8, ISO 100
Still using the lens of Ramon but with a 1.4X TC, the bird sits up as if getting ready to moved into the nest.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 100
After about half an hour he positions himself at the entrance of the nest, still looking around to see if it is safe for him to feed his mate. Here I am using my 800mm lens with a 1.4X TC
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 100
He than regurgitates the food and brings out a green berry indicating that there are not enough ripe fruits for him to take in the wild. Normally they would choose the ripe fruits that are red or black in color.
1/100 sec., f/8, ISO 100
After feeding, he turns to the other side and takes off. The cycle of feeding is about 4 hours before the next feeding.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 100
I experimented taking pictures without the 1.4X TC and I like the result better.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
1/800 sec., f/8, ISO 800
After the Writhed Hornbill, we went back to Vantage Point 1 and waited for the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) 39 inches must be the biggest bird in the Philippines. It is also the National Bird of the Philippines. It has a wingspan of 74 inches. Here is a scene of a Mother & Child, notice how big the hatchling is at 2 1/2 months. I am using my 800mm with a 1.4X TC.
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The Eaglet does not grab the food without the Mother giving it to him. Here you can see the dark skin monkey with its tail and the color of the meat is red, being torn to smaller pieces to feed the hatchling.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The family together for a photo opportunity.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
I saw a Mindanao Hornbill (Penolopides affinis) 21 inches, out in the open but a far distance away and took this picture.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The reason for the trip to Mount Apo, Davao was to see the Philippine Eagle in the wild. Here is the star of the show, the 2 1/2 months hatchling that has grown quite big and strong. Look at those big legs. It is now flapping its wings and jumps around the nest.
1/400 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
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.
Canon EF 600mm f4 IS USM-courtesy of Ramon Quisumbing
We took the early morning flight to Davao at 4:05 in the morning and upon arriving at the Davao International Airport we went straight to Mount Apo. We started setting up our gear and on the way up to the mountain at about 50 meters we were greeted by this beautiful Philippine Serpent Eagle. As the name implies it is endemic to the Philippines.
Philippine Serpent Eagle (Spilornis holospilus) 20 inches a split from the Crested Serpent Eagle.
1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 100
1/250 sec., f/8, ISO 100
dUpon reaching the Vantage Point 2, the eagle's nest was pointed out to us and it was quite farther than I imagined it to be. I decided to attached my 1.4X Teleconverter to magnify the subject. We waited for hours and except for a raptor which I cannot identify no Philippine Eagle came. We had lunch at about 2:00 PM at the site and when you are hungry everything taste good.
After lunch I noticed a bright colored object was flying around the Eaglet. I thought it was a giant butterfly but looking thru the lens it was a Braminy Kite. It look like it was surveying the eaglet for his next meal. Micky and I started taking pictures except for Ramon who was on a long distance call doing business with a client. Micky & I were conversing about the possibility the Braminy Kite sizing up his target. With all the excitement going on, Ramon was able to end his conversation and got just as excited to photograph the event. In my excitement I was not able to change my shutter speed for BIF but ended up with a picture of the blurred Braminy Kite buzzing the Eaglet. As the Braminy Kite approached the Eaglet positioned himself with his wings wide open on an embraced posture. I don't know whether he was cowering in fear or ready to pounce on the Braminy should he come any closer. This was the kind of excitement that we experienced and fortunately the Braminy Kite gave up and abandoned any plans he may have had for the Eaglet. This is the reason why the mother stays with the Eaglet all the time after the egg was hatched to protect the hatchling. Now that it is growing bigger and has a bigger appetite both parents leave the hatchling alone to go out and hunt for food.
1/200 sec., f/8, ISO 400
Earlier in the morning Micky who was in Vantage Point 1 was able to take a picture of the Writhed Hornbill. He showed us the picture and Ramon & I knew that we missed a lifer. We decided to go back and hoping that we will get to see it when it goes back to its nest to feed his mate. True enough it went back but it was a distant 126 meters from where we were positioned. Better to have something than nothing, this is what I got when the male was inserting the fruit berry thru the small opening that was covering the nesting hole.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 800
The next day we traveled from Eden Ridge to Kidapawan, North Cotobato. It took us about 3 hours with a brief stopover for breakfast to get to Agko Mahomanoy Mountain Resort, 1199 meters above sea level. We saw a variety of mountain birds and you can see it on this thread:
birdphotoph.proboards.com/thread/9196/birds-lake-agko
On the third day we went back to Mount Apo hoping to see the adult Philippine Eagle. It was reported to us that they have not been there for two days. It is most likely that they should be bringing some food for the Eaglet as this is now the third day. That is how difficult a bird's life can be, just imagine not eating for two days. It was early in the morning, Ramon & I decided to go to where the Writhed Hornbill was nesting while the others stayed to wait for the appearance of the stars of this trip. As far as I know this is the first time that bird photographers will have the chance to photograph the Philippine Eagle in the wild. We got to Mount Apo about 6:00 in the morning and waited for the Writhed Hornbill (Aceros leucocephalus) 30 1/2 inches. It was almost 10:00 when the male arrived and from where I was I could not get a clear shot. Ramon suggested that I just bring my camera body and used it on his 600mm lens. This enabled me to get pictures of a bird that I never even dreamed of seeing on this trip. It was a bird photographers delight to see this bird at about 60 meters or about half the distance from where we first saw it the first time. By nature the Hornbill would perched around the nest, making sure that there are no predators around before going to the nest to feed his mate &/or hatchling. In this picture, he was so relaxed that he sat on his belly for quite a while.
1/50 sec., f/8, ISO 100
Still using the lens of Ramon but with a 1.4X TC, the bird sits up as if getting ready to moved into the nest.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 100
After about half an hour he positions himself at the entrance of the nest, still looking around to see if it is safe for him to feed his mate. Here I am using my 800mm lens with a 1.4X TC
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 100
He than regurgitates the food and brings out a green berry indicating that there are not enough ripe fruits for him to take in the wild. Normally they would choose the ripe fruits that are red or black in color.
1/100 sec., f/8, ISO 100
After feeding, he turns to the other side and takes off. The cycle of feeding is about 4 hours before the next feeding.
1/80 sec., f/8, ISO 100
I experimented taking pictures without the 1.4X TC and I like the result better.
1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
1/800 sec., f/8, ISO 800
After the Writhed Hornbill, we went back to Vantage Point 1 and waited for the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) 39 inches must be the biggest bird in the Philippines. It is also the National Bird of the Philippines. It has a wingspan of 74 inches. Here is a scene of a Mother & Child, notice how big the hatchling is at 2 1/2 months. I am using my 800mm with a 1.4X TC.
1/500 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The Eaglet does not grab the food without the Mother giving it to him. Here you can see the dark skin monkey with its tail and the color of the meat is red, being torn to smaller pieces to feed the hatchling.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The family together for a photo opportunity.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
I saw a Mindanao Hornbill (Penolopides affinis) 21 inches, out in the open but a far distance away and took this picture.
1/320 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
The reason for the trip to Mount Apo, Davao was to see the Philippine Eagle in the wild. Here is the star of the show, the 2 1/2 months hatchling that has grown quite big and strong. Look at those big legs. It is now flapping its wings and jumps around the nest.
1/400 sec., f/8, ISO 1600
