Sto. Tomas (La Union) is my new Candaba :)

[Romy Ocon]

Whenever I need a quick BIF fix, I just drive over to the vast fishponds of this La Union town, and get my birding itch relieved. Sans Metro Manila traffic, the place is a mere 20 minutes away from where I usually stay (Rosario, La Union). For BIFs, it is best to shoot at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm when light is golden, the background is mostly foothills of the Cordilleras and the water birds get active feeding. Here are a few from last weekend.

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Great Egret (Egretta alba, migrant)

Habitat - Uncommon in a variety of wetlands from coastal marshes to ricefields.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 21, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 8.6 MP crop resized to 1575 x 1050.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 21, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 11.8 MP crop resized to 1500 x 1000.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 21, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 10.1 MP crop resized to 1500 x 1000.

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Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus, resident, adult)

Habitat - Open areas often near water, and also in mountains to 1500 m.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 21, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 11.8 MP crop resized to 1575 x 1050.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 21, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 6 MP crop resized to 1500 x 1000.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 21, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 7.3 MP crop resized to 1500 x 1000.

[William Lim]

wonderful shots, Romy!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Doc William!

[Tateo Osawa]

Great captures again, Romy. you got beautiful white color of egrets and detail. All Brahminy kite are nice captures.the second action shot is like very much.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Tateo-san..... we have so far many days with cloudless skies recently, and light was golden when the sun gets low over the South China Sea.

[Romy Ocon]

A couple of images from yesterday's quick visit at my New Candaba.

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus, migrant, non-breeding plumage)

Habitat - Bays, tidal flats to ricefields.

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Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 25, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 160, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 12 MP crop resized to 1575 x 1050.

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 25, 2015, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III, 560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 12 MP crop resized to 1575 x 1050.