Lesser Coucal in Flight

[Romy Ocon]

This wide grassland, criss-crossed by dirt roads, located near the San Roque Dam at San Manuel (Pangasinan), has one of the denser population of this species I've seen.

An irrigation channel from the dam runs in the middle of this unpopulated area, and surrounded at both sides by tall cogon grass. The thick vegetation, abundance of surface water and lack of human inhabitants make the place an ideal habitat for many grassland avi-fauna. Most of the area is accessible by car, hence birding is quite convenient as well.

Here's a flight shot of this skulker taken on my second visit to the place in as many days.

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Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)

Habitat - Grassland and open country.

Shooting info - San Roque, San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines, July 6, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, 1/2000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 1600 x 900.







And another individual adjusting its position on a flimsy perch. It's surprising to me that even a fast shutter speed of 1/2000 sec wasn't quick enough to fully freeze the moving right tarsus/claw.


Shooting info - San Roque, San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines, July 6, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, 1/2000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, near full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.

[William Lim]

Fantastically sharp as always, Romy!

[Tateo Osawa]

Super captures again, Romy. I like the beautiful clear background!!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Doc William and Tateo-san!

[Bobby Kintanar]

Wow again, that BIF is I think the only one ever of that species, hehehe. As usual, excellent capture Ka Mastah!

[Romy Ocon]

Jul 17, 2017 14:10:10 GMT Bobby Kintanar said:

Wow again, that BIF is I think the only one ever of that species, hehehe. As usual, excellent capture Ka Mastah!

Thanks, Ka Bobby.

I've been trying to catch these in flight since over a decade ago, but their short flight duration, dark plumage and low trajectory (making the background busy) are tough on the AF system and on the shooter.


1. Candaba, 22-NOV-2006 1DM2, + 100-400 L IS + Tamron 1.4x TC, 560 mm, wide open (f/8), 1/1000 sec, ISO 400, hand held




2. Candaba, 10-APR-2007 1DM2, + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC,1/500s f/5.6 at 700.0mm iso400,  475B tripod/3421 gimbal head

[Bobby Kintanar]

Guess I was right! I have never seen any coucal BIF, not even those you just posted. Back here in Cebu, one can rarely see them, let alone take a shot of them in flight. Fast reflexes , great timing and technique really paid off in that original post!