A reunion with some mountain birds

[Romy Ocon]

After months of no serious birding, I found some time to drive to Baguio and try my luck at Camp John Hay's Eco Trail. I walked the slippery path down to the small stream, and encountered a bird wave along the way. Light was very low under the canopy of pine trees so I had to shoot at high ISOs.

I had a blast trying to focus at the small birds in dim lighting - just a couple of hours of birding allowed me to meet quite a few montane feathered friends again.

_____


Citrine Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea septentrionalis, endemic race)

Habitat - Understory usually in montane forest.

Shooting info - Elev. 1526 m ASL, Camp John hay Eco Trail, Baguio City, October 1, 2017, 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO 2500, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 1500 x 1000.






Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina, migrant, female)

Habitat - Rare in forest, second growth and mangroves.

Shooting info - Elev. 1526 m ASL, Camp John hay Eco Trail, Baguio City, October 1, 2017, 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO 2500, manual exposure in available light, hand held, uncropped full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.






Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis, migrant)

Habitat - Variety of forest types at all levels and elevations.

Shooting info - Elev. 1526 m ASL, Camp John hay Eco Trail, Baguio City, October 1, 2017, 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO 2500, manual exposure in available light, hand held, near full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.






Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni, resident, female)

Habitat - Forest canopy or understory and edge, montane forest down to 800 m.

Shooting info - Elev. 1526 m ASL, Camp John hay Eco Trail, Baguio City, October 1, 2017, 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO 2500, manual exposure in available light, hand held, near full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.






Mountain White-eye (Zosterops montanus, resident)

Habitat - All forest types above 1000 m.

Shooting info - Elev. 1526 m ASL, Camp John hay Eco Trail, Baguio City, October 1, 2017, 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO 2500, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 1500 x 1000.







Mountain Verditer-Flycatcher (Eumyias panayensis, resident, male)

Habitat - Mountain forests above 800 m.

Shooting info - Elev. 1526 m ASL, Camp John hay Eco Trail, Baguio City, October 1, 2017, 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO 1250, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 1500 x 1000.

[Tateo Osawa]

Wow, all great and beautiful captures even hand held and high isos very clear background and detail !!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Tateo-san!

I exposed to the right on most of the images, so noise was manageable. Wish I brought my monopod with me, I could have shot at 1 stop slower shutter speed and lower ISO. A tripod wouldn't work in that place - the ground is sloping and uneven, and the undergrowth was too dense.

[Mark Itol]

Incredible set as usual, Ka Mastah! I especially love the white-eye photo; the green on the trunk adds a lot to the image.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Mark.... that mossy growth is indeed photogenic.

[tina mallari]

WHOAAAA !!!! These are all awesome photos Romy. When Wency and I went to Baguio to go birding, it turned into a food binging trip because it kept on raining and the trails were really slippery. So happy for you !!!! You never fail to amaze me with your photos :-)

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Tina! This was my first productive visit to the Eco Trail, I didn't see as many birds in my previous visits to the place.

[William Lim]

Excellent captures, Romy

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Doc William!

[Bobby Kintanar]

Wow, very nice harvest Ka Romy Mastah! I'd settle for just one of those to make my day. The weather has been so bad these past weeks, I haven't even taken my D7200 out for some serious birding! Really happy that you had some time to spend with the birds again, and produce those excellent shots :-)

[Romy Ocon]

Thank you, Ka Bobby.... I hope we will have more sunny days soon!

[Ramon Gallardo]

Excellent images Ka Romy. Impressive hand-holding skills. I will definitely review your settings and learn from you and try my luck this coming 2018 Easter week. I will have to bring a lighter 400mm with 1.4x tc and monopod because of the terrain as you described. Unless, i could find a guide/assist person to carry my heavier 500mm + Tripod (Gimbal with base leveling). Maybe i could ask the ground caretakers of Camp John Hay. We'll see. Thank you for sharing. You continue to be an inspiration to us.

[Godfrey "Godo" Jakosalem]

Always great to see your photos!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Ramon and Godo!