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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 16, 2014 12:20:48 GMT
Thanks, Tonji. I agree with you that the first photo is the best of the batch.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 12, 2014 0:18:10 GMT
Great BIF shots! Was this the male or the female PE nesting at Mt. Apo?
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 12, 2014 0:16:37 GMT
Thank you, Tateo-san.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 12, 2014 0:15:55 GMT
Great set!
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 12, 2014 0:14:48 GMT
Nice set, Bob!
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 10, 2014 10:01:56 GMT
Thanks, Ely.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 10, 2014 10:01:04 GMT
You got them, congrats! Nice set.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 9, 2014 21:45:06 GMT
CRYPTIC FLYCATCHER (Ficedula crypta) Endemic to Mindanao and secretive. Found in the understory of mid-mountain forest from 700 to 1500 meters above sea level. Taken at Eden Mountain Resort, Mt. Talomo, Davao on 1/19/13.
Many thanks to Pete Simpson, the best birdguide in Davao, for finding a pair of these tiny and rare forest flycatchers. This was a LIFER for me! After doing some research, it appears that there are very few photos of the Cryptic Flycatcher in existence.
Canon 1DX camera, 600 mm lens, tripod. F/4, ISO-800, 1/80 second. F/4, ISO-3200, 1/30 second. While I don't care for the perch, this photo clearly shows the very pale feet and the long central toe. F/4, ISO-3200, 1/200 second. Taken by my brother JJ Quisumbing with my camera gear. F/4, ISO-800, 1/30 second. Series of documentary, long-distance shots of a CFC feeding not on a fly but on a worm at a stream. The lighting was poor at the mountain stream under forest canopy. F/4, ISO-3200, 1/80 second.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Feb 7, 2014 2:25:28 GMT
Excellent harvest and narrative, Ely! It was great birding with you last weekend.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 29, 2014 0:25:17 GMT
Nice shots, Romy.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 29, 2014 0:24:55 GMT
Excellent find, Bob! I have yet to see one. Where in LMEP did you see this?
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 24, 2014 0:09:05 GMT
Very nice, Sylvia. I've got to go there in May.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 23, 2014 8:34:39 GMT
Nice set, Neon.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 23, 2014 6:29:58 GMT
Neon,
Thanks!
It is not a very accessible area, because visitors need to obtain prior clearances from the local barangay and the indigenous people representatives before one can enter the area. The view point is about 100+ meters above the PE nest. While it is far, the view is quite open.
Surprisingly, the view point is the yard of a local farmer who is a member of the indigenous people tribe. They have been protecting the nest for many years. He says the PE's have nesting there since he was a little boy and even when his parents were still young. So, the PEs are actually used to people at the view point. Nevertheless, we gave money and instructions to build a big hide at the view point.
Ramon
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 23, 2014 0:30:54 GMT
Thank you, Ely and Tateo-san. This was really such a thrill!
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 22, 2014 7:11:38 GMT
Last weekend, I had the thrill of a birder's lifetime when I saw and photographed a nesting pair of PHILIPPINE EAGLES with a nestling that is probably about a month old. This was the #1 LIFER for me, as I had been craving to see a Philippine Eagle, our National Bird, in the wild for years!!! With the prior approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau and after obtaining the consents of the local barangay and the indigenous people representatives (which took several frustrating hours), my friends and I took 4WD vehicles and hiked a long distance on the muddy, slippery slopes of Mt. Apo, Davao to a vantage point overlooking a beautiful forested gorge. About 100+ meters below was the nest on a huge, majestic Balete (Ficus) tree. The first day, we had to contend with the harsh glare of the afternoon sun and shimmering heat waves that blurred most photos. The next morning was much cooler with better light, but thick fog kept coming in to totally block our view of the nest most of the time. We had great views of the female and nestling, although a large lens and teleconverter were necessary to take decent photos. The female never left the nest the entire 1-1/2 days except once for a few minutes only. The nestling slept most of the time. We only had glimpses of the much shyer male when he came to bring food to the nest about twice a day. But he flew very low and waited for the fog to come in to shield his appearance. [This gives me an excuse to make a return trip to Mt. Apo to photograph the male. ] PHILIPPINE EAGLE (Pithecophaga jefferyi) Endemic to old-growth forests of the Philippines. National Bird of the Philippines. Critically endangered with only about 180-500 left in the wild. All photos were taken with a Canon 1DX camera, Canon EF 600 mm IS II lens, 1.4x or 2x teleconverter, and tripod. 840 mm, F/5.6, ISO-1000, 1/500 second. 840 mm, F/5.6, ISO-800, 1/200 second. 840 mm, F/5.6, ISO-800, 1/250 second. 1200 mm, F/8, ISO-1600, 1/320 second. At one point, the Queen spread her wings to shield the young Prince (or Princess) from a perceived threat, while the Prince peeked out underneath. 840 mm, F/5.6, ISO-1600, 1/500 second. Here, the Queen appears to be calling out to the King to bring home some food, while the nestling appears to hungrily search for scraps. 840 mm, F/5.6, ISO-1000, 1/320 second. Finally, after the King flew in under cover of thick fog to bring a kill (a long-legged animal, perhaps a monkey, that had already been skinned), the Queen tore off pieces to feed the young Prince. 1200 mm, F/8, ISO-800, 1/500 second. A close-up of the young Prince under the watchful eye of its mother. 1200 mm, F/8, ISO-800, 1/250 second. To see a video of the feeding, click on this link: s1193.photobucket.com/user/Ramonquis/media/BP8P9638_zps4516deaa.mp4.htmlWHAT A THRILL!!! LONG LIVE THE KING AND QUEEN!!!
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Jan 22, 2014 3:56:41 GMT
Wonderful harvest, Ely!
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Dec 8, 2013 23:54:05 GMT
Nice set of captures, Ely.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Dec 7, 2013 11:29:41 GMT
Congrats on your 3 lifers! Nice set.
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Post by Ramon Quisumbing on Nov 28, 2013 5:20:00 GMT
Wow! Great OIF!
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