Post by Romy Ocon on Feb 12, 2008 12:15:57 GMT
Mt. Data, Cordillera, 2155 m ASL, Feb. 12 - Arrived at Mt. Data lunch time today, after a 10 hour easy driving across 350 km of mixed terrain by my birding buddy Arnold.
Some field notes to share:
1. I immediately set off for my favorite birding spot, which is about 11 km north of Mt. Data, so I can scout for good perches for tomorrow's serious birding. Imagine my disappointment when I found out that the Halsema Highway is being re-concreted starting at that portion then going Bontoc-ward. They even built a concrete batch plant right at the spot where I parked to shoot the Little Pied Flycatcher in 2006. All vegetation around are dusty, hence unphotogenic. Worse, there's not much bird calls to be heard. The site has become virtually hopeless, birdshooting-wise.
2. I saw the Mountain Shrike right upon my arrival, but it was so far away and I didn't try to stalk it because of extreme exhaustion. I did get some docu shots of the Olive Tree-Pipit and distant Common Buzzard in flight.
3. The temp has plummeted to 6 degrees Celsius outside the hotel as I type this, and still falling. I wish it can go below zero at dawn so I can photograph some frost on the flowers early tomorrow. ;D
4. Globe Telecoms has no signal at Mt. Data, hence my wireless broadband has become useless. I've to use my Smart phone SIM and make do with a slow 42 kbps connection. So to those going up here in the near future, be sure to bring a Smart SIM if you wish to maintain contact with the outside world.
Will update these field notes after end of birding day tomorrow.
Romy
Some field notes to share:
1. I immediately set off for my favorite birding spot, which is about 11 km north of Mt. Data, so I can scout for good perches for tomorrow's serious birding. Imagine my disappointment when I found out that the Halsema Highway is being re-concreted starting at that portion then going Bontoc-ward. They even built a concrete batch plant right at the spot where I parked to shoot the Little Pied Flycatcher in 2006. All vegetation around are dusty, hence unphotogenic. Worse, there's not much bird calls to be heard. The site has become virtually hopeless, birdshooting-wise.
2. I saw the Mountain Shrike right upon my arrival, but it was so far away and I didn't try to stalk it because of extreme exhaustion. I did get some docu shots of the Olive Tree-Pipit and distant Common Buzzard in flight.
3. The temp has plummeted to 6 degrees Celsius outside the hotel as I type this, and still falling. I wish it can go below zero at dawn so I can photograph some frost on the flowers early tomorrow. ;D
4. Globe Telecoms has no signal at Mt. Data, hence my wireless broadband has become useless. I've to use my Smart phone SIM and make do with a slow 42 kbps connection. So to those going up here in the near future, be sure to bring a Smart SIM if you wish to maintain contact with the outside world.
Will update these field notes after end of birding day tomorrow.
Romy
