Scouting the grasslands of San Manuel (Pangasinan)

[Romy Ocon]

I scouted a wide grassy expanse near San Roque Dam at San Manuel, Pangasinan, and it looks like a promising birding area.

The quality of light under the overcast skies was not so good, but I've seen enough species to entice me to return in the next few days.

_____


1. AN EARLY MIGRANT. I was surprised to see one of these at this early time. I initially thought it could be a late leaving migrant, but given its emaciated appearance and its worn feathers, it most probably just arrived.

Little Ringed-Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Shooting info - San Roque, San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines, July 4, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, 1/320 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, near full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.






2. A CRAPPY PERCH, LITERALLY.  Sometimes, the perch a wild bird chooses doesn't conform to the fine taste of most people. But we Ilokoslovakians use the juice of partially digested meal of cattle as an ingredient in our papaitan, hence this is not so bad to us after all.

Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula)

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






3. GREAT BACKGROUND, BAD PLUMAGE.  Well, I got a good background for this one, plus a reasonable quality of light. But I wish this specimen were not in the middle of a wardrobe change.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

Shooting info - San Roque, San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines, July 4, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, 1/250 sec, f/7.1, ISO 800, manual exposure in available light, hand held, near full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.






4. YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE. This rail tried to evade a desperate birdnut, but the 7D MII's AI servo auto focus was way faster.

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

Shooting info - San Roque, San Manuel, Pangasinan, Philippines, July 4, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, uncropped full frame resized to 1500 x 1000.





5. COUCAL IN HIGH KEY. I exposed for the subject on this one, never mind the sky getting toasted to a crisp.

Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)

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

[Bobby Kintanar]

Wowowow! What a harvest Ka Romy Mastah, I love all of them, but I gotta fave the Buff-banded Rail on the run! You even caught a small insect with that shot :-) That place does look very promising for birdnuts. Hope to see more of your captures soon. :-)

[Tateo Osawa]

Wow, beautiful a clear color and great details Romy. all nice captures!!

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Ka Bobby and Tateo-san!

[Romy Ocon]

Light is much better this morning, so I went to the area for a quick birding fix.


Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)

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.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Another wowowiks! This one beats the rest, hehehe.

[Romy Ocon]

Thanks, Ka Bobby! The quality of light really makes the difference.