It’s been a while. Dodgy birds today and dodgy photos of said dodgy birds. Unfortunately I could not lay the camera on either of the two Flame-templed Babblers I caught glimpses of today in The North Negros Forest Park. This babbler is one of the most sought after birds in The Philippines. As a dodgy birder I am not going to claim this as a lifer because I did not ‘clock’ either of the birds, I got bits of them, like the orange ‘flaming’ plumage on their crown. My guide, the excellent Ricky Sobiesta, assured me they were Flame-templed. In view of those who spend heaps of money to put a tick against such delicacies it would ill behove me and them to claim this.
Apologies for the intermission: you know COVID, retirement, resettling in The Philippines, etc, etc. One way or another a challenging passage of time. Let me say that birding was low on my list of priorities. Birding in The Philippines is challenging at any time. I haven’t bought a motor yet and don’t plan on doing so for a while so dependent, as was the case in this day trip, on ‘hiring’ cars with driver. Easier really to stay home. Our location does not really offer a lot of local birding opportunities, like a walk in the park. In fact traffic conditions and other factors can make walking on the ‘pavement’ a challenge.
There are always birds, for instance, we have a beautiful Visayan Pied Fantail that cavorts on the wall adjacent to our house; however, public parks, for instance, are at a premium and extremely rare, all ‘space’ like everything else here is under human pressure. ( Meanwhile back in Glasgow, Scotland, I had a choice of three huge parks, The Linn Park, Kings Park and Queens Park, all within walking distance from home!) Here in Bacolod City, specifically in Mandalagan where we live, we do have Catmon Creek nearby which has been environmentally enhanced by clear renewal works including the addition of a decent walkway; sorry to say but this appears to be the preferred resting place of local tricycle taxi riders. My heart raised a beat recently when, in the course of brief daunder along the tricycle blocked walkway, I saw and heard a Common Kingfisher navigate this deep channel at considerable speed.
So to North Negros National Park. I’ll be vague about the precise location as I would not wish to put information in the wrong hands. These are priceless birds. It felt good to be out in the fresh air as we climbed to our destination: we are currently in a heat wave here, which is a bit of a misnomer as it is always hot here! However the schools were shut for two days last week as a means of dealing with this heatwave. I really wanted to ‘clock’ the Indigo-backed Kingfisher today and spent a lot of time on riverside hoping it was drop by. A Yellow Wagtail did bit alas, no kingfisher today, again!
As always the birds were a little sluggish today. But there were a number of Elegant Tits which put on wonderful displays as they bounced their way through the greenery of the forest. These guys are virtually impossible to photograph from a distance due to their small size and high speed acrobatics. But let me say they are truly ‘elegant’ little birds with a very striking appearance. The Citrine Canary-flycatcher is much more camera friendly but is also characterised by its hyperactivity. I managed get a couple of shots. Our only flycatcher species today. I also finally clocked the Visayan Fantail, what a beauty, and later in the afternoon one posed in the open for long enough to allow me to get a few shots. I got sustained views of a Black-belted Flowerpecker including the very pronounced red disc on its white breast but once more too far away, too small and poor light denied me the chance to capture it in a photo. Meanwhile my man Ricky was waxing lyriacl about a Visayan Drongo also known as Balicassio high up in the upper story. A couple of Visayan Bulbuls were also on the premises but once more I struggle to get a shot of any of them. Then out of nowhere we came upon a couple of White-vented Whistlers, definite lifers, which I definitely clocked … my reaction was that these birds presented as if they had walked out of an animated movie.
As the dodgy photo makes clear the Yellow Wagtail dropped in on us and refused to keep its tail still for the photo. We were distracted by a Lemon-throated Leaf Warbler and then a couple of waves of birds passed by my kingfisher stake out. I got parts of two Flame-templed Babblers, but I cannot say I clocked them so no claims – once more distance, speed of movement and poor lighting made photography impossible. Ricky also spotted a Visayan Tailorbird in amongst a pile of Elegant Tits and Visayan Bulbuls. Then Ricky put me on a Magnificent Sunbird … now why are all birds so distinctively marked?! Bright red uppers and dark blue lowers which combine to really help it to stand out against the foliage. What a stunner! I managed to get a shot of another one a little later which was in the upper story. Yes a stunning looking bird. Finally we had sustained views of a beautiful Orange-bellied Flowepecker high up on wires.
On our way out we were detained by a large bird which came down nearby. Our disappointment was almost palpable when it turned out to be a common or garden Black-crowned Nightheron. At least it allowed a decent photograph.
Given the objective difficulties birding in The Philippines presents, this was a really great day with stunning birds. Many of these birds are endemics and the Flame-templed Babbler is one of the most sought after birds in The Philippines …. I am still seeking however! Grateful thanks to the ever attentive Ricky Sobiesta, who knows the terrain and the avifauna like no other
Dodgy Birds 