Local birders - go to UP Diliman now.
Be sure to check out this uncommon migrant - an Oriental Cuckoo, feeding on caterpillars in an Acacia tree in the University of the Philippines Diliman. This individual will be probably stay in the area for a few days more - fattening up with juicy worms for its long travel back to its breeding grounds.
Oriental Cuckoo
Also check out this Grey Streaked Flycatcher:
Grey-streaked Flycatcher
And this gorgeous Blue Rock-thrush in the Marine Science Institute grounds
Blue Rock-thrush
Be on the look-out as well for nesting Coppersmith Barbets, Colasisi and Pied Trillers.
It is so nice to have a birdy site close to the city!
The Great Philippine Eagle flying high over Mt. Kitanglad Mountain Range
This is one of the highlight birds of the recently concluded 1st Asian Bird Fair birding trip to Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Mindanao last September 27 - October 3, 2010. This birding trip was organized by us in cooperation with the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines to showcase our wonderful birds to our Asian neighbors. The group was led by Nicky Icarangal and Adrian Constantino and was composed of birders from the Nature Society (Singapore), Hong Kong Birdwatching Society, Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Wild Bird Society of Taipei and Asian Raptor Research Conservation Network. It was a two-part tour, with the first leg starting off at Mt. Kitanglad National Park to showcase Mindanao's montane endemics birds. The second leg was in PICOP, Bislig, Surigao for the lowland specialties. The highlights of trip include the Great Philippine Eagle (shown above), Red-eared Parrotfinch, Apo Mynah, Apo Sunbird, Bukidnon Woodcock, Rufous, Writhed and Mindanao Hornbills, Short-crested Monarch, Steere's Pitta, Philippine (Pinsker's) Hawk-Eagle, among others.
Please be sure to check the trip report and the trip list here. More pictures of birds seen during this trip can be viewed in our galleries page while pictures from the trip can be seen by following us on Facebook.
The next Asian Bird Fair will be held in Taipei, Taiwan. To know more about the 1st Asian Bird Fair in Davao City, please check www.birdwatch.ph.
During the past 20 years, we have made more than 30 birding/wildlife photography trips.
None was better arranged and guided than our trip with Nicky in February 2010. We spent 3 delightful weeks birding in Luzon, Mindanao, Bohol, and Palawan, seeing 230 species, including the Philippine Eagle.
Luzon, Palawan, Bohol Mindanao Birding for Michael and Patricia Palmer
A testimonial from Michael and Patricia Palmer, one of our custom groups from 2010. The birder couple spent three weeks in the Philippines visiting Luzon, Palawan, Bohol and Mindanao with their Mt. Kitanglad trip coinciding with Valentines Day. Valentines was celebrated over a few bottles of wine, fresh wild montane flowers and a date with the Great Philippine Eagle.
Here is what they have to say:
"During the past 20 years, we have made more than 30 birding/wildlife photography trips. None was better arranged and guided than our trip with Nicky in February 2010. We spent 3 delightful weeks birding in Luzon, Mindanao, Bohol, and Palawan, seeing 230 species, including the Philippine Eagle. The Lodges were pleasant; the food good; internal flights and road travel comfortable; but, best of all, was the pleasure of traveling with (and being guided by) Nicky and his partners from Birding Adventure Philippines.We have learned over the past 20 years, that the best birding trips (and least expensive) are those arranged by a local Guide/birding company. In this case, we met Nicky at the August 2009 Bird Fair in England where the Philippines Tourist Office had a stand. Nicky had been selected to represent the fledgling Bird-Watching industry. Some months later we contacted Nicky by e-mail, and asked him to propose a 3 weeks tour. This process led to one of the very best birding experiences we have ever enjoyed"
Michael Palmer and Patricia email: mp32[at]mac[dot]com
Many thanks Michael and Patricia! Hope to see you birding here again!
Michael & Patricia Palmer
You can view Michael and Patricia's trip bird list here>
