• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

The Philippines Endangered Endemics 11th to 30th May 2019 (20 days) Visayan Islands Extension 30th May to 4th April 2019 (6 days) Trip Report Whiskered Pitta by David Hoddinott Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader, David Hoddinott Trip Report – RBL The Philippines – Endangered Endemics & Visayan Islands Ext 2019 2 The top 10 species seen during the tour as voted by our guests: 1. Philippine Eagle 2. Whiskered Pitta 3. Azure-breasted Pitta 4. Palawan Peacock-Pheasant 5. Great Slaty Woodpecker 6. Palawan Frogmouth 7. Bukidnon Woodcock 8. Eastern Grass Owl 9. Green Racket-tail 10. Red-vented Cockatoo ___________________________________________________________________________________ Tour Summary After all meeting up in our comfortable hotel in the capital, Manila – Luzon, we discussed our plans for the coming days over a delicious buffet dinner, before settling down for a good night’s sleep. This year’s remarkable Philippines adventure started off with a visit to the island of Palawan. In the early hours of the following day, we travelled to the airport for our flight to Palawan. We arrived in time to do some birding en route to our hotel. It was a nice overcast morning and this kept the bird activity high. In quick succession, we notched up a fabulous Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, a pair of Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher of the rufous-backed form, huge White-bellied Woodpecker, Blue-naped Parrot, Blue Paradise Flycatcher seen nesting, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, White-vented Shama, elusive Palawan Flycatcher and Brown-throated and Lovely Sunbirds. At a nearby site, we were delighted to find the stunning Palawan Peacock-Pheasant and Nankeen Night Heron. After a delicious lunch at a Vietnamese Restaurant, we continued to our very comfortable hotel in Sabang. In the afternoon, we explored some nearby forest patches and enjoyed good views of Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, Ashy Drongo, Slender-billed Crow, Plaintive Cuckoo and the highly sought-after Red- vented Cockatoo. Some night birding yielded Palawan Scops Owl, Palawan Frogmouth and Large-tailed Nightjar. We celebrated a great day’s birding over drinks at dinner. The next morning, we explored the fabulous St Paul’s National Park. A short boat ride brought us to the park, where we sought out Philippine Megapode which gave superb views. Other species seen here included Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, smart Ruddy Kingfisher, Oriental Hobby hunting swiftlets at the entrance to the underground river, lovely Hooded Pitta, Asian Fairy-bluebird and endemic Ashy- headed Babbler and Palawan Blue Flycatcher. After some great birding, we set off on the underground river boat trip, which was most interesting as we observed the quaint limestone formations and the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant by David Hoddinott echo-locating Germain’s Swiftlet. In the mid-afternoon heat, we had time for a dip in the ocean or some relaxation around our lodge. We then explored a nearby forest patch which produced some great birds. These included Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Spot-throated and Red-headed Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to the Philippines Trip Report – RBL The Philippines – Endangered Endemics & Visayan Islands Ext 2019 3 Flamebacks, Blue-headed Racket-tail, Common Iora, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Common Hill Myna, Yellow-throated Leafbird and Palawan Flowerpecker. During our night birding, we found a splendid Palawan Flying Squirrel. The following morning, we worked the trails of some nearby forest and most of us managed to see the elusive Falcated Wren- Babbler. Melodious Babbler put on a good show, as did a splendid family group of the sought-after Great Slaty Woodpecker. In the afternoon, we found a Stork-billed Kingfisher and Copper-throated Sunbird at some mangroves. We then departed on a boat trip to a nearby islet where, after some effort, we enjoyed great views of Mantanani Scops Owl. The next day, we had time for morning birding en route to the airport for our Palawan Hornbill by David Hoddinott afternoon flight to Manila. What a morning it turned out to be, as we enjoyed great views of the tricky and handsome Palawan Hornbill, a Philippine Pitta showed well, Fiery Minivet, Dark-throated Oriole, Palawan Tit, Black-headed, Ashy-fronted, Palawan and Sulphur-bellied Bulbuls, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Pale Spiderhunter and Scaly-breasted Munia. The star find, however, was a pair of Spotted Wood Owl at a day roost! Leaving Palawan, we travelled to Mindanao and Mt Kitinglad. We used local Jeepney transport for the last part of the journey, and then proceeded on the two-hour hike to camp. En route we added Black- winged Kite, Philippine Coucal and a splendid White-eared Brown Dove. Our tents this year had been covered with an outside roof, which made it so much more comfortable in the rain. We enjoyed delicious home cooked meals by our local guide’s family, in the main lodge building. In a place with no electricity, it was a great surprise to have cold beers at night. Our two full days on the mountain were spent walking the forest trails and spending a good deal of time at a lookout for the great Philippine Eagle. It wasn’t until our last afternoon that we finally managed to see it. The wait was worthwhile, though, as we had a superb experience of a pair displaying and Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove by David Hoddinott even locking talons in mid-air and tumbling for a short while. They also perched up in some tall trees so that we could scope them. Other species seen during our time here included Crested Honey Buzzard, Philippine Serpent Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Plain Bush-hen, splendid Bukidnon Woodcock at dusk, White-eared Brown Dove, magnificent Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Oriental Cuckoo, Philippine Frogmouth, Philippine Nightjar, Ridgetop and Philippine Swiftlets, Mindanao Hornbill, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, Buff-spotted Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to the Philippines Trip Report – RBL The Philippines – Endangered Endemics & Visayan Islands Ext 2019 4 Flameback, flocks of Mindanao Racket-tail, Philippine Hanging Parrot, Scarlet Minivet, McGregor’s Cuckooshrike, Black-and-cinnamon Fantail, Elegant Tit, Philippine Bulbul, Rufous-headed Tailorbird, Negros Leaf Warbler, Long-tailed Bush Warbler, Tawny and Striated Grassbirds, Warbling White-eye, Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Short-tailed Starling, Apo Myna, Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Turquoise Flycatcher, White-browed Shortwing, Bundok Flycatcher, Buzzing and Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers, Grey-hooded and Apo Sunbirds, Cinnamon Ibon and White- cheeked Bullfinch. From Mount Kitinglad, we made our way to Davao for the night. En route we enjoyed sightings of Oriental Pratincole. In the late afternoon, we scored with good views of Southern Silvery Kingfisher and Orange-tufted Spiderhunter near our accommodation. The following morning, we found the sought- after Cryptic Flycatcher and Whiskered Flowerpecker. From Davao, we made our way to PICOP. En route we stopped at some mudflats where we found Chinese Egret, two Lesser Frigatebirds, White-bellied Sea Eagle and Pied Stilt. We continued on to Bislig and checked into our accommodation before visiting the Bislig airport. In the late afternoon, we found Wandering Whistling Duck, splendid King Quail, Watercock, Little Ringed Plover and a distant Eastern Grass Owl. Our next three full days were spent in the PICOP area. Exploring the roads and forest patches, we scored with many endemics and a great number of species. Highlights included Philippine Honey Philippine Trogon by David Buzzard, Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle, Amethyst Brown Dove, Hoddinott Philippine Green Pigeon, Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Black-faced Coucal, Violet Cuckoo, Philippine Drongo-Cuckoo, Great Eared Nightjar, Pygmy and Ameline Swiftlet, Philippine Spine-tailed Swift, Purple Needletail, Philippine Trogon, Rufous and Writhed Hornbills, Philippine Falconet, Blue-crowned Racket-tail, Azure-breasted Pitta collecting worms to feed young, Black-bibbed Cicadabird, Yellow- bellied Whistler, Mindanao Blue Fantail, Short- crested Monarch, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-wattled and Yellowish Bulbuls, Rufous-fronted and Black-headed Tailorbirds, Mindanao Pygmy Babbler, Rusty-crowned Babbler, Everett’s White-eye, Stripe-headed Rhabdornis, Philippine Magpie-Robin, Rufous- tailed Jungle Flycatcher, Little Slaty Flycatcher, Philippine Leafbird, Olive-backed Flowerpecker, Metallic-winged, Handsome and Grey-throated Sunbirds and Naked-faced Spiderhunter. On one of the afternoons, we visited a lake where we added Philippine Duck, Yellow, Cinnamon and Black Bitterns, Javan Lina’s Sunbird by David Hoddinott Pond Heron and Western Osprey. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to the Philippines Trip Report – RBL The Philippines – Endangered Endemics & Visayan Islands Ext 2019 5 Leaving PICOP, we made an early morning visit to CompVal. It worked out great and we added Mindanao White-eye, Olive-capped and Flame-crowned Flowerpecker, Lina’s Sunbird – a Rockjumper lifer, Island Thrush, Philippine Oriole and McGregor’s Cuckooshrike. Thereafter, we made our way to Davao, where we connected with our flight to Luzon. Our flight was delayed so we opted to have a quick dinner at the Manila airport before making our way to Mt Makiling, where we immediately checked into our hotel and went to sleep. The following morning, we enjoyed time exploring the forest of Mt Makiling. Here, we found Philippine Hawk-Eagle, Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo, Spotted Wood Kingfisher, Luzon Hornbill, Balicassiao, Grey-backed Tailorbird and Stripe-headed Rhabdornis. In the afternoon, we visited the Botanical Gardens where, after a good search, we found the stunning Indigo-banded Kingfisher. In the evening, we located a superb Luzon Hawk-Owl that gave great views. The following morning, we were awoken by the excited shrieks of joy from our local Philippine Eagle-Owl by David Hoddinott guide who had located a magnificent Philippine Eagle-Owl! We all got ready in quick time and, to our amazement, the bird was still there, and we all enjoyed an amazing encounter with this seldom seen species (see photo above).

Load more

  27

Copy Link