MINDANAO PRE-TRIP JANUARY 30–FEBRUARY 8, 2020

Philippine Hawk- (Dion Hobcroft)

LEADERS: ADRIAN CONSTANTINO & DION HOBCROFT LIST COMPILED BY: DION HOBCROFT

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM

MINDANAO PRE-TRIP JANUARY 30–FEBRUARY 8, 2020

BY DION HOBCROFT

Critically endangered, the Chinese Crested Tern was once considered extinct. (Dion Hobcroft)

Second largest of the Philippine islands, Mindanao is home to a diverse range of forest including many endemics, of which many are among the most threatened on the planet. Most famous is the giant Philippine Eagle—a real living avian dinosaur. Mindanao does not offer easy birding, but it is certainly thrilling at times, and populations are quite healthy in many of the key sites. Our logistics were expertly catered for by Adrian Constantino, and it

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 was, as always, a great pleasure to go birding with my good friend. We did very well in Mindanao, recording over 180 species of birds. Here is a report of our adventure.

A Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo perched openly is a rare event at Mt. Kitanglad. (Dion Hobcroft)

We flew to Cagayan de Oro and quickly transferred to a van that transported us to the town of Bukidnon for lunch at a golf club. Next stop was Dalwangan village where we transferred to a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and we and our luggage were taken to the end of the drivable road at the base of the Mount Kitanglad range. From here our luggage was transferred to horses, and we hiked the gentle uphill five kilometers (three miles) up a dirt road, muddy in places, to the Del Monte Lodge. Here we were very well catered for by the local of Danny Doceno and his wife, son, and daughter. On the hike up we connected with our first quality birds including a superb Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo perched openly, quite a few colorful Philippine Hanging- Parrots, and our first Philippine . That evening we found a superb Giant Scops-Owl.

On our first full day in the Kitanglad Mountains we left early to hike up to the eagle viewing area. We kicked another fantastic goal with a stunning Red-eared Parrotfinch that buzzed in and landed right next to us several times—what a super bird. Good birds came thick and fast

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 through the morning session and while we waited patiently for the eagle: Mindanao Hornbill, Buff-spotted , Black-and-cinnamon Fantail, Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Apo , MacGregor’s Cuckoo-Shrike, Elegant Tit, Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Olive-capped , Gray-hooded , Naked-faced Spiderhunter, and Cinnamon Ibon. Our lengthy vigil at the eagle viewing area came up eagle-less, although we recorded seven species of raptors for the day including several Oriental Honey-buzzards, a Gray-faced Buzzard, a perched Crested Goshawk, and even a Philippine Falconet. Another great sighting was of perched Mindanao Racket-tails in the scope—recently fledged chicks hungrily pursuing their parents. It is rare to see this species perched; normally they are just flyovers. In the evening, back near the lodge, a Bukidnon flew in after dusk causing one person to take evasive action as they almost collided.

A close perched Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle at Mt. Kitanglad. (Dion Hobcroft)

On our second day at Kitanglad we again returned to the eagle viewing area. We made a breakthrough when at 8:20 am an eagle was spotted in flight and watched for about thirty seconds before it disappeared to perch in a tree on the high ridge line, largely shrouded in clouds. It was not really that satisfactory. We opted to wait, and finally our patience was rewarded with two eagles that we watched for forty minutes perched in the scope and flying in tandem, and on one occasion we observed the female twist and turn in flight, plummeting into the forest interior possibly pursuing a prey item. She reappeared empty-taloned! It was a huge relief to have made such a fabulous sighting. While we had been waiting though, we found a

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 perched adult Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle and a perched Barred (split as Philippine) Honey-buzzard juvenile. A Long-tailed Bush-Warbler was drawn into the open with playback for an excellent if brief view while White-browed Shortwing offered glimpses. With the key sightings under our belts, we walked uphill along the trail that heads into the higher ranges. Several mixed flocks were encountered with Mindanao White-eye being another key montane endemic. There were plenty of diggings of Mindanao Warty Pig.

A perched Philippine Eagle in the mountain forests of Mount Kitanglad. (Adrian Constantino)

We said farewell to Danny and his family, who had looked after us so well, and we hiked back downhill. Here we met William and his SUV car that transported us to Bislig. Making good time,

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 we squeezed in a visit to the Bislig Airport. Here we hoped to encounter Australasian Grass Owl, but it was not to be on this day. There was plenty to look at, however, including Little Ringed Plover (here the resident ), and we managed some good views of Middendorf’s Grasshopper-Warbler. Interestingly, we flushed a buttonquail with cinnamon flanks that I thought for sure was a Barred Buttonquail, but the species is not reported for Mindanao. We set up in the Paper Country Inn and rediscovered “Princess of the Sea” Soup. We would have two full days to bird in remnant lowland forest patches with well-known local guide Zardo.

The first morning we left at 3:30 am, making a beeline into the best surviving forest patch along Road 42. In the predawn, a pair of Mindanao Boobooks proved vocal and came quite close to us but disappeared unseen from the crown of several leafy emergent trees. Many other good birds were heard including (Southern) Rufous Hornbill, Pink-bellied Imperial-Pigeon, Azure- breasted Pitta, and Philippine Trogon, and all remained firmly out of view. The mixed flocks saved the day. We had great views of Black-bibbed Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-bellied Whistler, Yellow-wattled , , Rufous-fronted Tailorbird, Black-headed Tailorbird, Mindanao Pygmy-Babbler, Rusty-crowned Babbler, Brown Tit-Babbler, Everett’s White-eye, Mindanao Blue Fantail, Metallic-winged Sunbird, Handsome Sunbird, Olive-backed Flowerpecker, and the stunning male Short-crested Monarch. Close to the end of the day, a male Celestial Monarch was located in yet another mixed flock in an area Zardo had seen it a few days before. This is very much a threatened species, and it was lucky for us. A Mindanao Squirrel was a notable mammal sighting. With rain arriving, we left and tried for (successfully) both Rufous-lored and Southern Silvery-kingfishers.

Lina’s Sunbird: one of many Mindanao endemics. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 On our second full day the rain arrived in lengthy, heavy showers to full on downpours that cost us at least half the day. Miraculously we managed to call in a Mindanao Boobook that we scoped in the crown of a tall tree. Then we explored another forest remnant at Road 4, or “The Cemetery” to which it is often referred. The rain made life difficult, but between showers we had a few lulls. Writhed Hornbill was a major highlight. There were good perched views of Philippine Serpent-Eagle, Oriental Honey-buzzards (mating), White-bellied Woodpecker (also mating), Blue-crowned Racquet-tail, Guiabero, Philippine Oriole, Hair-crested (Mindanao) Drongo, Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher, and a superb female Celestial Monarch. We enjoyed repeat encounters with many of the species we had seen the previous day. At lunch we tried some that Zardo brought along. It gained mixed reviews! The mangosteens were definitely more popular. The rain returned heavy and steady, so we upped stumps and gave the Australasian Grass Owl another try at the Bislig Airport. This time spectacular success, as a lone grass owl came winging by straight towards us, and we watched it pounce unsuccessfully only thirty meters from us. It was a great finish to the day.

A truly nasty bird to get a view of, this Rufous-fronted Tailorbird bucked the trend in PICOP. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 We hatched a plan to visit the relatively recently discovered montane birding site at Compostella at the highest point in the road where there are some decent forest edge plant communities. It proved profitable when we were soon watching a pair of the highly range restricted, endemic Lina’s Sunbird. A lucky break when we discovered a small flock of the rare Spotted Imperial-Pigeon that were scoped and watched uttering their resonant “hoo-hoo-hoo” calls. Bird activity was brisk, and beyond seeing several species we had previously seen at Kitanglad like McGregor’s Cuckoo-shrike and Cinnamon Ibon, we added Island Thrush and Olive-backed Pipit to our growing list. Dropping down from the mountains, we headed west to Panobo. Here on the coast we quickly found four Chinese Crested Terns, possibly the rarest bird on the planet with less than 100 birds in the entire population. A small number were discovered at this site in 2016 and seem to be faithful to the bay area. We scoped them roosting on bamboo poles, flying about the bay successfully fishing. We even watched one bird feed another that was perched on a pole; interesting behavior, like reinforcing a pair bond or perhaps a juvenile, though there was nothing discernible in the to suggest that. Shorebirds came by on the incoming tide including good numbers of Pacific Golden and Black- bellied Plovers with a few Ruddy , Whimbrel, Terek , Gray-tailed Tattler, and Common Redshank. After making it through to our accommodation in the foothills of Mount Talomo, we explored the site from where the Japanese Night-Heron had recently disappeared. It proved, as we suspected, missing in action, with only a Kamchatka Leaf-Warbler as some compensation!

Our last day on Mindanao had arrived, and it dawned with more rain which luckily tapered off. This enabled us to launch a quick strike on two more Mindanao endemics with both Cryptic Flycatcher and seen well near a small village further up the mountainside. With success on this front, we hatched a plan to visit the Philippine Eagle Conservation Centre at Calinan. Here they run education programs and captive breeding for the eagle. It is also quite a good birding site, and we enjoyed good looks at Southern Silvery- Kingfisher, Philippine Magpie-Robin, and Julia’s Sunbird. Lizard-watching proved profitable with a fantastic Philippine Sailfin Lizard found perched on a horizontal limb ten meters up and a small juvenile found near the edge of a pond. Later in the day we flew out back to Manila to start the main tour. Mindanao had been a very successful birding destination for us.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 BIRDS

Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata

Philippine Duck Anas luzonica

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Heard only

Rock Pigeon Columba livia Introduced

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis

Philippine Cuckoo-dove Macropygia tenuirostris

Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Heard only

Zebra Dove Geopelia striata

White-eared Brown-Dove Phapitreron leucotis

Amethyst Brown-Dove Phapitreron amethystinus Heard only

Philippine Green-Pigeon Treron axillaris

Yellow-breasted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus occipitalis

Pink-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula poliocephala: Heard only

Spotted Imperial-Pigeon Ducula carola

Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea

Black-faced Coucal Centropus melanops Heard only

Philippine Coucal Centropus viridis

Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis

Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Heard only

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus Heard only

Rusty-breasted (Brush) Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus sepulcralis

Philippine Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus velutinus Heard only

Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus pectoralis

Philippine Frogmouth Batrachostomus septimus Heard only

Great Eared-Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis Heard only

Philippine Nightjar Caprimulgus manillensis

Philippine Needletail Mearnsia picina

Pygmy Swiftlet Collocalia troglodytes

Ridgetop Swiftlet Collocalia isonota

Philippine Swiftlet Aerodramus mearnsi

Ameline Swiftlet Aerodramus amelis

Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata

Barred Rail Gallirallus torquatus Heard only

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea

Plain Bush-hen Amaurornis olivacea

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Ruddy Arenaria interpres

Bukidnon Woodcock Scolopax bukidnonensis

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus

Grey-tailed Tattler brevipes

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Little Tern Sternula albifrons

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

Chinese Crested Tern Thalasseus bernsteini

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

Great Egret Ardea alba

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa

Striated Heron Butorides striata

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020

Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus

Barred Honey-Buzzard Pernis celebensis

Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus

Philippine Serpent-Eagle Spilornis holospilus

Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jeffreyi

Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus pinskerii

Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

Australasian Grass Owl Tyto longimembris

Giant Scops-owl Mimizuku gurneyi

Everett’s Scops-Owl Otus everetti

Mindanao Boobook Ninox spilocephala

Philippine Trogon Harpactes ardens Heard only

Rufous Hornbill Buceros hydrocorax Heard only

Writhed Hornbill Aceros leucocephalus

Mindanao Hornbill Penelopides affinis

Southern Silvery-Kingfisher Ceyx argentatus

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 Brown-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon gularis

Rufous-lored Kingfisher Todiramphus winchelli

Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

Blue-capped Wood-Kingfisher Actenoides hombroni Heard only

Rufous-crowned Bee-eater Merops americanus

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala

Philippine Woodpecker Yungipicus maculatus

Buff-spotted Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus

White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis

Philippine Falconet Microhierax erythrogenys

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus calidus

Mindanao Racquet-tail Prioniturus watersradti

Blue-crowned Racquet-tail Prioniturus discurus

Guaiabero Bolbopsittacus lunulatus

Philippine Hanging-Parrot Loriculus philippensis

Azure-breasted Pitta Pitta steerii Heard only

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020

Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea Heard only

White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorhynchus

Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus gonzalesi

McGregor’s Cuckoo-shrike Malindangia mcgregori

Pied Triller Lalage nigra

Black-bibbed Cuckoo-shrike Coracina mindanensis

Yellow-bellied Whistler Pachycephala philippinensis

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

Philippine Oriole Oriolus steerii

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus

Black-and-cinnamon Fantail Rhipidura nigrocinnamomea

Mindanao Blue Fantail Rhipidura superciliaris

Philippine Pied-Fantail Rhipidura nigritorquis

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 Short-crested Monarch Hypothymis helenae

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Celestial Monarch Hypothymis coelestis

Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone cinnamomea

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchus

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica

Elegant Tit Parus elegans

Sulphur-billed Nuthatch Sitta oenochlamys

Yellow-wattled Bulbul Pycnonotus urostictus

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier

Yellowish Bulbul everetti

Philippine Bulbul Ixos philippinus

Rufous-headed Tailorbird Phyllergates heterolaemus

Philippine Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus olivaceus

Kamchatka Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus examinandus

Mountain Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020

Clamorous Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus

Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis

Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris

Middendorf’s Grasshopper-Warbler Locustella ochotensis

Long-tailed Ground-Warbler Locustella caudatus

Rufous-fronted Tailorbird Orthotomus frontalis

Black-headed Tailorbird Orthotomus nigriceps

Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis

Mindanao White-eye Lophozosterops goodfellowi

Rusty-crowned Babbler Sterrhoptilus capitalis

Mindanao Pygmy-Babbler Dasycrotapha plateni

Everett’s White-eye Zosterops everetti

Mountain White-eye Zosterops montanus

Brown Tit-Babbler Macronus striaticeps

Striated Wren-Babbler Ptilocichla mindanensis Heard only

Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 Philippine Magpie-Robin Copsychus mindanensis

Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana

Turquoise Flycatcher Eumyias panayensis

White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni

Cryptic Flycatcher Ficedula crypta

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata

Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus

Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus

Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis Rhabdornis inornatus

Asian Glossy Aplonis panayensis

Short-tailed Starling Aplonis minor

Apo Myna Goodfellowia miranda

Coleto Sarcops calvus

Olive-backed Flowerpecker olivaceus

Olive-capped Flowerpecker nigrilore

Whiskered Flowerpecker Dicaeum proprium

Bicolored Flowerpecker Dicaeum bicolor

Red-keeled Flowerpecker Dicaeum australe

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 White-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum hypoleucum

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus

Plain (Gray)-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis griseigularis

Purple-throated Sunbird Leptocoma sperata

Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis

Handsome Sunbird Aethopyga bella

Metallic-winged Sunbird Aethopyga pulcherrima

Lina’s Sunbird Aethopyga linaraborae

Grey-hooded Sunbird Aethopyga primigenial

Orange-tufted Spiderhunter Arachnothera flammifera

Naked-faced Spiderhunter Arachnothera clarae

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

Cinnamon Ibon Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus

Eurasian Tree Sparrow montanus

Red-eared Parrotfinch Erythrura coloria

White-bellied Munia Lonchura leucogastra

Chestnut Munia Lonchura malacca

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020 MAMMALS

Mindanao Squirrel Sundasciurus mindanensis

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

Philippine Sailfin Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus

Jagor’s Water Skink Pinoyscincus jagori

Crested Green Lizard Bronchocoelis cristatella

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Mindanao Pre-trip, 2020