MINDANAO PRE-TRIP JANUARY 30–FEBRUARY 8, 2020
Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo (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 birds including many endemics, of which many are among the most threatened species 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 bird 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 family 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 Woodpecker. 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 Flameback, Black-and-cinnamon Fantail, Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Apo Myna, MacGregor’s Cuckoo-Shrike, Elegant Tit, Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Olive-capped Flowerpecker, Gray-hooded Sunbird, 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 Woodcock 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 subspecies), 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 Bulbul, Yellowish Bulbul, 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 durian 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 plumage to suggest that. Shorebirds came by on the incoming tide including good numbers of Pacific Golden and Black- bellied Plovers with a few Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrel, Terek Sandpiper, 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 Whiskered Flowerpecker 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 Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Bukidnon Woodcock Scolopax bukidnonensis
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa 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 Ixos 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 Starling Aplonis panayensis
Short-tailed Starling Aplonis minor
Apo Myna Goodfellowia miranda
Coleto Sarcops calvus
Olive-backed Flowerpecker Prionochilus olivaceus
Olive-capped Flowerpecker Dicaeum 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 Passer 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