Birding Philippines 1 (STUNNING KINGFISHERS, BULBULS, ASHY THRUSH, RUFOUS NIGHT-HERONS & LOTS MORE)

Birding Philippines 1 is the first of our three video series of our trip to the Philippines in January and February 2024.

"TITLE PHOTO" AND also our "COVER BIRD" for this video is a female Luzon Spotted Kingfisher (05:23). This lovely lady was photographed at La Mesa Eco Park our first full day of birding. Our guide, Bram Dermeulemeester, heard her before he saw her and tracked her to her perch in the woods of the park.

MOST PHOTOGENIC awards in this video go to the 5 different species of KINGFISHERS that are highlighted on this video. They are in order of appearance:
Collared Kingfisher (00:19) — photographed while we were still bleary-eyed and jet-lagged from our journey to Manila. Bram had recommended going to bayside and the Asean Gardens. They did not disappoint!
Luzon Spotted Kingfisher (05:23) — See note on Title Photo and Cover Bird above)
Northern Indigo-banded Kingfisher (11:38) — Photographed at Palo Alto. So colorful, especially when contrasted against the rocks it was perched on.
White-throated Kingfisher (13:29) — Also photographed at Palo Alto. Blue and orange are complementary colors on the color wheel. This bird is "dressed" to impress!
Common Kingfisher (16:18) — Was photographed at Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan. This kingfisher may be called "Common" but in our book, that's a misnomer!

LOOKS MOST LIKE ITS NAME— Giant Golden-crowned Flying Foxes (16:27). These mammals live up to their very long name. Giant? Yes! Golden-crowned? Yes! Flying? Yes! Foxes? Well, not really foxes, but they do look like them!

WHAT A FACE! —This juvenile Rufous Night Heron (03:24) was caught making a face at us!

SKULKERS—Ashy Thrush tried to hide, but we found it (05:07) along the trail at La Mesa Eco Park. The White-browed Crake (10:21) was playing peek-a-boo.

TAILS IT IS! — Birds and other creatures with the word "TAIL" in their names:
Common Mormon Swallowtail Butterfly (02:35), Grey Wagtail (10:51), Long-tailed Macaque (11:15), Philippine Pied Fantail (17:07) and the Blue-headed Fantail (21:54).

We got to do a LOT OF MEET and GREETS with the LOCALS—
Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (00:53), Luzon Spotted Kingfisher (05:23), Philippine Bulbul (06:02), Philippine Yellow-vented Bulbul (06:49), Philippine Black-naped Oriole (07:28), Philippine Nightjar (07:42), Philippine Brownshrike (12:32), Philippine Serpent Eagle (15:26), Philippine Jungle Crow (15:43) and the Philippine Pied Fantail (17:07).

LAST BUT NOT LEAST BIRD—is the Blue-headed Fantail (21:54) —a Sweetheart of a bird photographed on Valentine's Day.

Also appearing— Loads of HERONS, EGRETS, DOVES, FLYCATCHERS, GRASSBIRDS, FLOWERPECKERS, SANDPIPERS,

NOT JUST BIRDS— Common Mormon Swallowtail (02:35), Flame Leg Millipede(05:54), Long-tailed Macaque (11:15), Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox Bats (16:27), Northern Palawan Tree Squirrel (19:26), and a Red Percher Skimmer (20:10).

Special Thanks to Cindy and Jim Beckman of Cheepers! Birding on a Budget for organizing such a great tour! The Beckman's have a well-earned stellar reputation. Our first guided birding tour (Panama) was with them. We appreciate their expertise, humor and patience. We're grateful we were able to share this adventure with them. The other members of our tour group were also helpful and kind.

We highly recommend the guide services of Bram Dememeulemeester. We hired Bram to take us to some locations prior to our Cheepers tour. He and his wife Kathleen took wonderful care of us.

Locations visited incuded: LUZON—Manila/Quezon City area, Asean Gardens, La Mesa Eco Park, Palo Alto, University of Philippines, Rizal Park, Intramuros, Fort Santiago, Tanay, Palagui, Subic Bay, Calamba, Mt. Makiling, Makiling Botanic Gardens, Los Baños, Balete Pass, Banaue, Bayyo.
BOHOL—Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Riverside, Bilar, Tarsier Sanctuary
PALAWAN—Puerto Princesa, Randy's Garden, Sabang Beach, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Equipment used was Canon 70D with a Canon EF100-400mm lens and Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max.