Kingfisher In, Kingfisher Out

Saturday morning we decided to go birding in Baras. As we entered Palo Alto, it was foggy and the road was wet. 

 

Doesn't augur well, I thought to myself. I opened my car window and looked at the electric wire at the other side of the street. "White-throated Kingfisher!"(or Brown-breasted Kingfisher - depending on which list you follow) I told my wife and started taking photos of it. 

 

After having our take-out breakfast from Jollibee, Cynthia heard some singing. "Philippine Magpie Robin!" she said pointing to the very active black-and-white bird.

 

From there we moved on and got the expected Pied Bush Chat pair.

Male

Female

 

At the East Road we encountered a Spotted Dove.

 

We were surprised to see two species that are usually staying on the grassy areas perched on a tree limb. The male Pied Bush Chat was so close my wife could not get a full body photo, with her shorter lens at that.

 

The other species was a Paddyfield Pipit drying itself in the morning sun.

 

The Cattle Egrets were few this time and I managed to get a shot of an individual.

 

On the way to Cancun, we got the Collared Kingfisher.

 

At Cancun, we were amazed at how friendly the Barred Rails were!

 

Not only the Rails but the Scaly-breasted Munias as well.

 

Near the water tank we were so sad to see a White-eared Brown Dove in a cage. Apparently it was a trap to lure other birds into that cage.

Inasmuch as the migration season has already began, we wondered if the Grey Wagtails are already here. We finally saw one at Jerez!

 

We also got a close up shot of a Little Egret.

 

At the waterway, a Common Sandpiper finally showed up - again it was quite far.

 

Of course, we had to take an obligatory shot at the White-breasted Woodswallow.

 

Around 10 am, we decided to call it a day. And as we were about to leave, guess what bird, we saw? - The White-throated Kingfisher, of course! The species we saw coming in, and the species we saw going out.