All for the Bittern

With the gasoline prices going high, one of the options we had in loading up was in Taytay where the a liter is about 5 pesos lower than those at the area where we reside. My wife and I both agreed to pass by the birding area along Road 2000. Being the middle of the year we were not expecting to see a lot although a recent post in Facebook showed a Little Ringed Plover photographed there. When we arrived we were surprised to see a group of birders already there: Linda Gocon, Bom Gomez and his family, Bambi Martinez and Rhea GD (who saw the plover) We were later joined by Gwen (Yin Li So). We asked what they had seen so far and they replied "bitterns!" True enough all three kinds (Black, Yellow and Cinnamon) were there - all the the time flying at quite a distance. They were so far that I never got even one decent shot of any one of them! We all waited patiently for a chance that at least one of them would pose long enough for us to be able to get a photo. Thank goodness our patience were rewarded when a Black Bittern showed up partly immersed in water. Eventually it raised its head up and we all had a blast taking pictures of the cooperative bird.

It was while we were waiting for the bitterns when Linda pointed at a bird among the tall grass. "Watercock!" she announced to the group.

After we had our fill at photographing the cooperative Black Bittern that we turned our attention at the usual avian residents of the area: The White-browed Crake and White-breasted Waterhen.

Again, from a distance an Intermediate Egret and a Purple Heron came flying in and stayed long enough for us to get "documentary" shots at them.

At around 9 am and with no new birds to see, we bade our friends goodbye - but not without taking a groupie first.

Our thanks to our birding friends for showing the birds and for the nice companionship. Hope to see you all again!