Osaka Birding - Day 5

We had ample time to go birding on our last day in Osaka. Of course we had to go the place that is within walking distance from our hotel - the Osaka Nanko Bird Sanctuary. It was a beautiful sunny morning which is probably why the pesky insects we encountered three days ago were very, very few. The "hide" allowed visitors in earlier than its scheduled 9 am opening. Unfortunately, birds were even fewer this time. The good thing was we saw species that were not here the last time we came. Such as this Whimbrel.

The Great Cormorant was still at its usual place.

The Great Egrets were already in their breeding plumage.

The Eastern Spot-billed Ducks did some fly-by.

A Common Moorhen also did a short stop over.

We then tried the wooded area around the "hide". The only bird we saw was a male Narcissus Flycatcher.

The last photo of the day and of the trip is that of the bird we first saw in Osaka and for us, had become the avian symbol of this beautiful city, the White-cheeked Starling, which we saw as we were walking back to our hotel.

Time to pack and get ready for our return flight home.

Are You Shore?

Our discussions were intense but convivial. The presence of experts on the subject matter made it even more interesting. Going over the minute details, justifying each opinion contributed to an interesting exchange of ideas. Personally, I am of firm belief that it was Chinese. After all, it looks Chinese, smells Chinese and tastes Chinese. Finally, the conclusion was unanimous. It was indeed Chinese!

Peter Ting, Irene Dy, my wife and I were talking about the Golden Bay Fresh Seafood Restaurant where we were sharing a delightful lunch. Despite the menu items and even the decor, there was a tinge  of doubt as to its authenticity cuisine-wise. A touch of Singaporean influence was even posited.

Earlier that day we were standing on the trash-littered shores of the LPPCHEA (Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area) wondering where the birds were. Joining us were Bong and his wife, Eve. We found the sparsity of birds rather strange inasmuch as we had better weather now than last Saturday. It was raining off and on then, sometimes quite heavily, and yet birds were aplenty especially the terns and black-crowned night herons.

The only exception this morning were the Collared Kingfishers. It was as if they have decided to hold a convention since they (and there were lots of them) seem to be everywhere. They were even bolder than usual.

It was when truckloads of student volunteers began spilling on the shore that we knew the reason for the fewer number of birds. Practicality dictated that we move somewhere far from these good intentioned people. 

Near the barge was where our fortune changed. A Grey-tailed Tattler fed on the throng of cockroach-like insects that were disturbed by the onrushing waves. 

Terns, though not as plentiful as the previous Saturday, flew close by.

We were trying to photograph yet another Tattler perfectly camouflaged among the rubbish when something bigger flew in.

"Whimbrel!" I shouted.

The very main purpose of our revisiting this place was to get more (and better) photographs of this particular species.  Nic Cabigas, a bird photographer friend of ours, posted a picture last week of this bird in Facebook. To which Desmond Allen, an expert on identifying birds, thought that it might actually be a Little Curlew - an extremely rare migrant to the Philippines. There were some who expressed doubts as to its correct identity and so it behooved us that more photographs be taken of this bird to settle the issue once and for all.

Now having a documentation of the bird in question's white rump and even a comparison in size with the smaller Tattler, it can be safely concluded that that it was indeed a Whimbrel.

Also hunting at the trashy premises was a white wading bird. I took several pictures of it since it planted  a big question mark in my mind.

As soon as I got home I posted a picture of that bird in Facebook. Comments poured in, basically saying, "are you sure?"

Our discussions were intense but convivial. The presence of experts on the subject matter made it even more interesting. Going over the minute details, justifying each opinion contributed to an interesting exchange of ideas. Personally, I am of firm belief that it was Chinese. After all, it looks Chinese, with its yellowish-green legs and feet, yellowish-green skin in front of its eyes and a tinge of yellow in its lower beak. Not only that, it hunts its prey by running in spurts with outstretched wings. 

I don't know about you, but for me, it's Chinese. Egret.

Da WOW Experience, Part 3

Day 4 - It's a Shore Thing

September 24, 2010 - the 1st Asian Bird Fair officially opened today. We were busy visiting the various booths and meeting foreign birders throughout the whole morning.

After lunch as things quieted down somewhat, Cynthia and I were walking back towards our hotel room when we met two young delegates from Hongkong. We told them about the Collared Kingfisher that frequents the coconut groves near the hotel. They were very grateful and in return they informed us that there was a Little Heron by the breakwater area behind the hotel. We quickly gathered our gears and rushed to where the Little Heron had been found. When we asked permission from the guard if we could enter the breakwater explaining that we would be looking for shorebirds, he confirmed that there were indeed birds there when the tide was low.

Of course, the tide was low the time we were there and it wasn't long before we saw our first bird. It turned out to be a lifer - a Grey -tailed Tattler! Just then the Little Heron flew in and landed at the pier across from us. I was busy taking shots at the heron when a small bird emerged at the top of the berm adjoining the pier. It was a Common Sandpiper and another lifer for us! While I was shifting back and forth in viewing the Little Heron and the Common Sandpiper, another bird came flying in. Brownish with a long curved bill..a Whimbrel! Our relatively short stint at the waterfront yielded four species of shorebirds. Not bad at all!

Common Sandpiper

Little Heron

Grey-tailed Tattler

Whimbrel

The rest of our afternoon was spent in pretty much the same way as we did that morning. That night the bird fair participants were once again treated to another buffet this time hosted by the Primer Group, local distributors of Columbia apparel. Another day, another buffet. It's a sure thing.