Pine Birding - Part II of our Baguio Trip

Once again the enticing aroma of pine trees greeted us as we parked by the "landslide" area along the road to the summit of Mt. Santo Tomas. Our friend, Jho, assured us that the Crossbills come to this area early in the morning. So far, nothing but the ubiquitous Pied Bush Chats frolicked in the morning sun.

Then I saw a silhouette of a bird perched on an electric wire. I walked slowly towards it. Blue Rock Thrush! I only managed to get a few backlit shots before it flew off and completely disappeared from view.

Cynthia detected some movement in the brush. The brown bird popped up and promptly returned back into the dense foliage. The only feature that we both noticed, aside from its color, was its long tail. Could it be the furtive Long-tailed Ground Warbler? Sadly, it never reappeared for us to confirm our suspicions. I even tried to get near the bush where it hid itself hoping it would reappear. Something appeared alright but not the long-tailed skulker but rather a curious Siberian Rubythroat. Just a few feet from me! I was so surprised and excited that I got my camera settings all wrong and managed just a "documentary" shot.

I was about to join my wife when out of the blue, a small bird alighted on the electric wire above us. "Crossbill!" I shouted. We both took pictures and to our delight it flew down to the "landslide" area just as Jho had predicted. Soon it was joined by its less colorful mate. Cynthia and I were surprised and even amazed at the cooperativeness of this pair of Red Crossbills. They just fed on the tiny plants growing besides the rocks as if a couple of human beings holding cameras were not there.

Past ten in the morning and it was us that got tired of photographing these uncommon montane species. We checked out the summit but failed to encounter either the Mountain Shrike or the Fire-breasted Flowerpecker. We were about to board our vehicle when I saw a raptor gliding below us. It was my wife who was better at BIF (birds in flight) shots who got a few photos. It was another puzzler, made even more difficult to identify because of the great distance between the bird and the photographer. It turned out to be an Eastern Buzzard, another lifer for us! (Thanks, Jho, for the ID)

On the way down, the only species we encountered were a flock of Mountain White-eyes and (now I'm quite sure) a Paddyfield Pipit.

We were at the eco-trail a little before 11. It was not long after when Cynthia alerted me. "I can hear them!"she said. First came a huge flock of Mountain White-eyes. Then a solitary Grey-streaked Flycatcher stopped by. A totally unexpected sighting was that of a Colasisi or Philippine Hanging Parrot! 

While I was enjoying my colasisi, my wife was photographing a mystery bird. Unfortunately it was behind a patch of greenery and totally backlit that her shots were all too dark. I can only figure out that it had an orange breast and a blackish head with a tiny strip of white behind the eye. It was while we were comparing the results of our photographic endeavors that another lifer appeared. We added Turquoise Flycatcher to our list.

Happy with our encounter, we broke off for lunch. Past one pm and we were back this time at the eco-trail by the paintball area. Jho told us this was where the mixed flock "wave" passes through. True enough as soon as we were among the pines that the flock came. First was the Sulphur-billed Nuthatch (too far, too dark) then a Citrine Canary-Flycatcher dropped by. It was followed by the Chestnut-faced Babbler (a lifer but no good photo), then a Blue-headed Fantail and finally, an Elegant Tit.

Citrine Canary-Flycatcher 

Blue-headed Fantail 

Elegant tit

After that exhilarating experience, the forest became quiet again except for an occasional Arctic Warbler passing by. We agreed to call it a day. We just had a light snack that evening and were fast asleep by 8 pm.

We had a wonderful time in Baguio - thanks to our friend, Jocelyn Alberto-Floresca, for showing us the birding places in the area. Because of that, we added five lifers to our list: Island Thrush, Red Crossbill, Chestnut-faced Babbler, Eastern Buzzard and Turquoise Flycatcher. We thought about planning a return trip, perhaps stay longer so we can don our tourist hats too. Or just concentrate on birding again. Who knows?

Island in the Fog - Part I of our Baguio Trip

The sweet smell of pine trees wafted by the cool mountain breeze filled the air. We were in Baguio City, a tourist mecca nestled high in the Cordillera mountains some 270 kilometers from Manila. It was Friday afternoon. After checking in and enjoying the sumptuous lunch buffet at Baguio Country Club, we basked in the nippy weather as we waited for our friend and local birder, Jocelyn (henceforth referred to as "Jho").

At 3 pm, she came running - literally - towards us having just finished a meeting at the school where she works. Inasmuch as Jho had a scheduled trip the following day and therefore would not be able to go birding with my wife and I, she promised to show us the places where we could go on our own tomorrow. As we passed by Camp John Hay she pointed out the trails where she said the wave of birds would pass. "The time of day does not matter," she explained, "there will always be a wave. You just have to wait for it".

Some 40 minutes later we were negotiating the steep road to the summit of Mt. Santo Tomas. As we passed by a "landslide" she indicated that this was where the crossbills come in the morning. Near the end of the road, we parked the car and walked, or rather "trudged", the rest of the way. "This place is the home of the Mountain Shrike and the Fire-breasted Flowerpecker," Jho informed two out-of-breath senior citizens. Unfortunately, both species were not present that time. 

It was nearing five in the afternoon and a thick fog was starting the envelop the mountain. We all agreed that it was time to go. While walking towards our car, Cynthia suggested I turn around where the incline towards the top began. I argued that I can make a u-turn right where we were parked. I don't know why but when I started the car something within me just urged me to follow my wife's proposition. As soon as I made the turn I saw a bird move in the tree right in front of us. "There's a bird there!" I told my companions. The bird then flew down to the vegetable garden below.

"Island thrush!" Jho exclaimed and jumped out of the car. Cynthia immediately followed. I had to park the car properly, get my gear out of the bag before I was able to join them and hoped the bird would still be there. No worries though as Jho pointed to a black bird foraging for insects in between rows of cabbages. Somehow the fog slowly lifted and the sun shone brightly. The thrush paused from its meal hunting and posed for us. It was a lifer for Cynthia and myself.

While the two ladies were still having the time of their lives photographing an extremely cooperative thrush, I saw a light-colored bird at the other side of the road. It looked different from any I've seen before. Slowly, I approached it all the while trying to get a picture (which was not easy because it was quite small and blended perfectly with its surroundings). Up until now I am still unable to put a proper identification to this bird. 

Satisfied with our encounter with the Island Thrush (and the unknown bird), we moved on. Down the road, Jho shouted, "Mountain Shrike!" I stopped. Once again our friend was out and was pointing to a brown bird sitting smugly on a low shrub. Before I could raise my camera to my eyes, it flew. Jho and I tried to follow where we thought it alit but it was not there. Nor anywhere else in the vicinity.

Back in Baguio City, we said goodbye to our friend and thanked her profusely for showing us where to find the birds in her stomping grounds. Tomorrow we plan on going back to this place early in the morning and then try the eco-trails later in the day.

Update: The unknown bird turned out to be a Paddyfield Pipit. Thanks to Rob/Irene and Choi Way Mun for the ID.