Meeting an Old Flame

We wanted something new. Something we have not experienced before. Something that would make our collective hearts beat faster. Something that would burn the flame of our desires. 

Alas, it was an old flame that showed up.

A group of birders had been very fortunate to see the rare Flame-breasted Fruit Dove just a week ago. That species would be a lifer for all four of us - me, my wife, and friends, Peter and Wenxing. So we planned to go to Infanta on Saturday morning.

Friday evening typhoon Jolina battered the east coast of Luzon. At 4 am Saturday, rain was still pouring hard. Peter asked if we are still good to go. Having researched the internet and learning that the typhoon was supposed to exit Luzon at around 2 am, I told him that Cynthia and I are willing to take the chance. Wenxing agreed with us.

Six in the morning as we were passing through Boso-boso in Antipolo, the heavy downpour still hasn't abated at all. We were all silent - our minds battling whether we should keep going or just give up and turn back. As we approached Baras, rain finally stopped but dark clouds still covered the skies. At Sampaloc, we looked at the horizon and our hopes were buoyed. When we reached our destination the sun was shining gloriously. 

However despite the seemingly promising morning, our desired encounter with a new Flame never happened. Yes, we heard it, cooing within the dark recesses of the tall trees in front of us. That taunting, haunting, deep "hummm" echoed intermittently the whole time we were there.

But as I mentioned earlier, all was not for naught. A gorgeous Flame that we have had the pleasure of meeting before in Los Banos not only just showed up, it stayed long enough giving us the much needed satisfaction we had yearned so much.

Flaming Sunbird

Another totally unexpected grace was when the normally skulker of a bird paraded before us, flaunting its glamor like a beauty queen contestant.

Scale-feathered Malkoha

At around 10:30 we gave up on the uncooperative Fruit Dove and had lunch at nearby Jeriel's Peak. It was there that our closing photographic endeavors was provided by a Citrine Canary Flycatcher.

As we drove home, we wondered if we would be given another chance to be enamored by that elusive Flame.

Sunday morning, I got a text message from Wenxing saying he got the Flame-breasted Fruit Dove. 

I.....felt........

Side Views

Last Saturday we went back to Infanta to do some roadside birding. With us was our birding buddy, Peter. When we got to the place, we were surprised that we were the only birders there. Unlike last week. Perhaps it was because the fruits of the Hagimit tree that the birds feed on were now all gone.

Nevertheless, birds were still plentiful. This time though, some of the species we saw were different from those we observed the previous week. With the exception of the very common Yellowish White-eyes.

The Elegant Tits appeared later in the morning.

Whereas last week, the Blue-headed Fantails were plentiful, this time the Citrine Canary Flycatchers took their place.

Also the Philippine Bulbuls were much more active than before.

An exciting discovery was when we saw a Sulphur-billed Nuthatch looking non-stop for food.

During a lull between the "waves" I noticed a raptor soaring overhead. It was a Crested Honey Buzzard.

We only saw one Buzzing Flowerpecker unlike last week when a number of them fed on the remaining ficus berries.

Another kind of Flowerpecker somehow took its place. The Bicoloreds were more into insect-hunting.

Finally, there was a couple of Flaming Sunbirds but we only got a good photo of the female.

As before the road side of Infanta did not disappoint. We will certainly come back when the Haigimit starts fruiting again.

Here's Looking at You, Kid!

I've been photographing birds for about seven years now and the results of my endeavors had been pretty much random in terms of poses made by my subjects. Until last Saturday, February 12th. My wife and I, along with fellow bird photographers Ralf Nabong and Peter Ting, went to Bangkong Kahoy first then had lunch and more birding at Villa Escudero. Looking at my photographs when I got home I noticed a curious pattern. Many of the birds that I got pictures of were looking directly at me. Birds from both places, I should add, a bit emphatically.


Here they are:

Blue-headed Fantail

Citrine Canary-Flycatcher

Grey Wagtail 

White-breasted Woodswallow

Eerie, isn't it?