Same Ol' and Surprise Encounters

The last few days of our stay in California were spent birding familiar places. Birding areas that were close to where we used to live such as Veteran's Memorial County Park in Sylmar where we got some nice looks at the Chipping Sparrow and White-breasted Nuthatch.

Eaton Canyon in Pasadena was the place closest to home and despite harboring a great number of visiting Homo sapiens, was still birdy enough to produce California Quail, the always skulking Fox Sparrow, the winter resident Golden-crowned Sparrow and another winter visitor, albeit uncommon, the Pacific Slope Flycatcher.

Finally, Legg Lake in South El Monte, another park where humanity congregates, also had White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons and Ring-billed Gulls inhabiting its three lakes.

The surprise came after we had our lunch at Waba Grill. As we were driving out under a drizzle, I caught a glimpse of a small brown bird hawking for insects by the wire fence. I asked Kurt to stop and for the next half hour or so tried to photograph the skittish Say's Phoebe. As fitting finale, rain started to fall and a Common Raven dropped by and perched on the same fence where the Phoebe was and protested the cold downpour.

Four off the Bench

All four of us were seated, chatting idly as we waited for some action. Occasionally we would exchange pointers on how to improve our game. Sometimes we would reminisce the thrills we had from places we've been to. At about seven, we stood up, took our positions, and looked intently ahead filled with great anticipation.


Soon they came. A trickle at first, then followed by a flock.


Cynthia and I were enjoying the hospitality of Ramon and Poch at Ramon's house at the slopes of Mt. Banahaw in a place called BK Valley (the BK stands for Bangkong Kahoy or Wooden Bench). Ramon had been telling birders and bird photographers that the trees in front of his balcony hosts a variety of birds. And boy, he wasn't kidding! There before us were birds galore! Led by the colorful Blue-headed Fantail (lifer!)

the mixed flock also consisted of two kinds of White-eyes; the Yellowish and the Mountain (both lifers!)

the active Citrine Canary-Flycatcher (lifer!)

the gorgeous Sulfur-billed Nuthatch

and the black-and-yellow Elegant Tit. 

Ramon later described it as having a furious 15-minute photography session with these tiny, active birds. As is the nature of any mixed flock of forest birds, they eventually moved on. Recovering from the burst of adrenaline rush, we relaxed a bit. I took that opportunity to answer the call of nature. Upon my return, my wife was frantically waving at me and pointing at the tree in front of her. I noticed that Ramon and Poch were already firing off shot after shot from their vantage points. I looked at where Cynthia was pointing and was amazed to see a Brush Cuckoo perched insouciantly some 7 meters away!

A little past eight and bird activity died down somewhat. We thanked Ramon profusely and returned to the resort's restaurant to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Which was interrupted by the appearance of a Red-crested Malkoha alighting on the tree right next to the restaurant. I grabbed my wife's camera, almost scrambled on the way to the tree where the big black bird was, tried to get it's photograph but bungled the job miserably.


Back to our delicious breakfast, Cynthia and I were so happy to have visited this quaint resort in the town of Dolores, in Quezon province. Our gracious host, Dion Pullan, made sure that our stay at BK Valley was comfortable and pleasant. 


Did I mention that I got four lifers off the Wooden Bench?

A "song" for the holidays

Nuthatch posing on an open pine

Pipit bobbing on a stone

Say's Phoebe taking its time

And a Sandpiper looking so alone

Everybody knows that herons like to hunt for fish

And berries the bluebirds take

The trees have a kingbird and a finch

While buffleheads swim on the lake

Happy Holidays, everyone!

(Note: All of these pictures were taken in one morning's outing at Bonelli Regional Park using a Canon 5D Mk II with a 500mm lens plus a 1.4X extender.)

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A Lotta Bonelli

As you will recall, my 85th lifer for the year 2008 was a Red-breasted Nuthatch which my wife and I saw at Galileo Hills last Oct. 18th. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get some pictures of the said bird. So when it was reported that one was sighted at Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, I was there bright and early on Oct. 28th.

Not long after I parked my Jeep, I saw a bunch of Yellow-rumped Warblers enjoying a puddle of water. As I approached I immediately saw the Red-breasted Nuthatch among the leaves almost above me. Bad lighting and the innate restlessness of this species only allowed me some so-so shots. Better than none, I reasoned to myself. After about five minutes it left the area, never to be seen again despite my repeated forays to that particular spot.



Other than that the place was quite birdy and I was able to get some nice pictures, particularly of a Redhead Duck which I thought was quite unusual here.


All in all, I had quite a good harvest of avian photographs some in rather interesting poses.