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The Philippines 10 January through 11 February, 2002,

Participants: Joseph Brooks, Garry George, Molly Pollock
Guide: Tim Fisher for Philippine Nature Tours fisher@qinet.net

References:
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE PHILIPPINES, 2000, R. Kennedy, P. Gonzales, E. D. Dickinson, H.C. Miranda, Jr. & T. Fisher
THREATENED BIRDS OF THE WORLD, 2000, Bird Life International, Lynx Edicions
BIRDS OF THE WORLD: A CHECKLIST, Dr. James Clements, www.ibispub.com

Day 1-Fly to Manila from Los Angeles via Tokyo (15.5 hours)
Day 2-Arrive Manila
Day 3-Fly Manila-Puerto Princessa, PALAWAN, Drive to Raza island
Day 4-Raza Island
Day 5-Drive to Sabang
Day 6-St. Pauls National Park, PALAWAN
Day 7-Iwahig penal colony, PALAWAN, Fly to Cebu
Day 8-Tabunan Forest, CEBU, Ferry to Tagbilaran, BOHOL
Day 9-Rajah Sikatuna National Park, BOHOL
Day 10-Rajah Sikatuna National Park, BOHOL, evening ferry to NEGROS
Day 11-Sta. Catalina/Pamplona/Lake Balinsasayo, Talinas Mtns., NEGROS
Day 12-Casa Roro Waterfall Area, NEGROS, Ferry to CEBU
Day 13-Fly CEBU-MINDANAO, drive to Bislig, evening Bislig airport
Day 14-PICOP, MINDANAO
Day 15-PICOP, MINDANAO
Day 16-PICOP, MINDANAO
Day 17-PICOP, MINDANAO, drive to Davao
Day 18-drive to Dalwangan, hike to Mr. Katanglad Natl Park
Day 19-Mt. Katanglad Natl Park
Day 20-Mt. Katanglad Natl Park
Day 21-Mt. Katanglad Natl Park
Day 22-Mt. Katanglad Natl Park, evening Mt. Makiling, Univ of Philippines, Los Banos
Day 23- Mt. Makiling, Univ of Philippines, Los Banos
Day 24- Mt. Makiling, Univ of Philippines, Los Banos
Day 25-Drive Los Banos-Banaue (7.5 hours)
Day 26-Mt. Polis, Banaue City, drive to Tuguegarao (4 hours)
Day 27-Drive to Baliwag, hike to Hamut Camp 1
Day 28-Hike to Hamut Camp 2
Day 29-Ridge Trail, Hamut Camp 2
Day 30-Hike out to Baliwag, drive to Tuguegarao
Day 31-Drive to Manila Day 32-Fly Manila-Los Angeles

Background and Overview:

This was our third trip in the last two years in an urgent quest to experience and study the most critically endangered birds and habitat in the world before they disappear. Madagascar and SE Brazil have already been covered (my trip reports of those locations are available online at http://worldtwitch.virtualave.net/ or http://www.birdtours.co.uk/).

Almost 600 species of birds have been recorded in the the Philippines archipelago, 7100 volcanic islands each with a unique evolution of diverse species isolated not only island from island but altitudinally as well throughout the mountain ranges found on almost all islands. Many of the islands have affinities with and migrants from other Pacific and South China bioregions including Borneo, Malaysia and Sumatra to the South and Japan, Korea and Taiwan to the North. Like Madagascar and SE Brazil, the Philippines have one of the highest rates of endemism in the world with 187 endemic species found only there. And like the former an unusually high percentage of the endemic species are endangered, threatened or vulnerable. Threatened Birds of the World lists 125 species at risk in the Philippines.

The birds of the Philippines are still among the most poorly known and most interesting in the world with new species discovered every year. Very little work is supported by any national or local government and most of the ornithological work is done by outsiders. Even today, tour groups and birdwatchers are responsible for discovering or re-discovering species of birds and provide much information for study and conservation programs by organizations including BirdLife International (http://www.birdlife.net/) and Oriental Bird Club
(http://www.orientalbirdclub.org) based in the U.K. and Haribon Foundation in the Philippines (http://www.haribon.org.ph/)

The Philippines are an ecological disaster even worse than Madgascar and SE Brazil. It is estimated that only 2% of the forest remains in Philippines whereas Madgascar and SE Brazil might have as much as 3-5% of their forests remaining. Other notable similarities are overpopulation, poverty, corrupt government, police and military officials and predominantly competing Roman Catholic, Muslim and Christian religions. Religion was more visible than government or military especially in the most remote areas. Value for life other than human life seems to have no place in the religious or secular teachings offered to Philippinos as they like much of Southeast Asia still persecute their native birds and mammals and reptiles to an alarming degree by hunting, trapping, eating and caging them to the point of extinction in addition to destroying their habitat. In our observation, conservation is not valued or practiced even in national parks or "reserves". We saw plenty of eyewitness evidence of this. In every forest we saw illegal hunters with traps, air rifles and bows, found piles of bird feathers and bird snares every ten feet on many of the trails (one with a dead Whiskered Pitta in it!), encountered illegal loggers and settlers to an alarming degree, birded to the sound of chainsaws daily. At one stop we watched a flock cross the road only to be shot at with air rifles by a crew repairing the road. Only Palawan had the presence of forest rangers or any personnel from the Department of Natural Resources which is supposed to manage the national parks and charges big fees for foreigners to enter them. The effect on the psyche and emotions was the most overwhelming I have experienced in my decade of birding.

Trip Logistics

We tried to see as many endemics as possible on as many islands as possible in our limited time span of one month. Key targets were the Whiskered Pitta, very rarely seen any more at the traditional site of Mt. Polis due to destruction of habitat and trapping; Great Philippine Eagle in Mindanao; and the Palawn Peacock-Pheasant which we knew was being seen again regularly at St. Paul's National Park on Palawan. Time restrictions narrowed our focus to six islands: Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Mindanao and Luzon.

The accommodations ranged from clean and comfortable to very basic camping at two sites (Del Monte "Eco-Lodge" on Mt. Katanglad on Mindanao and Hamut Camp in N. Luzon) and mostly simple "hotels" with a bed and a door. We stuck with the same food every day: American breakfast (fried or scrambled eggs with bacon and toast, sometimes fresh fruit, sometimes porridge), packed lunches or stops en route for fried chicken with pancit Canton (stir fried noodles and cabbage and carrots). Dinners were always pork or chicken usually fried and sometimes adobo (stewed in soy sauce, vinegar and bay leaves). Seafood was occasional and always frozen. No one had stomach distress. Molly took Larium as a malarial preventative and we took Doxycycline. The incidence of malaria has increased dramatically with the influx of settlers in all of the forests, and cerebral malaria is now present in Mindanao from SE Asia. There was a large billboard at PICOP regarding the risk of malaria. We brought mosquito netting and used it most of the time. Weather was cooperative and we only lost one morning to rain.

As a group, we saw 300 species (more for those who used Sibley & Monore taxonomy instead of Clements), heard twelve more and saw 143 endemic species. In our endemic total we include Black-chinned Fruit-Dove and Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, two species which are near endemics found outside Philippines only on the island of Lanyu near Taiwan. We also include Philippine Duck which has been recorded once or twice in Japan. And we included an endemic subspecies of Brown Hawk-Owl (Ninox scutulata randi) on Mindanao that should soon be elevated to an endemic species. It is at least twice the size, different streaking on the breast, has a prominent white vent and different call of any of the other Brown Hawk-Owls.

As for mammals, we only saw wild Long-tailed Macaque in two locations, squirrel in one and tree shrew in one. In all the other forests mammals were not present at all except for introduced domestic species of dogs and cats. At PICOP one long-tailed macaque was on a chain at the guard gate and two were on chains at Chocolate Hills Guest House in Bohol but none seen in the forest. Porters from Baliwag in N. Luzon proudly showed us their monkey skulls but we saw no monkeys nor squirrels in the forest there.

Days were long and started early usually around 3:30 a.m. Remaining habitat is mostly at the most inaccessible mountain tops requiring long, steep hikes.

We saw only a few reptiles, small dark green snakes, Monitor Lizards at St. Paul's NP, PALAWAN, endangered "Water Dragons" at PICOP in MINDANAO and skinks here and there.

Legend:

ALL CAPS IS an ENDEMIC SPECIES

PART 1: PALAWAN

After the long flight from Los Angeles-Tokyo-Manila (15.5 hours total) we landed 10 p.m. and stayed overnighted at the comfortable Heritage Hotel near the airport. (632) 854-8888 ph,(632) 854-8833 fax.

The next morning we met up with Tim Fisher and our friend Molly Pollock and taxied to the airport for our flight to Puerto Princessa on the island of PALAWAN. We drove from Puerto Princessa to Sabang with a stop at White Beach in Puerto Princessa to look for Chinese Egrets. Palawan is between the Philippines and Borneo and many Asian species are found here such as Crested Serpent-Eagle and Asian Fairy-Bluebird instead of the Philippine endemic forms found on the other islands. On the drive and stops we found:

Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes)-VULNERABLE
Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
Oriental Hobby (Falco severus)
Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
White-browed Crake (Porzana cinerea)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Greater Sandplover (Charadrius leschenaultia)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Gray-tailed Tattler (Heterosceles brevipes)
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
Great Crested Tern (Sterna bergii)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)
Collared Kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris)
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)
Fiery Minivet (Perocrpcptis igneus)
Olive-winged Bulbul (Pycnonotus plumosus)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca) Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer Montana) Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atri)

In the province of Narra we took a boat to Raza Island and paddled into the mangroves walking on the Northern end of the island until dark. This is the last stronghold for Philippine Cockatoo which used to be common on all islands but is now critically endangered and probably extirpated everywhere except PALAWAN. There has been a 90% decline in population in the last decade due to capture for the pet trade. The Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Program was begun on Raza Island in 1999 by Dr. Peter Widmann from Germany (who spent the day with us) and Indira Lacerna and sponsored in part by European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Poachers were hired to protect the 50-70 birds that live and nest there. Estimated breeding pairs were up to six when we were there.
http://www.philwildlife.com/pccp
Permission should be obtained to visit the island as the birds are easily disturbed as they roost and nest on the windward side. They can be seen early in the morning if you leave by boat from Narra in the dark. We spotted a Cockatoo perched on the leeward side of the island at dusk, and saw another one fly very close to us when we were in the mangroves so didn't take the early trip to the roost. Cockatoos are very rare now in St. Paul's NP, Palawan,a traditional site.

We were excited to find a different species of Scops-Owl on this island.

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
PHILIPPINE COCKATOO (CACATUA HAEMATUROPYGIA)-CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MANTANANI SCOPS-OWL (OTUS MANTANANENSIS)-NEAR THREATENED Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus) Gray-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa
griseisticta) Copper-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma calcostetha) Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)

We took a boat at dawn to St.Paul's Underground River National Park where we stayed around the Rangers' Station to look for the male Palawan Peacock-Pheasant. It thinks it's a Tabon Scrubfowl and follows the latter species around. It can be seen around the rear of the Rangers' Station near the water fountain along with plenty of Monitor Lizards. We positioned ourselves so that we could see down the trail into the park and were lucky to see the Peacock-Pheasant cross the trail from dense foliage to dense foliage. Long-tailed Macaques were plentiful and a few got into my backpack when I left it for a minute. What was I thinking? They could easily unzip the zippers. The hike from the rangers' station to Central Park past the Underground river cave was interesting and we debated whether the swiftlets flying around the cave were Edible Nest or the SE split of German's. We decided they were German's but this taxonomy was very confusing. In the afternoon we birded around the Central Park Station.

Tabon Scrubfowl (Megapodius cumingii)
PALAWAN PEACOCK-PHEASANT (POLYPLECTRON EMPHANUM)-VULNERABLE Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea) BLUE-HEADED RACQUET-TAIL (PRIONITURUS PLATENAE)-VULNERABLE Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis)-NEAR THREATENED Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris PYGMY SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS TROGLODYTES) PALAWAN SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS
PALAWANENSIS) German's Swiftlet (Aerodramus germani) Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) PALAWAN HORNBILL (ANTHRACOCEROS MARCHEI)-VULNERABLE Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense) Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina striata) SULPHUR-BELLIED BULBUL (IXOS PALAWANENSIS)- Gray-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta) PALAWAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (CYORNIS LEMPRIERI)-NEAR THREATENED Citrine Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea) WHITE-VENTED SHAMA (COPSYCHUS
NIGER) Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea) ASHY-HEADED BABBLER (MALACOCINCLA CINEREICEPS) FALCATED WREN-BABBLER (PTILOCICHLA FALCATE) Striped Tit-Babbler (Macronous gularis) PALAWAN TIT (PARDALIPARUS AMABILIS)-NEAR THREATENED Plain-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) LOVELY SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA
SHELLEYI) Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) PALAWAN FLOWERPECKER (PRIONOCHILUS PLATENI) Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella) Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus) Slender-billed Crow (Corvus
enca)

From Central Park we hiked back along the Stream Trail to the Mangrove Trail flushing a wintering Malayan Night-Heron from a rock between the trail and the sea and enjoying a pair of Malaysian Plover at the end of the trail between the bridge and the ocean.

Malayan Night-Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus)
Malaysian Plover (Charadrius peronii)-NEAR THREATENED
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

and through the agricultural fields to the resort where we sat in the Gazebo at dusk and watched the birds in the marsh.

Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
Schrenck's Bittern (Ixobrychus eurhythmus)
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

We ventured into the forest behind the resort after dark for Javan Frogmouth (Batrachostomus javensis)

After a night back in Puerto Princessa dawn found us in the Iwahig penal colony but we never saw prisoners. We did however see owls at dawn and good birds all day. Elusive was the endemic Palawan Flycatcher which just either wasn't there or wasn't interested.

Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Pintail Snipe (Gallinago stenura)
Swinhoe's Snipe (Gallinago megala)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
PALAWAN SCOPS-OWL (OTUS FULIGINOSUS)-NEAR THREATENED
Brown Hawk-Owl (Ninox scutulata)-HEARD ONLY
Collared Kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris)
White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Gray-cheeked Bulbul (Alophoixus bres
PALAWAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (CYORNIS LEMPRIERI)-NEAR THREATENED Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea) BLUE PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (TERPSIPHONE CYANESCENS)-NEAR THREATENED
PALAWAN BABBLER AKA MELODIUS BABBLER (MALACOPTERON PALAWANENSE)-NEAR
THREATENED
Striped Tit-Babbler (Macronous gularis)
PALAWAN TIT (PARDALIPARUS AMABILIS)-NEAR THREATENED
Plain-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)
Slender-billed Crow aka Palawan Crow(Corvus enca palawanensis) Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

PALAWAN TOTAL

103 species
17 endemics

Part 2: CEBU

Another day began pre-dawn as we climbed into a jeepney, the Philippine form of transportation. A long, open windowed, noisy vehicle with cushioned benches running from front to back along the sides and outrageous lights and sounds inside and out. We would often see hundreds of them in the big cities crammed with Philippinos but we had our own hired for the day. Not very comfortable, I soon learned how to say "Please turn off the lights inside" and learned to sit at the very back where I had support from two sides especially on the bumpy, spine-crushing mountain roads we had to travel to find habitat.

We reached the house of Mr. Oking of the Cebu Biodiversity Conservation Foundation http://www.bwf.org/bk/pamayanan/tabunan.html
our guide for the day and the unofficial watchdog of the tiny remnant 200 hectare Tabunan Forest, less than 1% of the original forest that covered the island.

Through agicultural fields we hiked for about an hour until we came to the entrance to the forest. Before entering, we stood on the barren ridge and looked down to the village below. I could hear hundreds of roosters crowing and it seemed like hundreds of babies screaming in the village. Sonically, I thought I was experiencing a classic version of hell. It sounded like screams of sinners suffering the damnation of hellfire, but maybe I was projecting.

The endemic, endangered Black Shama was easy and we continued inside the rocks and forest and climbed up on the historic Platform 1 where groups wait all day for the legendary critically endangered Cebu Flowerpecker to appear in the one tree now visible. The wooden seats have rotted and we found the visibility to be very poor and grew bored here quickly. We had heard about a new Platform 2 and asked to see it, but were told it was too steep. We birded among the rocks below the platform under the canopy and found a few species, most notably rare Streak-breasted Bulbul which has only recently been discovered here. Once more we asked about Platform 2 and pleaded with Mr. Oking to take us there. It was a 100 foot climb up the side of a rock face but there were plenty of hand and toe holds so we made it easily. Molly and Tim opted not to go up. There are only rocks there and not very comfortable for more than three people, but the view is tremendous of the surrounding canopy and down the hill. Mr. Oking informed us that the flowerpecker is usually seen there between the hours of 8:00-11:00 before the sun hits the area. It was already 10 am by the time we got up there, so we only had an hour before it was too hot to stay. If we had it to do over we would have gone to Platform 2 right away in the morning. We saw other good species from there but no Cebu Flowerpecker.

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus)
WHITE-EARED DOVE (PHAPITRERON LEUCOTIS)
BLUE-CROWNED RACQUET-TAIL (PRIONITURUS DISCURUS)
Asian Palm-Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Collared Kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris)
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)
PHILIPPINE WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPOS MACULATES)
PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS)
STREAK-BREASTED BULBUL (IXOS SIQUIJORENSIS)-ENDANGERED
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)
Gray-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra)
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
BLACK SHAMA (COPSYCHUS CEBUENSIS)-ENDANGERED
WHITE-VENTED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA HOMEYERI)
ELEGANT TIT (PARDALIPARUS ELEGANS)
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
RED-STRIPED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM AUSTRALE)
Everett's White-eye (Zosterops everetti)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
BALICASSIAO (DICRURUS BALICASSIUS mirablis)-the form with the white belly Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)

CEBU TOTAL
22 species
10 endemic

In the evening we caught the OceanJet Ferry for the one hour ride to Tagbilaran, Bohol. On the way, someone saw a Whiskered Tern. Aleutian Tern is sometimes seen in this channel.

PART 3: BOHOL

We stayed in the Chocolate Hills Guest House (63912) 856-1559 ph and drove to Rajah Sikatuna National Park for one full day and a morning. We encountered illegal hunters on the trails every day and there were few mammals in the forest. Bohol is the last place to see critically endangered tarsier, a small noctural loris but we declined an invitation to visit the Tarsier "Sanctuary" where they are kept in cages. They've been extirpated for the pet trade, by habitat loss and by the introduction of feral cats.

Dusk around the Park Headquarters can be good for nightjars and Philippine Eagle-Owl has been seen flying across the clearing. It rained the night we were there, and although we saw the nightjars there was no sign of the Eagle-Owl. Long-tailed Macaque is kept in a zoo enclosure here. Also caged are Eclectus Parrots from Australasia that make a lot of noise. Not sure why they are there either. We saw lots of stuffed Australian and Philippine Cockatoos in the Nature Center. Not sure why they are there.

Our morning in Rajah Sikatuna was one of the best mornings of birding in the Philippines, with two species of Pitta seen before lunch. In our tradition of missing one endemic per island, we missed Visayan Broadbill which is seen in this forest.

ALL CAPS IS ENDEMIC

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus)
PHILIPPINE SERPENT-EAGLE (SPILORNIS HOLOSPILUS)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
WHITE-EARED DOVE (PHAPITRERON LEUCOTIS)
AMETHYST DOVE (PHAPITRERON AMETHYSTINE)
BLACK-CHINNED FRUIT-DOVE (PTILINOPUS LECLANCHERI)
BLACK-FACED COUCAL (CENTROPUS MELANOPS)
Great Eared-Nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis)
PHILIPPINE NIGHTJAR (CAPRIMULGUS MANILLENSIS)
PYGMY SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS TROGLODYTES)
PHILIPPINE TROGON (HARPACTES ARDENS)
RUFOUS-LORED KINGFISHER (TODIRHAMPHUS WINCHELLI)-VULNERABLE Collared Kingfisher (Todirhamphus chloris) SAMAR HORNBILL (PENELOPIDES SAMARENSIS) White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis) AZURE-BREASTED PITTA AKA STEERE'S PITTA (PITTA STEERII)-Vulnerable Red-bellied Pitta (Pitta erythrogaster) YELLOW-WATTLED BULBUL (PYCNONOTUS UROSTICTUS) PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS) YELLOW-BREASTED TAILORBIRD (ORTHOTOMUS SAMARENSIS)-Near Threatened PHILIPPINE LEAF-WARBLER (PHYLLOSCOPUS OLIVACEUS)
BLUE FANTAIL (RHIPIDURA SUPERCILIARIS)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
YELLOW-BELLIED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA PHILIPPINENSIS)
STRIATED WREN-BABBLER (PTILOCICHLA MINDANENSIS)
BLACK-CROWNED BABBLER (STACHYRIS NIGROCAPITATA)
BROWN TIT-BABBLER (MACRONOUS STRIATICEPS)
METALLIC-WINGED SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA PULCHERRIMA)
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
PHILIPPINE FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (IRENA CYANOGASTER)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

BOHOL TOTAL
32 species
22 endemic

In the evening of the second day we took the SuperKat Ferry to Negros

Part 4: NEGROS

The Bethel Hotel established and run by Mormons in Dumaguete was like a hospital but the best beds and cleanest hotel with good food of the trip. (63-33) 225-2000 ph, (6333) 225-1374 fax

Another pre-dawn departure in a Jeepney took us apprx two hours up a bumpy mountain road until the Jeepney driver would go no more. A 2.5 hour hike brought us to the forest edge around Lake Balinsasayo in the Talinas Mountain Range. Walden's Hornbill (like Rufous Hornbill) are rumored to be present in this area but we didn't see or hear one.

After an hour around the lake where we suffered biting ants we climbed a difficult hike up to the mountain ridge trail in the hopes of finding a flock with Negros Striped-Babbler in it. We didn't.

Tim did tell us the story of a birder who camped out on a mountain in Negros and recorded the dawn chorus. The next morning he played the dawn chorus back and in flew a small green pigeon with a yellow vent. You guessed it, Negros Fruit-Dove, thought to be extinct. But no documentation.

WHITE-EARED DOVE (PHAPITRERON LEUCOTIS)
BLUE-CROWNED RACQUET-TAIL (PRIONITURUS DISCURUS)
Glossy Swiftlet (Aerodramus esculenta)
PYGMY SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS TROGLODYTES)
TARICTIC HORNBILL (PENELOPIDES PANINI)-Endangered
Oriental Pipit (Anthus rufulus)
Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina striata)
WHITE-WINGED CUCKOO-SHRIKE (CORACINA OSTENTA)-Vulnerable
Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)
PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS)
PHILIPPINE TAILORBIRD (ORTHOTOMUS CASTANEICEPS)
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)
LEMON-THROATED WARBLER (PHYLLOSCOPUS CEBUENSIS)
Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus)
Citrine Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)
BLUE-HEADED FANTAIL (RHIPIDURA CYANICEPS)
Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica)
WHITE-VENTED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA HOMEYERI)
ELEGANT TIT (PARDALIPARUS ELEGANS)
SULPHUR-BILLED NUTHATCH (SITTA OENOCHLAMYS)
Purple-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma sperata)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma)
Everett's White-eye (Zosterops everetti)
YELLOWISH WHITE-EYE (ZOSTEROPS NIGRORUM)
Mountain White-eye (Zosterops Montana)
PHILIPPINE ORIOLE (ORIOLUS STEERII)
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
BALICASSIAO (DICRURUS BALICASSIUS)
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
COLETO (SARCOPS CALVUS)
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

The next morning we climbed the trail in the rain to the Casa Roro Waterfall area and spent the morning on the stairs leading down to the waterfall. Our legs were tired from the strenuous hike the day before, and we didn't care about the strenuous hike in to see the waterfall. We were really there for the two endemic species.

FLAME-TEMPLED BABBLER (STACHYRIS SPECIOSA)-Endangered (One of the TOP FIVE birds of the trip) Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) RED-KEELED FLOWERPECKER AKA VISAYAN FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM HAEMATOSTICTUM)-Vulnerable

NEGROS Total
38 species
18 endemics

Part 5: MINDANAO

It was with some trepidation that we flew to Davao in Eastern Mindanao. The headlines daily carried stories of kidnapping in Mindanao including in Davao and the U.S. troops had arrived on the Zamboanga peninsula on the Western side of the island to "train" Philippine army to get rid of the Abu Sayaf who held three hostages on Basilan island just off the peninsula. We felt conspicuous as there were no other tourists with white faces, and felt that our whereabouts might have some value to an enterprising informant. We felt even more anxious when we read the headlines that the biggest threat to U.S. military personnel in the Philippines were the officers of the Philippine military. Corruption is a way of life and we hoped we wouldn't get entangled in that web. Over time as we focused on the birds and saw only illegal hunters, poachers and settlers in our fairly remote locations, our fears subsided.

From Davao we drove 2+ hours to PICOP, the legendary logging concession granted by President Marcos in the 60s expiring sometime next year. We concentrated on the road to Bislig where there is still some forest although freshly cut trees line the road waiting for pickup and the road repair crew carried air rifles to shoot at flocks that pass over while we are watching them, Roads 1/4, 1, 2 and 4a. Settlers were everywhere, chainsaws were heard all day long, illegal loggers were rolling fresh cut trees down the road, children played with Colassisi (Philippine
Hanging-Parrot) tied to branches and traps were everywhere. It's a free for all. But still some good species of birds can be seen. Especially if you find a fruiting tree. The one big fruiting tree we found yielded all but one species of pigeon (Extremely rare and critically endangered Mindanao Brown-Dove) and both species of hornbill on the island. Our one big miss was the Celestial Monarch but a male Short-crested Monarch put on an amazing show for us at eye level about ten feet away raising and lowering his crest. One night Tim heard an unusual call from an owl, and taped in the endemic ssp. of Brown Hawk-Owl (Ninox scutulata randi) found on Mindanao, which he had never seen and which is a good candidate for elevation to species status. It's at least twice the size of most Brown Hawk-Owls, streaking is different, prominent large white vent, and the call is different. I was able to video this bird. We also found the Mindanao endemic lowland species of Philippine Scops-Owl (Otus megalotis everetti). There is still much unknown about Philippine birds even in heavily birded locations.

We cancelled plans to drive to Mt. Pasian for the Lina's Sunbird when we discovered that the bridge has washed out making the trip 5 hours or more each way on roads in questionable condition.

We spent four mornings at PICOP staying at the Paper Country Inn (6386) 628-0412/2313 ph, (6386) 853-4144 fax.

Barred Honey-buzzard (Pernis celebensis)
PHILIPPINE SERPENT-EAGLE (SPILORNIS HOLOSPILUS)
Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus)
PHILIPPINE FALCONET (MICROHIERAX ERYTHROGENYS)
Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
WHITE-EARED DOVE (PHAPITRERON LEUCOTIS)
Pompadour Green-Pigeon (Treron pompadora)
YELLOW-BREASTED FRUIT-DOVE (PTILINOPUS OCCIPITALIS) BLACK-CHINNED FRUIT-DOVE (PTILINOPUS LECLANCHERI)
PINK-BELLIED IMPERIAL-PIGEON (DUCULA POLIOCEPHALA)
SPOTTED IMPERIAL-PIGEON (DUCULA CAROLA)
Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
GUAIABERO (BOLBOPSITTACUS LUNULATUS)
Azure-rumped Parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus)
Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus)
PHILIPPINE DRONGO-CUCKOO (SURNICULUS VELUTINUS)
BLACK-FACED COUCAL (CENTROPUS MELANOPS)
PHILIPPINE COUCAL (CENTROPUS VIRIDIS)
PHILIPPINE SCOPS-OWL (OTUS MEGALOTIS EVERETTI)
BROWN HAWK-OWL (NINOX SCUTULATA RANDI)
PHILIPPINE FROGMOUTH (BATRACHOSTOMUS SEPTIMUS)
Great Eared-Nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis)
PHILIPPINE NIGHTJAR (CAPRIMULGUS MANILLENSIS)
PYGMY SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS TROGLODYTES)
Uniform Swiftlet (Aerodramus vanikorensis)
PHILIPPINE NEEDLETAIL (MEARNSIA PICINA)-NEAR THREATENED
Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis)
Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata)
PHILIPPINE TROGON (HARPACTES ARDENS)
SILVERY KINGFISHER (ALCEDO ARGENTATA)-VULNERABLE
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
RUFOUS HORNBILL (BUCEROS HYDROCORAX)-NEAR THREATENED
MINDANAO HORNBILL (PENELOPIDES AFFINIS)
WRITHED HORNBILL (ACEROS LEUCOCEPHALUS)-NEAR THREATENED
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)
PHILIPPINE WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPOS MACULATES)
White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)
Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus)
WATTLED BROADBILL (EURYLAIMUS STEERII)-VULNERABLE
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
BLACK-BIBBED CUCKOO-SHRIKE (CORACINA MINDANENSIS)-NEAR THREATENED
BLACK-AND-WHITE TRILLER (LALAGE MELANOLEUCA)
Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)
YELLOW-WATTLED BULBUL (PYCNONOTUS UROSTICTUS)
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS)
Brown-eared Bulbul (Ixos amaurotis)
YELLOWISH BULBUL (IXOS EVERETTI)
PHILIPPINE LEAFBIRD (CHLOROPSIS FLAVIPENNIS)-VULNERABLE
RUFOUS-FRONTED TAILORBIRD (ORTHOTOMUS FRONTALIS)
WHITE-BROWED TAILORBIRD (ORTHOTOMUS NIGRICEPS)
Chestnut-tailed Jungle-Flycatcher (Rhinomyias ruficauda)
Gray-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
LITTLE SLATY FLYCATCHER (FICEDULA BASILANICA)-VULNERABLE
BLUE FANTAIL (RHIPIDURA SUPERCILIARIS)
SHORT-CRESTED MONARCH (HYPOTHYMIS HELENAE)-NEAR THREATENED
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone cinnamomea)
YELLOW-BELLIED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA PHILIPPINENSIS)
PYGMY BABBLER (STACHYRIS PLATENI)-NEAR THREATENED
RUSTY-CROWNED BABBLER (STACHYRIS CAPITALIS)
BROWN TIT-BABBLER (MACRONOUS STRIATICEPS)
STRIPE-SIDED RHABDORNIS (RHABDORNIS MYSTICALIS)
Metallic-winged Sunbird (Aethopyga pulcherrima)
NAKED-FACED SPIDERHUNTER (ARACHNOTHERA CLARAE)
OLIVE-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (PRIONOCHILUS OLIVACEUS)
RED-STRIPED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM AUSTRALE)
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma) WHITE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER AKA BUZZING (DICAEUM HYPOLEUCUM)
Everett's White-eye (Zosterops everetti)
PHILIPPINE ORIOLE (ORIOLUS STEERII)
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
COLETO (SARCOPS CALVUS)

Two times we visited the marshes of the unused Bislig airport and birded from the top of the jeepney.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
Wandering Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)
PHILIPPINE DUCK (ANAS LUZONICA)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Pintail Snipe (Gallinago stenura)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Australasian Grass-Owl (Tyto longimembris)
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
Clamorous Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

Another long drive was broken into two parts: from Bislig to Davao then from Davao to Dalwangan. This brought us to the small village where we would begin our hike into the Katanglad Mtns in hopes of a glimpse of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle and a sighting of the newly described Bukidnon Woodcock. Our suitcases and provisions were tied onto horses and we walked through the rolling, deforested hills for about an hour and a half until we reached the "Del Monte Eco-lodge", a run-down building left by Del Monte Fruit Company to the Department of Natural Resources as an inadequate gesture in my opinion. Tim had thoughtfully sent an advance team who covered the building with a tarp for leaks, and a tent was pitched outside for Molly. Running water was an attraction here in the toilets and sink. We hiked in the dark every a.m. for about 2.5 hours through cabbage fields, barnyard sounds and recent settlements (in the national park!) until we reached a ridge overlooking a forested river valley and forested mountains up to the opposite ridge where termites (our word for human settlers) had not yet been able to reach, although they were right behind it. This was the habitat of a pair of Great Philippine Eagles who recently fledged one juvenile. It was hoped that the juvenile would still be nest dependent and easy to find. The lookout opposite last year's nest was now the front yard for a new settlement, and all trees in the area had been chopped or burned. The juvenile Eagle was no where to be found and our hopes dipped a little. We spent two days at the top lookout on this ridge before we finally saw an Eagle flying late afternoon on day 2. The Eagle flew towards the mountain on the opposite ridge, disappeared behind the mountain, then reappeared in a flight circle just above the ridge. The light underwing feathers were visible during the flight circle and the size was unmistakable. We wished for a perched view but would be more than satisfied with these excellent flight views. The Woodcock roded daily at dusk and dawn through the campground giving great looks with and without spotlight, and we flushed two or three off the trail as we were leaving or returning. Blue-capped Kingfisher was tough as it wasn't calling but we finally got good looks at one after 2.5 hours of sonic and visual hide and seek. A mammoth forest kingfisher. Skulky Bagobo Babbler was seen briefly by two members, and there was no sign of Mindanao Lorikeet who used to fly over the "lodge" on the way to flowering trees below (trees are gone), and no sign of the Parrotfinch although we looked hard. Joseph found a Mugimaki Flycatcher in a flock at the top of the mountain.

Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus)
GREAT PHILIPPINE EAGLE (PITHECOPHAGA JEFFERYI)-CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PHILIPPINE HAWK-EAGLE (SPIZAETUS PHILIPPENSIS)-VULNERABLE
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus ernesti)
BUKIDNON WOODCOCK (SCOLOPAX BUKIDNONENSIS)
Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
PHILIPPINE CUCKOO-DOVE (MACROPYGIA TENUIROSTRIS)
MINDANAO RACQUET-TAIL (PRIONITURUS WATERSTRADTI)-NEAR THREATENED
PHILIPPINE HANGING-PARROT AKA COLASSISI (LORICULUS PHILIPPENSIS)
PHILIPPINE HAWK-CUCKOO (CUCULUS PECTORALIS)
PHILIPPINE COUCAL (CENTROPUS VIRIDIS)
Great Eared-Nightjar (Eurostopodus macrotis)
Glossy Swiftlet (Aerodramus esculenta)
PHILIPPINE SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS MEARNSI)
Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis)
BLUE-CAPPED KINGFISHER (ACTENOIDES HOMBRONI)-VULNERABLE
MINDANAO HORNBILL (PENELOPIDES AFFINIS)
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)
PHILIPPINE WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPOS MACULATES)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
MCGREGOR'S CUCKOO-SHRIKE (CORACINA MCGREGORI)-NEAR THREATENED
PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS)
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus)
LONG-TAILED BUSH-WARBLER (BRADYPTERUS CAUDATUS)
RUFOUS-HEADED TAILORBIRD (ORTHOTOMUS HETEROLAEMUS)
Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus)
Gray-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki)
Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)
Island Flycatcher aka Mtn Verditer-Flycatcher(Eumyias panayensis)
BLACK-AND-CINNAMON FANTAIL (RHIPIDURA NIGROCINNAMOMEA)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
YELLOW-BELLIED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA PHILIPPINENSIS)
BAGOBO BABBLER (TRICHASTOMA WOODI)
ELEGANT TIT (PARDALIPARUS ELEGANS)
SULPHUR-BILLED NUTHATCH (SITTA OENOCHLAMYS)
STRIPE-BREASTED RHABDORNIS (RHABDORNIS INORNATUS)
GRAY-HOODED SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA PRIMIGENIUS)-NEAR THREATENED
MOUNT APO SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA BOLTONI)-NEAR THREATENED
OLIVE-CAPPED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM NIGRILORE)
WHITE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER AKA BUZZING (DICAEUM HYPOLEUCUM)
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus)
Mountain White-eye (Zosterops Montana)
MINDANAO WHITE-EYE AKA BLACK-MASKED (LOPHOZOSTEROPS GOODFELLOWI)
CINNAMON WHITE-EYE AKA CINNAMON IBON (HYPOCRYPTADIUS CINNAMOMEUS)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)
Short-tailed Starling (Aplonis minor)
APO MYNA (BASILORNIS MIRANDA)-NEAR THREATENED
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer Montana)
WHITE-CHEEKED BULLFINCH (PYRRHULA LEUCOGENIS)

MINDANAO Total
150 species
77 endemic

PART 6: LUZON

We arrived in Manila and drove to Los Banos where we checked into a hot springs resort and celebrated our safe arrival from Mindanao.

Early next morning we spent on Mt. Makiling, part of the University of Philippines, Los Banos campus and fairly protected. It was one of the best days of birding of the trip with early morning owls, 5 a.m. Ashy Thrush on the road and interesting species all the way to the top. We saw Ashy Thrush three times in this location. Afternoon was spent in the lowlands walking from the College of Forestry to the Picnic Grounds and ending the day on the road opposite the Animal Husbandry Building looking for Spotted Buttonquail and listening to Plain Bush-hen.

Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
SPOTTED BUTTONQUAIL (TURNIX OCELLATA)
Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)
Pintail Snipe (Gallinago stenura)
Swinhoe's Snipe (Gallinago megala)
GUAIABERO (BOLBOPSITTACUS LUNULATUS)
PHILIPPINE HANGING-PARROT AKA COLASISSI (LORICULUS PHILIPPENSIS)
Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus)
RED-CRESTED MALKOHA (PHAENICOPHAEUS SUPERCILIOSUS)
SCALE-FEATHERED MALKOHA (PHAENICOPHAEUS CUMINGI)
PHILIPPINE HAWK-OWL (NINOX PHILIPPENSIS)
GLOSSY SWIFTLET (AERODRAMUS ESCULENTA MARGINATA)-SOMETIMES SPLIT AS
ENDEMIC “GRAY-RUMPED SWIFTLET”
INDIGO-BANDED KINGFISHER (ALCEDO CYANOPECTA)
SPOTTED KINGFISHER (ACTENOIDES LINDSAYI)
LUZON HORNBILL (PENELOPIDES MANILLAE)
PHILIPPINE WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPOS MACULATES)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Striated Swallow (Hirundo striolata)
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi)
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)
YELLOW-WATTLED BULBUL (PYCNONOTUS UROSTICTUS)
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS)
ASHY THRUSH (ZOOTHERA CINEREA)
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus)
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
GRAY-BACKED TAILORBIRD (ORTHOTOMUS DERBIANUS)
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)
Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis)
Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)
Gray-spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
WHITE-BROWED SHAMA (COPSYCHUS LUZONIENSIS)
BLUE-HEADED FANTAIL (RHIPIDURA CYANICEPS)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
YELLOW-BELLIED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA PHILIPPINENSIS)
ELEGANT TIT (PARDALIPARUS ELEGANS)
STRIPE-SIDED RHABDORNIS (RHABDORNIS MYSTICALIS)
Purple-throated Sunbird (Leptocoma sperata)
FLAMING SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA FLAGRANS)
Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile) sometimes split as endemic
“Striped Flowerpecker”
BICOLORED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM BICOLOR)
RED-STRIPED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM AUSTRALE)
PYGMY FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM PYGMAEUM)
LOWLAND WHITE-EYE (ZOSTEROPS MEYENI)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
BALICASSIAO (DICRURUS BALICASSIUS)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
Nutmeg Mannikin (Lonchura punctulata)
White-bellied Munia (Lonchura leucogastra)

We looked forward to our flight the next morning to Taguegereo in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Northern Luzon and our expedition quest for the Whiskered Pitta, which has become almost impossible at the traditional site of Mt. Polis.

Flight time at Manila airport brought us an announcement that the flight had been cancelled due to heavy rains in N. Luzon, and we had to shift quickly into plan B: a drive by van to N. Luzon. Tim found a van, we collected our luggage and drove to Mt. Polis instead of Taguegereo since it was closer and we planned it for the end of our trip. It took us 7.5 hours to drive to Banaue. We were happy to see the old Banaue Hotel, hot water and hard beds after the long drive.

We found the trail at Mt. Polis altered considerably. The radio tower is under construction for some new antennas and there are around 20 workmen living on site. The trail which starts behind the radio tower has been used for access to newly created cabbage fields so we had a hard time finding the trail. Every six feet on the trail are traps for birds, and every 100 feet or so is a brand new clearing. We gave up the trail after about an hour, as it never seemed to improve and was seriously disturbed the entire length. The birds we did see were from the road, not the trail.

We drove down toward the village and the river for the Luzon Redstart which was fairly easy to find, and spent lunch at tall grass where we had heard Russet Bush-Warbler aka Benguet Bush-Warbler, thought to be extinct but recently re-discovered. Unbelievably skulky, we never saw one but heard four as they changed position frequently. Interesting was a male Red Crossbill that perched in the pine at eye level right behind us. Also the Flame-crowned Flowerpecker here is ssp. anthonyi with yellow crown and vent.

Eurasian Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
LUZON RACQUET-TAIL (PRIONITURUS MONTANA)-NEAR THREATENED
Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
PHILIPPINE BUSH-WARBLER (CETTIA SEEBOHMI)
Mountain Tailorbird (Orthotomus cuculatus)
Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus)
LUZON REDSTART (RHYACORNIS BICOLOR)-VULNERABLE
GREEN-BACKED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA ALBIVENTRIS)
CHESTNUT-FACED BABBLER (STACHYRIS WHITEHEADI)
FLAME-CROWNED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM ANTHONYI)-NEAR THREATENED GRAY-CAPPED SHRIKE AKA MOUNTAIN SHRIKE (LANIUS VALIDIROSTRIS)-NEAR
THREATENED
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

We did so well in the morning and the trail was so useless that we decided to drive to Tuguegereo that night to be ready for the big expedition the next morning. Even though we arrived early, everything wasn’t ready with the porters and the camping equipment until 11 a.m. the next morning, giving us a much needed lie-in. Finally, we hopped in the jeepney, drove the 40 minutes to the village of Baliwag, and began the long hike into the forest in the Sierra Madres. The hike to camp 1 took approximately 5 ½ hours straight up, most of it on dried land with no trees. The next morning, the hike to camp 2 higher up took another 5 ½ hours in muddy, steep trails surrounded by razor grass that inhibits visibility and also cuts skin. Most unpleasant. It’s difficult to describe the feeling of falling down on a muddy trail and being cut by the grass at the same time. Molly opted out one whole day because of the leeches. She stayed in her tent. That was the day we spent on the ridge trail at the top of the mountain where only Tim saw one Whiskered Pitta on the trail ahead of him, and another fly in after 2.5 hours of tape. Joseph and I were in the wrong position. We dipped on the key bird of the trip. The one day on the ridge trail was the worst day of birding in my life as I basically saw nothing the entire day but heard wanted species. That’s birding but it was a day when I wanted to hang up my binoculars. I thought “what’s the point. Nobody cares about these birds except me. And what does it matter that I’ve seen them after they’ve gone?” When we showed the 12 porters the illustration of the pitta in the field guide and told them that’s why we had come all the way from California their reply was “you should come in May. They are easier to trap then.” Everyone in the village knew the bird as a favorite food. Our only sighting would be a dead Whiskered Pitta in a trap. The next day was an improvement as we slowly hiked down the mountain and I must say my attitude considerably improved after a good view of a Luzon Bleeding-Heart walking towards us across the forest floor of leaf litter in the sunlight. Joseph was compensated with his good look at a Flame-breasted Fruit-Dove in a fruiting tree.

PHILIPPINE SERPENT-EAGLE (SPILORNIS HOLOSPILUS)
LUZON BLEEDING-HEART (GALLICOLUMBA LUZONICA)-NEAR THREATENED
WHITE-EARED DOVE (PHAPITRERON LEUCOTIS)
AMETHYST DOVE (PHAPITRERON AMETHYSTINE)
FLAME-BREASTED FRUIT-DOVE (PTILINOPUS MARCHEI)-VULNERABLE
PHILIPPINE HANGING-PARROT AKA COLASSISI (LORICULUS PHILIPPENSIS)
RUFOUS COUCAL (CENTROPUS UNIRUFUS)-NEAR THREATENED
PHILIPPINE COUCAL (CENTROPUS VIRIDIS)
Glossy Swiftlet (Aerodramus esculenta)
Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis)
Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata)
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
RUFOUS HORNBILL (BUCEROS HYDROCORAX)-NEAR THREATENED
PHILIPPINE WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPOS MACULATES)
WHISKERED PITTA (PITTA KOCHI)-VULNERABLE, TIM ONLY!
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi)
Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina striata)
BLACKISH CUCKOO-SHRIKE (CORACINA COERULESCENS)
YELLOW-WATTLED BULBUL (PYCNONOTUS UROSTICTUS)
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
PHILIPPINE BULBUL (IXOS PHILIPPINUS)
LEMON-THROATED WARBLER (PHYLLOSCOPUS CEBUENSIS)
Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis)
riated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)
ASH-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (MUSCICAPA RANDI)-VULNERABLE
FURTIVE FLYCATCHER (FICEDULA DISPOSITA)-NEAR THREATENED
Citrine Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)
BLUE-HEADED FANTAIL (RHIPIDURA CYANICEPS)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
GREEN-BACKED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA ALBIVENTRIS)
YELLOW-BELLIED WHISTLER (PACHYCEPHALA PHILIPPINENSIS)
GOLDEN-CROWNED BABBLER (STACHYRIS DENNISTOUNI)-NEAR THREATENED
ELEGANT TIT (PARDALIPARUS ELEGANS)
WHITE-FRONTED TIT (SITTIPARUS SEMILARVATUS)-NEAR THREATENED
STRIPE-SIDED RHABDORNIS (RHABDORNIS MYSTICALIS)
LONG-BILLED RHABDORNIS AKA GRAND (RHABDORNIS GRANDIS)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
FLAMING SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA FLAGRANS)
METALLIC-WINGED SUNBIRD (AETHOPYGA PULCHERRIMA)
BICOLORED FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM BICOLOR)
WHITE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER AKA BUZZING (DICAEUM HYPOLEUCUM)
PYGMY FLOWERPECKER (DICAEUM PYGMAEUM)
YELLOWISH WHITE-EYE (ZOSTEROPS NIGRORUM)
PHILIPPINE FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (IRENA CYANOGASTER)
SLENDER-BILLED CROW AKA “SIERRA MADRE CROW” (CORVUS ENCA
SIERRAMADRENSIS)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
COLETO (SARCOPS CALVUS)
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)

LUZON TOTAL
91 species
51 endemic
2 endemic ssp. sometimes split

Garry George
Los Angeles, California
garrygeorge@msn.com

TRIP LIST

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