[SPF]

Dear all,
I thought I’d email about my trip to Bohol in the Philippines in case any of you are thinking of venturing that way. I went with my girlfriend in Mid November mainly to go diving but I hoped to do a bit of birding whilst over there. We stayed on the Alona beach on Pangloa island. Around the hotel they were plenty of olive sun-birds, tree sparrows, white-breasted wood swallows and collared kingfishers. Around the room was magpie robin and a log which was a look-out post for a brown shrike. The photograph attached is, I think is an immature brown shrike (with the mature as a comparison). The head markings are slightly different to the adult but they shared the same look out posts and regularly called to each other. Around the boats were plenty of little and common terns (thanks for the pointers in the Birdforum link to distinguish between them) and barn/pacific swallows (I had difficulty distinguishing between them as they always seemed to be silhouetted in the sun- does anyone have any tips?). When we drove around the island the paddy fields were teaming with egrets (little and great and probably others).
I had planned to organise a guide for a full day at the Rajah Sikatuna National park. This was my first time at doing this and admittedly I could have organised it a bit better- I got a bit engrossed in the diving and then when I did I could only get a guide for the morning I was leaving. However, I still went and cut the ferry a bit fine. Ryan the guide, Scott the organiser (http://barkadatours.blogspot.com), the taxi driver and I ventured around the nature reserve. The trek itself was something for the sure footed as the path had natural rock and tree root traps. It had heavily rained for the previous days prior and Ryan said the mapping tour he had taken around the two days before saw a lot of different species, but my luck was out. We did not see as much as I would have liked but we did see spangled drongo, rufous-tailed jungle flycatcher, blue fantail, black-naped monarch, yellow-breasted tailorbird and we heard a Steere’s pitta. Two yellow breasted tailor birds showed beautifully and went through a range of calls and displays. Even though did not see as much as much I would have liked it was more than made up by the other wild-life I saw at the national park. We saw both a flying lemur and lizard in flight, pygmy squirrels, makak monkeys, various snakes, lizards and frogs. And the insects I saw where also fantastically colourful or camouflaged. I’ve attached some photos of various things on the insect and snake forums.
I would definitely go back an spend more time on the land and explore the island a lot more and even regretted having the last day diving but hindsight is a great thing. If any of you are thinking f going out that way I would highly recommend it; the scenery, wildlife, both on and off land, and the people were fantastic.
Regards,
Paul

[Mark Harper]

The second bird is actually a Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Regards Mark

[SPF]

Much appreciated Mark. The way they behaved around each other just made me think it was a juvenile brown shrike. Thanks

[ampersand]

Rajah Sikatuna National park.

Ryan the guide, Scott the organiser (http://barkadatours.blogspot.com), the taxi driver and I ventured around the nature reserve.

I'm off to Bohol in a few weeks and would like to see and photograph some birds while there. Is this the park to visit? And are these the tour guides to take me there?

Would appreciate Paul's or anyone else's help with this...

John

[Rob Hutchinson]

Anyone can organise the transport for you to get there but it might help you to get Ryan as a guide, he is a nice young lad and he is learning the birds fast. PM me if you want hi phone number to arrange with him in advance.

Rob

[SPF]

John,
I've PM you. I hope your trip goes well.
Paul