Philippines Return - Mindanao, Negros and Luzon (1 Viewer)

[dandsblair]

Philippines Feb 6th - 1st March 2025 (Luzon, Mindanao and Negros)


We had wanted to return to the Philippines since 2014 when we visited Luzon, Bohol, Cebu and Palawan. However we kept hoping that the security situation on Mindanao our prime target destination would improve but in the intervening years it got worse with the west of the island now off limits (a no travel advisory – from both UK and US) and more recently, travel not recommended to the rest of the country (apart from Davao where it is deemed OK by US).

We are aren’t getting any younger and with no improvements imminent and a May 25 election possibly causing further security issues. We discussed a trip with Alain Pascau from Birdfinders.ph at the 2024 Global Birdfair. Alain was pretty sure that he could put a safe itinerary together that got us access to the majority of the Mindanao endemics and other range restricted birds. Particularly if we were willing to be flexible and make changes if any security issues are highlighted in a radius around our birding our accommodation sites.

Birdfinders.ph did not have a foreign rep or any means of guaranteeing funds, getting ATOL bonding, etc. so he suggested we go through 2by2holidays (we dealt with Susan) who we dealt with throughout and had used on a previous trip to Namibia a couple of years ago.

We added Negros to the itinerary as offering a good haul of targets but decided not to add Northern Luzon as the birds on offer were not huge, so Luzon was just a stop off / relax destination.

The itinerary did change quite a bit through the 5 months since we arranged the trip, the main ones being staying 5 days in each of 2 locations in Mindanao and travelling from these; Malaybalay and Bislig to our birding sites. Then a few weeks before departure we had to drop Mt Tagubud and Compostela Valley as there were some security concerns and Sarah rightly didn’t want to risk security problems for the few birds we would miss. Instead we stayed in Davao and birded the Philippine Eagle Foundation and Malagos Resort instead – not ideal although we did get 2 birds we had missed elsewhere but at the expense of a few others.


Final Itinerary

Fly to Manila via Abu Dhabi – short stay in Manila Airport Hotel
Fly very early to Cagayan de Oro – breakfast on the go and start birding
5 nights Bom Bom Hotel, Malaybalay - birding the various areas in Mt Kitinglad from here. Mainly the Maputi Bird Reserve, Intavas Trail, Cinchona Forest Reserve, Sumilao and Manolo Fortich
Drive to Bislig (we stopped at Cafe Cliff, Talaingod, right by an army camp) in the hope of a couple of birds we would miss at Compostela but didn’t see the Sunbird or anything new.
5 Nights Paper Country Inn, Bislig birding Road 4, Road 42 and the Tinuy waterfalls from here
Davao City – as above and stop at Panabo Coastal Raod
Fly from Davao to Bacolod early evening – 3 nights at Henry’s Roost, Bacolod.
Birding Gawahon Eco area, Thermal Powerplant (EDC) and Mambukal Mountain Resort
Long drive to Damuguete City – 4 nights at Essencia Hotel
Birding at Liptong Woodland, Balinsasayou, and Bayawan including Denapa Research area.
2 nights in Manila before flying home.


On arrival at Manila airport we were met by Djop Tabaranza our guide for the next three weeks.
We had made contact with Djop by Whatsapp so could communicate in advance and at the airport. In our first face to face conversation with Djop he asked if we had been to the Philippines before and if so who we went with, we mentioned that our guide on Luzon and Cebu was Jops and that he had a lovely girlfriend called Maia who did some birding with us at La Mesa and the University and came to Cebu for Owling. Sarah said “I wonder if they are still together”, Djop said he knew Jops but he was certain that he wasn’t with Maia as he had been married to her for the last 5 years. Small world!!

When Djop spoke to his wife she remembered us and had written a blog about our owling experience on Cebu. Best.Owling.Yet!!!
(note - we did meet up with her at the end of the tour).

First evening after 24 hours of travelling we resorted to room service and a few hours sleep before heading to the Domestic terminal of the airport for our 4am flight to Mindanao.
Day 1 - Mt Kitanglad

The flight landed before 6am and we were having a McDonalds drive through breakfast on route to Manolo Fortich raptor watch point on Mt Kitanglad before 6.30.

We learned 2 important lessons on being ready, 1) the first bird we saw was a probable Philippine Eagle (called by local guide Ben as such due to size and all white under-parts) but we didn’t have our cameras at the ready with the right settings for Birds in Flight, Djop was usually great at grabbing a shot of any raptor flying over to review later, sods law the Eagle (sp) dropped below the treeline before we got great views or photos not to be seen again. We were not too worried as we had 6 days to see the bird including at two sites where Ben had seen them in the last week.

The second lesson was to have some sun screen accessible as we were slightly fried after a day in the sun.

We did see a fair few birds, the best of which were Asian Emerald Dove, Purple Needletails, Pinsker’s Hawk Eagle, 3 Philippine Serpent Eagles, 3 Oriental Honey Buzzards, Philippine Honey Buzzard, Grey-faced Buzzard, Black-winged Kite, Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, Collared Kingfisher, Brown-throated Kingfisher (split since our last trip), Pied Triller, Plaintive Cuckoo, Red-keeled Flowerpecker, Brown-throated Sunbird, White-bellied and Chestnut Munia and Rufous-fronted Tailorbird. Not a bad first session.


We than went for some food before heading to Cinchona Forest Reserve in the MT Kitanglad NP. In our session here we added a few of the key targets in Mindanao Hornbill, Grey-hooded Sunbird and Black and Cinnamon Fantail, the birds then got a little trickier and Blue-capped Kingfisher, Philippine Pitta and Bogoba Robin were held only; before we added White-bellied Woodpecker, Buff-spotted Flameback, Metallic Pigeon, Coleto and Philippine Hanging Parrot to our good first day list. We also bumped into a Wings Tour group who were doing a similar itinerary but over a shorter time – so interesting to compare notes as we bump into them along the way.

As we were pretty knackered we decided to forego owling tonight and head back our accommodation in Malaybalay but not before we arranged for Blackie the local Eagle expert to meet up with us tomorrow and get us access to a place where a Juvenile Eagle has been showing regularly.


Day 2 – Private Land above Cinchona.


A bit of a mix up with breakfast, chef didn’t get the message get in early to do a take-away breakfast for us, so we went across to Jellibee for a quick breakfast before the drive up to Mt Kitanglad. We stopped at some woodland near to the place we were meeting Blackie and had quite a good start with; Philippine Bulbul, Mugamaki Flycatcher, Hanging Parrot, Warbling White-eye, Rufous-headed Tailorbird and Turquoise Flycatcher all seen before Blackie met up with us at 7.30.

We were going into a private dwelling with great views over a valley where the Eagle had been showing regularly, the Wings groups would be joining us for a few hours as it was there lost morning in the area and they still needed the Eagle. No problem as there was a large watch area and more eyes may help. Long story short no Philippine Eagle by noon and the Wings group had to leave for Bislig, all we had were Pinskers Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle, Brahminy Kite, both Honey Buzzards and some smaller birds including Coppersmith Barbet, Buzzing Flowerpecker, Ridgetop Swiftlet and Sulphur-billed Nuthatch.

Gio our driver went off to get us a take-away lunch – really good, it turned out to be. This afternoon we would walk up to a ridge that offers a different view point to the area we have watched this morning, Sarah felt really tired and struggled at times to walk up the steep track but eventually we got there. We saw plenty of Kites and Buzzards but no sign of the young eagle, however we did add Red-keeled Flowerpecker, Pied Triller, Elegant Tit, and White-cheeked Bullfinch.

We stopped at the Forest Reserve HQ for some owling on the way back to town, as darkness fell we could hear 2 scops owls species calling, I chose to try for Mindanao Scops Owl first as it was much rarer than the other owl and very range restricted, it took us quite a while before we eventually got to see the bird and the photograph I managed was record only but I was told by Ben that it is the least photographed off all the owls in the Philippines, so I was pretty glad to get it. When we did eventually try for Everett’s (aka Mindanao Lowland Scops Owl) the bird had gone too far into the forest, so would come back for him.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 3 Sumilao and Intavas Trail


Early start with packed breakfast and our first challenge was to find the right type and colour of chicken to hand to the tribal chief to get access to the mountain. We visited the chicken farm and a stall but they only had broilers that Ben said would be unacceptable, so we would just offer some cash to buy the chicken of their choice which they use in a ritual (note - it is different colour for hiking or birding). The tribal representative and Ben went to the Chief’s hut but he was out but fortunately his wife accepted the cost of the chicken and we were free to go up the mountain. I’m not sure what happens if you don’t approach the chief or get agreement? Marlon the local guy quickly called us over and got us one of my top targets a Cinnamon Ibon, this bird has been identified via DNA as closely related to Tree Sparrow despite being endemic to the mountains of Mindanao, an intriguing bird which we only saw on Mt Kitanglad.

It was then a bit of a slog up a slippy stony track but we stopped regularly for birds, first Philippine Bulbul, Grey-hooded Sunbird and then White-cheeked Bullfinch which I managed to photograph today, we were looking for Apo Myna in a clearing when we had 4 in flight Mindanao Lorikeets, this was a great spot as otherwise we would have an eight hour trip to try to see these birds, this was the first sighting here for almost 10 years but despite much trying we couldn’t find the perched birds even though we saw roughly where they landed. On the fruiting tree where we hoped to get the Lorikeet we did see Olive-capped Flowerpecker and a single Mindanao Racquet-tail, and then on the nearby track we had access to some trees where up to 8 Apo Myna were feeding, this was another of my top targets, we then headed up to the resting shed and heard and glimpsed two Red-eared Parrotfinch, not great views but tickable and we would try again this afternoon only other bird around here was Black and Cinnamon Fantail, which I also missed a photo of. After a break we headed to a view point over a ravine carved by the Tomalaong River, this was another spot for raptor watching. Over 2 hours we saw plenty of Rufous-bellied Eagles, Serpent Eagles and Hawk eagles but no Philippine Eagles.


Decision time, there were a few birds we still required and in the area up to the rest point and above the rest point we could add Apo Sunbird but stairs as we saw earlier were really greasy and the Sunbird wasn’t guaranteed so we would just go to the resting shed and a little beyond if anything was calling. On the way back up we struggled to get on the Mindanao White-eye (Black-masked Helia) but eventually caught up with it in a mixed flock, where we could see how much bigger it was than the other White-eyes, we also added Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Short-tailed Starling, Negros Leaf warbler, Rufous-headed Tailorbird, in this area but couldn’t get the Parrotfinches to respond to calls.

It started raining as we reached the Resting Shed and that pretty much made up our mind to not go any further which was a great decision because when we were calling to a McGregor’s Cuckooshrike, which came really close a mixed flock formed around us, we had Cinnamon Ibon, Warbling WE, Philippine Bulbul, B&C Fantail, Bicoloured Flowerpecker, Philippine Hanging Parrot and Olive-capped Flowerpecker. On the way down we tried for Apo Shortwing and it seemed to come really close but all we got were little bits of the bird as it flitted across the track. That was pretty much it was the day apart from a few Coleto, Paddyfield Pipit and Eastern Yellow Wagtail in the open area near the village.

We were glad we didn’t go any higher as our knees were really painful after a few climbs and corresponding decent, so we agreed to change of plan for tomorrow; we would go to the Maputi Bird Reserve ( a reserve set up by Ben on family farm) an area with a few hides and trails alongside the Agri Tourist Farm. There is accommodation on the farm and it would be a good place to spend some more time.

I didn’t mention earlier that at 21.45 each night a siren goes and then it goes repeatedly at 10pm to signal a curfew, so all eating is done early here and most restaurants seemed to do last orders not long after 8pm.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 4 Agri Farm and Maputi Bird Reserve


Today was about quality birds and hopefully getting a few good photos, rather than numbers. Quite a leisurely start, we even had time for a 6am breakfast before heading up to Maputi Farm. The road up through the banana farms is pretty awful and only just passable by normal van, the shorter road with a bridge out (being repaired now) is only passable by 4x4.

On arrival we had home grown coffee in the garden while we waited for the sun to reach the hides. In the garden we had Grey-hooded Sunbird, Warbling White-eye and a couple of Brown Tit-babblers a good start.


The first hide had some nice flowers for Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers and a pond and some areas where Ben put out worms. Ben had been away and then with us for a while so we weren’t sure how active the birds would be. To be honest it was a pretty slow morning with just Philippine Hanging Parrot, Black-naped Monarch, Warbling White-eyes and Grey-hooded Sunbird coming in, albeit the Sunbird gave us some great photos. It was noon before we had a couple of stunning Bundok Flycatchers (male and female) posing nicely for us and then some Elegant Tits, Brown Tit-babbler and Black and Cinnamon Fantail joining them.

After lunch we walked to the second hide, one that isn’t’ long finished, very muddy on the floor, but is next to a creek where a couple of rare birds have territories; on the trail to the hide we added Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, a glimpse of Long-tailed Bush Warbler and Philippine Bulbul. Unfortunately the main targets Blue-capped Kingfisher and Bagobo Babbler didn’t put in an appearance; with only the Babbler even heard. So all we did was improve our photos of the same birds we had in the first hide.


The final hide Ben said always had the Kingfisher but despite him putting out juicy worms there was no sign of either bird (it turns out that one of the staff had put out loads of worms earlier in the day to encourage the bird to stay for a photographer who tipped him well) not great for us as nothing came before it started to get dark.

Still we had hopes of two of my main Mindanao targets, we went to an open area of the farm and Ben told us to look left, within 10 minutes we had the first of the rare Budikon Woodcocks, roding past us, Djop asked if I was going to try to record the next bird but I wanted to see it well in my binoculars so I left Djop to get to rare video footage of this displaying Woodcock while we enjoyed it in Ben’s spotlight. Next we went to a row of trees where we called Giant Scops Owl, we had a couple of responses and eventually two birds flew in, we saw then well in flight but couldn’t locate the birds on a perch.

Back at the car we tried for Everett’s Scops Owl but it was heard only.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 5 – Mt Kitanglad Sumiloa and Cinchona Forest


Off nice and early to a spot above the Forest Reserve with Blackie to hopefully get good views of Philippine Eagle (the good news in hindsight was the very first and only photo we took of the Eagle (sp) on Day 1 was on a big screen able to be identified as an adult Philippine Eagle - as Ben thought at the time and with a bit more experience of other local birds of prey I had come round to. Before it had warmed up for raptor we searched the roadside forest and saw quite a few nice birds, Mindanao Hornbill, Turquoise Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Tailorbird, Barred Rail, Philippine Cuckoo Dove, Phil Pygmy Woodpecker, Elegant Tit, Zebra Dove and Eye-browed Thrush


After lunch in a local restaurant we tried another viewpoint but only Brahminy Kites and Phil Serpent Eagle seen before we spotted a little Philippine Falconet land in a nearby tree, not a lifer but a great sighting none the less. We then headed into the forest to try for Pitta and Kingfisher, the Kingfisher didn’t play ball but we did finally see Philippine Pitta after loads of heard only attempts, but no photo as the light was poor.

No sign of the Bagobo Babbler and it was soon time for some owling on the way to the area for the scops owl we saw Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove. Blackie knew where the Everett’s Scops would appear but when we played the call a bigger owl flew in, I think I called Boobook and Ben agreed, but when we located the perched owl it surprised us all by being a Giant Scops Owl and I even managed a photo of this one. We tried again for the scops owl and out popped the little Everett’s Scops Owl, he didn’t give himself up easily but we did eventually get good views and a photo after a clamber through the forest. We didn’t try for the BooBook here as it was getting late and Ben said it was easier elsewhere on Mindanao.

Over dinner we discussed our plans – Ben was leaving us after lunch tomorrow as he now had a couple of Singapore birders to guide around the farm and then onto Bislig.
We were due to leave after breakfast for Bislig stopping at a mountain pass but the area wasn’t completely safe.
I also really wanted to get the Blue-capped Kingfisher which while it occurs in Bislig was extremely difficult there, so Ben agreed to borrow his cousins 4x4 and we could go early to the farm, via the shortest route, hopefully see the target bird and then come back into town and Gio could drive us to Bislig.

Plan agreed.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 6 Maputi Bird Reserve and drive to Bislig

Off early with a packed breakfast and we were in the hide as it got light enough to see. Ben went to his greenhouse and got some big juicy worms and a few small ones. For the first few minutes all we had was Bundok Flycatcher but then the calling of two Kingfishers came close and the female Blue-capped Kingfisher came into view, helped herself to a few worms and then started displaying and calling to the male, at first we thought she was alarmed but the calling and poses were to attract the male. Unfortunately the male stayed in the shadows and the mating behaviour took place in the canopy above us but the female kept returning and we enjoyed 30 minutes watching, videoing and photographing her. A great decision to come back here. We were back in the hotel before check-out time to pack and load the van

After lunch in town we said our good-byes to Ben and set off for Bislig.

The drive was pretty uneventful as we were very used to the army and police checkpoints at the entrance and exit of every town. The army presence did seem to get stepped up and we stopped right beside an Army Barracks up a hill next to Cliff Café in Talaingod. The hope was that we might get Lina’s Sunbird here and see some raptors but all we added was Garden Sunbird, Buzzing Flowerpecker and Brahminy Kite, we agreed it was probably too low but we did enjoy good coffee.

One more stop for dinner in a town 80Km from Bislig and then we arrived at our nice hotel the Paper Country Inn, quite late but it was nice to have a large quiet room after the noise of sirens and traffic in Malaybalay.

 

[Jim M.]

more recently, travel not recommended to the rest of the country (apart from Davao where it is deemed OK by US).

I think you mean travel not recommended to the rest of Mindanao, not "rest of the country," i.e. the Philippines. If so, I suggest you edit your post to clarify.

 

[DMW]

Day 5 – Mt Kitanglad Sumiloa and Cinchona Forest


Off nice and early to a spot above the Forest Reserve with Blackie to hopefully get good views of Philippine Eagle (the good news in hindsight was the very first and only photo we took of the Eagle (sp) on Day 1 was on a big screen able to be identified as an adult Philippine Eagle - as Ben thought at the time and with a bit more experience of other local birds of prey I had come round to. Before it had warmed up for raptor we searched the roadside forest and saw quite a few nice birds, Mindanao Hornbill, Turquoise Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Tailorbird, Barred Rail, Philippine Cuckoo Dove, Phil Pygmy Woodpecker, Elegant Tit, Zebra Dove and Eye-browed Thrush


After lunch in a local restaurant we tried another viewpoint but only Brahminy Kites and Phil Serpent Eagle seen before we spotted a little Philippine Falconet land in a nearby tree, not a lifer but a great sighting none the less. We then headed into the forest to try for Pitta and Kingfisher, the Kingfisher didn’t play ball but we did finally see Philippine Pitta after loads of heard only attempts, but no photo as the light was poor.

No sign of the Bagobo Babbler and it was soon time for some owling on the way to the area for the scops owl we saw Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove. Blackie knew where the Everett’s Scops would appear but when we played the call a bigger owl flew in, I think I called Boobook and Ben agreed, but when we located the perched owl it surprised us all by being a Giant Scops Owl and I even managed a photo of this one. We tried again for the scops owl and out popped the little Everett’s Scops Owl, he didn’t give himself up easily but we did eventually get good views and a photo after a clamber through the forest. We didn’t try for the BooBook here as it was getting late and Ben said it was easier elsewhere on Mindanao.

Over dinner we discussed our plans – Ben was leaving us after lunch tomorrow as he now had a couple of Singapore birders to guide around the farm and then onto Bislig.
We were due to leave after breakfast for Bislig stopping at a mountain pass but the area wasn’t completely safe.
I also really wanted to get the Blue-capped Kingfisher which while it occurs in Bislig was extremely difficult there, so Ben agreed to borrow his cousins 4x4 and we could go early to the farm, via the shortest route, hopefully see the target bird and then come back into town and Gio could drive us to Bislig.

Plan agreed.

Aren't both these owl photos Everett's Scops?

 

[dandsblair]

I think you mean travel not recommended to the rest of Mindanao, not "rest of the country," i.e. the Philippines. If so, I suggest you edit your post to clarify.

I did mean rest of the Island but I can't edit he post

 

[dandsblair]

Aren't both these owl photos Everett's Scops?

No. The first one (Giant Scops) was twice the size and has unmarked face and clearly streaked body. The Everett's has prominent ear tufts seen better in second photo below and almost unstreaked front - I will try to find front on photo

 

[lgonz1008]

How reliable is the Philippine Eagle in this itinerary compared to Del Monte Lodge?

Is it worth it to go that rustic for the targets by comparison?

 

[DMW]

No. The first one (Giant Scops) was twice the size and has unmarked face and clearly streaked body. The Everett's has prominent ear tufts seen better in second photo below and almost unstreaked front - I will try to find front on photo

I'm confused. You have this photo labelled as Giant Scops. Are you saying it's Everett's (which I would agree)?

 

[dandsblair]

I'm confused. You have this photo labelled as Giant Scops. Are you saying it's Everett's (which I would agree)?

No the one labelled Giant Scops is Giant Scops

 

[dandsblair]

How reliable is the Philippine Eagle in this itinerary compared to Del Monte Lodge?

Is it worth it to go that rustic for the targets by comparison?

I don't think it is totally reliable on any itinerary, we bumped into a camera crew who took ten days to find and film a bird.
The Phil Eagle Foundation did know of an active nest but we were not allowed near it - later in the year we were told it would be accessible when the chick is being fed, so timing a trip to fit in with an active nest would be best. That said Ben was surprised that with 5 days in the area we didn't get better views, also Blackie has a call that can bring in some young birds he helped raise and ringed however that didn't work for us.
We also met two groups that didn't see one, I don't think Del Monte Lodge is certain either a Dutch group only had one distant view from 3 nights there.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 7 Bislig Forest – Road 42

The road up to Road 42 we were told was really bad so we would go by Jeepney rather than in our own van, this brought back memories of Mt Makiling our only other Jeepney experience.

I wasn’t feeling very well this morning and had real difficulty focusing and using the camera for the first couple of hours, I think it was probably a migraine as it eventually passed, but unfortunately I missed getting photos of Philippine Trogon (a female but a lifer and main target for Sarah), Philippine Jungle Flycatcher, Short-tailed Drongo, and most annoyingly Short-crested Monarch and Mindanao Blue Fantail which were both pretty close. We had a local guide Zardo whose main method of bird watching was to try to create a mixed flock and he constantly played through two or three different speakers various calls to get birds in, he had been doing this for years with groups but it didn’t work for me as I couldn’t hear response calls and track the incoming birds, I also still had a bit of a headache. Djop at my prompting repeatedly asked him to tone it down but he just wouldn’t stop so we pretty much just left him to go ahead and we did our own thing behind him. Thankfully we hit a mixed flock without the calling and I was now able to focus and I got photos of the Blue Fantail, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher, Elegant Tit, Black-naped Monarch and Western Hooded Pitta, one of three, that also seemed to join the flock.

If was a bit wet with some sharp showers, so we regularly sheltered in the Jeepney and then drove to another part of the road. On our next stop we added Brown Tit-babbler, Yellowish Bulbul, Philippine Bulbul, Little Slaty Flycatcher and Buzzing Flowerpecker. The Jeepney then went to the furthest point it could get to and we walked beyond this and also a landslip, where we found Amethyst Brown-Dove (possible split from Luzon race) and Short-billed Brown Dove. Djop thought he saw one of the star birds a female Celestial Monarch but we couldn’t re-find it but got a Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher when we tried calling the monarch.

We had heard from the Wings group that two of them saw the Bleeding Heart here but they didn’t get the Monarch or the Broadbill in this area. However they had a spot near here for Steere’s Pitta, one we missed on Bohol, unfortunately when we went to the spot there was some small scale illegal logging taking place with chain-saw noise making calling any bird difficult if not impossible.

We did add a few other birds in Striated Wren Babbler, Philippine Green Pigeon, Brown-breasted Kingfisher, and Brown Shrike; but then William the Jeepney driver gave us some bad news he couldn’t stop much on the way back just one stop on the flat area as his clutch was knackered, and if he stopped on the slope or in the mud we could be stranded up here. That was a huge blow as we hoped to revisit this morning’s stops and try for Owls at the start of the Road, instead we would head straight to a garage once we got to the proper road and Gio would then get a trike to the hotel, get the van and come and collect us.

On our one stop we added Pygmy Flowerpecker, Everett’s White-eye and Orange-breasted (Grey-necked) Flowerpecker not ideal but OK. The plan worked and we made it up the road albeit with one scary moment where we overtook a logging trucking on the hill as William couldn’t take the chance in changing down a gear, it didn’t take too long waiting in the garage before we were back in town.

It actually chucked it down while we were at the garage so we may not have seen much anyway if the weather was the same in the forest.

The good news; we heard later from William was that the garage could repair the Jeepney for not too much cost and have him back on the road tomorrow.

 

[DMW]

No the one labelled Giant Scops is Giant Scops

OK thanks. It doesn't look like Giant Scops to me.

 

[lgonz1008]

I don't think it is totally reliable on any itinerary, we bumped into a camera crew who took ten days to find and film a bird.
The Phil Eagle Foundation did know of an active nest but we were not allowed near it - later in the year we were told it would be accessible when the chick is being fed, so timing a trip to fit in with an active nest would be best. That said Ben was surprised that with 5 days in the area we didn't get better views, also Blackie has a call that can bring in some young birds he helped raise and ringed however that didn't work for us.
We also met two groups that didn't see one, I don't think Del Monte Lodge is certain either a Dutch group only had one distant view from 3 nights there.

That gives me a good hope then, I thought that Del Monte was the only way to see many of these endemics, glad to know there's alternatives now that at least let you sleep in a bed!

 

[dandsblair]

Day 8 – Bislig – Road 4


Off very early to try for Boobook, the road up to this part of the forest is better so we go in the van with Gio driving. We stop at a tree covered ridge, two Mindanao Boobook’s respond to our calls but we just can’t get one perched and with Phil Nightjar, Frogmouth and Chocolate Boobook also about and flying in the area we just aren’t certain we saw the bird we were after, so no tick.

At our stop for our packed breakfast we hear and then see Rufous-lored Kingfisher, much better views than we had in Bohol and I manage a photo or two, only other new bird here was Yellow-breasted Whistler which we heard easily but it took ages to find. A drive further up the road to another viewing point and we add Blue-crowned Racquet-tail, Yellowish Bulbul, Yellow-wattled Bulbul, Green Imperial Pigeon and a male Philippine Trogon, although not a lifer anymore this one makes Sarah happy as she missed a close up male bird on Bohol years ago, photos are not brilliant as bird is backlit in canopy and finally a Violet Cuckoo.

Then from glorious sunshine we suddenly had torrential rain, so decided to head down early to the Hornbill spot – an open area with some fruiting trees beyond the few farms, on this raod, it took a while but by 13.00 we had seen 24 Writhed Hornbills fly in and then in the afternoon 7 Southern Rufous Hornbills tried to go to the fruiting trees but by sheer weight of number the smaller Writhed Hornbills kept then moving, fortunately one Rufous Hornbill stopped nearby while the others flew deep into the forest.

Around the farm we had Metallic-winged (mindanao) Sunbird, Guiabero, Pygmy Woodpecker, Phil Oriole, Grey-throated Sunbird and Red-keeled Flowerpecker.

We walked back to the first viewing point to try for the Pitta, Djop and Zardo tried for ages to get the bird out into the open, putting the speaker on any area offering a vantage point. The bird then cam really close but neither Sarah nor I could see it but then it jumped onto a log and we could see the bird clearly, Sarah had asked me not to move my camera quickly in case I scared the bird so I waited until she had seen the bird well before I tried to photograph it, sods law it jumped up a couple of feet so the head was hidden no matter how low I got, almost prostrate, I couldn’t get a photo of the complete bird still we had seen Azure-breasted Pitta bird really well and got a record shot of the what appeared headless bird. On the way back we saw Handsome Sunbird, Phil Honey Buzzard, Phil Serpent Eagle and Coppersmith Barbet and that was pretty much it for the day.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 9 – Tinuy an Falls, Picop Rd 4, Bislig Airport

We had decision to make on what to do, we decided to leave a return trip up Road 42 until tomorrow (it gives William another day trying out repairs before we risk it in the Jeepney), instead we will go the Tinuy Falls, the Hornbill spot on Road 4 and then finish at Bislig airport which is currently closed and which we can access after 17.00.

The waterfalls get busy later in the day so we set off early and did the woods above the visitor area before it opened. In the forest we had Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill and Yellow-wattled Bulbul before a calling Trogon on the main road attacked our attention. On the road down to the falls there was two pairs of Philippine Trogon with all 4 bird showing well enough for photographs and Sarah to finally forget her missed bird. We then tried to get a views of an Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, quite a difficult bird according to Zardo but one eventually popped completely out into the open for us to see it but my photo is just a blur as the camera focused on closer leaves.

We then went behind the various food stalls to the river bank, hoping for Silvery Kingfisher but after 45 minutes gave up, only seeing Brown-breasted Kingfisher, Great White Egret, Little Heron, Common Sandpiper, Grey wagtail and Philippine Bulbul.

By now the falls were open and you have to pay a small fee for entrance, even in this now busy area we added a 3rd pair of Trogons, Barred Rail, Plaintive Cuckoo, Phil Pygmy Swifts and a Besra as well as enjoying the falls.

We headed back to Road 4 just before the Hornbill spot and managed to see Rufous-crested Babbler, Buff-spotted Flameback, Phil Oriole, Rufous-crowned Bee-eater, Short-tailed Drongo and then possibly the star bird of the morning a little Mindanao Pygmy Babbler.

At the hornbill viewing spot where we stopped for lunch we had Grey-throated Sunbird, White-eared Brown Dove and Buzzing Flowerpecker before the Hornbills started arriving – we had a record count of Writhed Hornbills (44) and just 5 Rufous Hornbills.

On the road back out all we added was Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Philippine Coucal and Rufous Paradise Flycatcher. We were too early for the airport so we stopped for delicious local Rice Cakes and Coffee to pass the time.


At 5 we were able to go through security and get on the airport runway, the airport is closed temporarily but even when open you can get in with clearance from security. On the edge of the runway there is some marsh land and across the runway a village ( the locals are allowed to pass through at anytime so long as a plane isn’t on the runway. We were looking for a few water birds and soon added Philippine Duck, Philippine Swamphen, Purple Heron and had a Black Bittern come out for us. In the Grass we had Tawny Grassbird, Pied Bushchat, Asian Glossy Stralings, Chestnut Munia and Bright-capped Cisticola, we could hear Philippine Bush Hen but couldn’t locate it. Then as it started to darken we had a few Philippine Nightjars but no Owls showed for us, our last birds as we headed back to the terminal were Little-ringed Plovers with a group running across the taxi way.

 

[temmie]

OK thanks. It doesn't look like Giant Scops to me.

I looked into it a bit, and while I am not fully convinced, I don't find a better alternative.
The one thing that baffles me is the vermiculations on the chest, vs the broad painted streaks you'd expect on a Giant Scops (could this be a young bird?). Some more pics would be helpful, especially frontal face or even the back, but I guess there aren't any more?

 

[dandsblair]

I looked into it a bit, and while I am not fully convinced, I don't find a better alternative.
The one thing that baffles me is the vermiculations on the chest, vs the broad painted streaks you'd expect on a Giant Scops (could this be a young bird?). Some more pics would be helpful, especially frontal face or even the back, but I guess there aren't any more?

I don't have better pictures but Blackie and Ben both local and familar with all the Owls in the area saw it and called it immediately as Giant Scops, Djop both saw and photographed the bird, he saw this photo and is happy this is Giant Scops, but I will ask if he has full frontal shot.
They all regularly see the species and I have no reason to doubt their ID. The sheer size huge compared to Mindanao and Everetts as well as their experience convinced me, also we saw three other birds later on the trip and all had the same JIZZ when flying.