Looking for the 100th....

I was only 1 bird short by the 31st of December. And I wanted to make it to 100 before the new year. I headed back to Cansaga for the 3rd time. Didn't find my 100th bird sadly, but had good views and saw more of the species found there.

Did the usual thing, came early and waited for the tide to subside. However, the tide was scheduled at the lowest by 11:30 that morning, and it was still 7 am when I got there. Still, birds kept coming in. The ones new to me are the Whimbrels, Curlews and Far-eastern Curlews - which I still can't get enough of. They seem to be a staple there now that I have been frequenting there. I used to think that the first time I saw them was just pure luck and the birds just happened to be there. Turns out they do winter here and Cansaga bay was one of their feeding sites.  I wish to find more wader species though. Those Broad-billed sandpipers were a good find. Didn't see them again that day though.

This Curlew flew over head. I managed to get a shot as it came closer. Not too good though since it was really gloomy that day.












Minutes later a mixed flock of Curlews with 3 Far-eastern curlews came in.

Another frame of the same birds.

This seems to be the highlight of the day for me. I've only seen Grey herons twice. One at SRP and another one in Argao. I used to think that maybe I may have seen the same individual. After seeing this, everything changed. I haven't seen so many Grey herons together. I first noticed them soaring just above the mangroves by the Mactan channel - which was just east of the bridge and the general direction I was facing. It looked like they got spooked and took to the air and landed back. I thought they were just back-lit egrets and didn't pay any mind. I even thought they were raptors at one point, that I decided to take a snap and zoomed 100% on my lcd. The silhouettes were of egret/heron but didn't really think to find them interesting since there were a lot of egrets about and they could have been just one of them. It was not until one flew northwards that I realized I was wrong. The bird was already northeast so there's no way it could still be back-lit. I took a snap and chimped - Grey heron!

Minutes later, a couple more took off and went the same direction. Then four followed and then 12! Well, 10 then 2 followed close by. I never thought I'd see this many birds at one time. Then it hit me- they were heading north. It was just the 31st of December. Don't you think it was still too early for them to head north? Perhaps they were just going north but not really all the way north back to their breeding grounds. I'll have to do research on these birds.

Then a little later another mixed flock came in. This time it was 2 Curlews and the rest - Far-eastern curlews.









Unfortunately, I had to leave early. I promised my wife I'd be back by noon. So no 100th bird but still, it was a good birding day for me.

Cansaga Bay 12/22/14 and Bird #96

I'm 5 birds short for my  "100 birds run", kinda like a big year thing but for 100 birds and restricted to the Cebu main island only. Rules are: 
1. Must be spotted within the main island of Cebu (Made exceptions for Red-necked pharalope and a White-winged tern seen at the Mactan channel).
2. Must be photographed. (but might have to change this to at least a recording of the call or at least really seen the bird and positively identified)

Whimbrel. One of three birds.

So, so far only 95 birds and the year is about to end already. I have 3 birds which I really can't quite put in there yet. First one is the Philippine nightjar. Seen and heard at Cantipla, but since they are nocturnal, taking a photograph will be a problem. Second is the Philippine Hawk-cuckoo. They are loud but I haven't really seen one. Most of the time, they are flying away and all you see is a blur. Third, Hooded pitta. Only a recording of a calling bird in Alcoy. Never heard it anywhere else but there.

In the quest to get the last 5 birds, I decided to go to Cansaga bay where just last February I had a snap shot of 3 long billed waders - I suspected were either Curlews or Whimbrels. But they were already too far away and too small in the frame (not to mention back-lit) to positively identify.  I thought it would be a good idea to go back there but with a strategy. Last time, the birds were already flying back east towards Olango as the tide came in. I thought to myself, if I went there at dawn, well before sunrise and at low-tide I might be able to catch the birds as they fly in towards the bay to feed - while I am on the bridge!  I was right. As the sun came up, birds started flying in from the east, mostly egrets and terns.  It didn't really turn out as productive but I got what I came for...another lifer, bird #96: Whimbrel. I was aiming at some egrets when I noticed three dark colored birds, were flying towards me from the southeast marsh, they were just a few feet from me as they went past and I was lucky to have gotten one good frame!

After a few minutes I went down north end of the bridge, and took a walk on the shore west of the bridge. I was still too far from the birds T_T. Anyway, it was still a great day for me.

Other birds:
Brahminy kite - 1 - adult
Whiskered tern - flocks of them
Yellow wagtails - in twos and three/fours
all three sp. (L/I/G) of egrets in small groups.
Little/Striated Herons - 2 juv.
Common sandpiper - 2
Common greenshank - wasn't able to count- too far but they were there.
Kentish plover - 1
Common Kingfisher - 1
There were Brown Shrikes and Zebra doves and heard a Golden-headed cisticola and Red-keeled flowerpecker and Chestnut munias from a small patch of green right along the shore.