Philippines
12th feb – 9th march 2007
- Pre-departure planning
Here are some notes based on a 4 weeks trip. I met George Wagner at Cagayan de Oro airport to join me for Mt. Kitanglad, PICOP and Hamut Camp. This trip was good to see almost all of the endemics and other good birds at the sites:
Mt. Makiling; St. Pauls; Rasa Island; Mt. Kitanglad; PICOP and Hamut Camp.
Most notably were:
Great Philippine Eagle; 4 Pitta’s of which the 2 endemics; 9 Kingfishers of which 5 endemics; Mindanao Wattled Broadbill; 3 Racquettails and Philippine Cockatoo; All 5 possible Hornbills; All possible endemic Fruitdoves; Luzon Bleeding-heart; 3 Endemic Coucals; 5 Owls; 2 Frogmouths; The endemic Malkoas; The endemic Mynas; The Woodpeckers; All possible Cuckooshrikes; Both Leafbirds; The Fairybluebird; all 3 endemic Tits; 2 of 3 Rhabdornises; all 3 Ground (Wren) Babblers; The possible Shamas; all possible Tailorbirds; all possible Fantails; 3 of the 4 Monarchs; all Sunbirds (not Lina’s didn’t go the site); The Spiderhunter; The Bullfinch; and last but not least: both endemic Parrotfinches!Pre-departure planning
Best time to go is around feb-march since this reduces your chances of heavy rain for days.It is the average driest time of the year which is also outside the typhoon season.
The current animated satelite images of developing depressions can be seen at:
http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/satelliteworld/asiasatellite_large_animated.html
The best portal for information on the philippines is:http://www.jenspeters.de/internet_eng/index.html
This is by the writer of the best travelguide of the Philippines (Jens Peter). It gives you more information than the lonely planet does. You will find also all the local airlines there were you can book the local flights over the internet before leaving. This is handy because it saves you valuable time and planning in country. You can use the printout from home and directly check in for the local flights. Air philippines; Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines seem to be reliable and cheap. If you want very recent tips from backpackers you may try to search the thorntree of lonely planet:http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=23&iCountryId=99
The best trip report is:A few small reports that are not on it can be found here:
Communications
It is a good idea to buy a local SIMM card to be able to communicate with local people. The mobile phone network is very good especially if you buy a smartcard SIMM. With a few dollars this makes it possible to get confirmations from local people to expect you. This is better than a total rip off by your own phone company for charging heavily for communications by calculating the costs of international fees. Frequency is 900/1800. Check your phone for it to know if you can use it. It should be "SIMM-lock free" to change the SIMM of course.
I found the Smartcard very cheap and very reliable with extremely good coverage.
See:
Just go with your mobile to the nearest shop (ask around).
The people in the shop will help you if you have no clue how to switch a SIMM-card.
With a local Simm card it makes it possible to send text messages or phone from anywhere cheaply (even on slopes of MT. Makiling; Higher altitudes near Hamut Camp, Palawan etc.) This is handy if you change your mind or to be sure that people are ready for your next stop or in case you miss out on an appointment or they miss out for some reason.
Don’t buy a Globe card as it’s coverage is just a fraction of what the Smartcard offers.
See this site for the details about coverage (click on link for coverage for the different providers):
Detailed site information
The best detailed information is exchanged through a GPS file. If you have a Garmin GPS with USB connection for a PC, you may want to mail me for the file: mdeboer{at}var.nl You then can transfer my GPS file to your GPS using the Mapsource program that comes with the GPS. Through the program you can also see exactly where the locations are if you use the "View in Google Earth" feature if you have bothered to udate the Mapsource program at the Garmin website version 6.11.5 or higher should do it. Anyone who is familiar with this and has another file to share of a different area please mail me mdeboer{at}var.nl. I have files also for Sumatra and Ecuador.
Mt. Makiling (Luzon)
If you land in Manila in the morning you are better off going straight to the site to avoid the usual polluted, crowded, expensive, relatively unsafe city of Manila, as opposed to the nice relaxed, safe, cheap, hassle free up country area, as everywhere in these countries. And importantly to not miss the next early morning birding. The cheapest way is to take a taxi to the bus station and then a bus to Los Banos or Santa Cruz and get off at Los Banos. Ask the driver or other passengers for the Jeepney-stop for the Forestry department area of the campus ground (just ask for "Forestry"). Another way to do this is to get a contact number from Tim or Mark to arrange a taxi or try to bargain one directly from the airport (wouldn’t do this if you were alone, taxi drivers at airports are the worst extortionists there are). Ask for the local mobile number to make sure you can contact them if things go wrong. My driver didn’t turn up due to car trouble and I could not contact him or Tim so had to arrange my own way to Mt. Makiling which is fairly easy and doesn’t take a lot of time.
Philippine bulbul; Black and white Triller; Coleto; White throated Kingfisher; Stripe-headed Rhabdornis (common);
Yellow bellied Whistler; Grey streaked flycacher; Brown Shrike; Balicassio; Red crested Malkoha (common); Scaly feathered Malkoha;
Luzon Hornbill; Philippine Trogon; Ashy Minivet; Yellowish White-eye; Red-keeled Flowerpecker; Buzzing Flowerpecker;
Lovely Sunbird; Colasisi; Yellow wattled Bulbul; Elegant Tit; Purple throated Sunbird; Brush Cuckoo; Coppersmith Barbet;
Black naped Monarch; Philippine Woodpecker; Flaming Sunbird; White eared Dove; Besra; Spotted Woodkingfisher (1);
White browed Shama; Blue headed Fantail; Lemon throated Leafwarbler; Grey backed Tailorbird; Sulphur billed Nuthatch;
Scarlet Minivet; Grey faced Buzzard; Black chinned Fruitdove; Plain throated Sunbird; Black crowned Babbler;
Indigo Banded Kingfisher (1); Spotted Button-quail (1); Barred Button-quail; Tawny Grassbird; Striated Grassbird;
Scaly breasted Munia; Bright-capped Cisticola; Pacific Swallow; Richards Pipit; Pied Triller;
Great Philippine Eagle: I briefly saw a bird flying above me that I identified as this species but at the same time could
not believe my eyes. In my notebook I wrote: Very distinctive flightpattern with enormous wings which were very broad; long tail and
long neck with strong bill; tail a little darker than the drawing in Kennedy’s guide; dark band along trailing of wing a little wider
than the drawing in Kennedy’s guide.
I began to think that one of the birds of the sanctuary were escaped or so. Luckily I saw the bird again at Mt Kitanglad again
but in very different circumstances.
St. Pauls (Palawan)
There are frequent Jeepneys from Puerto Princessa to Sabang. They depart when full.
You may also try to contact Arding (if his mobile number is not correct anymore ask Tim or Mark for the right number. Wawa (taxi driver) can also take you from the Airport to Sabang while stopping at a few areas where birders want to check trails that can produce good birds. Very good for Copper-throated Sunbird. If Arding can join you he will bring you to a shore site for Chinese Egret and can take you to sites for Palawan Flycatcher. At Sabang it is good to settle at Taraw (good food, they can make takeaway lunches) but Mary’s and Michi’s are a little closer to the start of the forest. See map.
Birds seen:
On route to Sabang at a few stops Mangrove and lowland forest:
Eastern Reefheron; Intermediate Egret; Greater Sandplover; Lesser Sandplover; Grey-tailed Tattler; Common Kingfisher; Coppery Throated Sunbird; Palawan Flowerpecker; Yellow-throated Leafbird; Common Flameback; Common Iora; Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike; Slender billed crow (sounds very different here, almost like a dollardbird); Rufous-tailed Tailorbird; Ashy Drongo; Blue paradise flycatcher; Grey-cheeked Bulbul; Blue-headed Racquettail; Emerald Dove.
St. Pauls
Falcated Ground babbler; Palawan Hornbill; Palawan Tit; Palawan Flowerpecker; Citrine canary Flycatcher; Grey-cheeked Bulbul; Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher; Stork-billed Kingfisher (h); Collared Kingfisher; Common Flameback; Hooded Pitta; Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike; Yellow throated Leafbird; Asian Fairybluebird; Striped Tit babbler; White-vented Shama; Mangrove Whistler (h); Hill myna; Purple Throated Sunbird; Blue Paradise Flycatcher; Philippine Cuckoodove; Green Imperial Pigeon; Palawan Peacock Pheasant (2); Tabon Scrubfowl; Thick-billed Green Pigeon; Greater Flameback; Blue-headed Racquettial; Blue-naped Parrot; Olive-winged Bulbul; Pygmy Swiftlet; Ashy-headed Babbler; Palawan Blue-flycatcher; Palawan (Horsfields) Frogmouth; Brown Hawkowl
Rasa Island (Palawan)
You need to go to Narra. It seems to be a little tricky to find the right boatsman to get you to this Island. Unfortunately I forgot to take his name. I got there by a ride with another birder and the driver found the right man who took us to the island. If you want the Mantani Scops Owl you need to be there well after dark (20.00 o’clock to go back is very tight). An evening visit is also good to see the Cockatoo. Cockatoos also fly to the mainland in the early mornings sometimes. (see GPS file for the place). Some boatsman do not want you to stay in the evening. You need to pay the boatsman and also donate for the conservation project.Birds seen:
Coppery Throated Sunbird; Pied Triller; Philippine Cockatoo (50+); Green Imperial Pigeon;
Mantani Scops owl (heard; only glimpsed landing in a tree nearby and taking of within half a second, very unsatisfying).
Mt. Kitanglad (Mindanao)
If Tim is not able to help you out because he is too busy you could also go to Dalmitan via Dalwangan and ask around for Carlito but this takes more time and you could find him guiding other people. Probably you are better off contacting Tim in advance if you go there prime time (feb-march) when other groups also want to go there. If you are lucky you may make it to the lodge the same day as you landed at Cagayan de Oro airport (that is if you arrive in the early afternoon and people expect you so that they have permit and food arranged). If they can pick you up and drive you to Dalwangan and then on to Dalmitan (see GPS map for an idea of the distances).Birds seen:
Philippine Hawk-cuckoo; Colasisi; Grey hooded Sunbird; Brown Shrike; Grey Wagtail; Tawny Grassbird; Straited Grassbird; Long tailed Shrike; Long-tailed Bushwarbler (h); Chestnut Munia; Barred Honeybuzzard; Yellow vented Bulbul; Olive capped Flowerpecker; Elegant Tit; Montain Whiteeye; Sulphur billed Nuthatch; Cinnamon and Black Fantail; Brown Tit-babbler; Barn Swallow; White-heads Swiftlet (1); White-cheeked Bulfinch; Cinnamon Ibon; Mindanao White-eye; Apo Sunbird; Apo Myna; McGreggor’s Cuckooshrike; Yellow-breasted Fruitdove; White bellied Munia; Whiskered Treeswift; Plain Bushhen (h); Philippine Coucal (h); Bukidnon Woodcock; Short-tailed Starling; Stripe breasted Rhabdornis; Coppersmith Barbet; Grey streaked Flycatcher; Richards Pipit; Mugimagi Flycatcher; Montane Racquettail; Mindanao Racquettail; Philippine Serpent eagle; Philippine Hawk eagle; Great Philippine Eagle (1); Fire breasted Flowerpecker; Philippine Frogmouth; Mindanao Scopsowl; Red-faced Parrotfinch; Blue capped Kingfisher; Rufous headed Tailorbird; Little Pied Flycatcher; Mountain Verditer Flycatcher; Coleto; Arctic Warbler; White troated Kingfisher; Crested Goshawk; Spangled Drongo; Philippine Nightjar; Eye-browed Trush; Spotted Dove and presumably heard: Giant Scops Owl.
PICOP (Mindanao)
Birds seen:
Minadanao Hornbill; Black naped Oriole; Azure Breasted Pitta; Guiabero; Writhed Hornbill; Philippine Trogon; Grey streaked Flycatcher; White eared Dove; Red-bellied Pitta; Pygmy Babbler; Philippine Oriole; Barred Honeybuzzard; White throated Kingfisher; Oriental Magpie robin; Black and White Triller; White breasted Woodswallow; Yellow vented Bulbul; Philippine Bulbul; Philippine Drongo Cuckoo; Coleto; Spotted Dove; Philippine Coucal; Spangled Drongo; Black-faced Coucal; White-browed Tailorbird; Rufous-fronted Tailorbird; Coppersmith Barbet; Little Spiderhunter; Violet Cuckoo; Black chinned Fruitdove; Pompadour Green Pigeon; Philippine Needletail; Uniform Swiftlet; Philippine Falconet; Large billed Crow; Pygmy Swiftlet; Naked Faced Spiderhunter; Colasisi; Philippine Leafbird; Silvery Kingfisher (2); Guiabero; Straited Swallow; Little Slaty Flycatcher; Rufous Lored Kingfisher; Short-crested Monarch; Yellowish Bulbul; Blue-capped Kingfisher; Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon; Amethyst Dove; Yellow Watlled Bubul; Purple Throated Sunbird; Metallic winged Sunbird; Everetts Whiteeye; Blue Fantail; Olive backed Flowerpecker; Buzzing Flowerpecker; Striped Flowerpecker; Island Swift; Slaty-legged Crake (1 bathing in a pond on the road, not so shy!); Orange bellied Flowerpecker; Black naped Monarch; Philippine Fairy bluebird; Philippine Serpent eagle; Black-bibbed Cuckooshrike; Rufous fronted Babbler; Minanao Wattled Broadbill (2); Rufous Hornbill; Chocolate Boobook; Great eared Nightjar; Rufous Paradise Flycatcher; Lovely Sunbird (minuta ssp); Metallic winged Sunbird; Mindanao Hawkowl (h); Red-keeled Flowerpecker;
Philippine Leafwarbler; Bicolered Flowerpecker; Celestial Monarch (frustratingly heard only while finding one Short crested and Black naped after the other in a good forest flock); Streaked Groundbabbler.
Beach between PICOP and Mangagoy:
Greater Sandplover; Lesser Sandplover; Kentish plover; Rufous-necked Stint; Black headed Gull
Airstrip and surroundings:
Philippine Duck (15+); Common Moorhen; Barn Swallow; Richards Pipit; Chestnut Munia; Snipe spec.; Purple Heron;
Clamorous Reedwarbler; Oriental Reedwarbler; Asian Glossy Starling; Pacific Swallow; Javan Pondheron; Wandering Whistling-duck;
Zitting Cisticola; Yellow Wagtail; Cinnamon Bittern; Woodsandpiper; Grass Owl (several hunting from late afternoon onwards).
Hamut Camp (Luzon)
To give you an idea of the locations here is a projection of the coordinates in Google Earth. Mind that the state of the forest is that of 2003 and not 2007
First stretch from Baliuag to camp 1 is in the open. Better not walk in the hottest time of the day.Sound of Cream-bellied Fruitdove
Sound of Flame breasted Fruitdove
Birds seen:
Tracking up to forest (to camp 1):
Philippine Nightjar; Island Collared Dove; Red turtle Dove; Chestnut Munia; Chestnut headed Bee-eaters; Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (both migrating); Buff banded Rail (GW only); Ruddy breasted Crake; Pygmy Flowerpecker; Olive backed Sunbird; White browed Shama; White-breasted Woodswallow; Pacific Swallow; Pied Bushchat; Singing Bushlark; Pichards Pipit; Barn Swallow; Asian Palmswift; Philippine Coucal; Philippine Bulbul; Yellow vented Bulbul; Oriental Magpie Robin; GW went back a little at a sight for Plain Bushhen and managed to tape one out.
Around camp 1:
Sooty Woodpecker; Whiskered Pitta; Great eared Nightjar; Philippine Hawk-owl; Blue headed Fantail; Luzon Striped Babbler; Pygmy Flowerpecker; Scaly feathered Malkoha; White-fronted Tit (1 flew in nearby but we failed to find it again, GW missed it).
White-lored Oriole (I missed it; GW saw them at the clearing above camp 1); Arctic Warbler; Lemon throated Leafwarbler; Philippine Tailorbird; Olive backed Flowerpecker; Philippine Falconet.
Up to camp 2 and around:
Rufous Hornbill; Scaly Groundthrush; Blackish Cuckooshrike; Blue breasted Flycatcher; Rufous Coucal (3); Luzon Bleeding-heart (1 flushed); Cream-bellied Fruitdove (1); Rabor’s Wrenbabbler; Purple Needletail; Philippine Hawk-owl; Brown-headed Thrush; Green backed Whistler; Philippine Cuckoodove; White eared Dove; Amethyst Dove; Golden fronted Babbler; Snowy browed Flycatcher; Island Thrush (1 just above hunters camp); Yellowish White-eye; Elegant Tit; Blue-headed Fantail; Flame-breasted Fruitdove; Philippine Serpenteagle; Luzon Hornbill; Colasisi; Metallic winged Sunbird; Whiskered Pitta; Philippine Fairybluebird; Yellow-breasted Fruitdove; Philippine Trogon; Stripe-headed Rhabdornis; Bicolored Flowerpecker; Violet Cuckoo; Rufous Paradise Flycatcher; Philippine Hawkeagle;
Down again from camp 1:
Lesser Coucal; Crested Myna; Green-faced Parrotfinch (2); Pied Harrier; Long-tailed Shrike; Scaly Munia; White-bellied Munia; Blue Rock-thrush; Bright capped Cisticola.