Green-faced Parrotfinch - Erythrura viridifacies

Last January, 2013, word got around the birding community that Green-faced Parrotfinches were seen at a mountainside in Samal, Bataan province. The person who saw them was Stinson, an employee of Dr. Joey Soriano, who in turn informed his co-members at the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP). 

This species is very seldom observed and is classified as uncommon and vulnerable according to Birdlife.org. Prior to this year, this Philippine endemic was last seen in 2008 at Alcoy Forest in the island of Cebu. Although mainly a resident of Luzon, there were several sightings in the islands of Panay and Negros as well. It has been said that before World War II, these colorful finches were captured by the thousands and sold on the streets of Manila with some even shipped to San Francisco for the caged bird trade. (source: birdlife.org)

Scientists concluded that this recent irruption (a sudden increase in number) was due to the flowering bamboo trees in the mountains of Bataan.

About 5 inches (12-13 cm) in length, these birds are entirely green except for bright red upper tail coverts and tails. Females are similarly colored and the only distinguishing characteristic is that they have shorter tails and show some buff on their bellies and vents. The bills of both male and female are thick and dark grey in color.

Needless to say, such rarity brought birders to Bataan with the hope of seeing and even photographing the Green-faced Parrotfinches. Our first attempt on January 21st was a heartbreaker. We saw about seven parrotfinches but they were across a ravine that even with my long lens I still was unable to get a good photo.

However, luck was with us on our second trip five days later. The birds were so near that at times I had to step back to a get full view of them.

For the stories about these two trips to Bataan, please see here and here.

Canon 7D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-400, f6.3, 1/400
handheld

Canon 5D2, 100-400 @ 400mm
ISO-640, f5.6, 1/400
handheld

Canon 7D, 300mm +1.4X (420mm)
ISO-400, f7.1, 1/400
handheld

Indigo-banded Kingfisher - Ceyx cyanopectus

Villa Escudero in Tiaong, Quezon province is one of the places where sightings of this uncommon Philippine endemic is almost guaranteed. Lately, however, a very confiding couple has been seen regularly at the La Mesa Ecopark in Quezon City. Both male and female were so oblivious of its "audience" that birders and bird photographers had a heyday taking pictures of both.

Indigo-banded Kingfishers are small (about 5-1/2 inches) brightly colored birds that inhabits forest streams and ponds where they hunt for tiny fish and insects. Their distinguishing marks are blue bands across their breasts, two for the male (and forming a heart shaped rufous center) and one for the female. They are found in Luzon and Mindoro and another subspecies in Negros, Panay and Cebu.

Indigo-banded Kingfisher - Ceyx cyanopectus - Male
La Mesa Ecopark,  October 15, 2013

Canon 5D Mk III, 500mm+1.4X, half gimbal on tripod
ISO-800, f5.6, 1/30

Indigo-banded Kingfisher - Ceyx cyanopectus - Female
La Mesa Ecopark, October 26, 2013

Canon 5D Mk III, 500mm+1.4X, half gimbal on tripod
ISO-3200, f5.6, 1/50

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius

American Kestrels are not difficult to find in Southern California. We saw them in the different parks and nature reserves. For a raptor it has a beautiful coloring, especially that of a male. They are the smallest members of the Falcon family in North America although their range extends all the way to South America. It's diet consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice and an occasional small bird like a sparrow.

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
Peck Road Water Conservation Park, Arcadia, California
December 3, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-200, f/8, 1/500, handheld

Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin

Sycamore Canyon is a small park in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Whittier, California. Despite its proximity to urban areas and to the freeway, it harbors a number of bird species.  One of these is the Allen's Hummingbird.

Allen's Hummingbirds always pose an identification problem because of its similarity with the Rufous Hummingbird which shares its range and habitat. Both have the striking rufous coloring and bright red gorget. However, Allen's have green feathers on its head, upper back and rump. They also have a more limited range in the western USA and Mexico. It is not unusual to find these colorful birds in urban areas. Next to the very common Anna's, Allen's are probably the other hummingbird one can easily find in southern California.

Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin
Sycamore Canyon, Whittier, California
April 30, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X, handheld
ISO-100, f7.1, 1/400

Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivora

Acorn Woodpeckers are the most common woodpeckers in California. They were so named because of their habit of storing acorns in crevices and holes of trees, most of which they themselves drill. These birds are quite noisy with their parrot-like croaking. Another peculiar habit of Acorn Woodpeckers is their communal nesting. Several females lay eggs in a single nest and the whole community - including the males and juveniles - take turns in raising the chicks.

Acorn Woodpeckers live year-round in oak and pine-oak woodlands of western and southwestern USA all the way down to Central America.

Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivora
Irvine Regional Park, California
February 9, 2008

Canon 20D, 300mm lens, handheld
ISO-400, f8, 1/1000

Spotted Wood Kingfisher - Actenoides lindsayi

This beautiful kingfisher had eluded us ever since we came to the Philippines in 2010. In October of 2011, sightings of a Ruddy Kingfisher were reported at the Loyola Grand Villas - a place not far from where we live. It was while staking out for that kingfisher that we saw the Spotted Wood instead. A cooperative one at that! It was some sort of redemption from all the frustrations we experienced in looking for this bird. I was so glad that I wrote a "parable" about it. 

The Spotted Wood Kingfisher is endemic to the Philippines and can be found in Luzon, Panay and Negros islands. The male is more colorful than the female with bright aqua blue crown and cheek stripe. They prefer the forests staying mostly in the dark recesses.

Spotted Wood Kingfisher - Actenoides lindsayi - female
Loyola Grand Villa, Quezon City
October 17, 2011

Canon 5D Mk II, 500mm+1.4X (700mm)
ISO-2500, 1/80, f6.3

Spotted Wood Kingfisher - Actenoides lindsayi - male
La Mesa Ecopark, Quezon City
October 15, 2013

Canon 5D Mk III, 500mm+1.4X (700mm)
ISO-3200, 1/15, f7.1

Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna

Although Anna's Hummingbirds are very common in Southern California, it is very seldom that you see the gorgeous gorget of the male. It was sheer serendipity that I saw one at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. For the full story please visit my other blog: Anna's Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbirds range throughout the Pacific Coast of the United States. They are the most common hummingbird one will encounter in this area. They readily come to hummingbird feeders and even cultivated gardens. They are mostly green and grey but the adult male when seen in the right light shows off an iridescent reddish pink gorget.

Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, California
January 19, 2009

Canon 40D, 300mm+1.4X, handheld
ISO-400, f5.6, 1/160

Flame-colored Tanager - Piranga bidentata

We were at Madera Kubo enjoying the hospitality of Cora Lansky. Cora, a Filipina married to a retired U.S. Navy man, owns this beautiful B & B in Southeastern Arizona. Cora was telling us about the birds that frequently visit the feeders that she placed around their inn. "We have a Flame-colored Tanager that comes to the feeder everyday", she told us. My wife and I almost fell from our seats as we implored her to show us this rarity. Cora took us to feeders at the side of their building where a tiny stream flows. "There!" she smiled as she pointed to the bright orange bird.

Flame-colored Tanagers are rare visitors to Southeast Arizona and Southwestern Texas. These are tropical birds that ranges from Mexico to Panama. Like the other species in the Tanager family, they are brightly-colored birds that prefer pine oak and conifer forests.

Flame-colored Tanager - Piranga bidentata
Madera Canyon, Arizona
July 4, 2008

Canon 40D, 500mm+1.4X (700mm) on a tripod
ISO-1600, 1/500, f8

Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus

The time we unexpectedly saw the Eurasian Wigeon at Tewinkle Park in Costa Mesa was also the time we had really close-up views of the Hooded Merganser. Not very often seen in Southern California, it was always a delight to find them on city parks. A couple of years later we also saw four females at the Almansor Park in Alhambra.

Hooded Mergansers are so named because of the elaborate crests praticularly those of the males. When fully erect, the white plumage framed by black feathers really stands out. The female's crest on the other hand is bright rufous in color and looks like it was permanently windblown. Hooded Mergansers are fairly common in NorthAmerica. They prefer freshwater ponds and rivers. They nest in tree cavities and the precocious ducklings jump from the tree to the ground just one day after they were hatched.

Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus - male
Tewinkle Park, Costa Mesa, California
March 12, 2007

Canon 30D, 500mm+1.4X (700mm) on a tripod
ISO-400, 1/500, f7.1

Hooded Merganser - female

Tewinkle Park, Costa Mesa, California

March 12, 2007

Canon 30D, 500mm+1.4X (700mm) on a tripod

ISO-400, 1/500, f8

Philippine Duck - Anas luzonica

The very best place to see Philippine Ducks is at the Candaba Wetlands. Depending on the season, hundreds, even thousands, congregate on this marshy area. It was a surprise to my wife and I when we visited Caylabne Resort in Cavite that one of the staff informed us that there was a flock of Philippine Ducks in the "pond". We made a short hike through some forest and at the edge was indeed a pond. And yes, there was a flock of Philippine Ducks there.

Philippine Ducks are endemic to the Philippines. They can be found in freshwater marshes, shallow lakes and on bays. Their distinguishing mark is the bright cinnamon head and neck with a black crown and stripe across the eyes not unlike those ancient Egyptian portraits.

Philippine Duck - Anas luzonica
Caylabne Bay Resort, Cavite
August 18, 2012

Canon 5D Mark II, 500mm+1.4X (700mm) on a tripod
ISO-200, 1/400, f6.3

Northern Red Bishop - Euplectes franciscanus

Another unusual bird in Southern California is the Northern Red Bishop. There were several sightings of this species in at least two different places: the ponds south of Eaton Canyon Park in Pasadena, and at the Santa Fe Dam. Those in the former were more skittish and preferred to stay at a distance. It was at Santa Fe that I had close encounters with this very colorful bird. I was looking for the Clay-colored Sparrows when I heard a commotion behind me. I turned and was surprised (shocked would be a better description) to find the bright red male Bishop staring at me.

Northern Red Bishops are native of central Africa. South of the equator, they are replaced by the aptly named but similarly plumaged Southern Red Bishop. The population in the Los Angeles area probably was a result of some escaped cage birds settling in the areas mentioned above. Males have gorgeously red and black pinata-like feathers while females are drab brown and can easily be mistaken for a sparrow.

Northern Red Bishop - Euplectes franciscanus - male
Santa Fe Dam, Irwindale, California
October 1, 2008

Canon 40D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm) handheld
ISO-400, 1/400, f7.1

Northern Red Bishop - Euplectes franciscanus - female

Santa Fe Dam, Irwindale, California

December, 30, 2008

Canon 40D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm) handheld

ISO-320, 1/500, f8

Taveta Weaver - Ploceus castaneiceps

When news about a Taveta Weaver seen at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, California, spread in the internet, I wasted no time going there. After all, this bird was not supposed to be in Southern California so most likely it was an escapee. It didn't take me long to spot it as it fed not that far from the sanctuary's parking lot. Sadly, just about a week later, no more sightings had been reported of this lovely African species.

Taveta Weavers are native to Kenya and Tanzania. Because of its gorgeous golden color it is popular among cage bird enthusiasts and zoo keepers. As is common among weavers, it builds an intricate hanging nest usually over small bodies of water. Its food consists mainly of seeds and grass.

Taveta Weaver - Ploceus castaneiceps
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, California
January 2, 2008

Canon 20D, 100-400 zoom lens set at 400mm, handheld
ISO-400, 1/320, f6.3

Mottled Duck - Anas fulvigula

My wife and I were driving along the Florida state highway near Orlando whenI saw this lone duck along the road. It looked a little bit different from the very common Mallards. I slowed down and parked the car on the grassy shoulder. "Mottled Duck!" I told Cynthia excitedly. It was a lifer for us.

These ducks can be found along the Gulf Coast from south Alabama to northern Mexico. The nominate subspecies inhabits south Georgia and the Florida peninsula. They look similar to female Mallards and had been known to interbreed with that species. They feed by dabbling in shallow waters or by grazing on land.

Mottled Duck - Anas fulvigula
Orlando, Florida
April 6, 2009

Canon 40D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm) handheld
ISO-500, 1/250, f10

Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope

Our main target in going to Tewinkle Park in Orange County was the Yellow-throated Warbler, a tiny songbird not usually found in Southern California. The skies were overcast and did not bode well for our quest. The very first bird we saw was a duck with a red head so I triumphantly declared to my wife as "Redhead!" Getting closer, I noticed the orangey spot on its forehead. "Make that Eurasian Wigeon" I sheepishly told Cynthia. Actually, that should be a very good reason to celebrate inasmuch as this duck is also considered a rarity in the US.

Eurasian Wigeon, as the name implies, are very common in Europe and Northern Asia. In recent years they have increased in numbers along both Eastern and Western coasts of North America. It had been known to hybridize with less colorful American Wigeon. They are usually found in shallow ponds (such as the one at Tewinkle Park) feeding on pond weeds, aquatic plants and grass.

Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope
Tewinkle Park, Costa Mesa, California
March 10, 2007

Canon 30D, 500+1.4X (700mm) on a tripod
ISO-400, 1/800, f10

In comparison, the American Wigeon, which is very common in North America, seems drabber but still  has a beauty of its own. This pair was photographed in a city park.

American Wigeon - Anas americana
Almansor Park, Alhambra, California
March 15, 2005

Canon EOS Digital Rebel, 300mm+1.4X (420mm) handheld
ISO-200, 1/500, f8

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa

It was a rainy December day back in 2009. The wet weather did not deter my wife and I from visiting Almansor Park in Alhambra to look for birds. Going through the squishiest, muddiest grassy area in the park, we were rewarded by one of the most colorful ducks in the world: the Wood Duck!

Wood Ducks are found in North America and in some areas are local migrants. They are unique because they nest in tree holes usually above a body of water - ponds or freshwater marshes or occasionally city parks lagoons.

Wood Duck - Aix sponsa
Almansor Park, Alhambra, California
December 12, 2009

Canon 30D, 100-400 @ 400mm
ISO-800, 1/160, f5.6 handheld

Nene - Branta sandvicensis

The very first time Cynthia and I visited the Big island of Hawaii in 2005, we were lucky to see the endemic Nene (also known as Hawaiian Goose). The birds - there were about four them - were so tame and were apparently used to people that they all hang out by the parking lot of Mt. Kilauea crater. One Nene even had the audacity to chase my wife, perhaps hoping for some handouts. Unfortunately on our return trip in 2011 we never saw any.

The Nene is the state bird of Hawaii and is an endemic species. It's name was presumably derived from its soft call. Despite their being accustomed to human presence, the Nene is the rarest and most endangered goose in the world. Only a few individuals survive in the islands of Kauai, Maui and the Big Island.

Nene - Branta sandvicensis
Mt. Kilauea Crater National Park, Hawaii
September 19, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-400, 1/250, f6.3 handheld

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis

One of the most ubiquitous birds in North America is the Canada Goose. They are found practically everywhere - near ponds, lakes, backyards - and in some places are even considered as pests. Although they are considered as "trash birds" I always make it a point to take photos of this species everytime we visit the United States.

Canada Geese are unmistakable with their long black necks and a white cheek patch. Recently though there was a split which made the Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) a separate species. Cackling Geese are generally smaller in size and has shorter necks and bills than the Canada Geese.

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
Legg Lake, South El Monte, California
March 26, 2011

Canon 5D MkII, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-400, 1/400, f7.1 handheld

Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii
Los Angeles Arboretum, Santa Anita, California
February, 13, 2008

Canon 30D, 100-400mm at 310mm
ISO-400, 1/800, f10

Wandering Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna arcuata

It was our very first birding sortie of the year 2011. My friend Neon and I spent an unseasonably warm day at the Candaba Wetlands. At the end of the day, I chalked up four lifers one of which was this lovely Wandering Whistling Duck.

These waterbirds are so named because of the whistling sound coming from their wings when they fly and their distinctive, shrill calls. Wandering Whistling Ducks inhabit the tropical and subtropical wetlands of Australia, New Guinea, Borneo and Indonesia. They are common residents in the Philippines.

Wandering Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna arcuata
Candaba Wetlands, Pampanga
January 4, 2011

Canon 5D MkII, 500mm+1.4X (700mm) handheld from car window
ISO-100, 1/400, f6.3

Palawan Peacock Pheasant - Polyplectron napoleonis

One of the places where the endemic Palawan Peacock Pheasant is almost guaranteed to be seen is at the area near the Ranger's station at the Puerto Princesa Underground River Park. This particular male had been accustomed to human presence over the course of time. The locals say that this bird had been here for about 14 years now. Hopefully it will find a mate so that it can propagate its kind at this tourist spot.

This species is endemic to the island of Palawan. Its status is considered vulnerable due to the clearance of lowland forests which it inhabits. As is typical of this family, the males are more colorful than the females. The females are smaller, duller, generally brown with indistinct buff markings.

Palawan Peacock Pheasant - Polyplectron napoleonis
Puerto Princesa Underground River Park, Palawan
May 16, 2013

Canon 5D Mk II, 500mm, gimbal head on a tripod.
ISO-6400, 1/13, f4

Kalij Pheasant - Lophura leucomelanos

We were told that there are a lot of birds at the Volcano National Park at the Big Island of Hawaii. True enough, the very first bird we saw was a Kalij Pheasant - another introduced species whose population had increased rapidly. It was a lifer for us. They were quite plentiful at the park - we saw them again when we returned two days later.

These colorful ground dwellers are a native of south Asia ranging from the Himalayan forests to western Thailand. It was introduced to the Big Island of Hawaii in 1962. 

Kalij Pheasant - Lophura leucomelanos
Volcano National Park, Hawaii
March 27, 2012

Canon 5D Mk II, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-1600, 1/1000, f5.6, handheld
available light

The female lacks the bright blue coloring on the neck and has a scaly brown plumage. 

(Some individuals were banded by the Park Rangers to monitor the population).

Grey Francolin - Francolinus pondicerianus

One of the surest ways to see a Grey Francolin is at the vicinity of the Mauna Lani Hotel in the Big Island of Hawaii. We were looking for a place to park our rented car when Cynthia shouted, "there it is!" I quickly stopped the car next to the sidewalk. My wife grabbed the camera lying in the back seat and fired away. 

The last time we saw this bird it was at the grassy area between the hotel building and the beach. We were surprised (and relieved) that this time we were able to see our target bird just next to the parking lot!

Grey Francolins are found in the grasslands and scrublands of South Asia. In 1958 this species was introduced to all the main islands of Hawaii but it was on the Big Island that they became more common.

Grey Francolin - Francolinus pondicerianus
Kona, Hawaii
March 28, 2012

Canon 5D Mk II, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-100, 1/640, f6.3 from car window

California Quail - Callipepla californicus

We started doing bird photography late in 2004. By early 2005 we were so excited about our newfound hobby that whenever we had the chance we travelled outside the Los Angeles area to look for birds. One of the places we went to was Kern County, a rural patch in southeastern California. We were surprised to see this (usually skittish) California Quail sitting nonchalantly on a fence post.

California Quails are quite common in California and the Northwest. They usually move around in coveys and have a very distinct and loud call: pi-pit-kan.

California Quail (Callipepla californicus)
Kern County, California
April 20, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm) 
ISO-200, 1/400, f7.1
taken from car window

Plain Chachalaca - Ortalis vetula

Cynthia was smiling from ear to ear as she showed me the picture of a bird she had just taken. It was a Plain Chachalaca. A lifer for us. This was the first time we birded the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas and we had a blast as we chalked up lifer after lifer!

Chachalacas are large chicken-like bird of Mexico and Central America, it reaches the United States only in southern Texas. Its name comes from its loud raucous calls. - from All about Birds, Cornell Lab of 

Plain Chachalaca - Ortalis vetula
Estero Llano Grande Park, Weslaco, Texas
January 24, 2008

Canon 20D, 300mm handheld
ISO-800, 1/125, f4

Philippine Megapode (Tabon Scrubfowl) - Megapodius cumingii

We had a hard time photographing this bird at the forest near the Ranger's station at the Puerto Princesa Underground River Park in Palawan. There were two of them trying to find food in the dark understory. After about an hour of stalking and following the movements of these birds - and not getting any good shot at all - the pair eventually ended up in an open area. My wife and I wasted no time in taking advantage of this rare opportunity. Thankfully at least one photo turned out to be acceptable.

The Philippine Megapode or Tabon Scrubfowl (Megapodius cumingii) - is found in Sulawesi, Borneo and the Philippines. In the Philippines there are two subspecies: cumingii which is found in the Palawan group of islands, and pusillus which is endemic to the rest of the Philippine islands. These species are noted for building mounds where they lay their eggs. The natural compost of the ground incubates said eggs. After they hatch the precocial (fully feathered and able to live independently from their parents) chicks claw their way out of the mound.

Philippine Megapode - Megapodius cumingii
Underground River, Sabang, Palawan
May 16, 2013

Canon 5D Mark II, 500mm + 1.4X (700mm) on a tripod
ISO-6400, 1/25, f5.6