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