Greetings

Unless otherwise specified very little post processing is done to the images - cropping, some sharpening, adjusting the brightness/contrast settings, adjusting the saturation and occasionally lightening or darkening.

These photographs are the personal properties of Bob & Cynthia Kaufman. Please do not reproduce, copy, download or print without a written permission from us.

We may be contacted at ornithographer@yahoo.com

Thanks for viewing our blog.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Philippine Eagle - Pithecophaga jefferyi

The Philippine Eagle is among the rarest birds in the world. In terms of size it is also considered the largest eagle. To see this raptor in the wild is in the bucket list of die-hard birdwatchers. It was therefore a privilege for me and my wife to see not just one, but three - a whole family - of these eagles flying free in the forests of Mt. Apo in Davao province.

At first we were reluctant to go the site where these huge birds roam because of several factors: 1) we thought that the fees involved were somewhat prohibitive, 2) the fickle weather - it had been raining hard two days before our intended date of arrival and 3) military activity in the area due the presence of rebels. After some serious deliberations, consultations with our guide, Pete Simpson, and lots of prayers, we decided to go. The rewards were way beyond our expectations! As I mentioned earlier, we saw both parents and the eaglet - something that other groups did not see. Not only that we daw the magnificent raptors within 2 hours of our stay there, whereas others had to wait for almost a whole day just to see just one of the parent eagles. The weather was beautiful and we never saw a single military personnel. The fees, as we learned later, were justifiable - the local tribe imposed that amount to limit access to the site so as to protect the eagle family especially the young one which was still in the nest.

In celebration of the Philippine Eagle Week (first week of June) allow me to feature our photographs of this majestic bird:


immature philippine eagle, pithecophaga jefferyi
The eaglet
Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi
An adult eagle photographed by Cynthia with only a 420mm lens, handheld!
Philippine Eagle

Philippine Eagle

Please click on the images to see a larger view. Thanks!

Thanks to Pete Simpson for bringing us to the site and to the local Barangay and Bagobo Tribe for their hospitality.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis

When news came out that a Black-necked Grebe was seen in a fish pond in Laoag City birders from the greater MetroManila area were excited. Quite a number of them traveled the 500 km distance just to see this rarity. My wife and I were among them. We were honestly quite surprised at how uncommon this bird was in this part of the world - and that birders would drive such long distance just to see it. Considering that this one wasn't even in its beautiful breeding plumage.

For Cynthia and myself, this would no longer be a lifer for us having seen it quite a number of times in California.

The Black-necked Grebe, known as Eared Grebe in North America is the most abundant grebe in the world occurring in all continents except Australia and Antartica. Those that inhabit northeastern Asia migrates in winter to Southern China and Taiwan. In the Philippines it had only been recorded twice - the first one back in 1929 in Laguna de Bay and the second - this one in Laoag City.

Laoag - non-breeding
December 31, 2013
Canon 5D Mk III, 500mm+1.4X (700mm)
ISO-640, f9, 1/640


Black-necked Grebe

California - non breeding
December 30, 2006
Canon 30D, 500mm+1.4X (700mm), tripod
ISO-250, f9, 1/640


Black-necked Grebe

California - breeding
April 4, 2005
Canon 20D, 500mm+1.4X (700mm)
ISO-200, f8, 1/500


Black-necked Grebe