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

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

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

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

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