Q2 2010 Floats and Funny

 

Q2 2010 Wildlife Subic Bay

 

Subic Bay, Luzon 

Birding in the Philippines is difficult. Many birds have been hunted for their plumage or their meat and consequently are hard to find and extremely shy.

The rainforest in Subic Bay holds a number of species, like Red Malkoha, Coleta, Black-naped Oriole and Several Woodpeckers that I saw regularly, but never managed to catch an image.

Found in town as well as the forest, the Brown Shrike

A Cuckoo, probably oriental, also sometimes seen in a residential area

Green pigeons of the pompadour family gathering for a meal at the end of the day.

I had to work hard, cycle far and wait around for hours, but I saw them: Tarictic Hornbills, only found on Luzon.

The more impressive Rufous Hornbill was very much absent and never heard either...

Blue-throated Bee-eaters at Triboa

A nest of White-breasted Woodswallows on a street lantern

Colasisi, moving fast, flying like bullets                    

 Dollarbird, not so common here

Other wings:

Common Mormon

Great Orange Tip left and Bush Brown right

Common Posy (note the little tails on each wing!)

Small Ring, preferably resting on some dead leaves of the same color

Kingdom of bats

More bats than leaves in these trees. How do they survive? (I mean the trees)

Apparently there are 2 kinds, the Golden Crowned Flying Fox and the Philippine Giant Fruit Bat. Not sure under which flag this one sails.

 

‘Wildlife In Need’

Eagle training at the WIN rescue centre

Serpent Eagles, enjoying their time with the trainer.

Animals that will not be able to return to the wild are trained for educational purposes, or like this Sea Eagle, taught to fly.

Even the skinks of Luzon are shy.

One of many Lycaenidae; look at those blue eyes!