Saturday, March 3, 2012

IRRI - 3rd & 4th March

An eventful couple of days. On Saturday a pair of Philippine Hawk-Owls responded to playback and perched in the palm tree in my front garden. They were a bit too far for my flash to illuminate them properly, but it's early days yet.

On Sunday the first ringing session of spring produced an amazing male Siberian Rubythroat. It was caught even before we'd finished setting up the nets, and was a wonderful start to the day. The rest of the morning was always going to be anti-climactic after such a start, but we also ringed Yellow-vented Bulbul (4), Scaly-breasted Munia (3) and Striated Grassbird (1). Birds seen during the day included Peregrine, Common Kestrel, Grass Owl, and Clamorous Reed Warbler with several Philippine Nightjars calling early on.

This cracking male Siberian Rubythroat was the star bird of the day.

Striated Grassbird
A pair of Philippine Hawk-Owls in the palm tree in my front garden

This beautiful moth looks like a Samia canningi (from http://www.thaibugs.com/). Found on Lopez Ave. in Los Banos on Friday evening, I rescued it from the traffic and released it in my garden.
Giant Wood Spider, Nephila maculata. A particularly large female that has taken up residence next to my garage.

5 comments:

  1. The Rubythroat would be a star bird almost any day....

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  2. The Siberian Rubythroat is certainly a star bird! The moth looks beautiful too.

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  3. I've been looking for the Rubythroat for ages, just couldn't believe it when I saw it in the net!

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  4. Nice birds and Atlas moth (Attacus atlas). :)

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  5. Not an Atlas I don't think, nowhere near as large for a start (only about 6 inch wing span), and different pattern...

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