Saturday, August 31, 2013

Week ending 1 Sept - IRRI

After the recent heavy rains associated with typhoon Maring this was a much drier week. An interesting new migrant was a Marsh Sandpiper on Saturday, but little else of note.

Marsh Sandpiper. A very early date for this scarce passage visitor to IRRI.
 White-breasted Waterhen.
Cinnamon Bittern appearing to be moulting into adult plumage.
One of a pair of Long-tailed Shrikes that have taken up residence in the lowland farm for the first time in at least 5 years.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Week ending 11th August - IRRI

Back to the Philippines after our holiday, and lots of rain! The fields are very wet, and all the usual suspects are out and about. A surprise was a Little Grebe nest discovered by Richard soon after I got back. The nest was easy to find but it took me a while to locate the birds themselves. I eventually found an adult and two chicks.

Everything else is as normal. Lots of Rails and Painted Snipe around. Wood Sandpipers are starting to build up, but no other waders yet.

Little Grebe ssp philippensis with two chicks. The first time I've seen them at IRRI, though they have been reported, and photographed by others in my time here. Strangely elusive.
A Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron by a rice paddy in the early morning.
Fan-tailed Cisticola
Male Painted Snipe...
...and a female.
White-throated/ Brown-breasted Kingfisher with a cloud of midges.
Buff-banded Rail
Common Moorhen