Saturday 12th Oct - IRRI

Typhoon Santi passed through the northern part of Luzon this weekend, threatening lots of rain but not actually delivering much. On Saturday Richard and I continued the search for migrants, with little success. A pair of Plain Bush-hens were the main hightlight.

Later that afternoon I returned and located a Red-necked Phalarope and a Kentish Plover. The phalarope looks overall paler than the first about 2 weeks ago, and I'm fairly sure it's a new bird.

The Red-necked Phalarope was still present on Sunday, and the Kentish Plover count had increased to 3. On the upland farms I relocated 2 of the Little Grebes that were on the experimental station last month (1 adult and 1 juvenile)

A pair of Plain Bush Hens on the Experimental Farm. Not a common sight at IRRI, being much more often seen on the forest edge.

What I believe to be a second Red-necked Phalarope of the autumn..

 .. it appears to be somewhat paler overall than this bird that was in exactly the same field on 29th Sept, less than 2 weeks ago.

Paddyfield Pipit. I'm sure a Richard's is going to turn up soon...

Another Kentish Plover also showed up in the afternoon. This one looks comparatively small-billed, possibly alexandrinus.

 ...by Sunday afternoon there were at least 3, (and this one has a much more robust bill, surely dealbatus).

Cinnamon Bittern

Black-winged Stilt

Typhoon Santi on Friday afternoon. Lots of rain promised, but Saturday wasn't too bad at all. A bit damp to start, but it soon stopped raining, and while the sun didn't show it stayed dry most of the day.