Saturday, March 15, 2014

Week ending 16th March - IRRI

A more interesting week with a second Peregrine (this time a juvenile) present on the upland farm all week. The dry fields in the same area continue to provide brief glimpses of Blue-breasted Quail mixed in about 50/50 with the Barred Buttonquails.

At staff housing a Pink-necked Green Pigeon gave great views in my back garden, and a Luzon Hawk-Owl visited Fiona's goodbye party on Saturday night.

Female Pink-necked Green Pigeon perched in a small tree in my back garden. The is the first I've seen of this species in the Makiling area, though they are common enough elsewhere, especially at San Juan.

Another female Barred Buttonquail in flight, showing the broad buff upperwing coverts.
Blue-breasted Quail, fairly uniform dark upperparts in flight. Clearly different from the buttonquail!
Juvenile calidus Peregrine on a pylon in the upland farm. This is the first time I've seen two different birds on the farm at the same time.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

5th March - IRRI

Very little change in the fields this week. The temperature is increasing and there are a lot of very dry fields, but as yet few birds are stirring themselves to move. The main birds in the fields are Wood Sandpipers, Whiskered Terns and Brown Shrikes.

Nocturnal birds are becoming more vocal and I hear Philippine Scops, Luzon Hawk-Owl and Philippine Nightjar nightly from my house, and the Philippine Hawk Cuckoos have started up as well.

A flock of Purple Needletails have been haunting the staff housing complex for the last few days.

I have been trying to photograph Buttonquails in flight recently. This is the best effort of the week, a female Barred Buttonquail.
House Swift. Regularly come to drink on the farm ponds.
The Whiskered Terns are ever-present at this time of year.
A very obliging Striated Grassbird.
And of course the Peregrine is still here.