La Mesa finale

The traffic getting there seemed busier than usual, but I was up at my favourite spot by 06:00 and almost immediately saw movement on the path in front of me.

It was my first ever Pitta, an adult Red-Bellied, just on the edge of the path, pumping its tail, then moving just a few feet into the leafy ground about 10-12ft from me. I watched it for nearly 10 minutes in the rather low light, no chance of getting a picture, but over the moon.

I was about to move on when another birder arrived, Nick a local guide was waiting for a group of 4 people in search of the Ashy Thrush, Pittas and anything else he could show them. After some time the others did show up and we all walked on slowly in the mini forest, Nick picking up Grey-Backed Tailorbird, Pygmy and Red-Keeled Flowerpecker, along with the usual Pied Fantails, Black-naped Orioles, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, Lowland White-Eye, Golden Bellied Flyeaters, plus calls I missed of Mangrove Blue Flycatcher and Hooded Pitta.

Nick went on ahead and Mel then beckoned us to catch up as he had lured the Ashy Thrush out and oh wow did it show well, for 15 minutes allowing me to get 3 half decent record shots with my iphone, the bird frequently gave the contact call I had likened to Goldcrest, so do suspect there are several still present at the site.

A great last morning, thanks to Nick for allowing me to tag along for an hour or so, and great to meet Mel Tan and Dennis from Borneo, hope to see you all again.

Ashy Ground Thrush - 6th Dec La Mesa

Ashy Ground Thrush - 6th Dec La Mesa

Ashy Ground Thrush - 6th Dec La Mesa

Las Pinas Paranque - Freedom Island

I need a few days to compile notes and photographs from my visit on the 5th Dec, but with our homeward flight due in just over 24 hours, it may be a few days before I can upload.

Just one morning at the site gave just a taster,  next visits will no doubt provide lifers, as this time several calls heard without seeing the birds.....happens to me alot.

Great Egrets

Grey-Tailed Tattler

Greenshank & Marsh Sandpiper

Greenshank, Redshank & Marsh Sandpiper

I want to stay positive about the site, but also feel anyone visiting for the first time should prepare themselves for a quite shocking amount of rubbish, it lies everywhere, from the beach to the mangroves and is over ankle deep throughout. It screams a mercy message from the wildlife to all the Philippine people that they must change the behaviours of all who drop rubbish into the rivers throughout the country, or face a future without wildlife.

The birds I saw on the beach were great, but until there is a huge cultural swing in attitudes away from dropping rubbish, it will take an army of people to pick up the rubbish weekly just to stay on top of the problem.. I am encouraged by a widespread awareness campaign about bringing your own bag when shopping, but frankly the vast sprawling squatter communities whom I see as major culprits, appear to need much more than polite awareness campaigns.

May the Government have the sense to preserve, clean up and protect this potentially wonderful site.

Nearly Candaba

It was a brave attempt and we got to the surrounding areas, but time limitation and getting the car stuck in deep mud on the West side of the reserve was not helpful. Thanks to two kindly local fishermen and another chap, they managed to push us out and we had so little time left we decided to just come on back to Fairview.

Despite this I got two lifers in the form of Oriental Skylark and a fly by Plain Martin, so one shouldn't complain. Of course I also saw flocks of Long-toed Stint, several Paddyfield Pipit, numerous Pied Bushchat & Zitting Cisiticola, loads of Marsh & Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Black Winged Stilt, Little-ringed Plover, all 4 common White Egrets, Great in large numbers, masses of Whiskered Terns, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Striated and Tawny Grassbirds, Yellow Bittern, Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater, Yellow Wagtail, White Browed Crake, Buff Banded Rail, White-Breasted Waterhen and untickable views of 2 Snipe in flight.

Paddyfield Pipit

Long-toed Stint

Little, Intermediate & Great Egret following farmer

Hundreds of Great Egrets

Pied Bushchat female

Egrets & Whiskered Terns

I also found an enormous flock of 3000+ Philippine Duck, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, plus a few Tufted Duck and Eurasion Wigeon.

Duck flock close up  - Philippine Duck, Shoveler & Garganey

The whole duck flock - Far left with Arayat beyond

Middle Left

Middle right

Far right - Candaba reserve so near but so far