3 Lifers from the balcony

We arrived at Manila International on 15th May at 22:30, but due to alleged technical failure, luggage took 2 hours to arrive, which is bad enough any day, but with a 2 year old to look after it was dreadful.

On the 17th we drove up to Baguio, enjoying Oriental Pratincole around Pampanga as they flew over the toll road, a few Bee-Eaters also seen, but could not be sure which of the two species.

It was a long and painful journey due to countless broken down heavy lorries on the toll road and then roadworks on the road to Baguio. On arrival at the apartment, I stood on the balcony and after just a few minutes a flock of 2-3 Elegant Tits, 3 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and several Mountain White-Eye, all passed through the nearby pines.....good start!

The 18th I started 04:30 at Camp John Hay, in the pitch dark, various calls began around 04:50, then the Elegant Tits began appearing around 05:05. I stood under the zip wire, not knowing where the Eco trail was and many Yellow-vented Bulbul called, as it got light I found the trail and stopped at a noisy call, and for an hour tried to see what was making it. With no joy after an hour I walked on down the dip, down the steps and over the small bridge, following the track left until I got to the boardwalk/bridge. There the call kicked off again and with a bit of movement below me, picked up a Tawny Grassbird, mystery solved and I could hear 3-4 in the area.

I paused to take in the habitat around me and captured a few shots of the sunlight spangling through the canopy.

Many twittering calls around me I picked up my first 2-3 Citrine Canary Flycatchers and enjoyed them very much, hoping a better picture chance would present itself over the next 2 visits.

A lone Brown Shrike appeared and disappeared, then following the track to the top near the golf course I came across an agitated pair of Long-tailed Shrike, no doubt nesting nearby.

I then doubled back on myself and waited near the wooden boardwalk, picking up the noisy group of birds again, I checked them and had more Citrine Canary Flycatcher and Elegant Tits. When I got to the top of steps near the Butterfly Farm, I scanned the vegetation below and found my first Blue-Headed Fantail, Chestnut Faced Babbler and numerous more Velvet-Fronted Nuthatch.

I walked the 150-200 yards to the 'Mile High' shops and had a coffee at Mr Beans, which is open from 07:30 which is useful to know when you need extra water, or want to celebrate and reflect on your finds, as did.