Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

KROB AND CLICK THANKS!


Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) by alabang, on Flickr

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world.[2] It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.[2] In Anglophone Europe it is just called the Swallow; in Northern Europe it is the only common species called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_Swallow

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna
 
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Krob78

When in Doubt, Press the Shutter...
Aug 8, 2012
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The Florida Peninsula
dolina said:
KROB AND CLICK THANKS!


Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) by alabang, on Flickr

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world.[2] It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings. It is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.[2] In Anglophone Europe it is just called the Swallow; in Northern Europe it is the only common species called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_Swallow

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna
Wow! Another excellent image Paolo!
 
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Thanks Ken and Click.


Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) by alabang, on Flickr


Little Egrets eat fish, insects, amphibians, crustaceans, and reptiles. They stalk their prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling its feet to disturb small fish. They may also stand still and wait to ambush prey.

Philippine Birds

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Egret

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/400 ƒ/9 ISO 160 800mm

===========

Story behind the photo:

I traveled to Los Banos, Laguna hoping that the Chestnut-cheeked Starling (Agropsar philippensis) would have stuck around the area 11 days after it was last photographed. Alas the fruiting Balete tree from the genus Ficus that fed the Starling had run out of fruit to feed the bird. Good thing my good friend and bird photog Doctor Tirso was available on that family day to bring me around the rice fields which yielded this wonderful image of a bird that I would normally ignore. The light was divine and the subject distance was such that an image of the bird would be worth taking a photo of and share on this forum.

I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I enjoyed that day. :)
 
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Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) by alabang, on Flickr

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_Egret

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/800 ƒ/8 ISO 160 800mm

===========

Thoughts for the day:

As many of you may have seen online or on the telly the Philippines got hit really bad by a Category 5 Super Typhoon by the name of Haiyan/Yolanda.

The mayhem, destruction and death has really weighed on me for the past two weeks.

Just makes you wonder what the future holds for everyone with this being the most deadly Typhoon in the history of my country.
 
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This is a lifer to me.


Untitled by alabang, on Flickr

The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula), also known as the Oriental Lark or Small Skylark, is a species of skylark found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Like other skylarks, it is found in open grassland - often near waterbodies - where it feeds on seeds and insects.

These skylarks frequently rocket up into the sky, fluttering and singing before descending down to earth. Male Oriental Skylarks may also hover in the air and sing, in order to attract a mate.

Oriental Skylarks are about 16 cm long. They have streaked, yellow-brown upper plumage, with white outer tail feathers and a short crest. Both sexes are similar.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Skylark

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/200 ƒ/9 ISO 160 800mm
 
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dolina said:
This is a lifer to me.


Untitled by alabang, on Flickr

The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula), also known as the Oriental Lark or Small Skylark, is a species of skylark found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Like other skylarks, it is found in open grassland - often near waterbodies - where it feeds on seeds and insects.

These skylarks frequently rocket up into the sky, fluttering and singing before descending down to earth. Male Oriental Skylarks may also hover in the air and sing, in order to attract a mate.

Oriental Skylarks are about 16 cm long. They have streaked, yellow-brown upper plumage, with white outer tail feathers and a short crest. Both sexes are similar.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Skylark

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/200 ƒ/9 ISO 160 800mm

Wow! Great shot.
 
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Jul 29, 2012
17,654
6,350
Canada
serendipidy said:
dolina said:
This is a lifer to me.


The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula), also known as the Oriental Lark or Small Skylark, is a species of skylark found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Like other skylarks, it is found in open grassland - often near waterbodies - where it feeds on seeds and insects.

These skylarks frequently rocket up into the sky, fluttering and singing before descending down to earth. Male Oriental Skylarks may also hover in the air and sing, in order to attract a mate.

Oriental Skylarks are about 16 cm long. They have streaked, yellow-brown upper plumage, with white outer tail feathers and a short crest. Both sexes are similar.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Skylark

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/200 ƒ/9 ISO 160 800mm

Wow! Great shot.

Indeed, Beautiful shot Paolo.
 
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Thank you serendipity and click.


Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) by alabang, on Flickr

The Brown Shrike is a migratory species and ringing studies show that they have a high fidelity to their wintering sites, often returning to the same locations each winter.[20][21][22] They begin establishing wintering territories shortly on arrival and their loud chattering or rattling calls are distinctive. Birds that arrive early and establish territories appear to have an advantage over those that arrive later in the winter areas.[23][24] The timing of their migration is very regular with their arrival in winter to India in August to September and departure in April.[25] During their winter period, they go through a premigratory moult.[20] Their song in the winter quarters is faint and somewhat resembles the call of the Rosy Starling and often includes mimicry of other birds. The beak remains closed when singing and only throat pulsations are visible although the bird moves its tail up and down while singing.[5][26]

The breeding season is late May or June and the breeding habitat includes the taiga, forest to semi-desert where they build a nest in a tree or bush, laying 2-6 eggs.[27]

They feed mainly on insects, especially lepidoptera.[28] Like other shrikes, they impale prey on thorns.

Small birds and lizards are also sometimes preyed on.[29] A white-eye (Zosterops) has been recorded in its larder.[5] They typically look out for prey from a perch and fly down towards the ground to capture them.[30]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Shrike

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntinlupa

Settings: 1/400 ƒ/5.6 ISO 2500 800mm
 
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Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) by alabang, on Flickr

The Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Male: Very colourful feathers.

Female: Less colourful feathers.

Philippine Birds

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_Sunbird

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/250 ƒ/5.6 ISO 320 800mm


====================

Why this awkward pose?

In the first 100 exposure of this bird I have so far, this is the best image to show off the sunbird's colorful throat.

Why did you go birding on a workday?

I went birding on a workday so I could bring my cousin's kids (aged 5 to 17) to a forested area near their sister's home (30km away) as a respite from Category 5 Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. You see these kids are survivors of the said Super Typhoon. Though their homes in Tacloban City just experienced very minor typhoon damage their schools were completely destroyed and many of their friends, classmates and neighbors are among the more than 5,800 dead and more than 1,700 missing.

How can you (yes YOU) can help?

Go to your nearest Red Cross or directly to http://www.redcross.org.ph/donate and donate. Any amount is help.
 
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dolina said:

Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) by alabang, on Flickr

Settings: 1/50 ƒ/5.6 ISO 2500 800mm

I do not know what flower it is. Anyone want to take a stab at it?

Red torch ginger.

from Wikipedia"
Etlingera elatior (also known as Torch Ginger, Ginger Flower, Red Ginger Lily, Torch Lily, Wild Ginger, Combrang, Bunga Kantan, Philippine Wax Flower, Xiang Bao Jiaing, Indonesian Tall Ginger, Boca de Dragón, Rose de Porcelaine, Porcelain Rose) is a species of herbaceous perennial plant[citation needed]. Botanical synonyms include Nicolaia elatior,[1] Phaeomeria magnifica,[1] Nicolaia speciosa, Phaeomeria speciosa, Alpinia elatior, Alpinia magnifica.
 
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Thanks Click Eldar and serendipidy.


Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) by alabang, on Flickr

The Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Male: Very colourful feathers.

Female: Less colourful feathers.

Philippine Birds

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaming_Sunbird

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Ba%C3%B1os,_Laguna

Settings: 1/160 ƒ/5.6 ISO 320 800mm
 
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Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) by alabang, on Flickr

The Brown Shrike is a migratory species and ringing studies show that they have a high fidelity to their wintering sites, often returning to the same locations each winter.[20][21][22] They begin establishing wintering territories shortly on arrival and their loud chattering or rattling calls are distinctive. Birds that arrive early and establish territories appear to have an advantage over those that arrive later in the winter areas.[23][24] The timing of their migration is very regular with their arrival in winter to India in August to September and departure in April.[25] During their winter period, they go through a premigratory moult.[20] Their song in the winter quarters is faint and somewhat resembles the call of the Rosy Starling and often includes mimicry of other birds. The beak remains closed when singing and only throat pulsations are visible although the bird moves its tail up and down while singing.[5][26]

The breeding season is late May or June and the breeding habitat includes the taiga, forest to semi-desert where they build a nest in a tree or bush, laying 2-6 eggs.[27]

They feed mainly on insects, especially lepidoptera.[28] Like other shrikes, they impale prey on thorns. Small birds and lizards are also sometimes preyed on.[29] A white-eye (Zosterops) has been recorded in its larder.[5] They typically look out for prey from a perch and fly down towards the ground to capture them.[30]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Shrike

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muntinlupa

Settings: 1/400 ƒ/5.6 ISO 2500 800mm
 
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Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) by alabang, on Flickr

This is the Black-faced Spoonbill, a very rare bird reported in the news last week.

Read more about it in the link below.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/340837/scitech/science/rare-black-faced-spoonbills-spotted-in-candaba-swamp

===========================

The Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) has the most restricted distribution of all spoonbills, and it is the only one regarded as endangered. Spoonbills are large water birds with dorso-ventrally flattened, spatulate bills.[2] These birds use a tactile method of feeding, wading in the water and sweeping their beaks from side-to-side to detect prey.[3] Confined to the coastal areas of eastern Asia, it seems that it was once common throughout its area of distribution. It has a niche existence on only a few small rocky islands off the west coast of North Korea, with four wintering sites at Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, as well as other places where they have been observed in migration. Wintering also occurs in Cheju, South Korea, Kyushu and Okinawa, Japan, and Red River, Delta Vietnam. More recently, sightings of Black-Faced Spoonbill birds were noted in Thailand, the Philippines, mainland China, and Macau[4] They were classified as an endangered species through IUCN in 2005.[5] Declines in their population are predicted in the future, mainly due to the amount of deforestation, pollution, and other man-made industries.

The Black-Faced Spoonbill population as of 2012 census was recorded at 2,693 birds, with an estimation of 1,600 mature birds. Breeding colonies occur between March and August, on small islands. These birds are known to be crepuscular eaters, using intertidal mudflats.[4]

Conservation efforts have been made, and surveys were taken in order to determine the opinions and awareness of the local residents, residing close to the Black-Faced Spoonbill’s natural habitats.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-faced_Spoonbill

Location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candaba,_Pampanga

Settings: 1/500 ƒ/9 ISO 100 800mm
 
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