Rockjumper Birding Tours - Netfugl.dk

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Tuesday May 24 th :Palawan, morning visit to rice paddies and forest trail at Iwahig Penal Colony,
and to Iwahig Fish Ponds. Afternoon drive to Narra. Late afternoon and evening boat trip to
Rasa Island.
Early departure from Puerto Princesa to Iwahig Penal Colony – a famous birding site, in spite of the
name! At 5.40 am the full moon was setting over the horizon and the sun rising over the rice
paddies – a beautiful morning. Teeming with birds: 4 white heron species, Purple Heron and
Striated Herons, Cinnamon Bitterns, White-browed Crakes, 12 Watercocks, 3 Greater
Painted-snipes. Walking through a semi-dry paddy in a line we flushed a fine Slaty-breasted Rail
and three Blue-breasted Quail. The forest trail was also very productive: excellent views of three
Melodious Babblers, a Palawan endemic, along with Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Ashy-headed
Babbler, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Leafbird, White-vented Shama, Hill
Myna, Greater Flameback, Asian Fairy-Bluebird, Little Spiderhunter, Crested Serpent-
Eagle, Fiery Minivet, a flock of Brown-backed Needletails in the sky, and Hooded Pittas on the
ground. A Common Civet Cat was running along the trail.
Afterwards, we drove to Iwahig Fish Ponds, where we were lucky to find three Chinese Egrets in
breeding plumage, a rare bird, along with waders and a Barred Buttonquail.
Then south to Narra, and checked in at the nice La Vista Lodge at the seaside, ready for lunch.
Erling took a swim in the all too warm sea , and was burned by jellyfish threads.
In the afternoon, Tim had arranged our boat trip to the uninhabited, forest covered “bounty island”
of Rasa, not far from the coast. The aim was to see one of the Philippines most threatened endemic
birds – the critically endangered parrot Philippine Cockatoo. A number of birds are known to
come to roost for the night on this island. We sailed to the north tip of the island, and waited. The
full moon was rising at sunset, and the sea around the beautiful coral reef was calm. In the distance,
over the mainland mountains, there was thundering and lightening. At twilight, the white parrots
silently appeared out of nowhere from the forest, and landed in the dead branches of a large tree.
More and more came in, and eventually 75 birds had turned it into a brilliant, white Christmas tree!
This holy moment was another of the many highlights of this trip.
After dark, we landed on the south side of the island, and managed to tape in and see a fine
Mantanani Scops-Owl. 3-4 other birds were heard calling.
Philippine Cockatoos at night roost on Rasa Island
Palawan Hotel in Narra
Wednesday May 25 th : Palawan, early morning drive from Narra to Puerto Princesa, with stops
along the “Zig-zag Road” and Napson Road. Flight 10.40 am. from Palawan to Negros, via
Manila.