Rockjumper Birding Tours - Netfugl.dk

24
White-cheeked Bullfinch on Mt. Kitanglad
Mindanao Montane Racquet-tail
Thursday June 2 nd : Mindanao. Mt. Kitanglad
After a good sleep in the cold night with clear sky, we walked up to “Central-central Viewpoint”,
which we reached around 7:50 am. On the way up we tried in vain for Bagoba Babbler on different
good sites. This was one of only two or three proper “dips” of possible birds in the places we visited
during the whole trip (also including Ashy Ground-Thrush on Mt. Makiling and (perhaps)
Whitehead’s Swiftlet on Mt. Polis) .
Bob and our local guide Carlito saw an Australasian Grass-Owl hunting over a grass field in the
morning sun – a beautiful sight, according to Bob.
Virtually all day, we stood at central-central viewpoint and waited in vain for the unmentionable,
the big eagle. We tried to keep up the spirits through endless bird-quiz sessions, good fun, and good
mental training. Eventually, we knew all the local raptors and could identify them individually –
Oriental Honey-Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Philippine Serpent-Eagle, Rufous-bellied Hawk-
Eagle, Philippine Hawk-Eagle and Philippine Falconet, but no great Philippine Eagle. The most
important bird of the trip was hanging by a thin thread!
Good birds during the day was another Blue-capped Wood-Kingfisher (a female, in the “Bagoba
Babbler forest”), White-bellied Woodpeckers, Mc Gregor’s Cuckoo-shrike heard, four Rufousheaded
Tailorbird seen well, Yellow-bellied Whistler, ten Stripe-breasted Rhabdornis, Olivecapped
Flowerpecker, Short-tailed Glossy-Starling, White-bellied Munia and, by some, Redeared
Parrotfinch. Adam, Shack and Hoddinott stayed out after dark, and managed to hear the
endemic Mindanao Montane Scops-Owl calling , but to their disappointment, they unfortunately
never managed to locate the bird with the torchlight. They also heard Philippine Frogmouth, four
Giant Scops-Owl, and Great Eared-Nightjar. Meanwhile, Tim, Bob, Erling and Carlito enjoyed a
nice dinner, and the sight of the local Bukidnon Woodcock, roding around the lodge.
Friday June 3 rd : Mindanao. Mt. Kitanglad and drive to Bislig via Davao.
Last morning on Mt. Kitanglad. It was a beautiful, chilly, clear morning, and we were woken up by
the eerie, ringing sound of – not an alarm clock – but our local, roding Bukidnon Woodcock.
After a nice breakfast we made a small walk around the camp and then started to descend the
mountain back to the village. The morning and the walk down produced among others Plain Bush
Hen heard, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher, Long-tailed Shrike, Pied
Bushchat and Coleto; but no Philippine Eagle. We had to leave the mountain without this iconic
bird of the Philippines.