Rockjumper Birding Tours - Netfugl.dk

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Books to bring
The bird book to bring along is “A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines” by R.S. Kennedy, P.C.
Gonzales, E. C. Dickinson, H. C. Miranda, jr. and T. H. Fisher. Oxford 2000.
An invaluable book, with great illustrations, detailed distribution maps and, not least, a very
thorough species description with habits, voice, status, and even exact distribution for each of the
many endemic subspecies in the different islands.
We were lucky to have one of the authors of the book, Timothy H. Fisher, along as our trip leader,
so expert information on the birds was at close hands. As might any author, Tim often talked about
the few errors in the book, and the much-debated issue in Philippine birds as to whether certain
subspecies should be recognized as full species or not. The book is rather conservative in this matter
– but, during recent years, a number of subspecies in the book are now generally accepted to have
full species status.
Weather conditions
May and June are considered to be the hottest months of the year in the Philippines. This is just
before the rainy season starts. And practically all the wintering migrants are gone. So, it did not
seem to be the perfect time of the year to visit the Philippines. However, this was our only opportunity
in a busy schedule, so we decided to take the chance. Without a doubt, we were very lucky.
The weather was dry and sunny almost the entire trip, bird activity was quite high in spite of the hot
time of the year, and we just avoided the rainy season! Only in Mindanao, Negros and Bohol we
had a few afternoon showers after fine, sunny mornings (Mt. Kanla-on, Mt. Kitanglad and Mt.
Sinaka), but according to Tim, this is the normal situation all year round.
Practically, all our time in Luzon, Palawan, Cebu and even Bislig in Mindanao was dry and sunny –
a very lucky situation. In fact, it had just cleared after several days of heavy showers prior to our
arrival in both Palawan and Bohol.
On the very last day of the trip, June 8 th , when we had returned from Mindanao to Manila in Luzon
to fly home in the evening, it was pouring down, and the rainy season had started!
Acknowledgements
Our acknowledgments should all be given to Timothy Fisher and his staff of local guides, drivers
and porters, who, together, contributed so much to make this trip such a complete success.
Thanks to Adam Riley and Bob Dermer, for proofreading and additions to this trip report.