Maquiling, Laguna,
Luzon, Philippines

29th March 2009
0530 – 1500 hours
Sunny and humid

Birders:
Tere' Cervero
John Morrison
Alex Tiongco

In Search of the Rhabdornis in Maquiling

John Morrison of WWF - Washington D.C. was in search of at least one member of the Rhabdornis family . So we thought bringing him to the Mt. Maquiling Forest trail in UPLB would be a good place. As if on cue, two striped-headed rhabdornis flew in as we were setting up the scope in front of the tall naked tree just outside the TREES Hostel. One displayed itself in different angles and soon enough, a few other species flew into their favorite "lookout" tower - Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Coppersmith Barbet, Bar-bellied Cuckoo- shrike.

It was an auspicious start and the day went pleasantly well as we trundled up to Peak 1. Although some endemics were not seen along the trail, John was happy to do the birdwalk with us and take in the beauty of Mt. Maquiling. He will have a few more Philippine endemics to look up , on his next visit.

Birdlist: Forest Trail

1) Chinese Goshawk 2
2) Crested Serpent-eagle 2
3) White-eared Brown-dove (HO)
4) Black-chinned Fruit-dove (HO)
5) Colasisi (HO)
6) Phil Hawk-owl (HO)
7) Indigo-banded Kingfisher 1
8) White-throated Kingfisher 1
9 Spotted Wood-kingfisher (HO)
10) Blue-tailed Bee-eater 30
11) Coppersmith Barbet 2
12) Phil Pygmy Woodpecker 1
13) Pacific Swallow x
14) Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike 18
15) Pied Triller 3
16) Ashy Minivet 4
17) Yellow-vented Bulbul 10
18) Yellow-wattled Bulbul (HO)
19) Philippine Bulbul 1
20) Balicasiao (HO)
21) Large-billed Crow 1
22) Sulphur-billed Nuthatch 1
23) Stripe-headed Rhabdornis 2
24) White-browed Shama 2 (pair)
25) Grey-backed tailorbird (HO)
26) Grey-streaked Flycatcher 3
27) Grey Wagtail 1
28) Brown Shrike 20
29) Coleto 4
30) Purple-throated Sunbird 3
31) Naked-faced Spiderhunter 1
32) Red-keeled Flowerpecker 3
33) Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 2
34) Pygmy Flowerpecker 2

Grasslands across the Dairy:
1430 – 1500 H

35) Barred Rail 1
36) Red Jungle-fowl 1 female
37) Spotted Bottonquail 2 (a pair)
38) Lesser Coucal 1
39) Philippine Coucal 1
40) Black-naped Oriole 1
41) Tawny Grassbird (HO)
42) Striated Grassbird 1
43) Bright-capped Cisticola 3
44) Scaley-breasted Munia 30