Date: February 04, 2004
Observers: Mike Lu, Carl Oliveros, Marijn Prins & Wouter Thijs

In the early morning of the second of February, Mike picked us up at our pension in Malate.. We drove to the Tambo mudflat reclamation area, where Carl waited us. Birding could start. When we entered the reclamation area, the first birds were already singing in the dark including: Striated Grassbird, Bright-capped Cisticola and Clamorous Reedwarbler. We walked to the first creek, some kind of open sewer coming from Manila, very smelly but good for birding. White-browed Crake, Little Heron, Little ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Little Egret were observed. We followed the creek downstream keeping an eye out for birds. Several species were flying over including: Pacific Golden Plover, Barn Swallow, and Pacific Swallow and some Island Swiftlets. In the distance a Yellow Bittern was sitting in a bush. A Blue Rock Thrush female was observed flying out of the area, not really a species, which you should expect in an area like this, possibly on migration?

Mike, Carl and Wouter looking at the waders in the creek.

We continued downstream and ended up at the first mudflat. Here a lot of waders were present including: Kentish Plover, Red-necked Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Common Greenshank. Several Whiskered terns were foraging over the mudflat. Along the edges, Common Moorhen, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail and some more White-browed Crakes were scurrying round. Several Herons were present including: Little Egret, Intermediate Egret and some more Little Herons. We continued through some bushes to the second Mudflat. Another Bright-capped Cisticola was singing, later joined by a Zitting Cisticola. We arrived at the second mudflat which was also teeming with waders including: some 150 Kentish Plovers, some 100 Red-necked stints, some Little Ringed Plovers and a Greenshank displayed very well.

Second mudflat with a lot of waders and a dog in the distance

In the distance a flock of Great Egrets was landing. In the bushes behind us a skulking warbler turned out to be a Siberian Rubythroat. Two Golden-bellied Flyeaters were singing and also an Arctic Warbler was present. In a pool, some 100m away a Yellow wagtail was foraging as well as a Wood Sandpiper. After this Mudflat, we returned to the car. Two Crested Mynas were sitting on top a crane. At the edge of the reclamation area we encountered a small flock of Scaly-breasted Munias. We got into the car and drove towards Manila Bay. A large flock of Egrets was present consisting of a lot of Intermediate Egrets and some Little Egrets. Some 250 Marsh Sandpipers were roosting in the middle of the bay. In the distance 2 Black-crowned Nightherons shortly displayed, quickly disappearing into the trees again. Over 20 Grey Herons were fishing in the shallows. A White-collared Kingfisher was sitting on a pole in the water. After a while we drove around the bay, to take a look at some of the mudflats at the other side. A lot of Kentish Plovers were present together with some Long-toed stints. A flock of about 40 Common Redshanks was flying by. Two Common Kingfishers were sitting in a bush alongside the water, and flew off immediately loudly calling when we got out of the car. At around 11.00h we decided that it was time to go back, after a nice morning of birding with our friends from Manila, Mike and Carl. We had a very good time with a good introduction to the birds of the Philippines after two days in the country! Mike and Carl, Thank you!!

Wouter Thijs
Marijn Prins
The Netherlands

Species list
	1. Grey Heron 2. Great Egret 3. Intermediate Egret 4. Little Egret 5. Black-crowned Nightheron 6. Yellow Bittern 7. Little Heron 8. Barred Rail 9. Buff-banded Rail 10. White-browed Crake 11. Common Moorhen 12. Pacific Golden Plover 13. Little Ringed Plover 14. Kentish Plover 15. Common Redshank 16. Common Greenshank 17. Wood Sandpiper 18. Common Sandpiper 19. Marsh Sandpiper 20. Red-necked Stint 21. Long-toed Stint	22. Whiskered Tern 23. Zebra Dove 24. Island Swiftlet 25. Common Kingfisher 26. White-collared Kingfisher 27. Barn Swallow 28. Pacific Swallow 29. Yellow-vented Bulbul 30. Blue Rock-Thrush 31. Golden-bellied Flyeater 32. Arctic Warbler 33. Clamorous Reed-Warbler 34. Striated Grassbird 35. Bright-capped Cisticola 36. Pied Fantail 37. Grey Wagtail 38. Yellow Wagtail 39. Brown Shrike 40. Crested Myna 41. Scaly-breasted Munia 42. Treesparrow