Philippines custom tour (Palawan, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Luzon)

24th April – 8th May 2016

Leaders: Rob Hutchinson

Participant: Hans Jörnvall

Isabela Oriole, Luzon © Rob Hutchinson / Birdtour Asia

The Philippines has an amazing selection of island endemics, and although we find at least 160 on our regular three week tours, the remaining 90 or so currently recognised endemics take much work to locate. After four previous visits this was a very targeted custom tour chasing some of the toughest ones. We started in the metropolis itself with Ashy Thrush easily found before moving onto Palawan where Red-headed Flameback performed brilliantly. Negros was a completely new island and provided a big boost of lifers including the fabulous Flame-templed Babbler, Negros Striped Babbler, and an amazing pair of Yellow-faced Flamebacks, the latter one of the prime targets of the trip. On Cebu it took us just a single afternoon to find Black Shama, ‘Cebu Bulbul’, and a daytime Cebu Boobook. Bohol rarely gives up its specialties easily so we were thrilled with Visayan Wattled Broadbill on the first afternoon, and Visayan Blue Fantail, Yellow-breasted Tailorbird, Northern Silvery Kingfisher and others over the next 1.5 days. We then transferred all the way to north Luzon where the Critically Endangered Isabela Oriole was seen superbly and we had great and unexpected success in seeing Cordillera Ground Warbler where a Cream-bellied Fruit Dove was a bonus. The tour finished with the fantastic spectacle of flocks of Spotted Imperial Pigeons visiting the coast to drink. Although the tour was entirely concentrated on finding around 30 new species and key endemics we still found an impressive 114 endemics and 5 near-endemics. A late afternoon arrival into Manila wasn’t expected to give any birding time but we were soon speeding across the metropolis thanks to relatively light Sunday traffic, and so we decided to use the opportunity to see a couple of easy Philippine endemics even though they weren’t big targets. Heading to the nearby university campus it took a matter of seconds to spot a roosting Philippine Nightjar, and nearby a roosting Philippine Scops Owl peering inquisitively down. After an overnight stay in Quezon City we were at nearby La Mesa Eco park early the next morning with just one target on the radar. Fortunately, this is a great time of year for Ashy Thrush and as soon as you got out the car

we called already hear one singing musically in the distance and we wasted no time in tracking it down for superb views of this strikingly marked Geokichla. With the main target in the bag we enjoyed a few more hours of relaxed birding and were happy to find Grey-backed Tailorbird, Lowland White-eye, Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, Philippine Magpie Robin and Philippine Pied Fantail among the endemics on show, and a showy Hooded Pitta as the non-endemic highlight. It was then time to battle our way through Manila traffic for our flight across to the tropical island of Palawan, and settled in to our luxurious beach resort ready for the next days’ quest.

Hooded Pitta & Ashy Thrush, Quezon City

Red-headed Flameback & Spot-throated Flameback, Palawan Red-headed Flameback is a notorious elusive Palawan endemic, indeed it was missed by most visitors in the days when it was surmised within ‘Greater Flameback’ including on three previous visit by Hans. Thanks to more intensive post-split efforts, it has become a little better known and we set about this morning checking known localities including a nesting site from earlier in the year and the location we had seen it on tour just a few weeks previously. It lived up to its reputation though, and all three hotspots resulted in dips in spite of intense effort. We racked up a nice list of other endemics of course including Blue-headed Racquet-tail, Palawan Flowerpecker, Lovely Sunbird, White-vented Shama, Palawan, Sulphur-bellied & Ashy-fronted Bulbul, and a noisy group of Palawan Hornbills. We decided to play one last hand and check another location where we had seen them previously, albeit not recently. It was late afternoon and stiflingly hot but some birds were still active and we had just finished with mega views of the likely-split Pin-striped Tit Babbler when suddenly a Red-headed Flameback was right there in front of us and proceeded to give views on-and-off for around 20 minutes, usually shy and flighty but giving stunning ‘scope views on a couple of occasions, relief and joy combined! After this amazing success the afternoon was a much more relaxed affair but we still enjoyed excellent views of Palawan Flowerpecker, Lovely Sunbird and Yellow-throated Leafbird, all

at stunning close range. The highlight though was a group of Philippine Cockatoos giving lovely views as they stripped and devoured their favoured seedpods of the Malunggay tree. With a few hours before we needed to head to the airport the next morning we birded our way back along the road to Puerto Princesa getting more views of Philippine Cockatoos, and also adding Blue-naped Parrot, Ashy-headed Babbler, Falcated Ground Babbler, and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher to the impressive trip list. The rest of the day was taken flying to the island of Negros via Manila, where we stayed overnight in Bacolod.

Yellow-faced Flameback, Negros

Negros Striped Babbler & Maroon-naped Sunbird, Negros Mount Kanlaon was our destination the next morning and sure enough it gave us a nice trickle of new species since it was a new island even after four previous Philippine visits. The first pair of Visayan Shama we tried to see were rather elusive but fortunately the next birds showed really well, sitting in the open for us to observe the lack of a white wing patch, one of the characteristic difference compared to the Luzon birds from which it was split. As we moved on Visayan Bulbul, Visayan Balicassiao and Visayan Hornbill were easily added and a perched Metallic Pigeon was a treat. Our first feeding flock was a hive of activity with Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Visayan Fantail, Elegant Tits and White-vented Whistler accompanying the other of our targets, a pair of Flame-templed Babblers. The rest of the morning was rather quieter as we climbed ever higher hoping for Yellow-faced Flameback with no success, although Philippine Oriole, Coleto, Spotted Wood Kingfisher and Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker were found. Just a short visit to the nearby Mambukal resort was sufficient to enjoy excellent views of Visayan Flowerpecker and a bonus pair of Mangrove Blue Flycatcher. The afternoon was then taken with the ride to the south-west of the island and our base for the next three nights; Dumaguete. We began our exploration early the next morning in the delightful setting of Balinsasayao Twin Lakes, with our main target one of the toughest of the tour; Yellow-faced Flameback

occurring at very low densities and being rather shy. Mentally prepared to spend the whole day, maybe two, searching for this elusive creature we could barely believe our luck when a pair appeared within 15 minutes and we were treated to nearly half an hour of views of this most beautiful of Philippine flamebacks. We were soon picking up other birds including a flyover Blue-crowned Racquet-tail, several Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeons, White-winged Cuckooshrike, Buff-eared Brown Dove (split from White-eared according to the HBW/Birdlife checklist), a displaying Crested Goshawk and a pair of Bicolored Flowerpecker. In a different part of the lakes we found some showy Lemon-throated Leaf Warblers, nice looks at Visayan Tailorbird and stunning looks at moseleyi Spotted Wood Kingfisher, rather different from Luzon birds and a possible split. Our main remaining target was Visayan Brown Dove of which we heard a few but mostly distant and all we got was a frustrating flyby view. Lunch was accompanied by a stunning view of the area and importantly both Maroon-naped and Magnificent Sunbirds feeding next to the restaurant balcony. After lunch we visited the garden of our local guide and were treated to a family of Negros Scops Owls (pair with 2 juveniles) roosting in his garden, with a bonus Philippine Hawk Cuckoo added too. We finished the day again back up at the lakes with nothing of note but a showy Visayan Hornbill was appreciated. A greater challenge awaited us the next morning as we tackled a very steep trail into the mountains and it was hard going but the birds made it worthwhile, firstly a pair of ‘White-browed’ Shortwings, a massively over-lumped complex which will surely see this split as an island endemic in the future. There were plenty of birds around and both Turquoise Flycatcher and Philippine Mountain Warbler were new for the trip but it took us quite some sifting through feeding groups before we finally found Negros Striped Babbler as our rewarded and we could make the long walk down again. After all this effort we opted for a more relaxing afternoon of scanning at the lakes with Blue-crowned Racquet-tail and panayensis Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike the highlights.

Cebu Bulbul & Cebu Boobook, Cebu

Visayan Blue Fantail & Northern Silvery Kingfisher, Bohol

With time for a few hours on our last morning we took full advantage and our hard work paid off with a brief but valuable sighting of Visayan Rhabdornis, and just inside the forest finally got a response from a Visayan Brown Dove then came in to check us out. With these final successes we could leave Negros with big smiles headed across to neighbouring Cebu. In the late afternoon we headed across Cebu and into the hills to one of the few remaining forest fragments on the island, Cebu retaining just 0.03% of its original forest cover that has already lead to the near-extinction of Cebu Flowerpecker. The flowerpecker wasn’t one of our likely targets but we had a brilliant few hours which saw us find the other three with relative ease; firstly, a Black Shama which popped up and sang for us within minutes of entering the forest, then a Cebu Boobook which performed magnificently in broad daylight, closely followed by a second which sat singing in a shaft of sunlight. Finally, a pair of Cebu Bulbul, a sadly neglected split from streak-breasted, which may well in fact qualify as critically endangered itself since it also requires good forest.

Steere’s Pitta & Samar Hornbill, Bohol

Thrilled with such a quick clean up there was no need for the next morning on Cebu so we headed over to Bohol half a day early. Our ‘bonus afternoon’ on Bohol turned out to be just that! We started with superb views of a day-roosting Everett’s Scops Owl before making our way into Rajah Sikatuna Natural Park, the largest area of remaining native forest on the island. Not long after setting off into the forest a Steere’s Pitta appeared posing nicely on an exposed branch and a little further along a Philippine Fairy Bluebird singing loudly. A few calls from a Visayan Blue Fantail hinted at a feeding flock in the area and although it never appeared hanging around in the area scored us two of our prime targets; first a Visayan Wattled Broadbill sitting quietly in the canopy nearby, followed not longer later by a small flock of Black-crowned Babblers. A confiding Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher was a bonus before we headed out to a forested clearing for the late afternoon sun and a Samar Hornbill duly appeared and gave very long views in the Swaro ‘scope. This excellent day finished with an equally fine mammal, a Philippine Colugo hanging from a nearby tree like an oversized handbag! Almost the first bird the following morning was one of our three remaining targets, Bohol Sunbird singing from a high tree but posing nicely in the ‘scope and in the same tree as both Red-keeled and Bicolored Flowerpeckers. Moving on there were some nice additions to the trip list like Black-faced Coucal, Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Philippine Trogon, Philippine Leaf Warbler, Buff-spotted Flameback, Yellow-bellied Whistler and a nicely perched Besra. Our second target was Yellow-breasted Tailorbird, the first individual of which offered only the briefest of glimpses but after much trying the next gave some superb views hopping in the open over a treefall. The last target proved rather elusive but we finally heard the distinctive ‘squeaky toy’ calls of Visayan Blue Fantail, a pair of which gave long looks. The afternoon was rather less exciting as we failed in our initial attempts to find Northern Silvery Kingfisher with just Plain Bush-hen and a nice variety of water-birds as compensation. We needn’t have worried of course and indeed the Northern Silvery Kingfisher was the very first bird we saw the next morning, like it’s southern relative it’s a gem of a bird with beautiful silver spangles adorning the head but with a lovely violet wash across the breast and buffy loral spot. With this our last reasonable target in the bag so early we still opted for another forest check and this produced some nice sightings including another Steere’s Pitta, more Visayan Blue Fantails and a Rufous-lored Kingfisher on a low perch. Sadly, a Mindanao Bleedingheart wandering up a slope didn’t quite stay long enough for Hans to latch on to. With our work here done we retreated to a lovely coastal resort near the airport ready for our journey the next morning which took us firstly to Manila, then to the north of Luzon landing in sweltering Tuguegarao. From here we transferred to the foothills of the Sierra Madre where an unlikely scrubby habitat has proved to be a stronghold for a tiny population of one the the Philippine’s rarest species, the Critically Endangered Isabela Oriole. Since its rediscovery by Rob in 2003, more pairs have been found but the population seems perilously small and even now little is known about what aspects of its ecology make it so rare. After river crossings and a rough rough only passable by a strong 4WD it was just a short walk though before we heard our first pair of orioles which we were able to track for some time until they apparently came to a standoff with another pair in an adjacent forest patch, while we enjoyed crippling views of both pairs. New trip birds in the area included White-browed Shama, Green-backed Tailorbird and Rufous Coucals before we were on the road again for the long drive around the north coast of

Luzon, passing some wonderful scenery on the way. Once settled in a very pleasant beach resort we set off to explore the nearby foot hills, finding Philippine Fairy Bluebirds to be common, plus Striped Flowerpecker, and Stripe-headed Rhabdornis. Our target species here – the Cordillera Ground Warbler – which has only been seen in the field by two observers, was always going to be something of a long shot but we set out the next morning and enjoyed some good birding with some like migrants including Pechora Pipit, Grey-streaked Flycatcher and many Brown Shrikes, plus our first Luzon Hornbills. Then amazingly we could just barely make out the super high-pitched song of a ground warbler over the intense insect noise. We sneaked into the forest but they didn’t prove very responsive and only Rob was able to see the pair of them creeping over the forest floor before they stopped singing. We had all but given up when one suddenly began singing again an hour later and this time we were able to watch it flitting about in the nearby vegetation and Hans became just the third person ever to see this localised species since it was correctly recognised as different to Sierra Madre birds in 2013. As an additional bonus we bumped into a Cream-breasted Fruit Dove during this foray to round off a successful morning. A few years ago it was discovered that Spotted Imperial Pigeons make a pilgrimage to a specific spot on the coast of north-west Luzon at just this time of year and it was there that we spent of last birding, a thrilling encounter with flock after flock of pigeons coming down to drink at coastal pools again a dramatic backdrop of the limestone coral coastline, including a single group of 44 birds. A fine way to end a most successful chase after some of the Philippines most sought after endemics.

Isabela Oriole & Spotted Imperial Pigeon, North Luzon

Yellow-breasted Tailorbird & Rufous-lored Kingfisher, Bohol

Golden-headed Cisticola & Grey-backed Tailorbird, Quezon City

Philippine Cockatoo & Palawan Tit, Palawan

Pin-striped Tit Babbler & Palawan Flowerpecker, Palawan

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Palawan

Elegant Tit & Sulphur-billed Nuthatch, Negros

Magnificent and Maroon-naped Sunbird, Negros

Yellowish & Mountain White-eye, Negros

Visayan Shama & Visayan Flowerpecker, Negros

Visayan Fantail & Visayan Brown Dove, Negros

Negros Scops Owl & Visayan Hornbill, Negros

Spotted Wood Kingfisher & Philippine Leaf Warbler, Negros

Black-crowned Babbler & Everett’s Scops Owl, Bohol

Philippine Coucal & Philippine Colugo, Bohol

Systematic List

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae Philippine Duck Anas luzonica e GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus philippensis CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Striated Heron Butorides striata Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa Eastern Cattle Egret Ardea [ibis] coromandus Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Eastern Great Egret Ardea [alba] modestus Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Little Egret Egretta garzetta Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela palawanensis Philippine Serpent Eagle Spilornis holospilus e Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus palawanus Accipiter trivirgatus extimus Chinese Goshawk Accipiter soloensis Besra Accipiter virgatus confusus Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus GRUIFORMES: Rallidae Barred Rail Gallirallus torquatus torqatus Plain Bush-hen Amaurornis olivacea e White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea ocularis Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus [himantopus] himantopus CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae Greater Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana Common Tern Sterna hirundo Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae Feral Pigeon Columba livia Metallic Pigeon Columba vitiensis griseogularis Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Philippine Cuckoo Dove Macropygia tenuirostris e Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Zebra Dove Geopelia striata White-eared Brown Dove Phapitreron leucotis leucotis e Buff-eared Brown Dove Phapitreron leucotis nigrorum e Short-billed Brown Dove Phapitreron leucotis brevirostris e Amethyst Brown Dove Phapitreron amethystinus e Heard only Visayan Brown Dove Phapitreron maculipectus e Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans Philippine (Pompadour) Green Pigeon Treron [pompadora] axillaris e Heard only Cream-breasted Fruit Dove Ptilinopus merrilli faustinoi e Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove Ptilinopus occipitalis e Black-chinned Fruit Dove Ptilinopus leclancheri ne Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula poliocephala e Spotted Imperial Pigeon Ducula carola carola e Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea aenea Ducula aenea palawanensis

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae Rufous Coucal Centropus unirufus e Black-faced Coucal Centropus melanops e Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Philippine Coucal Centropus viridis viridis e Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris harringtoni Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus mindanensis Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus xanthorhynchus Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus amethystinus Little Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus aheneus Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus merulinus Rusty-breasted Cuckoo Cacomantis [sepucralis] sepucralis Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris brachyurus Philippine Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus [lugubris] velutinus e Heard only Philippine Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus pectoralis e Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus [saturatus] saturatus

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae Philippine Scops Owl Otus [megalotis] megalotis e Negros Scops Owl Otus [megalotis] nigrorum e Everett's Scops Owl Otus [megalotis] everetti CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae Philippine Nightjar Caprimulgus manillensis e APODIFORMES: Hemiprocnidae Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata major APODIFORMES: Apodidae Grey-rumped [Glossy] Swiftlet Collocalia [esculenta] marginata e Pygmy Swiftlet Collocalia troglodytes e Philippine Swiftlet Aerodramus mearnsi e Island Swiflet Aerodramus [vanikornensis] amelis e Palawan Swiftlet Aerodramus [vanikornensis] palawensis e Philippine Needletail Mearnsia picina e Pacific Swift Apus pacificus House Swift Apus [affinis] nipalensis

TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae Philippine Trogon Harpactes ardens luzoniensis e Harpactes ardens ardens CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae Common Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae Spotted Wood Kingfisher Actenoides lindsayi lindsayi e Actenoides lindsayi moseleyi e Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda Brown-breasted [White-throated] Kingfisher Halcyon [smyrnensis] gularis e Rufous-lored Kingfisher Todirhamphus winchelli mindanensis e Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris Rufous-backed [Oriental Dwarf] Kingfisher Ceyx [erithacus] rufidorsa Northern Silvery Kingfisher Alcedo [argentata] flumenicola e CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae Rufous-crowned [Blue-throated] Bee-eater Merops [viridis] americanus e Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus CORACIIFORMES: Bucerotidae Palawan Hornbill Anthracoceros marchei e Luzon Hornbill Penelopides [panini] manillae e Visayan Hornbill Penelopides [panini] panini e Samar Hornbill Penelopides [panini] samarensis e PICIFORMES: Megalaimidae Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephala haemacephala Megalaima haemacephala intermedia

PICIFORMES: Picidae Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos maculatus validirostris e Dendrocopos maculatus maculatus Spot-throated [Common] Flameback Dinopium [javanense] everetti e Buff-spotted [Greater] Flameback Chrysocolaptes [lucidus] lucidus e Red-headed [Greater] Flameback Chrysocolaptes [lucidus] erythrocephalus e Yellow-faced [Greater] Flameback Chrysocolaptes [lucidus] xanthocephalus e Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus Heard only

PSITTACIFORMES: Cacatuidae Philippine Cockatoo Cacatua haematuropygia e

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae Colasisi Loriculus philippensis philippensis e Loriculus philippensis apicalis Loriculus philippensis worcesteri Blue-headed Racquet-tail Prioniturus platenae e Blue-crowned Racquet-tail Prioniturus discurus e Guaiabero Bolbopsittacus lunulatus e PASSERIFORMES: Eurylaimidae Visayan Wattled Broadbill Sarcophanops [steerii] samarensis e PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae Philippine [Red-bellied] Pitta Erythropitta erythrogaster erythrogaster Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida palawanensis Pitta sordida sordida Steere's Pitta Pitta steerii e PASSERIFORMES: Acanthizidae Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea PASSERIFORMES: Artamidae White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus PASSERIFORMES: Aegithinidae Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata difficilis Coracina striata boholensis Coracina striata panayensis White-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina ostenta Black-bibbed Cuckooshrike Coracina mindanensis ripleyi Pied Triller Lalage nigra chilensis Fiery Minivet Pericrocotus igneus PASSERIFORMES: Pachycephalidae White-vented Whistler Pachycephala homeyeri winchelli ne Yellow-bellied Whistler Pachycephala philippensis philippensis e Pachycephala philippinensis apoensis PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach nasutus PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus Philippine Oriole Oriolus steerii e Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis chinensis Oriolus chinensis yamamurae Isabela Oriole Oriolus isabellae e PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus leucophaeus Luzon Balicassiao Dicrurus [balicassius] balicassius e Visayan Balicassiao Dicrurus [balicassius] mirabilis e Palawan Drongo Dicrurus [hottentottus] palawanensis e Visayan Drongo Dicrurus [bracteatus] samarensis e PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae Visayan Blue Fantail Rhipidura [superciliaris] albiventris e Visayan Fantail Rhipidura [cyaniceps] albiventris e Philippine Pied Fantail Rhipidura [javanica] nigritorquis PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea azurea Blue Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone cyanescens e Rufous Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone cinnamomea unirufa ne PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae Palawan [Slender-billed] Crow Corvus [enca] pusillus e Eastern Jungle [Large-billed] Crow Corvus [macrorhynchos] levaillantii PASSERIFORMES: Paridae Elegant Tit Parus elegans albescens e Parus elegans montigenus Palawan Tit Parus amabilis e PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae Yellow-wattled Bulbul Pycnonotus urostictus urostictus Pycnonotus urostictus philippensis Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier Ashy-fronted [Olive-winged] Bulbul Pycnonotus [plumosus] cinereifrons e Palawan [Grey-cheeked] Bulbul Criniger [bres] frater e Sulphur-bellied Bulbul Iole palawanensis e Philippine Bulbul Hypsipetes [Ixos] philippinus e Visayan Bulbul Hypsipetes [Ixos] saturatior e Cebu Bulbul Ixos monticola e PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Kamchatka Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus examinandus Japanese Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus xanthodryas

Philippine Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus olivaceus e Lemon-throated Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus cebuensis cebuensis e Philippine Mountain Warbler Phylloscopus nigrorum nigrorum e PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris forbesi Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis tweeddalei PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae Green-backed [Philippine] Tailorbird Orthotomus chloronotus e Rufous-fronted [Philippine] Tailorbird Orthotomus frontalis e Grey-backed Tailorbird Orthotomus derbianus e Visayan Tailorbird Orthotomus castaneiceps e Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus Yellow-breasted Tailorbird Orthotomus samarensis e PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae Pin-striped Tit Babbler Macronous gularis woodi Brown Tit Babbler Macronous striaticeps mindanensis e PASSERIFORMES: Pellorneidae Streaked Ground Babbler Ptilocichla mindanensis e Falcated Ground Babbler Ptilocichla falcata e Ashy-headed Babbler Malacocincla cinereiceps e PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae Negros Striped Babbler Zosterornis nigrorum e Cordillera Ground Warbler Robsonius rabori e Black-crowned Babbler Sterrhoptilus nigrocapitata e Flame-templed Babbler Stachyris striata e Lowland White-eye Zosterops meyeni meyeni ne Everett's White-eye Zosterops everetti basilanicus Yellowish White-eye Zosterops nigrorum innominatus e Mountain White-eye Zosterops montanus pectoralis PASSERIFORMES: Irenidae Philippine Fairy Bluebird Irena cyanogastra cyanogastra e Irena cyanogastra ellae Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella tweeddalei PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Sulphur-billed Nuthatch Sitta oenochlamys e PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis Coleto Sarcops calvus e Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa palawanensis Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus Int Stripe-headed Rhabdornis Rhabdornis mystacalis mystacalis e Viyasan Rhabdornis Rhabdornis rabori e PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae Ashy Ground Thrush Geokichla cinerea e PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae Philippine [Oriental] Magpie Robin Copsychus [saularis] mindanensis e Luzon [White-browed] Shama Copsychus [luzoniensis] luzoniensis e Visayan [White-browed] Shama Copsychus [luzoniensis] superciliaris e Black Shama Copsychus cebuensis e White-vented Shama Copsychus niger e Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Palawan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis lemprieri e Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra philippensis Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficauda samarensis Torquoise Flycatcher Eumyias panayensis nigriloris White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana brunneiceps Bundok Flycatcher Ficedula luzoniensis e Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata PASSERIFORMES: Chloropseidae

Yellow-throated Leafbird Chloropsis palawanensis e PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae Olive-backed Flowerpecker Prionochilus olivaceus parsosi e Palawan Flowerpecker Prionochilus plateni e Striped Flowerpecker Dicaeum aeruginosum affine e Dicaeum aeruginosum striatissimum Bicolored Flowerpecker Dicaeum bicolor e Red-keeled Flowerpecker Dicaeum australe e Visayan Flowerpecker Dicaeum haematostictum e Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma xanthopygium Dicaeum trigonostigma dorsale Pygmy Flowerpecker Dicaeum pygmaeum palawanorum e Dicaeum pygmaeum pygmaeum PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis paraguae Grey-throated Sunbird Anthreptes griseigularis birgitae e Purple-throated Sunbird Leptocoma sperata sperata ne Leptocoma sperata trochilus Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis aurora Cinnyris jugularis jugularis Maroon-naped Sunbird Aethopyga guimarasensis e Bohol Metallic-winged Sunbird Aethopyga pulcherrima decorosa e Lovely Sunbird Aethopyga [shelleyi] shelleyi e Magnificent Sunbird Aethopyga magnifica e Pale [Little] Spiderhunter Arachnothera [longirostra] dilutior e PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae White-bellied Munia Lonchura leucogastra Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Black-headed Munia Lonchura atricapilla PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis simillima Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus lugubris Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi Mammals Northern Palawan Tree Squirrel Sundasciurus juvencus e Mindanao Squirrel Sundasciurus mindanensis e Golden-crowned Flying Fox Acerodon jubatus e Large Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus Philippine Flying Lemur Cynocephalus volans e Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis e = Species endemic to the Philippines ne = Near-endemic to the Philippines Int = Introduced species

The tour recorded a total of 228 species of which 3 were heard only. This included 114 species endemic to the Philippines and 5 near-endemics which are found only marginally outside the Philippines and can be considered Philippine specialities. For further information on our tours to the Philippines please contact us via our e-mail or click here for our scheduled departure tours.