Black-winged Stilt in high key

It's not too often that the lighting conditions are just right to allow good exposure  of the contrasting plumage of this bird. In early 2011, I got lucky to be able to freeze this individual as it took off from one of the fishponds in Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

 

__________

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus, migrant)

 

Habitat: Wetlands from coastal mudflats to ricefields.

 

Shooting info – Sta. Cruz, Zambales, Philippines, February 9, 2011, Canon 1D MIV + EF 500 f4 IS + Canon 1.4x TC II,
700 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, manual exposure in available light, 475B/516 support.

 

Black-chinned Fruit-dove at 1600 mm

This uncommon, medium size fruit-dove is found in most Philippine islands. It is about 10 inches total length, and is termed near-endemic to the Philippines because it also ranges in an island off the coast of Taiwan.

 

This individual was feeding in the canopy of a local fig tree at Mt. Makiling when I had the opportunity to photograph it. I had to mount a 2x TC on the Sigmonster to fully fill the frame of the Canon 350D. Before the advent of Live View, focusing manually through the dark viewfinder was quite a challenge.

 

__________

 

Black-chinned Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus leclancheri, a near Philippine endemic, male)

Habitat - Uncommon in forest patches up to 1500 m.

 

Shooting info - Mt. Makiling, Laguna, January 2, 2007, Canon 350D + Sigmonster (Sigma 300-800 DG) + Canon 2x II,
1600 mm, f/16, ISO 400, 1/60 sec, manual exposure in available light, 475B/3421 support, uncropped full frame resized to 1200x800.

 

 

Collared Kingfisher (A simple portrait)

The 8 am sun was starting to emit photons on the harsh side when I got near this Manila Bay resident. Nonetheless, the eye contact, good detail and the natural perch made this capture a favorite of mine for this species, the most common of Philippine kingfishers. This bird has a total length of about 9-1/2 inches.

__________

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris, resident)

Habitat – Coastal areas to open country, seldom in forest.

 



Shooting Info – Coastal Lagoon, Manila Bay, Philippines, November 3, 2010, Canon 1D MIV + EF 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC II,

700 mm, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1250 sec, manual exposure in available light, 475B/3421 support.



 

A short video of Collared Kingfishers filmed at Manila Bay.