I visited the swampy field near San Juan town proper (La Union) this weekend, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a Pond-Heron in the area.
It's virtually impossible to differentiate from afar a Chinese Pond-Heron from a Javan Pond-Heron when in non-breeding plumage. Whatever it is, this could just be the first record of a Pond-Heron species in my home province.
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Pond-Heron, either Chinese or Javan (Ardeola bacchus or speciosa)
Habitat - Ricefields and marshes, rare in the Philippines.
Habitat - Ricefields and marshes, rare in the Philippines.