It's Christmas.... let no pixel be harmed :)

I spent my December 25th cleaning my gear, charging my batteries and checking if all my photo systems are still working by birding around my mother's backyard here in La Union, northern Philippines.

Since it's Christmas Day, I thought it'd be appropriate not to harm any pixel by avoiding wasteful cropping. It looks like my poor man's 800 f/5.6 (a.k.a. 400 2.8 IS + 2x TC) has maintained its decent IQ even when used wide open.

 

Happy Holidays!

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Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier, resident)

Habitat: Common in gardens, urban areas and grasslands but not in mature forests. 

 

Shooting info - Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines, December 25, 2014, 1D MIV + EF 400 f/2.8 IS + EF 2x TC II, 800 mm, f/5.6,
ISO 1250, 1/320 sec, manual exposure in available light, AI servo, 475B + 516 support, uncropped full frame resized to 800 x 533.

 

1500 x 1000 version

Amur Falcon in La Union - a new Philippine record!

The exciting news on the confirmation of ID came from avian expert Desmond Allen, relayed via PM at PBPF yesterday. The raptor I photographed recently in my home province, which I initially identified as a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), turned out to be something different.

 

Actually, very different and record setting..... the images were the first known occurrence in the wild of this species in the Philippines!

I guess this is what wild bird photography is all about - having fun in the capture and sharing of avian images. Sometimes, as a bonus, a lucky birdnut can make a bit of contribution to science and general knowledge, too.

 

Here's a couple of snapshots of the new bird, I wish I can see it again soon so I can get more aesthetically pleasing photographs. This species became my 276th photo-lifer. :)

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Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis, female, migrant, new Philippine record)

 

Habitat - this individual was seen in grassland/pasture land.

 

 

Shooting info - Talogtog, San Juan, La Union, Philippines, November 1, 2014, Canon 1D MIV + EF 500 f4 L IS + EF 1.4x TC II, 700 mm, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure in available light, 475B/516 support.

Shooting info - Talogtog, San Juan, La Union, Philippines, November 1, 2014, Canon 1D MIV + EF 500 f4 L IS + EF 1.4x TC II, 700 mm, f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600 sec, manual exposure in available light, 475B/516 support.