Whiskered Tern in good light

This species is one of the most common migrants to our islands, but I haven't gotten tired of photographing it, particularly when light is golden and the background is photogenic.

This individual was flying low over a fishpond. One frame in a short 10 fps burst managed to catch the water bird in a good wing position, with the eye contact and catchlight as bonus.

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Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus, migrant, non-breeding plumage)

Habitat - Bays, tidal flats to ricefields. 

Shooting Info - Sto. Tomas, La Union, Philippines, November 28, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 320, manual exposure in available light, hand held, 6 MP crop resized to 800 x 533.

Larger 1500 x 1000 version

Double rainbow over Bued River

We were treated to an uncommon natural spectacle recently - a double rainbow over the Bued River in the late afternoon. A light rain shower conspired with the low angle of the sun to produce a double geometric splash of colors in the heavens. My color-blind eyes can't fully perceive the splendor of the rainbow spectrum, but my engineering mind was orgasmic in seeing two perfect, concentric arcs in the skies. 

The duration of the amazing scene was very brief, as the rainclouds were racing fast to the east and the atmospheric conditions that made this phenomenon possible were changing rapidly. Fortunately, it lasted long enough to allow me to set up my gear and take a few snapshots under the light rain.

Shooting info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, November 15, 2017, Canon 5D MIII + EF 16-35 f/4 L IS, 16 mm, f/8, ISO 100, 1/100 sec,
manual exposure in available light, hand held, near full frame resized to 800 x 533 pixels, with perspective correction.  

Larger 1500 x 1000 version

Welcome back, Ms. Blue Rock-Thrush!

I've seen this female foraging in a certain part of Bued River since about a month ago, but it was too shy when it newly arrived. Recently, it shed away some of its shyness, and  it got easier to approach. Perhaps, it has become accustomed to its new environment, as well as the two-legged, upright creatures walking around.

This late afternoon, it perched on a gravel mound nearby. It stayed there for while, allowing me to rush to my camera bag and assemble my birding rig. The skies were partly overcast, so lighting was on the flat side. Nevertheless, the photo opportunity was most welcome, as this was my first shot of this migrant this season. Wishing that I can get even closer, with golden lighting, in the next few days.

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Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius, migrant, female)

Habitat - Rocky exposed slopes, road cuts, and along rocky streams and rivers.

Shooting Info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, November 4, 2017, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 DO IS II + EF 1.4x TC III,
560 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO 640, manual exposure in available light, hand held, major crop resized to 800 x 533.

High-res 1500 x 1000 version