Speedy Vanta runs circles around Kreto!

Vanta, a 14-week old female Shih Tzu puppy (mixed breed), runs circles around Kreto while playing in their pen.

Unlike her brother Magnus, Vanta is not scared of Kreto. She toys with the young Labrador in every opportunity, seemingly acting like a matador playing with a clumsy little bull.

Filmed with an Osmo Action in 1080/239.76p at northern Philippines on January 25, 2020.

Grizzled Oldtimer vs. Shih Tzu Puppy: Who will blink?

Magnus, a 14-week old male Shih Tzu (mixed breed) plays some sort of a bluffing game with Tatang, a grizzled oldtimer. 

Magnus has just learned to "SHAKE" and Tatang is tempting the young dog to do it even without a direct command and active prodding. Let's see who'll prevail in this bluffing contest. 

Filmed with an Osmo Action in 2.7K/29.97p at northern Philippines on January 25, 2020.

First encounter - Labrador vs. Shih Tzu puppies

This is the first encounter between these two puppies - Kreto ( a Labrador) and Magnus (a mixed breed Shih Tzu, white with brown spots). 

Both are male - Kreto weighs about 2.6 kg, while the older Magnus is about 4.4 kg. Yet, in this first interaction, it is the heavier and older Magnus who seemed to be scared of Kreto. 

Filmed with an Osmo Action in 1080/239.76p at northern Philippines on January 24, 2020.

Kreto is a genius! (Labrador puppy's first training session)

It appears that Kreto, a very young male Labrador puppy, responds well to our amateurish training attempts. A very quick learner, he managed to learn to "SIT" and to go "DOWN" during this morning's brief training session. 

Filmed with a hand held Osmo Action in 2.7K/29.97p at northern Philippines on January 24, 2020.

Magnus attempts a high jump

I used a rag at the end of a string to entice Magnus to do high jumps.

Filmed with an Osmo Action at 1080/239.76p at northern Philippines on January 12, 2020.

Pygmy Swiftlets in flight

For several mornings now, I noticed these tiny spitfires darting above the Bued River, hawking insects. I thought this was an excellent opportunity to retrieve my DSLR gear from deep storage and check if the electro-mechanicals are still functioning. Well the 7D II and 400 DO II are still fine, but my BIF shooting reflexes are definitely rusty. I hope these critters will stay for a few mornings more so I can improve my panning skills and get them a bit closer. 

Pygmy Swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes, a Philippine endemic)

Habitat - Fairly common, smallest swiftlet in groups flying low over forest, clearings and logging roads (total length = 3.5 inches) 

1. Shooting info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, January 10, 2020, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II, 400 mm, f/5.0, ISO 640, 1/2500 sec, manual exposure in available light, hand held.

Uncropped full frame resized to 900 x 600:

 

 

 Major crop:

 

 

1200 x 800 version 

 

 

 

2. Shooting info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, Philippines, January 10, 2020, EOS 7D MII + EF 400 f/4 DO II, 400 mm, f/4.5, ISO 640, 1/4000 sec, manual exposure in available light, hand held.

Uncropped full frame resized to 900 x 600:

 

 

 Major crop:

 

 

 1200 x 800 version

 

Vanta's quarrel with an orchid root

After getting tired of play-fighting with her older brother Magnus (color white), Vanta turned her attention to an exposed orchid root growing by a tree trunk at my mother's garden. Vanta is the more aggressive between the two Shih Tzu puppies, and wouldn't back down from her older brother even if she's outweighed 3:2.

With her black color, Vanta is a nightmare to expose well during filming.

Special thanks to our friends Gen. Rolly and Jo Malinao for sharing with us these two young, wonderful creatures.

 Filmed with a hand held Osmo Action at 1080/239.76p at northern Philippines on December 31, 2019.