Remote Philippines

10th February - 2nd March 2013

Leader: Rob Hutchinson

Maximum Groups Size: 7

Hamut Camp, Sierra Madre Mountains, Luzon

Hamut Camp in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Luzon is famed as the easiest place to see the localized Whiskered Pitta, which will indeed be our prime target there. It is also the best place to see a host of other difficult species like Rusty-faced Babbler (part of the two-way split of Rabor’s Wren Babbler), Sierra Madre Crow, Furtive Flycatcher, Blue-breasted Flycatcher, Luzon Striped Babbler, Luzon Bleeding-heart, Flame-breasted and Cream-bellied Fruit-Dove, White-fronted Tit, White-lored Oriole, Blackish Cuckooshrike, Rufous Hornbill and perhaps the very elusive Ash-breasted Flycatcher or Grand Rhabdornis.

Siburan, Mindoro

Mindoro is host to at least 8 island endemics, all but 2 of which are restricted to the island’s highly threatened lowland forest, and included an endangered hornbill and a critically endangered coucal. We will base ourselves at Siburan on the west coast of Mindoro which allows easy access to some of the last remaining forest and here we will hope to find Scarlet-collared Flowerpecker, Mindoro Hornbill and Black-hooded Coucal. We will also expect to find the Mindoro Bulbul, a cryptic member of the former ‘Philippine Bulbul’ complex and several tricky Philippine endemics that are now easier to find here than elsewhere in the islands such as Spotted Imperial Pigeon, Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Black-bibbed Cuckooshrike and Blue-crowned Racquet-tail. The critically endangered Mindoro Bleeding-heart is present here but like all members of this family they are very elusive and we need some considerable luck to find one. At night we will venture out to search for the Mindoro Boobook, a recent split from the ‘Philippine Boobook’ complex and we are sure to be impressed by the clear vocal differences from the boobooks found on neighbouring islands.

Zamboanga, Mindanao

The watershed above Zamboanga city hosts some of the best protected ‘lowland’ forest in Mindanao and although it isn’t as bird-rich as lowlands of eastern Mindanao it definitely offers some fine birding. Our main targets here will be Zamboanga Bulbul which is endemic to this south-western peninsula and White-eared Tailorbird which is likewise only found in southern Mindanao and thus absent from the regular birding circuits. In addition Philippine Dwarf Kingfisher is more often seen here than anywhere else in the islands and with the demise of PICOP it is the best place to find Mindanao Wattled Broadbill and ‘Southern’ Sooty Woodpecker among a wide selection of Mindanao specialities.

Tambunan Forest, Cebu

The rediscovery of Cebu Flowerpecker in 1992 sparked the protection of the tiny remaining forest fragments of the island just in time, for just 0.03 % of original forest covers remains to this day. The flowerpecker is still perilously close to extinction and we would be very fortunate indeed to see it as most birders leave empty handed, but we can hope to find other endemics in the form of Black Shama and the recently recognised Cebu (Streak-breasted) Bulbul and Cebu Boobook, along with White-vented Whistler.

Rajah Sikatuna, Bohol

This park protects the most extensive forests on Bohol with excellent birding on a network of trails where we might hope to find both major targets; Visayan Wattled Broadbill, ‘Northern’ Silvery Kingfisher, Yellow-breasted Tailorbird, Black-crowned Babbler and ‘Samar Hornbill’ which is split from the birds on Mindanao by some authorities. There will be plenty more to keep us entertained and this is an excellent place to see the likes of Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher, Streaked Ground Babbler, Rufous-lored Kingfisher, Amethyst Brown Dove and Azure-breasted Pitta.  At night be will try to find Philippine Frogmouth and Everett’s Scops Owl, a recent split from Philippine Scops Owl.

Negros

Negros has a fine collection of endemics restricted to the western Visayan Islands including such spectacular creatures as Flame-templed Babbler which we will hope to find at Mount Canlaon in the north of the island and the rarely seen Negros Striped Babbler at Mount Talinis in the south of the island. These sites, plus the scenic Balinsasayao Lakes will also give us a good chance to see Visayan Hornbill, Visayan Flowerpecker, Visayan Shama, White-winged Cuckooshrike, Negros Scops Owl and Yellow-faced Flameback, the latter a recent split from Greater Flameback.

View larger map here.

Previous tour reports:

Philippines; Remote tour: 27th February - 19th March 2011

Philippines; Scheduled tour; inc Visayas: 8th - 28th February / 7th March 2009

Philippines; Remote tour: 3rd - 23rd March 2008

Philippines Scheduled tour; inc Visayas and Hamut: 28th January - 2nd March 2007