Remote Philippines

2nd - 23rd March 2008

Leader: Rob Hutchinson

Maximum Group Size: 7

Please note: Limited Availibility

The avifauna of the Philippines is one of the most spectacularly diverse and fascinating in the world. More than 220 of the species are currently recognized as endemic and this number is sure to increase as improved taxonomic insights reveal the true extent of species diversity within the archipelago.
These endemics include some of the rarest and most sought-after Asian rarities and it is these on which our tour will focus. They include two species only recently described as new to science; Calayan Rail and Camiguin Hanging-Parrot.
We will also search for some of the islands most threatened endemics including Walden’s, Visayan and Mindoro Hornbill, Black-hooded Coucal and Flame-templed Babbler together with highly range-restricted species such as Zamboanga Bulbul, White-eared Tailorbird and Panay Striped-Babbler.
During our travels we pay close attention to distinctive taxa which although currently ‘lumped’ within other species are sure to be recognised as full species in the near future including the spectacular lyre-tailed ‘Tablas’ Drongo, ‘Tablas’ Streak-breasted Bulbul, ‘Camiguin’ Yellowish Bulbul, ‘Philippine’ Variable Dwarf Kingfisher and ‘Calayan’ Elegant Scops-Owl.
The tour will visit many remote areas with complex and difficult logistics. The itinerary is entirely flexible and subject to change at any time prior to or during the tour.

Calayan, Babuyan Islands

Calayan Island in the Babuyan Island group off the north coast of Luzon achieved worldwide recognition with the discovery there of an entirely new species of Gallirallus in 2004. Although the Calayan Rail has subsequently been well studied and surveyed, it has still been seen by only a dozen birders and we will work hard following up its loud and distinctive calls hoping for good views of this elusive ground-dweller in the limestone forest in the centre of the island.
Although the rail is undoubtedly the star of the island we will also try hard to see other specialties including the ‘Calayan’ Scops-Owl, which shows clear plumage and vocal differences from the Elegant Scops-Owl of the Japanese Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan's Lan Yu Island under which it is currently subsumed. While night-birding we might also be fortunate enough to glimpse the resident woodcock here: these birds, which appear to match the recently described endemic Bukidnon Woodcock in plumage occur on this isolated island more than 600 metres below the known elevational boundaries throughout the rest of its range. It may yet prove to be a separate species and we may be able to add to our knowledge of the bird by discovering its unknown vocalisations. Other targets during our stay will include an isolated breeding population of Northern Boobook, Whistling Green-Pigeon and Chestnut-eared Bulbul, the only place where these birds can be found within South-east Asia.

Mindoro

Mindoro is host to at least 7 island endemics, all but 2 of which are restricted to the islands highly threatened lowland forest which includes 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 well preserved forest and here we will hope to find Scarlet-collared Flowerpecker, Mindoro Hornbill and Black-hooded Coucal. The critically endangered Mindoro Bleeding-heart is present here but like all members of this family they are typically 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.

Panay

One of the most difficult Philippine endemics to see is the critically endangered Walden’s Hornbill which can now only be found in the most remote forests of Negros and Panay. The largest remaining areas of forest within its range are in the central mountain range of Panay and it is here that we will make our expedition in search of this spectacular bird in its last remaining stronghold. The lowland forest in which we will be searching is also likely to host other Visayan lowland forest species including Visayan Hornbill, White-winged Cuckoo-shrike, Visayan Shama (a split from White-browed Shama), the spectacular Flame-templed Babbler and maybe even the rare and elusive White-throated Jungle-Flycatcher.
Our second expedition will take us higher into the same mountain range in search of one of the Philippines least known endemics – the Panay Striped-Babbler, restricted to mossy montane forest above 1000 metres a.s.l., and yet another species seen by barely a few dozen birders.
We will also be birding within the likely altitude range of Negros Fruit-Dove a species known from only a single specimen that awaits rediscovery.

Tablas

This small island north of Panay is home to an endemic drongo with a spectacular long and deeply forked tailed which was rediscovered here in 1999 having been feared extinct and which is soon to be elevated to a full species - Tablas Drongo. We will also see Tablas Bulbul - common in forest and plantations - which will soon be split from the Streak-breasted Bulbuls of Cebu and Siquijor. Night-time excursions will hopefully produce the spilonata boobook which is shared with Cebu and is vocally distinct from other boobook groups.
We will also hope to see the endemic races of Variable Dwarf Kingfisher and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher – both small island species within the Philippines which differ substantially from birds outside the archipelago, and again seem likely to be split.

Zamboanga, Mindanao

The extensive remaining forests close to Zamboanga City are the easiest place to see the Zamboanga Bulbul, a close relative of the more widespread Philippine Bulbul which it replaces only in the Zamboanga Peninsula of west Mindanao. This area is also currently the most accessible area to see White-eared Tailorbird and our exploration of the forest here is likely to produce surprises in this relatively little-known area with Philippine Dwarf-Kingfisher, Mindanao Crow, Short-crested Monarch and the gorgeous Mindanao Wattled Broadbill all possibilities.

Camiguin, Mindanao

The discovery of the Camiguin Hanging-Parrot on this small volcanic island off Mindanao in 2006 was a big surprise as against all expectations it has evolved plumage, vocal and ecological differences from the Colasisi or Philippine Hanging Parrot found on other islands. We will visit the remaining montane forest in search of the hanging-parrots and at the same time will see the very distinctive ‘Camiguin Bulbul’ a sure-fire split from the Yellowish Bulbul of Mindanao and Sulu. We also have further opportunities to see the ‘Philippine’ Variable Kingfisher and ‘Philippine’ Blue Flycatcher seen previously on Tablas.

Click here to download the pdf Remote Philippines tour description