Birding in Infanta - Looking for the Sapin-Sapin

 What was supposed to be a late call time changed last minute to our Infanta call time which is 4:30AM.  The night before, our main objective was to shoot the Philippine Eagle Owl at La Mesa Ecopark but a sudden change of mind urged us to go Infanta instead, of course becasue of the relaxing weather and feel.

The usual start of our trip, waking up earlier than our alarms. 

Jimny with our gears

5:45AM. Arrival at Wyndell. Black coffee for me please. Wyndell is still in Tanay but 30 minutes from Sidlakan, our usual first stop in Infanta.

Puto from Tapsi ni Vivian.

Gid is always happy when in Infanta.

Partners in crime.

There were also lot of birds in Wyndell. Here is a Coleto near us.

6:30AM. Before reaching our first stop in Infanta which is the super yummy Pandecoco, we had to stop at Santa Maria because of a tree with multiple species.  Imagine having 5 species in a tree, no photos of it as we got excited but there were Coppersmith Barbet, Treeswift, Kulasisi, Yellowish White-eye, Stripe-sided Rhabdournis.

7:15AM. Arrival at our favorite Pandecoco place.

Gid in action.

7:30AM. Balay Gubat for our target bird, the Sapin-Sapin.

Trail heading down.

Pathways were dry so it's easier today.

Calling the Sapin-Sapin.

Organic plantation in the area.

Abundant Papaya tree.

While I sit, Gid hears the target bird.

Sitting pretty with this view while Gid captures the Sapin-Sapin.

Too relaxed and miss out an open shot of the target bird.

Hoping that the target bird will perch in front of us but we failed :)

8:30AM. Went back to the top and met fellow birders. Sir Loel and his companion from Chicago, Sir Rey.  We also met Sir Nikko.

Overlooking the view from the roofdeck of Balay Gubat.

Fellow birders having coffee.

Next stop is Km101. NBI - No Birds In sight.

NBI but still these happy faces.

10:00AM. Our usual place to stay, Jake's place. We told Jake that we will have lunch with him and he begins to harvest vegetables. It was quiet today and also less birds so we headed to the Chapel for the time being.

Jake in Action.

Long Sili, I always ask these organic silis from Jake.

Fresh vegetables for lunch.

Meanwhile, at the Chapel. Our target bird was the Short-crested Monarch, failed but the Cream-bellied Dove showed up instead. Still happy as this is as close as it can get for me.

The chapel trail heading down.

Of course, even without the target birds, we are always happy.

More trail.

11:30AM. Back at Jake's place for lunch. Classic cooking and yummy food awaits! Galunggong, Sinigang na Galunggong and Munggong Isda. Thank you Jake for your hospitality, this has become our home in Infanta.

Suka is almighty.

Sinigang Galunggong.

Pritong Galunggong.

Munggo.

Food for 3 pax.

Thank you Jake!

1:15PM. We left Jake and headed back to Balay-Gubat for another try at the Sapin-Sapin but this time, missed it. After, we decided to go down and head to Palo Alto to see if migrant birds have already arrived.

Spotting and still spotting.

Serious look.

3:30PM. Arrived at Palo Alto and a lot has changed as these greens became greener.

No birds here in our usual spot.

Spotter in Action.

Talahib have gone wild.

5:00PM. Had to leave because I have a dinner but running down the usual route. Marcos highway to our place was terrible. It took us almost 2 hours to arrive home but still we can't complain, what's important is we are all happy at the end of the day.

Next post will be photos of birds taken from this trip.