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Philippines

 

Luzon, Bohol & Cebu

 

Sunday 22^nd February – Thursday 5^th March 2009    next tour

 

Extend this trip with our Vietnam northern NP’s and get 2 nights free

accommodation in Bangkok!

 

Group size; min. 3 – max. 6

 

The Philippine archipelago has been geographically isolated from mainland Asia

for a long period of time resulting in an avifauna with extremely high endemism.

Birds in the Philippines are special.  The first time visitor will be amazed by such

strikingly attractive species as Scale-feathered Malkoha or Visayan Wattle Broad-

bill, but sadly enough the habitat of these birds is severely threatened.

On this tour, we visit some of the last remaining but excellent rainforests in

which we should find many of the wonderful rarities.

Experience has learned us that the Philippines is much easier travelled and much

more safe and friendly than many guidebooks or travel companies would suggest.

On a less brighter note the Philippines undoubtedly has some of the most inferior

food in Asia.  Native fare comes as plain chicken and rice with little else to choose

from and many a participant on even the most expensive tours has been left with

nothing else to do than complain.  Therefore, we have done an enormous effort to

make a difference with much time spent searching for the best restaurants and

places to stay around while not give in on convenience to reach the birding sites.

We will serve you the extraordinary Philippines experience!

 

                 

Luzon Hornbill                                                             Entrance to Mt. Makiling

 

Tour itinerary

 

Day 1

For convenience, the tour starts in Bangkok, with a late evening departure to

Manila. (Return is from Cebu to BKK, to join in Manila is possible with a Cebu-

Manila flight at the end of the tour.)

 

Day 2

Early morning arrival in Manila where we should make it out of the city easily

long before the traffic builds up.  We travel by minibus to Subic bay where

we stay in a sea-side resort with Lowland White-eye common nearby.  After

lunch we have a first afternoon birding the lowland rainforest which is

protected on the Subic naval base. The birding is relatively easy here to

Philippine standards and this makes for the perfect introduction.  Your first

10 or more endemics will adorn your Philippine list by this evening.

 

Day 3

A full day to search for the Subic specialties. Green Racket-tail, Blue-naped

Parrot, Sooty Woodpecker, Rufous Coucal, White-lored Oriole, White-fronted

Tit, Purple Needletail, Yellow-breasted Fruit-Dove, Blackish Cuckoo Shrike…

 

Day 4

Another full morning is certainly needed to do the Subic rainforest any justice.

After lunch we travel to Los Banos for birding Mt Makiling the next few days.

In the evening we might already try to see Philippine Hawk and Ph. Scops Owls.

 

Day 5 + 6

Two full days on Mt Makiling.  This volcanic mountain preserves some of the

best rainforest left on Luzon and we will be birding at different altitudes along

the summit track as well as the botanic gardens and the spacious green Los

Banos university grounds.  Over 50 endemic bird species have been found

here and include superb Scale-feathered and Red-crested Malkohas, Indigo-

banded Kingfisher, Spotted Wood Kingfisher and Spotted Buttonquail.

 

Day 7

A last morning on Mt Makiling before returning to Manila for our domestic

flight to Tagbilaran, on Bohol.  Here we base ourselves in our comfortable

hotel for the next 4 nights, making day trips to Rajah Sikatuna NP and

Chocolate Hills.

 

Day 8 + 9 + 10

Three full days on Bohol.  This island offers such stunning birds as Steere’s

Pitta, Visayan Wattled Broadbill, Samar Hornbill, Yellow-breasted Tailorbird,

Blue Fantail, Streaked Ground-Babbler and night-birds are represented with

Philippine Frogmouth, Ph. Nightjar and Ph. Scops Owl.

We’ll certainly make an effort too, to see the Philippine Tarsier. 

 

Day 11

After a final morning on Bohol we take the ‘supercat’ fast ferry which will

bring us in 1h45 to Cebu where we stay in the city.

 

Day 12

A day trip to Tabunan forest to try for the critically endangered Cebu

Flowerpecker in this last remnant of tall forest on Cebu.  While chances

to see this bird are slim, we’ll certainly pick up the endangered Black

Shama, they are endemic to Cebu Island and make the place live up with

their exceptional song.

In the late afternoon we return to Cebu airport for our return direct flight

to Bangkok.

 

General info : Comfortable accommodation in good standard hotels with private

facilities. Transport by air-conditioned minibus.  Walking is easy and

most birding is done on level roadside/tracks/trails, but the occasional

steeper trail might get us to the best birds.  Weather is mostly pleasant

at this time of the year, but it can get fairly hot at noon and an occasional shower

can be expected.

 

        

Coleto is common at Subic...                           while Green Racket-tail makes for a real target species.

 

  

'On tour' Blue-naped Parrot,         Sooty Woodpecker                      and Philippine Falconet.

 

   

Sign to protect the forest on the Subic naval base.                              Birding track on hill 394.

 

                   

                             Your room on the beach at Subic bay with stylish bathroom.

 

And how do you find the view from our hotel at Subic?

 

 

Specialities on Bohol ; Rufous-lored Kingfisher and Steere's Pitta.

 

                          

                        The famous Chocolate Hills make for a nice spot to have lunch.

 

 

Blue-throated Bee-eater is common at Subic.        Asian Glossy Starling taking a bath on Bohol.

 

All photos by Stijn De Win.