White-shouldered Starling at Candaba wetlands! Photo Gallery by romy ocon at pbase.com

White-shouldered Starling at Candaba wetlands!

"Rare, only known from 6 records from 15 Sep to 25 Mar, all before 1911" - the Kennedy Guide, describing the White-shouldered Starling
(Sturnus sinensis). My hands were trembling as I chimped my 40D's LCD display, and tried to match the features of the captured bird to the KG plates.
Yes.... an unmistakeable male WSS!

I actually saw 6 individuals of this species at Candaba wetlands this December 20th, but these were very shy, allowing my vehicle to approach
their perching tree only as close as 30 meters. I had to take 700 mm shots handheld and against the sun. Fortunately, some detail in these shots were
recoverable in RAW conversion, and the ID of the male can be established.Thus for the second Candaba sortie in a row, I was lucky to get a rarity,
and it becomes my 250th lifer. Close up shots of Candaba regulars completed this 2-day trip...:)

IMG_7263-800x600.jpg White-shouldered Starling (male) Scientific name - Sturnus sinensis Habitat - Rare, only 6 records all pre-1911, in open country. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, hand held]	IMG_7335-1000x750.jpg Wood Sandpiper Scientific Name - Tringa glareola Habitat - Exposed shores of marshes, ponds and in ricefields. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7805-1100x825.jpg Island Collared-Dove Scientific name - Streptopelia bitorquata dusumieri, endemic race Habitat - In lowlands, in open areas and mangroves. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7032-1000x750.jpg Barred Rail Scientific name: Gallirallus torquatus Habitat: Edges of wetlands, gardens and drier cogon grasslands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/11, bean bag]	IMG_8058-800x600.jpg Yellow Bittern Scientific name - Ixobrychus sinensis Habitat - Freshwater wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]
IMG_7846-800x640.jpg Great Cormorant Scientific name - Phalacrocorax carbo Habitat - Rare, found along the coast, and inland waters and marshes. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/11, bean bag]	IMG_7831-1000x750.jpg Purple Swamphen Scientific name - Porphyrio porphyrio Habitat - Uncommon in freshwater and brackish wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/11, bean bag]	IMG_7610-1000x750.jpg Grey Heron Scientific name - Ardea cinerea Habitat - Uncommon in wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7515-1000x750.jpg Common Moorhen Scientific name - Gallinula chloropus Habitat - Marshes and ponds. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7551-900x720.jpg Intermediate Egret Scientific name - Egretta intermedia Habitat - Fresh water marshes, ricefields and tidal flats. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]
KZ2L2144-1000x750.jpg Barn Swallow Scientific name - Hirundo rustica Habitat - from coast to above forests in high mountains. [1DM2 + 100-400 L IS, hand held]	IMG_7816-800x600.jpg Little Grebe Scientific name - Tachybaptus ruficollis Habitat - Uncommon, in freshwater ponds or marshes. Dives when disturbed by intruders. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7229-900x600-FF.jpg Pied Bushchat (Female) Scientific name - Saxicola caprata Habitat - Drier open country, grasslands and cultivated areas. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/14, bean bag, resized full frame]	IMG_7429-1000x750.jpg White-Breasted Waterhen (sub-adult) Scientific name - Amaurornis phoenicurus Habitat - Wetter areas - grasslands, marshes and mangroves. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7089-1000x800.jpg Barred Rail Scientific name: Gallirallus torquatus Habitat: Edges of wetlands, gardens and drier cogon grasslands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/11, bean bag]
IMG_7687-900x720.jpg Purple Heron Scientific name - Ardea purpurea Habitat - Fairly common in all types of wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7930-1000x500.jpg Tufted Duck Scientific name - Aythya fuligula Habitat - Uncommon in open water in deeper lakes and marshes. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/10, bean bag]	IMG_7953-1200x800.jpg Island Collared-Dove Scientific name - Streptopelia bitorquata dusumieri, endemic race Habitat - In lowlands, in open areas and mangroves. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag, resized full frame]	IMG_7747-1000x750.jpg Grey Heron Scientific name - Ardea cinerea Habitat - Uncommon in wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7616-1000x750.jpg Grey Heron Scientific name - Ardea cinerea Habitat - Uncommon in wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]
IMG_7045-1000x750.jpg Common Moorhen Scientific name - Gallinula chloropus Habitat - Marshes and ponds. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/11, bean bag]	IMG_7304-900x720.jpg Wood Sandpiper Scientific Name - Tringa glareola Habitat - Exposed shores of marshes, ponds and in ricefields. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7801-900x720.jpg Island Collared-Dove Scientific name - Streptopelia bitorquata dusumieri, endemic race Habitat - In lowlands, in open areas and mangroves. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7735-1000x800.jpg Grey Heron Scientific name - Ardea cinerea Habitat - Uncommon in wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7524-1000x750.jpg Common Moorhen Scientific name - Gallinula chloropus Habitat - Marshes and ponds. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]
IMG_7215-1200x800.jpg Pied Bushchat (Female) Scientific name - Saxicola caprata Habitat - Drier open country, grasslands and cultivated areas. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + stacked Canon/Tamron 1.4x TCs, 1000 mm, f/11, bean bag, resized full frame]	Grey_Heron-480x320.gif ANIMATED VERSION - Hunting Heron (721 KB GIF, 7 frames) Grey Heron Scientific name - Ardea cinerea Habitat - Uncommon in wetlands. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, bean bag]	IMG_7538-1000x750.jpg AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK. The tillers of the wetlands, walking behind hand tractors, on their motorcycles or riding carts, make a bee-line for home in a distant trail, as my golden light source calls it a day at Candaba. This is one moment in the wetlands when the weariness of the body in chasing and photographing birds all day long is soothed by the cool breeze, the awesome view and the satisfaction of bagging a few keepers. [40D + 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TC, Manfrotto 475B/3421 support]	KZ2L2151-1000x500.jpg A SEA OF DOMESTIC DUCKS. As the birding day draws to an end, a duck raiser passed along the access trail, driving his ducks towards their home. I couldn't resist kneeling on the dirt and taking a photo of the ducks' funny faces as they whizzed by...:) [1DM2 + 100-400 L IS, hand held]

comment |

mEc		27-Sep-2008 21:27
_nicE place....reaLLy wonderful!!! how i wish to have my own reSthouse there in cAndaba...ryt?looking fOrward for that dreAm...hahaha!!! LOL!!! awesOme picturEs!!!

mar		01-Mar-2008 14:21
this is really awesome!! we just went there last month and i never saw them too close!!

adel		25-Jan-2008 03:44
Awesome! kaganda mga pics mo...

neos_marc		22-Dec-2007 03:11
Magnifique gallery! voted

csmallari		21-Dec-2007 15:25
All beautiful captures Romy. Haaaaay I am dying to go to Candaba :(

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