Crimson Sunbird (Male)

Scientific name - Aethopyga siparaja

Habitat - Cultivated areas, scrub, forest edge and second growth uo tp 1000 m.

Crimson Sunbird (Male)

Scientific name - Aethopyga siparaja

Habitat - Cultivated areas, scrub, forest edge and second growth uo tp 1000 m.

Crimson Sunbird (Male)

Scientific name - Aethopyga siparaja

Habitat - Cultivated areas, scrub, forest edge and second growth uo tp 1000 m.

Blue Rock-Thrush (Immature)

Scientific name - Monticola solitarius

Habitat - Rocky exposed slopes, road cuts, and along rocky streams and rivers.

Blue Rock-Thrush (Immature)

Scientific name - Monticola solitarius

Habitat - Rocky exposed slopes, road cuts, and along rocky streams and rivers.

Everett's White-eye

Scientific name - Zosterops everetti

Habitat - Lowland forest, edge and second growth.

Everett's White-eye

Scientific name - Zosterops everetti

Habitat - Lowland forest, edge and second growth.

Arctic Warbler

Scientific name - Phylloscopus borealis

Habitat - Variety of forest types at all levels and elevations.

Pied Triller

Scientific name - Lalage nigra

Habitat - Common in trees in open country, gardens in towns, and open scrub in the lowlands.

Brush Cuckoo

Scientific name - Cacomantis variolosus sepulcralis

Habitat - Coastal mangrove to montane mossy forest.

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher

Scientific name - Cyornis rufigastra philippinensis

Habitat - Disturbed forest, early second growth and in the lowlands.

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher

Scientific name - Cyornis rufigastra philippinensis

Habitat - Disturbed forest, early second growth and in the lowlands.

Red-keeled Flowerpecker
(a Philippine endemic)

Scientific name - Dicaeum australe australe

Habitat - common in canopy of forest, edge and flowering trees.

White-bellied Munia

Scientific name - Lonchura leucogastra

Habitat - Common, ranging from forest to ricefields.

No, this isn't the CFP. It's future dad Nilo Arribas taking aim at a "langgam" (Cebuano vernacular for bird).

This color-blind clicker traverses a sheer-faced mountainside at Cebu's Tabunan mountains in search of the elusive Cebu Flowerpecker.

Raul Puentespina, taking a rest here with Nilo, helped us in the logistics for the valiant but unfruitful attempt at one of the world's rarest birds.

Mutt and Jeff.... er... yours truly and Nilo taking a breather in Raul's unfinished goat shed, which we used as shelter.

Raul and I huff and puff our way up a mountain trail in Tabunan. We actually lost several pounds each during this trek,
but regained everything back when we downed several bottles of SanMig beer after we returned to the city...8-)

I aim at a "tamsi" (Cebuano for sunbirds/flowerpeckers) at Maraag, Sudlon II, Cebu Province, a few minutes drive from Tabunan.

Raul Puentespina (our host), yours truly and our guide enjoy the view at Maraag valley, Cebu.

Batman and Robin (Nilo Arribas and me) pose for posterity with the verdant Maraag valley (Cebu) in the background.

MT. MANUNGGAL. The crash site of Pres. Magsaysay's ill-fated plane looms in the distance.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. Deep in a valley amidst the Tabunan Mountains, a river provides life-giving water to flora and fauna, including perhaps our most wanted CFP.

This is the trail that goes down towards the valley and river. It's quite easy to trek, going DOWN. Don't ask me how it is climbing UP...8-)
No, Virginia, badminton is not needed to slim down in these parts.