PHILIPPINES OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK – The Visayans (Negros, Bohol and Cebu), Camiguin, Mindoro, Luzon & Tablas

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

PHILIPPINES OFF-THE-BEATEN-TRACK BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 1

Our tour begins this afternoon at Manila airport, from where we take a flight to Bacolod on Negros for an overnight stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 2

This morning, we will make an early start and visit a forested park in the north of the island. This excellent area is home to a number of Negros’s most sought-after species. Perhaps top of our agenda will be the extraordinary Flame-templed Babbler with its beautiful, whistled song, which is frequent in the mixed flocks here. Also possible are two rarities, the sneaky White-throated Jungle Flycatcher and the rare southern form of Indigo-banded Kingfisher (which is already treated as a separate species by some authorities). The mixed flocks hold a number of interesting species for us, including Balicassiao (the distinct white-bellied birds here may merit specific status as Visayan Drongo), Visayan Bulbul, the cheeky Visayan Fantail, smart Lemon-throated Leaf Warblers, the localised White-vented Whistler, Elegant Tits, Yellowish White-eyes and the increasingly rare Citrine Canary-Flycatcher.

After what should be a great morning to start the tour, we will make the long drive south to Dumaguete for a three-night stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Days 3-4

During these two days in the south of the island, we will explore several areas to find the remaining Negros endemics, as many of them are now rare and restricted to very localised areas. We will make an early start each day in order to find our targets.

On one morning, we will drive high up into the hills behind Dumaguete to search for the rare Negros Striped Babbler, which is fortunately now accessible without a painful hike. In another area, we have an excellent chance of finding the stunning little Negros Scops Owl as well as Luzon Boobook, Philippine Nightjar, the local form of Spotted Wood Kingfisher, the delightful Black-belted (or Visayan) Flowerpecker and Philippine Tailorbird (now endemic to the Visayas.

In another area, we will look for a number of other goodies. Here, the flowers around a restaurant usually hold beautiful Magnificent Sunbirds and colourful Maroon-naped Sunbirds. In the nearby forest, we will seek the increasingly rare Visayan Hornbill. White-winged and Visayan Cuckooshrikes patrol the area in noisy flocks, and other rarities here that we could see include the local form of Amethyst Brown Dove (split by some authorities as Grey-breasted Brown Dove) and Visayan Rhabdornis. We would need great good fortune to encounter the now very rare and elusive Yellow-faced Flameback.

Whilst on Negros, we will also make a concerted effort to find the increasingly rare Visayan Shama. Further endemics possible during our wanderings on Negros could include Philippine Honey Buzzard, Philippine Serpent Eagle, ‘Buff-eared’ Brown Dove (the local form of the White-eared Brown Dove), the colourful Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Blue-crowned Racket-tail, Ameline and Grey-rumped Swiftlets, the bizarre Philippine Spine-tailed Swift (that almost looks as if it is flying backwards!), Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Brown-breasted Kingfisher, Philippine Hanging Parrot (known locally as Colasissi), the bald-headed Coleto, Philippine Pied Fantail and Bicoloured Flowerpecker.

More widespread species possible here (or elsewhere during the tour) include Javan Pond Heron, Little, Great, Medium and Eastern Cattle Egrets, Striated Heron, Osprey, Brahminy Kite, Barred Rail, Whiskered Tern, Spotted and Zebra Doves, Common and Collared Kingfishers, the huge White-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Woodswallow, the local forms of the Scarlet Minivet and Black-naped Oriole (both potential splits), Brown Shrike, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Barn Swallow, Warbling White-eye, ‘Orange-breasted’ Flowerpecker (a potential split from Orange-bellied), Asian Glossy Starling, Grey-streaked and Turquoise Flycatchers, Tree Sparrow, Chestnut Munia and Grey Wagtail.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 5

After a final morning on Negros, we will travel by ferry to Tagbilaran on Bohol, from where we will make our way to the Chocolate Hills for a two-night stay.

The Chocolate Hills are an area of peculiar, rounded hills which protrude from the otherwise flat landscape and are a popular tourist attraction. Upon arrival, there should be time for some initial exploration.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 6

Bohol lies in the Central Visayas and has a fauna similar to that of neighbouring Leyte, Samar and Mindanao. The island had been cleared of forests by the end of the nineteenth century, but following successful replanting after the Second World War, there are now some extensive areas of dense secondary growth. Adjacent to the Chocolate Hills is the densely forested Rajah Sikatuna National Park, and we will spend all day exploring this productive site. Although bird densities in this habitat are low, there are a number of specialities, notably Samar Hornbill, the superb Northern Silvery Kingfisher, Short-tailed Drongo, Visayan Babbler, Yellow-breasted Tailorbird, ‘Bohol’ Sunbird (the local form of the Metallic-winged Sunbird) and, with luck, the unobtrusive Visayan (Wattled) Broadbill.

Other good birds we may well see here include Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Winchell’s (or Rufous-lored) Kingfisher, the endemic Buff-spotted Flameback, the spectacular Azure-breasted (or Steere’s) Pitta, Striated Wren-Babbler (or Streaked Ground Babbler), Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher and Visayan Blue Fantail, whilst more widespread possibilities include the impressive Black-faced Coucal, Pygmy Swiftlet, the colourful Philippine Trogon, Philippine Pitta, Yellow-bellied Whistler, Philippine Oriole, Philippine Bulbul, Brown Tit-Babbler, Philippine Leaf Warbler, Philippine Leafbird and Red-keeled and Buzzing Flowerpeckers.

We also have a good chance of finding the superb Philippine Frogmouth and, with luck, Chocolate Boobook and Everett’s Scops Owl, and we should see the excellent Colugo or Philippine Flying-Lemur, which is particularly common here.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 7

After a final morning on Bohol, we will travel back to Tagbilaran and take a ferry to Cebu City for a two-night stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 8

Our short stay on Cebu, one of the smaller islands in the central Visayan region, will not be wasted, as Cebu is the home of three endemic species of birds. Two of these were thought to be extinct due to the near-complete destruction of forest cover on the island. After many years, the Cebu (or Four-coloured) Flowerpecker was rediscovered in 1992, but its position remains very precarious as it is dependent on the few small relict stands of virgin forest; indeed, it may now be extinct. The Black Shama has managed to adapt rather more successfully and can be found both in primary forest and in secondary growth, and can even be found in bamboo groves on the fringes of urban areas. The third endemic is the recently described Cebu Boobook. We will visit Tabunan in the Central Cebu National Park, where we have an excellent chance of seeing both the shama and the owl.

Other species that we may well find include Philippine Hawk-Cuckoo, Sunda Brush Cuckoo, Pied Triller, Philippine Magpie-Robin, the Philippine form of the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, and, with luck, the rare Cebu form of the Streak-breasted Bulbul, thought to be extinct on Cebu until its rediscovery.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 9

Today we will take an early morning flight across to the little-known island of Camiguin, situated not far from the northern coast of the huge island of Mindanao, for an overnight stay.

Here we will explore the remaining forest fragments while looking for the speedy endemic Camiguin Hanging Parrot, the endemic Camiguin Bulbul and, after dark, the endearing endemic Camiguin Boobook. The gorgeous Dimorphic Dwarf Kingfisher, another endemic, is relatively easy to find here, and there are also endemic Camiguin forms of Black-naped Monarch and Yellowish White-eye, while other potentially new species present include the stunning Rufous Paradise Flycatcher (southern form), Purple-throated and Brown-throated Sunbirds and Everett’s White-eye.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 10

After a final morning on Camiguin, we will return by air to Manila for an overnight stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 11

This morning, we will take a flight to San Jose on the island of Mindoro and then, in order to visit one of the last remaining areas of lowland rainforest on the island, transfer to Sablayan for an overnight stay.

We will have our first chance today to explore the surviving forest, while at a nearby lake, we may well see such species as the smart Philippine Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, Yellow and Cinnamon Bitterns, Purple and Grey Herons, White-browed Crake, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Moorhen, Striated Grassbird, Paddyfield Pipit and sometimes Grey-throated Martin (scarce elsewhere in the Philippines). We should also find the local form of the Philippine Coucal, which is virtually all black and sometimes found alongside the Lesser Coucal.

In the late afternoon, we should see numbers of pigeons and parrots and other species going to roost, including the endemic Mindoro Hornbill, Philippine Green Pigeon, Mindoro Racket-tail, Blue-naped Parrot, and, with a lot of luck, Metallic (Wood) Pigeon or the ever-scarcer Spotted Imperial Pigeon.

Then, as dusk falls, Great Eared and endemic Chirruping Nightjars should emerge from their daytime hiding places. Our main quarry, however, will be Mindoro Boobook, a little-known endemic which surely has some of the strangest vocalisations of any owl. We also have our best chance here for Chocolate Boobook.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 12

Today, as we walk stealthily along the forest edge and then along a well-defined trail that heads into the forest, we will be concentrating on Mindoro endemics. We have a very good chance of seeing Mindoro Bulbul and the attractive Scarlet-collared Flowerpecker, and should also see the secretive Black-hooded (or Steere’s) Coucal. However, we would have to be exceptionally lucky to find the rare and heavily-trapped Mindoro Bleeding-heart.

Other species we may see in and around the forest include Plain Bush-hen, Grey-faced Buzzard, Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Asian Koel, Philippine Drongo-Cuckoo, Blue-tailed and Blue-throated Bee-eaters, Coppersmith Barbet, Balicassio (all black ones here!), the range-restricted Palawan Crow, Northern Black-and-white Triller, Black-bibbed Cicadabird and Eastern Red-rumped Swallow.

In the late afternoon, we will return to San Jose for an overnight stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 13

This morning, we will take a flight back to Manila and then on to Tuguegarao, from where we will travel to the Baggao area in the Sierra Madre mountains to the northeast of the city for a two-night stay.

Paddyfields in the area (if the water levels are right) may hold widespread species such as Black-winged Stilt, Pacific Golden and Little Ringed Plovers, Wood and Common Sandpipers, Long-tailed Shrike, Pacific Swallow and Eastern Yellow Wagtail.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 14

In the Baggao area, we will focus on seeing the critically endangered, endemic Isabela Oriole, which we have an excellent chance of finding thanks to some concerted conservation efforts in the area. Also found here are a number of other sought-after species such as White-lored Oriole, the localised Luzon Striped Babbler, the attractive Golden-crowned Babbler and the aptly-named Furtive Flycatcher. There are also modest chances for Spotted Imperial Pigeon, ‘Northern’ Cream-bellied Fruit Dove, Luzon Bleeding-heart and ‘Northern’ Indigo-backed Kingfisher.

More widespread Philippine species are likely to include Purple Needletail, Philippine Cuckoo-Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon (the local form has a maroon nape), ridiculous Scale-feathered and Rough-crested Malkohas that maraud with the noisy flocks of Rufous Coucals, Luzon Hornbill, (Northern) Sooty Woodpecker, White-browed Shama, Ashy Minivet, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher (the northern form here), the endemic Trilling Tailorbird and Thick-billed Flowerpecker, and we may also encounter the widespread Rufous-bellied Eagle.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 15

Today, we will return to Tuguegarao and take a flight back to Manila. From there, we travel into the Sierra Madre mountains to the northeast of the city for a three-night stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Days 16-17

Here in the southern Sierra Madre, we have a good chance of finding ‘Southern’ Cream-bellied and Flame-breasted Fruit Doves, the northern form of the Rufous Hornbill, the increasingly rare Philippine Fairy Bluebird, and the ultra-skulking Bicol Ground Warbler (formerly known by the name Rabor’s Wren-Babbler). We will also see a number of other more widespread endemic species found in Luzon, such as Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker, Luzon Flameback, Guiabero, Blue-headed Fantail, Yellow-wattled Bulbul, Grey-backed Tailorbird, and the attractive Sulphur-billed Nuthatch.

If we are lucky, we will also find the uncommon Grand Rhabdornis, whilst at night we may be able to find Philippine and Luzon Scops Owls, and, if time permits, we will also make an excursion to see the much-wanted powerful Philippine Eagle Owl. There is a slim chance of encountering Whiskered Pitta.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 18

After some final birding in the southern Sierra Madre, we return to Manila for an overnight stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 19

From Manila, we will travel by air or road and ferry to Tablas Island in the Romblon island group for a two-night stay.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 20

Today, we will explore this little-known island. During the daylight hours, we will spend our time in the limited remaining forest patches in the Dubduban watershed, where, in particular, we will be looking for the endemic Tablas Drongo (with its long, deeply-forked tail) and Tablas Fantail. A number of other interesting subspecies occur, including a distinctive form of the Streak-breasted Bulbul, which may in the future be split off as Tablas Bulbul, as well as endemic forms of Winchell’s (Rufous-lored) Kingfisher and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker. We will also put in a concerted effort to find the smart Dimorphic Dwarf Kingfisher, which is fairly ‘seeable’ on this island. As dusk falls, we should be serenaded by the calls of the endemic Romblon Boobook, and hopefully, we will have little trouble tracking down this smart owl. Mantanani Scops Owl is also common here, and again, it should not take too long to fix one of these desired owls in our spotlight beam.

Philippines off-the-beaten-track: Day 21

Today, we will return by air or ferry and road to Manila, where our tour ends this evening, if we return by ferry or perhaps earlier if we can fly.