Birding in Palawan, Philippines
Just returned from a little over two weeks in Palawan. Birding wasn't my primary focus, but I usually reserved the early mornings to walk around for a few hours before Island hopping, snorkeling, or relaxing on the beach. I have to say that Palawan is incredibly pristine. Vast jungle covers nearly the entire island. Getting from place to place is difficult and expensive but lovers of biodiversity I can't imagine a happier place on earth.
We flew in and out of Puerto Princesa but spent most of our time in Port Barton, El Nido, and Sabang. Sabang is home to an 8 Km long underground river formed by millions of years of dissolving limestone. The inside of the cave is 65 meters tall at it's highest point - truly an amazing sight. A highlight was the Edible nest Swiftlets echolocating as they zoomed past us in our canoe.
I was hoping to see the Palawan Hornbill or the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant but missed them. I did see the Palawan Flowerpecker and a host of other great birds. I'm not a photographer but have included a couple photos from the trip along with a complete list of birds. 32 new lifers!
If anyone is interested in going I'd be happy to provide some helpful hints.
Cheers,
- Josh
Here's the list of birds:
Rufous-tailed Tailorbird
Asian Glossy Starling
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Pacific Swallow
Little Spiderhunter
Olive-backed Sunbird
White-bellied Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Chestnut Munia
Common Greenshank
Pied Triller
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Waterhen
White-breasted Wood Swallow
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Zebra Dove
Blue-throated Bee Eater
Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Yellow-throated Leafbird
Glossy Swiftlet
Common Emerald Dove
Common Sandpiper
Brown Shrike
Greater Sand Plover
Lesser Sand Plover
Palawan Flowerpecker
Striped Tit-Babbler
Dark-throated Oriole
Ashy Drongo
Spangled Drongo
Olive-winged Bulbul
Bar-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike
Common Flameback
Dollarbird
Blue-headed Raquet-Tail
Green Imperial Pigeon
Large-billed Crow
Copper-throated Sunbird
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Whimbrel
Greater Coucal
Grey-cheeked Bulbul
Chestnut-breasted Malkoah
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Pygme Flowerpecker
Wood Sandpiper
Lovely Sunbird
Purple-throated Sunbird
Mangrove Whistler
Black-naped Monarch
Common Iora
Pied Fantail
Crested Serpent Eagle
Slender-billed Crow
Lesser Coucal
Great Egret
Eastern Reef Egret
Black-naped Oriole
Edible Nest Swiftlet
Common Kingfisher
