Worth Bragging.

NO SWEAT.

In less than an hour, I got to see 5 new lifers! :D Thanks to the guided trip last Saturday at the La Mesa Ecopark organized by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, I met two of my nemesis birds, the COLASISI and the WHITE-EARED BROWN-DOVE. What more remarkable is our sighting of the ASHY GROUND-THRUSH, RED-BELLIED PITTA and HOODED PITTA.

It all happened before the guided bird trip. As we entered the Ecopark, we saw the Colasisi perched atop a tree, feeding on leaves. Then there was the White-eared Brown-Dove, also preening and feeding on the adjacent tree. There, it was a good start - 2 lifers. Though we expect to encounter the Ashy Ground-Thrush (AGT) and the Red-bellied Pitta (RBP), one rare species was yet to be seen, the colorful Hooded Pitta (HP).

Twitching these two species of Pitta is something one can really be proud of. The RBP is a common resident on the trails of the La Mesa Ecopark, while the sighting of the HP is an incidental one near the entrance of the park. First thought to be a White-throated Kingfisher, the blend of blue, green and cinnamon over the pitta's body evidently proved that it's indeed the rare HP. We were amused and shocked when it flew across the street, and apparently there were two of them one chasing the other. Jops (Josef) and Sir Jun (Osano) then confirmed it was really a HP. It was really an awesome, awesome moment as a birder. :D

Then the guided trip began. 9 were there as participants and there were 8 of us as guides. Bird photographers were also present, lead by the Club's Vice-President, Mr. Alain Pascua. Common birds were seen such as the all-time-favorite Guaiabero, Black-naped Oriole, Pied Fantail, Brown Shrike, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Yellow-vented Bulbul and the nesting White-eared Brown-Dove.

We eventually proceeded to the trails where the RBP and the AGT are wandering. Just a few meters inside the forest trail, we heard a low, long croo-croooo call. The birders affirmed it was the RBP's call. Jonie, one of the guides imitated the call to attract the pitta. After some time, Sir Jun did see it standing on a fallen tree branch.   Fellow birders were amazed by the expanding and contracting of the RBP's breast while making its call. One beautiful feature of the RBP is it's red belly, thus the name. After that we tried the other side of the trail to twitch the AGT. Since it is a ground dwelling bird, you really have to kneel down to peek through the trunks and see it. After around 5-10 minutes of waiting, it appeared hopping, looking around for some worms. The AGT is a small, endemic bird that resides on the ground; since its discovery in the park, it has attracted a lot of birders and bird photographers. The RBP's call was heard again near the AGT side. After following its sound, we saw it face-to-face just right beside me crossing the trail. It was a heart-attack view, so close I can actually touch it. Letting it pass, all of us were wide-eyed and mesmerized!

I have birded in the La Mesa Ecopark several times, and this recent trip was the best encounter so far! I have just seen my nemesis birds, an endemic bird and the two Pittas in less than an hour and only in one local area! Even I was wearing a hoodie that time, it was a no-sweat birding experience! :D