Philippines: Mar 02—23, 2009

Palawan Frogmouth — Photo: Susan Myers

This amazing country has a suite of fascinating endemic species. The 7,000 islands of the Philippines hold an extraordinary 170 or more endemic species out of more than 600! With endemics such as Philippine Eagle, Scale-feathered Malkoha, Steere's Pitta, Blue Fantail, and Celestial Monarch, the birds of the Philippines are some of the most exciting in the world.

On the main island we will especially look for the Luzon endemics and many other more widespread Philippine endemics. Birds such as Philippine Hawk-Eagle, Luzon Bleeding-heart, Rufous Coucal, Philippine Trogon, Sooty Woodpecker, Whiskered Pitta, Philippine Tailorbird, Blue-breasted Flycatcher, Rabor's Wren-Babbler, and White-fronted Tit. At the famed Mount Polis we will look for Luzon montane endemics such as Flame-breasted Fruit-Dove, Chestnut-faced Babbler, Metallic-winged Sunbird, and Flame-crowned Flowerpecker.

The island of Palawan forms a bridge between the main Philippine islands and Borneo. The high limestone cliffs, pristine forests, and white sandy beaches of St. Paul's National Park are rich in birds like the stunning Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, Palawan Hornbill, Falcated Ground-Babbler, and Blue Paradise-Flycatcher. We will go in search of Palawan Scops-Owl and Palawan Frogmouth, and later take a boat to Rasa Island in search of the increasingly rare Philippine Cockatoo and the very restricted Mantanani Scops-Owl.

The southern island of Mindanao is home to some truly astounding birds and our anticipation will be at fever pitch! The area is rich in birds including 20 or so Mindanao endemics such as the legendary Philippine Eagle, Amethyst Brown-dove, Silvery Kingfisher, Mindanao Hornbill, Mindanao Wattled Broadbill, Steere's Pitta, Streaked Ground-Babbler, Black-headed Tailorbird, Rufous Paradise-Flycatcher, Blue Fantail, Celestial and Short-crested monarchs, White-cheeked Bullfinch, Metallic-winged Sunbird, and Naked-faced Spiderhunter.

An optional extension to the Visayan Islands will give us a chance to search for more exciting endemics including Flame-templed Tree-Babbler, Visayan Flowerpecker, and Blue-headed Fantail. We'll travel to beautiful Bohol for Steere's Pitta, Visayan Broadbill, and Yellow-breasted Tailorbird. In central Cebu there is still a tiny remaining patch of old-growth forest and it was here that the Cebu Flowerpecker was rediscovered several years back.

Comfortable hotels at most sites; fully serviced camping at Mount Kitanglad; good food; moderate trail and easy roadside birding with some midday breaks; warm and humid in the lowlands, cool at the montane sites.