breathing space

Wednesday, April 9

back from agusan

I just spent a week in Agusan del Sur... 2 days on a floating schoolhouse in Lake Mihaba in the Agusan Marsh, a rainy night on the slopes of Mt. Magdiwata, an afternoon on a floating view deck on Lake Binoni, and a short birding sortie at the Binaba Falls on the Gibong River.
The hospitality of the Agusanons was overwhelming. What started out as a birding trip turned into a true Agusan adventure for our group of ten (Adri and I, Tere, Alex, Tintin, Arnel, Felix, Nicky, Carmela and Edmundo).
I miss the quiet stillness of the marsh the most, and the insect bites the least.
http://katrinket.multiply.com/photos/album/30/agusan_adventure
In the meantime... back to reality in the heat of Manila.

Monday, March 17

summer's here

...and suddenly the cool mornings have turned dry and hot.

summer's here!

what better way to celebrate the start of summer than with a tall glass of razon's halo halo after a full weekend of candaba and subic birding with friends on palm sunday?

strange though that we still have class until wednesday, and that finals are AFTER easter sunday.
still... it's going to be a full summer... a mindanao trip and summer classes on the top of the list.
wonder what else is in store for me?

Tuesday, March 11

a very birdy makiling

Makiling was unusually productive last Sunday, we (Alex T., Tere, Ixi, Mang Boy, Adri & I) racked a total of 49 species seen and/or heard in good numbers.

This coppersmith barbet was part of a pair which took turns hollowing out a a dead branch.

The "flock of the day" were actually 3 flocks of ashy minivets bringing with them several other birds. In one tree (yes, the magic malapapaya tree), around 20 minivets were accompanied by sulphur-billed nuthatches, elegant tits, black-naped monarchs, striped-headed rhabdornis (es?), a striped flowerpecker (yes, with the wagging tail), pygmy woodpeckers, even balicassiaos! Another flock also had an arctic warbler, yellow-bellied whistlers and yellow-wattled bulbuls. We couldn't take our eyes off them (well, we eventually had to)! I love mixed flocks. A surprise is always somewhere in there.

Frightened a red-bellied pitta on the trail. It scuttled into the undergrowth with that occasional look back that I have seen so many times. Argh. After so long a search on the forest trail, a glimpse at last. Still a sighting is a sighting, no matter how fleeting.

There was also a tree draped in a flowering jade vine, how beautiful! So many trees in bloom (have they been freaked by the weather too?), hopefully, fruit (and more birds) will follow soon.

It seems Mariang Makiling was in a good mood that day. I didn't want to leave, but there were other places to be.

Monday, February 18

sunset and sanctuary

Looks like busy, busy weeks ahead as the school year is drawing to a close. Took this sunset picture at Dive and Trek at Bauan, Batangas where Russel's and my Zoo 12.1 classes had their field trip two Saturdays ago. Taking sixty-plus students snorkeling and hiking... this picture is deceptive of how the day went.

I'm so looking forward I'll feel the serenity offered by the close of classes in a month and a half, and to having a good, break before summer school starts.

In the meantime, work, work, work!

Wednesday, January 9

up @ 100

I missed yesterday's kick-off to the centennial celebration of UP!

Adri was at the parade though, so I had some idea what went on.

(took this photo on my way home today to make up for it)

University of the Philippines Centennial
1908-2008