How could we resist? Our pitta twitch was quite successful and we could do a bit of target birding (we didn't have any long lenses during our first Siquijor birding sortie) before heading back to Manila. And ... BEACH!
We were able to book the last garden room at the Coral Cay Resort (www.coralcayresort.com) in San Juan and early the next morning we went straight to the pier to purchase our fast craft tickets.
And failed!
The combination of a low pressure area and the habagat was stirring up some angry waves and all small sea craft were grounded by the coast guard! Thankfully the larger RORO (ROll-on-/ROll-off) craft were still allowed to travel! With the limited transport, there were predictably long lines (mostly toursits!) to get RORO tickets, but our lucky streak continued and we got the last two passenger slots for the RORO!
After a (slightly) choppy 2 hour slow boat ride, we finally landed at the striking white sand beach pier at San Juan! More than 10 years since my last visit, I could already see the changes to this (once?) mystical island - the pier had been much improved with a modern terminal for waiting passengers! The white sand beach though was beautiful as ever, even under the grey skies.
We had reserved the next morning for birding to chase our targets, but all other times, we just spent lazing about the resort: swimming in the pool, walking on the beach, eating, snoozing, catching up on some reading or just (as what vacation is best for) staring at the deep blue!
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| The view from our little veranda. |
While mornings were sunny, by mid-afternoon the skies turned grey and the wind picked up. It was fun strolling on the beach with the wind whipping about sand, dried seagrass leaves and other bits of beach litter!
Walking on the beach, we were bound to pick up a pack of cool beach dogs who always seem to welcome a tummy scratch and pat on the head.
Back at our cabana, we would of course be distracted by the birds flitting about the garden. Our room faced some colorful San Francisco ornamental plants and a spreading pomelo tree which was a favorite hang out of a pair of Olive-backed Sunbirds.
Walking about the sand were Zebra Doves which stopped every now and then to do a low courtship bow and dance, complete with soft growls.
A Philippine Magpie-Robin would call from a flowering caballero shrub where it hid from the guests walking on the paths.
Every now and then a Philippine Pied Fantail would fly in, snapping its wings and tail loudly.
A nearby palm tree held a large number of noisy Asian Glossy Starlings nesting. These two were gorging on some ripe papaya fruit behind our cottage.
A cute pair of Chestnut Munias were busy building a nest in a dracaena plant beside the neighboring cottage. They would rest a bit on the pomelo tree between carrying long blades of dried grass.
So even at the beach, birds beckon. Sun, sand, sea, beach and birds... aaaah, the life!
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