Site: Manila Bay Baluarte, Bulacan to CCP Complex, Manila
Date: March 19, 2004
Site on Field: 7:20 am - 2:00 pm
Birders: James McCarthy, Spike Millington
Trip report & Birdlist by: Arne Jensen

This month most of the migratories are leaving us. For a pioneer with time and adventures in his heart, one should be heading to the north points of Luzon and just be sitting and counting ten thousands of birds migrating north. No one has ever done it here - migration movements are still only counted in Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan (remember last autumn they counted 140,000 + raptors migrating towards Luzon). Although this year Mads, Lala, Carl and Desmond Allan are in the Babuyans. Hopefully they will have time for the migratories as well. James with friend Spike and I returned to the coast of Bulacan and just did a few fishponds. See below. Guess everybody can imagine the total numbers of waterbirds of the 1000s of fishponds from Bataan to Manila. We had about 3,800 including scarce species such as Terek Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruff, and Little Tern. And a high number of Black-headed Gull along Manila waterfront. In the harbor of Manila small mountains of primary forest logs from Indonesia were stockpiled reminding us about the vast forest destruction all over Asia.

LOCALITY: BARANGAY BALUARTE, BULACAN
(COASTAL FISHPONDS AT VERY END OF MEYCAUAYAN RIVER)
Date: Friday, March 19, 2004
Time: 7.20-11.50
Weather: ENE, 6-8 m/sec 1-3/8 cloud cover, clear visibility, + 28-30 C.
Observers: James McCarthy with friend Spike and Arne Jensen

Observed species and numbers:
1. Great Egret - 27
2. Intermediate Egret - 2
3. Little Egret - 18
4. Little Heron - 5
5. Cinnamon Bittern - 2
6. Yellow Bittern - 5
7. Grey Plover - 120 Winter plum.
8. Asian Golden-Plover - 1500 Very few in summer plum.
9. Little Ringed-Plover - 2
10. Kentish Plover - 100 Mainly in summer plum
11. Lesser Sand-Plover - 150 Several in summer plum.
12. Ringed-Plover - sp 50
13. Whimbrel - 1
14. Bar-tailed Godwit - 2 Winter plum.
15. Common Redshank - 9
16. Common Greenshank - 50
17. Wood Sandpiper - 3
18. Common Sandpiper - 10
19. Terek Sandpiper - 3 Winter plum.
20. Marsh Sandpiper - 300 Mainly in winter plum.
21. Rufous-necked Stint - 130 Winter plum
22. Long-toed Stint - 14
23. Curlew Sandpiper - 200 About 10 in summer plum
24. Broad-billed Sandpiper - 61 in summer plum
25. Ruff - 1
26. Black-winged Stilt - 30
27. Black-headed Gull - 5 Adult
28. Little Tern - 14 Several in summer plum.
29. Whiskered Tern - 100 Few in summer plum.
30. Spotted Dove - 6
31. Philippine Coucal - (1)
32. Common Kingfisher - 3
33. White-collared Kingfisher - 6
34. Striated Grassbird - 2
35. Clamorous Reed-Warbler - 6
36. Pied Fantail - 3
37. Tree Sparrow - 2

BALUARTE-CCP MANILA BY BANCA (MANILA BAY)
Time: 11.50-14.00
1. Grey Heron - 1 (Tanza)
2. White Egret - sp 40 (Tanza)
3. Shorebirds - sp 250+ (Tanza)
4. Oriental Prantincole - 1 Migrating north
5. Black-headed Gull - 182
6. Little Tern - 15
7. White-winged Tern - 1
8. Whiskered Tern - 500+
9. Barn Swallow - 100+ Migrating north
10. Pacific Swallow - 2