Whiskered Pitta
WHISKERED PITTA
Pitta kochi
Family Pittidae
Bird # 308 - March 2011
This is a Philippine endemic. It measures about 9". In the Kennedy guide it says that "once thought rare, but now considered uncommon".
THE target bird of this mother of all birding trips that entailed 4 nights of camping, a 1-hour jeep ride, a 3-hour horseback ride, and a 3 hour hike just to get to the campsite!! We had three full days of birding and at the site. We heard but didn't see it on the first and second days. On our third and final day of birding, we knew that our time for seeing this bird was running out. Then, when we were at one of the likely pitta sites, we had a bird respond to our calls. We could hear it approaching. Nicky said that it was coming up the road. Then, it popped out from behind a tree beside the road! But I didn't see it! But Nicky said it would continue approach and circle us. The second time it popped out, I saw it! I exclaimed, "Oh my God!" But, it was not an ideal view, it was flying low. Then, we went to what Nicky said was the final likely site, for a final attempt to see the bird. We all took our places and had to keep very, very still. The less movement from us, the better. I was right beside a wild pig snare and was somewhat worried about setting off the snare. Then, we heard the pitta coming closer. Nicky told me to put my camera on his shoulder. I was standing very still, listening to the pitta's call which still sounded far, when, I saw something red right in front of us! I whispered, "Nicky, I can see it! It's near us!!" I was able to watch it calling and hopping around. The whole group got great views! Tonji got a great shot by lying flat on the ground! He even had to ask Carmela to press the shutter release cable for him as he needed both hands to hold the camera still.
Read MorePitta kochi
Family Pittidae
Bird # 308 - March 2011
This is a Philippine endemic. It measures about 9". In the Kennedy guide it says that "once thought rare, but now considered uncommon".
THE target bird of this mother of all birding trips that entailed 4 nights of camping, a 1-hour jeep ride, a 3-hour horseback ride, and a 3 hour hike just to get to the campsite!! We had three full days of birding and at the site. We heard but didn't see it on the first and second days. On our third and final day of birding, we knew that our time for seeing this bird was running out. Then, when we were at one of the likely pitta sites, we had a bird respond to our calls. We could hear it approaching. Nicky said that it was coming up the road. Then, it popped out from behind a tree beside the road! But I didn't see it! But Nicky said it would continue approach and circle us. The second time it popped out, I saw it! I exclaimed, "Oh my God!" But, it was not an ideal view, it was flying low. Then, we went to what Nicky said was the final likely site, for a final attempt to see the bird. We all took our places and had to keep very, very still. The less movement from us, the better. I was right beside a wild pig snare and was somewhat worried about setting off the snare. Then, we heard the pitta coming closer. Nicky told me to put my camera on his shoulder. I was standing very still, listening to the pitta's call which still sounded far, when, I saw something red right in front of us! I whispered, "Nicky, I can see it! It's near us!!" I was able to watch it calling and hopping around. The whole group got great views! Tonji got a great shot by lying flat on the ground! He even had to ask Carmela to press the shutter release cable for him as he needed both hands to hold the camera still.
