Intrepid Philippines

Cebu, Tablas, Bohol, Negros, Mindoro, Camiguin, Luzon

TBC 2027

Leader: Mike Nelson

Our standard Philippines tours give and amazing taste of the endemicity that the archipelago has to offer, but there are many more that are off the regular circuit, or on less accessible islands, that leave birders yearning to return. Our Intrepid Philippines tour takes in an exciting selection of rare, enigmatic, or difficult to reach endemics which are not possible on our other Philippines tours. Travel in these areas requires careful planning, with frequent changes in flight and ferry schedules, and a final day-to-day itinerary will only be available closer to the tour, but following exciting destinations will all be included on the tour.

Luzon
We visit the north-east of main island of Luzon, at thenorthern end of the Sierra Madre we will see the Critically Endangered IsabelaOriole, with a good chance of White-lored Oriole, Luzon Striped Babbler,Golden-crowned Babbler and Sierre Madre Ground-warbler.

Mindoro
The lowlands of Mindoro hold most of the islands endemics and we will concentrate on one of the largest remaining forest patches looking for Scarlet-collared Flowerpecker, Mindoro Hornbill, Mindoro Bulbul, Mindoro Racquet-tail, and of course the Critically Endangered Black-hooded Coucal by tracking its booming calls in the forest, plus nocturnal forays for Mindoro Boobook. There’s also the chance of more widespread, yet difficult, Philippine endemics like Spotted Imperial Pigeon, Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon and Black-bibbed Cicadabird.

Negros
We will cover all corners of this island in the west Visayas which holds many excellent endemics. Arguably the star is the spectacular Flame-templed Babbler but there’s plenty more to see including Negros Striped Babbler, White-winged Cuckooshrike, Visayan Hornbill, Visayan Shama, Visayan Fantail, Visayan Brown Dove, Visayan Tailorbird, Visayan Balicassiao, Maroon-naped and Magnificent Sunbirds, Black-belted Flowerpecker, and delightful Negros Scops Owl. We will also try some some of the much harder endemics with Visayan Rhabdornis the rather nondescript White-throated Jungle-flycatcher and altogether more colourful Yellow-faced Flameback and Southern Indigo-banded Kingfisher on our radar.

Siquijor
A short hop across from Negros the small island of Siquijor holds its own endemic bulbul together with a bunch of endemic subspecies.

Bohol
The well protected forests of Bohol can be explored on an excellent trail and road network and we will be looking for Visayan Wattled Broadbill with mixed feeding flocks, Yellow-breasted Tailorbird, Black-crowned Babbler, Samar Hornbill, and the recently split Bohol Sunbird and Visayan Blue Fantail. There will be plenty more to keep us entertained and this is an excellent place to see the likes of Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher, Streaked Ground Babbler, Rufous-lored Kingfisher, Short-billed and Amethyst Brown Dove, Black-bibbed Cicadabird and Steere’s Pitta. At night we will try to find Philippine Frogmouth and Everett’s Scops Owl.

Cebu
Although Cebu has lost almost all of its forest cover, the remaining pockets still hold on to Cebu Boobook, Black Shama and Cebu Bulbul, with bonus species like White-vented Whistler, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher and Magnificent Sunbird.

Camiguin
The small volcanic island of Camiguin Sur, just off the north coast of Mindanao, is a surprising hotbed of endemism. Here we hope to find the island endemic Camiguin Hanging Parrot but also make sure to see ‘Camiguin’ Yellowish Bulbul and distinctive taxa of Black-naped Monarch and Yellowish White-eye. Dimorphic Kingfisher is not uncommon on the island and at night we will look for the recently described Camiguin Boobook.

Mindanao
Although much of Mindanao is covered on our main tours, the southern portions are an exception. In the mountains of South Cotabato, on theforest-clad slopes of a beautiful crater lake, that we will look for the very rare Mindanao Lorikeet, T’boli Sunbird and ‘Matutum’ Bush Warbler. On theZamboanga Peninsula we will hope to see Zamboanga Bulbul and White-earedTailorbird, with good chances of adding Philippines Jungle Flycatcher, LittleSlaty Flycatcher, Southern Sooty Woodpecker and Mindanao Plumed-warbler.

Tablas
Few birders have ventured to the charming island of Tablas yet it holds a nice set of endemics; Tablas Bulbul, Tablas Fantail and the spectacular lyre-tailed Tablas Drongo which is sadly Critically Endangered. There will be other more widespread endemic present, the pick of which is the recently split Dimorphic Kingfisher. Nocturnal outings will find the endemic Romblon Boobook, and Mantanani Scops Owl.