Sometime in late October 2023, I received a message from Steve Albano, a fellow birder and a friend, asking if I already had a team for the 6th PPUR Bird Photography Race. I already did - a team made up of Loel Lamela, Albert Abadicio, and myself. The next question was, are you all Nikon users. Nope! In fact I was the only Nikon user because both Loel and Albert were not enlightened individuals (they are using another brand, hehehe. biro lang teammates). Steve then told me that Nikon was looking for a team to sponsor. I jokingly asked, "magpapahiram ba ng z8/z9 with 600mm?". A few days later, Steve messaged me asking if I will be in town on October 31st. Yes I will be. The next message had me grinning ear to ear: "Daanan mo sa Thinkdharma office yung z8, para matesting mo". To say that this was a dream come true is an understatement.
I was endorsed to Ms Hedda Kison who, when she released the camera to me, commented, "sir, pag nasubukan niyo yan, baka ayaw niyo nang isoli". All I could do was give a silly grin (di ako makapagsalita eh, hahaha). I remember clutching the camera bag very tightly on my way to the car to make sure that I don't drop and damage it (P258K+ yung pinirmahan kong papel, no!). Here are some photos of the un-bagging (hindi naka box eh).
It was like holding the holy grail
Light and compact
Side by side comparison with my D850
With my 500PF lens attached (using an FTZII adapter). Very light ang handholdable.
I did a couple of test clicks and I had some difficulty focusing but immediately noticed how quiet the shutter was and I knew that I was going to enjoy the 20fps shutter. We had to leave for a family trick or treat lunch so I reluctantly put the camera back in the bag. (But I brought the bag with me). Over the next couple of days, I practiced with the camera as much as I could.
We left for Puerto Princessa on a 3am flight on November 3. Ugin Garme was also on the same flight.
On the red eye flight MNL-PPS. How I wish we had such flights to Coron.
At the PPS airport
We were at Princessa Garden resort by 7ish and was able to check into our room by 9am. And then off we went to bird. This was not yet the contest proper. This was us acclimating to Puerto Princessa. (as if we still needed it).
Sharing some of my images from November 3. All of these were taken using the z8 with my Nikkor 500PF lens, handheld.
Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Square-tailed Drongo, a Philippine lifer since I first saw it in Gumantong Forest Reserve in Sabah, on January 2023
A swiftlet, presumably the Palawan Swiftlet. This was taken using one of the z8's tracking modes (I cannot recall which one). All I did was point the camera on the sky and within a split second, the camera locks focus on one of the birds, and follows the bird around the frame (!!!) and I just pressed a burst. Amazing!!!
Melodious Tree Babbler, a Palawan endemic and one of the Tres Amigos. Never have I gotten such good photos of this bird before.
Falcated Wren Babbler, arguably the most elusive of the Tres Amigos. The photographic conditions for this bird was less than ideal. It was not well lit, muddy, so we were not really comfortable, and the bird was in constant motion. It would run across a fallen log, stop for a split second a couple of times, and disappear into the bushes.
Group picture with Team Haring Ibon and Team Bird Finder, photo taken November 3, 2023, Bgy Napsan, PPC.
To say that I was very happy with the performance of the z8 is an understatement. However, towards the afternoon of November 3rd, specifically while taking photos of the Falcated Wren Babbler, that I noticed some focusing problems. Sometime late in the day, I briefly switched to my D850 to check if the problem was with the lens or the P258K camera. Same thing happened (difficulty with AF), which on one hand was a relief because it meant that the z8 was okay (whew!) but on the other hand, it meant that there was something wrong with my lens.
Welcome Dinner
That night was the official opening dinner of the 6th PPUR Bird Race. Here are some scenes from said event.
Group Photo of all the participating teams with PPC Mayor Lucilo Bayron
With Ma'am Beth Maclang of the PPUR Office
With Ma'am Angie Mendoza who is the Chairperson of the SUBARAW Foundation. Ma'am Angie and I both sit on the Palawan Tourism Council Board
With DOT RD Robby Alabado, who is also a birder, and the WBPP top brass, namely, Chairman Atty Ramon Quisumbing, Pres Alain Pascua, and BOT Member Atty Carlo Gomez
After the dinner, this was the scene in our room...
Each one is busy downloading the day's photos, charging batteries, and formatting cards in preparation for the race
RACE DAY 1
The day started at 5am with a sumptuous buffet breakfast. Teams rushed through the meal and ran out the door to get a head start while our team, to the surprise of many, ate a leisurely breakfast. We had earlier discussed if we will be competitive or if will we go for quality photos. We were actually leaning towards the former, but when we learned, that Albert's back injury was not yet fully healed, the decision was sealed - to just go for quality pictures rather than risk aggravating Albert's injury.
Our team poster displayed at the main hall
Our first subjects were the birds within the resort grounds.
Zebra Dove
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Chestnut Munia
White-breasted Wood Swallow
We left the resort grounds and stopped on a spot on the way to Badjao Seafront restaurant. This site had a number of birds but quite difficult to get good photographs. Among others, we saw a Common Iora, Pin-striped Babbler, and a Chestnut-breasted Malkoha. Sadly, only the Malkoha photos are decent enough to be posted.
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
At Badjao Seafront restaurant we saw the ever present Copper-throated Sunbird but it did not come out in the open so no good pictures. We also saw a Pygmy Flowerpecker, ssp palawanorum and a female Palawan Sunbird
Pygmy Flowerpecker ssp palawanorum
Palawan Sunbird, female
Later that day, we found ourselves back at the site where we photographed the Melodious Tree Babbler the previous day except that there were many photographers in the area so we decided to proceed to the Falcated Wren Babble spot first. We did not see our target bird but saw a White-bellied Woodpecker and a Common Hill Myna in the distance.
Common Hill Myna
When there are no birds, we shoot what nature offers us, in this case, a butterfly
After shooting the Myna, we went back to the Melodious site. The number of people lessened a bit. And once again, this bird gave us plenty of good looks. Sharing a couple.
Melodious Tree Babbler, endemic to Palawan
After lunch, we decided to look for Palawan Tits since this is one endemic that I still do not have a decent photo of. We did see several but they stayed high up on tall trees and I still do not have a decent photo and am still not counting it in my lifelist. After some time, we decided to go back to the Falcated site. It was drizzling and the trail was even muddier and there were more mosquitoes, but our target bird was present and gave us plenty of good looks.
Falcated Wren Babbler, endemic to Palawan
Ngiting tagumpay! Our team, laboring under a light drizzle, somewhere in Napsan, PPC
After getting our fill with the Falcated, the rain picked up and we had to run to our van. It was already past 4pm so we decided to make our way back to the city and bird along the way. Unfortunately the rain did not stop until we were almost at Iwahig. We stopped along the highway because we saw some egrets and munias on a rice field. At this point, the autofocus of my lens started acting up again.
RACE DAY 2
For the start of Race Day 2, Albert and I went to the beach area of Princessa Garden Resort to photograph the Katalas which dotted the tops of the mangrove trees. The birds dotted the tops of several mangrove trees, an amazing scene. And they would fly towards us, offering plenty of BIF opportunities. But my lens just would not focus even if I try to manually do it. Sharing one rather blurry photo of the Katalas, just to show the scene that was in front of us that morning.
The flock of Katalas roosting on the mangroves near the beach area of the Princessa Garden Resort
I messaged Atty Carlo Benitez Gomez if he had any spare lens which I can borrow (this felt like deja vu of the 2019 Bird Race when my camera had an accident and I needed a spare gear to complete the race). Fortunately, Atty Carlo had a spare 500PF lens. Unfortunately, he was still at home and will arrive within an hour. So we decided to bird close to the resort because I needed to go back to pick up the lens once Atty Carlo gets there. Some of my images that morning:
Blue Paradise Flycatcher, endemic to Palawan. Taken using my D850 and the malfunctioning lens. I used manual focus.
Common Iora, taken using my D850 and the faulty lens. Used manual focus.
Palawan Crow, Gakgak in Cuyonon. Taken using the z8 and my faulty lens. I was still doing manual focusing at this time
Rufous-crowned Night Heron, juvenile, photographed using my D850 and Atty Carlo's lens
Up to this point (heron shot), my own lens was still attached to the z8. But after it failed to focus on the heron which was only 5 meters away from me, I stopped using my lens and attached Atty Carlo's lens to the z8. All images from this point on were taken using this combo.
Scaly-breasted Munia
A dragonfly
Eastern Cattle Egret
We went back to the Melodious site and true enough the bird was still there. We also got another Palawan endemic at said spot.
Lovely Sunbird, male, a severely under-exposed photo rescued using photoshop. Endemic to the Palawan Faunal region
One more photo of the Melodious Tree Babbler
For our second to the last stop of the morning, we went back to the Falcated site but the bird was a no show. We did get the Palawan Fairy Bluebird, another Palawan endemic
Palawan Fairy Bluebird, male, endemic to the Palawan faunal region.
Our final stop of the morning was a the place (where the Jerdon's baza and an Oriental Honey Buzzard was reportedly photographed the day before (photo of said scene won the Best Action Photo later that night).
We saw a raptor from a distance but not the main target, Jerdon's Baza. Sharing some very distant docu images of the Oriental Honey Buzzard:
Oriental Honey Buzzard
We had to go back to the resort because our marshall need to submit our memory cards. Afterwards, Loel and Albert settled down to choose and process their entries to the Best Action shot category. I, on the other hand, decided to bird at Aventura Resort, which was owned by former Palawan Vice-Gov and my uncle Art Ventura, Said property was next door to Princessa Garden. My main objective was to photograph the Katalas that flock to his place and the birds did not disappoint. I was the only photographer at Aventura that afternoon. What a thrill to shoot these birds at close range. Sharing some images:
Red-vented Cockatoos, Katala in Cuyonon and Pilipino, a Philippine endemic that used to be found in many parts of the country but now can be found mainly in Palawan, largely due to the efforts of the Katala Foundation.
Farewell Dinner and Awarding
That night, Nov 5th, was the closing activity for the 6th PPUR Birdrace. What made that night really memorable for me was winning 1st Runner-up in the 1st Win Paler best Palawan Endemic Photo Contest. (The camera that I used to create my winning image came from our beloved past president).
Posing with the winning photo...
Final Thoughts on the z8
What else can I say except, "sana hindi na nga kailangan isoli...". Hahaha. On serious note, the z8 is one hell of a camera - fast focusing, excellent image quality, light and compact. Coupled with the Nikkor 500PF, it is a very handholdable set up and very ideal for a wildlife photographer. If I had the financial means to purchase it now, I am sure I would but at the moment I have to be contented with having been able to use it for one weekend.
The Nikon Z8... looks good with my 500PF lens.
In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Ms Hedda Kison and Mr Steve Albano. Because of you, I was able to experience, even for one brief shining moment, how it felt to use Excalibur.
Keep on blogging teammate… Cheers… 😷🦅🇵🇭