Central Cordillera, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon)

Abstract:
Baguio City is at an altitude of approximately 1500 meters surrounded by Benguet pine forest and cultivated land. Fragments of degraded montane forest are found on some nearby mountain tops and steep slopes. It's a good place to cool down and enjoy some of the local sights and culture. There are numerous hostels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, and other budget accommodations here. Baguio City is also a good place to start some exploring and birding activities in the southern and central part of Central Cordillera.

Transport from Olongapo City to Baguio City:
- Bus: (Victory Liner) Olongapo City to Baguio City (7 hrs); There several busses leaving every hour from the Victory Liner Bus Terminal.
Transport from Manila to Baguio City:
- Bus: many options (5-7 hrs).

Accommodation:
Burnham Hotel, Calderon Street, Baguio City.
Many other alternative options in Baguio City.
Personal tip:
Oh My Gulay! Restaurant at Session Road (Top floor of the La Azotea building). A great place with excellent vegetarian food.

Visited birding sites:
1) Mount Santo Tomas;
2) Camp John Hay.

Mount Santo Tomas
Location: Mt Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon)
Abstract: Mount Santo Tomas is mostly covered with grass, shrub and some pine forests.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate.
Transport: Taxi, from Baguio centro take the Marcos Highway (direction Manila) and after about 5 kilometers turn left to Green Valley Subdivision. After 2 kilometers, turn left again at the T-junction where you will find a gravel road. The starting point of the Santo Tomas trail is after 1 kilometer on the right. It takes about 2-3 hrs to get to the top where you will find a satellite station.
Remarks: Don’t expect to find many rarities here; although Mountain Shrike is very good possibility here!


Camp John Hay
Location: Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon)
Abstract: What used to be the rest-and-recreation base of American military personnel, the Camp is being transformed into a resort, golf course and city park covered with Benguet pine trees.
Difficulty: Easy.
Transport: Walk, from your hotel to the park.
Remarks: a specimen of the Brown-banded Rail or Luzon Rail (Lewinia mirifica) was collected here in 1979.

BIRDLIST
1-2-2008 = Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan and Benguet (Baguio City);
1-3-2008 = Benguet (Baguio City: Mt Santo Tomas and Camp John Hay).
Weather = sunny and dry.

--Herons, Egrets, Bitterns--
Great Egret, "Eastern Great Egret" (Ardea alba modesta)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Pangasinan (Luzon) present
Intermediate Egret, "Yellow-billed Egret" (Egretta intermedia)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta)
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Pangasinan (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Benguet (Luzon) present
Cattle Egret, "Eastern Cattle Egret" (Bubulcus (ibis) coromandus)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Pangasinan (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Benguet (Luzon) present
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax)
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
1-2-2008 Clark International Airport, Angeles City, Pampanga (Luzon) 1

--Buzzards, Kites, Eagles, Vultures, Harriers, Hawks--
Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter soloensis)
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Philippine Serpent-Eagle, "Crested Serpent-Eagle" (Spilornis holospilus) ("Spilornis cheela holospilus") [E] ["Esp"]
1-2-2008 Aropong, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Common Buzzard, "Eurasian Buzzard", "Japanese Buzzard", "Eastern Buzzard" (Buteo (buteo) japonicus)
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Doves, Pigeons--
Rock Pigeon, "Feral Pigeon" (Columba livia)
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
Island Collared-Dove (Streptopelia bitorquata dusumieri) [Esp]
1-2-2008 Clark International Airport, Angeles City, Pampanga (Luzon) 1
Spotted Dove, "Spotted-necked Dove" (Streptopelia chinensis tigrina)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Pangasinan (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Benguet (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata striata)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Pangasinan (Luzon) present

--Cuckoos, Malkohas, Coucals--
Brush Cuckoo, "Rusty-breasted Cuckoo" (Cacomantis (variolosus) sepulcralis)
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Philippine Coucal (Centropus viridis viridis) [E]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Swifts, Needletails--
Philippine Swiftlet (Aerodramus mearnsi) [E]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 5
Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta isonota) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 3
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 5
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 13
Purple Needletail (Hirundapus celebensis)
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Kingfishers--
White-collared Kingfisher, "Collared Kingfisher" (Todirhamphus chloris collaris)
1-2-2008 Clark International Airport, Angeles City, Pampanga (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Bee-eaters--
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus philippinus)
1-2-2008 Aropong, Benguet (Luzon) 5+

--Woodpeckers--
Philippine (Pygmy) Woodpecker (Dendrocopos maculatus validirostris) [E]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1 + 1

--Martins, Swallows--
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica gutturalis)
1-2-2008 Tarlac city, Tarlac (Luzon) 10+
Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica javanica)
1-2-2008 Clark International Airport, Angeles City, Pampanga (Luzon) 10+

--Cuckoo-shrikes, Trillers, Minivets--
Pied Triller (Lalage nigra chilensis) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 2

--Bulbuls--
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier goiavier) [Esp]
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Benguet (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present rare

--Crows--
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos philippinus) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 3+

--Tits--
Elegant Tit (Parus elegans elegans) [E]
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1 Burnham Park
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 3
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 5

--Nuthatches--
Sulphur-billed Nuthatch (Sitta oenochlamys isarog) [E]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 4

--Babblers--
Chestnut-faced Babbler (Stachyris whiteheadi whiteheadi) [E]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 3

--Robins, Shamas, Thrushes--
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis mindanensis) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata caprata) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius philippensis)
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Island Thrush (Turdus poliocephalus thomassoni) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Old World Warblers--
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Mountain Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus benguetensis) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 5
Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis tweeddalei) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Luzon Bush-Warbler, "Philppine Bush Warbler" (Cettia seebohmi) [E]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 4

--Flycatchers--
Mountain Verditer-Flycatcher, "Island (Verditer) Flycatcher" (Eumyias panayensis nigrimentalis) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina narcissina)
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Citrine Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea septentrionalis) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica nigritorquis) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 2
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 2

--Whistlers--
Yellow-bellied Whistler (Pachycephala philippinensis philippinensis) [E]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Wagtails, Pipits--
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea robusta)
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 3
Olive Tree-Pipit, "Olive-backed Pipit" (Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni) [Esp]
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 2
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 5+
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 5+

--Shrikes--
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach nasutus) [Esp]
1-2-2008 Tarlac city, Tarlac (Luzon) 2
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus lucion)
1-2-2008 Aropong, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-2-2008 Clark International Airport, Angeles City, Pampanga (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 2
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--Starlings--
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus cristatellus)
1-2-2008 Clark International Airport, Angeles, Pampanga (Luzon) 5
1-2-2008 Tarlac city, Tarlac (Luzon) 1
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 2
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 10+

--Sunbirds, Spiderhunters--
Metallic-winged Sunbird (Aethopyga pulcherrima jefferyi) [E]
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 1

--White-eyes--
Mountain White-eye (Zosterops montanus whiteheadi) [Esp]
1-3-2008 Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 10+
1-3-2008 Mount Santo Tomas, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) 20+

--Old World Sparrows, Weavers--
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Benguet (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Green Valley Subdivision, Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present

--Avadavats, Parrotfinches, Munias--
Chestnut Munia, "Black-headed Munia" (Lonchura malacca jagori)
1-2-2008 Pampanga (Luzon) present
1-2-2008 Tarlac (Luzon) present
1-3-2008 Baguio City, Benguet (Luzon) present

* MAMMALS: Squirrels
Philippine Tree Squirrel (Sundasciurus philippinensis) [E]
Camp John Hay and Burnham Park, Baguio City