Subic Wild birds

I didn't have to leave my home to enjoy the nature, birds and wildlife when I lived in Subic Bay Freeport, in Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines.

From my 2nd story bedroom window, there were two 3 story rain forest trees! So many types of wild Philippine birds fly in and out of them all day. Being a photographer is heaven for me. Here are some of the sights I see of not only the birds, but also the mokeys that wander on the roads to the various tourist spots, beachs, housing compounds etc. Some insects and such too. Big spiders! When Mount Pinatubo blew it's stack most of the forest was spared.

All photos copyright 2008 Diana J. Limjoco

I had never been a bird watcher before we got our 2nd story bedroom in Subic over looking the jungle trees! We have since moved to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. There are no sights such as those in Subic rain forest. I'll never forget my views and all the wildlife we got to experience in the Kalayaan Subdivision in a jungle! Even though the house was only 10 minutes from the shopping center, they left the forest undisturbed enough for the wild birds to love. Especially the towering trees, many over 100 feet tall.

There are also many colorful parrot looking birds. They are so small though they may be a type of exotic parakeet. They are smaller than the neon orange flowers they drink nectar from! About 8 of them fly around the different trees every day. They have a particular screech, and that's when I grab my camera. They don't stay too long in one place, so it's hard to get good shots of them!

Many of my friends from Manila ask me why I chose to live in Subic, but as as a nature lover, it was the most ideal place in the Philippines at that time.

Aside from the natural beauty, Subic Freeport roads are fairly traffic free. One can still go for a leisurely drive on any day of the week without having to watch out for air polluting tricycles and jeepneys that fill most roads outside Subic Freeport Zone, unless one lives quite in the middle of nowhere.

There are some fun places inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone that we like to visit when it's warm and not raining as it has been lately, such as Camayan Beach resort and Subic Ocean Adventure Park.

Update: January 2015
On the beautiful island of Palawan where there are more endemic birds than Subic. But not as accessible. I will probably be putting up a new Hub for the birds and wildlife I have come across here soon. Stand by!

Wild Luzon Horn bill Birds taken from my bedroom window in Subic Freeport, Olongapo,Zambales, with a Nikon D60 Digital SLR.

They stayed in the Palm tree outside my bedroom window for almost an hour. What a thrill that was for me. I will never forget this day watching and photographing them. A true wonder for me.

There are many flocks of these bright yellow and black orioles flying around the forests in Subic.

Taken from our old house from our bedroom window.

Taken from our bedroom window at the old house. One of their chirps sounds like...boop, boop, boop. They came every day to our trees. It was such a thrill to see them. We even watched them raise their young and teach them to fly.

I'd never lived where so many exotic birds were so readily available to take photos of. Subic was such a thrill in that way!

The orioles lived in back of the house in a huge tree. Everyday they would amuse me with their antics.

They sure squawk a lot!

It's not as glamorous as some of the other birds..but still adorable.

This was the first Luzon hornbill that lit in a tree near our former house. His beak is serrated unlike the other hornbills that came at a later date. Also the yellow stripes on his beak were clearer.

She flew in with a male. They stayed a relatively long time. I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to photograph them.

These tiny little coppersmith barbets that go boop, boop, boop, are funny.

I saw this humongous spider the other day on our outside veranda! I didn't kill it as I didn't know if it was good or bad, and besides it was outdoors. Tried looking it up but can't see any references to it. Photo by Diana J Limjoco 2009