Raptor Migration in Philippines 2014 Autumn

1. 2014 Autumn Migration count in Barangay Cross, Glan (Sarangani, General Santos),Mindanao, Philippines

Wild Bird Club of the Philippines – Raptor Group

Observers: Teresa Cervero, Adrian Constantino, Alex Tiongco, Peter Simpson  (WBCP)

Edgar Lendio -  Environment Protection & Conservation Center (Sarangani)


LOCATION: BARANGAY CROSS, PUROK TAGAYTAY, GLAN – SARANGANI PROVINCE, MINDANAO
5°37'9”N 125°20’60”E



Wild Bird Club of the Philippines



Table 1. Total migratory and sedentary raptors observed at Sarangani watch sites from the period of September 16 – 27 and September 29 – October 9.
Daily counts were made from 630h to 1400h.  Non-consecutive day counts were also performed on October 14, 15 and 23.

Species

Total Count

Migratory

Pandion haliaetus Western Osprey

8

Pernis ptilorynchus Crested Honey Buzzard

14

Accipiter soloensis Chinese Sparrowhawk

47,307

Accipiter gularis Japanese Sparrowhawk

2

Butastur indicus Grey-faced Buzzard

242

Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon

2

Resident (Sedentary)

Spilornis holospilus Philippine Serpent Eagle

5

Nisaetus pinskeri  Pinsker’s Hawk-eagle

28

Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite

60

Unidentified raptors

10

TOTAL

47,678

The predominant species observed is A. soloensis, comprising 99% of the total individual raptors observed. 
Highest numbers were observed from October 1 – 4 (Tables 2A and B).
It should be noted that the observation period was extrapolated for the peak migration of A. soloensis. 
In flight and from a distance, A. soloensis and A. gularis can be difficult to distinguish from each other. 
Unless it was clearly determined that the small accipiter was A. gularis, either through flight behavior or underwing plumage, all small accipiters were identified as A. soloensis, being the more numerous species.


Table 2.  Daily raptor counts observed at Sarangani watch sites from the period of (A) September 16 – 20, 23 – 30 and (B) October 1– 9, 14 – 15 and 23. Counts were made from 630h to 1400h.

A. Observation dates: September 16 – 20, 23 – 30

DATE (M-D) 2014 9-16 9-17 9-18 9-19 9-20 9-23 9-24 9-25 9-26 9-27 9-29 9-30
Pandion haliaetus
Osprey
Pernis ptilorynchus
Crested Honey buzzard		 4 1 3
Butastur indicus
Grey-faced Buzzard		                       1
Accipiter soloensis
Chinese Sparrowhawk		 12 11 2 390 810 759 3,794 1,849 305 708 920 737
Accipiter gularis
Japanese Sparrowhawk		 1
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon		 1
                         
Resident                        
**Haliastur indus
**Brahminy Kite		 5 3 5 1 2 4 7 3 5 2
**Spilornis holospilus
**Philippine Serpent Eagle		 2 1
**Nisaetus pinskeri
**Pinsker's Hawk-eagle		 2 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 3
Unidentified Falcon 1 1 2
Unidentified Raptor 1 2 1
TOTAL 13 14 7 395 816 761 3,803 1,855 314 716 932 745


B. Observation dates: October 1 – 9, 14 - 15 and 23

DATE (M-D) 2014 10-1 10-2 10-3 10-4 10-6 10-7 10-8 10-9 10-14 10-15 10-23 
Pandion haliaetus
Osprey		 3 1 2 2  
Pernis ptilorynchus
Crested Honey buzzard		         1 2     1  
Butastur indicus
Grey-faced Buzzard		 1 1 91 143 5 
Accipiter soloensis
Chinese Sparrowhawk		 5,016 6,069 6,357 4,810 1,416 2,465 1,258 3,247 2,992 3,564 16 
Accipiter gularis
Japanese Sparrowhawk		 1  
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon 		   1                  
 
Resident                      
**Haliastur indus
**Brahminy Kite		 3 4 2 3 4 7  
**Spilornis holospilus
**Philippine Serpent Eagle		 1 1  
**Nisaetus pinskeri
**Pinsker's Hawk-eagle		 2 3 4 4  
 
Unidentified Falcon  
Unidentified Raptor 1  
 
TOTAL 5,024 6,078 6,364 4,819 1,423 2,467 1,266 3,247 3,086 3,710 21 

Peak migration times were from 0700 – 0900h.
Flocks were generally small; averaging a hundred individuals but the largest flock observed was approximately 1,000 individuals.
The ideal conditions for observing large numbers of migrants would be when cloud cover was from 60– 100% and surface winds at less than 25 kph.

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