Considered by most wildlife photographers most specifically the photography birders as the haven of wild birds in the heart of Quezon City, La Mesa Eco Park, a 33-hectare public park within the vicinity of La Mesa Watershed added a new record on its list of the existing avian species.
Kwown as the Luzon Hawk-owl, the bird species was recently documented by Anthony Balbin, a Wildlife Photographer of LIFER PHILIPPINES, and an Ambassador of a camera brand last January 17, 2017 at La Mesa Eco Park, Quezon City, Metro Manila. The first discovery is said to be accidental as the target bird for photo documentation is the Red-bellied Pitta.
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| The Luzon Hawk-owl (Ninox philippensis) Photo courtesy by: Anthony Balbin. Used with permission. |
La Mesa Eco Park has been a birding playground of Anthony since the birding itched started. Accordingly, last tuesday he decided to walk to the park to see and document the Red-bellied Pitta which he saw last December near the big Acacia tree. Unfortunately, the 3 hours time of waiting was unsuccessful giving him the choice of leaving the area in frustration and checking out another bird species on another site. "I started walking and give time to find the Spotted-wood Kingfisher in other trail of the forest. When I was approaching to the site of the Kingfisher I suddenly saw a brown color bird in my left and turned out a Luzon Hawk Owl. My heart beats fast and started to palpitate. "Oh my God and Owl". My frustrations becomes my Happiness. God really have plans for us." He explained jubilantly.
Accordingly, the Luzon Hawk-owl's discovery is considered to be the first ever documentation of the bird species within the vicinity of La Mesa Eco Park. Hence, a new record was added to the list of avian species found in the park. Additionally, the Luzon Hawk-owl is the third owl species ever recorded. The first owl bird found in the park is the Brown Hawk Owl, followed by the Philippine Eagle Owl. La Mesa Eco Park houses a total of 97 bird species such as the Ashy Thrush (Zoothera cinerea), Emerald Dove (Chacophaps indica), Mangrove Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra), Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus), Philippine Coucal, Philippine Nightjar, Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Hooded Pitta, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher, including its newest member, the Luzon Hawk-owl.
Bird species: Luzon Hawk-owl
Scientific Name: Ninox philippensis (Bonaparte, 1855)
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Ninox
Description: Is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it lives in forests. It is a brown and white mottled bird and males and females look much alike.
Luzon hawk-owl is one of the smallest of the owls in the Philippine hawk-owl complex. It has white eyebrow-like streaks above the eyes and the beak and a white mustache forming an x-shape on the head. It does not have tufts of feathers on its head resembling ears. The upper parts of all subspecies are brown and the wings are mottled with oval-shaped white spots. The tail is dark brown with narrow white stripes. The sides of the headare brown, the chin is a whitish colour, while the rest of the underparts are pale white with wide brown streaks which are more prominent on the breast. The underside of the tail is white. The chequered subspecies have these reticulated patterns on the underparts, on the head, the upper parts of the back and the wings. The feet are partially covered with feathers and are pale yellow. The beak is olive. (Source: Wikipedia.com)
Accordingly, the Luzon Hawk-owl's discovery is considered to be the first ever documentation of the bird species within the vicinity of La Mesa Eco Park. Hence, a new record was added to the list of avian species found in the park. Additionally, the Luzon Hawk-owl is the third owl species ever recorded. The first owl bird found in the park is the Brown Hawk Owl, followed by the Philippine Eagle Owl. La Mesa Eco Park houses a total of 97 bird species such as the Ashy Thrush (Zoothera cinerea), Emerald Dove (Chacophaps indica), Mangrove Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra), Grey-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus derbianus), Philippine Coucal, Philippine Nightjar, Indigo-banded Kingfisher, Hooded Pitta, Rufous Paradise Flycatcher, including its newest member, the Luzon Hawk-owl.
Bird species: Luzon Hawk-owl
Scientific Name: Ninox philippensis (Bonaparte, 1855)
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Ninox
Description: Is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines where it lives in forests. It is a brown and white mottled bird and males and females look much alike.
Luzon hawk-owl is one of the smallest of the owls in the Philippine hawk-owl complex. It has white eyebrow-like streaks above the eyes and the beak and a white mustache forming an x-shape on the head. It does not have tufts of feathers on its head resembling ears. The upper parts of all subspecies are brown and the wings are mottled with oval-shaped white spots. The tail is dark brown with narrow white stripes. The sides of the headare brown, the chin is a whitish colour, while the rest of the underparts are pale white with wide brown streaks which are more prominent on the breast. The underside of the tail is white. The chequered subspecies have these reticulated patterns on the underparts, on the head, the upper parts of the back and the wings. The feet are partially covered with feathers and are pale yellow. The beak is olive. (Source: Wikipedia.com)
