Birdwatching along the Panabo Coastal Road

Two days ago, on the way back to Davao from Tagum City, I asked our taxi driver to take us along the coastal road in Panabo. I had heard that this could be a nice site for  birdwatching, in particular for it's high numbers of wintering waders. After having a closer look at Google Maps and the Birdwatching in Davao Facebook page, I was really keen to see this site with my own eyes.

Well, I got to see the site as the taxi drove by in what I will not call a "birdwatcher friendly speed". I could see a good number of waders in some of the fish ponds along the road, but before I got to react, we were almost back in Davao already... It's not a good feeling for a birder to see such high numbers of birds and sites with such great potential just passing by quickly. I therefore went back to Panabo early in the morning two days later with a new taxi driver and with instructions to make sure that this time the trip along the coatal road would be as "birdwatching friendly" as possible.

Back at the coastal road there were some smaller flocks of waders visible. The water level was rising, which ment more birds coming from the beach into the fish ponds on the inner side of the road. While waiting for the high tide and more waders, we had a cup of the local hot chocolate. I also paid some attention to the common resident birds just in front of me.

Asian Glossy Starling

As the fish ponds got filled up by waders and egrets, I went out to have a closer look. I didn't have a telescope with me, so I was satisfied with being able to identify in total 15 species of waders with using my bins and camera only. The highlight for me was a single Long-toed Stint among 200 Red-necked Stints and good numbers of species like Marsh Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Great Knot and Lesser Sandplover. Among all the Little Egrets there were also some Great Egrets and Intermediate Egrets. Fun to watch all those egrets together side by side!

Little Egret and some of the 200 Red-necked Stints

Grey-tailed Tattler

Far Eastern Curlew and Whimbrel

Egrets - how many species can you see here?

While walking back to the taxi, I noticed a large flock of Whsikered Terns over one of the ponds.

Whiskered Tern

Shooting Whiskered Terns

Panabo is located between Davao City and Tagum City. A good place to stop for birwatching is near the "I Love Panabo" sign marked on the map, where you also can take the compulsory tourist photos with your loved ones.