The Samar Slog
Doug and Andrew started out their first time in the Philippines nice and easy, with a few days in Infanta and Subic picking up some of Luzon's best endemics. This was all well and good, but those spots aren't exactly typical of Philippines birding; they're nicely paved roads through good forest, and you could practically see all the birds without getting out of your car. Boring! After a few days of life in the lap of luxury, it was time to bring them to the place where I've had some of the most difficult, unpleasant birding of my entire Philippines birding career: Samar. I've been to Samar a few times, but my last visit in June of 2022 was the first time I'd actually made it to Samar Island Natural Park. SINP is the main birding site on the island, and where birders generally come, at least the few that make it out this far. It was certainly a, uh, memorable experience, and while I did manage to see the mysterious Leyte Plumed Warbler as well as a few other...