Sometimes we see birds as predictable creatures of habit. They have favorite perches that they return to day after day. Their behavior becomes familiar and part of the flow of the day.
This has become a familiar early morning sight. 5 White Breasted Woodswallows perched on top of this Agoho tree.
Other times we get to witness entirely new behavior. I thought it was unusual to see a Philippine Bulbul perched on the round pen. They usually hide inside the trees. What was it doing?
The Philippine Bulbul was carefully, drop by drop, picking up dew from the fence posts.
I’ve never seen other birds do that on the fence posts before.
Soon there was a second Philippine Bulbul that was also drinking water in the same manner.
The funny thing is I had just decided to put out bowls of fresh drinking water for the birds! The evenings and mornings are still cool enough to produce dew on the ground. The rest of the day has been very hot and dry. I thought it would be a good idea to provide an extra source of water for some of the birds.
The Collared Kingfisher was one of the first birds to use the water bowls.
It took a dunk, dried shook itself dry, then perched on a tree branch.
A second Collared Kingfisher joined it on the branch. I think they first one told the second one to try the bird bath! And it did!
If only I could read bird minds! I think it’s thinking “I learned something new today. Nice bath!”.
Tonji and Sylvia's Wildlife Refuge 
Living in snowy Upstate New York (where it is STILL snowing on and off in March!) It does my winter weary mind such good to read your posts and see the wonderful images from your sanctuary. The Philippines is a beautiful country ( my family lived outside Manila for four years in the 1970’s) Your descriptive writing and photos of unique birds in thr tropical sunshine lifts my spirits and keeps me filling my own backyard birdfeeders as we anticipate the beginning of the annual Spring migration of our own feathered visitors.
Thanks so much. So cool that you lived here in the 70’s!
Reblogged this on Trail Mix and commented:
While I head out to clear snow (yes it’s still snowing on and off in March- ah Spring in Upstate NY) from my own backyard birdfeeders to keep the early spring migrants well fueled against the return of Winter-like temperatures I thought my Fellow Travelers might enjoy a trip to a bird sanctuary in warmer climates. Sylvia’s blog keeps my birding dreams alive through our long cold season.
Thanks so much reblogging! Wow, still snowing over there! We don’t do birdfeeders here, but I’m providing water because it’s so hot and dry now!