Birding in Baler

Eurasia Tree Sparrow among the coconut fronds

Foregoing a return sunrise shoot in Ampere Beach, I wandered to the lot adjacent to L'Sirene resort.  The lot to the right is the back area of the local public works compound, still thick with trees and shrubbery.  Needless to say, there were quite a lot of birds frequenting the place, the morning filled with tweeting.  There's the ubiquitous Eurasia tree sparrow, of course, a lot of them even visiting the eaves of the rooms so their birdsong is a nice playlist to wake up to in the early hours of the morning.  Also spotted some Yellow-vented Bulbuls but not after trying to keep still and identifying their signature chittering, preferring the talisay trees to the coconut palms that dot the resort compound and the next lot.

Baler Break: Taking the Chill Pill, the Sights and the Food in Aurora

The surf.  The waves.  The light.  Ampere Beach in the morning

That we were billeted in a boutique resort in Baler is a telltale indication that the place has come a long way from quaint and simple.   Two of our friends were celebrating their birthdays in September and an invite to spend a weekend in L'Sirene, the only boutique resort in Baler, Aurora, came in.  Who am I to say no?  Even though I'm really more at home in simpler accommodations, I'll take a complimentary treat.  Besides, I need the break.

Curious that all this time I've been to the places near the province but I've never been to Baler.  My friends, who've all been repeat visitors to the place, cannot help but keep comparing the old with the new.  A Mercury Drug in town.  Three 7Eleven stores scattered in adjoining barangays.  And now, a boutique resort catering to the other extreme of the market that once patronized Baler.

First off, the bus trip was really fast -- much faster than I thought it would be.  We left the Joybus station in Cubao around 11pm and before we really got into the deeper phases of slumber, the conductor was already tapping the side of the bus prior to parking in Baler before 5:30am.  I don't intend to complain although a) being relegated to the rearmost seats to the side of the restroom isn't exactly comfy; my seat doesn't recline and I felt the bumps of the road; and b) the restroom really stinks (in an enclosed space, this is really problematic).  Anyway, L'Sirene has an early check-in add-on of P250/hour which we took advantage of since we hardly slept on the Joybus anyway.