#3: Chasing Birds and Sunlight: The Mantilakan SaltPan Experience
The Two Things That Made This Day Exceptional
Today’s birding sortie stood out for two powerful reasons. First, we finally experienced a full boat‑ride adventure—with all our gears on board—something every birder should try at least once and second, and the real highlight, we had a hyper sortie with Kap Floyd himself.
Why such a big deal to shoot alongside Kap?
Because Kap Floyd is the man behind the Philippine Eagle photo printed on our ₱1,000 bill, having him with us wasn’t just an honor, it was history riding the boat with us. Thank you, Kap, for joining the team today.
Chris in disguise behind those trees. 😂
The Donut Dawn Ritual
As with every sortie, the morning began with pure excitement and tradition, Dunkin’ muna (baka naman!). A box of donuts for the whole team, a full box of coffee, and by 3:45 AM, we were already on the road. The route to Malolos was familiar—my old office used to sit near the same area—so the drive felt easy and fast. In an hour, our trusted guide and boat pilot, Ericson, welcomed us at Pamawasan Fish Port. If anyone wants to explore this area, just comment below—I’ll personally share his contact. A few minutes later, Kap Floyd arrived. Since the skies were still dark, we settled at the “Mabuhay Lounge,” warming our hands with morning coffee and sharing stories that filled both the silence and our tummies.
A Dark Sky and a Silent Departure
By 6:10 AM, just as the sun tried to push its way through the heavy clouds, we rolled out of the port. At first glance, the boat looked a bit small. But stepping on it revealed a different truth, it was sturdy, wide, and comfortably spacious, enough to hold our tripods with room to move. As per Ericson, the boat can fit 10 people on normal days. As the engine hummed and we sped through the narrowing channels, the experience became surreal. It felt like navigating through the canals of Venice—same boat length, same slow glide over the water, except we traded Italian buildings for lush greenery and the occasional plastic trash floating by. The trash was sad to see, yes, but the overall experience was still rare and breathtaking—one of those moments you know you’ll remember years from now.
The 30‑Minute Journey to the Salt Fields
After half an hour of drifting through calm, sunlit waters, we reached the vast Mantilakan Salt Pan—an enormous stretch of land where salt is made, harvested, and stored. Locals shared that during a full harvest, they can produce up to 20,000 bags of salt which is truly impressive but the joy in their voices quickly faded as they told us something painful, despite the scale of their local production, the government still imports salt, affecting their ability to produce aggressively and consistently. A sad story, and a heavy truth, as someone who always supports local industries, hearing this felt like a quiet punch to the chest.
BOAT RIDE JOURNEY
Yellow is 30-35 minutes and the green is another 20 minutes. Safe and an amazing experience!
The Hunt at the Draining Fields
As soon as we found our spot, we parked right in front of the open field. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—the water was being drained in preparation for the next round of salt production. You could literally see the water draining fast, exposing fresh feeding grounds by the minute. By 10:30 AM, the pond was almost completely emptied and just as expected, the birds responded like clockwork. Flocks began moving forward, inching closer to the newly exposed mud, searching for food. This was the magic hour, the moment when the light, the distance, and the movement of the birds aligned — and the quality shots finally happened.
Our main target for today, the Black-faced Spoonbill, was there the entire time. Not as many as we hoped, but enough to make the day worthwhile. Every sighting of this globally endangered bird is already a win. For the rest of the species we encountered, my eBird checklist has the full roster for anyone curious about what else graced the salt fields today.
Nearby stood a humble kubo, which became our waiting area and equipment corner. It kept our things safe while the team focused on their shots. When everyone finally hit their quota and felt satisfied, we headed to Pamarawan to check another salt farm. There were tons of birds there too—an incredible sight—but they were simply too far, completely unreachable.
All photos taken with a Sony ⍺1ii + Sony FE 400–800mm f/6.3–8 + Sony TC 1.4
Calling It a Day
By 1:00 PM, we declared it a successful sortie and started our journey back to the fish port. To our surprise, the port—busy, chaotic, and messy in the early morning had transformed into a clean and quiet area. Amazing how the same place can shift personalities within hours.
Chris and I drove to Café 925 in Calumpit for lunch, a spot I’ve been wanting to showcase because of its birding‑friendly vibe. True enough, birds were just nearby, so close that it felt like we were birding even as we ate. Birds + food + coffee, the healthiest kind of nature meal.
All photos taken with a Sony ⍺1ii + Sony FE 400–800mm f/6.3–8 + Sony TC 1.4
One for the Books
This sortie is truly one for the books, an experience filled with early‑morning energy, rare sightings, good company, and the kind of moments you replay in your head long after the day ends. One experience to behold, one that deserves its place in the Birder Joe chronicles.
A Small Act for Conservation
Our small conservation birding group believes in supporting the local guides and communities who protect the places we visit. We often give more than the standard rate, especially to guides who go the extra mile. It’s a simple gesture, but one meaningful way we contribute to wildlife conservation by empowering the people closest to nature.
MARAMING SALAMAT!
Captain Ericson, mabuhay kayo!
