Our 250th blog! VIPs come to Corregidor; more birds and butterfiles

Welcome to our 250th newsletter/blog since we began living on Corregidor over five years ago!

In the past couple of weeks, we’ve had some American VIPs here on Corregidor.  On Friday, February 14, we hosted the top U.S. Naval officer, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Jonathan Greenert.  On the 16^th, we once again participated in a brief ceremony recalling the surprise parachute drop that led to the recapture of Corregidor.  Several of our friends came to the island for this remembrance.  And on the 21^st, we hosted four women whose husbands are U.S. Congressmen serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee.  Then on the 24^th, we celebrated our 41^st wedding anniversary, our 6^th straight year to celebrate it here on the Rock.

In addition, Marcia has included even more bird and other nature pictures.

Visit of CNO Jonathan Greenert

Helicopters arriving with U.S. Navy VIPs

Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert and wife Darleen with Marcia and Steve, with Cine Corregidor in background

Steve describing Fort Drum, the 'Concrete Battleship,' as seen from Battery Crockett parapet

One of the helicopters lifts off for return to Manila

Medalions presented to us by Admiral Greenert

February 16

Rock Force Commemoration of the retaking of Corregidor

This year's February 16th commemorative flag-raising to honor members of the "Rock Force"

48-star U.S. flag flies from Spanish Flagpole at Topside

Flag-raisers Kanim, Karl, Ron, Steve, Paul, Marcia, security guard, Harold

 

T-shirt commemorating the Rock Force, gift of the family of Tony Lopez of the 503rd PRCT

German-born Karl W., USN ret. (right) his lifelong friend Harold, visiting from Germany (left) and Marcia, of predominantly German ancestry


Visit of Congressmen's wives

Congressional Delegation guests Jennifer Messer, Marie Royce, Brenda Weber, and Roxanne Dusenbury-McCrory with Marcia at nurses marker.  They are the wives of Congressmen Luke Messer, R-Indiana, Edward Royce, R-California, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Randy Weber, R- Texas, and Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina

Gifts from the Congressional Delegation guests


Bats

Fruit bats; look closely for ears and noses to see why they are called flying foxes. Can you find all three faces?


Bee

Pollen-laden bee on blossom, the size of large bumblebees seen in U.S.

Birds

Pied triller posing in back yard

Another Pied triller, posing in side yard

Osprey perched above road to Battery James, camouflaged in shadows so look closely

Same osprey at 'lift-off.' Admittedly blurry, but you try taking this picture!

Pink-necked green-pigeon near Battery James

Philippine bulbul along North Access Road near Battery James

White-breasted woodswallow atop tree near house

Same woodswallow in territorial display, looks much like this in flight also

Lowland white-eye, rare chance to see one not hiding in leaves

Pompadour green-pigeons in backyard acacia tree

Zebra dove posing beside our dirty-kitchen

Mangrove blue flycatcher, one of many along road to Battery James

Black-naped oriole beside house

Another oriole in our front yard

One of our rare colorful sunrises (color un-retouched), with a pair of pompadour green-pigeons silhouetted just below and left of center


Butterflies

Butterfly 'captured' along Wheeler-Cheney Road

Same butterfly with wings spread, light blue color is iridescent in direct sunlight

Butterfly seen on palm-frond in side yard

Butterfly seen along road to Battery James

Same butterfly with wings more open

Another butterfly, photo taken in same area

More butterflies from James-Morrison Road. This year we are seeing the highest numbers of butterflies since taking up residence on the island.


Flowers

Blossoms and fruit on starfruit tree (balimbing) in front yard

Flowering plant rooted in crack in concrete along road above Battery Geary


Last, and almost certainly least...

Middleside Parade Ground with thousands of funnel-spider webs. It reminds us of a light dusting of snow from our days in the snowy U.S.  The picture cannot really portray the effect.

Steve and Marcia on the Rock

More things with wings

Now that we are getting more sunny days and the temperatures are warmer, Marcia has been taking more bird photos near the house and out on the trails.  Some of these birds are species you have seen before from us, some are first-timers.  Being very much an amateur, she can only imagine what a more experienced birder and photographer might be able to do.  The birds are shy, so we’ve included originals and crops of each so that you see more detail.

Blue rockthrush at Battery Crockett

Grey-streaked flycatcher at Middleside with dragonfly in beak

Three views of pied fantail at Middleside

Pied triller at Middleside

Sulphur-crested cockatoo above Middleside reservoir

Yellow-vented bulbul on eucalyptus seedling at Middleside

 

Collared kingfisher with food in mouth at Middleside

Brahminy kite soaring above Middleside

Female olive-backed sunbird near Battery Geary

Male olive-backed sunbird near Battery Geary

The photo of the plane was taken as it overflew Corregidor recently, “buzzing” the island.  We’ve been told that it is a Vietnam-War-era Bronco, used as a trainer by the Philippine Air Force. 

"Bronco" flying over Corregidor

Between the buzzing Bronco and the booms from dynamite fishing, sometimes we have had a very tiny taste of life on Corregidor in late 1941 and early ’42.  In the past couple weeks we have noted a decrease in the booms, which leads us to hope that efforts by those responsible for enforcement of anti-illegal fishing laws are being successful.