On January 30, 2025, Ian McCutcheon embarked on a birding trip to Astoria in Palawan, Philippines. For an hour and seven minutes, he traversed a relatively short distance of 1.721 kilometers, yielding a considerable list of 11 bird species.

At this site, McCutcheon spotted doves, swiftlets, and various species of plovers, including Kentish Plover, which are relatively small wading birds known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Among other wading birds, McCutcheon recorded a Whimbrel, a type of shorebird typically found in oceanic and coastal areas.

In addition to these wading birds, McCutcheon observed several species that inhabit or visit woodland and forested areas, like the Spotted Dove and the Zebra Dove, both of which are common in woodland and gardens across the region. Collared Kingfishers, known for their agile aerial dives to catch fish and insects, were also sighted, as were swallows, including Pacific Swallows and Barn Swallows.

In heavier numbers, McCutcheon observed Asian Glossy Starlings, of which 100 were documented, while Little Egrets were seen in moderate numbers of four individuals. Finally, a Collared Kingfisher, two species of pigeons, and other species were documented during his short trip.

This excursion by Ian McCutcheon to Astoria, a relatively under-studied site in Palawan, contributes valuable information to the growing wealth of data about the avifauna of the Philippines.