Worldbirders - seeing the birds that really count
On this very successful 3 week trip to PNG trip we recorded 326 species, which included 23 species of Birds of Paradise as well as 3 species of Owlet-Nightjar seen. Everything ran very smoothly and we only lost an hour or two here and there due to the rain, which was very fortunate and all internal flights were more or less on time. This trip will be run again in 2010. Below is a brief site summary with some of their highlights:
Pacific Adventist University.
A good selection of water birds was seen here over 2 visits at either end of the tour. Spotted Whistling Ducks were seen on the 2nd visit and single Plumed was among the Wandering Whistling Ducks on the first visit. A pair of roosting Papuan Frogmouths posed nicely for photographs. 4 Royal Spoonbills flew over us when we were looking at an Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, very nice!
Tari Valley.
One of the best birding spots in PNG, and we were not let down. We all enjoyed wonderful views of displaying Brown and Black Sicklebills as well as a ‘show-off’ displaying male Blue BoP. Scope filling views of a male Superb BoP was indeed a wonderful sight, Ribbon-tailed Astrapias caused its observers to gasp in delight as they noisily flew past us and then perched up for us all to admire. A Short-tailed Paradigalla was watched at close range feeding on a fruiting tree, from the same spot we watched Loria’s BoP and MacGregor’s Bowerbird – nobody was disappointed with that! King-of-Saxony BoP’s were seen most days, watched calling usually from the top of a dead snag allowing us to watch them at our leisure. Archibold’s Nightjar put on a good show for us, the Papuan Boobook did show but was not very observer friendly. A nice group of 3 Northern Logrunners put our field craft to the test and we all passed as eventually we all had excellent views of these skulkers. A couple of heard only gives us a good excuse to return – Shovel-billed Kingfisher and Buff-tailed Sicklebill outwitted us on this occasion.
Mount Hagen.
Persistence was the name of the game here – Mountain Owlet-Nightjar made sure we was up late each night and up very early each morning, good spotlight views were had just the once. Stunning views of the velvet Lesser Melampitta will remain with us for a long time, those wonderful red eyes looking at us was the reward for our patience. Other skulkers tested us: Spotted Jewel-babbler and Lesser Ground Robin tested us. The main prize will go to the amazingly showy Wattled Ploughbill, which sat out in the open for a good 15 minutes allowing it to be scoped up and photographed – what a bird! One of the highlights of the trip, that’s for sure.
Ekame Lodge
Another incredibly birdy location, with some incredible rewards. Kingfishers are very well represented here: we saw Common and Little Paradise Kingfishers along with Hook-billed (scoped up!) Sacred, Variable Dwarf, Azure and Yellow-billed and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra’s were very vocal and one took up residence just near the lodge. Our night birding was very successful, here we became only the second group to see the recently rediscovered Spangled Owlet Nightjar - it did not surrender that easily but our persistence paid off and we all enjoyed a good long view in the spotlight. 2 Marbled Frogmouth were also spotlighted, we heard a distant Papuan Boobook, a Papuan Hawk Owl also called a couple of times. Was that a Wallace’s Owlet-Nightjar we heard? Maybe, next year, there is always something to come back for. BoP’s were less of a challenge with displaying Twelve-wired and King’s being enjoyed especially when there is a Hooded Pitta there too.
Dablin Creek/Ok Ma road
We knew that crossing the Ok Ma River would be a problem as the bridge had been washed away. Our spirit of adventure and our determination soon found us on the back of a pick up in the pouring rain heading up one of the worse roads in PNG, it was more like a river bed but the 12kms or so bumping about soon passed and we were at the main site. The rain eased off and we began to pick up a few birds. Shovel-billed Kingfishers were heard calling at dusk, a Red-bellied Pitta briefly hopped past us. No sign of any Greater Melampittas unfortunately. The highlight at Dablin Creek was the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, which flapped its way in front of us. A pair of Torrent Larks provided us with the ‘wow’ moment and the Carola’s Parotias gave us a quick look before they disappeared, even quicker was a Red-necked Crake, which dashed across the path. A female Magnificent BoP showed well for us. Lets hope the deforestation here does not continue as it is now otherwise this site will be no more. A pair of Salvadori's Teal flew downstream at Ok Menga to the relief of us all, after we had dipped on our first attempt.
Varirata.
Some tricky skulkers here to test us, but again we persevered and saw Painted Quail Thrush, Northern Scrub Robin, Pheasant Pigeon and Chestnut-backed Jewel-babblers. Brilliant views of displaying Raggiana BoP’s were easier on the eye as was the Barred-Owlet Nightjar roosting. Brown-headed Paradise Kingfishers were very obliging as was a Doria’s Hawk, which perched up for us all to enjoy.
1. Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) a few seen at PAU
2. Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) seen at PAU and a few along the river going to Ekame Lodge
3. Little Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) small numbers at PAU
4. Darter (Anhinga melanogaster novaehollandiae) single seen on the lake at PAU
5. Great Egret (Ardea alba) seen along the rivers around Ekame Lodge
6. Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) a few seen on the Fly river
7. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Seen around Port Moresby and at Brown river
8. Pied Heron (Egretta picata) 15 seen at PAU
9. Striated Heron (Butorides striata) a couple seen from the boat near to Ekame Lodge
10. Rufous Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) 2 immatures roosting in the trees at PAU
11. Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) 10 were seen at PAU
12. Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) 4 flying over PAU
13. Spotted Whistling-Duck 10 seen at PAU and 6 at the Brown River, this species is becoming more difficult these days
14. Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni) one seen with the Wandering Whistling-Duck on the edge of the main lake at PAU, rarely seen in PNG
15. Wandering Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) 10 seen at PAU
16. Salvadori's Teal (Salvadorina waigiuensis) a pair seen flying downstream over the dam at OK Menga.
17. Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) common at PAU
18. Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) 10 seen at Brown River
19. Green Pygmy Goose (Nettapus pulchellus) 50+ seen on small lake to the North of Brown River
20. Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata) seen at Kiunga, KM 17 PAU
21. Long-tailed Honey-Buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda) Kiunga, Ekame Lodge and Varirata
22. Black Kite (Milvus migrans) PAU, Tari Valley and Kumul Lodge
23. Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) 2 pairs nesting near each other at PAU
24. Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus) Tari Valley
25. White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) Ekame Lodge
26. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1 flew over PAU during second visit
27. Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus) a fine male at Tari gap
28. Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster) Ekame Lodge
29. Black-mantled Goshawk (Accipiter melanochlamys) flight views in the fog at Tari Valley and better flight views near Kumul Lodge
30. Gray-headed Goshawk (Accipiter poliocephalus) Ekame Lodge
31. Meyer's Goshawk (Accipiter meyerianus) one perched up allowing scope views at Tari
32. Doria's Goshawk (Megatriorchis doriae) one seen perched up allowing good views of this rare and seldom seen raptor at Varirata
33. New Guinea Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae) one flapped its way in front of us at Dablin Creek. The flight action reminds me of a Short-eared Owl, very broad wings especially in the secondaries and nice clean white underparts. Very nice!!
34. Little Eagle (Aquila morphnoides) good views of a tatty bird soaring above us on the waterfall trail at Tari
35. Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) Kumul Lodge
36. Oriental Hobby (Falco severus) one at Kagamuga airport, Mt. Hagen
37. Black-billed Brush-Turkey (Talegalla fuscirostris) Finally seen!! One bird lingered on the trail in front of us near to Ekame Lodge. A very vocal species here, also heard at Varirata
38. Common Scrubfowl (Megapodius freycinet) seen near the Brown River
39. Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) seen on the road at the Tari gap
40. Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) common at PAU
41. Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) common at PAU
42. Lewin’s Rail one had been captured by some villagers at Tari, after some photos we released it in a quiet spot nearby
43. Red-necked Crake heard at Ekame and 1 seen crossing the Dablin Creek track
44. Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) a few at PAU
45. Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) nice close views of the New Guinea race at PAU
46. Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella) Three seen at Kiunga airport
47. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) one seen at the quarry on the way to Kiunga
48. Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia amboinensis) Boystown Road area Tari Valley
49. Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia nigrirostris) Kiunga, KM 17
50. Great Cuckoo-Dove (Reinwardtoena reinwardtii) seen at both Kiunga, KM 17 and Tari
51. Stephan's Dove (Chalcophaps stephani) a few flight views at Ekame Lodge
52. Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida) a few at PAU
53. Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis) good views at PAU
54. (H) Cinnamon Ground-Dove (Gallicolumba rufigula) one heard purring behind Ekame Lodge
55. Pheasant Pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis) nice views on two days at Varirata
56. Southern Crowned-Pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) 2 pairs seen peched at Ekame, a few others heard
57. Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) mostly heard but a few seen at Kiunga, Ekame Lodge and Varirata
58. Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus perlatus) several seen Kiunga, KM 17 Varirata Boystown Road area
59. Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus aurantiifrons) just the 1 seen at PAU, hung around for a while allowing scope views
60. Beautiful Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus) 2 seen on our last walk back to Ekame Lodge before leaving
61. Superb Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) A few seen around Ekame lodge
62. Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus iozonus) few along the Boystown Road area
63. Dwarf Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus nanus) small numbers at Ekame Lodge
64. Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula rufigaster) singles at both Boystown Road and Varirata
65. Pinon Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula pinon) Ekame Lodge
66. Collared Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula mullerii) Ekame Lodge
67. Zoe Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula zoeae) Varirata and along Boystown Road
68. Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) 2 at PAU
69. Papuan Mountain-Pigeon (Gymnophaps albertisii) coomon at Ekame Lodge and at Tari Valley
70. Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) several heard, a nice pair seen from the boat just near Ekame Lodge
71. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) good numbers at Ekame Lodge
72. Yellow-streaked Lory (Chalcopsitta sintillata) small numbers seen flying from the boat at Ekame
73. Dusky Lory (Pseudeos fuscata) close fly bys at Ekame Lodge
74. Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) Ekame lodge, Fly river
75. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) common at PAU
76. Goldie's Lorikeet (Psitteuteles goldiei) 30-40 seen early morning at Kumul lodge
77. Red-flanked Lorikeet (Charmosyna placentas) Boystown Road area
78. Papuan Lorikeet (Charmosyna papou) Tari Valley
79. Plum-faced Lorikeet (Oreopsittacus arfaki) Tari Valley
80. Orange-billed Lorikeet (Neopsittacus pullicauda) Tari Valley
81. Yellow-billed Lorikeet (Neopsittacus musschenbroekii) Tari
82. Orange-breasted Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii) Ekame Lodge
83. Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma) few seen at Boystown Road and Ekame Lodge
84. Large Fig-Parrot (Psittaculirostris desmarestii) Ekame Lodge
85. Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot (Micropsitta bruijnii) One flew over at Dablin Creek
86. Brehm's Tiger-Parrot (Psittacella brehmii) 3 or 4 always around the birdtable at Kumul Lodge
87. Madarasz’s Tiger-Parrot (Psittacella madaraszi) 2 sightings near Ambua, Tari Valley
88. Red-cheeked Parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi) common at PAU and Ekame Lodge
89. Blue-collared Parrot (Geoffroyus simplex) distinctive calls, seen flying over us at Dablin creek
90. Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) common at Ekame Lodge
91. Papuan King-Parrot (Alisterus chloropterus) Tari Valley
92. Pesquet's Parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus) One seen well at Ekame lodge
93. Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus) Ekame Lodge
94. Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo 1 seen at Dablin Creek and another by the Brown River
95. Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx ruficollis) Tari Valley
96. Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) 1 seen at Brown River
97. White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx meyeri) Tari Valley
98. Australian Koel Eudynamys cyanocephalus Ekame Lodge
99. (H) White-crowned Koel heard at Dablin Creek
100. Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae) several at Ekame Lodge
101. Greater Black Coucal (Centropus menbeki) Ekame Lodge
102. Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) Varirata PAU
103. Lesser Black Coucal (Centropus bernsteini) Ekame Lodge
104. Greater Sooty-Owl (Tyto tenebricosa) one woken from its slumber in a protected tree in a garden below Tari. It may seen unfair to ‘knock’ it up just for us to see it but at least the local chap gets a few Kina for it and therefore protects the owl from being killed by arrows or sling shots as I am sure it would if it were not protected.
105. Australasian Grass-Owl (Tyto longimembris) beautiful dawn views flying towards us out of the fog at the Tari gap.
106. (H) Papuan Hawk-Owl (Uroglaux dimorpha) one heard at Ekame
107. Papuan Boobook (Ninox theomacha) seen at Tari and heard on the Ok Ma road
108. Spangled Owlet-Nightjar (Aegotheles tatei) seen finally on the second night, watched for 15 mins in the spotlight at Ekame Lodge. The bird of the trip and a tick for everyone!!
109. Mountain Owlet-Nightjar (Aegotheles albertisi) excellent spotlight views at Kumul Lodge
110. Barred Owlet-Nightjar (Aegotheles bennettii) one day rooster at Varirata
111. Marbled Frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus) brilliant spotlight walkaway views of 2 at Ekame Lodge
112. Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) 2 day roosters at PAU, heard at Ekame
113. Papuan Nightjar (Eurostopodus papuensis) an all dark nightjar seen near Kiunga was thought to be this species, not seen by me!
114. Archbold's Nightjar (Eurostopodus archboldi) good close views of 2 birds on the Bailey Bridge at Tari, heard calling at dawn just before it went to roost
115. Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) excellent spotlight views at Kiunga and heard and seen at Tari
116. Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta) Tari Valley ,Kumul Lodge
117. Mountain Swiftlet (Aerodramus hirundinaceus) Tari Valley
118. Uniform Swiftlet (Aerodramus vanikorensis) Ekame Lodge
119. Papuan Needletail (Mearnsia novaeguineae) Ekame Lodge
120. Moustached Treeswift (Hemiprocne mystacea) Ekame Lodge Boystown Road area
121. Azure Kingfisher (Alcedo azurea) seen zooming down the river Ekame Lodge
122. Variable Kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) zapped past us inside the forest near Ekame Lodge
123. Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii) nice views of 1 at Varirata
124. Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) seen well at Ekame Lodge, several others heard
125. Shovel-billed Kookaburra (Clytoceyx rex) 2 heard some way in along the Ok Ma road, despite much effort we could not call it in, and a ‘sit in’ near a nesting and feeding areas was also unproductive, also heard at dawn near Baileys Bridge at Tari
126. Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) regularly seen along the rivers around Ekame Lodge and also seen at PAU and Tari
127. Hook-billed Kingfisher (Melidora macrorrhina) good scope views for all to see at Ekame, also heard at Kiunga
128. Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro) scoped up at Ekame Lodge and heard at Varirata
129. (H) Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha) sadly only heard at Tari
130. Little Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera hydrocharis) wonderful views near Ekame Lodge
131. Common Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) prolonged and close views of 2 near Ekame Lodge
132. Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera danae) 4 birds seen in total at Varirata
133. Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) a few around PAU and Kumul Lodge
134. Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) a few at Ekame Lodge
135. Blyth's Hornbill (Aceros plicatus) seen daily at Ekame Lodge
136. Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida) fine views of 1 at Ekame Lodge, several others heard there
137. Red-bellied Pitta (Pitta erythrogaster) one hopped past us on the Ok Ma road, others heard at Ekame Lodge
138. Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) seen at PAU
139. Tree Martin (Hirundo nigricans) few near Port Morseby
140. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) PAU Varirata
141. Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina caeruleogrisea) Tari Valley
142. Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina lineata) nice scope view of 1 at Varirata
143. Boyer's Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina boyeri) pair at Kiunga, KM 17
144. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis) several nice views at Varirata and at Kumul Lodge
145. Grey-headed Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina schisticeps) few at Dablin Creek
146. New Guinea (Black) Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina melas) pair at Varirata
147. Black-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina montana) Tari Valley
148. (H) Black-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina morio) heard at Dablin Creek
149. Golden Cuckoo-shrike (Campochaera sloetii) several small flocks at Ekame Lodge
150. Cicadabird (Coracina tenuirostris) Seen on two occasions at Tari
151. Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela) only at Varirata
152. White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor) only seen at Varirita
153. Island Thrush (Turdus poliocephalus) seen at Tari gap and on the birdtable at Kumul Lodge
154. Island Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus poliocephalus) just a few at Tari
155. Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) just seen near the Brown River
156. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) few at Tari
157. Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) one at Kagamuga airport, Mt. Hagen
158. Tawny Grassbird (Megalurus timoriensis) 2 at Tari gap
159. Northern Fantail (Rhipidura rufiventris) only 1 seen at Kiunga, KM 17
160. Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) common
161. Friendly Fantail (Rhipidura albolimbata) common at Tari
162. Chestnut-bellied Fantail (Rhipidura hyperythra) 2 or 3 at Varirata
163. White-bellied Thicket-Fantail (Rhipidura leucothorax) this skulker was seen near Ekame Lodge
164. Black thicket-Fantail (Rhipidura maculipectus) heard and seen briefly at KM 17
165. Black Fantail (Rhipidura atra) just a few seen at Tari and at Boystown Road
166. Dimorphic Fantail (Rhipidura brachyrhyncha) small numbers at Kumul Lodge
167. Rufous-backed Fantail (Rhipidura rufidorsa) good views of a couple at Ekame Lodge
168. Black Monarch (Monarcha axillaries) several around Ambua, Tari Valley
169. Black-faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis) only seen at Varirita
170. Black-winged Monarch (Monarcha frater) only seen at Varirata
171. Spot-winged Monarch (Monarcha guttulus) Ekame Lodge
172. Hooded Monarch (Monarcha manadensis) one was photographed behind Ekame Lodge
173. Golden Monarch (Monarcha chrysomela) nice views of a few at Varirata
174. Frilled Monarch (Arses telescophthalmus) seen in most bird parties at Ekame Lodge and Kiunga, KM 17
175. Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) a common river edge bird at Ekame Lodge
176. Yellow-legged Flycatcher (Microeca griseoceps) one seen in a bird flock at Dablin Creek, not by me though!
177. Black-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus nigripectus) always nice to see this fine bird, seen very well at Tari
178. Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer) a fine male near to Ekame Lodge
179. Lesser Ground-Robin (Amalocichla incerta) very vocal on Bensons trail and eventually seen
180. Torrent Flycatcher (Monachella muelleriana) a pair seen on the drive to Mount Hagen, several at Ok Menga
181. Canary Flycatcher (Microeca papuana) only seen at Tari Valley and Varirata
182. Garnet Robin (Eugerygone rubra) a tricky to see aboreal robin, lured into view above us at Tari
183. White-faced Robin (Tregellasia leucops) good scope views at Varirata
184. Black-sided Robin (Poecilodryas hypoleuca) stunning views on our last morning at Ekame Lodge, aaghh no camera!! “Always keep you kit on you”
185. Black-throated Robin (Poecilodryas albonotata) just a couple at Tari
186. White-winged Robin (Peneothello sigillata) seen well at both Tari and Kumul Lodge
187. White-rumped Robin (Peneothello bimaculata) a single at Kiunga, KM 17
188. Blue-gray Robin (Peneothello cyanus) not uncommon at Tari
189. Ashy Robin (Heteromyias albispecularis) more often heard than seen, 1 surrendered briefly on Benson’s Trail, Tari
190. Northern Scrub-Robin (Drymodes superciliaris) seen very well by everyone at Varirata
191. Dwarf Whistler (Pachycare flavogriseum) 3-4 of this stunning species were seen at Varirata
192. Rufous-naped Whistler (Aleadryas rufinucha) common, seen at Tari and at Kumul Lodge
193. Mottled Whistler (Ragologus leucostigma) several good views of a pair along Max’s Trail, Mt Hagen
194. Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta) only seen at Tari
195. Gray-headed Whistler (Pachycephala griseiceps) Boystown Road and Varirata
196. Sclater's Whistler (Pachycephala soror) Tari Valley
197. Regent Whistler (Pachycephala schlegelii Tari Valley
198. (H) Rusty Whistler (Pachycephala hyperythra) heard at Dablin Creek
199. Black-headed Whistler (Pachycephala monacha) seen at KM 17 and at Tari Valley
200. Rufous/Little Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha) good views at Tari and at Varirata
201. Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous) Varirata
202. White-bellied Pitohui (Pitohui incertus) Ekame Lodge
203. Rusty Pitohui (Pitohui ferrugineus) Ekame Lodge and Varirata
204. Variable Pitohui (Pitohui kirhocephalus) Ekame Lodge
205. Wattled Ploughbill (Eulacestoma nigropectus) several heard and one seen at Tari, incredible prolonged scope views of this stunning bird along Max’s trail near Kumul was one of the trip highlights
206. New Guinea Babbler (Pomatostomus isidorei) Kiunga, KM 17 Ekame Lodge
207. Northern Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) excellent views of 3 birds along Bensons trail, Tari Valley
208. Painted Quail-Thrush (Cinclosoma ajax) a pair and another male seen at Varirata, this species is a real test of your fieldcraft
209. Blue Jewel-Babbler (Ptilorrhoa caerulescens) another tricky to see species, heard along Boystown Road, and several very close views behind Ekame Lodge
210. Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa castanonota) heard at Kiunga, KM 17 and eventually seen at Varirata
211. Spotted Jewel-babbler (Ptilorrhoa leucosticta) heard at Tari
212. Blue-capped Ifrita (Ifrita kowaldi) several good close views at Tari
213. White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus) Tari Valley Kumul Lodge Varirata
214. Orange-crowned Fairywren (Clytomyias insignis) 2-3 seen in a flock along Max’s Trail
215. Emperor Fairywren (Malurus cyanocephalus) seen on Boystown Road
216. Rusty Mouse-Warbler (Crateroscelis murina) Kiunga, KM 17
217. Mountain Mouse-Warbler (Crateroscelis robusta) Tari Valley Kumul Lodge
218. Buff-faced Scrubwren (Sericornis perspicillatus) Tari Valley
219. Papuan Scrubwren (Sericornis papuensis) few small groups atKumul Lodge
220. Large Scrubwren (Sericornis nouhuysi) few at Kumul Lodge
221. Pale-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis spilodera) few seen at Varirata
222. Olive Straightbill (Timeliopsis fulvigula) Three seen roadside at Tari
223. Yellow-bellied Longbill (Toxorhamphus novaeguineae) Ekame lodge
224. Mountain Gerygone (Gerygone cinerea) Tari Valley
225. Green-backed Gerygone (Gerygone chloronota) Ekame Lodge
226. Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa) just seen at Varirata
227. Yellow-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone chrysogaster) seen at both Ekame Lodge and Varirata
228. Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris) fine views right outside Ekame Lodge
229. Brown-breasted Gerygone (Gerygone) seen at both Tari Valley and Kumul Lodge
230. Black Sittella (Neositta miranda) 3 glimpsed on Bensons trail, Tari Valley
231. Varied Sittella (Neositta chrysoptera) brilliant views of a small flock at Tari
232. (H) Papuan Treecreeper (Cormobates placens) heard only at Tari
233. Black Sunbird (Leptocoma sericea) Ekame Lodge Boystown Road area
234. Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) 1 male seen near Varirata
235. Black Berrypecker (Melanocharis nigra) good views of a pair at Varirata
236. Lemon-breasted Berrypecker (Melanocharis longicauda) Tari Valley
237. Fan-tailed Berrypecker (Melanocharis versteri) Kumul Lodge Tari Valley
238. Dwarf Honeyeater (Toxorhamphus iliolophus) Varirata Kiunga, KM 17
239. Tit Berrypecker (Oreocharis arfaki) several at Tari
240. Crested Berrypecker (Paramythia montium) good views of a pair feeding a fledged youngster at Kumul Lodge
241. Olive-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaeum pectorale Boystown Road area
242. Black-fronted White-eye (Zosterops minor) Kiunga, KM 17
243. Capped White-eye (Zosterops fuscicapilla) Tari Valley
244. New Guinea White-eye (Zosterops novaeguineae) Kumul Lodge
245. Dusky Myzomela (Myzomela obscura) PAU
246. Mountain Myzomela (Myzomela adolphinae) Varirata
247. Red-collared Myzomela (Myzomela rosenbergii) Tari Valley
248. Mountain Meliphaga (Meliphaga orientalis ) Kumul Lodge
249. Puff-backed Honeyeater (Meliphaga aruensis) Varirata Ekame Lodge
250. Mimic Honeyeater (Meliphaga analoga) Kumul Lodge
251. Graceful Honeyeater (Meliphaga gracilis) one seen Ekame lodge
252. Streak-headed Honeyeater (Pycnopygius sticocephalus) only seen at the bowerbird mound, Boystown road
253. Grey-sided Honeyeater (Ptilorora perstriata) not uncommon around Tati and Kumul
254. Rufous-backed Honeyeater (Ptiloprora guisei) Tari
255. Long-billed Honeyeater (Melilestes megarhynchus) one at Dablin Creek
256. Black-throated Honeyeater (Lichenostomus subfrenatus) Tari Valley
257. Tawny-breasted Honeyeater (Xanthotis flaviventer) Kiunga, KM 17
258. Pygmy Honeyeater (Toxorhamphus pygmaeum) Seen at Ok Ma road
259. Spotted Honeyeater (Xanthotis polygrammu) Varirata
260. Marbled Honeyeater (Pycnopygius cinereus) Kumul Lodge Tari Valley
261. Meyer's Friarbird (Philemon meyeri) Boystown Road area
262. Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides) Ekame Lodge PAU Boystown Road area
263. Belford's Melidectes (Melidectes belfordi) our common friend at Tari, frequently fed on the bird table at Kumul
264. Yellow-browed Melidectes (Melidectes rufocrissalis) Tari Valley
265. Ornate Melidectes (Melidectes torquatus) Kumul Lodge Kiunga, KM 17
266. Smoky Honeyeater (Melipotes fumigatus) Kumul Lodge Tari Valley Kumul Lodge
267. Rufous-banded Honeyeater (Conopophila albogularis) PAU
268. Plain Honeyeater (Pycnopygius ixoides) only at Bowerbird mound on Boystown Rd
269. Silver-eared Honeyeater (Lichmera alboauricularis) Two at Aroa Filling Station
270. Yellow-tinted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus flavescens) 6 and active nest in grounds of parliament buildings, Port Moresby
271. Brown Oriole (Oriolus szalayi) PAU Boystown Road area
272. Green Figbird (Sphecotheres viridis) several around PAU
273. Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) a male close to Kumul Lodge and another in the gardens below Warili, Tari Valley
274. Papuan Drongo (Chaetorhynchus papuensis) 2 at Varirata
275. Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) very vocal and usually in bird flocks, seen at both Ekame Lodge and Kiunga, KM 17
276. Torrent-Lark (Grallina bruijni) amazing views of a pair at Dablin Creek
277. Great Woodswallow (Artamus maximus) small numbers at Tari
278. White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus) a few around PAU
279. Mountain Peltops (Peltops montanus) a few along Boystown Road and also seen at Tari
280. Lowland Peltops (Peltops blainvillii) a couple seen at Ekame Lodge
281. Black-backed Butcherbird (Cracticus mentalis) just seen at PAU
282. Hooded Butcherbird (Cracticus cassicus) commonly seen at PAU, Varirata and Ekame
283. Black Butcherbird (Cracticus quoyi) this noisy bird was seen at Tari Valley
284. Loria's Bird-of-Paradise (Cnemophilus loriae) 2 females near Ambua and a male near Bensons Trail, Tari
285. Glossy-mantled Manucode (Manucodia ater) a few near Ekame Lodge
286. Trumpet Manucode (Manucodia keraudrenii) seen and heard near Ekame Lodge
287. Crinkle-collared Manucode (Manucodia chalybatus) one seen on the Ok Ma road
288. Short-tailed Paradigalla (Paradigalla brevicauda) brilliant prolonged views in a fruiting tree near Ambua, Tari Ribbon-tailed Astrapia Astrapia mayeri Tari Valley
289. Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Astrapia mayeri) several sightings of this wonderful species at Tari including prolonged views of a feeding male right next to the road, also a few females an a sub-adult on the bird table at Kumul Lodge
290. Princess Stephanie's Astrapia (Astrapia stephaniae) just a few lower down at Tari
291. Carola's Parotia (Parotia carolae) heard and 3 eventually seen at Dablin Creek
292. Lawes' Parotia (Parotia lawesii) difficult this year with just 1 female seen at Tari
293. King-of-Saxony Bird-of-paradise (Pteridophora alberti) several males seen well at Tari, also seen near Kumul Lodge
294. Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) just the 1 male seen at Ekame, many others heard
295. Eastern Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus intercedens) a nice male seen well at Varirata
296. Superb Bird-of-Paradise (Lophorina superba) several males seen below Warili Lodge, including a fine male which was scoped up for at least 20 mins, brilliant!!
297. Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastuosus) distant scope views of a displaying male at Tari
298. Brown Sicklebill (Epimachus meyeri) several seen at Tari, one male was watched doing his remarkable display. 3 seen coming to the bird table at Kumul Lodge
299. (H) Buff-tailed/Black-billed Sicklebill (Epimachus albertisi) one called back just the once at a canned recording near Warili Lodge
300. Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) a female seen in a fruiting tree near Kumul Lodge, another female showed well along Dablin Creek
301. King Bird-of-Paradise (Cicinnurus regius) lovely views of a male close to Ekame Lodge
302. Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) female, young male and an adult male which was watched displaying in his tree close to Ekame Lodge
303. Lesser Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea minor) a couple of hours were spent watching males displaying to the females near Kumul Lodge, brilliant views
304. Greater Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea apoda) seen displaying at Kiunga, KM 17 and a couple at Ekame Lodge
305. Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea Raggiana) seen displaying at Varirata and Kiunga, KM 17 also a few seen at Ekame Lodge
306. Blue Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi) superb long views of a male which for a while hung upside down displaying for us, otherwise he was feeding in a fruiting tree and perched up calling allowing us extended scope views at Tari , others were heard
307. Lesser Melampitta (Melampitta lugubris) point blank stunning views at Kumul Lodge, so close you could almost feel the velvety black plumage, not forgetting those wonderful red eyes, others heard at Tari
308. White-eared Catbird (Ailuroedus buccoides) brief but good views at Ekame Lodge
309. Sanford's Bowerbird (Archboldia sanfordi) a young male put in a few appearances on the feeder at Kumul Lodge
310. Macgregor's Bowerbird (Amblyornis macgregoriae) good views of a few at Tari
311. Flame Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus) 5 or more females feeding in a fruiting tree at Ekame
312. Yellow-breasted Bowerbird (Chlamydera lauterbachi) just a couple seen near Kumul
313. Fawn-breasted Bowerbird (Chlamydera cerviniventris) easily seen at PAU
314. Gray Crow (Corvus tristis) this vocal forest crow was seen several times at Ekame Lodge
315. Torresian Crow (Corvus orru) several at both PAU and Kiunga
316. Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) good numbers at Ekame Lodge
317. Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides) few around PAU and Port Morseby airport
318. Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) seen at both Ekame Lodge and PAU
319. Golden Myna (Mino anais) not uncommon at Ekame Lodge
320. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) only seen in Port Morseby
321. Mountain Firetail (Oreostruthus fuliginosus) close up views of a few around the lawns of Kumul Lodge
322. Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) seen most days at Tari
323. Hooded Munia (Lonchura spectabilis) few at Tari Valley
324. Gray-headed Munia (Lonchura caniceps) small numbers at PAU and a nice flock of 20+ near to Varirata
325. Chestnut-breasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax) 2 at PAU
326. Streak-headed Munia (Lonchura tristissima leucosticta) 15 seen at Brown River