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Home , Actenoides, Amaurornis, Ashy woodpecker, Bay coucal, Beach kingfisher, Brush cuckoo

Report of a birding trip to

South and north

27 April – 11 May 2013

By Inge and Dick Meijer

Blue-and-white , Halmahera

Forest above town of , Halmahera

Introduction

Attracted by the great number of endemic of , the quality of food and the hospitable nature of the people my wife Inge and I decided to visit the islands of Halmahera and Sulawesi of the Indonesian archipelago during our two weeks holiday in April/May 2013. Finding our first two -of-paradise at Halmahera was one of our targets. Travelling from Holland to Indonesia and in Indonesia from to Sulawesi and Halmahera as well as driving in Halmahera and Sulawesi is time consuming due to huge distances and bad quality roads. Therefore we only visited the southern part of Halmahera and the northern part of Sulawesi. At Halmahera we chose the south-eastern part of the island near Weda in the Weda Resort where not many birders have stayed so far. We do believe this is a very good option: the Weda resort is very comfortable, offers great food with warm hospitality and excellent birding in the pristine forests surrounding the resort. We saw a great number of the Halmahera endemic birds and only missed Invisible , Dusky Friarbird and Rusty-bellied Fantail of the endemic species seen by previous visitors of this part of Halmahera. We recorded 88 species of bird at Halmahera of which 34 were Indonesian and 20 were Halmahera endemics. Fortunately all birds were seen at Halmahera, no birds were heard only. Also two species of mammal were seen by us at Halmahera. At Sulawesi we chose the north-eastern part of the island and visited the well-known sites around Dumago Bone (Tambun, Toraut and Malibagu Road), Tangkoko, Gunung Ambang and Gunung Mahawu). With the exception of Tambun and Gunung Mahawu the birding at Sulawesi was rather slow most likely because of the rain. We recorded 110 species at Sulawesi of which 50 were Indonesian and 42 were Sulawesi endemics. Unfortunately eleven species at Sulawesi were heard only. We found three species of mammal at Sulawesi. During our stop overs at Jakarta we recorded six species of bird. During our stop overs at Abu Dhabi we didn’t see any birds at all because of the dark. We recorded 178 species of bird in Indonesia altogether of which 83 species were Indonesian endemics. Moluccan Swiftlet was the only Indonesian endemic we saw at both Halmahera and Sulawesi.

Recorded Indonesian endemics Name Location Indo- Halma- Sula- nesian hera wesi ende- ende- ende- mic mic mic Maleo Sulawesi, Tambun 1 1 Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle Sulawesi, Tambun 1 1 Moluccan Goshawk Halmahera 1 1 Spot-tailed Goshawk Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Isabelline Bush-hen Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang 1 1 White-faced -Dove Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon Sulawesi, Tambun 1 Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove Halmahera 1 1 Blue-capped Fruit-Dove Halmahera 1 1 Gray-headed Fruit-Dove Halmahera 1 1 White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Sulawesi, Gunung Mahawu 1 1 White-eyed Imperial-Pigeon Halmahera 1 Cinnamon-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Halmahera 1 White Imperial-Pigeon Sulawesi, Tangkoko and Gunung 1 1 Mahawu White Cockatoo Halmahera 1 Violet-necked Lory Halmahera 1 Ornate Lorikeet Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Yellow-and-green Lorikeet Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Chattering Lory Halmahera 1 1 Golden-mantled Racquet-tail Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang 1 1 Great-billed Halmahera 1 Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot Sualwesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Moluccan Hanging-Parrot Halmahera 1 1 Pygmy Hanging-Parrot Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Black-billed Koel Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Yellow-billed Malkoha Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Bay Sulawesi, Tambun and Tangkoko 1 Goliath Coucal Halmahera 1 1 Minahassa Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang 1 1 Sulawesi Owl Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Sulawesi Scops-Owl Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Cinnabar Hawk-Owl Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang 1 1 Speckled Hawk-Owl Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Moluccan Owlet- Halmahera 1 1 Sulawesi Nightjar Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Moluccan Swiftlet Halmahera and Sulawesi, Gunung 1 Mahawu Sulawesi Kingfisher Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Lilac Kingfisher Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Black-billed Kingfisher Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Blue-and-white Kingfisher Halmahera 1 1 Halmahera 1 1 Green-backed Kingfisher Sulawesi, Tangkoko 1 1 Scaly Kingfisher Sulawesi, Gunung Mahawu 1 1 Purple Roller Halmahera 1 1 Sulawesi Hornbill Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Knobbed Hornbill Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Sulawesi Sulawesi, Tambun 1 1 Sulawesi, Dumago-Bome and 1 1 Tangkoko Ivory-breasted Pitta Halmahera 1 1 White-streaked Friarbird Halmahera 1 1 Sulawesi Myzomela Sulawesi, Gunung Mahawu 1 1 White-backed Woodswallow Sulawesi, Tambun 1 1 Moluccan Cuckoo-shrike Halmahera 1 Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike Halmahera 1 1 Rufous-bellied Triller Halmahera 1 1 Long-tailed Triller Sulawesi, Tambun and Tangkoko 1 1 Sulphur-bellied Whistler Sulawesi, Gunung Mahawu 1 1 Drab Whistler Halmahera 1 Halmahera Oriole Halmahera 1 1 Sulawesi Drongo Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone 1 1 Pale-blue Monarch Sulawesi, Tambun, Dumago-Bone and 1 Tangkoko White-naped Monarch Halmahera 1 Moluccan Flycatcher Halmahera 1 Shining Flycatcher Halmahera 1 Long-billed Crow Halmahera 1 1 Paradise-crow Halmahera 1 1 Wallace’s Standardwing Halmahera 1 1 Golden Bulbul Halmahera 1 Black-crowned White-eye Sulawesi, Gunung Mahawu 1 Cream-throated White-eye Halmahera 1 1 Sulawesi Babbler Sulawesi, Tambun and Tangkoko 1 1 Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher Sulawesi, Gunung Mahawu 1 1 Moluccan Halmahera 1 White-necked Myna Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang and 1 1 Tangkoko Fiery-browed Myna Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang 1 1 Finch-billed Myna Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko 1 1 Yellow-sided Flowerpecker Sulawesi, Dumago-Bone and Gunung 1 1 Mahawu Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker Sulawesi, Gunung Ambang and 1 1 Gunung Mahawu Gray-sided Flowerpecker Sulawesi, Tambun, Dumago-Bone and 1 Gunung Mahawu Flame-breasted Flowerpecker Halmahera 1 Black-faced Munia Sulawesi, Pulatan Valley 1 Sparrow Sulawesi, 1

Total 83 20 42

Top 5 birds of our trip were: 1. Wallace’s Standardwing (great views of the displaying birds at the lek in the forest owned by Weda Resort at Halmahera) 2. Ivory-breasted Pitta (frequently heard, very well seen at Halmahera) 3. Maleo (very well seen at Tambun, Sulawesi) 4. Black-billed Kingfisher (great views during our palm boat trip to the of Tangkoko, Sulawesi) 5. Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove (good views of a pair at Halmahera)

Painful dips were: Barred Honey-Buzzard, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, Blue-faced, Invisible and Drumming Rail, , Red-eared and Superb Fruit-Dove, Purple-bearded Bee- eater and Elegant Pitta. We did have a nice and memorable trip though and have enough reasons - bird wise and otherwise - to go back to the Indonesian archipelago!

Inge and Dick Meijer, June 2013 ([email protected])

Itinerary

Date Activities, transport and accommodation 27 April Dordrecht - Brussels by car and Brussels - Abu Dhabi by plane. Slept in plane. 28 April Abu Dhabi - Jakarta and Jakarta - Manado by plane. Slept in Golden Lake Resort, Manado (Sulawesi). 29 April Manado - by plane, Ternate - (Halmahera) by speed boat and Sofifi - Weda by car, birding en route. Slept in Weda Resort, near Weda (Halmahera). 30 April Visited lek of Wallace’s Standardwing in forest owned by the lodge in the morning and birded the roads near the lodge in the afternoon. Slept in Weda Resort. 1 May Drove to the city of Weda and to the lake on the hill beyond Weda in the morning and to the of Tans and Desakulo in the afternoon. Slept in Weda Resort. 2 May Drove to the private forest of the lodge again in the morning and to Sofifi in the afternoon; Sofifi - Ternate by speed boat. Slept in Hotel Boulevard in Ternate. 3 May Ternate - Manado by plane and Manado - Doloduo by car, birding en route. Slept in Tante Mien’s Homestay, Doloduo (Sulawesi). 4 May Visited the Maleo reserve near Tambun, Dumago Bone and the Bandunyan Kosigolan dam in the morning and birded the forest at Turaut, Dumago Bone in the afternoon. Slept in Tante Mien’s Homestay. 5 May Birded the hills of Tapakountang at the Malibagu Road, Dumago Bone in the morning and drove to Gunung Ambang in the afternoon; went by motorbike uphill in the evening. Slept in Julius’s house in Sinsingon. 6 May Drove from Gunung Ambang to Tangkoko, birding en route. Slept in Dove Villa, Tangkoko. 7 May Birded the forest near the headquarters of Tangkoko in the morning and the afternoon. Slept in Dove Villa. 8 May Birded the forest near the headquarters in the morning and went by boat to the mangroves in the afternoon. Slept in Dove Villa. 9 May Went to the view point Manimbo in the morning and drove to Tomahon and walked to the summit of Gunung Mahawuin the afternoon. Slept in Onong’s Palace Resort, Tomahon. 10 May Birded Gunung Mahawu in the morning and drove to Manado in the afternoon. Slept in Minahasa Hotel, Manado. 11 May Manado - Jakarta by plane, down town Jakarta by taxi and Jakarta - Abu Dhabi by plane. Slept in plane. 12 May Abu Dhabi - Brussels by plane and Brussels Dordrecht by car. Slept at home.

Day-by-day account

27 April Went by car from Dordrecht to Brussels and flew from Brussels to Abu Dhabi at 11.20 hrs. with Etihad Airways flight EY58 (6 hours and 40 minutes).

28 April Flew from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta at 2.40 hrs. with Etihad Airways flight EY 472 (7 hours and 40 minutes) and from Jakarta to Manado at 18.25 hrs. with Garuda flight GA 606 (2 hours and 45 minutes). Had Long-tailed Shrike, Spotted Dove, Sooty-headed Bulbul and Cave Swiftlet at Jakarta airport. Both Etihad Airways and Garuda offered excellent services. Slept in the basic Golden Lake Resort (tel.: +62431875041; RPs. 325.000) in Manado (Rufous Night-heron) where, however, nasi goreng at breakfast made our day!

29 April Birded the grounds of the Golden Lake Resort (Purple Heron, White-breasted Woodswallow, Java Sparrow, Barred Rail, Metallic Green Pigeon, Spotted Dove) Flew from Manado to Ternate at 9.35 hrs. with Garuda flight GA 684 (40 minutes). Were awaited by Aminah, a friendly lady working for the Weda Resort, went by taxi from the airport (Willie-wagtail) to the jetty (20 minutes) and by speed boat from Ternate to Sofifi at Halmahera (30 minutes), which produced Gray-backed, Common and Bridled and Lesser Frigatebird . Met our driver Bambang and our guide Danny and drove to Weda Resort from 12.00 to 20.00 hrs. birding en route with a pick nick at a beach with Common and . In the forest near the resort we also found a Red Cuskus. Best species: Little Pied and Little Black Cormorant, Gray-backed Tern, Gray-headed Fruit- Dove (E), Spectacled Imperial-Pigeon, Red-cheeked Parrot heard only, Great-billed Parrot, Moluccan Hanging-Parrot (E), Violet-necked and Chattering Lory (E), Red-flanked Lorikeet, Goliath Coucal (E), Moluccan Owlet-Nightjar (near Weda resort, (E)), Moustached Treeswift, Beach , Blue-and-white (E) and Sombre Kingfisher (E), Rainbow Bee-eater, Blyth’s Hornbill, Ivory-breasted Pitta heard only (E), White-streaked Friarbird (E), Willie-wagtail, Long-billed (E) and Paradise-crow (E), White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous-bellied Triller (E), Moluccan and Metallic Starling and Black Sunbird. A day with 12 Halmahera endemics to start with. Weather: 32 degrees and dry. Slept in Weda Resort (www.wedaresort.com) which pleased us from the very first minute of our stay. Not least because of the pristine forest which surrounds the resort. You will be charged € 75,- per person per day for full board accommodation and € 100,- per day for vehicle, driver and guide per person. For transfer to and from Ternate you will be charged € 130.- per person. Certainly not cheap but value for money. Besides part of this money is used to support the kindergarten, the waterworks and the wash-rooms of the local community as well as to manage and to protect the forest with the birds-of-paradise.

Weda Resort, Halmahera

30 April Left the resort at 5.30 hrs. and stayed at the Wallace’s Standardwing lek in the lodge’s pristine forest from 6.15 to 8.00 hrs.: one of the highlights of our trip! Had breakfast in the forest and birded there when the birds-of-paradise had stopped their activities and found such gems as Common Paradise-Kingfisher and Ivory-breasted Pitta. Did some road side birding en route back to the resort (Golden Whistler, Mugimaki Flycatcher). Lunched and rested from 12.00 to 14.30 hrs. and birded the roads near the lodge from 14.30 to 19.30 hrs. (Purple Roller). We also found 4 fruit bats. Best species: Spotted Kestrel, Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove, Blue-capped (E) and Gray-headed Fruit-Dove, Cinnamon-bellied Imperial-Pigeon, good views of Red-cheeked Parrot, Parrot, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, good views of Ivory-breasted Pitta, Purple Roller (E), White Cockatoo, Golden Whistler, Drab Whistler heard only, Shining Flycatcher, Wallace’s Standardwing (E), Halmahera Oriole heard only (E) and Golden Bulbul. Today an additional 4 Halmahera endemics. Weather: hot with a few drops of rain at midday. Slept in Weda Resort.

1 May Left the resort at 6.15 hrs. and drove to the town of Weda and uphill beyond it, birded the lake on the hill ( and White-browed Crake), didn’t find White-naped Monarch on the summit of the hill. Drove back to the resort birding en route (Cream-throated White-eye, very good views of Halmahera Oriole and Shining Flycatcher). Lunched and rested from 13.00 to 15 00 hrs. at Weda Resort. Went to the lodge’s forest and searched Nicobar Pigeon in vain, drove to the village of Desakulo after offering first aid to a severely injured crashed motor biker and scanned the wetlands around the village (Red-legged Crake, Rufous Night-Heron, Brush Cuckoo, Moluccan Goshawk, Spotted Whistling-Duck). Succeeded in taping in Moluccan Scops-Owl en route back. Best species: Moluccan Goshawk (E), Brush Cuckoo, Moluccan Scops-Owl, Moluccan Flycatcher, Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike (E), Cream-throated White-eye (E) and Flame-breasted Woodpecker. Another 3 Halmahera endemics today. Weather: hot with a heavy shower in the ‘highlands’. Slept in Weda Resort.

2 May Left the resort at 6.15 hrs. and walked two trails in the lodge’s forest and the primary forest at the other side of the road where Nicobar Pigeon remained unseen again. We did find though: Dusky , Common Bush-hen, Spectacled Monarch, White-naped Monarch, Gurney’s Eagle and Drab Whistler. Lunched at the resort at 1.30 hrs., packed our luggage and drove back to Sofifi from 12.30 to 17.30 hrs. birding en route., said goodbye to our guide Danny and went by speed boat from Sofifi (White- bellied Sea-Eagle) to Ternate. Were brought to Hotel Boulevard, exactly opposite the mosque, in Ternate by Aminah. Best species: Dusky Scrubfowl, Gurney’ s Eagle, Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove (E), Emerald Dove, good views of Drab Whistler, White-naped and Spectacled Monarch, Moluccan Cuckoo-Shrike. Just 1 new Halmahera endemic today. Weather: invariably hot. Slept in the middle-of-the-road Hotel Boulevard in Ternate.

3 May Were brought to the airport of Ternate at 7.00 hrs. by Aminah , flew from Ternate to Manado with Garuda flight GA 685 at 9.10 hrs. (40 minutes) and met delayed Roy, our driver for the next 8 days, at the airport after a while. Drove to a money changer and to the office of Liwayne Adventure Tour & Travel in down town Manado, where we paid the Rps. 4.800.00,- fee for our car and driver to attendant Wiro. Continued our way to Tante Mien’s Homestay in Doloduo from 11.30 to 17.00 hrs. over narrow and winding roads with plenty of potholes, intermittingly stopping for road side birding (Javan Pond-Heron, Finch-billed Mynah and Chestnut Munia). Best species: Javan Pond-Heron, Brahminy Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Lesser Coucal, Sulawesi Drongo heard only (E), Sooty-headed bulbul, Finch-billed Mynah (E), Chestnut Munia and Olive-backed Sunbird. Just 2 Sulawesi endemics today. Weather: hot. Slept in Tante Mien’s Homestay, Doloduo (tel. : 081523833505). A warm place to stay , about half an hour away from the best birding sites of Dumago Bone: Tambun, Torout and the Malibagu Road and with a very caring landlady with exceptional cooking skills. We paid Rps. 1.200.000,- for accommodation, meals, drinks and laundry.

4 May Drove to Tambun from 5.00 to 5.30 hrs., met ranger Max Lela there, drank a coffee with him and went into the reserve. Found over 15 Maleo’s quite easily, walked the trails of the reserve and were invited to release 2 pulli from the hatchery. Max is a very dedicated and skillful birder and moreover a kind person. We paid Rps. 360.000,- for his guiding and entrance to the reserve. Best species of Tambun: Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle (E), Spot-tailed Goshawk heard only (E), Black Eagle, Maleo (E), Blue-breasted Quail heard only, Stephan’s Dove, Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-Dove both heard only, Green and Silver-tipped Imperial-Pigeon (E), Sulawesi (E), Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Black-billed Koel heard only (E), Yellow-billed Malkoha (E), Bay Coucal heard only (E), Gray-rumped Treeswift, Knobbed Hornbill heard only (E), Sulawesi Woodpecker heard only (E), Hair-crested Drongo, White-breasted and White-backed Woodswallow (E), Black-naped Oriole, Pale-blue Monarch, Long-tailed Triller (E), Sulawesi Babbler (E) and Gray-sided Flowerpecker. Tambun produced 13 additional Sulawesi endemics. Drove to the Bandunyan Kosinggolan dam (Wandering Whistling-Duck) close to Tante Mien’s Homestay from 10.15 to 10.45 hrs. where it turned out to be already too hot for good birding. Lunched and rested at Tante Mien’s and went to Toraut from 15.00 to 15.30 hrs., where Speckled Hawk-Owl was quickly found in an old building with the help of the guides Ejo and Henrick (Rps.300.000 for half a day). Had heavy rain from 15.30 to 16.30 hrs. making birding impossible and probably causing slow birding in the forest from 16.30 to 19.30 hrs. after having crossed the river on a bamboo draft. Best birds of Toraut: Striated Heron, Gray-headed Fish-Eagle heard only, White-breasted Waterhen, White-faced Cuckoo-Dove heard only (E), Speckled Hawk-Owl (E), good views of Sulawesi Owl (E), Sulawesi Scops-Owl heard only (E), Great Eared-Nightjar above the river, glimpse of Sulawesi Hornbill (E) and Ashy Woodpecker heard only (E). Toraut produced only 6 new Sulawesi endemics. Weather: hot and dry in the morning, but heavy rainfall in the afternoon. Slept in Tante Mien’s Homestay, Dolodua.

5 May Did roadside birding in the hills of Tapakountang along the Malibagu Road) from 6.15 to 10.00 hrs. with Ejo and Henrick. The birding was slow again possibly due to heavy rain during the night (Black- fronted White-eye, Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove, Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove heard only, Ornate Lorikeet and good views of Knobbed Hornbill). Packed our luggage, had lunch at Tante Mien’s and said goodbye to our landlady. Drove to Gunung Ambang from 13.00 to 15.00 hrs., met Julius and went with Julius to the forest uphill on his motor bike from 17.00 to 19.30 hrs. (Red-backed Buttonquail, Cinnabar Hawk-Owl, Minahassa Owl heard only, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail and Fiery- browed Myna). Best species: Black Kite, Red-backed Buttonquail , Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove, White-faced Cuckoo- Dove heard only, Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove heard only (E), Black-naped Fruit-Dove heard only, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail (E), Ornate Lorikeet (E), Cinnabar Hawk-Owl (E), Minahassa Owl heard only (E), good views of Knobbed Hornbill, Hair-crested Drongo, Pale-blue Monarch, Black-crowned White-eye, Fiery-browed Myna (E) and Golden-headed Cisticola. Malibagu Road and Gunung Ambang produced 5 new Sulawesi endemics. Weather: hot and a bit rainy. Slept in the house of Julius Runtunuwu, Sinsingon. A basic room for Rps. 200.000,- and Rps. 100.000,- for dinner and breakfast for both of us. Paid Julius Rps. 200.000,- for his mainly body language guiding.

6 May Drove from Gunung Ambang to Tangkoko from 6.15 to 16.00 hrs. birding en route. Had White- necked Myna at Gunung Ambang and Spotted Harrier, Black-necked Munia and Sunda Teal at lakes along the road in Pulatan Valley and Yellow Bittern at Tondano Lake. Scanned the canopy at the view point above Tangkoko (Knobbed Hornbill, distant views of Ashy Woodpecker, Silver-tipped Imperial- Pigeon) and were heartily welcomed by Odie, the owner of Dove Villa’s and Ejo, our guide for the next few days, at Dove Villa’s. Best species: Wandering Whistling-Duck, Spotted Harrier, Isabelline Bush-hen (E), White Imperial- Pigeon, Knobbed Hornbill, Ashy Woodpecker, Black-naped Oriole, White-necked Myna (E), Fiery- browed Myna, Black-necked Munia ,Yellow-sided Flowerpecker (E) and Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker (E). This day produced 4 new Sulawesi endemics. Slept in Dove Villa’s, Tangkoko ( [email protected] ), a convenient place to stay, not far from the entrance of the park. We paid a reasonable Rps. 300.000,- for our room per night and Rps. 60.000,- per person for lunch or dinner in the ‘Jungle restaurant’.

7 May Walked the trails of the forest of Tangkoko beyond the entrance of the reserve from 6.00 to 11.00 hrs. with our guide Ejo. Because of the rain at night the birding was slow (Lilac Kingfisher and Crested Celebes Macaque). Entrance fee was Rps. 500.000,-, a disproportionally high amount and we doubt whether this was free of corruption. Lunched, freshed up and took a rest from 11.00 to 15.00 hrs. and went back to the forest in the afternoon from 15.00 to 18.00 hrs. Again slow but with Green- backed Kingfisher and Spectral Tarsier. Best species: Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle heard only, Gray-headed Fish-Eagle heard only, Tabon Scrubfowl , Barred Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, Green Imperial Pigeon, White Imperial-Pigeon heard only, Pygmy Hanging-Parrot (E), Black-billed Koel heard only, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal , Sulawesi Scops-Owl heard only, Lilac Kingfisher (E), Green-backed Kingfisher (E), Rainbow Bee-eater, Knobbed Hornbill,, Ashy Woodpecker, Pale-blue Monarch, Sulawesi Triller, Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi Babbler and Gray Wagtail. Just 2 new Sulawesi endemics today. Weather: hot, rain at night and in the afternoon. Slept in Dove Villa’s, Tangkoko.

8 May Went into the forest again from 5.15 to 10.30 hrs. with our guide Ejo. Had good views of at the bridge opposite Mama Roos’ Homestay at 5.30 hrs. and found Sulawesi Kingfisher and Sulawesi Nightjar in the forest, where the birding was slow again. Saw Yellow-billed Malkohas and Bay seeking the company of the Celebes Crested Macaques similar to Cattle Egrets and Buffaloes in Africa or ground- and swarms in South and Central America. Did a nice boat trip with a palm boat (Rps. 600.00 was far too much though) from 15.00 to 18.00 hrs. with Ejo and had very good views of Black-billed Kingfisher and Channel-billed Cuckoo, which brought the number of today to an unprecedented 7: Ruddy, Sulawesi, Lilac, Green-backed, Collared, Black-billed and Common! Best species: Pacific Reef-Heron, Striated Heron, Osprey, Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Ornate Lorikeet, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Sulawesi Nightjar (E), Sulawesi Kingfisher (E), Lilac Kingfisher, Black-billed Kingfisher (E), Ruddy Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Dollarbird, White-necked and Finch-billed Myna, Black and Olive-backed Sunbird. Another 3 new Sulawesi endemics today. Weather: hot and beautiful during the day, heavy rain in the evening. Slept in Dove Villa’s, Tangkoko.

9 May Went to the view point Manimbo above Dove Villa’s (800 m.) from 5.30 to 8.00 hrs. where heavy rain from 6.30 hrs. onwards made birding rather unproductive (Sulawesi Hornbill, Pygmy Hanging-Parrot, Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeon and Yellow-Green Lorikeet) . Went back early, had a coffee, took a shower, packed our luggage, paid our bills (Ejo was happy with Rps. 300.000,- for his services during 3 days , but probably got his share from the entrance fee and the fee for the boat trip), had lunch and left for Tomahon at 12.00 hrs. Arrived there at 14.30 hrs. and walked the stairs to the summit with nice views on the crater of the Gunung Mahawu volcano at 1300 m. (Lesser Coucal, Mountain White- eye, Sulawesi Swiftlet). Tried in vain to find Scaly Kingfisher along the road. Best species: Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeon, White Imperial-Pigeon, Pygmy Hanging-Parrot, Yellow- and-green Lorikeet (E), Lesser Coucal, Moluccan Swiftlet, good views of Sulawesi Hornbill, Mountain White-eye, Nutmeg Mannikin and Chestnut Munia. Just 1 new Sulawesi endemic today. Weather: very heavy rain in Tangkoko in the morning, dry and pleasant at Gunung Mahawu in the afternoon. Slept in Onong’s Palace Resort, Tomahon ([email protected] ), a very pleasant place to stay not far from Gunung Mahawu, 2 hours from Tangkoko and 1,5 hours from the centre of Manado, for a reasonable price of Rps. 350.000,- for a room.

10 May Met Theo Hennoch at Onongs’ Palace resort at 5.00 hrs. and went with him to Gunung Mahawu where we quickly found and had great views of Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher, despite the mist and the drizzle. It took some effort to find Scaly Kingfisher but after some fruitless walks on the trails in the forest on the slopes of the mountain we eventually found one along the road at the edge of the forest. Helped by Theo’s sound recordings and his knowledge of the local birds we also found: Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, Citrine Canary- Flycatcher, Black-fronted and Mountain White-eye and Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker. Stopped birding at 9.00 hrs., went back to Olong’s Palace, had a coffee, packed our luggage and drove to Manado. Were dropped at the Minahasa Hotel where we said goodbye to Theo and our driver Roy. Went into town and lunched at the boulevard (White-bellied Sea-Eagle and very big rats). Best species: White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove, White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon heard only (E), Rusty-breasted (= Brush) Cuckoo heard only, Scaly Kingfisher (E), Sulawesi Myzomela (E), Sulphur-bellied Whistler, Citrine Canary-Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher (E), Mountain and Black-crowned White-eye, Yellow-sided, Crimson-crowned and Gray-sided Flowerpecker. Tomahon produced 4 new Sulawesi endemics. Weather: drizzle and mist at Gunug Mahawu with a pleasant temperature but dry and hot in Manado. Slept in the Minahasa Hotel, Manado (www.hotelminahasa.com). A convenient place to stay, where we took an extra large room to get sufficient rest for our over 30 hours voyage back home for Rps. 459.000,-, not very cheap by Indonesian standards.

11 May Went by taxi to the airport at 4.30 hrs. Flew from Manado to Jakarta with Garuda flight GA 607 (2 hours and 45 minutes) at 6.20 hrs. Went down town Jakarta to the Mal Taman Anggrek shopping mall from 9.00 to 15.00 hrs. and flew from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways flight EY 471 (7 hours and 40 minutes) at 18.45 hrs. Slept in the plane.

12 May Flew from Abu Dhabi to Brussels with Etihad Airways flight EY 57 (6 hours and 30 minutes). Landed at Brussels at 7.40 hrs. and went home by car. Slept at home.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Henk Hendriks, who lent us his copy of ‘A guide to the birds of Wallacea’ enabling us to make our own copy. We thank Rob Hutchinson for his information about birding at Sulawesi and Halmahera and Rob Sinke of Weda Resort for his answers to our questions about the birding near Weda Resort. Also we appreciated the personal involvement of Theo Hennoch - director of Liwayne Adventure Tour & Travel, where we rented our car and driver - at Gunung Mahawu, where he showed his excellent bird watching skills. The help of the local guides Danny (Halmahera), Ejo (Sulawesi, Tangkoko), Ejo (Sulawesi, Dumago Bone), Max (Sulawesi, Tambun) and Julius (Sulawesi, Gunang Ambang) was invaluable. Our drivers Bambang (Halmahera) and Roy (Sulawesi) did a great job in the now and then chaotic Indonesian traffic. We thank Peter van Scheepen and Kees Verburg for their comments on an earlier version of this report.

Annoyances

In Indonesia people like to be paid in cash money. Credit cards are not widely accepted and if so you will be charged extra. Remember that ATM's are very scarce outside major towns and sometimes the withdrawal is limited. Also the rate of the Rupia (10 € = Rps. 125.000) might be a challenge for your math skills. The tropical weather at sea level is hard for people from north-western . It's wise to stop birding between 10.00 and 15.00 hrs. There is not much activity of birds then anyhow. Especially in Sulawesi we had quite a few heavy showers apparently resulting in less bird activity. It's also very wise to wear protective clothes in the forest and to use plenty of repellents. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended, we used Paludrine. We didn’t see any leeches but we did see a few snakes. It was rather annoying to get spider webs into our faces all the time when we walked in the forest behind the guide who happened to be two heads shorter than us.

References

In the field we used:

‘A guide to the birds of Wallacea’ by Brian J. Coates and K David Bishop, illustrated by Dana Gardner (1997). ISBN 9780907446064. Dove Publications. Accurate, but hard to obtain nowadays. ‘A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Indonesia’ by Morten Strange (2001.) ISNB 978-962-593- 402-0. Periplus Editions (HK) ltd. Useful because of the maps, not comprehensive though. “Field guide to the Birds of Java and Bali’ by John Mackinnon (1990). ISBN 979-420-092-1. Helpful during our stop over at Jakarta.

While preparing the trip we used the following books, sites and trip reports:

‘Birding Indonesia, a Bird-watcher’s Guide to the World’s Largest Archipelago’ by Paul Jepson (1997). ISBN 962-593-071-X. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd. Of limited use. ‘Where to watch birds in ’ by Nigel Wheatley (1996). ISBN 0-7136-4303-X. Christopher Helm (Publishers) Ltd. Very useful as always. Lonely Planet of Indonesia (2009) by a. o. Ryan Ver Berkmoes. Lonely Planet Pty Ltd. Helped us to find accommodation in Manado. www.wedaresort.com . Provided us with sufficient information about birds and quality of accommodation. Sulawesi and Halmahera, 2 - 12 September 2012, November 2012, Rob Hutchinson of Birdtourasia. Convinced us to choose Weda at Halmahera. Sulawesi 2012, Henk Hendriks Sulawesi and Halmahera, 2009, Jan Vermeulen Sulawesi and Halmahera, Mark Sutton 1997 Report of a birding trip to Sulawesi and Halmahera (Indonesia) , 11 September - 9 October 2009, Nicolaas and Robert van Zalinge. Inspiring because of some good photographs. Clement’s 2011, Cornell Lab of . In this report we follow the taxonomy and sequence of Clement’s 2011, version 6.6.

Maleo, Tambun, Sulawesi

Systematic list of Birds

IE = Indonesian endemic HE = Halmahera endemic SE = Sulawesi endemic I = Introduced

Spotted Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna guttata 2 in the wetlands Tans, Halmahera on 1 May.

Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 14 at Dumago-Bone and 20 in Pulatan Valley, Sulawesi on 4 and 6 May.

Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons 2 in lake Pulatan Valley, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Maleo Macrocephalon maleo (IE + SE) 15 seen and more heard at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May. One of the highlights of our trip!

Tabon Scrubfowl Magapodius cumingii 1 seen and more heard near beach of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May.

Duky Scrubfowl Megapodius freycinet Frequently heard and 1 seen along the road near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

Blue-breasted Quail Coturnix cinensis 1 heard at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel 1 at the jetty of Sofifi, Halmahera on 29 April.

Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 2 en route to Weda, Halmahera on 29 April.

Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos 1 en route to Weda, Halmahera on 29 April.

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 2 at Lake Tondano, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Up to 4 daily around Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi.

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia More than a dozen in the wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May and 1 en route to Dumago- Bone, Sulawesi on 3 May.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta 9 in wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May and up to 20 in rice fields around Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi.

Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra 3 near mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis coromandus Common at Jakarta Airport on 28 April, Java, in the wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May and very common around Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi.

Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa 9 en route to Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 3 May and 2 and 5 there on 4 and 5 May.

Striated Heron Butoroides striata 2 in mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Rufous Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 1 heard at Golden Lake Resort, Manado, Sulawesi on 29 April and 1 in the wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus 1 at Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 1 in mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Black Kite Milvus migrans 1 between Dumago-Bone and Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 5 May and 2 in Pulatan Valley, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 5 to 10 at Halmahera daily and up to 3 at Sulawesi daily.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 1 at the jetty of Sofifi, Halmahera on 2 May and 1 at the boulevard of Manado, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus 1 heard at Toraut, Sulawesi on 4 May and 2 heard at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May.

Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle Spilornis rufipectus (IE + SE) 4 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May and 1 heard at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 may.

Spotted Harrier Circaetus assimilis 1 immature in Pulatan valley, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Spot-tailed Goshawk Accipiter trinotatus (IE + SE) 1 heard at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Moluccan Goshawk Accipiter henicogrammus (IE + HE) 1 at Desakulo, Halmahera on 1 May.

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis 3 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Gurney’s Eagle Aquila gurneyi 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

Spotted Kestrel Falco moluccensis Up to 5 daily at Halmahera.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrines 1 of subspecies ernesti near Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 3 May.

Isabelline Bush-hen isabellina (IE + SE) 2 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 6 May, 1 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May and 1 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Plain Bush-hen Amaurornis olivacea 1 along the road near Weda, Halmahera on 2 May.

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 2 Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata 1 adult with 2 pulli in the wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May.

Barred Rail torquatus Up to 7 daily at Sulawesi.

White-browed Crake, Halmahera

White-browed Crake cinerea 5 at the lake above the town of Weda, Halmahera on 1 May.

Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 2 at Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 3 May and 3 in Pulatan Valley, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1 at the wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May.

Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 15 during the Sofifi-Ternate crossing on 2 May.

Red-backed Buttonquail Turnix maculosa 2 in the fields of Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 5 May.

Gray-backed Tern Onychoprion lunatus 5 during the Ternate-Sofifi crossing on 29 April.

Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus 8 during the Ternate-Sofifi crossing on 29 April.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo At least 10 during the Ternate-Sofifi crossing on 29 April. Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica 2 near Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis About 10 at Jakarta Airport, Java on 28 April, up to 6 in Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi daily.

Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis Up to 5 daily at Halmahera and at Sulawesi 1 at Toraut and 4 at Gunung Mahawu on 4 May and 10 May.

White-faced Cuckoo-Dove Turacoena manadensis (IE + SE) Heard in Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 4 and 5 May.

Emerald Dove Chalcochaps indica 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

Stephan’s Dove Chalcophaps stephani 1 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Gray-cheeked Pigeon Treron griseicauda (IE) 6 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May, 1 along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May and 5 and at least 100 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 and 9 May.

Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus subgularis (IE + SE) Heard along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May.

Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus bernsteinii (IE + HE) 2 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

Blue-capped Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus monacha (IE + HE) 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 2 May, heard more often.

Gray-headed Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus hyogastra (IE + HE) Up to 5 daily at Halmahera, but 25 near Weda Resort on 1 May.

Black-naped Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus melanospila Heard at Tambun and Malibagu Road, Sulawesi and 8 seen at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula forsteni (IE + SE) Heard at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula paulina 1 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May and up to 4 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi daily.

White-eyed Imperial-Pigeon Ducula perspicillata (IE) 1 along the road to Weda Resort, Halmahera on 29 April.

Cinnamon-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula basilica (IE) Frequently heard and up to 3 seen daily at Halmahera.

Pied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula bicolour Up to 10 daily at Halmahera.

White Imperial-Pigeon Ducula luctuosa (IE + SE) 2 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May and up to 40 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi daily.

White Cockatoo Cactua alba (IE) 2 and 4 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 1 May.

Violet-necked Lory Eos (IE) 20 en route to Weda on 29 April and 4 and 2 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 and 2 May.

Ornate Lorikeet Trichoglossus ornatus (IE + SE) 2 along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May and 4 and 2 in Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 and 8 May.

Yellow-and-green Lorikeet Trichoglossus flavoviridis (IE + SE) 1 at Manimbo view point, Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 9 May.

Chattering Lory Eos garrulus (IE + HE) 8 en route to Weda on 29 April and 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May.

Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis 15 en route to Weda and 4 daily near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April, 1 and 2 May.

Red-cheeked Parrot geoffroyi Up to 8 daily at Halmahera.

Golden-mantled Racquet-tail Prionotorus platurus (IE + SE) 3 above fields of Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 5 May.

Great-billed Parrot Tanygnatus magalarhynchus (IE) Just 1 along the road to Weda Resort on 29 April.

Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus Up to 6 daily at Halmahera.

Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot Loriculus stigmatus (IE + SE) 2 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May and 8 along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May.

Moluccan Hanging-Parrot Loriculus amabilis (IE + HE) 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 29 April and 1 May.

Pygmy Hanging-Parrot Loriculus exilis (IE + SE) Up to 50 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi daily.

Brush Cuckoo varilosus 1 seen and more heard at Tambun, Sulawesi, 1 heard along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May and 1 heard Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May (virescens). Heard at Weda Resort and later seen in the wetlands of Tans, Halmahera on 1 May (infaustus).

Black-billed Koel Eudynamus melanorhyncha (IE + SE) Frequently heard in Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko, Sulawesi.

Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae 4 at mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Yellow-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaes calyorhynchus (IE + SE) 2 at Tambun, Sulawes on 4 Mayi, 1 along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May, 1 Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May and 8 there following the Celebes Crested Macaques on 8 May.

Bay Coucal Centropus celebensis (IE) Heard at Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi and 2 seen Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May.

Goliath Coucal Centropus goliath (IE + HE) Up to 3 daily at Halmahera.

Goliath Coucal, Halmahera

Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis 2 and 4 at Halmahera on 30 April and 1 May, 8 near Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May and 1 Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 9 May.

Minahassa Owl Tyto inexspectata (IE + SE) 1 heard at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 5 May.

Sulawesi Owl Tyto rosenbergii (IE + SE) 3 around park headquarters at Toraut, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Moluccan Scops-Owl Otus magicus 1 heard and 1 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 1 May.

Sulawesi Scops-Owl Otus manadensis (IE + SE) Frequently heard at Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko, Sulawesi.

Cinnabar Hawk-Owl Ninox ios (IE + SE) 1 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 5 May. Speckled Hawk-Owl Ninox punctulata (IE + SE) 1 in old building at park headquarters, Toraut, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Moluccan Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles crinifrons (IE + HE) 1 seen and 2 heard near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 29 April.

Great Eared-Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis 3 above river of Toraut, Sulawesi on 4 May and heard at Tangkoko, Sulawesi.

Sulawesi Nightjar celebensis (IE + SE) Great views of 1 on forest floor in the day-time at Tangkoko on 8 May.

Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta 100+ at Halmahera and up to 50 daily at Sulawesi.

Cave Swiftlet Collocalia marginata 2 at Jakarta airport, Java on 28 April and 11 May.

Moluccan Swiftlet Collocalia infuscatus (IE) 10 in the hills of Halmahera on 2 May (infuscatus). 5 and 2 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 9 and 10 May (sororum).

Gray-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis 6 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May, 4 along Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May and 2 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Moustached Treeswift Hemiprocne mystacea Up to 10 daily at Halmahera.

Common Kingfisher atthis 1 at the beach with Beach Kingfisher en route to Weda, Halmahera on 29 April and 2 at mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Sulawesi Kingfisher Ceyx fallax (IE + SE) 1 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Lilac Kingfisher Cittura cyanotis (IE + SE) 3 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May and 1 there on 8 May.

Lilac Kingfisher, Tangkoko, Sulawesi

Black-billed Kingfisher melanorhyncha (IE + SE) Splendid views of 1 in the mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Black-billed Kingfisher, Tangkoko, Sulawesi Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda 1 at the bridge of the entrance road of Tangkoko, Sulawesi and 1 heard in the mangroves on 8 May.

Blue-and-white Kingfisher diops (IE + HE) 12 en route to Weda on 29 April and 4 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May.

Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris Just 1 at Halmahera on 30 April and up to 10 at Sulawesi daily.

Sombre Kingfisher Todiramphus funebres (IE + HE) Up to 3 at Halmahera daily.

Sombre Kingfisher, Weda Resort, Halmahera

Beach Kingfisher Todiramphus saurophaga 1 along the coastal road en route to Weda, Halmahera on 29 April.

Sacred Kingfisher, Halmahera

Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sancta 1 at the lake above the town of Weda, Halmahera on 1 May.

Green-backed Kingfisher monachus (IE + SE) 1 seen and more heard at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May and 1 there on 8 May.

Scaly Kingfisher Actenoides princeps (IE + SE) 1 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Common Paradise-Kingfisher Tanysiptera galate 1 seen and more heard in the Weda Resort forest, Halmahera on 30 April.

Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Weda Resort Forest, Halmahera

Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 3, 5 and 10 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 29 and 30 April and 1 May, 2 and 20 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 and 8 May.

Dollarbird Eurystomosus orientalis Up to 6 at Halmahera daily and 1 at the mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Purple Roller Eurystomus azureus (IE + HE) Just 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April.

Sulawesi Hornbill Penelopides exarhatus (IE + SE) 1 at Toraut, Sulawesi on 4 May and 10 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 9 May.

Knobbed Hornbill Rhyticeros cassidix (IE + SE) Up to 25 at Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko, Sulawesi daily.

Blyth’s Hornbill Aceros pilicatus Up to 30 daily at Halmahera.

Sulawesi Woodpecker Picoides temminckii (IE + SE) 1 heard at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

Ashy Woodpecker fulvus (IE + SE) Heard at Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi and 1 seen at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 6 May and several heard there on 7 May.

Ivory-breasted Pitta Pitta maxima (IE + HE) Frequently heard, but great views of 1 in the Weda Resort forest, Halmahera on 30 April.

White-streaked Friarbird Melitograis gilolensis (IE + HE) 2 en route to Weda on 29 April and 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April.

Sulawesi Myzomela Myzomela chloroptera (IE + SE) 2 at Gunung Mahawu on 10 May.

White-backed Woodswallow Artamus monachus (IE + SE) 6 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May.

White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorhynchus Up to 5 at Sulawesi daily.

Moluccan Cuckoo-shrike Coracina atriceps (IE) 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 4 en route to Weda and 2 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 29 and 30 April.

Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike Coracina parvula (IE + HE) 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May.

Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris 1 and 4 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 1 May.

Rufous-bellied Triller Lalage aurea (IE + HE) Up to 4 at Halmahera daily.

Long-tailed Triller Lalage leucopygalis (IE + SE) 1 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May, 1 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May and 1 heard there on 8 May.

Sulphur-bellied Whistler Pachycephala sulfuriventer (IE + SE) 3 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 1 seen and 1 heard near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 2 May.

Drab Whistler Pachycephala griseonota (IE) 1 heard and 1 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 2 May.

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 1 at Jakarta Airport, Java on 28 April.

Halmahera Oriole Oriolus phaeochromus (IE + HE) 3 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 and 2 May, more often heard.

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 1 or 2 at Sulawesi daily, more often heard.

Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentotus Up to 5 at Sulawesi daily.

Sulawesi Drongo Dicrurus montanus (IE + SE) Heard near Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 3 May.

Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus Up to 7 at Halmahera daily.

Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Common at Halmahera.

Pale-blue Monarch puella (IE) 2 at Tambun, Sulawesi and 2 at Malibagu Road, Sulawesi on 4 and 5 May and 2 and 3 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 and 8 May.

White-naped Monarch pileatus (IE) 1 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

Spectacled Monarch Monarcha trivirgatus 1 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 2 May.

Moluccan Flycatcher galeata (IE) 1 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May, more heard on 30 April and 2 May.

Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto (IE) 1 seen near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and great views of 1 on 1 May.

Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca Up to 10 at Sulawesi daily.

Long-billed Crow Corvus validus (IE + HE) Up to 5 at Halmahera daily.

Paradise-crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus (IE + HE) 1 or 2 at Halmahera daily.

Wallace’s Standardwing Semioptera wallacii (IE + HE) Great views of at least 10 birds (6 males and 4 females) at the lek in Weda Resort forest, Halmahera on 30 April and 2 heard there on 2 May. Bird of the trip!

Wallace´s Standardwing, Weda Resort Forest, Halmahera

Wallace’s Standardwing, Weda Resort Forest, Halmahera

Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica 2 at Jakarta Airport, Java on 28 April, 16 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May and up to 100 at Sulawesi daily.

Citrine Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa helianthea 3 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurogaster 5 at Jakarta Airport, Java on 28 April, 1 near Dumago-Bone, Sulawesi on 3 May, 3 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 6 May and 4 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 9 May.

Golden Bulbul Alophoixus affinis (IE) 3 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April.

Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis 1 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 5 May.

Mountain White-eye Zosterops montanus 5 and 30 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 9 and 10 May.

Black-crowned White-eye Zosterops atrifrons (IE) 2 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 5 May, 2 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 6 May and 1 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May. Cream-throated White-eye Zosterops atriceps (IE + HE) 1 seen, more heard near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May.

Sulawesi Babbler Trichastoma celebense (IE + SE) 1 seen and more heard at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May and 1 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May.

Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis omissus (IE + SE) Splendid views of 3 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Island Flycatcher Eumyias panayensis 2 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 2 there on 1 May.

Metallic Starling metallica Up to 50 at Halmahera daily .

Moluccan Starling Aplonis mysolensis (IE) Up to 50 at Halmahera daily .

White-necked Myna Streptocitta albicollis (IE + SE) 3 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 6 May and 1 and 2 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 and 9 May.

Fiery-browed Myna Enodes erythrophrys (IE + SE) 2 at Gunung Ambang on 5 May and 2 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Finch-billed Myna Scissirostrum dubium (IE + SE) Up to 10 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi daily.

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker Dicaem aureolimbatum (IE + SE) 1 between Dumago-Bone and Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 6 May and 2 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker Dicaem nehrkotni (IE + SE) 1 at Gunung Ambang, Sulawesi on 6 May and 1 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Flame-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaem erythrothorax (IE) 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May.

Gray-sided Flowerpecker Dicaem celebicum (IE) 1 at Tambun, Sulawesi on 4 May, 4 along Malabagu Road, Sulawesi on 5 May and 1 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi in 10 May.

Plain-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis 1 at Manado, Sulawesi on 29 May.

Black Sunbird Cinnyris aspasia Up to 5 at Halmahera daily , 1 in the Mangroves of Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 6 May and 1 near Tomahon, Sulawesi on 10 May.

Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis 8 en route to Weda and 2 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 1 May and up to 5 at Sulawesi daily.

Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 1 or 2 at Tangkoko, Sulawesi daily.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Common at Halmahera and Sulawesi in urban areas.

Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca (IE) 2 in Pulatan valley, Sulawesi on 6 May.

Nutmeg Mannikin Lonchura punctulata 8 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April, 40 in Pulatan Valley, Sulawesi on 6 May and 10 at Gunung Mahawu, Sulawesi on 9 May.

Chestnut Munia Lonchura malacca Up to 40 at Sulawesi daily.

Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora (I + IE) 3 in at Golden Lake Resort, Manado, Sulawesi on 29 April.

Systematic list of mammals and other

Mammals

Whitish Dwarf Squirrel Procciurillus murinus 1 seen and more heard at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 8 May.

Halmahera Cuscus Phalanger ornatus 1 near Weda Resort, Halmahera, found by the smell, on 29 April.

Halmahera Naked-backed Fruit Bat Dobsonia crenulata 4 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April.

Celebes Crested Macaque Macaca nigra 20 and 100 not far from the beach at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 and 8 May.

Celebes Crested Macaque, Tangkoko, Sulawesi

Spectral Tarsier Tarsier spectrum 6 in and around the well-known tree at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May.

Spectral Tarsier, Tangkoko, Sulawesi

Other animals

Asian Water Monitor Varanus salvator (?) 2 near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April and 1 May.

Halmahera Gecko Gehyra vorax (?) Up to 4 at Weda Resort daily.

Halmahera Blue-tongued Tiliqua gigas (?) 1 (brown, small) near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 1 May.

Tropical Handsome Spider ? 1 in Weda Resort forest on 30 April.

‘tropical handsome spider’, Halmahera

Snake spec. 1 ( 1,5 m., brown and smooth) near Weda Resort, Halmahera on 30 April. 1 similar species at Tangkoko, Sulawesi on 7 May.

Dragonfly spec., Halmahera

Dragonfly spec., Halmahera

Dragonfly spec., Halmahera