New Britain II Trip Report

th th 8 to 12 August 2012 (5 days)

New Britain scenery by John Caddick

Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

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Tour Summary Boarding our aircraft to the South Pacific islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, we landed on New Britain, part of a volcanic series situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” Here, from our fabulous diving resort, we were literally encircled by a chain of volcanoes. The next morning we headed to Garu Forest, enjoying close looks at Black Bittern and Stephan’s Ground Dove en route. The birding was excellent on the road through the forest and sightings included the spectacular Black-headed Paradise Kingfisher, a trio of White-mantled Kingfishers, Purple-bellied Lory, Red-knobbed Fruit Dove, Long-tailed Myna, Black-tailed Monarch, the shy Finch’s Imperial Pigeon, and a pair of rare Black Honey Buzzards, which we watched as they flew over the forest. Unfortunately, our visit to the Melanesian Megapode colony was cut short as harvesting of the eggs was already underway by the local people, but we did have good scope looks at an adult perched in a tree. An afternoon excursion to Kilu Ridge then gave us fabulous scope views of a pair of New Britain Boobook, Pied and Violaceous Coucals, Red-flanked Lorikeet, huge Blyth Hornbills gliding over, Purple-bellied Lorys, gaudy Eclectus Parrots, and three of the highly sought-after New Britain Boobook by John Singing Parrots feeding in a nearby tree! Caddick

Boarding our sea-bound diving vessel, we motored into the Bismarck Sea to explore several small remote tropical islands. En route to the islands we stopped amongst a frenzied flock of feeding terns and enjoyed close looks at Swift, Common and the beautiful Black- naped Tern, and a single Black Noddy. Arriving at Malu Malu we soon located island specialties such as Sclater’s Myzomela, Island Imperial Pigeon, Mackinlay’s Cuckoo- Dove, Mangrove (Black-tailed) Whistler, a pair of showy Beach Kingfishers feeding on rocks during the low tide, and great looks at the lovely Nicobar Pigeon, several of which flew past the boat. Anchoring beside the white sand beaches of Restorf Island, we then enjoyed snorkeling amongst living coral beset with anemones, urchins, starfish, crabs, sea lilies and some of the most colourful fish imaginable! And so concluded yet another successful and thoroughly enjoyable tour of New Britain. Mangrove Whistler by John Caddick

Annotated Checklists of

Total species recorded: 81

Nomenclature and follows the IOC 2.1 List of: Gill, F. and M. Wright. 2006. Birds of the World: Recommended English Names. Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.

Key to endemic/near endemic abbreviations NG – endemic to New Guinea NB – endemic to New Britain BA – endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago

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NE – near endemic to New Guinea

Megapodes Megapodiidae Melanesian (Volcano) Scrubfowl (NE) Megapodius eremita Great scope looks at a flushed into a tree at Garu Forest. We did not continue our walk to the nesting colony as the trail was busy with local egg-harvesters.

Pheasants, Fowl & Allies Phasianidae King Quail Excalfactoria chinensis We had great looks at two males and one female bird flushed in fields at Kimbe Bay.

Ducks, Geese & Swans Anatidae Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa Several birds were found in a wetland running through an Oil Palm plantation.

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns Ardeidae Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis Fabulous close looks at 10+ birds over three days on New Britain especially on the streams running through the Oil Palm plantations. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis A singleton was flushed and seen well in flight in dense vegetation surrounded by open crop lands. A scarce visitor and good find on New Britain. Nankeen (Rufous) Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus A singleton was seen well on New Britain. Eastern Great Egret Bubulcus coromandus One bird was seen in an open field. Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra Several dark and white morphs were seen from our resort and again near Restorf Island.

Frigatebirds Fregatidae Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel Several birds were seen distantly. Cormorants, Shags, Phalacrocoracidae Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos We had good looks at four birds.

Ospreys Pandionidae Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus Several birds were seen along the coast of New Britain.

Hawks, Eagles & Kites Accipitridae Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata Great looks daily on New Britain Black Honey Buzzard (NB) Henicorpernis infuscatus A pair of these rare raptors was seen well at Garu Forest on New Britain. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

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Common across the island. White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster A singleton was seen in the bay and at Kilu Ridge. Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster The common accipiter on New Britain and seen daily.

Falcons Falconidae Oriental Hobby Falco severus A singleton was seen flying over a ridge in Kimbe Bay.

Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus phillippensis A pair was found at a wetland in Kimbe Bay. White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea Two birds were seen well at a wetland in Kimbe Bay. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Three seen at farm dam in Kimbe Bay.

Sandpipers, Snipes Scolapacidae Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala Great looks at three birds flushed from a flooded field. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Four birds were seen on the beach at Walindi Lodge.

Terns Sternidae Black Noddy Anous minutes Great looks at a bird feeding near our boat in Kimbe Bay, New Britain. Swift (Great Crested) Tern Sterna bergii Thirty were seen roosting on a sandbar in Kimbe Bay. Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana Great looks at 100+ roosting on a sandbar in Kimbe Bay. Common Tern Sterna hirundo At least six birds were seen on our trip into Kimbe Bay.

Pigeons & Doves Columbidae Mackinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia mackinlayi Singletons were sighted on Malu Malu and Restorf Island; this is one of the small-island specialist species. Stephan's Emerald Dove Chalcophaps stephani We enjoyed some outstanding views in the Oil plantations. Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica We enjoyed outstanding flight views at Restorf Island in Kimbe Bay. Knob-billed Fruit Dove (BA) Ptilinopus insolitus Great scope looks at Garu Forest and Killu Ridge. Red-knobbed (Knob-billed) Imperial Pigeon (NE) Ducula rubricera Common on New Britain, with more than one hundred birds being seen between our various birding sites. Finsch’s Imperial Pigeon (NG) Ducula finschii Good scope looks at Garu Forest, New Britain.

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Island Imperial Pigeon (NE) Ducula pistrinaria Up to forty were seen all over both Kimbe and Restorf islands during our Bismarck Sea boat trip. Bismarck (Yellow-tinted) Imperial Pigeon (NE) Ducula subflavescens On New Britain we had this strikingly yellowish-creamy form of the above species on several occasions throughout the extension.

Cockatoos Cacatuidae Blue-eyed Cockatoo (NB) Cacatua ophthalmica Pleasingly common on New Britain and seen at all sites visited.

Parrots Psittacidae Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot Micropsitta pusio Two of these minute creatures were seen at Garu Forest. Coconut (Rainbow) Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus Recorded daily in small numbers. Purple-bellied (Eastern Black-capped) Lory (NG)Lorius hypoinochrous We had many fine views of this beautiful bird. Red-flanked Lorikeet (NE) Charmosyna placentis Seen very well at Walindi Resort and on Kilu Ridge. Singing Parrot (BA) Geofroyuss heteroclitus Great scope looks at three birds on Kilu Ridge, New Britain. Eclectus Parrot (NE) Eclectus roratus This bird is much more abundant on New Britain than on mainland New Guinea, where we estimated up to one hundred in a single day!

Cuckoos and Coucals Cuculidae White-necked Coucal (BA) Centropus ateralbus Good looks daily on New Britain. A variety of plumage patterns was represented. Violaceous Coucal (BA) Centropus violaceus One of these endemics was seen at Tamara Ridge. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus A singleton was seen at Garu Forest. Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae Two were seen on New Britain. Brush Cuckoo Cacomantus variolosus We scoped an individual on Kilu Ridge.

Owls Strigidae New Britain Boobook (BA) Ninox odiosa Two birds were watched at length. Fantastic!

Treeswifts Hemiprocnidae Moustached Treeswift (NE) Hemiprocne mystacea Seen around Walindi Lodge.

Swifts Apodidae

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White-rumped Swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius Several birds were seen in open fields near Walindi resort. Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis Very common in the lowlands and hills, where seen virtually every day.

Rollers Coraciidae Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis Seen regularly in the lowlands.

Kingfishers Alcedinidae Black-capped Paradise-Kingfisher (NE) Tanysiptera sylvia We worked hard for this species and eventually had great scope looks. White-mantled Kingfisher Todiramphus albonotatus Fantastic close looks at three displaying birds in Garu Forest. Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris Recorded daily in small numbers. Care has to be taken when separating from the common Sacred Kingfisher. Beach (White-headed) Kingfisher (NE) Todirhamphus saurophaga Three of these island specialists were seen very well on Restorf Island. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis About five birds were seen on New Britain.

Bee-eaters Meropidae Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus This Australasian migrant was seen in small numbers.

Hornbills Bucerotidae Blyth's Hornbill (NE) Aceros plicatus This species was seen extremely well perched and in flight on a daily basis.

Honeyeaters Meliphagidae New Britain (NB) Philemon cockerelli This species was fairly common on New Britain. Ashy Myzomela (BA) Myzomela cineracea A total of ten birds were seen on New Britain. Sclater's Myzomela (BA) Myzomela sclateri Up to six were seen on Restorf Island visited on our Bismarck Sea boat trip. This small is endemic to islands (mostly small ones) offshore the main Bismarck Islands.

Cuckooshrikes Campephagidae Black-faced Cuckooshrike Coracina Two of these migrant birds were seen. Varied Triller Lalage leucomela Regularly encountered in the lowlands and foothills each day of the extension.

Whistlers Pachycephalidae

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Mangrove (Black-tailed) Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura Three birds seen including a nice look at a bright male in Kimbe Bay off New Britain.

Drongos Dicruridae Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus Seen in small numbers daily.

Fantails Rhipiduridae Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys Very widespread, being seen every day throughout the extension. Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris A couple birds were seen in Garu Forest.

Monarchs Monarchidae Black-tailed [Bismarck Pied] Monarch NG Monarcha verticalis Two birds were seen briefly in Garu Forest. Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto Common along the secondary growth where several males and females were seen.

Crows and Jays Corvidae Bismarck Crow (BA) Corvus insularis This recent split from the Torresian Crow, which sounds much more like an American Crow, was common on New Britain.

Swallows & Martins Hirundinidae Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica This is the common swallow of the region and was widespread throughout the lowlands. Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans Up to twenty birds were found feeding over cultivated fields in Kimbe Bay.

Reed Warblers & allies Acrocephalidae Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis Good looks at three singing birds in dense vegetation in Kimbe Bay.

Grassbirds and allies Megaluridae Papuan (Tawny) Grassbird (NG) Megalurus macrurus Two seen well and heard calling in a cultivated field near Walindi.

Cisticolas and allies Cisticolidae Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis Up to ten were seen in the above fields.

Starlings Sturnidae Metallic Starling (NE) Aplonis metallica We found this colonial starling to be abundant throughout the extension. Long-tailed Myna (NE) Mino kreffti

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We enjoyed several nice views of this species on New Britain.

Flowerpeckers Dicaeidae Red-banded (Bismarck) Flowerpecker (BA) Dicaeum eximium Seen daily in small numbers on New Britain.

Sunbirds & Spiderhunters Nectariniidae Black Sunbird Leptocoma sericea Fairly common in the lowlands. Olive-backed (Yellow-bellied) Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis This species was also seen around Walindi Resort.

Waxbills & Allies Estrildidae Buff-bellied Mannikin (BA) Lonchura melaena Our first birds were seen near Garu Forest with further sightings in grasslands in the Kimbe Bay area.

Annotated Checklist of Mammals Recorded

Great Flying-fox NE Pteropus neohibernicus Seen daily throughout New Britain.

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