PAPUA CRUISE

SEPTEMBER 20–OCTOBER 6, 2019

Aboard the Caledonian Sky

Purple-bellied Lory © Warren Regelmann

LEADERS: DAVID JAMES & DAVID WOLF with the Zegrahm staff

LIST COMPILED BY: DAVID JAMES & DAVID WOLF

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM It is said that “variety is the spice of life,” and this cruise certainly served up a wide variety of experiences. We birded from isolated mainland villages to remote offshore islands and recorded a broad sampling of island and coastal lowland of the New Guinea region, yet still had time for snorkeling on some of the healthiest coral reefs in the world. At almost every stop we were greeted with friendly enthusiasm and a diverse array of cultural experiences, often in idyllic tropical settings. At times the scenery was spectacular, much of it shaped by the forces of vulcanism and plate tectonics. All of this was complemented by informative and entertaining lectures and guidance from the naturalist staff aboard the very comfortable Caledonian Sky. We did a lot!

We got off to a great start with our first field trip, an afternoon visit to the extensive grounds of the Pacific Adventist University near Port Moresby. Here we found a nice assortment of easy-to-see waterbirds around the ponds before it started drizzling; peeked into a thicket at the avenue- bower of the shy Fawn- breasted Bowerbird; and had great looks at typical savannah like the Rufous-banded and . Then it began to rain harder, but that did not deter us from getting a little wet to see a fabulous Papuan Frogmouth, looking for all the world like the stump of a broken tree limb. Unfortunately, the rain continued all through the night, and the next morning found us stopped by flood waters blocking the highway to Varirata National Park. This was a disappointment, so after watching the dawn movement of a surprising variety of birds at the flood, we switched to “Plan B,” birding our way towards the coast. Stops in the sparse dry savannah produced good looks at Blue-winged , Fawn-breasted Bowerbirds, and a pair of Black-backed Butcherbirds at the nest, among others, but then a flat tire on the bus stopped us. At this point, we retreated back to town for lunch and a visit to the National Museum and Nature Park before boarding the Caledonian Sky.

Our first morning aboard the ship found us cruising the Coral Sea, scanning for pelagic birds and spotting at least a dozen Tahiti Petrels, several Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and a beautiful Red-tailed Tropicbird, a not often seen in New Guinea waters. That afternoon we visited our first island, Suau. We were the first cruise ship ever to visit this island, and literally the entire village turned out for the big event of our arrival, greeting us with speeches, traditional dances, and a chance to visit with the locals. The birders chose to skulk around the back perimeter of the village, getting acquainted with some of the typical birds of the islands, including Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove, Singing and Metallic starlings, and Black . By far our best find here was the tiny Papuan Hanging- that appeared in a bare tree several times before disappearing into a fruiting fig.

Fergusson, one of the Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove largest islands of the David Wolf D’Entrecasteaux group, was our stop the next morning. We made an early landing in a small village shaded by big epiphyte-laden trees and were immediately greeted with stunning Purple-bellied Lories feeding on the unusual pink flowers of a big orchid. Nearby, the distinctive tremolo calls of the Curl-crested Manucode sounded off in the second-growth and remnant trees, and it wasn’t long before we had all seen this bird-of-paradise, found only on these and the . A rather hot walk to the active and extensive Dei-Dei Hot Springs Curl-crested Manucode © Warren produced our first looks at big Blyth’s Hornbills, while Regelmann migrating flocks of huge Channel-billed Cuckoos flew past,

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Cruise, 2019 and Eclectus and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos flapped overhead. A visit to nearby Dobu Island that afternoon found us walking through the extensive native gardens, shaded by breadfruit trees and coconut palms, and again we had great looks at the manucode.

Overnight we traveled further into the Solomon Sea, to tiny Kuyawa Island in the remote Trobriand group. Just as the first birders landed, it began to rain, but a few hearty souls stuck it out and wandered the beach to the tip of the island, finding 6 species of migrant shorebirds. When the rain finally let up in the late morning, some of us followed a local villager on an informative tour through the newly-planted gardens to the other end of the island. Here we found several remnant trees that were in fruit and attracting Island Imperial-Pigeons and Claret-breasted Fruit-Doves. These two were the first of the “small island tramps” that we would see on the trip, birds that are confined to small and remote species-poor islands and largely absent from the nearby species-rich islands and mainland.

Now it was back to the mainland at Tufi, where deep volcanic fissures have carved steep-sided inlets into the mountains. Here our delayed captain, passengers, and luggage finally caught up with us. The birders hiked along the rim of the forested cliff above the “fiord,” highlighted by numerous sightings of Blyth’s Hornbills, a Brown Oriole (not to be confused with the common Helmeted Friarbirds), and an Orange-footed Scrubfowl for one group. Later we commandeered Zodiacs and silently cruised up a narrow channel into the swamp forest. Here we discovered a fabulous Palm Cockatoo at super-close range, seemingly “frozen” to the snag where it was working on a nest hole.

By now we had settled into a rhythm, the days passing quickly. At Lababia we birded the swamp forest behind the village, to the distant beat of the drums from the “Taro and Tuna Festival,” while beautiful Tami Island provided some of the most elaborate costumes and crafts Palm Cockatoo © David Wolf seen on the trip. From the port town of Madang the birders explored inland to the Baitabag Conservation Area, a patch of lowland rainforest that is the site of an amazing new canopy crane. A few adventurous souls even went up in the crane, where they had treetop views of Black-browed Trillers so close you could almost touch them, while the rest of us down below observed at a flowering forest tree and watched a Lowland hawking from the crane itself. This aerial sallier typically chooses the highest perch around, and this one certainly did! That afternoon, as we enjoyed lunch on the deck, we sailed the short distance to , an active volcano rising dramatically from the sea. The scenery was amazing, but birds seemed nonexistent, except for the hordes of Torresian Imperial-Pigeons gathering around the village trees as the afternoon waned.

Our final stop on the mainland was at the mouth of the Sepik River. Just before leaving at dawn for a Zodiac cruise along the banks of the river, a stunned White- faced Storm-Petrel was discovered on the ship and examined closely in the hand. The bird had apparently come aboard during the night, and it provided one of the very few records for this species anywhere in New Guinea waters. Our Zodiac cruises here were largely dancers on Tami © David Wolf rained out, though not before we all saw multiple

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 White-bellied Sea-Eagles and one lucky Zodiac spotted a Great-billed Heron, so after breakfast we joined the crowd in Kopar village and watched the dances and a dramatic parody of “the old mother and the cannibal,” a performance that delighted the local crowd as much as the visitors. Here too we met “Chris the Cassowary,” a village pet that had been raised to adulthood from a wild-caught chick.

A highlight of the trip was our stop the next morning, at tiny and remote Alim Island, in the middle of nowhere south of the . This uninhabited island harbors a major nesting colony of Red- footed Boobies, and the looks were up-close and personal. All the while, ethereal White Terns danced overhead, with swarms of frigatebirds above them and Black Noddies coming and going from the trees where they nest. Here too were small-island specialties like the Beach , Bismarck Black , and Island Monarch, but perhaps the most exciting find was a Nicobar Pigeon that flushed and landed where all three Zodiacs could be maneuvered into viewing range. This island tramp is threatened or gone over much of its vast range. Little did we know what the next day would bring.

Beach Kingfisher © Warren Regelmann Red-footed Booby David Wolf

Tingwon, our final small island, was perhaps our most satisfying stop for island specialties. While finishing breakfast on the deck, several of us spotted high-flying flocks of chunky dark birds over the island. Wait, oh my god, those are Nicobar Pigeons! Scanning the horizon we realized that they were everywhere in the air, and I began counting, eventually tallying at least 2,200 individuals in little over an hour as they commuted to an unknown destination. Upon landing we then found 3 of them calmly perched in the shade of a village tree, and soon everyone had enjoyed prolonged scope studies. From here we strolled the mile-long path across the island to the main village, stopping for Melanesian and Coconut Lorikeets, a male Stephan’s Dove in the trail, and a pair of Black-tailed Whistlers, among others. On the edge of the village we were surprised to find Melanesian Scrubfowl running around like chickens. A closer look revealed a circular pit in the sand, where the birds lay their eggs and let nature incubate them, while the villagers protect the birds but gather some of Nicobar Pigeon © David Wolf the eggs for human consumption. Nearby, in a big fruiting fig tree pointed out to us by the locals, we found our final quest bird for the island, the beautiful Yellow-bibbed Fruit-Dove.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 After a final morning at sea we docked at Rabaul on , the harbor here a submerged caldera ringed by six volcanos, some recently active. That afternoon’s exploratory trip into the settled hills above town proved to be quite a runaround, but we did add several bonus birds to the list, such as the strange- looking endemic Pied Coucal, beautiful little Hooded Mannikins, and the distinctive local tristrami race of . After an early dinner on-board, we left for the Baining fire dance, and as darkness fell, we seated ourselves for the grand finale. Wearing huge ceremonial masks, the dancers repeatedly leaped over and kicked the hot coals of the bonfire, paying homage to the local spirits in a centuries-old tradition. It was mesmerizing and exciting, especially when one dancer, in his exuberance, kicked some serious embers into the front row seats! It was a special ending to a very interesting trip. Our thanks to Mike, Lynne, all of the Zegrahm staff, and the crew of the Caledonian Sky for a great trip!

Baining fire dance © David Wolf

ITINERARY: September 22: Afternoon field trip to the grounds of the Pacific Adventist University just outside of Port Moresby. September 23: The general Port Moresby area, out to the flood on the highway to Varirata and then to the coastal region as far out as Edai before returning to Port Moresby for lunch. Afternoon at the National Museum and the Nature Park, before boarding the Caledonian Sky. September 24: Morning at sea in the Coral Sea on the south side of the southeastern peninsula of mainland New Guinea. Afternoon on Suau Island just off the southeastern tip. September 25: Morning on Fergusson Island on the hike to and from Dei-Dei Hot Springs. Afternoon on nearby Dobu Island. September 26: Morning until early afternoon on Kuyawa Island in the Trobriand group. Mid to late afternoon at sea. September 27: Morning back on the mainland at Tufi. Afternoon at sea in the Solomon Sea along the north side of the southeastern peninsula. September 28: Morning around Lababia village on the mainland. Afternoon not far offshore on a small island in the Fly Island group or snorkeling nearby.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 September 29: Morning on Tami Island just off the eastern tip of the Huon Peninsula of mainland New Guinea. Afternoon at sea. September 30: Morning excursion to Baitabag Conservation Area (the canopy crane) and Madang town. Lunchtime sail to Karkar Island and then the bulk of the afternoon on Karkar. October 1: Morning at the mouth of the Sepik River in and near Kopar village. Afternoon at sea in the Bismarck Sea. October 2: Morning Zodiac cruise around Alim Island in the Purdy group, south of the Admiralty Islands. Afternoon snorkeling or at leisure on-board. October 3: Morning on Tingwon Island, about 30 km. west of New Hanover. Afternoon on nearby uninhabited Beligela Island or snorkeling. October 4: Morning at sea approaching New Britain. Afternoon exploratory excursion in the hills above Rabaul, New Britain. October 5: Disembarkation and departure for travel home or on the Highland Extension.

KEY: PAU = Pacific Adventist University grounds PM = Port Moresby area, including “the flood” and the road to the coast and Edai. Coral Sea = morning at sea along the south side of the southeastern peninsula of New Guinea. Suau = Suau Island just off the southeastern tip of the New Guinea mainland. FI = Fergusson Island Dobu = Dobu Island on the afternoon of Sept 25. Kuy = Kuyawa Island in the Trobriand Island group. Tufi = Tufi village on the mainland and nearby along the “fiord”. Lab = Lababia village on the mainland and nearby on one of the small Fly Islands. Tami = Tami Island off the tip of the Huon Peninsula. Mad = Madang area, including Baitabag Reserve and canopy crane. Kar = Karkar Island SR = Sepik River at Kopar village at the mouth of the river. Alim = Alim Island in the Purdy Island group. Ting = Tingwon Island, about 30 km. west of New Hanover. NB = New Britain hd = heard

BIRDS: follows the eBird/Clements “Checklist of Birds of the World: v2018”.

Cassowaries & Emu: Casuariidae Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) – SR (not seen in the wild, but in Kopar village we met “Chris”, a mature bird that was a village pet first captured as a chick).

Ducks, Geese & Waterfowl: Anatidae Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni) – PAU (a rare and irregular migrant to New Guinea from Australia). Wandering Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata) – PAU, Lab, SR Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah) – PAU, PM, FI Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) – PAU, PM, Mad Gray Teal (Anas gracilis) - PAU

Megapodes: Megapodiidae Melanesian Scrubfowl (Megapodius eremita) - Ting Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt) - Tufi

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 Pigeons & Doves: Columbidae Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – Mad (introduced feral birds). Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia amboinensis) – Lab (seen by a few in one Zodiac). Pacific Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps longirostris) - Kuy Stephan’s Dove (Chalcophaps stephani) - Ting Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida) – PAU, PM Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis) - PAU Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) – Alim, Ting Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) – heard only; FI (hd), Mad (hd) Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus aurantiifrons) – Suau, FI, Tufi, SR (the most frequently seen of the many fruit-doves). Coroneted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus coronulatus) – Lab Beautiful Fruit-Dove (Pitlinopus pulchellus) – Mad (seen by a few at Baitabag). Yellow-bibbed Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus solomonensis) - Ting Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus viridis) - Kuy Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus iozonus) – Kar, SR Island Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula pistrinaria) - Kuy Pinon’s Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula pinon) – FI, Tufi, Tami, Mad, SR Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa spilorrhoa) – PAU, PM, Suau, FI, Dobu, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, Tami, Mad, Kar (a favorite island and coastal species seen often and well).

Cuckoos: Cuculidae Pied Coucal (Centropus ateralbus) - NB hd Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) – heard only; Tufi (hd) Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae) – FI, Kuy, Tufi, Lab Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus) – heard only; FI (hd), Tufi (hd) Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) – Alim (a long-distance migrant that found this remote and tiny island).

Frogmouths: Podargidae Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) - PAU

Swifts: Apodidae Glossy ( esculenta) – Suau, FI, NB Uniform Swiftlet (Aerodramus vanikorensis) – Suau, FI, Lab (Fly Island), NB

Treeswifts: Hemiprocnidae Moustached Treeswift (Hemiprocne mystacea) - NB

Rails, Gallinules & Coots: Rallidae Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis) - Ting Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) - PAU Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) - PAU

Plovers & Lapwings: Charadriidae Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) – PAU, Kuy, NB Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) – PAU, PM

Jacanas: Jacanidae Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) - PAU

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 Sandpipers & Allies: Scolopacidae Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – Kuy, Tami, SR Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) - Kuy Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) – Kuy (one bright juvenile). snipe sp? – most likely Swinhoe’s Snipe (Gallinago megala) - PM Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) – off Mad, off SR Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) – Kuy, SR, Ting, NB Gray-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes) - Kuy Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) - Kuy

Skuas & Jaegers: Stercorariidae Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) – off Karkar

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers: Laridae Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) – Tami, Alim, off NB Black Noddy (Anous minutus) – off Suau, off Kuy, off Tufi, Tami, Alim, Ting, off NB White Tern (Gygis alba) - Alim Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscata) – Suau, Solomon Sea (off Tufi and Lab), off NB Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) – Coral Sea, SR Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) – Tami, Mad, SR Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) - SR Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana) – Tami, Alim Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) – Solomon Sea (off Kuy and Tufi), off Mad, SR, off NB Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) – Suau, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, Tami, SR

Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) – Coral Sea

Southern Storm-Petrels: Oceanitidae Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) White-faced Storm-Petrel (Pelagodroma marina) – a stunned bird found on the ship came aboard during the night between Madang and the mouth of the Sepik River.

Shearwaters & Petrels: Procellariidae Tahiti Petrel (Pseudobulweria rostrata) – Coral Sea, Bismarck Sea (off SR and off NB). Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) – Coral Sea, off NB

Frigatebirds: Fregatidae Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel) – Suau, Kuy (inc. offshore), Tufi, Lab, Tami, Mad, off SR, Alim, Ting, NB Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) – off Kuy, off SR, Alim, NB

Boobies & Gannets: Sulidae Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) – off Kuy, off Tufi, off Lab, off Tami, off NB Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) - Bismarck Sea, Alim

Anhingas: Anhingidae Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) - Lab

Cormorants & Shags: Phalacrocoracidae Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) -PAU, PM

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) – PAU, PM

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns: Ardeidae Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) – SR (seen by one lucky Zodiac). Great Egret (Ardea alba) – PM, SR Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) – PAU, PM, Lab Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) – PAU, PM, SR Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra) – PM, Suau, Kuy, Alim Pied Heron (Egretta picata) – PAU, PM Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - PM Rufous Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) - PM

Ibises & Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) – PAU, PM, SR

Osprey: Pandionidae Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – Suau, FI, Tufi, Ting

Hawks, Eagles & Kites: Accipitridae Long-tailed Honey-buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda) – FI, Mad Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata) – Suau, Lab Gurney’s Eagle (Aquila gurneyi) – Tufi, Lab (Fly Islands), Mad Papuan Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilothorax) – Mad (seen by one group, over Baitabag Reserve. This form is now split from the Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus) . Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster) – FI, Tufi, Lab, Mad (great looks at perched birds, including a stunning white morph at Tufi) Black Kite (Milvus migrans) – PM, Suau, FI, Tufi, Mad, SR Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) – PM, Suau, Tufi, SR Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) – PM, Suau, FI, Tufi, Lab, Tami, Mad, SR, Ting, NB White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) – PM, Kuy, Tufi, Tami, SR, Alim, Ting

Hornbills: Bucerotidae Blyth’s Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus) – FI, Tufi, Lab, SR

Kingfishers: Alcedinidae Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) - PAU Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher (Ceyx solitarius) - Lab Blue-winged (Dacelo leachii) - PM Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud) – Suau (hd), Lab, Mad, SR ( sanctus) – FI, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, Tami Beach (White-headed) Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus) – Alim, Ting (one of the small island specialties). Melanesian Kingfisher (Todiramphus tristrami) – Ting, NB (two very different looking races were seen, nusae on Tingwon and tristrami on New Britain, a potential split. Both formerly were part of (T. chloris), which is now split into many species). Yellow-billed Kingfisher ( torotoro) – FI, Mad (hd)

Bee-eaters: Meropidae Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) - FI

Rollers: Coraciidae

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) – PM, Lab, SR

Cockatoos: Cacatuidae Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) – Tufi, Lab Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cactua galerita) – Suau, FI, Tufi, Lab, SR

Old World Parrots: Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) – PM, Suau, FI, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, SR, NB Red-cheeked Parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi) – PM, FI, Tufi, Lab, SR Purple-bellied Lory ( hypoinochrous) – FI, Tufi, Lab (Fly Island) (gorgeous specialty of the offshore islands and southeastern coast, seen best on Fergusson when feeding at the weird pink orchids). Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) - Lab Dusky Lory ( fuscata) - Lab Coconut Lorikeet ( haematodus) – PAU, PM, Ting (now split from the (T. moluccanus) of Australia). Papuan Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus aurantiifrons) – Suau (also known as the Orange-fronted Hanging-Parrot, this tiny parrot is not often seen).

Bowerbirds: Ptilonorhynchidae Fawn-breasted Bowerbird (Chlamydera cerviniventris) – PAU, PM, Suau

Fairywrens: Maluridae White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus) - Lab

Honeyeaters: Meliphagidae Mimic Honeyeater ( analoga) – PM, Tufi, Lab Elegant Honeyeater (Meliphaga cinerifrons) - Suau (Gavicalis versicolor) – Suau, Lab (Fly Island), Mad Yellow-tinted Honeyeater (Ptilotula flavescens) – PM (at the National Museum). Brown-backed Honeyeater (Ramsayornis modestus) – FI (by the group with Pepper). Rufous-banded Honeyeater (Conopophila albogularis) – PAU, PM, Dobu Long-billed Honeyeater (Melilestes megarhynchus) - Mad Ruby-throated Myzomela (Myzomela eques) - Mad Papuan Black Myzomela (Myzomela nigrita) – FI, Mad Bismarck Black Mysomela (Myzomela pammelaena) – Alim, Ting (a small island endemic, common on both of these islands, that is also known as the Ebony Myzomela). Meyer’s Friarbird (Philemon meyeri) - Mad Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides) – PAU, PM, Suau, FI, Dobu, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, Mad, SR (one of the most widespread land birds of the trip).

Thornbills & Allies: Acanthizidae hd Green-backed Gerygone (Gerygone chloronota) – heard only; Mad Yellow-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone chrysogaster) – Kar (by the group with DJ). hd Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris) – heard only; FI

Berrypeckers & Longbills: Pygmy Longbill ( pygmaeum) – Mad (the smallest bird in New Guinea, in the canopy).

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 Woodswallows: White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus) – PAU, Suau, FI, Tufi

Bellmagpies & Allies: Cracticidae Lowland Peltops (Peltops blainvillii) – Mad (this aerial sallier typically takes the highest perch around – like the canopy crane!). Black-backed Butcherbird (Cracticus mentalis) – PM (a pair at their nest in the dry savannah at the flat tire stop near Edai). Hooded Butcherbird (Cracticus cassicus) – PM, FI, Dobu, Tufi, Lab, SR

Cuckooshrikes: Campephagidae Black-faced ( novaehollandiae) - PM White-bellied Cuckooshrike (Coracina papuensis) – PAU, Tufi, Lab, SR Black-browed Triller (Lalage atrovirens) - Mad Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela) – FI, Dobu, Kuy, Tufi (Edolisoma tenuirostre) - FI

Whistlers & Allies: Gray (Colluricincla harmonica) – PM (hd), Tufi Black-tailed () Whistler ( melanura) – FI (hd), Ting

Old World Orioles: Oriolidae Brown Oriole ( szalayi) – Tufi, Mad Australasian Figbird (Specotheres vieilloti) - PAU

Drongos: Dicruridae Spangled (Dicrurus bracteatus) – Dobu, Tufi

Fantails: Rhipiduridae Sooty Thicket-Fantaiil (Rhipidura threnothorax) - Lab Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) – PAU, PM, Suau, FI, Tufi, Lab, Ting, NB

Monarch Flycatchers: Monarchidae Golden Monarch ( chrysomela) – Mad (seen by a few). Island Monarch ( cinerascens) – Alim, Ting Black-faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis) - FI Satin Flycatcher ( cyanoleuca) - FI Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) – FI, Lab (hd), NB

Crows, Jays & Magpies: Corvidae Gray Crow (Corvus tristis) - Lab Torresian Crow (Corvus orru) – PM, Suau, FI, Tufi, Mad Bismarck Crow (Corvus insularis) - NB

Birds-of-Paradise: Paradisaeidae Curl-crested Manucode (Manucodia comrii) – FI, Dobu Glossy-mantled Manucode (Manucodia ater) - Tufi Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisea raggiana) – Lab (female-plumaged bird seen by one Zodiac).

Swallows: Hirundinidae

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019 Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) – PAU, PM, Suau, FI, Dobu, Tufi, Lab, Tami, Mad, NB

Cisticolas & Allies: Cisticolidae Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) – FI, Tufi

Starlings: Sturnidae Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) – Suau, FI, Kuy, Tufi, Kar, SR, Ting, NB Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides) – PAU, PM, Suau, Tufi, Lab, Mad, Ting, NB Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii) – PM, Lab

Flowerpeckers: Dicaeidae Red-capped Flowerpecker (Dicaeum geelvinkianum) – Suau, FI, Tufi

Sunbirds & Spiderhunters: Nectariniidae (Leptocoma sericea) – Suau, FI, Dobu, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, Tami, Mad, SR Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) – PM, Suau, Kuy, Tufi, Lab, Tami, NB

Wagtails & Pipits: Motacillidae Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis) – NB (the last morning; seen by those flying to Cairns).

Old World Sparrows: Passderidae House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – PAU, PM Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) – PAU, PM, Tufi, Kar

Waxbills & Allies: Estrildidae Streaky-headed Mannikin (Lonchura tristissima) - Mad Grand Munia (Lonchura grandis) - Mad Hooded Muna (Lonchura spectabilis) - NB

MAMMALS: Southern Common Cuscus (Phalanger intercastellanus) – captive on Suau Island. Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) – the big fruit bats roosting in the trees at the Nature Park in Port Moresby. smaller fruit-bat sp? – Tingwon fairly large fruit-bat sp? – New Britain Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) – the common dolphin seen a number of times.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Papua New Guinea Cruise, 2019