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Papua New Guinea Birding in Paradise III 14Th to 31St August 2017 (18 Days) Trip Report

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Papua New Guinea Birding in Paradise III 14Th to 31St August 2017 (18 Days) Trip Report Papua New Guinea Birding in Paradise III 14th to 31st August 2017 (18 days) Trip Report Southern Crowned Pigeon by Gareth Robbins Trip report compiled by Gareth Robbins Photos by Connie Lintz, Richard Jeffers and Gareth Robbins Rockjumper Birding Tours | Papua New Guinea www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2017 2 Tour Summary The very first day of the tour began at the abundant Pacific Adventist University (PAU) in Papua New Guinea’s Capital, Port Moresby. Instantly, we felt the intense heat upon us as we stopped just outside the University, whilst scanning a massive field and a small pond for birds. We did, however, manage to see a small number of Willie Wagtails, Sacred Kingfishers, Masked Lapwings, White-breasted Woodswallows, Grey-headed Mannikins and a couple of Rainbow Bee-eaters. We then progressed to the University grounds and made our way down to the very first pond. Here we saw a Black-backed Butcherbird diving fiercely onto the pristine lawn to catch its prey, a beetle. We also got good glimpses of Australasian Swamphen, Pacific Black Duck, Comb-crested Jacanas, Dusky Moorhen, Little Pied Cormorants and Little Black Cormorants. By the net pond, we managed to see a diversity of bird life, such as Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks, Grey Teal, as well as a Hardhead. We were also exceptionally fortunate to have some great looks at male and female Australasian Fig Birds, Rufous-banded Honeyeater, Pacific Swallow, Oriental Hobby, Coconut Lorikeets and Fawn-breasted Bowerbird. We then ventured down to three smaller ponds and were very lucky to see Raja Shelduck, Green Pygmy Goose and a Peaceful Dove. We managed to have a look at one of the more active Fawn-breasted Bowerbird bowers before moving on to a section Papuan Frogmouth by Gareth Robbins of large trees, where after some on-going searching, we found three Papuan Frogmouths. We visited one last pond and successfully saw an Australasian Grebe! The final part of our visit at PAU took us right back to the entrance gate, where we got incredible views of a Yellow-tinted Honeyeater and one brief view of an adult on its nest. A small bird party erupted at the same time, and having had gorgeous sightings of a Forest Kingfisher, we then saw Boyers and Black- faced Cuckooshrikes, Little Shrikethrush, as well as a Torresian Imperial Pigeon to top it off! Our final sighting was that of a Bar-shouldered Dove – What a great start to the tour!!! Today was our first full day of the tour. Before sunrise, we had begun our adventure at the Varirata National Park. En route to the park, our wonderful distraction was seeing a Glossy-mantled Manucode, an Azure Kingfisher, as well as a few Zoe’s Imperial Pigeons which peacefully perched Comb-crested Jacana by Gareth Robbins Rockjumper Birding Tours | Papua New Guinea www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2017 3 themselves high up in the Casuarina Trees. We then ventured on to the lek/display site for the Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise. By the time we entered the lek site, there was good light allowing excellent views of these beautiful creatures: it is no wonder that they are the National Bird of Papua New Guinea. Ecstatic, we took a slow stroll along the main tarred road, taking a shortcut through the reserve. During our stroll, we had exquisite sightings of Rufous- bellied Kookaburra, Stout-billed Cuckooshrike and a Puff-backed Honeyeater Meliphaga. We then proceeded to the lookout trail and encountered stunning views overlooking the town of Port Moresby. From this pivotal viewpoint, we had superb looks at two Blythe’s Hornbills which were elegantly sitting within a few trees down the side of the rocky mountain. We then commenced with our three-hour walk, and spotted Superb, Orange-bellied and Pink-spotted Fruit Doves, as well as Amboyna Cuckoo-Doves and Papuan Mountain Pigeons. In addition, we had fabulous views of a Frilled Monarch, a Black Cicadabird, a Nankeen Night Heron by Gareth Robbins Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, as well as a Brahminy Kite and Long-tailed Honey Buzzard. Further highlights were Rusty and Hooded Pitohui and a female Growling Riflebird. Our next plan within our itinerary was to revel in a brief lunch in the main picnic area; and after this short break, we decided to bird within the picnic area and got to see White-bellied Cuckooshrikes, Dwarf Fruit Doves, Papuan Black Myzomelas and a few Mimic Meliphagas. We then embarked on a short trail and were presented with the very allusive Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher and a White-faced Robin. Along the trail, we came across a few small bird parties consisting of Yellow-breasted Boatbills, Grey Whistler and Spot-winged Monarchs. We then made our way back to the bus. Our next point of interest was that of an open clearing, where we saw Varied Triller and Purple- tailed Imperial Pigeon. Furthermore, we saw Great Cuckoo Dove, White- bellied Whistler and a pair of Leaden Flycatchers. On this day, we were also very fortunate to see an active Growling Riflebird nest and two Barred Owlet-Nightjars in their day roosts. What a great day it was!!! Masked Lapwing by Gareth Robbins We departed Port Moresby by midday and flew in the direction of Tari, which is situated in the Highlands area of Papua New Guinea. As the plane was leaving the airstrip, a few people in the group were successful in seeing some Straw-necked Ibises and a few Eastern Cattle Egrets. After a short flight, we landed at Tari Airport and spotted a couple of Rockjumper Birding Tours | Papua New Guinea www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2017 4 Australian Pratincoles on the runway. After arriving at the stunning Ambua Lodge, which overlooked the Tari Valley, we met Dennis, the Lodge Manager, who gave us an introduction to the lodge before we enjoyed lunch shortly after. After lunch, the skies opened and the rain started to pour, but it was short-lived, so we went to check out a few fruiting trees, managing to see a Female Queen Stephanie’s Astrapia, Common Smoky Honeyeaters and plenty of Belford’s and Yellow-browed Melidectes. On our stroll around the property, we witnessed White-shouldered Fairywren, Yellow-billed Lorikeets, Great Wood Swallows and a Slaty Robin. Our next point of focus was lavishing in a delicious buffet dinner, after which we encountered a Papuan Boobook! We started the morning with a cup of coffee overlooking the Tari Valley at first light. We then embarked on a memorable journey down the valley and waited patiently for the famous Black Sicklebill to arrive. It finally did but, unfortunately, it was quite far away, even for a spotting scope. This aside, we achieved seeing Hooded Mannikins, Papuan Grassbird and Pied Bushchat. Our next stop was at the ever-beautiful and quaint fruiting tree at the lodge. After seeing the usual suspects of birds, we went on to visit the conference centre, where there was a large amount of fruit laid out for the birds. At the conference centre, we had to look at birds through large glass windows, so it was not ideal. Nonetheless, we managed astounding close-up views of Sclater’s Whistler, Black Fantail, Male Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise by Slaty Robin, Black Monarch, Buff-faced Scrubwren, Mountain Gareth Robbins Peltops, and Little Shrikethrush. In the midst of our wonderful breakfast, an immature male Superb Bird-of-Paradise was spotted, which was indeed special; and a while later, we eyed out the male and the female too. Within the lodge grounds, on some of the roads and paths, we spotted Red-collared Myzomela, Macgregor’s Bowerbird, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Canary Flyrobin, Slaty- headed Longbill, Black Butcherbird and the ever- inquisitive Friendly Fantail. Shortly after a quick yet sufficient lunch, we headed a couple of kilometres outside of the lodge, to a higher elevation. Unfortunately, it started to rain as we left the lodge and we had to spend some time on the bus. We did see a Papuan Lorikeet flying across the road, and then got close views of one male nevertheless. Once we arrived at the display site, we were immediately greeted by Loria’s Satinbird, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and Brown Sicklebill. We also saw the male King of Saxony showing off his remarkable sky-blue Sclater’s Whistler by Richard Jeffers head plumes. A Black-breasted Boatbill made a brief Rockjumper Birding Tours | Papua New Guinea www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Birding in Paradise III 2017 5 appearance and we also got great scope looks of the Yellow-billed Lorikeets. We then left the display area, successfully managing to avoid a large tree stump that had collapsed in the path behind us, and continued to bird along the road. Along the road, we were positively overwhelmed with a multitude of sightings of Grey-backed and Rufous-backed Honeyeaters, Brown-backed Whistler, Short-tailed Paradigalla, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, more Loria’s Satinbirds, Mottled Berryhunter and unforgettable scope views of a male Wattled Ploughbill. This extremely effective day wrapped-up with an ending of seeing the resident Rufous Owl before we headed to bed. After a scrumptious breakfast, we drove towards Tari Gap. We stopped a few times is some grassland areas, picking up excellent findings of Pied Bushchat, Island Thrush, Hooded Mannikins, Papuan Grassbird and Australian Pipit. We made our first planned stop along the roadside and after a short, brisk walk, we picked up formidable detections of Plum-faced Lorikeets feeding in a tree Young male Superb Bird-of-Paradise by Connie right next to the road.
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