Papua New Guinea Extension II 10th to 14th August 2017 (5 days) Trip Report

Blyth’s Hornbill by David Howe

Tour Leaders: Adam Walleyn & Gareth Robbins Trip report compiled by Adam Walleyn

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Tour Summary

An on-time flight took us from Port Moresby over the Bismarck Sea and saw us landing at Hoskins airport, along with the newly re-elected governor who was greeted by a throng of well-wishers as he made his triumphant return to New Britain. Once the traffic and commotion had died down a bit, we made our way along the excellent coastal highway where we settled into the wonderful Walindi Resort– our beachside resort which would serve as our base over the coming few days.

An early morning start saw us heading along various tracks through the oil palm plantation, with a couple of short stops to see the handful of species that seem to thrive in this monoculture – such as Black Bittern and Stephan’s Emerald Dove. We arrived at Garu Wildlife Management Area with sunrise and, stepping out of the vehicle, were surrounded with in every direction – Variable Goshawk, Yellowish and Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon, Blue-eyed Cockatoos, Eclectus Parrots, Purple-bellied Lories, Blyth’s Hornbills, Long-tailed Mynas, Black Sunbird, Red-banded Flowerpeckers and Metallic Starlings were all vying for our attention. Typical early morning action in Melanesia!

Continuing a short way, we were very pleased to have good views of both the White-necked and Violaceous Coucals, which were only a few metres away from each other. Just a bit Eclectus Parrots by David Howe further on, we scoped up a gorgeous Black-capped Paradise . Not far away was a Melanesian Kingfisher, and then just a short distance further on was a pair of endemic White-mantled – a great trio of kingfishers in quick succession! We also enjoyed some really nice views of Pacific Baza, including one that landed nearby, swung upside down and grabbed a prey item from a branch and then proceeded to eat it in front of us…we never did work out what it was eating though!

Spending some time on a short interior forest track paid off with very good looks at a Velvet Flycatcher, and we scoped up another Black- capped . Best of all was a small group of Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot calmly feeding on branches just a few feet above, allowing for some exceptional viewing! A few people were able to get on a perched Finsch’s Imperial Pigeon before it vanished, there were a few Northern Fantails about and we also heard a Black-tailed Black Honey Buzzard by David Howe Monarch. A Bronze Ground Dove flying right past and landing briefly on a branch was a real surprise. We returned to the road just in time to see a rare Black Honey Buzzard gliding low overhead – a great find! We also found another pair of White-mantled Kingfishers and enjoyed more views of the common species before returning to Walindi for lunch and a siesta.

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In the afternoon, we headed up a rough road near Haella and found ourselves in a large forest clearing, where a flowering tree offered up good looks at both Ashy and the very attractive Black-bellied Myzomela. We carried on for a pleasant walk in the forest, being rewarded with excellent views of Knob-billed Fruit Dove and New Guinea Friarbird amongst huge numbers of the commoner species, such as Eclectus Parrot and Blyth’s Hornbill. A handful of Bismarck Flying Foxes was a good sighting from the mammal department.

After dinner, we headed back out into the oil palm plantation; where, after a bit of searching, we tracked down the nearly mythical Golden Masked Owl that seems to make its living hunting rats here at night. We got quite good views of this beautiful owl before it flew over our heads and vanished into the night. Wow! Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon by David Howe

We spent our next morning birding a series of forest patches along the Kulu River. Things were rather quiet at daybreak, although the virtually unknown Pink-legged Rail calling nearby certainly got the pulse racing – alas, we could not see it! We went into the forest and got close to a calling Bismarck Pitta but it, too, eluded detection. A couple of Spotted Whistling Ducks flying past here were a bit of a surprise, and we enjoyed views of the commoner birds like Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon, Blue-eyed Cockatoo and Red-banded Flowerpecker, plus a couple of additions from yesterday – White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Common Cicadabird and a couple of skulking White-browed Crakes. Some White- rumped Swiftlets showed well as they swooped down to the Kulu River for a drink, amongst the flocks of Uniform Swiftlets. A real highlight of the morning was a nice close flyby of 3 Nicobar Pigeons!

One of our main targets for the morning was Melanesian Megapode; which, somewhat surprisingly, we failed to see. So after another enjoyable lunch and a siesta, we returned to the same area to try again. We saw a number of Black Bitterns, including one very interesting piebald “leucistic” bird and a couple of Nankeen Night Herons. We also had great views of Stephan’s Emerald Dove and Amboyna Cuckoo Dove walking on the road together. After getting some really nice views of more Nicobar Pigeons, we had all but given up on seeing a Megapode, when one suddenly ran behind a palm tree and then flew straight in front of us, to the delight of all. The species is certainly getting scarcer in the area all the time.

For our final day of birding, we had a nice change of pace, setting out with the rising sun into Kimbe Bay to visit a couple of small Beach Kingfishers by David Howe offshore islands. First, we sat off Malu Malu Island, where we enjoyed throngs of Island Imperial Pigeon and good views of Mackinlay’s Cuckoo Doves and Nicobar Pigeons. It was also interesting to see masses of Rainbow Bee-eaters leaving their

Rockjumper Birding Tours | Papua New Guinea www.rockjumperbirding.com Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - New Britain Ext II 2017 4 roost here. We then carried on to Restorf Island. From the boat, we saw a – although we got better looks once we landed. We also had amazing looks at several Sclater’s Myzomela, with their bright red throats glowing in the early morning sun. The final two super-tramp specialities – Mangrove Golden Whistler and Island Monarch – were both see really well after a short search. With all the key species seen, we had some downtime to enjoy some more birding or just relax on the beach. Most people took the chance to snorkel the reef and enjoy the breathtaking underwater spectacle. Eventually, we worked our way back to Walindi via a few reefs, where we picked up masses of roosting Black Noddies along with a few Great Crested Terns, Common Terns and a single Ruddy Turnstone.

Kimbe Bay by David Howe

After lunch, we visited a grassland area where we enjoyed really good looks at several Australian Reed Warblers, along with the rare Bismarck race of Papuan Grassbird. Good views were had of Buff-bellied Mannikins, and we flushed a few King Quails up at close range. We also enjoyed watching several Buff-banded Rails gathering up the courage to cross the road. We ended with drinks overlooking Kimbe Bay as the sun set, a wonderful way to end a very relaxing and productive extension.

______Annotated List of species recorded Note: Number in brackets ( ) indicate number of days on the tour the species was recorded. List powered through the report generator of our partner iGoTerra.

Birds (87 in total: 81 seen, 6 heard) Nomenclature and follows Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2017. IOC World Bird List (v 7.1). Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl Anatidae Spotted Whistling Duck Dendrocygna guttata (1) 2 Kulu River 12.8. Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa pelewensis (3) 4 NBPOL Palm Plantations 11.8, 20 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8 and 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

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Megapodes Megapodiidae Melanesian Megapode Megapodius eremita (3) 3 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 2 Kulu River 12.8 and 2 heard Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies Phasianidae King Quail Excalfactoria chinensis (1) 4 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns Ardeidae Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis australis (2) 1 NBPOL Palm Plantations 11.8 and 8 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8. Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus (1) 2 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8. Great Egret Ardea alba modesta (3) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11.8, 1 Kulu River 12.8, 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8 and 4 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia plumifera (1) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra sacra (3) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11.8, 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 12.8 and 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Frigatebirds Fregatidae Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel ariel (1) 1 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Boobies and Gannets Sulidae Brown Booby Sula leucogaster plotus (1) 1 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Osprey Pandionidae Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus (1) 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata (1) 5 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Black Honey Buzzard (VU) infuscatus (1) 1 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster (2) 3 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 10 Kulu River 12.8. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus girrenera

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(3) 10 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 5 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 10 Kulu River 12.8, 4 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8 and 15 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster (1) 1 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Rallidae Pink-legged Rail (NT) Gallirallus insignis (1) 1 heard Kulu River 12.8. Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis (1) 4 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Pale-vented Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana (1) 2 heard Kulu River 12.8. White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea (2) 1+6 heard Kulu River 12.8 and 2 heard Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio (1) 4 Kulu River 12.8.

Plovers and Lapwings Charadriidae Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii (1) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11.8.

Sandpipers and Allies Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus variegatus (1) 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (3) Up to 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11-13.8. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres (1) 1 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Laridae Black Noddy Anous minutus minutus (1) 400 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii cristatus (2) 5 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 12.8 and 30 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Common Tern Sterna hirundo longipennis (1) 100 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Pigeons and Doves Columbidae Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis (1) 2 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8 and 2 Kulu River 12.8. MacKinlay's Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia mackinlayi arossi (1) 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Stephan's Emerald Dove Chalcophaps stephani

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(2) 4 NBPOL Palm Plantations 11.8, 5 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8 and 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Nicobar Pigeon (NT) Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica (2) 8 Kulu River 12.8 and 5 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Bronze Ground Dove Gallicolumba beccarii (1) 1 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Knob-billed Fruit Dove Ptilinopus insolitus (1) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 1 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8. Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon (NT) Ducula rubricera rubricera (3) 20 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 20 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 20 Kulu River 12.8 and 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Finsch's Imperial Pigeon (NT) Ducula finschii (1) 1+2 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Island Imperial Pigeon Ducula pistrinaria (1) 100 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Yellowish Imperial Pigeon (NT) Ducula subflavescens (2) 50 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 20 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8 and 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Cuckoos Cuculidae White-necked Coucal Centropus ateralbus (2) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 4 Kulu River 12.8. Violaceous Coucal (NT) Centropus violaceus (3) 1+2 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 2 heard Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 2 Kulu River 12.8 and 1 heard Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis (1) 1 heard Kulu River 12.8. Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae (1) 1 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus (2) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 2 Kulu River 12.8.

Barn-Owls Tytonidae Golden Masked Owl (VU) Tyto aurantia (1) 1 NBPOL Palm Plantations 11.8.

Swifts Apodidae White-rumped Swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius (1) 10 Kulu River 12.8. Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis (2) 30 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 30 Kulu River 12.8.

Kingfishers Alcedinidae

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Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher Tanysiptera nigriceps (2) 2+2 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 2 heard Kulu River 12.8. White-mantled Kingfisher (NT) albonotatus (1) 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Todiramphus chloris (2) 3 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 2 Kulu River 12.8. Beach Kingfisher Todiramphus saurophagus (1) 3 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Todiramphus sanctus sanctus (3) 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11.8, 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 12.8 and 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (3) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11.8, 2 Kulu River 12.8 and 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Bee-eaters Meropidae Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus (1) 300 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Hornbills Bucerotidae Blyth's Hornbill Rhyticeros plicatus (3) 20 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 10 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 15 Kulu River 12.8 and 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Cockatoos Cacatuidae Blue-eyed Cockatoo (VU) Cacatua ophthalmica (2) 6 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 10 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8 and 6 Kulu River 12.8.

African & New World Parrots Psittacidae Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot Micropsitta pusio (1) 10 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Coconut Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus (2) 10 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 20 Kulu River 12.8. Purple-bellied Lory Lorius hypoinochrous (2) 20 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 10 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8 and 6 Kulu River 12.8. Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis (1) 10 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus (3) 50 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 50 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 30 Kulu River 12.8 and 5 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Pittas Pittidae Bismarck Pitta Erythropitta novaehibernicae (1) 4 heard Kulu River 12.8.

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Honeyeaters Meliphagidae Ashy Myzomela Myzomela cineracea (1) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 1 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8. Sclater's Myzomela Myzomela sclateri (1) 20 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Black-bellied Myzomela Myzomela erythromelas (1) 2 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8. New Britain Friarbird Philemon cockerelli (3) 2 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 2 heard Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 12.8 and 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Cuckoo-shrikes Campephagidae White-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina papuensis (1) 2 Kulu River 12.8. Common Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris (1) 2 Kulu River 12.8. Varied Triller Lalage leucomela (2) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 2 Kulu River 12.8.

Whistlers and Allies Pachycephalidae Mangrove Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura dahli (1) 3 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Drongos Dicruridae Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus (2) 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 2 Kulu River 12.8.

Fantails Rhipiduridae Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys melaleuca (3) 20 NBPOL Palm Plantations 11.8, 20 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8 and 10 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris (2) 5 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 4 Kulu River 12.8.

Monarch Flycatchers Monarchidae Black-tailed Monarch Symposiachrus verticalis (1) 1 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8. Island Monarch Monarcha cinerascens (1) 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto (2) 5 Kulu River 12.8 and 2 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8. Velvet Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior (1) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8.

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Crows, Jays, and Magpies Corvidae Bismarck Crow Corvus insularis (3) 10 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 10 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 20 NBPOL Palm Plantations 12.8, 5 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8 and 5 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Swallows Hirundinidae Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica (3) Up to 4 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 11-13.8.

Reed-Warblers and Allies Acrocephalidae Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus (1) 5 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Grassbirds and Allies Locustellidae Papuan Grassbird Megalurus macrurus (1) 5 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Starlings Sturnidae Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica (3) 200 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 200 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8, 100 Kulu River 12.8, 5 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8 and 100 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8. Singing Starling Aplonis cantoroides (1) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 10.8. Long-tailed Myna Mino kreffti (2) 6 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 6 Kulu River 12.8.

Flowerpeckers Dicaeidae Red-banded Flowerpecker Dicaeum eximium (3) 5 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 2 Kulu River 12.8 and 1 Malu Malu Island and Restorf Island, 13.8.

Sunbirds and Spiderhunters Nectariniidae Black Sunbird Leptocoma sericea (2) 5 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8, 2 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8 and 4 Kulu River 12.8.

Waxbills and Allies Estrildidae Buff-bellied Mannikin Lonchura melaena (1) 5 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 13.8.

Mammals (2 in total: 2 seen) Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient

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Old World Fruit Bats Pteropodidae Bismarck Flying Fox Pteropus capistratus (1) 3 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8. Great Flying Fox Pteropus neohibernicus (1) 10 Garu Wildlife Management Area 11.8 and 5 Ela Forest, Kimbe 11.8.

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