Papua New Guinea Huon Peninsula Extension 26th June to 1st July 2018 (6 days) Trip Report Pesquet’s Parrots by Sue Wright Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Papua New Guinea Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2018 2 Tour Summary This was our inaugural Huon Peninsula Extension. Most of the group started out with a quick flight from Moresby into Nadzab Airport. Upon arrival, we drove to our comfortable hotel on the outskirts of Lae City. After getting settled in, we set off on a short but very productive bird walk around the hotel’s expansive grounds. The best thing about the walk was how confiding the birds were –they are clearly not hunted much around here! Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Yellow-faced Myna, and Singing Starling all vied for our attention right in the parking lot. As we took a short wander, we added Hooded Butcherbird, New Guinea Friarbird and look-alike Brown Oriole, and Black and Olive-backed Sunbirds to our growing tally. A Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot zipped overhead providing just a quick view, but the highlight of the walk was clearly the Palm Cockatoo that sat out feeding contentedly on fruits – admittedly a bit of a surprise to find this species so close to a major urban centre! We were relieved when Sue had arrived and Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon by Markus Lilje joined us for dinner to complete the group! The real adventure began early the next morning, with a drive back to the airport where we were to board our flight into the Huon. As the plane we had expected to use was in for repairs, we ended up having to use a smaller plane to get the group across in two runs, which worked out well. The Nadzab Airport itself was quite birdy, with a Papuan Harrier being the highlight, amongst many Horsfields Brush Lark, Golden-headed Cisticolas, Intermediate Egrets, and Masked Lapwings. From Nadzab, we had a stunning flight over the Huon mountains – amongst the most rugged and wild of all the world’s mountain ranges – precipitous cliffs, steep river valleys, rushing waterfalls, alpine tundra on the high mountain ridges, and vast tracts of undisturbed mid-mountain forest and cloud forest interspersed with clearings and kunai (human-made grasslands) before we landed on the grassy strip of the Huon coast at Wasu. From Wasu, we then boarded our vehicle. The heavy rainy season had taken its toll on the road, and it was a bumpy ride to the village of Gatop. We saw a few things from the truck, including Grey Crows. Huon flight by Cheyne Benjamin Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Papua New Guinea Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2018 3 Upon arrival at the Lutheran school, we set up our mats and mosquito nets and tucked into the first of many tasty meals that Cheyne and the school ladies would prepare for us. Although it was now the heat of the day, we were eager to get out birding, and so headed a short distance below the village to the display area of Emperor Bird-of-paradise. We could hear the odd call ringing out, but it was too early in the day to expect a display, so we contented ourselves with whatever else might come by. A very cooperative Dwarf Koel proved a highlight. Then a burst of rain triggered some great bird activity, headlined by a female Emperor Bird-of-paradise, along with Great Cuckoo-Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove (of the grey-headed plumbeicollis race), Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Mountain Peltops, Hooded Pitohui, Barred Cuckooshrike, Plain and Tawny-breasted Honeyeaters, and even a female Growling Riflebird. Despite all the activity, things were not looking overly promising at the roadside display tree, so we decided to ford a stream in order to get closer Emperor Bird-of-paradise by Sue Wright to another display tree where there was a lot of calling. After a fair bit of manoeuvring, we could see that at least two male Emperors were indeed displaying to onlooking females in the tree, but the males were tending to keep to thick foliage. However, with persistence, most of us managed to get jigsaw-puzzle views of these very impressive birds with their impressive white plumes and green and yellow heads. Stunning birds! Females and immature males were more confiding and sat out in the open. After re- crossing the stream and getting back to the road, we were greeted by some excellent viewing of several Ornate Fruit Doves. We then headed back to the school for a tasty dinner of taro, rice and locally-grown vegetables, and an early night into bed. The next morning, we were up early and eager to access the higher montane forest above the village of Satop. A flat battery in our truck got us off to a false start, but it was quickly replaced with another battery and we were on our way up the bumpy road. Conditions were poor with rain and increasing wind, and by the time we reached Satop village it was a full-blown storm with Brehm’s Tiger Parrot by Markus Lilje strong wind and heavy rain. Hopeless conditions for birding, so we sheltered in one of the village buildings drinking coffee and tea and trading stories for a couple of hours. Eventually, the wind and rain abated and we carried on towards the cloud forests above town and walked into a clearing. It was now mid-morning, and we had yet to see a bird – not exactly the start we had planned on! But the next hour saw the weather improving greatly and the birds were making up for lost time. Our first Huon Astrapia, a male, appeared but generally kept to thick Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Papua New Guinea Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2018 4 cover, although it did show off its impressively long tail. A pair of Cinnamon-browed Melidectes showed briefly, but well; while the Huon endemic Spangled Honeyeater also made its first appearance. A pair of Brehm’s Tiger Parrot fed quietly on a Pandanus fruit at close range. A large flock of Tit Berrypecker passed through, feeding on small fruits, and a small group of Black-breasted Boatbill performed beautifully. Brilliant Red- collared Myzomela sipped on nectar. Mixed flocks moved around the edge of the clearing, containing Rufous-backed Honeyeater, Buff-faced Scrubwren, Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Rufous-naped Bellbird, Brown-backed and Regent Whistlers, Canary Flyrobin, Island Leaf Warbler, Papuan White-eye, and Red-capped Flowerpecker. Lots to keep us busy over a very exciting hour or two of birding! We ate lunch in the clearing and then walked back to the road. Along the trail to the road we saw a pair of Hooded Cuckooshrikes, and then were thrilled to get views, albeit brief, of Wahne’s Parotia while another male Huon Astrapia fluttered over our heads. We reached the road and tried some roadside birding. It was rather quiet, which was to be expected since it was now early afternoon. However, we did have a fantastic sighting of a Mountain Kingfisher of the distinct Huon endemic race sellamontis. We then left the road again to check out a large forest clearing. There was an exciting looking fruiting tree that, even in the hottest part of the day, was attracting visitation by Huon Astrapia and Spangled Honeyeater, allowing excellent Mountain Kingfisher by Markus Lilje viewing of these two endemic species. We quickly made the decision to spend the rest of the afternoon here. As we waited, Fairy Lorikeet and Dusky Lory zipped by. Then, as the later afternoon rolled around, the fruiting tree got very busy indeed. As many as 10 Huon Astrapias made an almost constant procession to the tree, joined by Spangled and Marbled Honeyeaters, Amboyna, Bar-tailed and Great Cuckoo- Doves, and then what we had really been hoping for: a couple of female Wahne’s Parotias showing well. Even better, a stunning male then turned up in the tree, flicking his 6 head wires around and showing off his golden frontal shield! Even a male and female Superb Bird-of- paradise joined in on the action. Absolutely fantastic birding, and then to top it all off a couple of Pesquet’s Parrots made some rather close flybys before the fading light signalled it was time to get back in our transport and head down the hill. What had started off as an unpromising day had come right in a hurry! We were back up the hill again the next morning, this time enjoying much better Huon Astrapia by Sue Wright weather. We headed straight to the magic clearing from yesterday afternoon and settled in for a long watch. Huon Astrapias, Spangled Honeyeaters, and Wahne’s Parotias visited the fruiting tree again, and with patience we managed to get good perched views of Fairy Lorikeets. A highlight of the morning was, after much persistence, excellent views of a Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Papua New Guinea Trip Report – RBL Papua New Guinea - Huon Peninsula Extension I 2018 5 male Mottled Berryhunter that was feeding on some small fruits close by. Black-throated Robin showed well, and a scarce Streaked Berrypecker also made an appearance. Other species of note during our vigil here included Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, Ornate and White-bibbed Fruit Doves, and Fan-tailed Berrypecker.