A 20 day birding odyssey in PNG with David Bishop was highlighted by
good weather and great birds. The Pacific Adventist University beyond
Port Moresby had a small flock of Spotted Whistling Ducks, Grey-headed
Munias and a Red-backed Button-quail wandering about on the lawn-a
refugee from the widespread savannah grass fires that are such a feature
at this time of year. Off to Ambua Lodge at Tari and with limited time
we concentrated on lower elevation species. This paid good dividends
with Blue Bird of Paradise in Benson's garden, stunning tame male Lawe's
Parotia near it display ground, a Sooty Owl and in the fruiting tree at
hut 7 Short-tailed Paradigalla and a male Stephanie's Astrapia visiting
regularly and providing exceptional views. A New Guinea Harpy-Eagle was
seen near the helipad with the wing of a presumed Bare-backed Fruit-Bat
in its talons. Mobbed by a Brahminy Kite it made for an impressive
sight.
Visited Kumul Lodge near Mount Hagen and can recommend this as a good
birding destination with good food and accommodation. Feeders provide
point blank views of Brehm's Tiger Parrot, female and immature male
Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and Brown Sicklebill and a variety of montane
honeyeaters and mixed passerines. Adult males of the sicklebill and
Ribbon-tail were seen nearby as was a stunning male Crested Bird of
Paradise while forest skulkers included quite tame Chestnut Forest-Rails
and a brief flight glimpse of the Rufous Woodcock. At night if
conditions are suitable a Mountain Nightjar perches beautifully and the
staff can often locate a Mountain Owlet-nightjar if you are lucky.
The steamy lowlands of Kiunga provide a treasure trove of great birds.
These ranged from Flame Bowerbird, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill,
Southern Crowned Pigeon, King, Twelve-wired and Greater Birds of
Paradise all at display grounds to a male Long-billed Cuckoo, Papuan
Nightjar and an incredible array of fruit-doves. Up the road to Tabubil
and for me the highlight of the trip when we watched an adult and
immature Doria's Hawk in nearby hill forest. This primitive goshawk has
talons like a Red Goshawk and a similar fearlessness and natural
scarcity. A fruiting tree pulled in an abundance of birds of paradise
including Carola's Parotia and Magnificent Bird of Paradise while a male
Dwarf Koel was often present as was the suitably named Obscure
Berrypecker. Vulturine Parrots livened the landscape with their
ear-splitting shrieks.
For a change of pace we visited Walindi Dive Resort in West New Britain.
Offshore Nicobar Pigeons can be encountered reliably plus a host of
other small island specialists like Sclater's Myzomela. Strong winds at
this time of year made it too rough to search offshore for Heinroth's
Shearwater that have been encountered here semi-regularly in recent
years. Forest reserves at Garu and Pokili produced Melanesian Scrubfowl,
Bar-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Violaceous Coucal and Black-headed Paradise
Kingfisher amongst the more common endemics whilst Black Bittern and
Oriental Hobby are always great birds. The snorkelling is brilliant.
Our last full day in Varirata National Park in the hills above Port
Moresby was a fitting conclusion with point blank views of Brown-headed
Paradise Kingfisher and a Barred Owlet-nightjar to the trees of
displaying Raggiana Birds of Paradise. With a few snakes and lizards
thrown in and a bunch of scarcer mixed flock specialists this site is
always reliable for the unexpected. One of my favourite birding sites in
Australasia. This was further re-inforced with a great sighting of both
adult and immature Gurney's Eagle-perhaps one of the few recent records
for the National Capital District.
Cheers
Dion
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