CLASSIC PAPUA NEW GUINEA TOUR REPORT 2022

2 - 19/23 July 2022

by János Oláh

Birds-of-paradise! All birdwatchers who remotely interested in birding abroad will dream about visiting this very special island with Bird-of-paradise aka Bop’s. Especially who has seen Sir David Attenborough’s various films about these avian aristocrats. We have been running birding tours to this remote corner of the World for a long time and our classic tour has a lot to offer. New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world and to this day remains one of the wildest, most sparsely settled regions on earth. Over 700 species of birds are found here, the world’s richest island avifauna and nearly half of these are found nowhere else! Apart from Bop’s there is so much else to attract the birdwatcher like strange mound-builders, a gorgeous array of doves, pigeons, parrots and kingfishers (all of which reach their greatest diversity on Earth here), sinister-looking frogmouths, skulking jewel-babblers, exquisite fairy-wrens, brightly coloured flycatchers, confusing honeyeaters and fascinating bowerbirds to mention just some of the highlights. The island of New Guinea also holds seven endemic bird families, including the monotypic Wattled Ploughbill (family Eulacestomatidae), the monotypic Blue-capped Ifrit (family Ifritidae), the longbills and berrypeckers (family Melanocharitidae), the painted berrypeckers (family Paramythiidae), Mottled Berryhunter (formerly Mottled Whistler, family Rhagologidae), the satinbirds (family Cnemophilidae) and the melampittas (family Melampittidae), making it an absolutely key destination for anyone wanting to see all the world’s bird families.

This was our first tour since 2019 and the covid misery. We also had the pleasure to be in PNG right in a middle of an election year which does not help with general logistics in this country. Flights are notoriously unreliable and we just got a taste of this in 2022 as well. However what we saw and experienced in this truly amazing island is what really matters and considering our difficulties and reduced time at some locations we did well with seeing all the endemic families, a total of 21 species of Birds-of-Paradise, stunning Sclater’s Crowned Pigeons, four species of owlet-nightjars, the fantastic New Guinea Harpy Eagle, mind-blowing male Flame Bowerbird at its bower, three species of tiger parrots in amongst 25 other species of parrots, fantastic Blue and Chestnut-backed Jewel-babblers, a male Painted Quail-thrush, shy Brown-headed and Little Paradise Kingfishers, skulking Papuan Pitta, the very rare Campbell’s Fairywren and lots of exciting honeyeaters. Our short extension to New Britain yielded the rare Golden Masked Owl, New Britain Boobook, the shy Bronze Ground Dove, the smart-looking Black Honey Buzzard and the fantastic Black-capped Paradise and White-mantled Kingfishers. We have recorded 366 bird species on this tour as well as an outstanding 20 species of mammals.

Out tour started in Port Moresby and after a morning arrival we wasted no time to get out on the field. This was our first visit to the nearby Varirata National Park which is located just above the capital city at the edge of the Sogeri Plateau. Although by the time we got there it was not exactly early morning we explored the park and had a great introduction to the amazing birdlife of New Guinea. After our arrival we got great looks of Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon and Brown Orioles while along the trails we tracked down some top birds like roosting Barred Owlet-nightjars, a fantastic adult Forest Bittern, a pair of Brown-headed Paradise Kingfishers, a male Painted Quail-thrush, Growling Riflebird and several Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise. It was a great day and we were eager to get back next day! We did, and in the early hours we experienced the fantastic display of the Raggiana Bop’s. We just stood there and soaked in the experience, something all participants will remember for a long time! It was hard to drag ourselves away but there were some other special birds we were after. Most of the morning we explored various trails and although birding was slow as usual in forest habitats but eventually managed to find the localised Drongo Fantail, the shy and skulking Papuan Scrub Robin, Rusty Mouse Warbler and Sooty Thicket Fantail. The supporting cast was also interesting and included White-crowned Koel, Wompoo, Superb and Pink-spotted Fruit Doves, Yellow-bellied, Fairy and Green-backed Gerygonies, Pale-billed Scrubwren, Hooded Pitohui, Chestnut-bellied Fantail, Spot-winged and Frilled Monarchs as well as White-faced Robin and Olive Fly Robin. In the drier forest habitat Black-capped Lories, Eclectus and Red-cheeked Parrots, New Guinea Friarbirds, White-throated and Mimic Honeyeaters, Papuan Black Myzomelas and Yellow-faced Mynas were found but the usual White-bellied Whistler was nowhere to be found. On our way back to Port Moresby we stopped at the PAU grounds where we found Channel-billed Cuckoos, Orange-bellied Fruit Doves, Torresian Imperial Pigeons, Fawn-breasted Bowerbirds, Rufous-banded Honeyeaters, Black-backed Butcherbirds, Grey-headed Mannikins and Singing Starling.

Next day we flew to Kiunga and drove to the Tabubil area. This area has a huge Australian run copper mine and it was amongst the first birding destinations where visitors could explore the foothills of the Star Mountains. It still has extensive forest fed by one of the highest rainfalls in the world. Getting suitable weather for birding here is a key factor of success. Having said that it is clearly less rainy as it was 20 years ago, the area is changing. It was late afternoon when we arrived to the vicinity of the town and we spent our time to find the scarce, river-dwelling Salvadori’s Teal. It was a sunny afternoon and although it took some time, we got excellent scope views of these smart ducks, a special bird in this area. Early next morning we drove to Dublin Creek where a new gate was erected since covid and access to the steep and short rail was somewhat delayed. Eventually we got in and had some great birds on a lovely sunny morning! This used to be the site for Queen Carola’s Parotia and we were still hoping to find these amazing Bop’s. However we have not had a sniff all morning and clearly the ‘roadside’ big trees are mostly gone, neither had we had any suitable fruiting trees. We had some other special birds though like Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Dwarf Koel, White-eared Bronze Cuckoo, Mountain, Green-backed and Long-billed Honeyeaters, Ruby-throated Myzomela, Mountain Honeyeater, Slaty-headed Longbill, Mountain Peltops, Grey-headed Cuckooshrike, White-rumped Robin, Red-capped Flowerpecker and eventually the highly sought-after Obscure Berrypecker! As its name suggest it is a rather drab little bird but very localised and definitely one of the star birds of the Tabubil area! Our afternoon session was also productive with our first Papuan Mountain Pigeons, Red-flanked Lorikeets, Orange-breasted Fig Parrots, Moustached Treeswifts, Streak-headed Honeyeaters, a pair of Boyer’s and Golden Cucukooshrikes, White-bellied Thicket Fantail, male Magnificent Riflebirds, Crinkle-collared Manucode where the male was even displaying a bit to the female, White-rumped Robin and a Papuan Nightjar circling around us at dusk.

Early next morning we were exploring! A new road is being built to Telefomin and the road construction now got to high elevation in the Hindenburg’s Wall. We decided to check what is up there as not many birders (none) has recently been up to that elevation in this area. It was exciting to say the least, and although we were not really allowed to stop along the way – due to strong territorial rights for tribes in PNG – our short roadside stops produced Yellow-breasted Satinbird, Queen Carola’s Parotia and Torrent-larks. Once we climbed to 2000 meters we soon started to get new birds like Plum-faced Parakeet, Grey-streaked and Common Smoky Honeyeaters, Red-collared Myzomela, Yellow-browed Melidectes, Fan-tailed and Spotted Berrypeckers, Black Fantail, Slaty Robin as well as Torrent and Canary Flyrobins. Our great surprise was to find Splendid Astrapia which was not a Bop we see on a PNG tours at all – mostly in West Papua tours only – and a very welcome addition. We had our first male Spendid Astrapia in the same field of view with a displaying male King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise! I do not think birding gets any better or more exciting than this! In this high elevation we also had many Brown Sicklebills and some of us even glimpsed a MacGregor’s Bowerbird. Our limited time ended on the roof of the Hindenburg’s Wall and by dusk we were at lower elevation to try for the shy Shovel-billed Kookaburra. Despite much effort at dusk and the following dawn it remained elusive this year. We heard several individuals but just could not manage to get any views. Also rain and low visibility conditions rolled in by now and it did not help either. Our best bird of the morning was a fine though totally wet Grey-headed Goshawk.

We left the Tabubil area behind and travelled back to the sweaty lowlands. Our first afternoon birding near Kiunga was eventful and we had new Bop’s on our radar! We wandered along a forest trail where new birds included Black Berrypecker and Papuan Babbler. Eventually we arrived to a large tree where we soon found the male King Bird-of-paradise. It was not easy to get the scope on this beauty but eventually we could all enjoy this fabulous birds as long as we wanted! It was not easy to leave this bird but we were still hoping to find Greater Bird-of-paradise in this area as well. When we heard thunder in a distant we decided to move. Unfortunately the displaying tree of the Greater Bop where Sir David Attenborough filmed them is no longer in use but we did get to see male Greater Bird-of-paradise at the end. We even stayed out to do some night birding but the hoped for Wallace’s Owlet-nightjar was only heard briefly. The weather was kind with us in the Tabubil area but it has clearly been raining in the Kiunga area a lot as just before we got into town the road was flooded and we had to wait for special assistance to get across. Little we know at this stage how rainy the weather is!

Next morning it was raining. We were due to go on a boat trip to the Fly and Elevala Rivers deep into the wilderness. After breakfast we waited for a while but it was still raining so we decided to go for it and geared up for the boat ride. Water level was high and it kept raining all the way (few hours) to our destination, the remote Kwatu Lodge (I would rather call it a basic camp). Birding from a boat in the rain is not ideal but with umbrellas we managed, and we had some excellent birds like Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon, Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, Dwarf Fruit Dove, Pinon’s, Zoe’s and Collared Imperial Pigeons, Blyth’s Hornbill, Yellow-streaked Lory, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Hooded Pitta and Lowland Peltops. When we got to Kwatu the rain has stopped and to be honest it did not look like a place where you can actually stay (more like where nobody has been for 2 years). Water level was extremely high already so our only terrestrial birding option was along the so-called ridge trail and we spent the rest of the day here. It was great birding and we got excellent looks of Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Papuan Pitta, Puff-backed and Mimic Honeyeaters, Yellow-bellied Longbill, Blue Jewel-babbler, Black Cicadabird, White-bellied and Rusty Pitohuis, Rufous-backed Fantail, Hooded, Golden and Frilled Monarchs, female King and Twelve-wired Bops and Black-sided Robin. Logistics were not easy due to being the first birders in the area for 2 years (covid) and also as another birding tour was here at the very same time. All in all to cut the long story short we made a plan and this included that we had to go back to Kiunga for the first night and leave the rebuilding of the camp for the other group. In retrospect it was a very lucky decision as in the late afternoon it started to rain again and continued to do so all night and next morning too. The next day we returned to Kwatu base camp and just by the time we arrived it stopped raining again. We wasted no time and visited a Flame Bowerbird bower where a hide was erected by the locals three days before. It was unforgettable when the male bird arrived to the bower exactly when the afternoon sun was hitting the area. He was glowing there like a golden-orange ball, a sight never to be forgotten! Other mega birds in the afternoon were Little Paradise Kingfisher, Large Fig Parrot, Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon, Glossy-mantled Manucode and Golden Myna. Our day was not over yet as after dinner the night birding started. It was the first dry night for a week in the area and we took advantage of this doing an evening and a pre-dawn session too. So there was not much sleep! Combined the two sessions we got to see both Papuan and Marbled Frogmouth, both Wallace’s and Starry Owlet-nightjars! For those who opted for an extended night session we even found some mammals like the rarely seen Feather-tailed and the stunning Torresian Striped Possums. The morning was still dry and we hit the ridge trail after breakfast. We had a superb birding morning with some mythical birds. We soon came across a family party of Campbell’s Fairywren but they were very quick, very shy and skulking in the undergrowth! It took us a long time to get everybody on the birds. We also managed great looks of the canopy-dwelling Wallace’s Fairywrens at the same time. Amazing! Our next bird was an eye-level Hook-billed Kingfisher but while we were admiring it a New Guinea Bronzewing was spotted and again we all managed to see it before it flew off. We had Large-billed Gerygone, Yellow-bellied Longbill, Yellow-breasted Boatbill and Blue Jewel-babbler as supporting cast. Our way out of the Fly River was not totally uneventful but we did get back to Kiunga where the water level was so high by now that we had to find a different port. We were certainly ready to leave the wet lowlands behind!

But this is PNG and things did not work out quite like this. Our flight next morning to Mount Hagen was rescheduled for a week later so it was running around for most of the day trying to sort out a flight. Which we actually managed for the next day so somewhat relaxed did a bit of birding. Our definite highlight was a mixed flock of Black and White-spotted Mannikin around the airport and Meyer’s Friarbird, Dwarf Fruit Dove and Lowland Peltops at the Boystown Road. Weather was still wet. Next day it was raining in the morning and in the airport we were informed the flight to Mount Hagen will not happen today. The worst possible news, yet another day lost. The same program as the previous day, trying to arrange how to get out of Kiunga with bits of birding when it was not raining. We saw Little Ringed Plover and Emperor Fairywrens. Eventually we left Kiunga on a private charter the next day after lunch and flew to Mount Hagen and were quickly transferred to Kumul Lodge. We finally made it to the New Guinea highlands! Even with slightly rearranged itinerary we only had a single full day at this amazing location. We spent most of our time along the lodge trails and at a nearby pass. Obviously with limited time we concentrated on the very special birds and it is fair to say we did pretty well. On a single day we managed to find 5 endemic bird families as we saw Wattled Ploughbill, Blue-capped Ifrit, Mottled Berryhunter, Crested Satinbird and Lesser Melampitta. Unfortunately the Crested Satinbird was only seen at night, a male bird found roosting. Kumul is a fantastic place and we had so much more birding experience however like a posing Montane Owlet-nightjar, many Brehm’s and a male Painted Tiger Parrots, Belford’s Melidectes, Papuan Scrubwren, Rufous-naped Bellbird, White-winged Robin and excellent close looks of Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and Brown Sicklebill! We also made a short visit to Lai River where we managed to find male Lesser Bird-of-paradise, Yellow-breasted Bowerbird, Mountain Myzomela and Pauan Grassbird but unfortunately by the time we arrived to a Blue Bird-of-paradise area we only heard the bird distantly. The star mammal of Kumul was an obliging Masked Ringtail Possum!

Next day we were about to fly to Tari. We were a bit anxious as reports about the weather at Tari was not very promising. Thankfully it was all ok and we arrived to Tari before lunch and were quickly on our way to the famous Ambua Lodge! Our time also been reduced here due to or loss in Kiunga but we had good parts of four days to explore the Tari Gap. The lodge is situated at about 2000 meter above sea level and there is fantastic birding right in the garden of the lodge too! Our first afternoon was productive with Great Cuckoo-Dove, a pair of both Painted and Madarasz’s Tiger Parrots, Stella, Yellow-billed and Orange-billed Lorikeets, a subtle MacGregor’s Bowerbird, a pair of Loria’s Satinbird and Black Pitohui as well as a great selection of Bop’s like Short-tailed Pardigalla, Ribbon-tailed and Princess Stephanie’s Astrapias, Lawes’s Parotia, Greater Lophorina with a male showing its fantastic feather shield and Brown Sicklebill. What an afternoon! In the next three days we explored various trails at various elevations in the Tari Gap, often playing hide and seek with the foggy weather. It is a remarkable area and our highlights were truly amazing such as perched views of New Guinea Harpy Eagle, a hunting Papuan Harrier, singing Rufous-throated Bronze Cuckoo, both sexes of the localised Archbold’s Bowerbirds, skittish Papuan Treecreepers, Papuan Logrunner, a really spotted female Spotted Berrypecker, colourful Eastern Crested Berrypecker, noisy Hooded Cucckooshrikes, handsome Black Sitellas, smart looking Regent and Sclater’s Whistlers, Garnet Robin, more Blue-capped Ifrits and a great selection of Bops including displaying King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise which was voted the ‘Bird of the trip’ following its performance in the early morning sunlight! It was a great place with great birds, a fitting final for a birding tour in Papua New Guinea. Our flight out was uneventful and we even had a few hours at Varirata National Park near Port Moresby. We have been there at the beginning of the tour which seemed like a long time ago. On our last birding session of the main tour we found Brown Quails, a juvenile Forest Bittern and a fantastic Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler!

Next morning we said good bye to those flying home while some of us were heading to the airport and continue with the New Britain Extension. New Britain, the largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago, has the richest avifauna of any island in the Southwest Pacific (excluding New Guinea itself of course). Many of the species are either endemic to New Britain alone or to the Bismarck Archipelago as a whole (and sometimes the Solomon Islands also). Our flight to Hoskins was on time and we were transferred to the heavenly Walindi Resort. Being a diving resort it is right on the beach with a fantastic garden and a famously exquisite food. After arrival we planned our three full days birding with the local birder and we were soon on our way to look for one of our main targets on the island! The enigmatic Golden Masked Owl was found not long ago to survive in the vast oil palm plantations and we were able to see this superb Tyto on our last few tours! However the place where birders saw the bird before covid was not productive recently but a roosting bird was observed from time to time in a small patch of forest. We were lucky as the roosting birds was found and we could watch this amazing bird through the scope as long as we wanted. It was late afternoon so the light was fading inside the forest and the bird was getting active. Remarkable bird on our first afternoon! In the next three days we explored a few remaining forest patches such as Garu Forest and the Kulu River as well as made a boat excursion to Kimbe Bay for more special birds. Pigeons and doves were well represented and we managed to find Nicobar Pigeon, MacKinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove, Knob-billed Fruit Dove, Bronzed Ground Dove, Stephan’s Emerald Dove as well as Red-knobbed, Finsch’s, Island and Yellowish Imperial Pigeons. The special kingfishers of the island like Black-capped Paradise, Melanesian, New Britain Dwarf, Beach and White-mantled Kingfishers were all seen well. Parrots such as Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, Song Parrot and Purple-bellied Lory gave us great looks. Other highlights of our stay included New Britain Boobook, Melanesian Megapode, White-rumped Swiftlet, White-necked and Violaceous Coucals, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Black Honey Buzzard as well as Ashy, Sclater’s and Black-bellied Myzomelas, New Britain Friarbird, Mangrove Golden Whistler, Black-tailed and Island Monarchs, Velvet Flycatcher, Bismarck Crow, Long-tailed Myna, Red-banded Flowerpecker and Buff-bellied Mannikin. In the lodge garden we had a few interesting bats at night like the New Britain Naked-backed Fruit Bat and the Black-bellied Blossom Bat. We can conclude we had a wonderful time in New Britain based in a wonderful resort. It was a productive stay and hopefully one day we can also visit the highland areas on this remarkable island which is still out of reach for birders. Our tour has ended with a flight back to Port Moresby. All in all we had a really action packed and intense birding holiday in Papua New Guinea seeing some special birds which we will never forget!

BIRDS OF THE MAIN TOUR

1st: King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise

2nd: Flame Bowerbird

3rd: Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

4th: Papuan Eagle

5th: Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon

BIRDS OF THE EXTENSION

1st: Golden Masked Owl

2nd: Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher

3rd: New Britain Dwarf Kingfisher

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

BIRDS

Southern Cassowary ◊ (Double-wattled C)  Casuarius casuarius  Non leader, heard only.

Wandering Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna arcuata

Salvadori’s Teal ◊  Salvadorina waigiuensis  A lovely pair was seen near Tabubil.

Pacific Black Duck  Anas superciliosa

Grey Teal  Anas gracilis

Black-billed Brushturkey ◊ (Yellow-legged B)  Talegalla fuscirostris  Heard only.

Melanesian Megapode ◊  Megapodius eremita  About seven were seen on New Britain.

Brown Quail  Synoicus ypsilophorus

Papuan Nightjar ◊  Eurostopodus papuensis  Lucky observation near Tabubil.

Archbold’s Nightjar ◊ (Mountain N)  Eurostopodus archboldi  Just brief looks near Ambua Lodge.

Marbled Frogmouth ◊  Podargus ocellatus  Fantastic looks in the Fly River area.

Papuan Frogmouth ◊  Podargus papuensis  Fantastic looks in the Fly River area.

Starry Owlet-nightjar ◊  Aegotheles tatei  One was seen by some in the Fly River area.

Wallace’s Owlet-nightjar ◊  Aegotheles wallacii  Fantastic looks in the Fly River area.

Mountain Owlet-nightjar ◊  Aegotheles albertisi  Fantastic looks at Kumul Lodge.

Barred Owlet-nightjar ◊  Aegotheles bennettii  Fantastic looks in Varirata NP.

Moustached Treeswift  Hemiprocne mystacea

Glossy Swiftlet  Collocalia esculenta

Mountain Swiftlet ◊  Aerodramus hirundinaceus  Regularly seen.

White-rumped Swiftlet ◊  Aerodramus spodiopygius  Just a few were identified on New Britain.

Uniform Swiftlet  Aerodramus vanikorensis

Papuan Spine-tailed Swift ◊ (P Spinetail, P Needletail)  Mearnsia novaeguineae  Many were seen in the Fly River area.

White-necked Coucal ◊  Centropus ateralbus  Great looks on New Britain.

Ivory-billed Coucal ◊ (Greater Black C)  Centropus menbeki  Heard only.

Violaceous Coucal ◊  Centropus violaceus  Great looks on New Britain.

Black-billed Coucal ◊ (Lesser Black C)  Centropus bernsteini  Heard only.

Pheasant Coucal  Centropus phasianinus

Dwarf Koel ◊  Microdynamis parva  Remarkable good looks at Tabubil.

Pacific Koel  Eudynamys orientalis

Channel-billed Cuckoo  Scythrops novaehollandiae

Long-billed Cuckoo ◊  Chrysococcyx megarhynchus  Heard only.

Rufous-throated Bronze Cuckoo ◊  Chrysococcyx ruficollis  Finally one was tracked down in the Tari Gap.

White-eared Bronze Cuckoo ◊  Chrysococcyx meyerii  Good looks at Tabubil.

Little Bronze Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx minutillus

White-crowned Cuckoo ◊ (W-c Koel)  Cacomantis leucolophus  It was seen at Varirata NP and at Tabubil.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo  Cacomantis flabelliformis

Brush Cuckoo  Cacomantis variolosus

Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove ◊  Macropygia amboinensis  Regularly seen.

Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove ◊ (Black-billed C-D)  Macropygia nigrirostris  Regularly seen.

MacKinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove ◊  Macropygia mackinlayi  Hard work but one seen well in Kimbe Bay on New Britain.

Great Cuckoo-Dove ◊ (Long-tailed C-D)  Reinwardtoena reinwardti  Excellent look in the garden of Ambua Lodge.

Pied Cuckoo-Dove ◊  Reinwardtoena browni  Heard only.

Stephan’s Emerald Dove  Chalcophaps stephani

New Guinea Bronzewing ◊  Henicophaps albifrons  A great bonus in the Fly River area.

Peaceful Dove  Geopelia placida

Bar-shouldered Dove  Geopelia humeralis

Nicobar Pigeon ◊  Caloenas nicobarica  Many excellent looks on New Britain.

Bronze Ground Dove ◊  Pampusana beccarii  One was seen by some on New Britain.

Pheasant Pigeon ◊  Otidiphaps nobilis  Heard only.

Sclater’s Crowned Pigeon ◊  Goura sclaterii  We had three sightings of this beauty in the Fly River area!

Wompoo Fruit Dove ◊ (Magnificent FD)  Ptilinopus magnificus  Regularly heard and seen.

Pink-spotted Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus perlatus  Best looks were in Varirata NP.

Superb Fruit Dove  Ptilinopus superbus

Beautiful Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus pulchellus  It was seen in Tabubil and Kwatu Lodge.

White-bibbed Fruit Dove ◊ (Mountain FD)  Ptilinopus rivoli  Just one was seen at Ambua Lodge.

Orange-bellied Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus iozonus  Fairly common.

Knob-billed Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus insolitus  Great bird, fantastic looks on New Britain.

Dwarf Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus nainus  Special little bird and we got our best looks near Kiunga.

Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula rubricera  Common on New Britain.

Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula rufigaster  Just one was seen in the Fly River area.

Finsch’s Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula finschii  We saw it twice very well on New Britain.

Island Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula pistrinaria  Common on New Britain.

Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula pinon  Just a few seen in the Fly River area.

Collared Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula mullerii  Beautiful pigeon and many seen in the Fly River area.

Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula zoeae  Common and smart-looking!

Torresian Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula spilorrhoa  Common near Port Moresby.

Yellowish Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula subflavescens  Common on New Britain.

Papuan Mountain Pigeon ◊  Gymnophaps albertisii  We had some great looks at various places.

Buff-banded Rail  Hypotaenidia philippensis

Dusky Moorhen  Gallinula tenebrosa

Australasian Swamphen  Porphyrio melanotus

Bare-eyed Rail ◊  Gymnocrex plumbeiventris  Heard only.

White-browed Crake  Poliolimnas cinereus

Pale-vented Bush-hen ◊  Amaurornis moluccana  A total of six were seen on New Britain.

Masked Lapwing  Vanellus miles

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius  One was seen at Kiunga airport. Nominate.

Comb-crested Jacana  Irediparra gallinacea

Black Noddy  Anous minutus

Greater Crested Tern (C T, Swift T)  Thalasseus bergii

Bridled Tern  Onychoprion anaethetus

Black-naped Tern  Sterna sumatrana

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida

Wedge-tailed Shearwater  Ardenna pacifica

Sooty Shearwater  Ardenna grisea  One was seen off New Britain. Great rarity there but we were not happy!

Lesser Frigatebird  Fregata ariel

Brown Booby  Sula leucogaster

Little Pied Cormorant  Microcarbo melanoleucos

Little Black Cormorant  Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Australian White Ibis  Threskiornis molucca

Forest Bittern ◊ (New Guinea Tiger-heron)  Zonerodius heliosylus  Two sightings in Varirata NP. Magical!

Black Bittern  Ixobrychus flavicollis

Nankeen Night Heron (Rufous N H)  Nycticorax caledonicus

Eastern Cattle Egret  Bubulcus coromandus

Great Egret (Eastern G E)  Ardea [alba] modesta

White-faced Heron  Egretta novaehollandiae

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Pacific Reef Heron  Egretta sacra

Eastern Osprey  Pandion cristatus

Pacific Baza (Crested Hawk)  Aviceda subcristata

Long-tailed Honey Buzzard ◊ (L-t B)  Henicopernis longicauda  Regular sightings of this great raptor!

Black Honey Buzzard ◊  Henicopernis infuscatus  Just one was seen on New Britain.

Papuan Eagle ◊ (N G Harpy E)  Harpyopsis novaeguineae  Mega! Great perched looks of a calling bird in the Tari Gap.

Pygmy Eagle ◊  Hieraaetus weiskei

Variable Goshawk  Accipiter hiogaster

Brown Goshawk (Australasian G)  Accipiter fasciatus

Grey-headed Goshawk ◊  Accipiter poliocephalus  We had good looks near Tabubil on a rainy morning.

Collared Sparrowhawk  Accipiter cirrocephalus

Papuan Harrier ◊  Circus spilothorax  Fantastic looks in the Tari Gap.

Black Kite  Milvus migrans

Whistling Kite  Haliastur sphenurus

Brahminy Kite  Haliastur indus

White-bellied Sea Eagle  Haliaeetus leucogaster

Golden Masked Owl ◊ Tyto aurantia  Top bird! We had scope views of one on New Britain.

Papuan Hawk-Owl ◊  Uroglaux dimorpha  Heard only.

Papuan Boobook ◊ (Jungle Hawk Owl, Jungle B)  Ninox theomacha  Heard only.

New Britain Boobook ◊  Ninox odiosa  Great looks on New Britain.

Blyth’s Hornbill ◊ (Papuan H)  Rhyticeros plicatus

Oriental Dollarbird  Eurystomus orientalis

Hook-billed Kingfisher ◊  Melidora macrorrhina  Eye-level views in the Fly River area.

Common Paradise Kingfisher ◊  Tanysiptera galatea  Heard only.

Little Paradise Kingfisher ◊ (Aru P K)  Tanysiptera hydrocharis  One was tracked down near Kwatu Lodge.

Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher ◊  Tanysiptera nigriceps  Several looks on New Britain.

Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher ◊  Tanysiptera danae  Beautiful bird which was seen well in Varirata NP.

Shovel-billed Kookaburra ◊ (S-b Kingfisher)  Clytoceyx rex  Heard only.

Blue-winged Kookaburra  Dacelo leachii

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra ◊  Dacelo gaudichaud  Several good looks. Very handsome bird!

Forest Kingfisher  Todiramphus macleayii

White-mantled Kingfisher ◊  Todiramphus albonotatus  A total of four were seen on New Britain.

Melanesian Kingfisher ◊  Todiramphus tristrami  Common on New Britain.

Beach Kingfisher ◊  Todiramphus saurophagus  A pair was seen on New Britain.

Sacred Kingfisher  Todiramphus sanctus

Yellow-billed Kingfisher ◊ (Lesser Y-b K)  Syma torotoro  Superb looks at Varirata NP.

Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis 

Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher ◊  Ceyx solitarius  One was seen in the Fly River area.

New Britain Dwarf Kingfisher ◊  Ceyx sacerdotis  One was seen on New Britain.

Azure Kingfisher  Ceyx azureus

Little Kingfisher ◊  Ceyx pusillus  One was seen in the Fly River area.

Rainbow Bee-eater  Merops ornatus

Oriental Hobby  Falco severus

Brown Falcon  Falco berigora

Peregrine Falcon  Falco peregrinus

Palm Cockatoo ◊  Probosciger aterrimus  Charismatic bird, many great looks!

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo  Cacatua galerita

Blue-eyed Cockatoo ◊  Cacatua ophthalmica  Common on New Britain.

Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot ◊  Micropsitta keiensis  Very good perched looks at Kwatu Lodge.

Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot ◊  Micropsitta pusio  Finally tracked dwon for perched views on New Britain.

Papuan King Parrot ◊  Alisterus chloropterus  Only seen in the garden of Ambua Lodge.

Eclectus Parrot ◊  Eclectus roratus  Common and nosiy!

Red-cheeked Parrot ◊  Geoffroyus geoffroyi

Blue-collared Parrot ◊  Geoffroyus simplex  Heard only.

Song Parrot ◊  Geoffroyus heteroclitus  Several good flight looks this year on New Britain.

Brehm’s Tiger Parrot ◊  Psittacella brehmii  Easy on the feeder at Kumul Lodge.

Painted Tiger Parrot ◊  Psittacella picta  A male was seen at Kumul and a pair in the Tari Gap.

Madarasz’s Tiger Parrot ◊  Psittacella madaraszi  A pair was seen well in the garden of Ambua Lodge.

Plum-faced Lorikeet ◊ (Whiskered L)  Oreopsittacus arfaki  Our best looks were on the new Telefomin Road.

Red-flanked Lorikeet ◊  Hypocharmosyna placentis  Several good looks.

Stella’s Lorikeet ◊  Charmosyna stellae  These long-tailed beauties were seen in the Tari Gap.

Yellow-billed Lorikeet ◊  Neopsittacus musschenbroekii   Several sightings in the highlands.

Orange-billed Lorikeet ◊  Neopsittacus pullicauda  Several sightings in the highlands.

Purple-bellied Lory ◊  Lorius hypoinochrous  Common and noisy on New Britain.

Black-capped Lory ◊ (Western B-c L)  Lorius lory  Common and noisy on the mainland.

Yellow-streaked Lory ◊ (Yellow-s L, Greater S L)  Chalcopsitta scintillate  It was seen in the Fly River area.

Goldie’s Lorikeet ◊  Glossoptilus goldiei  It was only seen by some in the Tari Gap.

Coconut Lorikeet ◊ (Rainbow L)  Trichoglossus haematodus  Common.

Large Fig Parrot ◊ (Yellow-naped F P)  Psittaculirostris desmarestii  Two were seen perched in the Fly River area.

Orange-breasted Fig Parrot ◊ (Dusky-cheeked F P)  Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii  Commonly encountered.

Double-eyed Fig Parrot ◊ (Red-faced F P)  Cyclopsitta diophthalma  Several good looks in the Fly River area.

Papuan Pitta ◊ (Red-bellied P)  Erythropitta macklotii  Shy bird but we managed great looks near Kwatu Lodge.

Bismarck Pitta ◊  Erythropitta novaehibernicae  Heard only.

Hooded Pitta ◊  Pitta sordida  Only seen in flight along the Elevala River.

Archbold’s Bowerbird ◊  Archboldia papuensis  Another shy bird, several sightings near Ambua Lodge.

MacGregor’s Bowerbird ◊  Amblyornis macgregoriae  Great looks of this tricky one this year!

Flame Bowerbird ◊  Sericulus ardens  Breathtaking looks in the Fly River area at a bower! Almost bird of the trip, only KoSBop got more nominations.

Yellow-breasted Bowerbird ◊ (Lauterbach’s B)  Chlamydera lauterbachi  We saw two in the Lai River area.

Fawn-breasted Bowerbird ◊  Chlamydera cerviniventris  Common in and near Port Moresby.

Papuan Treecreeper ◊  Cormobates placens  One was finally tracked down in the Tari Gap.

Wallace’s Fairywren ◊ (W Wren)  Sipodotus wallacii  Great looks of this canopy-dweller in the Fly River area.

Campbell’s Fairywren ◊  Chenorhamphus campbelli  Mega! Took a long time to see them, very shy, very quick. But finally all managed great looks!

Emperor Fairywren ◊  Malurus cyanocephalus  A fabulous pair was seen near Kiunga!

White-shouldered Fairywren ◊  Malurus alboscapulatus  Our best looks were at the Tari airport.

Green-backed Honeyeater ◊  Glycichaera fallax  Just one was seen well near Tabubil.

Rufous-backed Honeyeater ◊  Ptiloprora guisei  Fairly common in the Tari Gap.

Grey-streaked Honeyeater ◊ (Black-backed H)  Ptiloprora perstriata  Fairly common in the Tari Gap.

Rufous-banded Honeyeater ◊  Conopophila albogularis  Best looks near Port Moresby.

Long-billed Honeyeater ◊  Melilestes megarhynchus  Regularly encountered forest honeyeater.

Common Smoky Honeyeater ◊  Melipotes fumigatus  Common. The colour changing wattle is amazing!

Plain Honeyeater ◊  Pycnopygius ixoides  Two were seen in the Tabubil area.

Streak-headed Honeyeater ◊  Pycnopygius stictocephalus  Just a few were seen in the Tabubil area.

Ashy Myzomela ◊  Myzomela cineracea  Common on New Britain.

Ruby-throated Myzomela ◊ (Red-throated)  Myzomela eques  We had great looks near Tabubil.

Papuan Black Myzomela ◊  Myzomela nigrita  Regular sightings.

Mountain Myzomela ◊ (Elfin M, M Red-headed M)  Myzomela adolphinae  Just a single male in the Lai River area.

Sclater’s Myzomela ◊  Myzomela sclateri  Common on the offshore islets in Kimbe Bay on New Britain.

Black-bellied Myzomela ◊  Myzomela erythromelas  One was eventually tracked down on New Britain.

Red-collared Myzomela ◊  Myzomela rosenbergii  Fantastic bird and common in the highlands.

Meyer’s Friarbird ◊  Philemon meyeri  Just a few seen near Kiunga.

New Guinea Friarbird ◊ (Helmeted F)  Philemon novaeguineae  Common.

New Britain Friarbird ◊  Philemon cockerelli  Common.

Tawny-breasted Honeyeater ◊  Xanthotis flaviventer  Common.

White-throated Honeyeater ◊  Melithreptus albogularis  Fairly common in Varirata NP.

Puff-backed Honeyeater ◊ (P-b Meliphaga)  Meliphaga aruensis  A single bird was seen in the Fly River area.

Mountain Honeyeater ◊ (M Meliphaga, Hill Forest H)  Microptilotis orientalis  Common in the Tabubil area.

Scrub Honeyeater ◊ (S Meliphaga, S White-eared M)  Microptilotis albonotatus  One was seen near Tabubil.

Mimic Honeyeater ◊ (M Meliphaga, Mimetic M)  Microptilotis analogus  A few sightings only.

Elegant Honeyeater ◊ (E Meliphaga)  Microptilotis cinereifrons  Three were seen in Varirata NP.

Yellow-tinted Honeyeater ◊  Ptilotula flavescens  It was only seen in the hotel garden in Port Moresby.

Black-throated Honeyeater ◊  Caligavis subfrenata  Farily common in the Tari Gap.

Yellow-browed Melidectes ◊  Melidectes rufocrissalis  Several sightings in the highlands.

Belford’s Melidectes ◊  Melidectes belfordi  The common melidectes in the highlands.

Rusty Mouse-warbler ◊ (Lowland M-w)  Origma murina  Regulary heard and seen in Varirata NP and near Kiunga.

Mountain Mouse-warbler ◊  Origma robusta  It was seen at Kumul and Ambua.

Pale-billed Scrubwren ◊  Aethomyias spilodera  One was seen at Varirata NP.

Buff-faced Scrubwren ◊  Aethomyias perspicillatus  Regularly seen the Ambua Lodge.

Papuan Scrubwren ◊  Aethomyias papuensis  It was seen at Kumul and Ambua.

Large Scrubwren ◊  Sericornis nouhuysi  A party of three were seen in the Tari Gap.

Brown-breasted Gerygone ◊ (Treefern G)  Gerygone ruficollis  It was seen at Kumul and Ambua.

Large-billed Gerygone  Gerygone magnirostris 

Yellow-bellied Gerygone ◊  Gerygone chrysogaster  Best looks were in Varirata NP.

Green-backed Gerygone ◊  Gerygone chloronota  Best looks were in Varirata NP.

Fairy Gerygone  Gerygone palpebrosa  Best looks were in Varirata NP.

Grey Thornbill (Ashy Gerygone, Mountain G)  Acanthiza cinerea

Papuan Babbler ◊ (Rufous B, NG B)  Garritornis isidorei  Skulking bird but good looks near Kiunga.

Papuan Logrunner ◊  Orthonyx novaeguineae  Just a brief view this year near Ambua Lodge.

Loria’s Satinbird ◊  Cnemophilus loriae  We had very nice looks in the garden of Ambua Lodge.

Crested Satinbird ◊ (C Bird-of-paradise)  Cnemophilus macgregorii  Despite much effort only a roosting bird male was seen, which was pretty hidden.

Yellow-breasted Satinbird ◊  Loboparadisea sericea  One brief sighting, frustratingly we could only stop at the location briefly.

Obscure Berrypecker ◊  Melanocharis arfakiana  Good looks near Tabubil.

Black Berrypecker ◊  Melanocharis nigra  Many good looks in the Kiunga area.

Fan-tailed Berrypecker ◊  Melanocharis versteri  First seen along the new Telefomin Road.

Spotted Berrypecker ◊  Rhamphocharis piperata  Three birds were seen this year! Great bird!

Yellow-bellied Longbill ◊ (Green-crowned L)  Toxorhamphus novaeguineae  We got good looks in the Fly River area.

Slaty-headed Longbill ◊ (S-chinned L, Grey-winged L)  Toxorhamphus poliopterus  Just one was seen in the Tabubil area.

Eastern Crested Berrypecker ◊  Paramythia montium  It was hard this year but eventually two were seen in the Tari Gap.

Spotted Jewel-babbler ◊  Ptilorrhoa leucosticte Heard only.

Blue Jewel-babbler ◊  Ptilorrhoa caerulescens  Two sightings in the Fly River area.

Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler ◊  Ptilorrhoa castanonota  One was seen in Varirata NP on our last day.

Painted Quail-thrush ◊  Cinclosoma ajax  A male was seen at Varirata NP.

Yellow-breasted Boatbill ◊  Machaerirhynchus flaviventer  Two were seen near Kwatu Lodge.

Black-breasted Boatbill ◊  Machaerirhynchus nigripectus  Heard only.

White-breasted Woodswallow  Artamus leucorynchus

Great Woodswallow ◊ (New Guinea W)  Artamus maximus  First seen at Tabubil, best looks in the Ambua Lodge garden.

Lowland Peltops ◊  Peltops blainvillii  It was seen very well in the Fly River area.

Mountain Peltops ◊  Peltops montanus  Several great looks.

Black Butcherbird  Melloria quoyi

Black-backed Butcherbird ◊  Cracticus mentalis  It was only seen in the PAU grounds near Port Moresby.

Hooded Butcherbird ◊  Cracticus cassicus  Regularly seen.

Mottled Berryhunter ◊  Rhagologus leucostigma  Several looks near Kumul Lodge: obscurus race.

Stout-billed Cuckooshrike ◊  Coracina caeruleogrisea  A large species seen very well in the Tabubil area.

Hooded Cuckooshrike ◊  Coracina longicauda  We had two sightings in the Tari Gap.

Barred Cuckooshrike ◊ (Yellow-eyed C)  Coracina lineata  Two were seen in Varirata NP.

Boyer’s Cuckooshrike ◊  Coracina boyeri  It was regularly seen in the Tabubil and Kiunga area.

White-bellied Cuckooshrike  Coracina papuensis

Golden Cuckooshrike ◊  Campochaera sloetii  Beautiful bird seen in Tabubil and Kiunga.

Black-bellied Cuckooshrike ◊ (B-b Cicadabird)  Edolisoma montanum  It was seen at Kumul and Ambua.

Grey-headed Cuckooshrike ◊ (G-h Cicadabird)  Edolisoma schisticeps  A pair was seen well in the Tabubil area.

Common Cicadabird  Edolisoma tenuirostre  One was seen in the Fly River area and the heinrothi race in New Britain which was just recently moved from E. remotum to E. tenuirostre.

Black Cicadabird ◊ (B Cuckooshrike, New Guinea C)  Edolisoma melas  Two sightings on the tour.

Varied Triller  Lalage leucomela

Black Sittella ◊  Daphoenositta miranda  A party of three were seen in the Tari Gap.

Wattled Ploughbill ◊  Eulacestoma nigropectus  It was seen well at Kumul and heard only in the Tari Gap.

Rufous-naped Bellbird ◊ (R-n Whistler)  Aleadryas rufinucha  Common in the garden of Kumul Lodge.

Black Pitohui ◊  Melanorectes nigrescens  A pair was seen in Ambua.

Brown-backed Whistler ◊  Pachycephala modesta  Common in the Tari Gap.

Grey Whistler  Pachycephala simplex 

Sclater’s Whistler ◊  Pachycephala soror  A male was tracked down in the Tari Gap.

Mangrove Golden Whistler ◊  Pachycephala melanura  Eventually seen in Kimbe Bay on New Birtain.

Regent Whistler ◊  Pachycephala schlegelii  Nice bird and fairly common at Kumul and in the Tari Gap.

Black-headed Whistler ◊  Pachycephala monacha  Heard only.

White-bellied Pitohui ◊  Pseudorectes incertus  Great looks of this highly localized bird at Kwatu Lodge.

Rusty Pitohui ◊  Pseudorectes ferrugineus  Three were seen at Kwatu Lodge.

Arafura Shrikethrush (Rufous S)  Colluricincla megarhyncha

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius schach

Australasian Figbird  Sphecotheres vieilloti

Hooded Pitohui ◊  Pitohui dichrous  Several great looks, first in Varirata NP.

Brown Oriole ◊  Oriolus szalayi  Excellent looks in Varirata NP on our first afternoon!

Spangled Drongo  Dicrurus bracteatus

Willie Wagtail  Rhipidura leucophrys

Northern Fantail ◊  Rhipidura rufiventris  Two were tracked down on New Britain.

Sooty Thicket Fantail ◊  Rhipidura threnothorax  Three sightings of this skulker!

White-bellied Thicket Fantail ◊  Rhipidura leucothorax  Two sightings in the Tabubil area.

Black Fantail ◊  Rhipidura atra  First seen on the new Telefomin Road and later at Ambua Lodge.

Chestnut-bellied Fantail ◊  Rhipidura hyperythra  Fantastic looks at Varirata NP.

Friendly Fantail ◊  Rhipidura albolimbata  Common.

Dimorphic Fantail ◊  Rhipidura brachyrhyncha  It was seen at Kumul Lodge and in the Tari Gap.

Rufous-backed Fantail ◊  Rhipidura rufidorsa  A pair was seen in the Fly River area.

Drongo Fantail ◊ (Pygmy Drongo, Mountain D)  Chaetorhynchus papuensis  One was tracked down in Varirata NP.

Black Monarch ◊ (Fantailed M)  Symposiachrus axillaris  A pair was seen at Ambua Lodge.

Spot-winged Monarch ◊  Symposiachrus guttula  One was seen at Varirata NP.

Hooded Monarch ◊  Symposiachrus manadensis  Good looks in a mixed flock at Kwatu Lodge.

Black-tailed Monarch ◊  Symposiachrus verticalis  Great looks on New Birtain.

Island Monarch ◊  Monarcha cinerascens  Just brief looks this year in Kimbe Bay.

Golden Monarch ◊  Carterornis chrysomela  Fantastic bird, seen very well in the Fly River area.

Frilled Monarch ◊  Arses telescopthalmus  Seen at many locations.

Torrent-lark ◊  Grallina bruijnii  A few sightings in the Tabubil area.

Leaden Flycatcher  Myiagra rubecula

Shining Flycatcher (Common SF)  Myiagra alecto

Velvet Flycatcher ◊  Myiagra eichhorni  Two pairs were seen on New Britain.

Grey Crow ◊ (Bare-eyed C)  Corvus tristis  It was only seen in the Fly River area.

Torresian Crow  Corvus orru

Bismarck Crow ◊  Corvus insularis  Common on New Britain.

Lesser Melampitta ◊  Melampitta lugubris  Excellent looks at Kumul Lodge.

Greater Melampitta ◊  Megalampitta gigantean  Heard only.

Blue-capped Ifrit ◊ (B-c Ifrita)  Ifrita kowaldi  Excellent looks at Kumul Lodge.

Glossy-mantled Manucode ◊ (Glossy M)  Manucodia ater  Several sightings in the Fly River area.

Crinkle-collared Manucode ◊  Manucodia chalybatus  A pair was seen near Tabubil. The male was even displaying a short while.

Trumpet Manucode ◊  Phonygammus keraudrenii  Two were seen in the Fly River area: jamesii race.

Short-tailed Paradigalla ◊  Paradigalla brevicauda  Seen twice in the garden of Ambua Lodge.

Splendid Astrapia ◊  Astrapia splendidissima  A great bonus! First ever sightings on our PNG tour along the new Telefomin road above Tabubil: helios race.

Ribbon-tailed Astrapia ◊  Astrapia mayeri  Amazing bird seen at Kumul and at Ambua too.

Princess Stephanie’s Astrapia ◊  Astrapia stephaniae  We had many good sightings in the Ambua area: feminina race.

Queen Carola’s Parotia ◊  Parotia carolae  We were struggling this year but finally a female was seen well above Tabubil: meeki race.

Lawes’s Parotia ◊  Parotia lawesii  Several seen in the Ambua area.

King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise ◊  Pteridophora alberti  WOW! Our bird of the tour with magical looks! Seen it along the new Telefomin road and in the Ambua area.

Greater Lophorina ◊  Lophorina superba  We got the best views in the garden of Ambua Lodge!

Magnificent Riflebird ◊  Ptiloris magnificus  Two males were seen near Tabubil.

Growling Riflebird ◊ (Eastern R)  Ptiloris intercedens  Many heard and two seen in Varirata NP.

Black Sicklebill ◊  Epimachus fastosus  A female was seen by some in the Ambua Lodge garden.

Brown Sicklebill ◊  Epimachus meyeri  Many excellent looks!

Magnificent Bird-of-paradise ◊  Diphyllodes magnificus  Most commonly encountered in the Tabubil area.

King Bird-of-paradise ◊  Cicinnurus regius  Great bird! A male was seen on its displaying tree near Kiunga and two females in the Fly River area.

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise ◊  Seleucidis melanoleucus  Another special and stunning bird. A male was studied at length in the Fly River area.

Greater Bird-of-paradise ◊  Paradisaea apoda  Several look sin the Tabubil and Kiunga area.

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise ◊  Paradisaea raggiana  It was special watching them displaying in Varirata NP.

Lesser Bird-of-paradise ◊  Paradisaea minor  Two males were seen near Kumul Lodge.

Blue Bird-of-paradise ◊  Paradisornis rudolphi  Sadly it remained heard only due to our reduced time in the highlands.

White-faced Robin ◊  Tregellasia leucops  One sighting at Varirata NP.

White-winged Robin ◊  Peneothello sigillata  Common at Kumul Lodge.

Slaty Robin ◊ (Blue-grey R)  Peneothello cyanus  First seen on the new Telefomin Road and later at Ambua Lodge.

White-rumped Robin ◊  Peneothello bimaculata  It was seen twice in the Tabubil area.

Black-sided Robin ◊ (B-bibbed R)  Poecilodryas hypoleuca  Great looks at Kwatu Lodge.

Black-throated Robin ◊  Plesiodryas albonotata  One was seen at Ambua Lodge.

Black-capped Robin ◊  Heteromyias armiti  Heard only.

Papuan Scrub Robin ◊  Drymodes beccarii  A real skulker seen in Varirata NP.

Lemon-bellied Flyrobin ◊ (L-b Flycatcher)  Microeca flavigaster  First seen at Varirata NP.

Torrent Flyrobin ◊ (T Flycatcher, River F)  Monachella muelleriana  Several good looks in the Tabubil area.

Olive Flyrobin ◊ (O Flycatcher)  Kempiella flavovirescens  An adult was seen feeding a young at Varirata NP.

Canary Flyrobin ◊ (Papuan Flycatcher, Montane F)  Devioeca papuana  Regularly seen at higher elevations.

Garnet Robin ◊  Eugerygone rubra  A female and a male was seen in the Tari Gap.

Lesser Ground Robin ◊  Amalocichla incerta  One was seen near Ambua Lodge.

Pacific Swallow  Hirundo tahitica

Island Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus poliocephalus

Australian Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus australis

Papuan Grassbird ◊  Cincloramphus macrurus  First seen in the Lai River area: macrurus, and later also tracked down on New Britain: interscapularis,

Papuan White-eye ◊  Zosterops novaeguineae  We saw a small party in the Lai River area.

Metallic Starling (Shining S)  Aplonis metallica

Yellow-eyed Starling ◊  Aplonis mystacea  Two were seen by some in the Fly River area.

Singing Starling ◊  Aplonis cantoroides  Three sightings on the tour.

Yellow-faced Myna ◊  Mino dumontii  Common.

Long-tailed Myna ◊  Mino kreffti  Common on  New Britain.

Golden Myna ◊  Mino anais  A few were seen in the Fly River area.

Island Thrush  Turdus poliocephalus

Pied Bush Chat (P Chat)  Saxicola caprata

Red-capped Flowerpecker ◊  Dicaeum geelvinkianum  Common.

Red-banded Flowerpecker ◊  Dicaeum eximium  A few were noted on New Britain.

Black Sunbird ◊  Leptocoma Aspasia  Regular sightings.

Olive-backed Sunbird  Cinnyris jugularis

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (introduced)  Passer montanus

House Sparrow (introduced)  Passer domesticus

Crimson Finch ◊  Neochmia phaeton  Good looks at the Kiunga airport.

White-spotted Mannikin ◊  Mayrimunia leucosticta  Excellent views at Kiunga airport this year.

Grey-headed Mannikin ◊  Lonchura caniceps  We saw a few at the PAU campus near Port Moresby.

Hooded Mannikin ◊  Lonchura spectabilis  Several good looks in the highlands.

Black Mannikin ◊  Lonchura stygia  Excellent views at Kiunga airport this year.

Buff-bellied Mannikin ◊  Lonchura melaena  Handsome bird seen well on New Birtain.

Australian Pipit  Anthus australis

MAMMALS

Black-tailed Dasyure  Murexia melanurus  One was seen in the garden of Ambua Lodge by some.

Speckled Dasyure (Long-clawed Marsupial Mouse)  Neophascogale lorentzii  We had two excellent daytime looks in the highland forest near Ambua Lodge.

Southern Common Cuscus  Phalanger mimicus  One was seen at Kwatu Lodge by some.

Mountain Cuscus  Phalanger carmelitae  Two seen in the garden of Ambua Lodge by some.

Ground Cuscus  Phalanger gymnotis  One was seen in the garden of Ambua Lodge by some.

Masked Ringtail Possum  Pseudochirulus larvatus  Superb looks of this beauty in Kumul Lodge.

Coppery Ring-tailed Possum  Pseudochirops cupreus  One was seen at Kumul Lodge by some.

Torresian Striped Possum  Dactylopsila trivirgata  One was seen at Kwatu Lodge: kataui race.

Long-fingered Striped Possum (L-f Tirok)  Dactylopsila palpator  One was seen at Ambua Lodge by some.

Papuan Sugar Glider  Petaurus [breviceps] papuanus  Two sightings at Kumul Lodge for some.

Feather-tailed Possum  Distoechurus pennatus  Two sightings on the tour for some. One at Kwatu Lodge on the Fly River lowalnds and one at Ambua Lodge at 2000 meter!

Common Bottlenose Dolphin  Tursiops truncatus  A pod of 10 were seen on our boat excursion in New Britain.

New Britain Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Bismarck Bare-b F B)  Dobsonia praedatrix  Several seen in the garden of Walindi Resort.

Andersen’s Naked-backed Fruit Bat Dobsonia anderseni  At least two were photographed on New Britain. 

Island Tube-nosed Fruit Bat  Nyctimene major  Two were seen in the garden of Walindi Resort.

Black-bellied Blossom Bat  Melonycteris melanops  One was seen at the same spot in two consecutive nights at Walindi Resort by some.

Spectacled Flying Fox  Pteropus conspicillatus  A group of seven were seen at the PAU in Port Moresby.

Great Flying Fox (Bismarck F F)  Pteropus neohibernicus  Two were seen on New Britain. They are huge. Lots of unidentified Pteropus along the Fly and Elevala Rivers were probably this species too.

Large Tree Mouse Pogonomys loriae  Two were seen and photographed at Ambua Lodge.

Brown Rat (introduced)  Rattus rattus  One was seen at Ambua Lodge.

Javan (Timor) Deer  Rusa timorensis  Introduced, several seen at Varirata NP.