So how many Birds of Paradise could we see in a day?
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| Terrestrial Orchid |
We then left in the bus to go downhill towards the village, and within five minutes we has stopped in a very patchy piece of scrub-land with trees. Blue Bird of Paradise (3) was our first sighting in this rather unprepossessing habitat, a lovely male displaying and calling in a tree in the distance - great telescope views though. Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike, Marbled Honeyeater, Red-collared Myzomelas and Papuan Flowerpecker followed in quick succession. A female Lawes' Parotia (4) was the next BoP, followed immediately by a pair of Buff-tailed Sicklebill (5) and Black Sicklebill (6). As we moved higher up the road towards the Tari Gap we found the male King of Saxony (7) in his perch of a couple of days ago. Now we were at higher altitude Belford's Melidictes comes into play again. Glossy Swiftlet were feeding overhead as usual.
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| Blue Bird of Paradise Displaying |
We stopped higher up the road and found Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (8), Brehm's Tiger-Parrot was the next species to delight us - initially hard to see, but after a while we managed to relocate it when longer views were enjoyed. Stephanies' Astrapia (9), Friendly Fantail, Grey-streaked Honeyeater, Mountain Firetail (a bird I missed yesterday) was a catch up for several of us. White-winged Robin was in the same area as yesterday, joined by Mid-Mountain Berrypecker. Whilst some of us went down the road to take photographs of yet another Ribbon-tailed Astrapia others went into the forest and found a Crested Bird of Paradise (10). Superb Bird of Paradise (11) was heard. And it wasn't even 8.30 am!!
We continued up the road towards the grassland area at the top of the range. Our first bird here was Phil's request fulfilled - an Island Thrush, looking just like our European Blackbird. This was followed by Papuan (Tawny) Grassbird, Pied Bushchat once again got itself on our day list, as did Long-Tailed Shrike, a handsome bird sitting high, perched on the top of a bush just waiting for some prey to alight on.
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| Long-tailed Shrike |
We returned to the lodge for a pre-lunch tea/coffee and biscuit. As we relaxed I spotted a Brahimy Kite just outside the lodge hunting in the valley, those of us present got great views.
During siesta time Great Woodswallow flew past and Glossy Swiftlets fed ahead of the usual early afternoon storm.
Unfortunately today's rain did not hold with the usual pattern and carried on more or less all afternoon. We did get down to the helipad and had views of Hooded Cuckoo-shrike, Papuan Lorikeet and Yellow-billed Lorikeet. Some saw Black Monarch and others Papuan King-Parrot - perhaps I'll catch up tomorrow if the rain holds off long enough.
