We tried for Hook-billed Kingfisher in the garden, this is a nocturnal Kimgfisher which sings early morning and late evening. We could track it to one particular tree, and after playing the tape, the bird shot past us. We followed it down the track, but after three fly-pasts we had to admit defeat, still at least we could identify it from the call!
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| Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise - minus his wires |
Along the river Mettalic Starling were feeding on mayflies which were on the surface of the water. Eclectus Parrot flew across in great light, showing off their plumage, a Bronze Ground-dove shot across in front of us, then disappeared out of view. Many of the birds seen over the last couple of days were around, and we had almost given up hope of any major new finds. Christ, our guide had other ideas though and took the boat into a secluded lagoon, as we scanned the edges for small birds, two large pigeons flew across in front of us and landed in a near-by palm. It was a pair of Victoria Crowned Pigeons! They were amazing, one sat in full view on a date palm near the fruits, looking majestic and regal, quivering the beautiful crest as it preened. We watched for some time and took many photographs then decided to move back towards breakfast. Unfortunately the battery on the boat had other ideas and was flat. We had to wait about 45 minutes for another boat to come to our rescue and bump-start the engine!
Our post-breakfast walk was another hot, sweaty affair, but gleaned Rusty Pithoui and Mimic Melaphaga.
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| Local village |
Having exhausted most of the species to be found along the river we took a stroll along the airstrip in the afternoon. It was sunny, hot and humid and we strolled along slowly enjoying the birds to be seen. Large-billed Gerygone, Black Sunbird, Intermediate Egret, Wattled Lapwing, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove,
Streak-headed Honey-eater, Coronated Fruit-dove to name but a few. Palm Cocktoo flew back and forth as we continued down the grass, Lowland Peltops, Metallic Starling, Edward's Fig-parrot, a female 12 wired Bird of Paradise sat for a few minutes on the top of a bare branch, then disappeared from view. Our
guide pointed out a Whistling Kite nest with young in it. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo showed off it's size and lovely white plumage on several occasions, at one point it was mobbed by smaller birds but looked unconcerned. Red-cheeked Parrot, Meyer's Frairbird (a most unhandsome avian specimen), Lesser Black
Coucal, Dollarbird and finally a Papuan Needletail!
