Ambua to Karawari

Today we were once again out birding at 6.30 am in the hope of adding another species to our list.

Smoke rising from the local homes

We managed one new heard bird - Black Pithoui, but apart from that we only saw species already logged, including: Great Woodswallow - a group of five or six perched in a line on the usual tree.   In  the lodge garden - Short-tailed Paradigalla, Superb Bird of Paradise, Black Sicklebill, Great Egret, Grey Wagtail, Capped White-eye, Red Collared Myzomela, Island Leaf Warbler, Willie Wagtail, Pied Bushchat and Common Smokey Honeyeater.   We also heard Quail in a nearby field.

Tari Gap Road and the Airstrip

Soon it was time to return to the lodge, pack and take our leave of Ambua for Karawari.   This is a lodge deep in the Sepik River complex and we were all looking forward to a change of habitat and bird species.

Although our flight was delayed about 30 minutes, we were soon on our way.   The smooth flight took around 40 minutes and we landed on the grassed airstrip near the lodge.   Here we're Masked Lapwing, Lowland Peltops, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown Oriole,    It was then a short walk to the boat which took us down river, where a vehicle took us uphill to the lodge itself.

Karawari Lodge

Idyllic sums it up.  Our rooms overlooked a tributary of the Sepik River and there were trees as far as they eye could see.   A fantastic array of forest which held great fascination for us as it help Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Black Kite, Brahimy Kite, Whistling Kite, Western Black-capped Lory.

After lunch as I sat on the small airy veranda I spotted an Eclectus Parrot flying overhead, giving it's distinctive call as it passed by.

Our afternoon was spent cruising down river, where we saw a cornucopia of avian life including; Little Black Cormorant, Pacific Black Duck, Dollarbird, Pacific Swallow, Eclectus Parrot, Black Kite, Brahimy Kite,Western Black-Capped Lory, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Intermediate and Great Egret, Uniform Swiftlets, oozed Butcher Bird, Whistling Kite, Blyth's Hornbill was finally seen in the wild, the only other sighting was by Keith and myself on a previous day when one was spotted on the top of a lorry outside someone's house!   We added Piñon Imperial Pigeon, Common Koel,
Yellow-faced Mynah and Red-cheeked Parrot.   Collared Imperial Pigeon was seen well in the scope, a handsome pair of birds in great plumage.   We were lucky to see Edward's Fig-parrot as it shot from view.

Flower decorations everywhere

Huge flocks of Metallic Starling were flying along the river going into roost, the juveniles standing out with their patchy plumage, the adults living up, to their names well.   Dusky Lori's were the other most numerous bird, with hundreds of them flying overhead to a unknown roost which must be enormous.

Sunset at Sepik River

As the sun set over the river it was time to go back to the lodge for a quick wash and brush up, dinner, checklist and an early bed.   The sounds of the tropics lulled us off to sleep.