The Ambua Tari Road

Sunrise on the Tari Gap Road

Up and breakfasted by 6.15 am, we started birding in the lodge garden.   Black Sicklebill is known to visit the garden in the early morning, and sure enough within a few minutes we had a sighting.   Spotted Berryeater, Short-Tailed Paradigalla [what an amazing name that is!], Dimorphic Fantail and Sacred Kingfisher were all seen within a few minutes.   Just before we left for our morning's birding the Sicklebill flew across the valley giving us a great view.

As we set off up the road towards the Tari Gap, a Grey Wagtail flew ahead of us - one of the few species which we could see at home.   At our first stop, with the sun still coming up and casting delightful rays through nearby trees, we found Stephanie's Astrapia, Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot, Orange-billed Lorikeet,

Logging Threats to the area

Grey-streaked Honeyeater and Black-throated Honeyeater.   Despite the cool of the early morning the constant birds kept us entertained, and we gradually moved quite a long way on the road without recourse to the bus, purely following bird calls.

Our guide Joseph took us into the forest down a short muddy path, here we had great views of Crested Bird of Paradise and White-winged Robin.   Back on the road Crested Berrypecker, Mid-mountain Berrypecker and Brown-breasted Gerygone were seen by most of the group.   A Fan-tailed Cuckoo flew overhead giving good if short-lived views.

Short-tailed Paradigalla

Back in the forest we had Garnet Robin flitting frantically about us.  Lots of flight views but almost impossible to get into the binoculars.   Small Melampitta crossed the path in front of us in one quick bound and Mountain-mouse warbler and Logrunner shot in view for seconds - it seemed as if everything was determined to challenge us as the day wore on.

Little Eagle was spotted, along with Yellow-billed Lorikeet, whilst Mountain Kingfisher and Chestnut Forest Rail were added to our "heard only" list.

In the afternoon, we tried once again in the garden and managed to add Black Butcherbird, Greater Woodswallow, Papuan King-Parrot, Mountain Peltops, Papuan Mountain Pigeon and more Red-collared Myzomelas.