New Britain II Trip Report

Transcription

1 New Britain II Trip Report 18 th to 22 nd July 2018 (5 days) Heinroth s Shearwater by David Erterius Tour Leaders: Glen Valentine & David Erterius

2 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Trip report compiled by Glen Valentine Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon by David Erterius Tour Summary The island of New Britain, situated in the warm Bismarck Sea just to the north-east of mainland New Guinea, forms part of the string of volcanic islands known as the Bismarck Archipelago. Famous amongst birders for its wealth of sought-after endemics, it makes for a very fine extension to our extremely popular Papua New Guinea birding adventures. Arriving in Hoskins in the late afternoon after our short flight from Port Moresby, we were immediately struck by the fabulous volcanic mountain scenery. We soon had the bags loaded up in the vehicle and were on the road towards our excellent and rather luxurious Finsch s (Growling) Imperial Pigeon by Glen Valentine accommodations at the edge of Kimbe Bay. The drive from the airport to Kimbe is usually rather uneventful, especially bird-wise but this trip was quite the exception as we d already admired both

3 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Singing and Metallic Starlings before leaving the parking area. En route we also made stops for flocks of Buff-bellied Mannikins feeding on the recently seeding tall grass and this stop led to us coaxing in a singing Australian Reed Warbler. Another highlight before reaching the dive resort was encountering a flock of around twenty handsome and swift Moustached Treeswifts hunting unusually low over the road in the late afternoon. This was undoubtedly one of my best and most memorable sightings ever of this attractive species! We arrived at Walindi around dusk and after meeting up with Mark, David and Jaye, we settled into our rooms before enjoying a delicious and laughter-filled welcome dinner. Black Bittern by Glen Valentine Most of our time on the Island was spent in the extensive Garu Forest Reserve that protects one of two remaining patches of lowland forest in eastern New Britain. Many of the island s lowland endemics occur here and we were able to find most of these desirable species during our time on the island. Walking the gravel road that winds its way through Garu gave us easy access to this otherwise impenetrable habitat and we managed to find most of our target species this way. Highlights were plentiful and included Pacific Baza, Variable Goshawk, several Knobbilled Fruit Doves, White-necked and Violaceous Coucals, the scarce and often-elusive White-mantled Kingfisher, Redknobbed, Yellowish and the scarce Finsch s (Growling) Imperial Pigeons, the miniscule Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, Red-flanked and Coconut Lorikeets and unusually large numbers of the usually absent or at least very rare Redchinned Lorikeet, the gaudy Purple-bellied Lory, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, the dashing and dimorphic Eclectus Parrot, Ashy Myzomela, Red-banded Flowerpecker, Long-tailed Myna, White-bellied and Barred Cuckooshrikes and Varied Triller amongst many others! We also found several Melanesian Megapodes along with their unique and interesting nest burrows. The forest interior is difficult to access in Garu but we did manage to make our way into this dense and gloomy habitat that gave us a chance at a few tricky and shy interior species. After a fair amount of effort, our efforts were at least rewarded with several superb views of Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher and a responsive but extremely furtive Velvet Flycatcher. Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher by David Erterius

4 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II During our drives through the extensive oil palm plantations to and from the various forest sites we were thrilled to encounter and obtain great views of a few usually-tricky species such as Black Bittern and Stephan s Emerald Dove. A walk up the nearby Kilu Ridge one afternoon yielded excellent and repeat views of many striking and sought-after endemics as usual and highlights included Redknobbed and Yellowish Imperial Pigeons, Whitenecked Coucal, Red-chinned Lorikeet by David Erterius Moustached Treeswift, magnificent Blyth s Hornbill, noisy Blue-eyed Cockatoo, New Britain Friarbird, Oriental Dollarbird, Spangled Drongo, the scarce Melanesian Kingfisher (recently split from the widespread but extremely variable Collared Kingfisher), the brilliantly-coloured Purple-bellied Lory and Eclectus Parrot. Best of all though was the pair of New Britain Boobook that our site-guide managed to expertly find. We also undertook a very enjoyable boat trip into Kimbe Bay where we visited two tiny offshore islands in search of the island tramp endemics that are found there. Although the trip to and from the islands skirts the mainland and does not venture beyond the bay, we still added some interesting seabirds to the list. These included huge numbers of Black Noddy, several Brown Noddy and small numbers of Blacknaped and Roseate Terns, a single unexpected juvenile Bridled Tern and several Lesser Frigatebirds. The undisputed highlight though was the single Heinroth s Shearwater that flushed up from alongside our boat and then flapped away gingerly before turning around, banking perfectly and then flying back towards us, offering unbeatable views of this mega-rare Spotted Whistling Duck by Glen Valentine

5 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II seabird! Thereafter, we arrived at the small offshore islands of Malu, Little Malu Malu and Restorf. We spent an hour or so anchored off these islands where we swiftly managed to encounter and get everyone onto all of the target species: exciting new species that were seen included MacKinlay s Cuckoo-Dove, the highly sought-after and beautiful Nicobar Pigeon, Island Imperial Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher, zippy Sclater s Myzomela, flashy Mangrove Golden Whistler, furtive Island Monarch, the handsome Whitebellied Sea Eagle and recently split Eastern Osprey. We also had the opportunity to don masks, snorkels and flippers and partake in some excellent snorkelling off Restorf Island. The ocean here is a lovely, turquoise blue colour, crystal clear and literally teems with the most elaborately coloured fish one could ever imagine! By the late morning we were heading back to shore where a scrumptious lunch awaited us. Roseate Tern by David Erterius Two separate afternoon trips to the Kulu River also proved worthwhile and afforded us excellent scope views of a pair of Spotted Whistling Duck. We also managed to obtain fabulous views of the striking Black Bittern, the strange and unique Nicobar Pigeon, as well as a surprise sighting of the rarely seen New Britain Dwarf Kingfisher. Many other more numerous New Britain specialties were also enjoyed here in the gorgeous late afternoon light and these included Purplebellied Lory, Eclectus Parrot, Violaceous Coucal, Red-knobbed and Yellowish Imperial Pigeons. The lodge environs produced regular sightings of Pacific Reef Heron, Sacred Kingfisher, Black and Olivebacked Sunbirds and New Britain Friarbird, while other noteworthy species that were seen during our time in the various habitats on the island included flocks of White-rumped and Uniform Swiftlets, Bismarck Crow, several flushed King Quail, Buff-bellied Mannikin and some rather confiding Buff-banded Rails. Our New Britain island extension certainly provided us with a great deal of fantastic birding, a number of really special and localized endemics, fabulous scenery, excellent accommodation and food and an overall wholly enjoyable experience and we were now seriously revved up for the main event our comprehensive mainland Papua New Guinea birding adventure! Annotated Checklist of Birds Recorded 87 species recorded (82 seen and 5 heard only) Key to abbreviations E endemic to Papua New Guinea NE near endemic to Papua New Guinea I - Introduced

6 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II H Heard only NP National Park CR - Critically endangered EN - Endangered VU - Vulnerable NT - Near Threatened DD - Data Deficient Key to bracketing Round bracket refers to the alternative name for the species Birds (87 in total: 82 seen, 5 heard) Nomenclature and taxonomy follows Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds) IOC World Bird List (v 8.1). Ducks, Geese & Swans Anatidae Spotted Whistling Duck Dendrocygna guttata (2) 1 Kulu River 19.7 and 2 Kulu River Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa pelewensis (3) 3+4 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 2 NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 10 Kulu River Megapodes Megapodiidae Melanesian Megapode (Scrubfowl) Megapodius eremita (2) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area King (Blue-breasted) Quail (1) 4 Beef Farm Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies Phasianidae Excalfactoria chinensis lepida Petrels, Shearwaters & Diving Petrels Procellariidae Heinroth's Shearwater (VU) Puffinus heinrothi (1) 1 observed Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns Ardeidae Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis australis (3) 1 Kulu River 19.7, 1 NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 3 Kulu River Nankeen (Rufous) Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus (2) 1 Kulu River 19.7 and 1+2 heard observed (Eastern) Great Egret Ardea alba modesta (1) 2 observed Pacific Reef Heron (Egret) Egretta sacra sacra (2) 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 2 observed Frigatebirds Fregatidae Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel ariel (2) 3 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 3 observed 21.7.

7 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Osprey Pandionidae Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus (3) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 19.7, 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 2 observed Kites, Hawks & Eagles Accipitridae Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata (1) 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster (3) Up to 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 2 Kulu River Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus (4) Up to 5 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 3+3 heard observed White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster (1) 1 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Buff-banded Rail Observed 1 day(s) in total. White-browed Crake Observed 1 day(s) in total. Dusky Moorhen (1) 1 Beef Farm Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae Gallirallus philippensis Porzana cinerea Gallinula tenebrosa Sandpipers and Allies Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus variegatus (2) 1 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 2 observed Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres interpres (1) 1 observed Grey-tailed Tattler (NT) Tringa brevipes (1) 4 observed Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Laridae Brown Noddy Anous stolidus pileatus (1) 1 observed Black Noddy Anous minutus minutus (3) 6 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 200 observed Greater Crested (Swift) Tern Thalasseus bergii cristatus (1) 20 observed Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus anaethetus (1) 1 observed Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii bangsi (1) 4 observed Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana sumatrana (1) 12 observed Common Tern Sterna hirundo longipennis

8 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II (3) 10 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 50 observed Pigeons and Doves Columbidae Amboyna (Slender-billed) Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis (1) 1 heard Kulu River MacKinlay's Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia mackinlayi arossi (1) 3 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Stephan's Emerald (Ground) Dove Chalcophaps stephani (3) 4+6 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 15 NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 20 Kulu River Nicobar Pigeon (NT) Caloenas nicobarica nicobarica (2) 5 Kulu River 19.7 and 2+2 heard Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Bronze Ground Dove Alopecoenas beccarii (2) 1 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 1 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area Knob-billed Fruit Dove Ptilinopus insolitus (2) 20 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 6 Garu Wildlife Management Area Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon (NT) Ducula rubricera (3) Up to 15 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 6 Kulu River Finsch's (Growling) Imperial Pigeon (NT) Ducula finschii (2) 1 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 1 Garu Wildlife Management Area Island Imperial Pigeon Ducula pistrinaria (1) 30 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Yellowish (Yellow-tinted) Imperial Pigeon (NT) Ducula subflavescens (4) Up to 15 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 1 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Cuckoos Cuculidae White-necked (Pied) Coucal Centropus ateralbus (3) Up to 6 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 2 Kulu River Violaceous Coucal (NT) Centropus violaceus (3) 2+2 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 1 heard Kulu River Pacific (Australasian) Koel Eudynamys orientalis (1) 1 heard Kulu River Shining Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus (2) 1 Kulu River 19.7 and 1 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area New Britain Boobook (VU) (1) 2 Kilu Ridge Owls Strigidae Ninox odiosa Treeswifts Hemiprocnidae Moustached Treeswift Hemiprocne mystacea (3) 4 Kilu Ridge 20.7 and 10 NBPOL Palm Plantations Swifts Apodidae White-rumped Swiftlet Aerodramus spodiopygius (2) 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7.

9 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis (4) Up to 100 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 40 Kulu River Rollers Coraciidae Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis (1) 1+1 heard Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe Kingfishers Alcedinidae Black-capped Paradise Kingfisher Tanysiptera nigriceps (2) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area White-mantled Kingfisher (NT) Todiramphus albonotatus (1) 1 Garu Wildlife Management Area Melanesian (Collared) Kingfisher Todiramphus tristrami (1) 1 Kilu Ridge Beach Kingfisher Todiramphus saurophagus (1) 1 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus sanctus (4) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 2 NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 2 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (3) 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe New Britain (Variable) Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx sacerdotis (1) 1 Kulu River Hornbills Bucerotidae Blyth's Hornbill Rhyticeros plicatus (3) Up to 30 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 2 Kulu River Cockatoos Cacatuidae Blue-eyed Cockatoo (VU) Cacatua ophthalmica (3) Up to 20 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 2 Kulu River Old World Parrots Psittaculidae Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot Micropsitta pusio (1) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus (3) Up to 25 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 10 Kulu River Red-chinned Lorikeet Charmosyna rubrigularis (3) 100 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 30 Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7 and 2 Kulu River Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis (3) Up to 40 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 12 Kulu River Purple-bellied Lory Lorius hypoinochrous (3) Up to 15 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 15 Kulu River Coconut Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus (3) Up to 30 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 12 Kulu River 21.7.

10 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Honeyeaters Meliphagidae Ashy Myzomela Myzomela cineracea (2) 3 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area Sclater's Myzomela Myzomela sclateri (1) 20 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, New Britain Friarbird Philemon cockerelli (3) Up to 6 Garu Wildlife Management Area and 2+1 heard Kulu River Cuckoo-shrikes Campephagidae Barred Cuckooshrike Coracina lineata (1) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area White-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina papuensis (2) 2 Kulu River 19.7 and 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area Varied Triller Lalage leucomela (3) 2+2 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7 and 1 Kulu River Whistlers and allies Pachycephalidae Mangrove Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura (1) 2 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Drongos Dicruridae Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus (1) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area Fantails Rhipiduridae Willie Wagtail (Fantail) Rhipidura leucophrys melaleuca (4) 5+4 heard NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 2+4 heard Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris (3) 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7 and 2 Kulu River Monarchs Monarchidae Island Monarch Monarcha cinerascens (1) 2 Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Shining Flycatcher (Monarch) Myiagra alecto (2) 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area Velvet Flycatcher (Monarch) Myiagra hebetior (1) 1 Garu Wildlife Management Area Crows, Jays, and Magpies Corvidae Bismarck Crow Corvus insularis (4) 10+5 heard NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 2+5 heard Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Swallows Hirundinidae

11 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica (3) 2 Kulu River 19.7, 2 Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe 20.7 and 2+2 heard observed Australian Reed Warbler (3) 1 heard Beef Farm Papuan Grassbird Observed 1 day(s) in total. Reed warblers and allies Acrocephalidae Acrocephalus australis sumbae Grassbirds and allies Locustellidae Megalurus macrurus Starlings Sturnidae Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica (4) heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7 and heard Kulu River Singing Starling Aplonis cantoroides (2) 3 Garu Wildlife Management Area Long-tailed Myna Mino kreffti (3) 4+4 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7, 6 Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7 and 4 Kulu River Flowerpeckers Dicaeidae Red-banded Flowerpecker Dicaeum eximium (2) 4 Garu Wildlife Management Area 19.7 and 2 Garu Wildlife Management Area Sunbirds and Spiderhunters Nectariniidae Black Sunbird Leptocoma aspasia (3) 4+2 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area 20.7 and 2+2 heard Malu Malu I and Restorf I, Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis (1) 1 Kulu River Old World Sparrows Passeridae Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus (4) 6 NBPOL Palm Plantations 20.7 and 4+8 heard Walindi Plantation Resort, Kimbe Waxbills, Munias and allies Estrildidae Buff-bellied Mannikin Lonchura melaena (3) 10 NBPOL Palm Plantations Mammals (2 in total: 2 seen) Old World Fruit Bats Pteropodidae Island Flying Fox Pteropus hypomelanus (1) 20+4 heard Garu Wildlife Management Area Great Flying Fox Pteropus neohibernicus (1) 6 Kilu Ridge 20.7.

12 Trip Report RBL New Britain Ext II Rockjumper Birding Ltd Tel: (USA & Canada) toll-free: River View Commercial Centre Black River Alternative Mauritius Website: