Following a very early breakfast we drove 45 minutes to the
start of the famous Anaso Track and began our ascent in search of some very
special birds. The beginning of the walk was undertaken in the dark but as the
day dawned clear yet again, the forest came alive with birdsong. There was
nothing new however, until we spotted a Red-eared Fruit-dove feeding on some
berries at the top of a tree and followed this with brief views of Spot-tailed
Goshawk perched beside the trail. But it’s about 3km to the Diabolical Nightjar
site from the road and we didn’t waste any time in walking up to the small
plateau area, and sure enough we had crippling views of this much-wanted
endemic in the morning sunshine.
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| Diabolical Nightjar |
It’s uphill all the way to the top of the
mountain and another 3km or so, but we took our time and found a number of
goodies such as Small Sparrowhawk, flyover Golden-mantled Racquet-tails, Sulawesi
Myzomela, Greater Sulawesi Honeyeater and Sulawesi Leaf-warbler. Pride of place
went to a pair of Purple-bearded Bee-eaters perched over the trail and we
watched them in perfect light as they hawked for insects right in front of us.
As we approached our lunch stop we made a couple of attempts at the always
tricky Maroon-backed Whistler which gave several very brief views allowing some
of the group to get onto it. A flyover White-bellied Sea Eagle was a surprise
as we checked out the highest area for the endemic Mountain Serin, a number of
which were seen flying over at various stages today.
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| Yellow-vented Whistler |
A couple of Grey-headed
Imperial-pigeons were seen here as well, including one sat on a nest and a few Streak-headed
Dark-eyes were also found. However the undoubted highlight of the day happened
after lunch and on our return to the same spot after our excursion to the top
of the mountain. Firstly, a small flock was seen beside the path and scanning
through this finally revealed our one and only Hylocitrea of the trip, after
much searching and sweating over this bird it was a total relief!
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| Hylocitrea |
As we enjoyed
repeated views of this bird, Royke said the local guide accompanying us had
seen a Geomalia close by inside the forest. So after all the waiting and
watching along the trail we had already done for this species we were not too
hopeful of seeing it to say the least. Yet you just never know in birding and
amazingly most of us who attempted the walk over fallen trees and tree roots
were rewarded with varying degrees of views. Amazing! So on that note we headed
back down to our waiting vehicles, seeing another Purple-bearded Bee-eater, and
a much needed cup of coffee and a cracking slice of cake!
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| Purple-bearded Bee-eater |
Other endemics seen today included Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker,
Yellow-billed Malkoha, Great Shortwing, Cerulean Cuckooshrike, Sulawesi
Cicadabird, Malia, Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Rusty-bellied Fantail, Fiery-browed
Myna, Fiery-browed Myna and Sulawesi Drongo.
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| Fiery-browed Starling (Myna) |
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