So if we thought yesterday’s birding was hard, then I tell
you that spending the day on Mount Mutis in dense low cloud and fog, a howling
wind and steady rain would beat it hands down. There were spells when it didn’t
rain and these very short interludes were just long enough to lull us into
thinking the weather was clearing up – but oh no! Anyway, we made the best of
it as we always do but our time on Timor does seem to have been jinxed. Even so
we kept at it and dug out some quality birds with endemics such as Timor Imperial-pigeon, Timor Friarbird, Timor Leaf-warbler, and more views of Timor Blue Flycatcher. There was also Golden Whistler, Paddyfield
Pipit, lots of Island Thrushes
(and can you tell me why there are 50+ races of this species and no mention of
splits forthcoming at all?), but I just couldn’t call in a Pygmy Wren-babbler which were particularly non-responsive to the
ipod – as everything else seems to be on this island. In the afternoon we
birded at a lower elevation and notched up tickable views of the endemic Olive-headed Lorikeet, several of which
were seen perched in the Eucalyptus trees, a few Metallic Pigeons, a noisy flock of Spot-breasted Dark-eyes, Arafura
Fantail, Plain Gerygone, Little Pied Flycatcher, Derek had a Black-backed Fruit-dove, and we also
had Tricoloured Parrotfinch as well,
which was a bonus. We eventually arrived back at the hotel at 8pm…
Still no photos.......
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