Carita

This small patch of forest still holds a number of Javan endemics and as our hotel, just opposite the beach, is only a 5 minute drive away we were in a perfect position to explore the area. So on our first afternoon we walked slowly along the forest road and relatively quickly picked up the endemic Black-banded Barbet after something of a game of cat-and-mouse. But what a stunner it was and certainly worth the effort. A pair of endemic Grey-throated Tit-babblers were also found as well to make it a worthwhile afternoon. As the sun set and it gradually got dark the calls of a Brown Boobook led us to nice spotlight views and shortly after a Sunda Scops-owl was found just a few feet off the ground to complete a good day’s birding. Oh and a few of the group returned to the hotel early and had a Javan Banded Pitta in the headlights right at dusk!

Sunda Scops-owl

The following morning we were in the forest at sunrise and in the ever-improving gloom a female Javan Banded Pitta worked its was along the leaf-covered forest road in front of us. Not a bad way to start the day! Within a matter of minutes a male pitta was called in for close views as well. What a way to start the day! We spent the next few hours, before the temperature became too warm, walking through the forest getting more views of previously seen species, including great scope views of a Javan Owlet, Asian Drongo-Cuckoo, more tit-babblers, Black-capped Babbler, Emerald Dove, Banded Broadbill, both Scarlet and Sunda Minivets, Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Crescent-chested Babbler, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, and a bonus of a superb male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

At lunchtime a White-bellied Sea-Eagle was seen by a few of the group as they scanned from the beach across the road from the hotel. We finished the day off with another Brown Boobook and unfortunately the Javan Frogmouths were not responding this evening.