We set out at 4am for what I can only describe as a ‘wild goose chase’ or rather more relevantly a ‘wild crowned pigeon chase’ to a site just under quarter of an hour away from the lodge. Parking up we walked for a mere 20 minutes before I played the call of Papuan Hawk-Owl which promptly called back and Royke spotlighted. What a result!
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| Papuan Hawk-Owl |
The horizon was just beginning to get light as we walked away from the bird and within another 20 mins had stopped to look at an Azure Kingfisher perched along a stream. Highlights from our route march (which I won’t repeat ever again) were headlined by a superb Black-sided Robin giving repeated views as it circled us before perching right over our head on multiple occasions. A pair of Blue-black Kingfishers flew around us repeatedly as well and it was a shame they never perched close enough for us to see. Other sightings included Northern Fantail, a group of stunning Emperor Fairy-Wrens, Northern Variable Pitohui and a group of Salvadori’s Fig-Parrots feeding high overhead.
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| Emperor Fairywren |
The walk out of the forest was tough, with barely a trail to follow as we climbed over fallen logs, vines and roots making the going underfoot extremely treacherous and we eventually made it back to the lodge at 12.30 utterly exhausted in the high temperature.
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| Hook-billed Kingfisher |
An hour after lunch we set out on another short drive to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking mile upon mile of pristine forest where we saw Pinon’s Imperial-Pigeon, a distant Jobi Manucode picked up by Pete, another Long-tailed Honey-Buzzard, several Lowland Peltops, at least 4 Rufous-bellied Kookaburras, Channel-billed Cuckoo and a confiding Hook-billed Kingfisher to end the day on a high note.
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