Sunday 14th June – Tuesday 30th June 2009
Sunday 5th July – Tuesday 21st July 2009

Birds of Paradise  Two departures!

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Mention the words Papua New Guinea (PNG) to most wildlife enthusiasts and you will conjure up visions of the most flamboyant and exotic looking family of birds on Earth – the Birds-of-Paradise!

Their iridescent colours combine with intricate, strange and elongated feathers, and the most amazing displays and calls of any birds you’re ever likely to see. Apart from this unique and highly sought after family there is much more to make this your trip of a lifetime. Unspoilt rainforests melt into meandering rivers, coastal swamps and woodlands where over 700 species of birds are found, on the world’s richest island for endemics. This tour is different in that we have designed it so that it will suit birders of all ages who prefer an easier pace and opportunities to savour the birds and enjoy the grounds of our wonderful lodges. To complete our totally tropical experience we also have the opportunity to meet the ‘Huli’ tribe. Adorned with intricate headwear and covered with paint, they are still relatively unknown to the outside world.

Days 1 - 2
We will take an evening flight from London to Cairns, Australia, where we connect with our onward flight bound for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea arriving in the morning of Day 3.

Day 3
After our arrival we will check into our hotel, after which we will visit several close sites where we can acquaint ourselves with a variety species that may include, Spotted Whistling-Duck, Wandering Whistling Ducks, Pacific Black Ducks, Dusky Moorhen, Comb-crested Jacanas, Nankeen Night-Heron, Whistling Kite, Orange-fronted and Orange-bellied Fruit-Doves, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Black-backed Butcherbird, Grey-headed Mannikins and if we are lucky there could be Papuan Frogmouths perched up on their day-time roost. Night Port Moresby.

Day 4
Today we will set off to explore the nearby Varirata National Park, which lies in the foothills above Port Moresby. Here amongst the trails that cut through moist evergreen forest and eucalyptus, we will search for several species that are difficult to find elsewhere. Amongst the most spectacular is the Raggiana Bird of Paradise, and we could well find these fairly common birds performing their amazing courtship display. There are good numbers of kingfishers represented here amongst which are Azure, Yellow-billed, Forest, the huge Blue-winged Kookaburra, the gorgeous Rufous-bellied Kookaburra and with luck Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher.

As we search this wonderful habitat we could come across skulkers such as Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler, Painted Quail-Thrush, Northern Scrub Robin
and Pheasant Pigeon, while the sounds of Crested Pitohui and Black-billed Brush-Turkeys echo throughout the forest. Other species to be found here and amongst nearby mangroves and lagoons, include Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise, Eastern Riflebird, Ornate Fruit Dove, Spot-breasted Meliphaga, Dwarf , Mangrove, Golden and White-bellied Whistler, Eastern Riflebird, Mangrove Fantail, Silver-eared Honeyeater, Mangrove Robin, Mountain, Red-headed and Papuan Black Myzomelas, Broad-billed Flycatcher and Mangrove Gerygone. Night Port Moresby.

Day 5
We should have time this morning to do a little birding before transferring to the airport for our early afternoon flight to the island of New Britain and the Walindi Resort for a 3 night stay. New Britain, the largest of the Bismarck Archipelago has one of the richest avifauna of any island in the Southwest Pacific, and over the days spent here we will be searching out many of the islands endemic or near endemic species.

Days 6 – 7
The Walindi Resort is a small dive resort, situated on the shores of Kimbe Bay in northern New Britain. It is World renowned for scuba diving, and set in a lush tropical setting, its accommodation consists of 12 self-contained, comfortable bure style bungalows spread along the beach front, and surrounded by rain forest gardens. As we explore lowland, hill and patches of rainforest we can expect to see many new, rare and spectacular birds including, Yellow-tinted, Red-knobbed and Finsch’s Imperial Pigeons, Fruit doves are well represented with Red-knobbed and White-breasted, while White-bibbed Ground-Dove can be difficult to find.

Amongst the kingfishers, we could find Black-headed Paradise, New Britain and Collared, with many stunning parrots such as Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Bismarck Hanging Parrot, Eastern Black-capped Lorries, Singing Parrot and the tiny Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot. We will hopefully find Melanesian Scrubfowl and keep a look out for a host of other species that may include Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, New Britain Friarbird, Long-tailed Myna, Buff-bellied Mannikin, Island Crow, Violaceous Coucal, Red-banded Flowerpecker, New Britain Boobook and with luck Black Honey Buzzard, Bronze Ground-Dove, New Britain Bronzewing or Bismarck Woodswallow. While staying here we will also take a boat trip to one or two of the offshore islands where we will search for Nicobar Pigeon, Island Imperial Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher, Mackinlay’s Cuckoo-Dove and Mangrove Golden Whistler amongst others. Depending on sea conditions we may go out further in search of pelagic seabirds which will hopefully include the rare and endemic Heinroth’s Shearwater.

Days 8 - 10
Today we need to take an early morning flight to Port Moresby where we have half a day before catching our onward flight to Mount Hagen, the capital of the Papua New Guinea highlands and our next lodge nestled under Magic Mountain and Rondo Ridge, and situated in a secluded area, 7100 ft above sea level, and surrounded by magnificent mountains. In the fertile valley around the town we will check out the grasslands to look for Yellow-breasted Bowerbird and Brown Quail, but it is the highlands around our lodge that hold a wealth of sought after species. We will now be in prime Bird of paradise habitat and our excitement will be hard to contain as we go out on regular walks in search of stunning species such as King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Superb Bird of Paradise, Brown Sicklebill, Black Sicklebill and both Ribbon-tailed and Stephanie’s Astrapia. If that’s not enough to cause adrenalin overload then the follow list of possibilities will be sure to tip you over the edge: As the forest comes alive with strange and enchanting sounds we will search for Archbold's and Macgregor's Bowerbird, Crested and Loria's Bird of Paradise, Goldie's, Josephine's, Papuan, Plum-faced, Little Red, Yellow-billed & Orange-billed Lorikeets, Painted, Modest and Brehm's, Tiger Parrots, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, White-breasted Fruit Dove, Island Thrush, , Spotted Jewel-Babbler, Blue-capped Ifrita, Orange-crowned Fairywren, Garnet, Black-throated, White-winged, Blue-grey and White-eyed, Snow Mountain Robin, Wattled Ploughbill, Regent Whistler, Alpine Pipit, Mid-mountain, Fan-tailed, Spotted, Tit and Crested Berrypecker, plus opportunities to connect with difficult birds such as Chestnut Forest Rail, Rufous Woodcock, Feline and Mountain Owlet Nightjars, Papuan Whipbird and lower down Superb and Blue Birds of Paradise.

Days 11 - 12
Today we need to take a flight from Mount Hagen to our next destination the fabulous Karawari Lodge which sits astride a hilltop overlooking a swiftly flowing river of the same name. The large balcony delivers grand views over a vast expanse of tropical jungle and distant mountain ranges, while scattered huts of grass and thatch, and children gambolling on the riverbank are the only signs of human presence. Our thatched Lodge is covered with local artefacts from the villagers who live along Papua New Guineas main river, the mighty Sepik. Here we can expect a good insight into the Sepik culture as well as search the humid forests for its special birds. With luck we may find the very localised Edward’s Fig-Parrot, plus one of the world’s smallest parrots the Buff-faced Pygmy-Parrot. Further searching may reveal such delights as Palm Cockatoo, Dusky and Western Black-capped Lory, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Great Cuckoo-Dove, Stephan’s Ground-Dove, Pinon Imperial and Collared Imperial Pigeon, Dwarf Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Greater and Lesser Black Coucals, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Black-shouldered Cicadabird, Dollarbird, Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Blyth’s Hornbill, Black-browed Triller, Golden-headed Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Gerygone, Ochre-collared Monarch, Shining Flycatcher, Mimic Meliphaga, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, the beautiful Golden Myna and both Glossy-mantled and Jobi Manucodes. Raptors in the area could include Crested Hawk, Long-tailed Buzzard and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, while the river edge may hold Black Bittern and the forest leaf litter rustles to the shy Orange-footed Scrubfowl. You never really know what we could find and surprises might well be the impressive Victoria Crowned Pigeon, or a Brown-collared Brush-Turkey.

Days 13 - 15
After our final breakfast we will transfer by plane to Tari, where we will then drive to the famous Ambua Lodge, situated in the Southern Highlands at a height of 2100 metres. Here we stay for a three stay. It is the amazing wealth of birdlife, set amongst towering trees which support mosses, lichens and orchids, that brings birdwatchers, naturalists and serious ornithologists to this area from all over the world. From the lodge grounds upwards to the Tari gap we will search for thirteen species of Birds of Paradise amongst a host of other avian delights. We will be staying in luxurious, traditional highland-style chalets set in the lodge grounds, which are surrounded by montane forest and overlook the valley below. Birding begins the minute you step outside your door, and we could soon encounter Short-tailed Paradigalla or Loria’s Bird of Paradise. Higher up, on the slopes of Mount Kerewa, we will look for Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Brown Sicklebill, King of Saxony and the elusive Crested Bird of Paradise. With so many spectacular species to be seen amongst a variety of mixed habitats, we are sure to come away with a very enviable list, which may well include Stephanie’s Astrapia, Blue Bird of Paradise, Lawes’s Parotia, Madarasz’s, Painted and Brehm’s Tiger-Parrots, Rufous-throated Bronze Cuckoo, White-breasted Fruit Dove, Dusky Lory, Plum-faced, Orange-billed, Papuan and Goldie’s Lorikeets, Mountain Kingfisher, Mountain Swiftlet, Lesser Malampitta, Island Thrush, Blue-capped Ifrita, Orange-crowned Fairy-Wren, Mountain Mouse-Warbler, Buff-faced and Papuan Scrub-Wrens, Dimorphic and Friendly Fantails, Black-breasted Boatbill, Garnet, Black-throated, White-winged and Blue-grey Robins, Regent, Rufous-naped and Sclater’s Whistlers, the skulking Lesser Ground Robin, Black Pitohui, Wattled Ploughbill, Varied Sitella, Crested, Tit and Mid-mountain Berrypecker, Olive Straightbill, Red-collared Myzomela, Marbled, Yellowish Streaked, Rufous-backed and Common Smoky Honeyeaters, Belford’s, Yellow-browed, Sooty and Ornate Melidectes, Papuan and Blue-faced Parrotfinches, Mountain Firetail, Hooded Mannikin, Torrent-Lark, Black Butcherbird, and Macgregor’s and Archbold’s Bowerbirds.

This area is also home to the magnificent and secretive New Guinea Harpy Eagle, and with luck we may come across this truly spectacular raptor. Several evening excursions in search of night birds and wildlife could produce Mountain Nightjar, Papuan Boobook, Marbled and Papuan Frogmouth, or possibly a Mountain Owlet-Nightjar. If anyone can tear themselves away from this festival of birdlife we can arrange a visit to see the Huli ‘wigmen’ performing their local dances, donned in traditional headwear decorated with plumes from birds of paradise and parrots. It’s hard to image that these painted warriors were totally isolated from the rest of the world until their discovery just two generations ago. We should feel honoured as even today they have had very little contact with foreigners.

Day 16
Our last morning in this very special place will see us search for any species we may have missed out on. As we will already know by now, anything can turn up in and around the fabulous gardens, just image your very last memories of Ambua being a male Blue Bird of Paradise or a fully tailed Stephnie’s Astrapia. It doesn’t get much better than this! We will reluctantly leave and take a flight to Port Moresby, in time for our connecting flight back to Cairn’s and on to London.

Day 17 Arrival back in London.

Leaders: Steve Bird, Gina Nichol and Local Guides