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Geelvink Islands endemicsNo less than 12 endemic bird species, including a megapode, two gorgeous paradise-kingfishers and two parrots, plus heaps of morphologically highly distinctive yet virtually 'forgotten' endemic subspecies await us on this birding adventure covering the islands of Biak and Numfor in Papua's Geelvink Bay. So join us as we sound out speciation in these insular taxa, and later still be in the fortunate opportunity to continually add ‘new species’ to your life list from the comfort of your easy chair... Day-by-day itineraryDay 1 Morning arrival at Kota Biak’s Frans Kaisepo Airport on overnight’s domestic flight from Jakarta. Following an earlier than usual lunch in town, we shall soon set out on the two hour's drive to our host village in northern Biak. Here we shall have a relaxed afternoon's birding around a couple of forest clearings where we could be rewarded with sightings of Brush Cuckoo, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Black-winged Lory, Red-fronted Lorikeet, Red-cheeked and Eclectus Parrot, Moustached Treeswift, Yellow-bibbed and Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove, Spice Imperial-Pigeon, Pacific Baza, Long-tailed Buzzard, Variable Goshawk, Gurney's Eagle, Emperor Fairywren, Dusky Myzomela, Hooded Butcherbird, Slender-billed Cicadabird, Black-browed Triller, Biak and Shining Flycatcher, Metallic and Long-tailed Starling, Biak White-eye, and Red-capped Flowerpecker. Evening shall see us gathered at a vantage point in anticipation of evening flights of parrots, which may still include a few Black-capped Lory, here of the distinctive yet heavily persecuted cyanauchen-subspecies. A nocturnal foray after dinner could produce the rarely seen Biak Scops Owl as well as Papuan Frogmouth and Large-tailed Nightjar. Overnight in village residence. Day 2 First light shall see us birding around the clearings, which often prove to be the best place to come to grips with the shy and secretive Biak Coucal. We shall then spend an entire morning along a trail running through a mixture of secondary growth and tall primary forest. Delightful Biak Paradise-Kingfishers and Hooded Pittas, the latter of the distictive rosenbergii-subspecies here, call everywhere in these forests. But to see the wary Biak Megapode, diminutive Geelvink Pygmy-parrot, and scarce Biak Gerygone and Biak Monarch, we shall need to persevere. After lunch back at our village abode, we shall spend the rest of the day along a creek, where with a good dose of luck, we may still find the world’s largest pigeon: the glorious Victoria Crowned-Pigeon. Other noteworthy species we may come across here include Emerald Dove, Little Shrike-thrush, Northern Fantail, and Golden Monarch, all represented by highly distinctive endemic subspecies. Dinner and overnight in village residence. Day 3 We have a full day to concentrate on finding those species likely to elude us for a while. We could monitor known incubation mounds of the Biak Megapode, bird along the creek for Victoria Crowned-Pigeon, and invariably spend much time scrutinizing mixed insectivore feeding flocks, with lunch in between. Dinner and overnight in village residence. Day 4 After a final morning's birding and lunch back at our village abode, we shall drive back to Kota Biak in the afternoon for dinner and a good night's rest. Day 5 Following a hearty pre-dawn breakfast in our Kota Biak hotel we shall transfer to Numfor Island by chartered c. four hours’ speedboat ride. The main focus of our attention here shall of course be the delightful Numfor Paradise-Kingfisher and the distinctive maforensis-subspecies of Island Leaf-Warbler, both of which are usually readily located. Other interesting birds we may see here after lunch include Black-winged Lory, Yellow-bibbed Fruit-Dove, Biak Flycatcher and Long-tailed Starling. Dinner and overnight in village residence. Day 6 We shall bird all morning on Numfor and transfer to Kota Biak again after lunch. Dinner and a good night’s rest in Kota Biak. Day 7 We shall enjoy a late breakfast and transfer to Kota Biak's Frans Kaisepo Airport for the mid-morning's flight to Jakarta. Related linksRead on about the birdlife of the Geelvink Islands. Read on about our Best of Papua birding expedition visiting the Geelvink Islands. Read on about our Waigeo, Arfak, and Geelvink Islands birding expedition visiting the Geelvink Islands. Read on about our Oceanic Papua birding extension to the Geelvink Islands. Browse our terms and conditions. Browse our check-list of the birds of Papua. |
Geelvink Islands endemics |
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