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Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superba remains common in mid-montane forested habitats of the Arfak Mountains near Manokwari.

Best of Papua

This four week’s birding expedition combines Papua’s finest and most complementary hotspots in terms of species endemism and total diversity: Biak Island in Geelvink or Cenderawasih Bay, the Baliem Valley, Lake Habbema alpine plateau and Ibele Valley montane cloud-forests in the Snow Mountains near Wamena, lowland forest and Lake Sentani in the northern lowlands near Jayapura, foothill, hill and montane forests in the Arfak Mountains, lowland forest near Sorong, tantalizing Waigeo Island, and a Dampier Strait atoll. If you only come birding in Papua once, then take this tour!

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 > Biak Island 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 > Biak Island 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 > Biak Island 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. In the evening we shall transfer to Kota Biak for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Day 4 > Baliem Valley cultivations We shall transfer to Frans Kaisepo Airport to catch the first morning's flight to Jayapura's Sentani Airport and connect onward to Wamena, the administrative and transportation hub of the up to 20 km wide and more than 80 km long Grand Baliem Valley of the Snow Mountains. The latter short, one hour hop lifts us across the vast expanses of lowland floodplain forest of the ‘Meervlakte’ with its myriad of meandering rivers, along the precipitous northern scarp of the Snow Mountains, finally into the beautifully landscaped Grand Baliem upland valley at a chilly 1,500 m above sea level. Following lunch, we shall bird the rest of the afternoon in cultivations, grasslands and patchy open woodland in the Baliem Valley. Our main target is the endemic Black-breasted Munia, while other birds inhabiting the open country here include Blue-breasted Quail, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Brahminy Kite, Papuan Harrier, Variable Goshawk, Brown Falcon, White-shouldered Fairywren, Ornate Melidectes, Smoky Honeyeater, Buff-faced Scrubwren, Mountain and Brown-breasted Gerygone, White-eyed Robin, Golden Whistler, Superb Bird of Paradise, Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Bushchat, Golden-headed Cisticola, Capped White-eye, Island Leaf-Warbler, Tawny Grassbird, and Red-capped Flowerpecker. Dinner and a good night’s rest in Wamena.

Day 5 > Lake Habbema alpine plateau Following a pre-dawn breakfast in our Wamena hotel we shall drive out for three hours along a new road to the magnificent Lake Habbema alpine plateau at c. 3,200 m elevation. Here, above the timberline in the shadow of Peak Trikora, we shall start our exploration of the Snow Mountains proper by mid-morning with a gentle walk along the lake shore as we slowly adjust to the altitude. A thorough scan of the lake itself could produce Salvadori’s and Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, and Eurasian Coot, while Spotless Crake is common along the marshy lake shore. Other goodies we may come across in the surrounding scrubby hillocks include Orange-billed Lorikeet, Papuan Harrier, Brown Falcon, Australian Kestrel, Orange-cheeked Honeyeater, Short-bearded Melidectes, Papuan Thornbill, Lorentz’s Whistler, and Crested Berrypecker. After enjoying a packed lunch while overlooking the lake, we shall have the entire afternoon to bird through grasslands and shrubbery toward our camp near the 3,225 m pass into the Ibele Valley. En route, it should not take long before we spot our first Papuan Grassbird, Alpine Pipit, or colorful flock of Snow Mountain Munias, but to find the secretive Snow Mountain Quail we may need to persevere. After dinner at camp a nocturnal foray could produce Archbold’s Owlet-Nightjar, Archbold’s Nightjar as well as roding New Guinea Woodcock. Overnight at camp.

Day 6 > Lake Habbema alpine plateau Today we shall direct our efforts to the heathy hills above camp. The open stands of Libocedrus-pines and associated shrubberies here constitute the preferred habitat of the delightful MacGregor’s 'Bird of Paradise' and early morning is the best time to get to grips with this star bird. Observing Macgregoria here, in what ranks as some of the finest mountain scenery this side of the Himalayas, is an unforgettable experience, regardless of whether this enigmatic taxon is a bird of paradise or a member of the honeyeater family. Other noteworthy species in this habitat and the scattered pockets of closed forest here include Whiskered and Orange-billed Lorikeet, Brehm’s and Painted Tiger-Parrot, Red-collared Myzomela, Black-throated, Orange-cheeked, Black-backed and Smoky Honeyeater, Sooty and Short-bearded Melidectes, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Large Scrubwren, Papuan Thornbill, Greater Ground-robin, Garnet and Alpine Robin, Lorentz’s Whistler, Great Wood-swallow, Friendly Fantail, and Mountain Firetail. After lunch at camp, we have an entire afternoon to track down some of the more elusive species mentioned above. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 7 > Ibele Valley montane cloud-forests We shall take a packed lunch and bird an entire day through excellent cloud-forests in the uppermost stretches of the Ibele Valley toward a new camp at 2,800 m elevation in a planted Pandanus-grove, locally known as Yaubagema. This is the general area of the ‘Mosbosch Camp’ of the Third Archbold Expedition to New Guinea. The first part of our excursion traverses the interface between open heathy pine forest and closed mossy cloud-forest. Here we stand an excellent chance of seeing Macgregoria again, while looking out specifically for the increasingly rare and hyper-elusive Archbold’s Bowerbird. Further down in the mossy cloud-forest, we may connect with Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Papuan, Whiskered and Orange-billed Lorikeet, Brehm’s and Modest Tiger-Parrot, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Papuan Treecreeper, Black-backed Honeyeater, Belford’s Melidectes, Papuan Scrubwren, Greater Ground-robin, Canary Flyrobin, Garnet, Alpine, Black-throated and White-winged Robin, New Guinea Logrunner, Lesser Melampitta, Loria’s and Crested Bird of Paradise, Splendid Astrapia, Hooded Cuckoo-shrike, Dimorphic Fantail, Fan-tailed and Crested Berrypecker, and Mountain Firetail. During part of this excursion we will be birding along a fast-flowing stream where Torrent-lark is a regular encounter. A nocturnal stroll after dinner could produce Sooty Owl, Jungle Hawk-Owl, Large Owlet-Nightjar, Archbold’s Nightjar, and New Guinea Woodcock. Overnight at camp.

Day 8 > Ibele Valley montane cloud-forests Wake up to a true day’s birding in paradise as we shall be spending time at known haunts of Crested and Loria’s Bird of Paradise, Brown Sicklebill, Splendid Astrapia, and King-of-Saxony Bird of Paradise today. Other goodies present here include Shovel-billed Kookaburra, Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo, Goldie's and Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot, Black-billed and Great Cuckoo-Dove, White-bibbed Fruit-Dove, Shining Imperial-Pigeon, Chestnut Forest-Rail, Black-mantled Goshawk, Archbold’s and MacGregor's Bowerbird, Orange-crowned Fairywren, Olive-streaked Honeyeater, Lesser Ground-robin, Blue-grey Robin, Spotted Jewel-Babbler, Ifrit, Papuan Whipbird, Varied and Black Sittella, Mottled, Rufous-naped and Regent Whistler, Black Pitohui, Wattled Ploughbill, Great Wood-swallow, Mountain Peltops, Black-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Tit Berrypecker, and Blue-faced and Papuan Parrotfinch. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 9 > Ibele Valley montane cloud-forests We have a full day to search for some of the more elusive species enumerated above, with a hearty lunch in between. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 10 > Ibele Valley montane cloud-forests We have an entire morning to slowly bird up to the 3,225 m pass again. Following a late lunch here, vehicles will transport us back to Wamena for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 11 > Northern lowlands Having touched ground at Jayapura’s Sentani Airport on the first morning’s flight from Wamena, we shall have an earlier than usual lunch in town and drive out for two hours to our drop-off point west of the Cyclops Mountains. From here we shall require most of the afternoon to slowly bird toward our secluded Muaib jungle camp at 25 m elevation in pristine alluvial primary forest. Along the walk, wacko Blyth’s Hornbills, majestic Palm and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, and noisy Brown, Dusky and Black-capped Lories and Rainbow Lorikeets may fly overhead as we familiarize ourselves with some of the common or more conspicuous interior forest birds here: Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Slender-billed and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Stephan’s Dove, Wompoo, Pink-spotted, Superb, Beautiful and Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove, Purple-tailed, Pinon and Banded Imperial-Pigeon, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, New Guinea Friarbird, Fairy and Yellow-bellied Gerygone, Rufous Babbler, Little Shrike-thrush, Variable and Rusty Pitohui, Grey Crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Black Butcherbird, Brown Oriole, Black-browed Triller, Northern Fantail, Spangled Drongo, Spot-winged, Golden and Rufous-collared Monarch, and Yellow-faced Myna. After dinner at camp, a nocturnal foray in the vicinity could produce both Jungle and Papuan Hawk-Owl as well as Barred Owlet-Nightjar, Marbled Frogmouth, and the little-known Papuan Nightjar. Overnight at camp.

Day 12 > Northern lowlands Wake up to another day's birding in paradise as we shall be spending most of this morning at known display sites of consecutively the Twelve-wired, Lesser and King Bird of Paradise, soliciting sightings of the more mobile Pale-billed Sicklebill in between. Moreover, while sitting quietly in the forest, admiring the full array of display postures of these most magnificent of feathered life forms, we also stand an excellent chance of seeing other hot stuff like Northern Cassowary, Brown-collared Talegalla, New Guinea Megapode, Cinnamon Ground-Dove, Thick-billed Ground-Pigeon, or Victoria Crowned-Pigeon casually walking by. After lunch at camp, we shall bird all afternoon in the vicinity in search of more goodies like Variable Dwarf, Blue-black and Hook-billed Kingfisher, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Greater Black Coucal, Buff-faced Pygmy-Parrot, Double-eyed and Salvadori’s Fig-Parrot, New Guinea Bronzewing, Coroneted Fruit-Dove, Collared Imperial-Pigeon, Long-tailed Buzzard, Grey-headed Goshawk, Hooded and Red-bellied Pitta, White-eared Catbird, Tawny Straightbill, Yellow-gaped, Plain and Streak-headed Honeyeater, Meyer’s Friarbird, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Large-billed Gerygone, Black-sided Robin, Blue Jewel-Babbler, Brown-headed Crow, Jobi Manucode, Lowland Peltops, Boyer’s, New Guinea and Golden Cuckoo-shrike, Sooty and White-bellied Thicket-Fantail, Rufous-backed Fantail, Rufous and Hooded Monarch, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Golden Myna, Black Berrypecker, and Green-crowned, Plumed and Pygmy Longbill. Moreover, as we roam more widely in these dark forests, it should not take long before we feast our eyes on a party of Victoria Crowned-Pigeons, or surprise a pair of Brown-collared Talegalla feeding on the forest floor. By late afternoon we could return to the Lesser Bird of Paradise display tree for another observation session, or we could bird along one of the broader rivers which could produce Papuan Swiftlet among abundant Glossy and Uniform Swiftlets, as well as Papuan Spinetail and Moustached Treeswift together with at times spectacular evening flights of the various parrot species. Overnight at camp.

Day 13 > Northern lowlands Today we could have a welcome resit at the bird of paradise display sites or simply bird in search of some of the more elusive species mentioned above. Other sought-after birds that have been recorded here include the rare Shovel-billed Kookaburra, Pesquet’s Parrot and New Guinea Eagle. We could also monitor known nest mounds of the Brown-collared Talegalla from the comfort of a hide if this at times infuriatingly wary species eluded us thus far, spend time near fruit-dropping trees to seek prolonged views of Northern Cassowary, work stretches of small forest streams for the rare Forest Bittern, or just sit quietly at the edge of sago-swamp in the dire hope of getting to grips with the secretive New Guinea Flightless Rail. Overnight at camp.

Day 14 > Northern lowlands We have a final morning to look for some of the most elusive species listed above, and after lunch at camp we shall slowly bird back to our pick-up point where vehicles stand by to transport us to Sentani. Dinner and overnight in Sentani.

Day 15 > Lake Sentani and Arfak foothill forests Dawn shall see us birding the grasslands and patchy secondary forests around Lake Sentani where we foremost hope to come to grips with two rare and localized grassland finches: Grand and Hooded Munia. Other noteworthy birds present in the scenic open country here include Brown and Blue-breasted Quail, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Orange-fronted and Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Buff-banded Rail, Rufous-tailed Bush-hen, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Comb-crested Jacana, Whistling Kite, Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, White-shouldered Fairywren, Meyer's Friarbird, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Crimson Finch, and Chestnut-breasted Munia. We shall then transfer to Sentani Airport to catch the first morning’s flight to Manokwari. After a quick lunch in town, we shall set out on the two hours’ drive by chartered vehicle to our drop-off point on the Oransbari Peninsula. From here, we shall require most of the afternoon to slowly bird toward a camp at 200 m elevation in primary foothill forest along a refreshing stream. Noteworthy bird species we may connect with along the walk include Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Dusky and Black-capped Lory, Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot, Double-eyed and Large Fig-Parrot, Moluccan King-Parrot, Hooded Pitta, Long-billed Honeyeater, Black-sided Robin, Grey Crow, White-bellied Thicket-Fantail, and Frilled Monarch. We shall also be passing a display tree of the Lesser Bird of Paradise where several fine adult males usually gather, and we may be able to observe the full array of displays and interactions at the lek. Besides, while sitting quietly in the forest here, there’s always a chance of a Northern Cassowary, Red-billed Talegalla or Pheasant Pigeon casually walking by. The final hours of light we may spend in a gulley where we could be rewarded with sightings of Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, New Guinea Bronzewing, Cinnamon Ground-Dove, Thick-billed Ground-Pigeon, Red-bellied Pitta, Wallace’s Fairywren, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Painted Quail-thrush, Blue Jewel-Babbler, Rufous-backed Fantail, and Sooty Thicket-Fantail. If we are really lucky, we may also hear and see the sought-after Shovel-billed Kookaburra here toward dusk. A nocturnal foray after dinner could produce Sooty Owl, Jungle Hawk-Owl, Wallace's Owlet-Nightjar, and Marbled Frogmouth. Overnight at camp.

Day 16 > Arfak foothill and hill forests We shall take our breakfast as the dawn chorus develops, and proceed to an area where several display courts of the Magnificent Bird of Paradise are located, in the hope of witnessing the full array of amazing display postures of this beautiful species at close range from a well-appointed palm-frond hide. Having truly absorbed this, we shall probably require the rest of the day to slowly bird uphill toward a camp at 1,100 m elevation, enjoying a packed lunch en route. Mixed insectivore feeding flocks along the way usually include Pale-billed Scrubwren, Goldenface, Grey and Sclater’s Whistler, Variable and Hooded Pitohui, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Yellow-eyed and Grey-headed Cuckoo-shrike, Chestnut-bellied and Northern Fantail, Pygmy and Spangled Drongo, Black-winged, Spot-winged, Golden and Frilled Monarch, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Black-fronted White-eye, Black Berrypecker and Green-crowned Longbill. Everywhere in these hills resound the songs and calls of Red-billed Talegalla, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, White-crowned and Dwarf Koel, Pheasant Pigeon, Green-backed Gerygone, Olive Flyrobin, Black-chinned Robin, Northern Scrub-Robin, Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler, Rusty Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Crested Pitohui, Crinkle-collared Manucode, and Magnificent Riflebird. After dinner at camp, a nocturnal stroll in the vicinity could produce Sooty Owl, the distinctive mid-montane affinis-subspecies of Barred Owlet-Nightjar, and Marbled Frogmouth. Overnight at camp.

Day 17 > Arfak hill forests We shall bird all day in the excellent ridgetop hill forest around camp. In good weather, New Guinea Eagle can often be heard here around the crack of dawn, and with luck we may be able to track down this awesome bird, calling persistently from the crown of an emergent forest tree down-slope. Several bowers of the gorgeous Masked Bowerbird are to be found here and we could monitor one of these from a well-appointed palm-frond hide early morning in order to get those much-wanted close-up views of this otherwise habitual canopy-dweller. And while sitting quietly in the forest here we may well attract skulking Red-billed Talegalla, Red-bellied Pitta, Rusty Mouse-warbler, White-rumped Robin, Northern Scrub-Robin, and Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler. Flowering trees around camp often attract colorful Fairy, Josephine’s and Papuan Lorikeets, diminutive Red, Mountain and Black Myzomelas, and sometimes Vogelkop Melidectes. Additional species that we shall look out for here after lunch include Blue-collared and Pesquet’s Parrot, Spotted Catbird, Hill-forest Honeyeater, White-faced Robin, Vogelkop Whistler, Black-billed Sicklebill, Mountain Peltops, Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike, Black-shouldered Cicadabird, Black Monarch, Black Fantail, Capped White-eye, and Island Leaf-Warbler. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 18 > Arfak hill and montane forests Today, we shall require most of the morning to bird uphill toward our final camp at 1,600 m elevation in stunning ridgetop cloud-forest. As we gradually shift to higher ground and enter montane forest we shall start hearing Fan-tailed Cuckoo, White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo, Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove, White-bibbed Fruit-Dove, Shining Imperial-Pigeon, Papuan Treecreeper, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Marbled, Rufous-sided and Western Smoky Honeyeater, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Perplexing, Vogelkop and Grey-green Scrubwren, Mountain and Brown-breasted Gerygone, Canary Flyrobin, Blue-grey and Green-backed Robin, Spotted Jewel-Babbler, Rufous-naped, Sclater’s and Regent Whistler, Black Pitohui, Superb Bird of Paradise, and Friendly and Dimorphic Fantail. After lunch at camp, we shall monitor a nearby display court of the Western Parotia from a well-appointed palm-frond hide. The wacko ballet performance of the court-tending male of this species simply has to be witnessed to be believed, and invariably ranks as the highlight of a birding trip to the Arfaks. Dusk shall see us standing in a tree-fall gap in anticipation of roding New Guinea Woodcock, while Sooty Owl, Jungle Hawk Owl, and Large and Mountain Owlet-Nightjar all are possible here on a nocturnal excursion after dinner. Overnight at camp.

Day 19 > Arfak montane forests We shall have our hearty breakfast while enjoying the developing dawn chorus, here including Vogelkop Scrubwren, Ashy Robin, and especially Regent Whistler, a powerful and varied songster. The first hour of light we shall bird around the tree-fall gaps near camp where we hope to attract the sought-after Long-tailed Paradigalla and where many species actively forage into the open. Here and in surrounding tracts of primary montane forest we may see Pygmy, Papuan, Whiskered and Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot, Red-collared Myzomela, Vogelkop Melidectes, Mottled Whistler, Great Wood-swallow, Mountain Peltops, Black-breasted Boatbill, Capped White-eye, and Lemon-breasted, Fan-tailed and Tit Berrypecker. We could then spend some time at the Parotia display court again, which besides the not-to-be-missed display performances of the parotias themselves, also provides a reasonable chance of seeing otherwise highly retiring species as Wattled Brush-turkey, Bronze Ground-Dove, and White-striped Forest-Rail casually walking across the courts. After lunch at camp, we shall search for species likely to elude us for a while or for which better views may be desirable: Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo, Modest Tiger-Parrot, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, White-striped Forest-Rail, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Lesser Ground-robin, Garnet, Black-throated and Ashy Robin, New Guinea Logrunner, Spotted Jewel-Babbler, Varied Sittella, Black Pitohui, Lesser Melampitta, Long-tailed Paradigalla, Black and Black-billed Sicklebill, Arfak Astrapia, and Black-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 20 > Arfak montane forests Following a hearty pre-dawn breakfast we shall climb to a high point at 2,100 m, solliciting sightings of Dwarf Cassowary, Wattled Brush-turkey, Mountain Swiftlet, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Black-throated Honeyeater, Smoky Robin, Black and Black-billed Sicklebill, and Arfak Astrapia as we stroll through utterly stunning cloud-forests, swathed in mosses and epiphytes. Numerous so-called roofed maypole bowers of the Vogelkop Bowerbird — nothing less than the most complex and largest structures known in the avian world — are scattered throughout the forests here, and there will also be ample opportunity to get up close and personal with this highly entertaining species from a well-appointed palm-frond hide. Other goodies we may catch up with here include Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot, Bronze Ground-Dove, Ornate Fruit-Dove, Black-mantled Goshawk, Orange-crowned Fairywren, Olive Straightbill, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Black-throated Robin, and Spotted Jewel-Babbler. We shall have snacks and lunch underway and likely return to camp in the evening only. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 21 > Arfak montane and hill forests After an early morning's birding, we shall slowly bird down to the 1,100 m camp again. Following lunch here we shall have an entire afternoon to track down some of the more elusive hill forest species already mentioned above. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 22 > Arfak hill and foothill forests We shall enjoy an early morning’s birding around the 1,100 m camp, pack a lunch, and slowly bird down the day to our pick-up point where vehicles await us to transport us to our Manokwari hotel in the evening for dinner and a longer than usual night's rest.

Day 23 > Sorong lowlands We shall enjoy a late breakfast and transfer to Manokwari's Rendani Airport to catch the mid-morning’s flight to Sorong. After lunch in town, we shall set out on the 45 minutes’ drive by chartered vehicle to our drop-off point in Sorong lowlands. Here we shall bird all afternoon through selectively logged and primary rainforest, in search of our main targets: the restricted-range Red-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher and Black Lorry. Other noteworthy species present here include Red-billed Talegalla, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Hook-billed and Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Long-billed Cuckoo, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, White-crowned and Dwarf Koel, Dusky and Black-capped Lory, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Pesquet’s Parrot, Moluccan King-Parrot, Orange-fronted Hanging-Parrot, Papuan Needletail, Dwarf Fruit-Dove, Hooded and Red-bellied Pitta, White-eared Catbird, Meyer's Friarbird, Green-backed Gerygone, Black-sided Robin, Grey Crow, Crinkle-collared Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, King and Lesser Bird of Paradise, Lowland Peltops, Boyer’s, Grey-headed, New Guinea and Golden Cuckoo-shrike, Black-browed Triller, Sooty Thicket-Fantail, Golden Monarch, Golden and Yellow-faced Myna, and Streak-headed Munia. Dusk shall see us gathered at an open vantage point to witness evening flights of hornbills and especially parrots, which usually include the Black Lory. Dinner and overnight in Sorong.

Day 24 > Waigeo Island After a hearty dawn breakfast in our Sorong hotel, we shall set out early morning on the three hours’ speedboat ride to the mouth of the Orobiai River on Waigeo. Here, water birds as Radjah Shelduck, Little Pied Cormorant, Great-billed and Striated Heron, and Australian Ibis tend to occur year-round on tidal mudflats and in secondary mangroves, alongside a selection of migrant Palearctic waders in season, which usually includes a few Grey-tailed Tattler. Other birds we may encounter here include Little, Beach and Sacred Kingfisher, Large-billed Gerygone, and Torresian Crow. We shall then have the rest of the morning to slowly bird along the river toward our camp in riparian lowland forest at c. 50 m elevation. Blyth’s Hornbills and colorful parrots, including Rainbow Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Palm and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked and Eclectus Parrot, fly overhead as we acquaint ourselves with the vocally or behaviorally conspicuous subset of the forest avifauna: Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Brush Cuckoo, Slender-billed and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Stephan’s Dove, Wompoo, Superb and Beautiful Fruit-Dove, Purple-tailed and Pinyon Imperial-Pigeon, Mimic and Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, New Guinea Friarbird, Variable and Rusty Pitohui, Hooded and Black Butcherbird, Brown Oriole, Northern Fantail, Spangled Drongo, and Yellow-faced Myna. Following lunch at camp, we shall probably end up spending most of the afternoon at a popular display tree of the fabled Red Bird of Paradise, and take ample time to observe the up to eight plumed males that normally gather here, interacting with soliciting females. After dinner back at camp, a nocturnal foray in the vicinity may produce Sooty Owl, Jungle Hawk-Owl, and Marbled Frogmouth. Overnight at camp.

Day 25 > Waigeo Island We shall enjoy our breakfast while listening to the developing dawn chorus, which here invariably includes Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Olive Flyrobin, Black-sided Robin, and Variable and Rusty Pitohui among others. We shall then proceed to an area where several display courts of the Wilson’s Bird of Paradise are located, in the hope of witnessing the full array of amazing display postures of this nearly mythical bird at close range from the comfort of a well-appointed palm-frond hide. Following lunch, we shall bird all afternoon along the river where we may see Azure Kingfisher, Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, Moustached Treeswift, New Guinea Bronzewing, Pink-spotted, Claret-breasted, Orange-bellied and Dwarf Fruit-Dove, Red-necked Crake, Long-tailed Buzzard, Variable and Grey-headed Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Gurney's and Little Eagle, Red-throated Myzomela, Spotted, Brown-backed and Green-backed Honeyeater, Brown-headed Crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Red Bird of Paradise, Yellow-eyed and New Guinea Cuckoo-shrike, and Slender-billed Cicadabird. Incubation mounds of the Dusky Megapode are scattered everywhere throughout the flat bottom-valley lowland forests here, and it should not take long before we feast our eyes on a couple of Western Crowned-Pigeons as they break the relative silence with their clapping wing beats to alight in nearby tall forest trees. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 26 > Waigeo Island Today we shall have a second observation session at one of the Wilson’s Bird of Paradise courts. Other species often visiting the courts here include Cinnamon Ground-Dove, Pheasant Pigeon, Red-bellied Pitta, Rusty Mouse-warbler, and Pale-billed Scrubwren, and with all the luck in the world, we may even be treated to a wandering endemic Bruijn's Brush-turkey casually walking across. After lunch, there shall be another opportunity to monitor either Wilson’s or Red Bird of Paradise or we could simply bird in the vicinity where we may be rewarded with sightings of Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Moluccan King-Parrot, White-eared Catbird, Long-billed and Puff-backed Honeyeater, Fairy and Yellow-bellied Gerygone, Olive Flyrobin, Grey Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Brown-headed Crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Lowland Peltops, Sooty Thicket-Fantail, Spot-winged, Golden and Frilled Monarch, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Black Berrypecker, and Green-crowned, Plumed and Pygmy Longbill. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 27 > Dampier Strait atoll We shall slowly bird our way along the river toward its mouth and transfer to a tiny atoll in Dampier Strait. After lunch here, we shall have a relaxed afternoon’s birding in search of regional small island specialists like the prasinorrhous-subspecies of White-bibbed Fruit-Dove, Olive Honeyeater, Island Whistler, Rufous Fantail, and Lemon-bellied White-eye. Other noteworthy resident species here include Dusky Megapode, Beach Kingfisher, Spice Imperial-Pigeon, Varied Honeyeater, and Metallic Starling. In addition, Violet-necked Lory, Great-billed Parrot, Bicolored Imperial-Pigeon, Great-billed Heron, Island Monarch, and Moluccan Starling have been recorded on occasion. We shall proceed to Sorong in the evening for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Day 28 > Sorong We shall enjoy a late breakfast and transfer to Sorong’s DEO Airport for the mid-morning's flight to Jakarta.

Best of Papua

Day-by-day itinerary

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