Easy West Papua

Birding expedition (19 days/18 nights)

We begin our West Papuan birding adventure with two introductory half a day's excursions outside the town of Sorong, situated on the northwestern tip of New Guinea's Bird's Head or Vogelkop Peninsula. Next morning we set out on a five days' pilgrimage to the avian delights of Waigeo Island in the fabled Raja Ampat archipelago off Sorong. Then follows an entire day's birding our local patches around Sorong again.

Next we shift our attention to the Arfak Mountains near the town of Manokwari, on the opposite eastern side of the Bird's Head, where we shall be based for five nights in search of an entire suite of so-called Vogelkop endemics.

We then move to the northern lowlands near the town of Sentani, where the airport of Jayapura is located. Upon arrival here, we shall first seize the opportunity to bird the scenic open country around nearby Lake Sentani in pursuit of uncommon and localized savannah specialists. Early next morning then, we set out on an entire day's birding along a road through foothill forest in the northern lowlands proper.

The final leg of our birding adventure takes us to the oceanic island of Biak in West Papua's famed Geelvink or Cendrawasih Bay, where on our three nights' stay we stand an excellent chance of finding all 20 widely accepted so-called Geelvink endemics present on the island.

This is the very best West Papua has to offer in a relaxed and worry free, seamless travel experience!

When?

Possible year-round, but most certainly best from June to November.

Scheduled departures

Please enquire for details on our upcoming departures.

Physical effort

Reasonable physical fitness and good agility are required for this tour which plies some challenging terrain.

Tour summary

Day 1 > Sorong and Sorong lowlands.
Day 2 > Sorong and Waigeo Island.
Day 3-5 > Waigeo Island.
Day 6 > Waigeo Island and Sorong.
Day 7 > Sorong and Sorong lowlands.
Day 8 > Sorong, Manokwari and Arfak montane forests.
Day 9-12 > Arfak montane forests.
Day 13 > Arfak montane forests and Manokwari.
Day 14 > Manokwari, Sentani and Lake Sentani.
Day 15 > Sentani and northern lowlands.
Day 16 > Sentani, Lake Sentani, Kota Biak, and Biak Island.
Day 17-19 > Kota Biak and Biak Island.

Tour description

Day 1 > Sorong and Sorong lowlands Morning arrival at Sorong's DEO Airport on overnight domestic flight from Jakarta or alternative gateway. We will be there to welcome you at the airport, and we shall soon drive out together by chartered vehicle for 30 minutes along a road winding into the surrounding foothills. Here we shall bird the rest of the morning through selectively logged rainforest along the road, making incursions into the forest as necessary in search of our main targets: the West Papua endemic Red-billed Brushturkey and Black Lory and the restricted-range Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher. Other noteworthy species we may encounter here include Pacific Baza, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Pygmy and Gurney's Eagle, Variable and Grey-headed Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Wompoo, Pink-spotted, Claret-breasted, Orange-bellied and Dwarf Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed, Pinon's and Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Greater and Lesser Black Coucal, Dwarf Koel, Little Bronze Cuckoo, White-crowned and Brush Cuckoo, Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blyth's Hornbill, Palm and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus and Red-cheeked Parrot, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Papuan and Hooded Pitta, Emperor Fairywren, Green-backed, Long-billed, Plain and Streak-headed Honeyeater, New Guinea Friarbird, Spotted, Tawny-breasted, Puff-backed, Mimic and Yellow-gaped Honeyeater, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Yellow-bellied, Green-backed and Fairy Gerygone, Black Berrypecker, Spectacled, Pygmy and Yellow-bellied Longbill, Lowland Peltops, Black and Hooded Butcherbird, Boyer's and Golden Cuckooshrike, Grey-headed and Black Cicadabird, Black-browed Triller, Grey Whistler, Arafura Shrikethrush, Brown Oriole, Spangled Drongo, Northern Fantail, Spot-winged, Golden and Frilled Monarch, Shining Flycatcher, Grey Crow, Glossy-mantled and Trumpet Manucode, Metallic Starling, Yellow-faced Myna, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Black and Olive-backed Sunbird, and Streak-headed Munia. Other sought-after birds that occur here include New Guinea Eagle, Western Crowned Pigeon, Long-billed Cuckoo, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Pesquet's Parrot, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Moluccan King Parrot, Dusky Lory, Large Fig Parrot, Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot, Wallace's Fairywren, Papuan Babbler, Southern Variable Pitohui, Magnificent Riflebird, Magnificent, King and Lesser Bird-of-paradise, and Golden Myna. We shall enjoy lunch in town and continue our search for some of these more elusive species throughout the afternoon. The final hour of light or so shall see us gathered at an open vantage point to witness evening flights of pigeons, hornbills and parrots, the latter usually including the West Papua endemic Black Lory. Finally, a nocturnal foray here could produce both Papuan Hawk-Owl and Boobook, Rufous Owl, Papuan and Large-tailed Nightjar, and Marbled and Papuan Frogmouth. Dinner and overnight in our partnering Sorong hotel.

Day 2 > Sorong and Waigeo Island After breakfast in our Sorong hotel, we shall set out on the two hours' ride by scheduled public fast boat across Dampier Strait to Waigeo. En route we may be rewarded with sightings of Lesser Frigatebird, Brown Booby, Brown and Black Noddy, Greater and Lesser Crested Tern, Bridled, Black-naped and Common Tern as well as Streaked and Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Red-necked Phalarope and Whiskered and White-winged Tern in season. Other migrant or vagrant species we may come to grips with en route include Wilson's and Matsudaira's Storm Petrel, Bulwer's Petrel, Red-footed Booby, Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed, Spectacled and Sooty Tern, and Pomarine Skua. We shall then continue overland by chartered 4WD-vehicle to our partnering resort located on the beach-front on Waigeo's southwestern shores. Birds we may encounter around the resort include Pacific Reef Heron, Osprey, Stephan's Emerald Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Spice and Pied Imperial Pigeon, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Beach and Sacred Kingfisher, Palm Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, New Guinea Friarbird, Mimic Honeyeater, Large-billed Gerygone, Hooded Butcherbird, Willie Wagtail, Shining Flycatcher, Torresian Crow, and Olive-backed Sunbird. We shall enjoy lunch at the resort and drive out by chartered 4WD-vehicle again along a track winding into the surrounding forested limestone hills, where we shall start our exploration of Waigeo proper. Blyth's Hornbills and colorful parrots, including Palm and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Black-capped Lory and Coconut Lorikeet may fly overhead as we acquaint ourselves with the vocally or behaviorally conspicuous subset of the forest avifauna here: Variable and Grey-headed Goshawk, Sultan's and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo, Pink-spotted, Superb, Beautiful and Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon's Imperial Pigeon, Brush Cuckoo, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Grey Whistler, Rusty and Raja Ampat Pitohui, Brown Oriole, Spangled Drongo, Northern Fantail, Spot-winged, Golden and Frilled Monarch, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Black-sided Robin, Yellow-faced Myna, and Olive-crowned Flowerpecker. Finally, a nocturnal foray en route back down toward the coast could produce Greater Sooty and Rufous Owl, Papuan Boobook, Large-tailed Nightjar, Marbled and Papuan Frogmouth, and Wallace's Owlet-nightjar. Dinner and overnight in resort.

Day 3 > Waigeo Island Following a pre-dawn breakfast, we shall proceed by chartered 4WD-vehicle to an area where a number of display courts of the Wilson's Bird-of-paradise are located in close proximity to one another in a so-called exploded lek configuration. Here we stand an excellent chance of witnessing the full array of display postures and high-intensity male-female interactions in this nearly mythical species at close range from well-appointed hides. Other species often visiting the courts here include Red-necked Crake, Cinnamon Ground Dove, Papuan Pitta, Rusty Mouse-warbler and Pale-billed Scrubwren. We shall then bird the wider vicinity, primarily in search of the Western Crowned Pigeon, which we may stumble upon along the track or flush up with clapping wing beats from the forest floor to alight in nearby tall forest trees. Other goodies we may come to grips with here include Dusky Megapode, Pacific Baza, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Pygmy and Gurney's Eagle, Collared Sparrowhawk, New Guinea Bronzewing, Pheasant Pigeon, Dwarf Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Dwarf Koel, White-eared and Little Bronze Cuckoo, White-crowned Cuckoo, Moustached Treeswift, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Moluccan King Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot, White-eared Catbird, Green-backed, Brown-backed and Long-billed Honeyeater, Ruby-throated Myzomela, Spotted and Puff-backed Honeyeater, Yellow-bellied, Green-backed and Fairy Gerygone, Black Berrypecker, Spectacled, Pygmy and Yellow-bellied Longbill, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Lowland Peltops, Black Butcherbird, Barred Cuckooshrike, Common and Black Cicadabird, Waigeo Shrikethrush, Sooty Thicket Fantail, Brown-headed Crow, and Olive Flyrobin. We shall enjoy lunch at the resort and continue our search for some of these more elusive species throughout the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in resort.

Day 4 > Waigeo Island After a pre-dawn breakfast, we shall proceed by chartered 4WD-vehicle to an area that holds a popular display tree of the fabled Red Bird-of-paradise, taking ample time to observe the up to eight plumed males that normally gather here, interacting with soliciting females. The rest of the day we shall bird the wider vicinity in search of the more elusive species already mentioned above. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in resort.

Day 5 > Waigeo Island We have an entire day to capitalize on some of the more elusive Waigeo Island specialties already mentioned above. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in resort.

Day 6 > Waigeo Island and Sorong After a pre-dawn breakfast there shall be a final opportunity for an observation session at either the Wilson's or Red Bird-of-paradise. Alternatively, we could bird in the wider vicinity in search of some of the more elusive species already mentioned above. Following lunch back at the resort, we shall then drive out by chartered 4WD-vehicle to catch the public fast boat back to Sorong. Dinner and overnight in Sorong hotel.

Day 7 > Sorong and Sorong lowlands Following a nocturnal breakfast in our Sorong hotel, we shall set out on the one hour's drive by chartered vehicle to an area of secondary flattish lowland forest. From the crack of dawn onward here, we hope to witness the display of the adult male Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise on its display pole, after which we shall bird the wider vicinity. Noteworthy species that we may encounter here, in addition to many of those already listed for the Sorong lowlands above, include Red-necked Crake, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Stephan's Emerald Dove, Coroneted Fruit Dove, Long-billed Cuckoo, and Moustached Treeswift. Heading back toward Sorong, a stop in an area of mangroves and open swamp forest en route may produce Spotted and Wandering Whistling Duck, Osprey, Barred and Buff-banded Rail, Australasian Swamphen, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Black Coucal, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Blue-black and Little Kingfisher, Oriental Hobby, Orange-breasted Fig Parrot, Brown-backed, Scrub and Varied Honeyeater, Large-billed Gerygone, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Willie Wagtail, and Black Thicket Fantail. We shall enjoy lunch in town and then drive out again by chartered vehicle for 45 minutes to a drop-off point in foothill forest from where we shall continue on foot along a forest trail toward a display tree of the King Bird-of-paradise. Here we shall take ample time to witness the full array of amazing display postures of this little gem, in fact the smallest of all paradisaeids, which 19th century naturalist A. R. Wallace so affectionately described as 'a wanton waste of extreme beauty’. Late afternoon then could provide another opportunity here to witness evening flights of pigeons, hornbills and parrots. Dinner and overnight in Sorong hotel.

Day 8 > Sorong, Manokwari and Arfak montane forests We shall enjoy breakfast in our Sorong hotel and transfer to Sorong's DEO Airport for the first morning flight to Manokwari. We shall soon set out on the two hours' drive by chartered 4WD-vehicle to a community-owned guest house located at c. 1,600 m elevation in the Mount Indon area of the Arfak Mountains. We shall make several stops en route where we may be rewarded with sightings of Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Sultan's Cuckoo-Dove, Ornate, Superb, Claret-breasted and Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon's Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Moustached Treeswift, Blyth's Hornbill, Palm and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pesquet's, Eclectus and Blue-collared Parrot, Masked Bowerbird, Obscure Berrypecker, Mountain Peltops, Black-bellied Cicadabird, Rusty Whistler, Northern Variable Pitohui, Black-winged Monarch, Torrent-lark, Grey Crow, Magnificent Riflebird, Lesser Bird-of-paradise, Black-chinned Robin, Torrent Flyrobin, and Olive-crowned Flowerpecker. After a packed lunch at the guest house we shall then start our exploration of these fabled mountains proper with a gentle introduction to the commoner or more conspicuous species of the garden clearings and roadside gap-phase environment: Variable Goshawk, Sultan's, Bar-tailed and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Mountain Fruit Dove, White-eared Bronze Cuckoo, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Plum-faced and Yellow-billed Lorikeet, White-shouldered Fairywren, Western Smoky Honeyeater, Red-collared Myzomela, Vogelkop and Ornate Melidectes, Vogelkop and Grey-green Scrubwren, Brown-breasted Gerygone, Grey Thornbill, Mid-mountain Berrypecker, Spectacled Longbill, Black-breasted Boatbill, Sclater's Whistler, Black Fantail, Black Monarch, Western Parotia, Blue-grey Robin, Canary Flyrobin, Island Leaf Warbler, Capped White-eye, and Streak-headed Munia. Other goodies we may come to grips with here include New Guinea and Pygmy Eagle, Collared Sparrowhawk, Metallic Pigeon, Pesquet's and Blue-collared Parrot, Pygmy, Fairy and Josephine's Lorikeet, Thick-billed Berrypecker, Mottled Berryhunter, Glossy-mantled, Crinkle-collared and Trumpet Manucode, Long-tailed Paradigalla, Crescent-caped Lophorina, Black-billed Sicklebill, Papuan Grassbird, New Guinea White-eye, and both Blue-faced and Papuan Parrotfinch, as well as Gray's Grasshopper Warbler in season. Finally, a nocturnal excursion after dinner could produce Greater Sooty Owl, Papuan Boobook and Feline and Mountain Owlet-nightjar, while the predominantly lowland-dwelling Papuan Hawk-Owl and Marbled and Papuan Frogmouth also have been recorded here on occasion. Overnight in community-owned guest house.

Day 9 > Arfak montane forests After a pre-dawn breakfast, we shall monitor nearby display courts of the Western Parotia from well-appointed hides. 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. Besides the not-to-be-missed display performances of the parotias themselves, these hides potentially also offer an intimate window of observation into the secretive lives of habitual ground-dwellers as Wattled Brushturkey, White-striped Forest Rail, Cinnamon and Bronze Ground Dove, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Ashy and Green-backed Robin, and Lesser Ground Robin. Following lunch back at the guest house, there shall be further opportunities to spend potentially rewarding time with the parotias, or to get up close and personal with the highly entertaining Vogelkop Bowerbird from one of the hides set up in front of its formidable so-called roofed maypole bowers in the area. The last hours of light shall see us birding around the garden clearings. Dinner and overnight in community-owned guest house.

The year 2013 was as wonderful as busy for us. The highlight certainly is our marriage in summer and the following honeymoon. What great places we could visit and what breathtaking animals we could see! Therefore we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything you have done to arrange our trip to West Papua and contributing with that significantly to a felicitous and memorable vacation. It has been a pleasure to spend that time with you. — Roland and Romina Eberli, Switzerland

Day 10 > Arfak montane forests Following a hearty nocturnal breakfast, we shall hike pre-dawn to an area of secondary forest where a number of display courts of the Magnificent Bird-of-paradise are located in close proximity to one another in a so-called exploded lek configuration. Here we stand an excellent chance of witnessing the amazing array of display postures and high-intensity male-female interactions in this glorious species at close range from well-appointed hides. Other birds often in evidence around the courts here include Wattled Brushturkey, White-striped Forest Rail, Stephan's Emerald Dove, Cinnamon Ground Dove, Pacific Koel, Arfak Catbird, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Pale-billed Scrubwren, Green-backed Robin, and Glossy-mantled, Crinkle-collared and Trumpet Manucode. In the surrounding forest we may see New Guinea Bronzewing, Superb Fruit Dove, Wallace's Fairywren, Long-billed and Marbled Honeyeater, Red, Papuan Black and Mountain Myzomela, Mountain Honeyeater, Goldenface, Fairy Gerygone, Yellow-bellied Longbill, Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler, Vogelkop and Sclater's Whistler, Arafura Shrikethrush, Hooded Pitohui, Rufous-backed and Drongo Fantail, Black-winged and Frilled Monarch, White-faced and White-rumped Robin, Papuan Scrub Robin, Yellow-legged Flyrobin, and Black-fronted White-eye. We shall enjoy a packed lunch on site and continue our search for some of these more elusive species throughout the afternoon, or we could spend potentially rewarding time with the Magnificent Bird-of-paradise again. Dinner and overnight in community-owned guest house.

Day 11 > Arfak montane forests After a pre-dawn breakfast, we shall bird all day along a loop ascending to a high point at c. 2,000 m elevation in pursuit of three potentially highly elusive species of bird-of-paradise present here: Arfak Astrapia, Black Sicklebill and Black-billed Sicklebill. Most of the trail follows gently-sloping ridgetop cloud-forest but we shall also be traversing some challenging and steep terrain. Other goodies we may come across along the loop include Wattled Brushturkey, New Guinea Eagle, Ornate Fruit Dove, Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, Rufous-throated Bronze Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Red-breasted Pygmy Parrot, Brehm's and Modest Tiger Parrot, Papuan Lorikeet, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Papuan Treecreeper, Orange-crowned Fairywren, Rufous-sided Honeyeater, Olive Straightbill, Black-throated Honeyeater, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Perplexing Scrubwren, Papuan Logrunner, Fan-tailed and Tit Berrypecker, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Mottled Berryhunter, Papuan Sittella, Rufous-naped Bellbird, Black Pitohui, Regent Whistler, Friendly and Dimorphic Fantail, Lesser Melampitta, Ashy, Black-throated, Smoky and Garnet Robin, and Lesser Ground Robin. We shall enjoy a packed lunch in a natural forest clearing in which Archbold's Nightjar has been found to nest, and where Black-mantled and Meyer's Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Mountain Swiftlet, and Great Woodswallow may be seen flying overhead. Dinner and overnight in community-owned guest house.

Day 12 > Arfak montane forests Following a nocturnal breakfast, we shall proceed to a popular display tree of the stunning Lesser Bird-of-paradise, taking ample time to observe the up to six plumed males that normally gather here, interacting with soliciting females. Other noteworthy species we may encounter here include New Guinea Eagle, Pheasant Pigeon, Moluccan King Parrot, Papuan Pitta, Masked Bowerbird, Wallace's Fairywren, Green-backed, Spotted and Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler, Stout-billed Cuckooshrike, Piping Bellbird, Rusty, Vogelkop and Grey Whistler, Northern Variable Pitohui, Chestnut-bellied and Rufous-backed Fantail, Black-winged and Frilled Monarch, Grey Crow, Glossy-mantled, Crinkle-collared and Trumpet Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, White-faced and White-rumped Robin, and Papuan Scrub Robin. And with all the luck in the world we may be treated to a Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar at its day-time roost here. We shall enjoy a packed lunch on site and continue our search for some of these more elusive species throughout the afternoon, or we could spend potentially rewarding time with the Lesser Bird-of-paradise again. Alternatively, if circumstances thereto are deemed favorable, we could try our luck at an active display site of the Crescent-caped Lophorina, a jaw-dropping shape-shifter that normally performs very infrequently only. Dinner and overnight in community-owned guest house.

Day 13 > Arfak montane forests and Manokwari We have an entire day to capitalize on some of the more elusive Arfak montane specialties already mentioned above and shall drive back to Manokwari in the evening for dinner and a good night's rest in our partnering Manokwari hotel. Breakfast and lunch in community-owned guest house. Dinner and overnight in Manokwari hotel.

Day 14 > Manokwari, Sentani and Lake Sentani We shall enjoy breakfast in our Manokwari hotel and transfer to Manokwari's Rendani Airport for the mid-morning flight to Sentani. After lunch at our partnering Sentani hotel, we shall set out on the 20 minutes' drive by chartered vehicle to an area of grasslands, patchy woodlands and sago-groves on the shores of Lake Sentani. Here we foremost hope to come to grips with three throughout their entire New Guinea ranges generally uncommon and localized open country birds: Fawn-breasted Bowerbird and Grand and Hooded Munia. Other noteworthy species present in the scenic open country against the backdrop of the imposing Cyclops Mountains here include Spotted Whistling Duck, Brown and King Quail, Black Bittern, Osprey, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Pygmy Eagle, Variable Goshawk, Whistling and Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Buff-banded Rail, Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Swamphen, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Comb-crested Jacana, Orange-fronted and Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon's and Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Black and Pheasant Coucal, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Coconut Lorikeet, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, White-shouldered Fairywren, Long-billed and Streak-headed Honeyeater, Meyer's and New Guinea Friarbird, Tawny-breasted and Mimic Honeyeater, Large-billed Gerygone, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Spangled Drongo, Willie Wagtail, Shining Flycatcher, Grey Crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Lesser Bird-of-paradise, Papuan Grassbird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Pied Bush Chat, Crimson Finch, and Chestnut-breasted Munia. Finally, an optional nocturnal foray here could produce Large-tailed Nightjar and Papuan Frogmouth. Dinner and overnight in Sentani hotel.

Day 15 > Sentani and northern lowlands We shall enjoy a nocturnal breakfast in our Sentani hotel and set out on the one-hour's drive to an area of foothill forest just west of the Cyclops Mountains. After arrival here around dawn, we shall bird all day along a road through selectively logged rainforest, making incursions into the forest as necessary and enjoying a packed lunch on site. All along the road, wacko Blyth's Hornbills, majestic Palm and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, and noisy Black-capped, Dusky and Brown Lories and Coconut Lorikeets may fly overhead as we familiarize ourselves with some of the common or more conspicuous forest birds here: Variable Goshawk, Sultan's and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Stephan's Emerald Dove, Wompoo, Pink-spotted, Superb, Beautiful and Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon's and Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Brush Cuckoo, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, New Guinea Friarbird, Tawny-breasted, Puff-backed and Mimic Honeyeater, Yellow-bellied and Fairy Gerygone, Lowland Peltops, Black and Hooded Butcherbird, Grey-headed Cicadabird, Black-browed Triller, Grey Whistler, Northern Variable Pitohui, Brown Oriole, Spangled Drongo, Northern Fantail, Spot-winged, Golden and Ochre-collared Monarch, Shining Flycatcher, Grey Crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Metallic Starling, Yellow-faced Myna, and Red-capped Flowerpecker. Scarcer or unobtrusive species we may encounter include Collared Brushturkey, New Guinea Megapode, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Grey-headed Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Coroneted Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Greater Black Coucal, Dwarf Koel, Long-billed Cuckoo, Little Bronze Cuckoo, White-crowned Cuckoo, Moustached Treeswift, Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, Papuan King Parrot, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Salvadori's and Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot, Papuan and Hooded Pitta, Tan-capped Catbird, Emperor Fairywren, Green-backed, Long-billed, Plain and Streak-headed Honeyeater, Meyer's Friarbird, Yellow-gaped Honeyeater, Rusty Mouse-warbler, Pale-billed Scrubwren, Papuan Babbler, Black Berrypecker, Spectacled, Pygmy and Yellow-bellied Longbill, Blue Jewel-babbler, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Boyer's and Golden Cuckooshrike, Black Cicadabird, Rusty Pitohui, Mamberamo Shrikethrush, Sooty and White-bellied Thicket Fantail, Rufous-backed Fantail, Hooded Monarch, Brown-headed Crow, Jobi Manucode, Magnificent Riflebird, Pale-billed Sicklebill, Magnificent, King, Twelve-wired and Lesser Bird-of-paradise, Black-sided Robin, Olive and Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, and Golden Myna. Other sought-after birds that occur here include New Guinea Eagle, Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Shovel-billed Kookaburra, and Pesquet's Parrot. The final hour of light or so shall see us gathered at an open vantage point to witness evening flights of pigeons, hornbills and parrots, the latter usually including the restricted-range Brown Lory. Finally, an optional nocturnal foray here could produce Rufous Owl, both Papuan Boobook and Hawk-Owl, Marbled and Papuan Frogmouth, and Papuan and Large-tailed Nightjar. Dinner and overnight in Sentani hotel.

Day 16 > Sentani, Lake Sentani, Kota Biak, and Biak Island Following a pre-dawn breakfast in our Sentani hotel, there shall be a final opportunity to spend some potentially rewarding time around Lake Sentani before transferring to Sentani Airport to catch the mid-morning flight to Kota Biak. After lunch at our partnering Kota Biak hotel, we shall set out by chartered vehicle to an accessible area of secondary forest on the outskirts of town, where we could be rewarded with sightings of Variable and Grey-headed Goshawk, Sultan's and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Geelvink and Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Geelvink Imperial Pigeon, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Moustached Treeswift, Eclectus and Red-cheeked Parrot, Red-fronted and Biak Lorikeet, Black-winged Lory, Emperor Fairywren, Biak Myzomela, Hooded Butcherbird, Common Cicadabird, Biak Triller, Biak Black and Shining Flycatcher, Biak White-eye, Metallic and Long-tailed Starling, and Red-capped Flowerpecker, as well as Gray's Grasshopper Warbler in season. The final hour of light or so shall see us gathered at an open vantage point in anticipation of evening flights of pigeons and parrots, the latter perhaps still including a few Black-capped Lory of the distinctive endemic yet heavily persecuted cyanauchen-subspecies here. Finally, a nocturnal foray could produce Biak Scops Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar and Papuan Frogmouth. Dinner and overnight in our partnering Kota Biak hotel.

Day 17 > Kota Biak and Biak Island We shall enjoy a nocturnal breakfast in our Kota Biak hotel and set out on the half an hour's drive to eastern Biak. Here we shall spend the entire day along a network of tranquil rural roads and old logging tracks running through a variety of secondary forests, making incursions into the forest as necessary and enjoying a packed lunch on site. Delightful Biak Paradise Kingfishers and Biak Hooded Pittas call everywhere in these dense forests, but to see the wary Biak Megapode, secretive Biak Coucal, diminutive Geelvink Pygmy Parrot, and scarce Biak Gerygone, Biak Whistler, Biak Fantail, Biak Monarch, and Biak Leaf Warbler, we shall need to persevere. Other noteworthy forest-dwellers, invariably represented by highly distinctive endemic subspecies, that we may come across here include Common Emerald Dove and Golden Monarch, while Pacific Baza, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard and Gurney's Eagle may soar overhead. Dinner and overnight in Kota Biak hotel.

Day 18 > Kota Biak and Biak Island We have an entire day to capitalize on the most elusive Biak Island endemics. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight in Kota Biak hotel.

Day 19 > Kota Biak and Biak Island After a pre-dawn breakfast in our Kota Biak hotel, there shall be a final opportunity to spend some potentially rewarding time on Biak Island before transferring you to Biak's Frans Kaisiepo Airport to check you in for the late morning flight to Jakarta or alternative destination.

Related links

❯Read on about the birdlife of the Vogelkop lowlands.

❯Read on about the birdlife of Waigeo Island.

❯Read on about the birdlife of the Arfak Mountains.

❯Read on about the birdlife of the northern lowlands of New Guinea.

❯Read on about the birdlife of the Geelvink Islands.

❯Read on about the first photographs taken of Bruijn's Brushturkey in the wild on Waigeo Island on a PE exploratory bird tour.

❯Read on about our filming expedition for Vogelkop Bowerbird in the Arfak Mountains with the BBC Natural History Unit.

❯Browse our terms and conditions.

❯Browse our checklist of the birds of West Papua

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