Sulawesi & Halmahera Tour Report 2014

5th - 26th September 2014

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Either for rarity value, excellent views or simply a group favourite.

  • Bulwer’s Petrel
  • Sulawesi Goshawk
  • Small Sparrowhawk
  • Gurney’s Eagle
  • Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle
  • Moluccan Scrubfowl
  • Maleo
  • Moluccan Megapode
  • Dusky Megapode
  • Red-backed Buttonquail
  • Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle
  • Spot-tailed Sparrowhawk
  • Small Sparrowhawk
  • Sulawesi Black Pigeon
  • Red-eared Fruit Dove
  • Oberholser’s Fruit Dove
  • White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon  
  • Violet-necked Lory
  • Ornate Lorikeet
  • White Cockatoo
  • Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail  
  • Moluccan King Parrot
  • Yellow-billed Malkoha
  • Sulawesi Masked Owl
  • Ochre-bellied Boobook
  • Cinnabar Boobook
  • Sulawesi Scops-Owl
  • Moluccan Owlet-Nightjar
  • Satanic Nightjar
  • Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher
  • Green-backed Kingfisher
  • Common Paradise-Kingfisher
  • Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher
  • Purple-bearded Bee-eater
  • Purple-winged Roller
  • Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill
  • Ashy Woodpecker
  • Ivory-breasted Pitta
  • Sulawesi Pitta
  • Pygmy Cuckooshrike
  • Cerulean Cuckooshrike
  • Rufous-bellied Triller
  • White-naped Monarch
  • Piping Crow
  • Wallace’s Standardwing
  • Great Shortwing
  • Gray's Grasshopper Warbler     
  • Red-backed Thrush
  • Lompobattang Flycatcher
  • Sulawesi Crested Myna
  • Halmahera Flowerpecker
  • Hylocitrea

 

SUMMARY:
Wallaces-Standardwing-5
Our third roller-coaster of a ride to these endemic-rich Indonesian islands produced a plethora of much-wanted birds and we ended up seeing a very respectable 111 endemics. We began amidst the wonderful forested hills of Lore Lindu where Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Satanic Nightjar and Hylocitrea were amongst the highlights. We followed this with a successful visit for the extremely localised endemic Lompobattang Flycatcher – and currently we are the only tour group visiting this site. We then flew to the endemic-heaven that is Halmahera and based ourselves at Foli in a comfortable hotel. What a fantastic time we had here with an easy walk for lekking Wallace’s Standardwing, stunning Ivory-breasted Pitta, skulking Dusky Megapodes and so much more. Another patch of forest held Sombre Kingfisher and Common Paradise-Kingfisher, but it was a shame that Invisible Rail lived up to its name and only called back at us! Returning to Sulawesi we visited Tangkoko where Sulawesi Pitta and a veritable feast of endemic kingfishers followed. We ended at Dumoga Bone and Tambun for a final flourish with Ashy Woodpecker, Maleo and Matinan Flycatcher amongst others. These islands continue to produce a fantastic array of rare and localised specialities, as well as some of the most stunningly beautiful birds on the planet. We cannot wait to return!

 

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