Sulawesi and Halmahera Tour Report 2017

4th September - 24th September 2017


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

  • Sulawesi Honey-buzzard
  • Sulawesi Serpent Eagle
  • Spotted Harrier
  • Sulawesi Hawk Eagle
  • Maleo
  • White-faced Cuckoo-Dove
  • Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon
  • Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon
  • Chattering Lory
  • Eclectus Parrot
  • Moluccan King Parrot
  • Yellow-billed Malkoha
  • Goliath Coucal
  • Sulawesi Scops Owl
  • Cinnabar Boobook
  • Ochre-bellied Boobook
  • Speckled Boobook
  • Satanic Nightjar
  • Moustached Treeswift
  • Green-backed Kingfisher
  • Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
  • Common Paradise Kingfisher
    • Lilac Kingfisher
    • Great-billed Kingfisher
    • Ruddy Kingfisher
    • Sombre Kingfisher
    • Beach Kingfisher
    • Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher
    • Purple-bearded Bee-eater
    • Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill
    • Knobbed Hornbill
    • Blyth’s Hornbill
    • Ashy Woodpecker
    • Ivory-breasted Pitta
    • Piping Crow
    • Wallace’s Standardwing
    • Great Shortwing
    • Red-backed Thrush
    • Sulawesi Thrush
    • Lompobattang Flycatcher
    • Ivory-backed Woodswallow
    • Sulawesi Crested Myna
    • Flame-browed Starling
    • Hylocitrea

 

SUMMARY:
The list of highlight species above, seen on this birding tour to Sulawesi and Halmahera, gives a quick insight to why it remains a highly-desirable destination for birding trips with not only a wealth of endemic species but a large number of really striking birds. We found a very high proportion of our target species which included birds from a wide range of families and almost all of our top priority targets. Beginning at Palu, Central Sulawesi we visited Lore Lindu National Park where we got to grips with many of Sulawesi’s endemic birds including Malia and Hylocitrea. A flight to Makassar and a quick side trip for the highly regionalized Lompobattang Flycatcher with afternoon of shorebirds preceded another flight to Manado in the North of Sulawesi.  From here we visited the wonderful forests of Tangkoko, full of Kingfishers, and several other sites including a Maleo sanctuary. We then took a short flight to Ternate, our stopping off post before the island of Halmahera with its own host of endemic species to enjoy and witnessing Wallace’s Standarwing at a lek is something that lives on a long time in the memory. For a large number of birds that are endemics and of high conservation concern, Sulawesi and Halmahera are two must-visit islands of Indonesia for birders.

 

 

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