Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL).
MEROPIDAE
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus; Common in the lowlands, up to 120 in a day near POM.
CORACIIDAE
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis: Many migrants at Kiunga, maximum 40 on April 8th.
BUCEROTIDAE
Blyth's Hornbill Rhyticeros plicatus: Great views in the Kiunga area.
PITTIDAE
Red-bellied Pitta Pitta erythrogaster: Calling and seen very well after a considerable effort along the Ok Ma Road. Yip yip!
HIRUNDINIDAE
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica: The common PNG swallow.
Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans: 18 near Lake Kerea and 6 at Moitaka.
MOTACILLIDAE
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea: A couple of late migrants at Ambua.
CAMPEPHAGIDAE
Hooded Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina longicauda: Males near Ambua gave good views.
White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina papuensis: A few near POM.
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina novaehollandiae: Seen near Port Moresby.
Large-billed (Stout-billed) Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina caeruleogrisea: Seen well at Varirata and Tabubil.
Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina lineata: Seen nicely at Varirata (axillaris), the very distinct NG races in which the males have little or no barring. This may well be a split.
Boyer's Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina boyeri: Good views at Varirata and Kiunga.
Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris (H): Heard at Varirata. The POM birds give the harsh "der der der" call, and may be a distinct species from north Australian birds which vocalise very differently
Black-shouldered Cicadabird Coracina incerta: Seen and heard at Tabubil, where there are few records of the very similar (and frequently confused) Cicadabird.
Grey-headed Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina schisticeps: Common in the Kiunga and Tabubil areas.
Black Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina melaena: A nice male at Varirata and a pair at Brown River, never an easy one to find.
Black-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina montana: Seen well near Ambua.
Golden Cuckoo-Shrike Campochaera sloetii: Nice views in the Kiunga area.
Varied Triller Lalage leucomela
LANIIDAE
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach: Seen well during a stop at Telefomin, also at Ambua.
TURDIDAE
Pied Chat (Pied Stonechat) Saxicola caprata: Common at Ambua and at Jackson's Airport.
ORTHONYCHINAE
Log-runner Orthonyx temminckii: Brief looks at a pair up at the Gap, surely a split from the Australian birds based on quite distinct songs, calls, habitat and much smaller size.
Painted Quail-Thrush Cinclosoma ajax (H): A lengthy effort to see calling birds at Varirata and Akame, where this very sparse endemic species is a recent discovery, but no joy.
Blue Jewel-Babbler Ptilorrhoa caerulescens: Seen very well at Kiunga, a crippling male twice.
Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler Ptilorrhoa castanonota: A brief look at Varirata.
Spotted Jewel-babbler Ptilorrhoa leucosticta: I played a tape to a calling bird at Ambua, and it flew in and actually brushed against me before vanishing!
Lesser Melampitta Melampitta lugubris: Lovely views of one calling near the Tari Gap.
Greater Melampitta Melampitta gigantea : One of New Guinea's least known birds but not uncommon around Tabubil, where we heard them calling close by and got a glimpse of one.
Blue-capped Ifrita Ifrita kowaldi: Seen very well on several occasions at Tari.
TIMALIINAE
Rufous Babbler Pomatostomus isidorei: Great views near Kiunga.
SYLVIIDAE
Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis: Two at Lake Kerea.
Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis: Common above Ambua. Calls and habitat are distinct from Australian birds and this could well be a split.
Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis: One near POM.
Island Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus poliocephala: Seen at Ambua.
MALURIDAE
Emperor Fairy-Wren Malurus cyanocephalus: Good views of a pair at Kiunga.
White-shouldered Fairy-Wren Malurus alboscapulatus: Seen near Varirata, and at Tari.
Orange-crowned Fairywren Malurus insignis: Great views of 3 along the road below the Bailey Bridge, a very difficult species to get. Some good tape of the calls too.
ACANTHIZIDAE
Rusty Mouse-warbler Crateroscelis murina: Variations on a theme of three notes kept us entertained, and all of us eventually got to see the singer at Varirata.
(Bicoloured mouse-warbler Crateroscelis nigrorufa): A calling mouse warbler at Ambua sounded very odd and was thought by Joseph to be this rare species. No views sadly. Another tick still awaits.
Mountain Mouse-warbler Crateroscelis robusta: Excellent views above Ambua.
Large Scrub-Wren Sericornis nouhuysi: Quite common in the Ambua area.
Buff-faced Scrub-Wren Sericornis perspicillatus: Nicely seen at Ambua.
Papuan Scrub-Wren Sericornis papuensis: Common at the Tari Gap.
Yellow-bellied Gerygone Gerygone chrysogaster: Kiunga and Varirata, seen well.
Green-backed Gerygone Gerygone chloronotus (H): The song really is the best thing about it.
Fairy Gerygone Gerygone palpebrosa: Seen at Varirata.
Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris: Seen at Hisiu and heard at Akame Lodge.
Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster: Seen at Hisiu, where they overlap with Large-billed Gerygone.
Brown-breasted Gerygone Gerygone ruficollis: Nice views at Ambua, and a great smoky song.
RHIPIDURIDAE
Sooty Thicket-Fantail Rhipidura threnothorax (H): Heard along the Ok Ma, a real skulker.
White-bellied Thicket-Fantail Rhipidura leucothorax (H): Heard only this time..!
Mangrove Fantail Rhipidura phasiana: This scarce species gave great looks at Hisiu.
Dimorphic Fantail Rhipidura brachyrhyncha: One seen well at Ambua.
Black Fantail Rhipidura atra: Well seen at Ambua, both males and females.
Chestnut-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hyperythra: A nice view at Varirata with a mixed feeding flock.
Friendly Fantail Rhipidura albolimbata: Common at Ambua.
Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris: Seen near Tabubil
Rufous-backed Fantail Rhipidura rufidorsa: Seen near Kiunga. Always a hard one to find.
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys: Seen almost everywhere.
MONARCHIDAE
Black Monarch Monarcha axillaris: Nice views at Ambua of this curious fantail-mimic.
Black-winged Monarch Monarcha frater: Good views at Varirata.
Spot-winged Monarch Monarcha guttula: Good views at Kiunga and also at Varirata.
Hooded Monarch Monarcha manadensis: A single above Akame Lodge, always a tough bird to find.
Golden Monarch Monarcha chrysomela: A lovely view of a male near Kiunga.
Frilled Monarch Arses telescopthalmus: Great views of this curious bird, now split from the Cape York species.
Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula: A few near Varirata.
Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto: A couple along the Fly River.
Yellow-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus flaviventer: A male at Varirata.
Black-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus nigripectus: Seen well at Ambua, a very attractive bird.
EOPSALTRIIDAE
Torrent Flycatcher Monachella muelleriana: Nicely seen above Tabubil. A great bird.
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster: The Tabubil birds are odd, being very short tailed and bright yellow beneath as compared to the savanna birds at Varirata.
Canary Flycatcher Microeca papuana: A regular of the Ambua area.
White faced Robin Tregellasia leucops: They showed well at Varirata.
Garnet Robin Eugerygone rubra: A brief view of one found by Joseph near the Gap. A very curious species, an arboreal gerygone-like robin!
Mangrove Robin Eopsaltria pulverulenta: Good views at Hisiu.
Ashy Robin Poecilodryas brachyura (H): Heard at Ambua
Black-sided Robin Poecilodryas hypoleuca: Another elusive robin, eventually seen well at Akame after a lengthy tape duel.
Black-throated Robin Poecilodryas albonotata: Seen very nicely near Ambua.
Northern Scrub-robin Drymodes superciliaris: We saw this very shy species at Varirata.
Lesser Ground-Robin Amalocichla incerta: A good view of this mega-skulker at Ambua.
White-winged Robin Peneothello sigillatus: Excellent views near the Gap, including a juvenile.
White-rumped Robin Peneothello bimaculatus (H): Another elusive robin, heard along the Ok Ma.
Blue-grey Robin Peneothello cyanus: Lovely views of this frequently found Ambua resident.
PACHYCEPHALIDAE
Dwarf Whistler Pachycare flavogrisea: Good views at Varirata, where they can be hard!
Mangrove Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura: Good views of 4 at Hisiu this time.
Sclater's Whistler Pachycephala soror: Seen well at Tari.
Regent Whistler Pachycephala schlegelii: Seen quite well at Tari.
Golden-backed Whistler Pachycephala aurea (H): Heard briefly at Km 120, often difficult!
Grey Whistler Pachycephala simplex: Seen at Kiunga, near Tabubil, and at Varirata.
Brown-backed Whistler Pachycephala modesta: Seen well on several occasions near the lodge at Ambua, a PNG endemic.
Black-headed Whistler Pachycephala monacha: Seen nicely at Tabubil and in the Tari valley.
Rufous (White-bellied) Whistler Pachycephala (rufiventris) leucogaster: A pair seen well at Hisiu. A good split from the Rufous Whistler of Australia as both calls and the appearance of both sexes are quite different.
Rufous-naped Whistler Pachycephala rufinucha: Common and performing well at Ambua.
Little Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha: Varirata and Kiunga.
Grey Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla harmonica: Seen well at Varirata.
Variable Pitohui Pitohui kirhocephalus: Good views of several black headed birds in the Kiunga area. Immatures lack the dark head.
Hooded Pitohui Pitohui dichrous: Frequent at Tabubil and Varirata.
White-bellied Pitohui Pitohui incertus: Seen nicely along the Fly River above Kiunga, with several parties in evidence. A rare and little known species.
Rusty Pitohui Pitohui ferrugineus: Good looks at Varirata.
Crested Pitohui Pitohui cristatus (H): The amazing song was heard very close by at Tabubil and Varirata, but as usual none wanted to show.
Black Pitohui Pitohui nigrescens: A male at Ambua gave brief views.
NEOSITTIDAE
Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera : Really excellent views at Ambua, both white headed and dark headed birds, may well be a split from the Australian ones.
CLIMACTERIDAE
Papuan Tree-creeper Cormobates placens: Good views of one along the waterfall trail at Ambua
DICAEIDAE
Obscure Berrypecker Melanocharis arfakiana: Good views of two birds at Dablin. Another of New Guinea's almost mythical birds, amazingly like a flowerpecker in habits.
Black Berrypecker Melanocharis nigra: Nice looks at Kiunga and Varirata.
Fan-tailed Berrypecker Melanocharis versteri: Seen very well at Ambua.
Red-crowned Flowerpecker (Papuan Flowerpecker) Dicaeum pectorale: Good views at various sites from Ambua to Varirata.
Tit Berrypecker Oreocharis arfaki: Good views of this gorgeous looking mutant Great Tit look-alike at Ambua.
Crested Berrypecker Paramythia montium: Two up at the Gap gave great views.
NECTARINIIDAE
Black Sunbird Nectarinia aspasia: Seen beautifully along the Ok Ma road.
Yellow-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
ZOSTEROPIDAE
Black-fronted White-eye Zosterops atrifrons: Seen well, the common lowland and hill forest white-eye.
Western Mountain White-eye (Dark-capped White-eye) Zosterops fuscicapillus: Seen nicely at Ambua.
MELIPHAGIDAE
Long-billed Honeyeater Melilestes megarhynchus: Seen on several occasions, most notably at Kiunga.
Yellow-bellied Longbill Toxorhamphus novaeguineae: Good views at Kiunga.
Dwarf Honeyeater Oedistoma iliolophus: Common at Varirata and Tabubil, but hard to see well.
Pygmy Honeyeater Oedistoma pygmaeum (H): Heard at Varirata.
Green-backed Honeyeater Glycichaera fallax: Seen well at Varirata and Tabubil, a tricky one.
Silver-eared Honeyeater Lichmera alboauricularis: Seen very nicely at Aroa.
Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura: Seen at Hisiu only.
Papuan Black Myzomela Myzomela nigrita: Well seen at Varirata.
Mountain Red-headed Myzomela Myzomela adolphinae: Seen well at Varirata as usual.
New Ireland (Olive-yellow) Myzomela Myzomela pulchella (B): We found about ten along the Limbin Road, a rather rare NI endemic, mostly males.
Red-collared Myzomela Myzomela rosenbergii: Nicely seen at Ambua.
Spot-breasted Meliphaga Meliphaga mimikae: Nice looks at Varirata, a fairly distinctive species in this amazingly hard group.
Scrub White-eared Meliphaga Meliphaga albonotata: Seen at Tabubil. I am still unsure of the identity of white eared meliphaga in forest by the Elevala at Kiunga.
Mimic Meliphaga Meliphaga analoga: A few seen well at Tabubil and Varirata.
Graceful Meliphaga Meliphaga gracilis: Seen near Tabubil.
Yellow-gaped Meliphaga Meliphaga flavirictus: One near Akame Lodge, always a rare species.
Black-throated Honeyeater Lichenostomus subfrenatus: A single at Ambua this time.
Obscure Honeyeater Lichenostomus obscurus: We managed to tape one out along the Ok Ma road, always a rather rare species.
Spotted Honeyeater Xanthotis polygramma: Four at Varirata, good views of this uncommon species.
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater Xanthotis flaviventer: A common hill forest species.
White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis: Well seen at Varirata.
Streak-headed Honeyeater Pycnopygius stictocephalus: Seen well at Kiunga and briefly at Varirata.
Meyer's Friarbird Philemon meyeri: Good views at Kiunga, another very sparse species.
New Guinea Friarbird (Helmeted) Philemon (novaeguineae) buceroides: Now again lumped with Helmeted by Clements, maybe prematurely. Common in the lowlands and hills.
Rufous-backed Honeyeater Ptiloprora guisei: Good views near the lodge at Ambua, a PNG endemic.
Grey-streaked Honeyeater Ptiloprora perstriata: Quite common at Ambua.
Belford's Melidectes Melidectes belfordi: Noisy, ugly and annoyingly common at higher levels at Ambua!
Yellow-browed Melidectes Melidectes rufocrissalis: Regular in the Tari Valley and at the Lodge.
Common Smoky Honeyeater Melipotes fumigatus: Common at Ambua
Rufous-banded Honeyeater Conopophila albogularis: Common at the PAU on day one.
ESTRILDIDAE
Blue-faced Parrot-Finch Erythrura trichroa: Up to 5 birds around the Gap and Bailey Bridge area.
White-spotted Mannikin Lonchura leucosticta: Flight and perched views in a grassy patch by the Kiunga airstrip.
Grey-headed Mannikin Lonchura caniceps: Our first endemic for the trip at the PAU, common around Aroa.
Hooded Mannikin Lonchura spectabilis: A puzzle. Why are all the birds at Ambua now showing rich buff underparts? Back in the early 90s they were white beneath! Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax: A few near Lake Kerea .
Grand Mannikin Lonchura grandis: Good views of 3 at the Kokoda monument.
Mountain Firetail Oreostruthus fuliginosus: An adult and two juveniles were seen well at the Tari Gap, this species seems to have got much harder to find since the '97 drought.
PLOCEIDAE
House Sparrow Passer domesticus: PNG has only two introduced species on the mainland (Rock Dove the other) plus Indian Myna on Bougainville, the sparrow only colonizing since 1992. We duly logged it in POM.
STURNIDAE
Singing Starling Aplonis cantoroides: Port Moresby area only.
Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica: Common in the lowlands.
Golden Myna Mino anais: Nice views along the Fly of this spectacular and uncommon species. Also seen well at Brown River.
Yellow-faced Myna Mino dumontii: Common in the lowlands of the mainland.
ORIOLIDAE
Brown Oriole Oriolus szalayi: The amazing friarbird mimic, or is it vice versa? Good views at Varirata.
Figbird Sphecotheres viridis: Several at the PAU, very local in PNG.
DICRURIDAE
Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentotus: Common in the lowlands and hills.
ARTAMIDAE
White-breasted Wood-swallow Artamus leucorhynchus: A few around POM.
Great Wood-swallow Artamus maximus: A few around Tabubil, and lovely views at Ambua.
CRACTICIDAE
Hooded Butcherbird Cracticus cassicus: Common in the lowlands and hills.
Black-backed Butcherbird Cracticus mentalis: A regular in the Moresby area.
Black Butcherbird Cracticus quoyi: Seen well at Tabubil, where the vocalizations are amazingly distinct to the Australian and Port Moresby birds.......
Mountain Peltops Peltops montanus: Great views at Tabubil and Tari.
PTILONORHYNCHIDAE
White-eared Catbird Ailuroedus buccoides (H): Heard in Varirata and at Akame.
Spotted Catbird Ailuroedus melanotis: Once see well long the Boystown Road, a very good record as, strangely, this species is extraordinarily hard to see in PNG, this was only my second sighting!
Archbold's Bowerbird Archboldia papuensis: Two seen very well by Benson's Trail, very vocal this time.
Flame Bowerbird Sericulus aureus: Wonderful views of a male of this incredible species late one morning (1000) near Kiunga, after a morning of heavy rain. Also quite a good look at the female nearby. One of the birds of the trip, and it was certainly a crippling view via the scope for some time.
Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Chlamydera cerviniventris: Good views in the lowlands around Port Moresby.
Macgregor's Bowerbird Amblyornis macgregoriae: A brief look in a fruiting tree along the waterfall trail at Ambua, and again by the Lodge.
PARADISAEIDAE
Glossy-mantled Manucode Manucodia atra: Seen and heard well along the Fly River, where very common. Good views at Varirata also.
Crinkle-collared Manucode Manucodia chalybeata: Great views near Tabubil, head bumps obvious.
Trumpet Manucode Manucodia keraudrenii: Good views in the forest near Kiunga.
Crested Bird -of-Paradise: A female up at the Gap, always a tough species to find.
Short-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla brevicauda: Good views along the waterfall trail, a really amazing and strange bird.
Magnificent Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus: Good views of a male along the Ok Ma road, often shy and hard to find.
Eastern Riflebird Ptiloris (m.) intercedens: Excellent looks at males and a female chasing at Varirata. This form is a recent split by some authorities from the previous species. Its call is very different, growls v whistles.
Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise Seleucidis melanoleuca: Amazingly good and prolonged views of displaying males by the Fly and Elevala Rivers near Kiunga. One of the birds of the trip.
Loria's Bird of Paradise Cnemophilus loriae: Good views of males and females at Ambua.
Brown Sicklebill Epimachus meyeri: Excellent views of males and females at the Gap, the pale blue eye being very obvious when seen well. Also memorable for its amazing machine-gun like call.
Black Sicklebill Epimachus fastuosus: A female found by Joseph gave nice views below the Lodge, once at the Blue Bird site and once on the ridge proper. This is the largest of the BoP's, a rather rare bird that is extirpated from the more accessible areas.
Ribbon-tailed Astrapia Astrapia mayeri: Wonderful views of up to three males at Ambua, the males being one of the most bizarre and spectacular of birds. Another restricted range PNG endemic.
Stephanie's Astrapia Astrapia stephaniae: Easily found and seen well below the Bailey Bridge at Tari, including up to five superb males in a day. A PNG endemic too.
Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superba: good views of a male as well as female plumaged and immature birds at Tiokonda. A fine bird.
Lawes Parotia Parotia lawesii: A good look at a male plumaged bird at Tiokonda.
King of Saxony Bird of Paradise Pteridophora alberti: Fairly common in the Tari Gap area, and showing well on several occasions (including several superb males).
King Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus regius: Our regular site at Akame was flooded and all we got was glimpses, which simply won't do for this species! We took a boat trip up a tributary and had wonderful views at the alternative site one near Kiunga.
Magnificent Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus magnificus: Quite good views of two female plumaged birds near Gare's Lookout, curiously enough responding to tape for once, and an elusive male near Tabubil, where it is getting harder to find due to clearance.
Raggiana Bird of Paradise Paradisaea raggiana: Some nice males displaying near Kiunga, immatures and females in Varirata.
Greater Bird of Paradise Paradisaea apoda: Nice views of seven males in fine plumage in the display areas near Kiunga, plus three in sub-adult dress and four female plumaged birds on April 11. Many show evidence of hybridisation with Raggiana.
Blue Bird of-Paradise Paradisaea rudolphi: Wonderful views of a male at the new site below the Lodge. One of the birds of the trip. Thank you Benson!
CORVIDAE
Grey Crow Corvus tristis: A few along the Fly River and in the Tabubil area.
Torresian Crow Corvus orru: A few around POM.
MAMMALS
Great Flying-fox Pteropus neohibernicus: Huge flying foxes along the Fly River near Kiunga with a distinct golden collar on some are probably this species.
Flying Fox Pteropus sp: Seen in the Port Moresby area.
REPTILES
Banded Coral Sea-snake: One on the steps of my unit at Loloata.
BUTTERFLIES
Ornithoptera priamus poseidon: Excellent birdwings at Hoskins, Kiunga and Varirata.
Papilio ulysses: The spectacular blue morpho-like swallowtail, common in lowland forests.
end of report