Read my full trip report with photos here
Red-throated Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
An adult in b.d. along the road near Gunung Potong, and a stripey juv. on a small woodland pond at Foli.
Great Egret Egretta alba
One flying by at Foli.
Spotted Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna guttata
Two on a roadside swamp near G. Potong on 16th, maybe the same as two that flew down the valley there later.
Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata
Two at the Foli track.
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
Quite common in the disturbed cut-over country, max. 4 and seen at most sites.
Grey-throated Goshawk Accipiter griseogularis
This endemic split from Variable Goshawk was seen on both days around KBP, with fine views at Gunung Potong on 16th Anu was sure this bird was A. erythraucen the Red-necked Sparrowhawk, but it was quite large and despite a large rufous collar had the upperparts too pale a grey to fit this species. Legs yellow, eye yellow, cere greenish yellow, no tail bars, underparts entirely rufous sans barring and paler near belly. Call much as Variable Goshawk in PNG, a shrill kee kee kee series.
Moluccan Goshawk Accipiter moluccanus
One by the turn-off at Km 9 at KBP on 15th, seen in flight when the dark grey upperparts and rich rufous underparts were apparent. Then a fantastic perched view of one in forest at Km 3 at Foli next day, the underparts finely and closely barred dark rufous and upperparts very dark grey, yellow cere and legs and yellow eye.
Gurney’s Eagle Aquila gurneyi
Two adults soaring over a ridge from the KBP road about 2 km along the turn-off. Trevor and Guy saw what sounds like an immature later that day.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Two singles along the KBP road.
* Spotted (Moluccan) Kestrel Falco moluccensis
Three on 14th along KBP road, and two on 16th at Gunung Potong.
Dusky Scrubfowl Megapodius freycinet
Five birds seen along the track to Dase Hill, very dark with dark greyish legs, two nest mounds seen. The call is a very distinctive shrill series quite unlike Orange-footed or Melanesian Scrubfowl, often given at dawn and dusk. Heard at Foli.
Moluccan Scrubfowl Eulipoa wallacei
We then drove 3 hours to get to the Moluccan Scrubfowl beach, which was a good idea, but in the event a bit of an anticlimax. We paid the fee to the village headman and got permission, and then made yet another dug out trip, out into mangroves this time, with one of my guys baling furiously the while. We disembarked mid-river and waded ashore in the pitch dark, neatly arriving just as a thunder squall passed through. This was a black sand beach, with a bright moon rising and smoking volcano backdrop, great if only we had not just had a fly-by! The beach was littered with diggings too, just not much activity this night when we were there. Sadly all we got was a brief fly-by of one bird, I wish we had arranged to go further into the beach but our guide assured us we would get them here. We got back about 2130 and then got driven back to Sidangoli, arriving at the losman at 0200 and having to pound on the door to get someone up!
Rufous-tailed (Common) Bush-hen Amaurornis (olivaceus) moluccanus
Heard daily, and fantastic views on 16th of one crossing the road after its mate had dashed across.
Greater Sand-Plover Charadrius leschenaultii (H)
Heard at Galela from the outrigger canoe ride, roosting near the mangroves.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
One at Sidangoli and one at Foli.
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
One at the beach at Foli.
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
One on 17th on the first Foli crossing, seen through spray filled eyes, and about a dozen on the way back on 18th, some sat on the sea.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
At least one winter dress bird with a tern flock on 18th as we came back from Foli. Probably about ten in all.
Bridled Tern S. anaethetus
One on the crossing from Ternate on 14th, ten on the return from Foli, and 4 en route to Ternate on 19th. A single tern with entirely light grey upperparts was also seen, but the identity remains a mystery.
Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis
One on 15th and two on 16th at KBP.
Great Cuckoo-Dove Reinwardtoena reinwardtii (H)
Heard along the KBP track on 14th, and I glimpsed what was probably one at Foli on 17th.
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
One on 16th and two on the 17th at KBP, and heard at Foli.
Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica
The cause of much angst on 16th when a couple were flushed off the track from Dase, with only the front folks getting a brief look. Happily Trevor and I saw a super adult flush up from the Invisible Rail swamp at Foli on 17th, a nice year bird.
Scarlet-breasted Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus bernsteini
The call is a single quite deep coo, and Guy taped in a wonderful adult male in the forest at Dase on 16th. It reminded me of a small Wompoo, being quite long tailed and with yellowish edges to the flight feathers and a bright scarlet breast patch.
Superb Fruit-Dove P. superbus (H)
Heard at Dase.
Blue-capped Fruit-Dove P. monacha
A female plumaged bird was perched up with Grey-headed Fruit-Doves along the coast road on 15th, being much smaller and entirely green. We also saw a couple in flight at Foli, when the small size and short tail was obvious. They were calling quite well here but were hard to get to move in the thick scrub.
Grey-headed Fruit-Dove P. hyogaster
The common fruit-dove, often seen sat out in tall bare trees and coming into fruiting figs. Seen daily, max. 10 birds. The pale wing patches are reminiscent of the Cloven-feathered Dove pattern.
Spectacled (White-eyed) imperial-Pigeon Ducula perspicillata
Uncommon, we saw two on 16th at G. Potong, four next day at Anu’s place, and 4 at Foli. The call is a deep descending series.
Cinnamon-bellied Imperial-Pigeon Ducula basilica
Guy found us one feeding on palm fruits at Dase on 16th, with a single near Foli on 17th and four there on 18th. The call is a loud deep growl and the white head really shows up in flight.
Pied Imperial-Pigeon D. (bicolor) spilorrhoa
Small numbers of them seen, with 6 at KBP on 16th and four at Foli on 18th.
(White-throated Pigeon Columba vitiensis)
Guy saw a couple from the vehicle on 16th.
White Cockatoo Cacatua alba
These were fairly common, with 4 on two days, and a day total of 8 including the flock of 6 at Anu’s place on 17th. Five were at Foli on 18th. Quite vocal, and shows pale yellow underwing coverts.
Violet-necked Lory Eos squamata
Basically a heard for me on 15th, they have one call a bit like Rainbow Lorikeet, then a distinctive shrill whistled short series. We saw 4 on both16th and 17th quite nicely in flight, then had a great perched group of 4 at Foli Km 3 on 18th.
Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus
We did well for this species which I thought might prove hard, with 2 perched on a palm frond on 14th at KBP, four in flight at Gunung Potong, and four at Foli Km 3 on both dates. The call is very like Black-capped Lory, and they have a small yellowish patch on the scapulars which is not shown in the FG. The cere and bare eye skin was greenish.
Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis
A flock of a dozen at G. Potong on 16th, perched up well, then a dozen at Foli next day, with about 20 there on 18th. Dare I say a tart’s tick for Trevor!
Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi
Quite common, with 15 at G. Potong and 10 at Foli
Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus
Fairly common, with a few female birds in evidence too, we saw 14 along KBP Road on day one, then had a few daily.
Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorhynchus
This was one of the birds of the trip for me, just sensational. One flew in at Gunung Potong on 16th and perched up for ages, before flying closer and giving fantastic views. The huge red beak has a fetching dark border off-setting it, the eye is pale yellow and the plumage a startling positively South American macaw-like combination of colours. The tail is distinctively long and slightly tapered, whilst the yellow underwing coverts really stand out in flight. This was great catch-up bird for us as we tried to string one on an island off Sulawesi in 2000 till I realised the bill was the wrong colour……..
(Moluccan King Parrot Alisterus amboinensis)
Guy saw a couple in the forest along the hill track at Km 11 on 15th.
Moluccan Hanging-Parrot Loriculus amabilis
A fly-by of one calling and a couple of others heard on 15th at KBP, then great looks at one in a fig near Anu’s place on 17th.
Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus
Heard at KBP, and I saw and heard one at Foli on 18th.
Goliath Coucal Centropus goliath
The first endemic of the day on 15th, emerging from a roost in a palm with a 3 or 4 birds. I did not think they looked unduly large, albeit long tailed, with a variable size white wing patch. Heard daily, but elusive.
* Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis (H)
Trevor saw one on 15th at KBP, which we only heard, but good enough for an Australasian tick.
(Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis)
I saw a small grey Chrysococcyx cuckoo fly up from by the road near Daru on 16th, presumably this species which is known as a vagrant here. My first thought was Peaceful Dove until I saw it better!
Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus
Common and vocal, we heard it the first night and spotlit 2 birds on the 15th, hearing it each on dawn foray and seeing two individuals again at km 3 at Foli. The call is usually given singly, but sometimes doubled or as a short series. My seventh scops owl of the year!
Moluccan Boobook Ninox squamipila (H)
This one caused great troubles, we tried repeatedly and made some 8 attempts without success, not even hearing it despite doing Ben King’s site etc. As luck would have it, Trevor and Anu heard one after I had got on the ojek to go back to Foli at 2000 on 17th. We felt confident at 0500 next day, but no sound emanated from the wretched bird, though retrospectively I wish we had just stayed by that area till 0600 and peak calling time.
Moluccan (Long-whiskered) Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles crinifrons
One seen by some near Anu’s place at dawn on 17th, which I dipped for a variety of circumstances .Happily for me that night at Foli we heard an owlet-nightjar screech and tracked it down for fantastic views, so Trevor survives. The bird is a big quite long tailed job with a dark centre blotch on the chest and pale sides, and reminds me most of Feline. I thought I had a great tape of the call, then found I had not plugged in the mike, it was just that sort of a day!
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
One male flying and calling at dusk at the head of the hill at KBP Km 11 on 14th. Also heard at Galela.
Lowland (Uniform) Swiftlet Collocalia vanikorensis
A few at KBP on the first 3 days, max. 10. One with Moluccan Swiftlets at G. Potong on 16th.
* Moluccan Swiftlet C. infuscata
Five at G. Potong, with Uniform Swiftlet when the smaller size and stubbier shape was apparent, plumage primarily milky brown and lacking a grey or whitish rump like the north Sulawesi birds.
Glossy Swiftlet. C. esculenta
A few birds daily, looking rather greyish on the belly rather than white but still royal blue above.
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
A very distant flock of about 10 birds seen from the main Tobelo Road near G. Potong on April 15th. Clearly needletails, and presumably this species, which is seemingly a vagrant here.
Moustached Tree-swift Hemiprocne mystacea
Fantastic views of 3 of this great bird along the KBP track on 15th, 8 at Potong on 16th, one at Foli and a hawking flock of 20+ at Galela at dusk on 18th.
Common Paradise-Kingfisher Tanysiptera galatea
One seen and 3 heard at Dase on 16th, and heard at Foli.
Blue and White (Moluccan) Kingfisher Halcyon diops
A pair seen at KBP on 15th, 3 next day, and heard at Foli. The male is very like a small Forest Kingfisher, down to the white neck collar and wing spot, but the female has a broad breast band and the call is a quite different.
Sombre Kingfisher Halcyon funebris
Anu pointed out one calling at Dase, and Ron did an amazing piece of spotting shortly after to find it perched quite high in the sub-canopy of a large forest tree. We heard the harsh chatter of another on the way out too. A lucky find as this can be a tough one.
Variable (Dwarf) Kingfisher Ceyx lepidus (H)
One was heard in the forest on the walk out from Dase on 16th.
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus
A few small parties seen daily.
Purple Dollarbird (Azure Roller) Eurystomus azureus
My main reason for wanting to go to Foli was to try for this rare species, which seems to have gone from all the former accessible sites around KBP.
No luck the first PM, but next morning I heard the rattly call of a dollarbird, and rushed up to the hilltop to check, finding a Purple Dollarbird perched up on some dead snags some way away, invisible from where we had been standing! Had it not called we might well have dipped. It's a huge great big-headed and big-shouldered purple thing like a dollarbird on steroids, and has a bright chrome yellow bill. This was my last roller too, a great bird.
Blyth’s (Papuan) Hornbill Aceros plicatus
Surprisingly widespread given the levels of forest damage, with day counts of 10, 10, 15, 6 and 6.
Ivory-breasted Pitta Pitta maxima
Surprisingly widespread, we heard the double whistle daily and had a very nice view of one at KBP on 15th, and good flight views of one I whistled in at the hillside track around Km 11 the same day. A big, striking pitta, one of the easier ones to see.
Red-bellied Pitta P. erythrogaster
A fine view of one along the Km 3 track on Foli on 18th, giving a strange strangulated version of the usual mournful call. The head was very brown, yet another race for the collection, this one being rufiventris. We heard a couple of birds along here.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Small numbers daily.
Pacific Swallow H. tahitica
Ten around Sidangoli and a few at Galela.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
A couple of singles along the KBP track on 15th and 17th.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail M. tschutschensis
We saw about 10 at Foli, resembling the taxon formerly known as simillima but now subsumed in taivana. Greyish head, small white supercilium of varying length, yellow chin and throat.
Moluccan Cuckoo-shrike Coracina atriceps
Very scarce, we saw two at Foli on 17th and one on 18th only. There was also a large cuckoo-shrike that really looked like an imm. Black-faced, but identity uncertain.
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike C. papuensis
Three single birds, at KBP and twice at Foli only. Call much as usual.
Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike C. parvula
Three at KBP near the plantation on 15th, then two at Foli on both days. The call is a distinctive loud rattling series, and the underwing coverts seem whitish in flight. Reminded me of a slightly longer billed Boyer’s, though the female lacks the pale lores of that species.
Common Cicadabird C. tenuirostris
A male and female were at the plantation at KBP on 15th, the female a heavily barred brownish job with a strong pale supercilium, and the male with the black dots on the greater coverts.
Rufous-bellied Triller Lalage aurea
Quite common but local, we saw 6 at KBP on 15th and a similar number at Foli, plus singles at G. Potong.
Golden Bulbul Alophoixus affinis
The most easterly and the only Australasian native bulbul was quite common in dense shrubbery. We saw about 15 at KBP on 15th and small numbers daily thereafter.
Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
This classic Aussie bird was seen at Ternate airport, then just a handful on Halmahera with singles most days.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
We saw four singles of this migrant, two at KBP on 15th and two at Foli on 17th.
White-naped Monarch Monarcha pileatus
A great bird, but like the congeneric White-eared at home, could be quite hard to find. The double whistled chippy cheu call is useful in locating it, as is a single rising note. We saw one beautifully by the plantation at KBP on 15th, and I heard a couple of others near Anu’s place.
Spectacled Monarch M. trivirgatus
The local race bimaculatus is uncommon in forest, and has very white underparts. We saw some 8 birds along the Dase Hill walk, most in a small mixed flock near the base of the hill. There were two near Anu’s place next day.
Moluccan (Slaty) Flycatcher Myiagra galatea
I was surprised as to how similar this was to Restless Flycatcher, even the grating call was similar as were some of the single whistles. We saw a male on the small rootlet nest at KBP on 15th, and another male at Dase on 16th, with one heard at Foli on 18th.
Shining Flycatcher M. alecto
Birds here are meant to be of the nominate race, and look and sound very much as usual. I saw a couple of males along the KBP road.
Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis mentalis
Heard along the KBP road in regrowth, and nice views of a male at Dase on 16th, having just a small black spot rather than a black pectoral band below the white throat.
Drab Whistler P. griseonota
Two birds seen in the plantation at KBP, and one near Anu’s place. The song is a sweet typical whistler-like series, and the birds were reminiscent of Grey Whistler without an eye-stripe and with a dingy breast.
* Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
A single in the plantation at KBP on 15th was a nice Australasian tick.
Black Sunbird Nectarinia aspasia
Quite common, seen daily in small numbers.
Yellow-bellied Sunbird N. jugularis
Ditto.
Flame-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrothorax
One female at the plantation at KBP on 15th, and two males at Dase next day. An uncommon and unobtrusive endemic.
Cream-throated White-eye Zosterops atriceps
A distinctive species with a small white eye–ring and blackish frons, very vocal but not easy to see well. I saw 6 along the KBP track, and heard it daily thereafter.
White-streaked Friarbird Melitograis gilolensis
Uncommon, we saw one distantly at KBP on 15th, then had fine views of 3 at Anu’s place on 17th, with a single at Foli next day. Sadly neither sight nor sound of Dusky Friarbird.
Myzomela sp.
A very puzzling small Myzomela was feeding high in an acacia type along the Km 3 track at Foli. The underparts were entirely pale, with a hint of reddish on the chin, and the upperparts seemed olive brown. The only one here should be the potentially splittable simplex taxon of Dusky, but the Wallacea FG does not show Dusky M. looking like this here.
Dusky-brown (Halmahera) Oriole Oriolus phaeochromus
The much vaunted friarbird mimic looked like a pretty typical oriole to me, the Brown Oriole/Helmeted Friarbird/Streak-headed Honeyeater group in PNG seemed far more striking mimics. A bird at KBP plantation on 15th had a pale milky brown tail with pale outers, pale milky tea biscuit-brown secondaries and resembled a diminutive Paradise Crow! The call is a melodic di or tri-syllabic series. Another all dark brown bird was seen at Foli. We did hear what sounded like a Helmeted Friarbird on the first morning at KBP, identity unknown
Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
Quite common and very vocal. They sure don’t sound like Australian birds and seem to have a very large and varied vocabulary.
Paradise-crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus
Amazing, the call is a loud single or double barking note and they were pretty thin on the ground. We saw two at KBP on 15th, a fine view. They have small head bumps like Crinkle-collared Manucodes, and heavy dagger like dark bills, with a trace of a greyish eye-stripe at some angles. We also saw another at Foli and heard them at several sites, but overall a very scarce species.
Wallace’s Standardwing Semioptera wallacei
Brilliant, far better than anticipated, the two or three lekking males gave a great show with pennants aloft and loud King Bird of Paradise-like calls. The elongated breast shield would show either blue or green depending on the light, and the legs were a rich, vivid orange with greyish claws. We only got them at Anu’s lek at Dase Hill, and heard them in the valley bottom along the km 3 track at Foli; they do not seem to like disturbed forest much.
Long-billed Crow Corvus validis
Four on the first afternoon, the bill is amazingly long and slightly decurved, with a blackish face, quite a neat bird for a corvid. We saw a couple near G. Potong and a two at Foli, by no means common.
Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica
Quite common, seen daily with up to 30 at Foli.
Moluccan Starling A. mysolensis
Not that easy to tell from Metallics, though the deeper call is a help and the shorter tail and different head colour help. First seen at KBP on 15th with at least 10 birds, then a few at G. Potong and Foli.
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Just a few at Sidangoli and Daru, it does not seem very common here.
* Black-faced Mannikin (Munia) Lonchura molucca
10 at KBP on 15th and a few at Foli.
Sulawesi Stopover April 12-13 and 19/20
Purple Heron 1 on 20th
Little Egret 4 on 20th
Reef Heron 1 dark phase Tangkoko 13th.
Cattle Egret Commonly seen, over 100 on 20th.
Javan Pond Heron 1 adult on 19th and 10 on 20th in the paddies.
Brahminy Kite One on 13th
Black Kite One at G. Ambang on 20th.
* Sulawesi Serpent Eagle (Spilornis rufipectus)
One heard at Tangkoko on 13th and one seen at Gunung Ambang on 20th.
* Spot-tailed Goshawk (Accipiter trinotatus)
A stunning view of an adult in the forest at G. Ambang on 20th.
* Sulawesi Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus lanceolatus)
One soaring over the forest at G. Ambang on 20th.
* Spotted Kestrel (Falco moluccensis)
One in the paddies on 20th.
Buff-banded Rail One at G. Ambang on 20th.
Barred Rail One at Tangkoko on 13th.
* Isabelline Bush-hen (Amaurornis isabellinus)
One perched on a low wall by the road into Tangkoko on 12th, the first endemic of the visit and a great view. Heard at G. Ambang.
Wood Sandpiper One in the paddies on 20th.
Common Sandpiper One in the paddies on 20th.
Spotted Dove Two in the paddies on 20th.
Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove One at Tangkoko.
Emerald Dove One seen and some heard at Tangkoko.
Stephan’s Dove Two at Tangkoko on 20th.
* Grey-cheeked Green-Pigeon (Treron griseicauda)
Ten at Tangkoko on 20th.
* Black-naped Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus melanospila)
Great views of four birds at Tangkoko on 20th, two pairs.
* White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula forsteni)
Two en route into Tangkoko on 12th.
* Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Ten on 12th and 7 on 13th at or near Tangkoko. This is the distinctive race with the reddish nape patch.
* Silver-tipped (White) Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula luctuosa)
One on 12th and 18 in a fruiting fig on 13th en route to and from Tangkoko.
* Ornate Lorikeet (Trichoglossus ornatus)
Four at Tangkoko feeding in a flowering tree on 13th.
* Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail (Prioniturus flavicans)
Two near Tangkoko on 12th, and two flying by calling on 13th.
* Blue-backed Parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus)
One glimpsed at Tangkoko on 13th.
* Small Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus exilis)
Ten seen en route to Tangkoko on 12th and one on 13th, good perched views.
* Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (H) (Cacomantis sepulcralis)
Heard at both Tangkoko and Gunung Ambang.
* Black-billed Koel (Eudynamys melanorhyncha)
A male en route into Tangkoko on 12th and heard at both sites. Some calls were recognisably of the “ko-el” type, but others were very distinctive.
* Fiery-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus)
Two en route to Tangkoko on 12th and 5 on 13th, great looks.
* Bay Coucal (Centropus celebensis)
Four on 12th and one on 13th at or near Tangkoko.
* Sulawesi Masked Owl (Tyto rosenbergi)
Two in a sea cave on the cliff near Tangkoko on 13th, which our guide shows to lots of groups as Minahassa Masked Owls. Despite the rusty colouration on one bird, they were way too big for that species
* Sulawesi Scops Owl (Otus manadensis)
Jemmie called in one along the approach road to the park on 12th for a fine view.
Great-eared Nightjar One hawking over a hillside at dusk near Singsingon on 19th.
Uniform Swiftlet A few at Tangkoko.
Moluccan Swiftlet Ten near Manado on 19th, with prominent whitish-grey rumps patches.
Glossy Swiftlet Common at Tangkoko, four at G. Ambang.
Asian Palm-Swift Two near Tangkoko on 12th.
* Green-backed Kingfisher (Actenoides monachus)
Nice views of two separate birds in Tangkoko on 13th, seen as we walked in the woodland. The second had a very smart blue head and small whitish chin patch.
* Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher (Cittura cyanotis)
One seen nicely calling in the forest at Tangkoko on 13th.
Collared Kingfisher Two at Tangkoko and again at G. Ambang. The birds here seem quite small and have very white underparts with dull green blue upperparts. They seemed quite wrong for Sacred.
Common Kingfisher One at Tangkoko along the beach.
* Purple-winged Roller (Eurystomus azurea)
Nice views of one in the forest at Tangkoko, calling well and a much better look than in 2000.
* Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)
Five near Tangkoko on 12th and ten on 13th, a spectacular species.
* Ashy Woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus)
One seen nicely in the forest at Tangkoko on 13th.
Pacific Swallow A few near Manado and Tangkoko.
Yellow Wagtail One simillima type at Manado airport on 12th, and about 30 in the paddies on 20th.
Pechora Pipit (Anthus gustavi)
One was walking about on the leaf litter under the trees by the park gate on 13th, a long over due lifer for PG.
* Pied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina bicolor)
Jemmie heard one calling in the forest at Tangkoko on 13th, and we managed to get onto a male high in the canopy, a species that we missed in 2000. Now classified as NT.
* White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike (C. leucopygia)
Two by the park entrance on 13th.
* Sulawesi Cicadabird (C. morio)
Singles seen on both days near Tangkoko.
* Sulawesi Triller (Lalage leucopygialis)
Three en route to the park on 12th.
Hair-crested Drongo Noisy and conspicuous, we saw 3 on 12th and 6 on 13th.
* Sulawesi Drongo (Dicrurus montanus)
One at Gunung Ambang on 20th.
Black-naped Oriole A single on 12th and 4 on 13th at Tangkoko.
* Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)
Two by the road near Tangkoko on 13th , strikingly short tailed and two at G. Ambang.
* Sulawesi Babbler (Trichastoma celebense)
Seen nicely at both Tangkoko and Gunung Ambang, a good singer.
* Red-backed Thrush (Zoothera erythronota)
Jemmie showed us a nest in cleft where a branch had broken off near the park entrance, the nest itself a typical thrush cup of twiggy rootlets decorated with moss and dead leaves which hung down as sort of skirt. Careful searching the undergrowth revealed a fine Red-backed Thrush feeding quietly in the leaf litter, a very handsome endemic.
* Chestnut-backed Bush-warbler (Bradypterus castaneus)
This was common at G. Ambang, we saw at least 3 birds well, skulking in the undergrowth but coming in to pishing.
Mountain Tailorbird
One at G. Ambang.
* Sulawesi Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus sarasinorum)
Two at G. Ambang.
Golden-headed Cisticola Three in the fields at G. Ambang.
Island Verditer Flycatcher One at G. Ambang.
Little Pied Flycatcher One female at G. Ambang.
Snowy-browed Flycatcher A male seen well at G. Ambang.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher One near at Tangkoko on 12th and two on 13th.
Black-naped Monarch Two at Tangkoko on 13th.
* Rusty-bellied Fantail (Rhipidura teysmanni)
Six at G. Ambang on 20th, often with mixed flocks.
* Citrine Flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)
One at G. Ambang on 20th.
* Yellow-vented Whistler (Pachycephala sulfuriventer)
Four at G. Ambang on 20th.
White-breasted Wood-swallow Singles at Tangkoko and two at G. Ambang.
Asian Glossy Starling 3 on 19th and 4 on 20th near Manado.
* Sulawesi Crested Myna (Basilornis celebensis)
Two near Tangkoko on 12th.
* Grosbeak Starling (Scissirostrum dubium)
A great dead tree tower block full of noisy starlings on 12th, with about 120 birds in the vicinity, and some 40 at Tangkoko on 13th.
* Lesser Sulawesi Honeyeater (Myza celebensis)
One at G. Ambang on 20th showed really well low down in the forest.
Brown-throated Sunbird One on 12th near Tangkoko.
Black Sunbird Two males on 13th at Tangkoko.
Yellow-bellied Sunbird A male at Tangkoko on 13th.
* Yellow-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum aureolimbatum)
One near Tangkoko on 12th.
* Grey-sided Flowerpecker (D. celebicum) A male near Tangkoko on 12th.
*Mountain White-eye (Zosterops montanus) Two at G. Ambang on 20th.
* Black-fronted White-eye (Z. atrifrons) Two at G. Ambang on 20th.
* Streak-headed Dark-eye (Lophozosterops squamiceps)
We saw a couple of what I suppose to be this species at G. Ambang on 20th.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Widespread around Manado.
Scaly-breasted Mannikin (Munia)
Six at Tangkoko and 10 at the paddies.
Chestnut Mannikin (Munia) Three at Manado airport on 12th, and 5 at Posko paddies on 20th.
Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
This is essentially a tick for both Trevor and I, as we had a flock of at least 150 in the paddies at Posko on 20th, somewhat unexpected. I had seen one in Hong-Kong in 1977 before….. They would appear to be well-established in parts of Sulawesi, presumably introduced.
PG Kuranda April 2006
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