For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.
See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.

A handsome Blue Bird-of-paradise flies from his display perch in the Tari Valley below Ambua Lodge. This was one of about 20 species of BoP seen on the trip! (Photo by guide Phil Gregory)
A memorable tour this year, Phil's swansong for the main Field Guides PNG trip for the time being, but blessed with good weather, good logistics and a very convivial group interested in both culture and the birds.
The intro at the PAU was as ever enjoyable, with Spotted Whistling-Duck, the now regular Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Papuan Frogmouth, and Fawn-breasted Bowerbird among the highlights. Varirata next day was terrific, with Eclectus and Red-cheeked parrots, a fine look at the Raggiana Bird-of-paradise lek with a couple of nice males in attendance, Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher and two Barred Owlet-Nightjars, plus our first sighting of Pygmy Eagle for some years.
Over to Kiunga next, with an on-time flight and thankfully overcast and relatively cool weather, with a fine day for the epic Elevala River trip, where we scored Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise on his song post and a great Southern Crowned-Pigeon from the boat, plus at least 11 Palm Cockatoos, some Channel-billed Cuckoos and a nice scattering of the spectacular Blyth's Hornbills. The trails were bad for chiggers this year and I had inadvertently only brought a little sulfur powder, plus we had some excitement with leeches, but great views of both Common Paradise-Kingfisher and the rare Little Paradise-Kingfisher were exciting, as were two male King Birds-of-paradise squabbling over a prime display site.
The lek at Km 17 was also excellent this year and we made two trips, seeing the birds in full cry on the morning trip- interestingly they are now looking mostly like good male Greater Birds-of-paradise with just a hint of pinkish on the outer plumes showing the Raggiana influence, and a few obvious hybrids bouncing about as well. Seeing both Trumpet Manucode and Glossy-mantled in their slow butterfly-like canopy display flight was also neat. Flame Bowerbird (male and female in flight) eventually showed up along the Boystown Road, and we had quite a lively morning on the mound with Yellow-eyed Starlings flying over, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Golden Monarch and Golden Cuckooshrike along the road.
Tabubil gave us Salvadori's Teal and a fine flowering tree had Dusky, Red-throated, and Papuan Black myzomelas, Spotted Honeyeater, and a leucistic Long-billed Honeyeater with pale coffee plumage, a pinkish bill, and yellow eye! Dablin Creek has been much damaged and few fruiting trees remain, but Blue-collared Parrot and another Pygmy Eagle were good finds there.
Over to Kumul Lodge next, where the feeders came good with a wonderful male Brown Sicklebill and several female-plumaged birds, female Archbold's Bowerbird, assorted Ribbon-tailed Astrapias, and Crested Berrypecker nearby. Next day down the valley we got fine looks at Lesser BoP, Ornate Melidectes, Yellow-breasted Bowerbird, and a very lucky find of the rare Gurney's Eagle, whilst the lodge grounds gave us Lesser Melampitta and a bonus Sooty Melidectes. Mountain Owlet-Nightjar called right by the cabins and I think Nancy may have had it sat on her windowsill at one stage! The bilum market by the airport was fun too, with some good interactions and Laszlo being shown how to use a stone club -"Bangim" says the guy!
Ambua was really the finale and our first afternoon at the fruiting tree there came up with Blue BoP (f plumage), Lawes's Parotia (f), Superb BoP (f), and a lucky sighting of Black-billed Sicklebill for some, with Loria's Satinbird and Tit Berrypecker, plus Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo also showing well. That afternoon up below the Tari Gap we got a terrific male Ribbon-tailed Astrapia with a tail well over 1 metre long, a sharp contrast to the stumpy-tailed male at Kumul this year, which is evidently regrowing his finery or is seriously deformed! Papuan Lorikeet was also a major crowd pleaser, with a wonderful melanistic morph bird and his red plumage mate showing brilliantly. We scrounged up a gorgeous male Princess Stephanie's Astrapia in the remnants of their lekking area, now badly damaged by timber extraction activities, and the Blue BoP was a star this year, sitting up and calling for ages in full view. The King of Saxony was at a new site away from the timber interests, but showed very nicely still. The fruiting tree across the Gap gave us both Archbold's amd Macgregor's bowerbirds, plus Black Sittellas and a marvelous obliging Speckled Dasyure one afternoon. We got an instant response from Papuan Boobook at Ambua and I did not have to harass it for hours with tapes, which was great. We also had a memorable cultural experience along the Pig-poop Path, where the Sooty Owl was not at home this time.....
A mixed feeding flock along the approach road to the lodge had some 18 species, an unusually diverse assemblage and including Sclater's, Rufous-naped, and Brown-backed whistlers. Garnet Robin put on a very good show one morning, singing strongly after a slow start, and we had Black-throated Robin nearby with his strangely electronic rising whistle, whilst the local race (excitus) of Fan-tailed Cuckoo that showed nicely is a potential split in waiting.
Back to Port Moresby, a mere 2 hours late, and a nice late pm tour of the city with Lesser Frigatebird as a bonus, before our final day up at Varirata. Here we saw Yellow-billed and Forest kingfishers along the approach road, as well as Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, a Gurney's Eagle that looked to be carrying what may have been a young wallaby, White-bellied Whistler, and unexpected Coroneted Fruit-Doves, a species I seldom see here.
The elusive Growling (Magnificent) Riflebird showed well by the car park and responded to a tape by flying past several times along a trail, clearly a jazzed up young male. White-faced Robin is always nice as was a subtle (and scarce) Green-backed Honeyeater, with a courting pair of Red-cheeked Parrot putting on a memorable performance.
Then it was a final shopping trip to PNG Art, with Silver-eared Honeyeater as the last lifer of the tour, and a quick look at the remarkable paintings and bilums at a local market nearby rounding off the cultural side nicely.
My thanks to the various local guides -- Leonard, Daniel, Samuel, Jimmy, Max, and Joseph -- who all did a great job for us, also to Karen at FG HQ for excellent logistics, and of course to the group who kept us entertained and enjoyed the multiple aspects of the tour. Particular thanks to Paul for his medical expertise and sharing his scope, and to Arlene for donating her bins to young guide Leonard, who was thrilled. Also thanks to Mark and Kate and Laszlo for their donation of binoculars, I have various guides in sundry countries who would be delighted to get same. Finally 10Q to Laszlo, my lifer Hungarian proto-birder who took on the role of trip photographer in style, we look forward to the results.
Lukim yu behain
--Phil in Kuranda
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)

New Guinea has an impressive number of fancy doves and pigeons; this massive Great Cuckoo-Dove, which we saw up at Ambua, was just one of the notables. (Photo by tour participant Laszlo Czinege)
SPOTTED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna guttata) PLUMED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna eytoni)
WANDERING WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna arcuata)
RADJAH SHELDUCK (Tadorna radjah)
SALVADORI'S TEAL (Salvadorina waigiuensis) [E]
PACIFIC BLACK DUCK (Anas superciliosa)
GRAY TEAL (Anas gracilis)
Megapodiidae (Megapodes)
BLACK-BILLED BRUSH-TURKEY (Talegalla fuscirostris) [E*]
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
BROWN QUAIL (Coturnix ypsilophora)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
AUSTRALASIAN GREBE (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
LESSER FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata ariel)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
LITTLE PIED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
AUSTRALASIAN DARTER (Anhinga novaehollandiae)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT EGRET (AUSTRALASIAN) (Ardea alba modesta)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia)
LITTLE EGRET (LITTLE) (Egretta garzetta nigripes)
PIED HERON (Egretta picata)
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
RUFOUS NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax caledonicus)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
AUSTRALIAN IBIS (Threskiornis moluccus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
LONG-TAILED HONEY-BUZZARD (Henicopernis longicauda) [E]
PACIFIC BAZA (Aviceda subcristata)
PYGMY EAGLE (Hieraaetus weiskei) [E]
GURNEY'S EAGLE (Aquila gurneyi)
EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER (PAPUAN) (Circus spilonotus spilothorax) [E]
VARIABLE GOSHAWK (Accipiter hiogaster)
BLACK KITE (BLACK) (Milvus migrans affinis)
WHISTLING KITE (Haliastur sphenurus)
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

It pays to watch for dead snags during the boat trip through the lowland forest along the Fly and Elevala Rivers. You just never know what might be perched up on them -- in this case, it's a wonderful, shaggy-crested Palm Cockatoo! (Photo by tour participant Laszlo Czinege)
RED-NECKED CRAKE (Rallina tricolor) RUFOUS-TAILED BUSH-HEN (Amaurornis moluccana) [*]
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (AUSTRALASIAN) (Porphyrio porphyrio melanopterus)
DUSKY MOORHEN (Gallinula tenebrosa)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
MASKED LAPWING (Vanellus miles miles)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (SOUTHERN) (Charadrius dubius dubius)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
COMB-CRESTED JACANA (Irediparra gallinacea)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SLENDER-BILLED CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia amboinensis)
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia nigrirostris) [E]
GREAT CUCKOO-DOVE (Reinwardtoena reinwardtii) [E]
STEPHAN'S DOVE (Chalcophaps stephani)
PEACEFUL DOVE (Geopelia placida)
BAR-SHOULDERED DOVE (Geopelia humeralis) [*]
SOUTHERN CROWNED-PIGEON (Goura scheepmakeri) [E]
WOMPOO FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus magnificus)
PINK-SPOTTED FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus perlatus) [E]
ORNATE FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus ornatus) [E]
ORANGE-FRONTED FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus aurantiifrons) [E]
SUPERB FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus superbus)
CORONETED FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus coronulatus)
BEAUTIFUL FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus pulchellus) [E]
WHITE-BREASTED FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus rivoli) [E]
ORANGE-BELLIED FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus iozonus) [E]
DWARF FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus nanus) [E*]
PURPLE-TAILED IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula rufigaster) [E]
PINON IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula pinon) [E]
COLLARED IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula mullerii) [E]
ZOE IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula zoeae) [E]
TORRESIAN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula spilorrhoa)
PAPUAN MOUNTAIN-PIGEON (Gymnophaps albertisii) [E]
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
WHITE-CROWNED KOEL (Cacomantis leucolophus) [E]

Finding lorikeets perched is always a bonus, but finding a mixed pair (one normal-morph bird and one dark-morph) of the spectacular Papuan Lorikeet feeding in a fruiting Schefflera at the Tari Gap was a huge thrill! (Photo by tour participant Laszlo Czinege)
BRUSH CUCKOO (Cacomantis variolosus) CHESTNUT-BREASTED CUCKOO (Cacomantis castaneiventris) [*]
FAN-TAILED CUCKOO (Cacomantis flabelliformis excitus)
RUFOUS-THROATED BRONZE-CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx ruficollis) [E]
WHITE-EARED BRONZE-CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx meyeri) [E]
LITTLE BRONZE-CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx minutillus) [*]
DWARF KOEL (Microdynamis parva) [E]
AUSTRALIAN KOEL (Eudynamys cyanocephalus)
CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOO (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
GREATER BLACK COUCAL (Centropus menbeki) [E*]
PHEASANT COUCAL (Centropus phasianinus)
Strigidae (Owls)
JUNGLE HAWK-OWL (Ninox theomacha) [E]
Aegothelidae (Owlet-Nightjars)
MOUNTAIN OWLET-NIGHTJAR (Aegotheles albertisi) [E]
BARRED OWLET-NIGHTJAR (Aegotheles bennettii) [E]
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
PAPUAN FROGMOUTH (Podargus papuensis)
Apodidae (Swifts)
PAPUAN NEEDLETAIL (Mearnsia novaeguineae) [E]
GLOSSY SWIFTLET (Collocalia esculenta)
MOUNTAIN SWIFTLET (Aerodramus hirundinaceus) [E]
UNIFORM SWIFTLET (Aerodramus vanikorensis)
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
MOUSTACHED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne mystacea)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
VARIABLE DWARF-KINGFISHER (Ceyx lepidus)
BLUE-WINGED KOOKABURRA (Dacelo leachii)
RUFOUS-BELLIED KOOKABURRA (Dacelo gaudichaud) [E]
FOREST KINGFISHER (Todiramphus macleayii)
SACRED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus sanctus)
HOOK-BILLED KINGFISHER (Melidora macrorrhina) [E*]
YELLOW-BILLED KINGFISHER (Syma torotoro)
MOUNTAIN KINGFISHER (Syma megarhyncha) [E*]
LITTLE PARADISE-KINGFISHER (Tanysiptera hydrocharis) [E]

This charming Torrent Flycatcher was a nice find at the headwaters of the Sepik River below Kumul Lodge. (Photo by guide Phil Gregory)
COMMON PARADISE-KINGFISHER (Tanysiptera galatea) [E] BROWN-HEADED PARADISE-KINGFISHER (Tanysiptera danae) [E]
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RAINBOW BEE-EATER (Merops ornatus)
Coraciidae (Rollers)
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
BLYTH'S HORNBILL (Aceros plicatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AUSTRALIAN KESTREL (Falco cenchroides)
AUSTRALIAN HOBBY (Falco longipennis)
BROWN FALCON (Falco berigora)
Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)
PALM COCKATOO (Probosciger aterrimus)
SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO (Cacatua galerita)
Psittacidae (Parrots)
YELLOW-STREAKED LORY (Chalcopsitta sintillata) [E]
RAINBOW LORIKEET (COCONUT) (Trichoglossus haematodus nigrogularis)
GOLDIE'S LORIKEET (Psitteuteles goldiei) [E]
BLACK-CAPPED LORY (Lorius lory) [E]
RED-FLANKED LORIKEET (Charmosyna placentis) [E]
PAPUAN LORIKEET (Charmosyna papou) [E]
PLUM-FACED LORIKEET (Oreopsittacus arfaki) [E]
YELLOW-BILLED LORIKEET (Neopsittacus musschenbroekii) [E]
ORANGE-BILLED LORIKEET (Neopsittacus pullicauda) [E]
YELLOW-CAPPED PYGMY-PARROT (Micropsitta keiensis) [E]
BUFF-FACED PYGMY-PARROT (Micropsitta pusio) [E*]
ORANGE-BREASTED FIG-PARROT (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii) [E]
DOUBLE-EYED FIG-PARROT (Cyclopsitta diophthalma)
BREHM'S TIGER-PARROT (Psittacella brehmii) [E]
RED-CHEEKED PARROT (Geoffroyus geoffroyi)
BLUE-COLLARED PARROT (Geoffroyus simplex) [E]
ECLECTUS PARROT (Eclectus roratus)
PAPUAN KING-PARROT (Alisterus chloropterus) [E]
Pittidae (Pittas)
HOODED PITTA (Pitta sordida)
RED-BELLIED PITTA (Pitta erythrogaster) [*]
Ptilonorhynchidae (Bowerbirds)
SPOTTED CATBIRD (Ailuroedus melanotis) [*]
ARCHBOLD'S BOWERBIRD (Archboldia papuensis) [E]

A brave group of birders tests the carrying capacity of one of the vine bridges at Ambua! (Photo by guide Phil Gregory)
MACGREGOR'S BOWERBIRD (Amblyornis macgregoriae) [E] FLAME BOWERBIRD (Sericulus aureus) [E]
YELLOW-BREASTED BOWERBIRD (Chlamydera lauterbachi) [E]
FAWN-BREASTED BOWERBIRD (Chlamydera cerviniventris)
Maluridae (Fairywrens)
EMPEROR FAIRYWREN (Malurus cyanocephalus) [*]
WHITE-SHOULDERED FAIRYWREN (Malurus alboscapulatus) [E]
Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
PLAIN HONEYEATER (Pycnopygius ixoides) [E]
MARBLED HONEYEATER (Pycnopygius cinereus) [E]
STREAK-HEADED HONEYEATER (Pycnopygius stictocephalus) [E]
MOUNTAIN MELIPHAGA (Meliphaga orientalis) [E]
SCRUB HONEYEATER (Meliphaga albonotata) [E]
PUFF-BACKED HONEYEATER (Meliphaga aruensis) [E]
GRACEFUL HONEYEATER (ELEGANT) (Meliphaga gracilis cinereifrons) [E]
BLACK-THROATED HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus subfrenatus) [E]
OBSCURE HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus obscurus) [E*]
YELLOW-TINTED HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus flavescens)
RUFOUS-BANDED HONEYEATER (Conopophila albogularis)
RED-THROATED MYZOMELA (Myzomela eques) [E]
DUSKY MYZOMELA (Myzomela obscura)

Many birds-of-paradise sport long, showy tail plumes or fancy headgear. This rather rotund looking Short-tailed Paradigalla, with its butterfly-shaped yellow and blue facial wattles, definitely falls into the latter category. (Photo by tour participant Laszlo Czinege)
BLACK MYZOMELA (Myzomela nigrita) [E] MOUNTAIN MYZOMELA (Myzomela adolphinae) [E]
RED-COLLARED MYZOMELA (Myzomela rosenbergii) [E]
GREEN-BACKED HONEYEATER (Glycichaera fallax fallax)
SILVER-EARED HONEYEATER (Lichmera alboauricularis) [E]
WHITE-THROATED HONEYEATER (Melithreptus albogularis)
MEYER'S FRIARBIRD (Philemon meyeri) [E]
HELMETED FRIARBIRD (NEW GUINEA) (Philemon buceroides novaeguineae)
TAWNY-BREASTED HONEYEATER (Xanthotis flaviventer)
SPOTTED HONEYEATER (Xanthotis polygrammus) [E]
LONG-BILLED HONEYEATER (Melilestes megarhynchus) [E]
SMOKY HONEYEATER (Melipotes fumigatus) [E]
SOOTY MELIDECTES (Melidectes fuscus)
BELFORD'S MELIDECTES (Melidectes belfordi) [E]
YELLOW-BROWED MELIDECTES (Melidectes rufocrissalis) [E]
ORNATE MELIDECTES (Melidectes torquatus) [E]
RUFOUS-BACKED HONEYEATER (Ptiloprora guisei) [E]
BLACK-BACKED HONEYEATER (Ptiloprora perstriata) [E]
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDENFACE (Pachycare flavogriseum) [E]
RUSTY MOUSE-WARBLER (Crateroscelis murina) [E*]
MOUNTAIN MOUSE-WARBLER (Crateroscelis robusta) [E]
LARGE SCRUBWREN (Sericornis nouhuysi) [E]
BUFF-FACED SCRUBWREN (Sericornis perspicillatus) [E]
PAPUAN SCRUBWREN (Sericornis papuensis) [E]
GREEN-BACKED GERYGONE (Gerygone chloronota)
FAIRY GERYGONE (Gerygone palpebrosa)
YELLOW-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone chrysogaster) [E]

Easily the most extreme of the long-tailed BoPs is the spectacular Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, which boasts tail plumes of more than a meter in length! (Photo by tour participant Laszlo Czinege)
LARGE-BILLED GERYGONE (Gerygone magnirostris) BROWN-BREASTED GERYGONE (Gerygone ruficollis) [E]
Pomatostomidae (Pseudo-Babblers)
NEW GUINEA BABBLER (Pomatostomus isidorei) [E]
Orthonychidae (Logrunners)
NORTHERN LOGRUNNER (Orthonyx novaeguineae) [E]
Cnemophilidae (Satinbirds)
LORIA'S SATINBIRD (Cnemophilus loriae) [E]
Melanocharitidae (Berrypeckers and Longbills)
BLACK BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis nigra) [E]
LEMON-BREASTED BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis longicauda) [E]
FAN-TAILED BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis versteri) [E]
SPOTTED BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis crassirostris)
YELLOW-BELLIED LONGBILL (Toxorhamphus novaeguineae) [E]
DWARF HONEYEATER (Toxorhamphus iliolophus) [E*]
Paramythiidae (Tit Berrypecker, Crested Berrypecker)
TIT BERRYPECKER (Oreocharis arfaki) [E]
CRESTED BERRYPECKER (Paramythia montium) [E]
Cinclosomatidae (Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers)
PAINTED QUAIL-THRUSH (Cinclosoma ajax) [E*]
BLUE JEWEL-BABBLER (Ptilorrhoa caerulescens) [E]
CHESTNUT-BACKED JEWEL-BABBLER (Ptilorrhoa castanonota) [E*]
Machaerirhynchidae (Boatbills)
BLACK-BREASTED BOATBILL (Machaerirhynchus nigripectus) [E]
YELLOW-BREASTED BOATBILL (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer)
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
GREAT WOODSWALLOW (Artamus maximus) [E]
WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW (Artamus leucorynchus)
Cracticidae (Bellmagpies and Allies)
MOUNTAIN PELTOPS (Peltops montanus) [E*]
LOWLAND PELTOPS (Peltops blainvillii) [E]
BLACK-BACKED BUTCHERBIRD (Cracticus mentalis)
HOODED BUTCHERBIRD (Cracticus cassicus) [E]
BLACK BUTCHERBIRD (Cracticus quoyi quoyi)
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
STOUT-BILLED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina caeruleogrisea) [E]
HOODED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina longicauda) [E]
BARRED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina lineata)
BOYER'S CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina boyeri) [E]
BLACK-FACED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina novaehollandiae)
WHITE-BELLIED CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina papuensis papuensis)
GOLDEN CUCKOOSHRIKE (Campochaera sloetii) [E]
VARIED TRILLER (Lalage leucomela)
BLACK-BELLIED CICADABIRD (Edolisoma montanum) [E]
PAPUAN CICADABIRD (Edolisoma incertum) [E]
GRAY-HEADED CICADABIRD (Edolisoma schisticeps) [E]
BLACK CICADABIRD (Edolisoma melan) [E]
Neosittidae (Sittellas)
BLACK SITTELLA (Daphoenositta miranda) [E]
Pachycephalidae (Whistlers and Allies)
WATTLED PLOUGHBILL (Eulacestoma nigropectus) [E*]
RUSTY PITOHUI (Colluricincla ferruginea) [E]
WHITE-BELLIED PITOHUI (Colluricincla incerta) [E*]
RUFOUS SHRIKE-THRUSH (Colluricincla megarhyncha)
GRAY SHRIKE-THRUSH (Colluricincla harmonica) [*]
REGENT WHISTLER (Pachycephala schlegelii) [E]
SCLATER'S WHISTLER (Pachycephala soror) [E]
BROWN-BACKED WHISTLER (Pachycephala modesta) [E]
GRAY WHISTLER (Pachycephala simplex)
WHITE-BELLIED WHISTLER (Pachycephala leucogastra) [E]
BLACK-HEADED WHISTLER (Pachycephala monacha) [E]
RUFOUS-NAPED WHISTLER (Aleadryas rufinucha) [E]
CRESTED PITOHUI (Ornorectes cristatus) [E*]
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach stresemanni)
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
HOODED PITOHUI (Pitohui dichrous) [E]
VARIABLE PITOHUI (Pitohui kirhocephalus) [E*]
BROWN ORIOLE (Oriolus szalayi) [E]
AUSTRALASIAN FIGBIRD (Sphecotheres vieilloti)
Dicruridae (Drongos)
SPANGLED DRONGO (Dicrurus bracteatus carbonarius)
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
NORTHERN FANTAIL (Rhipidura rufiventris)
WILLIE-WAGTAIL (Rhipidura leucophrys)
FRIENDLY FANTAIL (Rhipidura albolimbata) [E]
CHESTNUT-BELLIED FANTAIL (Rhipidura hyperythra) [E]
SOOTY THICKET-FANTAIL (Rhipidura threnothorax) [E]
WHITE-BELLIED THICKET-FANTAIL (Rhipidura leucothorax leucothorax) [E*]
BLACK FANTAIL (Rhipidura atra) [E]
DIMORPHIC FANTAIL (Rhipidura brachyrhyncha) [E]
RUFOUS-BACKED FANTAIL (Rhipidura rufidorsa) [E]
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLUE-CAPPED IFRITA (Ifrita kowaldi) [E]
GOLDEN MONARCH (Carterornis chrysomela) [E]
BLACK MONARCH (Symposiachrus axillaris) [E]
SPOT-WINGED MONARCH (Symposiachrus guttula) [E]
FRILLED MONARCH (Arses telescophthalmus) [E]
SHINING FLYCATCHER (Myiagra alecto)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
GRAY CROW (Corvus tristis) [E]
TORRESIAN CROW (TORRESIAN) (Corvus orru orru)
Paradisaeidae (Birds-of-paradise)
TRUMPET MANUCODE (Phonygammus keraudrenii)
CRINKLE-COLLARED MANUCODE (Manucodia chalybatus) [E]
GLOSSY-MANTLED MANUCODE (Manucodia ater) [E]
KING-OF-SAXONY BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Pteridophora alberti) [E]
CAROLA'S PAROTIA (Parotia carolae) [E*]
LAWES'S PAROTIA (Parotia lawesii) [E]
TWELVE-WIRED BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Seleucidis melanoleucus) [E]
BLACK-BILLED SICKLEBILL (Drepanornis albertisi) [E]
SUPERB BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Lophorina superba) [E]
MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD (Ptiloris magnificus) [*]
MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD (GROWLING) (Ptiloris magnificus intercedens) [E]
BLACK SICKLEBILL (Epimachus fastuosus) [E*]
BROWN SICKLEBILL (Epimachus meyeri) [E]
SHORT-TAILED PARADIGALLA (Paradigalla brevicauda) [E]
STEPHANIE'S ASTRAPIA (Astrapia stephaniae) [E]
RIBBON-TAILED ASTRAPIA (Astrapia mayeri) [E]
KING BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Cicinnurus regius) [E]
MAGNIFICENT BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Cicinnurus magnificus) [E*]
BLUE BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Paradisaea rudolphi) [E]
LESSER BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Paradisaea minor) [E]
RAGGIANA BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Paradisaea raggiana) [E]
GREATER BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Paradisaea apoda) [E]
LESSER MELAMPITTA (Melampitta lugubris) [E]
GREATER MELAMPITTA (Melampitta gigantea) [E*]
Petroicidae (Australasian Robins)
LESSER GROUND-ROBIN (Amalocichla incerta) [E*]
TORRENT FLYCATCHER (Monachella muelleriana) [E]
LEMON-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Microeca flavigaster)
CANARY FLYCATCHER (Microeca papuana) [E]
GARNET ROBIN (Eugerygone rubra) [E]
WHITE-FACED ROBIN (Tregellasia leucops)
BLACK-SIDED ROBIN (Poecilodryas hypoleuca) [E]
BLACK-THROATED ROBIN (Poecilodryas albonotata) [E]
WHITE-WINGED ROBIN (Peneothello sigillata) [E]
WHITE-RUMPED ROBIN (Peneothello bimaculata) [E*]
BLUE-GRAY ROBIN (Peneothello cyanus) [E]
ASHY ROBIN (Heteromyias albispecularis) [E*]
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
PACIFIC SWALLOW (Hirundo tahitica)
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
ISLAND LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus poliocephalus)
Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies)
TAWNY GRASSBIRD (Megalurus timoriensis)
Zosteropidae (Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies)
BLACK-FRONTED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops minor) [E]
CAPPED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops fuscicapilla) [E]
NEW GUINEA WHITE-EYE (Zosterops novaeguineae) [E]
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
PIED BUSHCHAT (Saxicola caprata)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
ISLAND THRUSH (Turdus poliocephalus)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
METALLIC STARLING (Aplonis metallica)
YELLOW-EYED STARLING (Aplonis mystacea) [E]
SINGING STARLING (Aplonis cantoroides)
YELLOW-FACED MYNA (Mino dumontii) [E]
GOLDEN MYNA (Mino anais) [E]
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
RED-CAPPED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum geelvinkianum)
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
BLACK SUNBIRD (Leptocoma sericea)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) [I]
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
MOUNTAIN FIRETAIL (Oreostruthus fuliginosus) [E*]
BLUE-FACED PARROTFINCH (Erythrura trichroa)
HOODED MUNIA (Lonchura spectabilis) [E]
GRAY-HEADED MUNIA (Lonchura caniceps) [E]
SPECKLED DASYURE (Neophascogale lorentzii) [E]
GREATER FLYING FOX (Pteropus neohibernicus)
HOUSE MOUSE (Mus musculus) [I]
Reptiles
Several sightings of New Guinea Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae) along the Elevala, we motored right past one by Kwatu that stayed put but entered the water as we turned back.
A Hypsilurus river dragon sp. was seen there too.
Spotted monitor- one nice spotted animal on a mudbank, maybe Varanus similis or perhaps V. panoptes.
Hercules moth (Coscinocera hercules) several by the lodge at Ambua, one of which met an untimely end with a Great Woodswallow. One of the largest moths in the world with a wingspan up to 27cm.
Ornithoptera priamus Green Birdwing Butterfly- males and females at Varirata.
Pearl Owl butterflies Taenaris sp. were seen at Varirata, Ok Menga and Kiunga.
An arboreal brown rat-like mammal with long blackish tail was seen below Kumul Lodge in the moss forest there. It was a lifer for Phil but I don't know what it is yet! It may be the Moss-forest Rat, Stenomys niobe.
Birds of the trip were varied and included courting Red-cheeked parrots, Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Lorikeet, Southern Crowned Pigeon, Brown Sicklebill, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, King of Saxony and King Bop, Blue Bop, the various leks, paradise-kingfishers and Crested Berrypecker.
Totals for the tour: 302 bird taxa and 3 mammal taxa