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Just part of the huge group of Blyth's Hornbills we came across along the Elevala River, each of these birds nearly three feet long! (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
There's no two ways about it: birding in Papua New Guinea can be a frustrating experience. No other country I've visited has such a large number of scarce, elusive, and downright difficult to see species as does PNG. But with great frustration comes great reward: PNG also has more amazing, unique, and simply spectacular species than most countries on this planet, and it is this fact that makes PNG such an incredible place to bird! On the 2014 PNG tour we experienced the frustration at times, but we also experienced elation with every encounter with one of PNG's many beautiful birds.
As always, our tour started off in the capital city of Port Moresby, and our birding kicked off at the lovely grounds of the Pacific Adventist University (PAU). The park-like grounds of the campus offered up a number of waterbirds at the ponds, including 60 Plumed Whistling-Ducks, apparently the largest number ever recorded in the country! We also added our first PNG endemics here in the form of Yellow-faced Myna, Brown Oriole, and Gray-headed Munia, as well as an assortment of other interesting birds. A trio of Papuan Frogmouths above the basketball court were a big hit, as was the beautifully constructed bower of Fawn-breasted Bowerbird (as well as the birds themselves). A trio of massive Channel-billed Cuckoos that flew past, and a close perched Variable Goshawk were among the other birds to make our first afternoon outing a great success.
Next morning saw us making our first of 2 visits to Varirata National Park, probably my favorite birding spot in the country. Along the entrance road, we ran into our first birds-of-paradise of the trip, with Glossy-mantled Manucodes narrowly beating out a couple of female Raggiana for the first bird-of-paradise of the tour. Later we caught up with fully adorned males at the lek, with one male sitting out for photos for quite some time. A scope view of a miniscule Buff-faced Pygmy-Parrot was among the most unexpected moments of the day, and a flowering tree full of Black Myzomelas, Dwarf Honeyeaters, and a couple of rare Red-throated Myzomelas, all seen well in the scope, was likewise a nice surprise.
Our next stop was in the steamy lowlands of the Fly River region in the far west of PNG. In the region around our base in Kiunga, we tracked down numerous lowland rainforest species that we weren't to see elsewhere on the tour. These included several birds-of-paradise, and we enjoyed an exciting visit to the Greater Bird-of-paradise lek at KM 17, where we enjoyed the sight of several males displaying vigorously to a couple of interested females. A displaying male King Bird-of-paradise along the trail was a bonus here! During our boat trip up the Fly River and on to the smaller Elevala, riverside views of two different male Twelve-wired Birds-of-paradise were just one of the highlights, which also included long looks at a pair of Southern Crowned-Pigeons, a huge flock of 50+ Blyth's Hornbills, Common Paradise-Kingfisher, the scarce White-bellied Pitohui, and a bunch of adorable Orange-breasted Fig-Parrots. And a fantastic morning along Boystown Road got us a pair of gorgeous little Emperor Fairywrens, a rare Long-billed Cuckoo, and a couple of birds worthy to become #3000 on the world lists of Terry and Rhys: a lovely male Golden Monarch and the spectacular Flame Bowerbird, respectively.
Tabubil was next up, and it was typically foggy and rainy, making birding a challenge, but we persevered and tallied some of the main specialties of the region. Our patience at Ok Menga was rewarded when a Salvadori's Teal appeared on some rocks amid the rapids, while at Dablin Creek we needed even greater patience as the dense fog presented a real challenge. But with time birds began to emerge from the foggy surrounds, and we enjoyed a stellar showing from a quartet of displaying Torrent-Larks, beautiful views of a trio of glowing Golden Cuckooshrikes, and a reasonable encounter with a couple of females, and a distant male, Carola's Parotia.
Heading into the highlands, we first made an abbreviated (due to weather and airlines) stop at Kumul Lodge where we raced the setting sun to find our main targets, getting most thanks to the excellent feeders. A female Crested Satinbird and a confiding Mountain Firetail (thanks to Brooke's sharp eyes) were among the non-feeder birds we found there. Fortunately, we had plenty of time at Ambua, and excellent weather, which made up nicely for what we missed at Kumul. The birds-of-paradise performed well, and we had decent looks at the big money birds: King-of-Saxony, Superb, and Blue birds-of-paradise, and both astrapias (that male with the 4-foot tail was phenomenal!), but there were also many supporting stars that made the visit one of my best ever. A feisty Short-tailed Paradigalla jealously guarding a choice fruiting bush near the cabins; a female Madarasz's Tiger-Parrot feeding quietly above us in the forest; the most responsive and cooperative Spotted Jewel-Babbler I've ever seen; a gorgeous male Garnet Robin that showed well for all: these were just a few of the many wonderful moments during our time here. And that afternoon walk on the Waterfall Trail deserves mention, too, as it was just an incredibly beautiful and memorable experience!
We finished off back at Port Moresby with a visit to the coastal village of Lea Lea, which didn't meet our expectations but did produce a few nice birds like White-belled Sea-Eagle, Pacific Reef-Egret, and the local Silver-eared Honeyeater. Then we had a final visit to Varirata which started slowly but finished big, with multiple feeding flocks and some excellent birds: Doria's Goshawk, Pygmy Drongo-Fantail, Barred Cuckooshrike, Goldenface, White-faced Robin, Variable Dwarf-Kingfisher, etc. It really was a fantastic finish to a fun trip.
Thanks so much to all of you for joining me on my return to this fascinating country, and for making it such a joy to lead. It's always great when a group gels so well and has so much fun together, and it makes my job just that much more fun. Your patience and understanding when things didn't go quite right also eased things along, so many thanks for that, too. I hope I'll have the chance to do another tour with each of you before too long! Until next time...
--Jay
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
Casuariidae (Cassowaries)

We had glorious views of what is a highlight species for any PNG tour: the magnificent (and huge)Southern Crowned-Pigeon (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
SOUTHERN CASSOWARY (Casuarius casuarius) DWARF CASSOWARY (Casuarius bennetti)
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
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)
Megapodiidae (Megapodes)
BLACK-BILLED BRUSH-TURKEY (Talegalla fuscirostris) [E*]
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
AUSTRALASIAN GREBE (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) [N]
Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
LESSER FRIGATEBIRD (Fregata ariel)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
LITTLE PIED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT EGRET (AUSTRALASIAN) (Ardea alba modesta)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia)
PACIFIC REEF-HERON (Egretta sacra)
PIED HERON (Egretta picata)
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)

Pied Heron at PAU (Photo by guide Jay VanderGaast)
RUFOUS NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax caledonicus) Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
AUSTRALIAN IBIS (Threskiornis moluccus)
STRAW-NECKED IBIS (Threskiornis spinicollis)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus wahgiensis)
LONG-TAILED HONEY-BUZZARD (Henicopernis longicauda) [E]
PACIFIC BAZA (Aviceda subcristata)
EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER (PAPUAN) (Circus spilonotus spilothorax) [E]
VARIABLE GOSHAWK (Accipiter hiogaster)
BROWN GOSHAWK (Accipiter fasciatus)
BLACK-MANTLED GOSHAWK (Accipiter melanochlamys) [E]
GRAY-HEADED GOSHAWK (Accipiter poliocephalus) [E]
DORIA'S GOSHAWK (Megatriorchis doriae) [E]
BLACK KITE (BLACK) (Milvus migrans affinis)
WHISTLING KITE (Haliastur sphenurus) [N]
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus) [N]
WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
BUFF-BANDED RAIL (Gallirallus philippensis)
RUFOUS-TAILED BUSH-HEN (Amaurornis moluccana) [*]
PURPLE SWAMPHEN (AUSTRALASIAN) (Porphyrio porphyrio melanopterus)
DUSKY MOORHEN (Gallinula tenebrosa)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

This Short-tailed Paradigalla was keeping all other birds away from its fruting bonanza. (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
MASKED LAPWING (Vanellus miles miles) [N] LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (SOUTHERN) (Charadrius dubius dubius)
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
COMB-CRESTED JACANA (Irediparra gallinacea)
Turnicidae (Buttonquail)
RED-BACKED BUTTONQUAIL (Turnix maculosus)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
GREAT CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bergii cristatus)
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]
BEAUTIFUL FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus pulchellus) [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]

Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher is a bird of the forest interior, and we had great views of this one at Varirata. (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
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]
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)
LONG-BILLED CUCKOO (Rhamphomantis megarhynchus) [E]
DWARF KOEL (Microdynamis parva) [E]
AUSTRALIAN KOEL (Eudynamys cyanocephalus)
CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOO (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
GREATER BLACK COUCAL (Centropus menbeki) [E]
PHEASANT COUCAL (Centropus phasianinus)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
SOOTY OWL (GREATER) (Tyto tenebricosa arfaki) [E]
Strigidae (Owls)
JUNGLE BOOBOOK (Ninox theomacha) [E]
Aegothelidae (Owlet-Nightjars)
FELINE OWLET-NIGHTJAR (Aegotheles insignis) [E*]

Always nice to have a dayroost stakeout! Barred Owlet-Nightjar at Varirata. (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
MOUNTAIN OWLET-NIGHTJAR (Aegotheles albertisi) [E*] BARRED OWLET-NIGHTJAR (Aegotheles bennettii) [E]
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
PAPUAN FROGMOUTH (Podargus papuensis)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
ARCHBOLD'S NIGHTJAR (Eurostopodus archboldi) [E]
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)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
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]
COMMON PARADISE-KINGFISHER (Tanysiptera galatea) [E]

Two of the Papuan Frogmouths we found on the grounds of PAU (Photo by participant Rhys Harrison)
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 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]
YELLOW-BILLED LORIKEET (Neopsittacus musschenbroekii) [E]
ORANGE-BILLED LORIKEET (Neopsittacus pullicauda) [E]
YELLOW-CAPPED PYGMY-PARROT (Micropsitta keiensis) [E]

The lovely Brehm's Tiger-Parrot is a regular at the Kumul feeders. (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
BUFF-FACED PYGMY-PARROT (Micropsitta pusio) [E] RED-BREASTED PYGMY-PARROT (Micropsitta bruijnii)
ORANGE-BREASTED FIG-PARROT (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii) [E]
DOUBLE-EYED FIG-PARROT (Cyclopsitta diophthalma)
LARGE FIG-PARROT (Psittaculirostris desmarestii) [E]
BREHM'S TIGER-PARROT (Psittacella brehmii) [E]
MADARASZ'S TIGER-PARROT (Psittacella madaraszi) [E]
RED-CHEEKED PARROT (Geoffroyus geoffroyi)
BLUE-COLLARED PARROT (Geoffroyus simplex) [E*]
ECLECTUS PARROT (Eclectus roratus)
PAPUAN KING-PARROT (Alisterus chloropterus) [E]
PAPUAN HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus aurantiifrons) [E]
Pittidae (Pittas)
HOODED PITTA (Pitta sordida)
RED-BELLIED PITTA (Pitta erythrogaster) [*]
Ptilonorhynchidae (Bowerbirds)
WHITE-EARED CATBIRD (Ailuroedus buccoides) [E*]

The handiwork of a male Fawn-breasted Bowerbird (Photo by guide Jay VanderGaast)
MACGREGOR'S BOWERBIRD (Amblyornis macgregoriae) [E] FLAME BOWERBIRD (Sericulus aureus) [E]
FAWN-BREASTED BOWERBIRD (Chlamydera cerviniventris)
Maluridae (Fairywrens)
WALLACE'S FAIRYWREN (Sipodotus wallacii) [E]
EMPEROR FAIRYWREN (Malurus cyanocephalus) [E]
WHITE-SHOULDERED FAIRYWREN (Malurus alboscapulatus) [E]
Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
PLAIN HONEYEATER (Pycnopygius ixoides) [E]
MARBLED HONEYEATER (Pycnopygius cinereus) [E]
STREAK-HEADED HONEYEATER (Pycnopygius stictocephalus) [E]
SCRUB HONEYEATER (Meliphaga albonotata) [E]
MIMIC HONEYEATER (Meliphaga analoga) [E]
GRACEFUL HONEYEATER (ELEGANT) (Meliphaga gracilis cinereifrons) [E]
BLACK-THROATED HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus subfrenatus) [E]
OBSCURE HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus obscurus) [E*]
VARIED HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus versicolor)
YELLOW-TINTED HONEYEATER (Lichenostomus flavescens)
RUFOUS-BANDED HONEYEATER (Conopophila albogularis)
RED-THROATED MYZOMELA (Myzomela eques) [E]

Plumed Whistling-Ducks: impressive numbers this year at PAU (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
BLACK MYZOMELA (Myzomela nigrita) [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)
LONG-BILLED HONEYEATER (Melilestes megarhynchus) [E]
SMOKY HONEYEATER (Melipotes fumigatus) [E]
BELFORD'S MELIDECTES (Melidectes belfordi) [E]
YELLOW-BROWED MELIDECTES (Melidectes rufocrissalis) [E]
ORNATE MELIDECTES (Melidectes torquatus) [E]
RUFOUS-BACKED HONEYEATER (Ptiloprora guisei) [E]

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Photo by guide Jay VanderGaast)
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]
PALE-BILLED SCRUBWREN (Sericornis spilodera) [E]
MOUNTAIN GERYGONE (Gerygone cinerea) [E]
GREEN-BACKED GERYGONE (Gerygone chloronota)
FAIRY GERYGONE (Gerygone palpebrosa)
YELLOW-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone chrysogaster) [E]
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]
CRESTED SATINBIRD (Cnemophilus macgregorii) [E]
Melanocharitidae (Berrypeckers and Longbills)

Orange-breasted Fig-Parrot at Kwatu Lodge (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
OBSCURE BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis arfakiana) [E] BLACK BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis nigra) [E]
LEMON-BREASTED BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis longicauda) [E]
FAN-TAILED BERRYPECKER (Melanocharis versteri) [E]
YELLOW-BELLIED LONGBILL (Toxorhamphus novaeguineae) [E]
DWARF HONEYEATER (Oedistoma iliolophum) [E]
PYGMY HONEYEATER (Oedistoma pygmaeum) [E]
Paramythiidae (Tit Berrypecker and Crested Berrypecker)
TIT BERRYPECKER (Oreocharis arfaki) [E]
CRESTED BERRYPECKER (Paramythia montium) [E]
Cinclosomatidae (Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers)
PAINTED QUAIL-THRUSH (Cinclosoma ajax) [E*]
SPOTTED JEWEL-BABBLER (Ptilorrhoa leucosticta) [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)

PNG is home to a great variety of butterflies as well as birds. This beauty is Papilio aegius. (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
MOUNTAIN PELTOPS (Peltops montanus) [E] LOWLAND PELTOPS (Peltops blainvillii) [E]
BLACK-BACKED BUTCHERBIRD (Cracticus mentalis)
HOODED BUTCHERBIRD (Cracticus cassicus) [E]
BLACK BUTCHERBIRD (Cracticus 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]
Pachycephalidae (Whistlers and Allies)

The distinctive national parliament building in Port Moresby (Photo by guide Jay VanderGaast)
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 (GRAY-HEADED) (Pachycephala simplex griseiceps)
WHITE-BELLIED WHISTLER (Pachycephala leucogastra) [E]
BLACK-HEADED WHISTLER (Pachycephala monacha) [E]
MOTTLED WHISTLER (Rhagologus leucostigma) [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]

Purple or Australasian Swamphen -- a likely split in the future (Photo by participant Peter Gasson)
VARIABLE PITOHUI (Pitohui kirhocephalus) [E*] BROWN ORIOLE (Oriolus szalayi) [E]
AUSTRALASIAN FIGBIRD (Sphecotheres vieilloti)
Dicruridae (Drongos)
SPANGLED DRONGO (Dicrurus bracteatus carbonarius)
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
PYGMY DRONGO-FANTAIL (Chaetorhynchus papuensis) [E]
BLACK FANTAIL (Rhipidura atra) [E]
SOOTY THICKET-FANTAIL (Rhipidura threnothorax) [E*]
WHITE-BELLIED THICKET-FANTAIL (Rhipidura leucothorax leucothorax) [E*]
WILLIE-WAGTAIL (Rhipidura leucophrys)
DIMORPHIC FANTAIL (Rhipidura brachyrhyncha) [E]
FRIENDLY FANTAIL (Rhipidura albolimbata) [E]
CHESTNUT-BELLIED FANTAIL (Rhipidura hyperythra) [E]
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLUE-CAPPED IFRITA (Ifrita kowaldi) [E]
GOLDEN MONARCH (Carterornis chrysomela) [E]
BLACK-FACED MONARCH (Monarcha melanopsis)
BLACK MONARCH (Symposiachrus axillaris) [E]
HOODED MONARCH (Symposiachrus manadensis) [E]
SPOT-WINGED MONARCH (Symposiachrus guttula) [E]
FRILLED MONARCH (Arses telescophthalmus) [E]
TORRENT-LARK (Grallina bruijni) [E]
LEADEN FLYCATCHER (Myiagra rubecula)
SHINING FLYCATCHER (Myiagra alecto)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
GRAY CROW (Corvus tristis) [E]
TORRESIAN CROW (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]
SUPERB BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Lophorina superba) [E]
MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD (Ptiloris magnificus) [*]
MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD (GROWLING) (Ptiloris magnificus intercedens) [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]
RAGGIANA BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Paradisaea raggiana) [E]
GREATER BIRD-OF-PARADISE (Paradisaea apoda) [E]
LESSER MELAMPITTA (Melampitta lugubris) [E]
Petroicidae (Australasian Robins)
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) [N]
TREE MARTIN (Petrochelidon nigricans)
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]
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)
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AUSTRALASIAN PIPIT (AUSTRALIAN) (Anthus novaeseelandiae australis)
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]
PYGMY RINGTAIL POSSUM (Pseudocheirus mayeri)
GREATER FLYING FOX (Pteropus neohibernicus)
BLACK-TAILED GIANT RAT (Uromys anak)
In addition to the birds and mammals, we had a handful of cold-blooded creatures, including a monitor lizard along the river near Kwatu Lodge (possibly Mangrove Monitor, Varanus indicus), probably two species of water dragons (one along Ketu Creek, the other seen on a boulder in the middle of the rushing river at Ok Menga), and an interesting tree frog on the fence at the Tari airport. Oh, and there were those bronzy skinks along the walkway at Ambua. If anyone has found out anything about any of these, I'd be happy to hear about it.
Finally, as requested, here is Terry's humiliating, but funny poem about our puppy/rail at Tari! I've come to the conclusion that the first sound we heard was the puppy eating a rail; it's the only explanation that allows me to save face... ;-)
DOGGEREL
Our PNG leader is named Jay
We were birding hard one sunny day,
When from a ditch called a rail.
Much to Jay's chagrin,
Two kids jumped in,
And pulled out a puppy dog by the tail.
Totals for the tour: 303 bird taxa and 3 mammal taxa