In one way aim a bit sad that year 2006 now has passed; this showed to be the most rewarding year ever for me as a birdwatcher, I saw more lifers and managed to get a larger year list than I have ever managed before.
And I also doubt that I will be able to ever break my 2006 year list which ended at quite remarkable 1026 species. Mainly because after my most recent relocation I now live in a region which harbours some very unique birds, but rather few species (comparing to many other parts of Papua New Guinea).
1st January----Madang City
Soon after I had woke up I took a short walk at the beach (always very nice in the morning as the beach is almost empty on people), only birds I saw was a few house sparrows jumping around a old coconut and a distant frigate bird (presumably a lesser).
This would be one of my last days in Madang city before we would leave for a new home, after my walk at the beach I headed towards the grocery store, on the way I noted two Palm cockatoos leaving their roost site, flying towards the sea (probably heading for Karkar Island); the always so common streak-headed Munia was seen cleaning their feathers and hunting for food in the tall grass at the side of the road. On my way back to the house I spotted a male Black-browed Triller and a forest kingfisher.
1). House sparrow
2). Lesser frigate bird
3). Palm cockatoo
4). Streak-Headed Munia
5). Black-browed Triller
6). Forest kingfisher
2nd January----Ramu River
As the weather got colder in the late afternoon I decided to drove south down to the Ramu River in hope of getting a glimpse of the Northern Cassowary. However by the time I arrived to the River I was told that a few villages along the River had organised a pig/deer hunt; I got a bit disappointed about this news as it basically eliminated my chances of seeing any cassowaries this day.
However I started to walk downstream, following a small bi-river at ended up by a small lake (which strongly remained me of an oxbow lake); a family of little grebes was the first birds I noted, a spooked paradise-kingfisher took of from a small log and flew further up the lake.
I heard Yellow bitterns calling from the dense vegetation around the lake at several occasions but only managed to see one of these skulking birds. Parrots were fairly common around the lake, 17 Rainbow Lories and 29 Red-cheeked Parrots were seen feeding in fruit trees.
A flock of 7-9 Black-capped Lories briefly flew over the lake and New Guinea Harpy Eagles were seen flying over the lake at two occasions!
Other birds was seen around the lake were Black-bellied Brush-turkey, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Zoe Imperial-pigeon, White-bellied cuckoo-shrike, breeding Lesser Melampitta (male seen briefly), Spot-winged Monarch, Shining flycatcher, Variable Pitohui, Red-crowned flowerpecker and Black-fronted white-eye.
Unfortunately several Parotias (bird of paradise) were heard but none seen.
New Guinean crocodiles were present in this lake (very rare on lower Ramu River), I saw no less than three of which two were measuring more than 2,5m. Northern cuscus, Doria tree kangaroo and Common spiny bandicoot were also present around the lake.
On my way back I noted a Red-bellied Pitta standing on a high rock formation; a large flock (at least 100 individuals) of feeding Hooded Munias, a few Whistling Kites as well as a single Long-tailed Buzzard was seen soaring over Ramu River. A yellow-browed Melidectes was seen sitting on a small hut at the river edge; two bush-hens a beautiful Black-backed Honeyeater seen on the drive back to Madang.
7). Little Grebe
8). Common Paradise-kingfisher
9). Yellow bittern
10). Rainbow Lory
11). Red-cheeked Parrot
12). Black-capped Lory
13). New Guinea Harpy eagle
14). Black-bellied Brush-turkey
15). Pink-spotted fruit-dove
16). Wompoo Fruit-dove
17). Superb Fruit-dove
18). Orange-bellied Fruit-dove
19). Zoe Imperial-pigeon
20). White-bellied cuckoo-shrike
21). Lesser Melampitta
22). Spot-winged Monarch
23). Shining flycatcher
24). Variable Pitohui
25). Red-crowned flowerpecker
26). Black-fronted white-eye
27). Red-bellied Pitta
28). Hooded Munia
29). Whistling Kite
30). Long-tailed buzzard
31). Yellow-browed Melidectes
32). Bush-hen
33). Black-backed Honeyeater
Mammals
Northern Cuscus
Doria tree-kangaroo
Common spiny bandicoot
5th January----Umboi Island
Three New Britain Bronzewings (two males!) seen during a brief visit to this Island
34). New Britain Bronzewing
6th January----Adelbert Mts
With all preparations for the relocating pretty much done I decided to take a trip to the Adelbert Mts in search for some of the near-endemics. I stopped by below the Keki Lodge to talk with a good friend of mine working there. Got on a female Stephens dove walking around as I parked the car; the usually present Fire-maned bowerbirds, two males and a juvenile seen in the area below the lodge, Ornate Fruit-dove, Lesser bird of paradise, Spotted honeyeater and Plain honeyeater are all common here and was easily seen, however two Buff-faced pygmy parrots climbing on a tree trunk (maybe their nest-hole) was quite a surprise (common but hard to spot).
Spend some more time searching in the forests below the Keki lodge and added Rusty Pitohui, Barking owl (another good one), Red Myzomela, White-eared catbird (possibly a yet undescribed subspecies) and Mountain Peltops. Green-backed Gerygone added on my way back to the car.
After an hour of driving I finally reached some of the more isolated parts of the Adelbert Mts; the call of Magnificent-bird-of-paradise bird was the first thing I noticed, although the calling bird was located somewhere 300m below the ridge I was on, the vegetation was also very thick, eliminating and chances of seeing distant birds. Smaller birds such as Black fantails, Regent Whistler, Brown-backed Whistler and White-eared Bronze-cuckoo were easily seen here, my third Pitohui (second species!) of the day was a male Hooded Pitohui poorly (tail and head seen) hiding itself on a mossy branch above me. Other birds seen during the day were Grey Crow, White-bibbed fruit-dove, Vulturine Parrot, Magnificent-bird-of-paradise, Black-breasted boatbill, Varied sitella, White-shouldered Fairy wren, Mimic honeyeater, Dusky Myzomela, Great wood swallow and what was the highlight of the day, finding a male Wahnes Parotia and his displaying site!
35). Fire-maned bowerbird
36). Stephen dove
37). Ornate Fruit-dove
38). Lesser-bird-of-paradise
39). Spotted Honeyeater
40). Plain Honeyeater
41). Buff-faced pygmy-parrot
42). Rusty Pitohui
43): Barking owl
44). Red Myzomela
45). White-eared catbird
46). Mountain Peltops
47). Green-backed Gerygone
48). Black fantail
49). Regent Whistler
50). Brown-backed Whistler
51). White-eared Bronze-cuckoo
52). Hooded Pitohui
53). Grey crow
54). White-bibbed Fruit-dove
55). Vulturine Parrot
56). Magnificent-bird-of-paradise
57). Black-breasted boatbill
58). White-shouldered Fairy wren
59). Mimic honeyeater
60). Dusky Myzomela
61). Great wood swallow
62). Wahnes Parotia
Mammals
A quite poor day after all, partly due to the weather, I had hoped to pass 80 but at least got three paradise birds including my sixth Wahnes Parotia and only second display site of this species.
7th January---Madang Departure
In the taxi on our way from the house to Madang airport we drove past a few small freshwater ponds were a few Wandering Whistling-ducks was seen.
Nine Cattle egrets, four Great egrets as well as three white-striped Dorcopsis (a kangaroo) was seen in the grasslands surrounding the terminal.
A herd of cows had by mistake wandered into the airport area in search for food and therefore the take off had been delayed.
While we were sitting in the airplane waiting for taking off I had quite some luck (and thanks to the cows) when I managed to see a Papuan harrier which soared over a piece of grass field quite close to the airplane.
63). Wandering whistling-duck
64). Cattle egret
65). Great egret
66). Papuan Harrier
Mammals
White-striped Dorcopsis
PB,
I just wish you were a photographer!!!!