INDONESIA (LESSER SUNDAS) REP 10 - Birdquest

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Bipolo we positioned ourselves for a boobook once more and, as night fell, we had excellent scope views of Streaked Boobook in the spotlight. It had been a superb day, with a massive 105 species recorded. Nearby Camplong was our destination the following day. We found all of our target birds during the morning. A lovely pair of Black-banded Flycatchers were highly responsive as soon as we reached the first patch of habitat, giving several nice perched views. Timor Stubtail and Buff-banded Thicketwarbler required multiple attempts, but we ended up seeing both very well on several occasions. The most difficult species was the never-stands-still Spot-breasted Dark-eye, which was seen well by less than half of us. Several Rose-crowned Fruit-doves, Plain Fairy Warbler (or Gerygone), and Sunda Bush-warbler provided added interest, while Timor Leaf-warbler was heard but not seen. We decided to go back to Bariti for the afternoon session but an hour long heavy downpour seriously spoilt things. Really strange events on Timor, where the leader had never seen a drop of rain previously! We did ‘up’ our totals of Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon and Olive-shouldered Parrot however, to two and five respectively. Leaving Kupang behind, we headed inland and uphill to Soe. On the way we spent nearly three hours at Camplong, in search of the elusive Spot-breasted Dark-eye. We finally tracked down three birds that showed well for all of us. After check-in and lunch at Soe, and a welcome nap, we made our first visit to Oelnasi, an area of monsoon forest 15km back towards Kupang. Unfortunately we were to register a blank with our two target pigeons, Barred-necked Cuckoo-dove and Timor Black Pigeon. Perhaps it was something to do with the strong winds. We would have to wait for another attempt later on. Two more Spot-breasted Dark-eyes were seen briefly on the way out to the site, and after dusk we tried to see and tape-record the intriguing local form of Large-tailed Nightjar, which certainly sounds like a distinct species. With wind and light rain, our options were severely compromised, but Sieghard managed to see one feeding. A very early start the following morning, took us along an unbelievably bad road to a point as close as we could safely get, to the start of the trail to Gunung Mutis, Timor’s highest mountain. Sadly, the road had seriously deteriorated since the previous year. Coupled with this, we had further than usual to walk, and were welcomed by fog and light rain. Still, we persevered. Timor Leaf-warbler and flying Olive-headed Lorikeets were noted, we scoped the gorgeous Metallic Pigeon, and we had great looks at ‘Timor’ Pygmy Wren-babbler, a likely future split. Picking up the Mutis trail, we found larger than normal numbers of Island Thrushes. A few Snowy-browed Flycatchers drew our attention, the leafwarbler showed really well, and we plodded on to the big clearing en route to Gunung Mutis. The cloud base was low, and the wind strong, so we decided against the summit cone, and headed down into some nice forest below us. Suddenly we heard the distinctive low rumbling call of Timor Imperial Pigeon, and made a beeline towards it. On the way three noisy lorikeets flew into some trees above us. A quick look through the scope showed them to be the neat and very hard to see Iris Lorikeet, and we managed some decent perched views while they stuck around. We carried on towards the imperial pigeon that was still calling, noting many Metallic Pigeons and some Blackbacked Fruit-doves on the way. Suddenly a Timor Black Pigeon called nearby – unbelievable at this site. A quick play of the call and a pair came in several times to investigate, giving some really nice looks. We hadn’t even thought of seeing this one here! The imperial pigeon continued to prove elusive, but after lunch we finally found one perched briefly near a fruiting tree. Only a few of us had managed to see it perched however, so we stuck around as long as we could. Right at the last minute Jürgen and Craig noticed a pigeon fly in front of us as we were ready to go, and Jürgen called-it in an exposed tree top. We proceeded to get detailed scope views for over 20 minutes – amazing for this shy and rare bird. A brisk hike back to the bus was punctuated by many Olive-headed Lorikeets flying over and some briefly perched, and two pairs of the distinctive local form of Little Cuckoo-dove. Our last day on Timor began with a predawn raid on the local form of ‘Large-tailed Nightjar’ at Oelnasi. Unfortunately, after tracking a close calling bird down, it promptly shut up! A short distance 4 Birdquest: The Lesser Sundas 2010
further on however, we heard the distinctive calls of Barred-necked Cuckoo-dove, and proceeded to lure a pair in above us for some lovely views. Birding was otherwise slow, but there was another Olive-shouldered Parrot calling and flying distantly, some good looks at a courting pair of Whitebellied Chats, and several Timor Friarbirds. After lunch at the hotel in Soe, we headed off for Kupang, stopping to scrutinize ricefields at Oesau, 29 km before the town. In 2006 we saw a flock of Oriental Plovers here, so decided to explore the full extent of the fields. Right at the back of the area, we were shocked to find a gathering of at least 130 of these highly migratory plovers, the majority of which were juveniles. A good number of Australian Pratincoles were also present. We continued to the hotel very satisfied!! Our short early morning flight from Kupang to Ruteng almost took off on time, which was a bonus, and we arrived in the green highlands of Flores. Less than an hour later, we were birding at Danau Rana Mese, on our way to Kisol. We found several Flores Jungle-flycatchers, including a speckled dependant fledged juvenile and, amazingly, all three species of dark-eye that we were looking for. For some of us, there were the first encounters with Russet-capped Tesia and Scaly-crowned Honeyeater. Moving on to Kisol, on the south coast, and our accommodation at the Catholic Seminary, we took lunch and a break. In the afternoon, we made our first birding sortie to the nearby forest at Kisol. There was rather little activity during the afternoon, as usual, but, thanks to Jürgen’s sharp eyes again, we found Flores Hawk-eagle in only 35 minutes. Although very distant, we were able to study this magnificent bird for some time through the scope. From the same point, we also got onto two perched Flores Green Pigeons, a rare treat, and a pair of Flores Crows, which were later seen much better inside the forest. After nightfall there were too many calling Moluccan Scops-owls, but despite the leader finding one perched, it quickly flew off in full torch beam. The following morning at Kisol was very hot and humid, and pretty slow on the bird-front. A few of us got onto the first White-rumped Kingfisher of the tour, and a close perched Elegant Pitta was a catch-up for a couple of us. Several attempts at tape-luring Russet-capped Tesia brought scant reward. Three hours at the eagle viewpoint produced sweet FA. Sieghard spotted some Little Minivets and another Blackfronted Flowerpecker sat-up. Numerous butterflies abounded and, on the way back to the bus we were very lucky to see a displaying Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, the fluffed-out bright yellow plumes suddenly being very apparent! In the afternoon we visited Borong Harbour and then sat at another viewpoint overlooking Gunung Pacandeki for 90 minutes. Little Minivet showed well in the clearing at the latter, as did a range of sunbirds and flowerpeckers. Owling activities near the seminary proved fruitless, despite the leader having heard Wallace’s Scops-owl on the previous evening. We picked-up the owling again predawn the following morning. This time we successfully tracked down a calling Wallace’s Scops-owl but ran out of night! After breakfast we headed back into the hills and did some more birding at Rana Mese. Flores Leaf-warbler showed very well for all, there where multiple sightings of Brown-capped Fantail, and a Scaly-crowned Honeyeater revealed its subtle features during a lengthy view. Tesias continued to tease. After checking into our astonishingly clean accommodation at another seminary in Ruteng, we had lunch and, in the afternoon, visited the pass at Golo Lusang. Unfortunately the weather was awful and we got rained-out. We detoured to Rana Mese instead, in search of nightbirds. Although it turned out to be a pleasant evening, we could only manage brief calling from two Wallace’s and two Flores Scops-owls. The next morning was spent along a minor road north of Ruteng, that skirts the forested slopes from near Pagal down to Gapong. On the way we stopped to look at a massive atlas moth attracted to the light of a small building. As soon as we got out of the mini-bus, we could hear White-rumped Kingfisher, and it wasn’t too long before it was spotted. Good views for all of Russet-capped Tesia followed, but Flores Lorikeets shot by at a glimpse. Much of the best stretch of road was under reconstruction, with considerable disturbance and it wasn’t until we had passed there that our target, Wallace’s Hanging-parrot was found and scoped in a small red flowering Erythrina. Other nice birds during the morning included a single Bonelli’s Eagle, another White-rumped Kingfisher scoped for a 5 Birdquest: The Lesser Sundas 2010
Page 1 and 2: LEADER: CRAIG ROBSON THE LESSER SUN
Page 3: irded Langgaliru but, as in the mor
Page 7 and 8: SYSTEMATIC LIST Species which were
Page 9 and 10: Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons: Only
Page 11 and 12: COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon (Rock Dove,
Page 13 and 14: CENTROPODIDAE Lesser Coucal Centrop
Page 15 and 16: Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker (Brown-cappe
Page 17 and 18: Pied Chat Saxicola caprata: Another
Page 19 and 20: PETROICIDAE Grey-headed Flycatcher
Page 21 and 22: Thick-billed Dark-eye (Pale-fronted
Page 23 and 24: Bar-winged Prinia, a Java & Bali en
Page 25 and 26: Streak-breasted Honeyeater, the str
Page 27 and 28: and this massive Atlas Moth was ama

INDONESIA (LESSER SUNDAS) REP 10 - Birdquest

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