INDONESIA (LESSER SUNDAS) REP 10 - Birdquest

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Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa: Regular observations, particularly at Benoa, Bali, where at least 40 were noted (nominate race). Many were in full breeding plumage. Little Heron (Striated H, Green-backed Heron) Butorides striatus: Two at Benoa, two at Pan Muti, and one near Komodo Eco Lodge. Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax: Two flying over at Benoa Harbour, Bali. Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus: Jürgen flushed two for us at Watumbelar, Sumba. THRESKIORNITHIDAE Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus: Two that Sieghard spotted at Menggitimbe were a surprise. Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia: At least 13 of these predominantly Australasian birds at Pan Muti; some in company with pelicans. ACCIPITRIDAE Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata: Great views of three displaying at Watumbelar on Sumba, brief views of pairs at Bipolo and Camplong, and three at Oelnasi. Lesser Sundas race timorlaoensis. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus: Two at Bipolo (hypoleucos). Black Kite Milvus migrans: Small numbers of affinis in central and west Sumba, and at Pan Muti, near Bipolo. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus: Regularly seen (intermedius). White-bellied Sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster: Regular sightings, particularly in Komodo NP. Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus: Singles of the nominate race were seen at Langgaliru, and over ricefields, at Oelsau, near Kupang. Swamp Harrier Circus approximans: A juvenile female was seen very well, perched and in flight, at Menggitimbe, Sumba. This is one of the first to be seen in Asia. Chinese Sparrowhawk (C Goshawk) Accipiter soloensis: An adult and juvenile at Langgaliru and another adult on the way to west Sumba on our last day on the island. Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus: Three at Watumbelar, mostly in flight; tjendanae. Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster: A nice male sylvestris was scoped on Komodo, before it dropped to some unseen prey. The form in Australia and Tasmania is normally considered a separate species now: Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae. Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus: The best year yet, with a pair seen really well in flight in the Bipolo-Pan Muti area, a juvenile at Rana Mese, and a single adult at Pagal. This is the distinctive race renschi, which some people are mooting as a distinct species. It is smaller and more heavily marked than its distant mainland relatives. Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii: An adult was seen well in flight at Rana Mese in the Flores highlands. Flores Hawk-eagle Spizaetus floris: Only a 35 minute wait this year, before we all had long but distant scope views of a single perched individual. Restricted to the islands of Flores, Sumbawa, Komodo and Paloe, it surely ranks close to the Philippine Eagle. FALCONIDAE Spotted Kestrel (Moluccan Kestrel) Falco moluccensis: Many observations of this widespread little raptor (microbalia). Australian Hobby (Little Falcon) Falco longipennis: A pair at dusk at Bipolo, with one in the scope. Race hanieli. Peregrine Falcon (Peregrine) Falco peregrinus: Singles at Yumbu and Menggitimbe on Sumba. This is the resident race, which actually differs from ernesti and is currently unnamed. ANATIDAE Wandering Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata: About 170 at Menggitimbe and 14 near Labuan Bajo. 8 Birdquest: The Lesser Sundas 2010
Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons: Only small numbers at scattered sites this year. Two tiny chicks were seen with three adult birds at Benoa, scuttling across the mudflat and then swimming in the bay. Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa: The race rogersi was found on Sumba and Flores, with 70 at Menggitimbe, 30 at Danau Rana Mese, and a pair near Komodo Eco Lodge. MEGAPODIIDAE Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt: Only a few people managed to get onto a single bird on Komodo this year. Heard at Watumbelar and near Komodo Eco Lodge. PHASIANIDAE Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora: One at KM51 and one at Watumbelar on Sumba, and at least seven in the paddyfields at Bipolo. The race is raaltenii. Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus: Small numbers seen, and many more heard on Timor, where it is probably of introduced origin. Green Junglefowl Gallus varius: Regular heard and then finally seen commonly and easily on Komodo. Two crossed the trail at Puarlolo. TURNICIDAE Red-backed Buttonquail Turnix maculosa: One was flushed at close range at Watumbelar, and another heard booming from a small grassy hill (sumbana). On Timor, we flushed three birds of the nominate race from dry ricefields near Bipolo, and had good flight views. Sumba Buttonquail Turnix everetti: One presumed pair. We had some good views on the ground this year, as well as numerous close range flight views; at the Yumbu grasslands, near Waingapu. It is considered as Endangered by BirdLife International, and territorial voice is still undescribed. RALLIDAE Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata (H): Calling birds were heard at Danau Rana Mese and then at night at Golo Lusang and along the Potawangka Road, when birds were vocalizing whilst in flight. The vocalisations differed somewhat from mainland South-East Asia, with a ‘quack’ followed by a trill heard from the first two birds. White-browed Crake Poliolimnas cinerea: Three briefly at Menggitimbe, and then four at Pan Muti. The nominate race. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus: Common at Menggitimbe (orientalis), where it clearly breeds, and six at Danau Rana Mese. Australian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus: Four were seen nicely at Menggitimbe, where it presumably also breeds. RECURVIROSTRIDAE White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus: Just one at both Menggitimbe, but 50 estimated at Pan Muti. CHARADRIIDAE Grey Plover (Black-bellied P) Pluvialis squatarola: At least five at Benoa Harbour, including several still in breeding plumage. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva: Small numbers at Benoa and Pan Muti. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius: Three at both Menggitimbe Pan Muti. The race is unclear. Javan Plover Charadrius javanicus: At least ten at Benoa, Bali, at least 30 at Menggitimbe, and two near Komodo Eco Lodge, Labuan Bajo. Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus: Very common at Pan Muti, with at least 60 noted over a wide area of salt-pans and fish-ponds. A visitor from Australia, or recent colonist; it breeds in Timor Leste. 9 Birdquest: The Lesser Sundas 2010
Page 1 and 2: LEADER: CRAIG ROBSON THE LESSER SUN
Page 3 and 4: irded Langgaliru but, as in the mor
Page 5 and 6: further on however, we heard the di
Page 7: SYSTEMATIC LIST Species which were
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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