WEST PAPUA (Irian Jaya), INDONESIA. - Burung-Nusantara / Birds ...

Rufous-naped Whistler Great Wood Swallow
Variable Pitohui Black Pitohui
Fan-tailed Berrypecker Western Mountain White-eye
Black-fronted White-eye Papuan Treecreeper
Red-collared Myzomela Rufous-sided Honeyeater
Mountain Meliphaga Western Smoky Honeyeater
Cinnamon-browed Melidectes Long-billed Honeyeater
Streak-headed mannikin Flame Bowerbird 580-1200m.
Vogelkop Bowerbird Lesser Bird of Paradise 580m.
Black Sicklebill 1800-1900m. Buf-tailed Sicklebill 1900m.
Western Parotia H. 1700-1900m. Magnificent Bird of Paradise H.
Superb Bird of Paradise H. Torrent Lark 1300m.
There are daily flights from Manokwari to Biak, Jayapura and once a week to
Sorong.
WAMENA.
Plane leave Jayapura for Wamena at least daily. Many hotels to choose from
the Losmen Lestari was 27,000rp.for a twin in 1991. I walked to Habbema
with several porters led by Girian (Freddy) Koya, prices nowadays will start
at 10000rp. a day. You will have to report to police here. all supplies can be
bought in the market eg. food, jerry can, kerosine, candles, cigarettes (unlike
Mokwam locals, all the porters here smoke), cooking pot, utensils etc. Total
cost for 9 days about 250,000 rp.
IBELE VALLEY & LAKE HABBEMA.
There is now a road to Habbema so you are probably best off hiring a 4x4
vehicle and birding the road. Unfortunately this has opened up this remote
area to incommers with guns so some species are now much rarer. I walked
fors 9 days, the trek starts in the heavily cultivated Grand Baliem Valley at
c1000m. Easy walking along the good if rather muddy trail up the beautiful
Ibele valley to the montane and moss forest. Here the trail narrows and gets a
bit difficlt but is not too steep. Beyond the forest the alpine grasslands
provide a spectacular panoramic view against the backdrop of the rugged
snow-capped peaks of the Jayawijaya (Snow) Mountains. Beyond the pass at
3200m the walking is flat and boggy. Our route along the south side of the
Ibele valley was much more difficult than our return journey along the north
side. If you do this trek I recommend that you go both ways along the
northern route.
My hopes to trek to the flanks of Peak Trikora for Snow Mountain Robin
were soon dropped when I saw how far away it was. At least 1½ days would
be needed to reach the appropriate altitude and a full day to return. Should
only be attempted in dry period (or by helicopter).
24