INDONESIA (REMOTE EASTERN) REP 10 - Birdquest

Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis: A captive bird on Kai Besar was photographed and
released, and we later saw four in flight at Samawi, Kai Kecil. A total of seven were seen
in lowland parts of Seram, including great scope views of a pair. All were placentis.
Red-breasted Pygmy-parrot Micropsitta bruijnii: We had lengthy scope views of these amazing birds
on Buru and Seram. There are actually two races involved, pileata on Seram and
buruensis on Buru.
Yellow-capped Pygmy-parrot Micropsitta keiensis: Great scope views at Samawi, Kai Kecil, with at
least 12 seen in total. We did very well to get perched scope views of both pygmyparrots.
Salmon-crested Cockatoo (Seram C) Cacatua moluccensis: This large and vocal cockatoo was easily
found on Seram, and we recorded about 20 birds in all. It is currently classified as
Vulnerable, and appears to be holding-its-own. Ceisar took us to the Kembali Bebas
Avian Centre, near Sawai, a rescue centre for parrots and other exotic birds illegally
trapped for the pet trade, with which he is heavily involved. At Mansuela NP
headquarters in Masohi, we were shown a well-produced video about the rehabilitation
and release back into the wild of this flagship species.
Tanimbar Corella (T Cockatoo) Cacatua goffini: Still common and easily seen on Yamdena, with
perhaps more than 50 individuals logged.
Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus: Four males on Yamdena (riedeli), 14 (including both sexes) on the
Kai Is (polychloros), and about 20 recorded on Seram (roratus).
Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi: Common and widespread. Subspecies rhodops on Buru,
Ambon and Seram, timorlaoensis on Yamdena, and keyensis on the Kai Is.
Buru Racket-tail Prioniturus mada: Common and very easily observed at the right elevation on Buru,
with around 130 birds logged. A very fetching parrot.
Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorhynchos: Generally small numbers on Buru and Seram
(affinis), with the exception of a flock of 13 heading to their roost-site in the Masohi
lowlands, south Seram. Helge had a single bird on Yamdena (subaffinis).
Moluccan King-parrot Alisterus amboinensis: 11 of these highly distinctive parrots on Buru
(buruensis), and 34 on Seram (amboinensis), including 30 together in the Sawai lowlands
that Peter showed us.
CUCULIDAE
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus horsfieldi: A single hepatic female was seen in the Masohi Lowlands,
Seram, and there was another along the Trans-Seram Highway the next day. This Siberian
breeder winters here.
Moluccan Cuckoo Cacomantis heinrichi: Commonly heard, and seen well on several occasions on
Buru, Ambon and Seram. The form in question, aeruginosus, was previously lumped in
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo C. sepulcralis, but its vocalisations and plumage are pretty much
the same as Moluccan Cuckoos on Halmahera. The voice of Rusty-breasted Cuckoo is
very different.
Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus: Commonly heard on Yamdena and the Kai Is, and seen well
on Kai Besar and Kai Kecil. The subspecies on Kai is infaustus, but on Yamdena, it is
unclear.
Pied Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx crassirostris: Three or four were seen well on Yamdena, as was
another on Kai Kecil. Bizarrely, some authors lump this species in Little Bronze Cuckoo
C. minutillus, to which it bears no resemblance whatsoever!
Common Koel (Asian K) Eudynamys scolopacea: Several were heard calling in the lowlands of
Seram, where it is said to be resident (orientalis).
Australian Koel Eudynamys cyanocephala: Several were seen really well, on Buru, Ambon and
Seram. Heard on the Kai Is.
14 Birdquest: Remote Eastern Indonesia 2010