BUDGET BIRDING TOUR

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

27^thSeptember - 22^th October 2006

Leader : Ian Burrows

Group Size Limit : 7

New Guinea is rightly regarded as an ornithological last frontier and as such we will explore many rarely visited areas. This comprehensive tour covers a wide range of habitats and altitudinal zones with the main emphasis on seeing as many Birds of Paradise, Bowerbirds and other endemic species as possible.

We arrive in Port Moresby and explore Varirata National Park where we expect to see such gems as Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher, Chestnut-backed Jewel-babbler, Dwarf Whistler, Eastern Riflebird and Raggiana Bird of Paradise among many more delightful species.

Next we visit the Kikori River region, a largely unexplored area. Here we hope to see a spectacular array of large birds including Blyth's Hornbill, Palm Cockatoo, Vulturine Parrot, Eclectus Parrot and Southern Cassowary.

The Kiunga area is next, now famous for its wonderful display tree of the Greater Bird of Paradise. Here we also hope to see the incredible Flame Bowerbird,

Long-billed Cuckoo, Hooded Pitta and Blue Jewel-babbler and many other sought-after species. A trip up the Elevala River should provide us with Southern Crowned Pigeon and the fantastic Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. This is also the home of the enigmatic Lesser Paradise-Kingfisher, the little-known White-bellied Pitohui and the spectacular and secretive Painted Quail-thrush

Tabubil offers many more wonderful birds including Carola's Parotia, Magnificent

Riflebird, the appropriately named Obscure Berrypecker and the totally weird Greater Melampitta.

Next we visit an almost completely unexplored alpine area near Mount Hagen where the birds are incredibly tame. Last year we had male Ribbon-tailed Astrapia and Brown Sicklebill feeding in a tree 10 metres from us by the Lodge gate and a Crested Bird of Paradise was hopping around in the garden close by! This place needs more investigation and it is our chance to do some real pioneer birding. We will also visit the Baiyer River Sanctuary where the are are several display trees of the Lesser Bird of Paradise and there is a good chance of seeing Dwarf Cassowary.

Next we visit the Tari valley, the territory of the Huli "wigmen" and also the home of many spectacular Birds of Paradise including the King of Saxony and Blue Birds of Paradise, Stephanie's and Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Lawes' Parotia and the most peculiar Short-tailed Paradigalla. The Tari Gap is a great birding area and holds many endemic species including the magnificent Papuan Lorikeet, Plum-faced Lorikeet, Chestnut Forest-Rail, the strange Lesser Melampitta, Crested and Tit Berrypeckers and many more fantastic birds.

An extension to West New Britain and Manus Island is also offered. West New Britain holds a wide range of Fruit Doves and Imperial Pigeons as well as the massive Violaceous Coucal, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Black-headed Paradise Kingfisher, White-mantled Kingfisher and many more endemic species.

Manus Island is our final destination where our target species is the well named Superb Pitta, a very rare bird endemic to this one island. Here we also expect to see Admiralty Pied Monarch, Black-headed White-eye, the endearing Meek's Pygmy-Parrot, Manus Rufous Fantail and the Manus Boobook among many other marvellous birds.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow.

Day 2 In flight

Day 3 Arrive in Port Moresby, visit Varirata National Park.

Day 4 Varirata National Park, lower montane forest birding.

Day 5 Pacific Adventist University grounds and Varirata National Park.

Day 6 Hiritano Highway, Vanapa village, Aroa and Hisiu mangroves.

Day 7 Fly to Kikori.

Days 8 - 10 Kikori area, lowland rainforest birding.

Day 11 Fly to Port Moresby, Lea Lea beach and savanna in the afternoon.

Day 12 Fly to Kiunga, lowland rainforest birding.

Day 13 Kiunga area.

Days 14-15 Elevala River, lowland rainforest birding.

Day 16 Drive to Tabubil, lower montane forest birding.

Day 17 Tabubil and Ok Menga.

Day 18 Drive to Kiunga, fly to Mt Hagen.

Days 19 - 21 Mountain forest and alpine grassland birding.

Day 22 Fly to Tari

Days 23 - 25 Mountain forest birding.

Day 26 Early morning birding then fly to Port Moresby to connect with the

Singapore flight in the afternoon.

Day 27 Arrive London Heathrow.

West New Britain and Manus Extension.

Day 26 Fly to Hoskins, West New Britain, afternoon birding the Kilu River.

Day 27 Visit Kimbe and Restorf Islands and Kilu Ridge.

Day 28 Visit Pokili Wildlife Management Area.

Day 29 Kilu Ridge, fly to Lae in the afternoon.

Day 30 Fly to Manus, afternoon birding near Rossun.

Day 31 Rossun and Lorengau area.

Day 32 Boat trip to Tong Island, weather permitting.

Day 33 Momote area in the morning for waders and seabirds then fly to Port

Moresby to connect with the Singapore flight in the afternoon.

Day 34 Arrive London Heathrow.

By using motel type accommodation and locally owned village-based lodges we are able to offer this Budget Birder's tour to one of the world's most desirable birding destinations at a rock-bottom price. There is no camping involved on this tour and although the lodges by the Elevala River and near Tari are fairly basic they are very comfortable. This tour also accords with Sicklebill Safaris' policy of supporting minimum impact, sustainable tourism ventures where possible. This helps to preserve and maintain these unique sites by providing the local people with a regular income from the intact forest.

Tour Price : Main Tour 27 September to 22 October £5160

Single room supplement, where available, £650

West New Britain and Manus Extension

22 to 30 October £1995

Single room supplement £400

The cost includes all travel, accommodation, meals, excursions, leader services, local guides and landowner fees. Individual requirements for passports, visas, travel insurance, drinks and items of a purely personal nature are not included.

Target species on the Papua New Guinea Mainland Tour include :

Dwarf Cassowary Southern Cassowary

New Guinea Harpy-Eagle Salvadori's Teal

Southern Crowned Pigeon Palm Cockatoo

Vulturine Parrot Lesser Paradise-Kingfisher

New Guinea Logrunner Painted Quail-thrush

Blue Jewel-babbler White-bellied Pitohui

Wattled Ploughbill Obscure Berrypecker

White-eared Catbird Spotted Catbird

Archbold's Bowerbird Flame Bowerbird

Yellow-breasted Bowerbird Fawn-breasted Bowerbird

Crested Bird of Paradise Loria's Bird of Paradise

Glossy-mantled Manucode Crinkle-collared Manucode

Trumpet Manucode Short-tailed Paradigalla

Magnificent Riflebird Eastern Riflebird

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise Buff-tailed Sicklebill

Black Sicklebill Brown Sicklebill

Ribbon-tailed Astrapia Stephanie's Astrapia

Superb Bird of Paradise Carola's Parotia

Lawes' Parotia King of Saxony Bird of Paradise

King Bird of Paradise Magnificent Bird of Paradise

Raggiana Bird of Paradise Greater Bird of Paradise

Lesser Bird of Paradise Blue Bird of Paradise

Target species on the West New Britain and Manus Extension include:

Spotted Whistling Duck New Britain Rail

Mackinlay's Cuckoo-Dove Pied Cuckoo-Dove

Nicobar Pigeon Red-knobbed Fruit-Dove

Yellow-bibbed Fruit-Dove Finsch's Imperial Pigeon

Black Imperial Pigeon Grey Imperial Pigeon

Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon Yellow-tinted Imperial Pigeon

Song Parrot Meek's Pygmy-Parrot

Violaceous Coucal White-necked Coucal

Manus Boobook Black-headed Paradise-Kingfisher

White-mantled Kingfisher Bismarck Kingfisher

Superb Pitta Bismarck Pied Monarch

Admiralty Pied Monarch Lesser Shining Flycatcher

New Britain Red-headed Myzomela Sclater's Myzomela

New Britain Friarbird Manus Friarbird

Long-tailed Myna White-backed Woodswallow

Recommended Reading

Beehler, B., Pratt, T. and Zimmerman, D. Birds of New Guinea. 1986.

Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. ISBN 0 691 02394 8

An excellent field guide covering all the birds of mainland New Guinea; the recommended field guide for the tour.

Coates, B. J. The Birds of Papua New Guinea.

Volume 1 : Non-passerines. 1985. Volume 2 : Passerines 1990

Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia. ISBN 0 9590257 2 3 (set)

Two magnificent photographic guides to the birds of Papua New Guinea including the Bismarck Archipelago and the Admiralty Islands. Very bulky but excellent reference books before and after the tour.

Coates B. J. Birds of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. 2001.

Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia.

ISBN 0 9590257 4 X

A pocket-sizes photographic guide and an excellent adjunct to the recommended field guide. Especially useful for those taking the tour extension.

THIS ITINERARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OTHER DATES IN 2007 and 2008 BY PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT.

Note :

For further information please e-mail Ian@sicklebill.demon.co.uk and visit our website www.sicklebill.com