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Maluku extension (Morotai, Bacan, Obi)
25th September – 2nd October 2016
Leader: Rob Hutchinson
Participants: Michael Frost, Yann Muzika, Richard Rowland
Moluccan Woodcock, Obi © Rob Hutchinson / Birdtour Asia Eastern Indonesia is home to an increasing array of attractive endemics, some only recently elevated to full species status despite often bearing no resemblance to the species they were lumped with. We started the tour extension on the island of Morotai which has been strangely neglected until recently even though it lies close to Halmahera, itself firmly on the bird-tour circuit. Here we easily found our targets; Dusky Friarbird, the newly split Morotai Spangled Drongo and Morotai White-eye, the latter a stunning bird not remotely similar to Cream-throated White-eye with which it was lumped. We also found endemic taxa of Chattering Lory, Paradise Crow and Common Paradise Kingfisher. The briefest of birding sessions on Bacan gave both Bacan White-eye and Bacan Spangled Drongo, but the real action was on Obi where the stars were Moluccan Woodcock, Carunculated Fruit Dove and North Moluccan Pitta. There was of course a substantial supporting cast of Obi Paradise Crow, Obi Whistler, Obi Fantail, Obi Golden Bulbul, Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher, Moluccan Whistler, Scaled Lory, Obi White-eye and Obi Leaf Warbler. Our pre-tour extension began with an early morning arrival into Ternate before being efficient whisked northwards to the island of Morotai, an island just northeast of Halmahera which has been strangely neglected by birders until now. After a rest to recover from jetlag and lunch we headed off for our first birding session, the last part of the journey – up an old logging road in the back of a truck – being particularly memorable! Even on an overcast
afternoon the birding proved excellent and literally the first bird we saw was the very distinctive Morotai White-eye, looking rather like a North American vireo, which gave us stunning point-blank views. Next came a group of Morotai Friarbirds, a rather enigmatic species which is frequently claimed by birders and other birding tours visiting Halmahera, even though it was known to be a Morotai endemic. Violet-necked Lories and Grey-headed Fruit Dove shared a fruiting tree, the distinctive morotensis form of Halmahera Paradise Crow gave us a few flybys, Halmahera Golden Bulbul was abundant, Great Cuckoo Dove put on a great performance displaying right overhead several times, and a calling ‘Moluccan’ Drongo Cuckoo was eventually tracked down for ‘scope views after several flyovers. We had a full day along the same logging road the next day but it turned out to be a very wet one, with rain all day, at times absolutely torrential! In spite of the poor weather we were able to add our key remaining target in the form of several Morotai Spangled Drongos, besides several more Morotai Friarbird, Paradise-crow sightings and more great looks at Morotai White-eye. Pick of the rest was probably the pair of morotaianus Chattering Lory but we also added Dusky Myzomela, Moluccan Hanging Parrot, Moluccan and Wallacean Monarchs, Drab Whistler, Wallacean Cicadabird, Great-billed Parrot and some recently arrived winterers; Grey-streaked Flycatcher and several Oriental-type Cuckoos.
Morotai Friarbird and Morotai White-eye
Morotai Spangled Drongo and Common Paradise Kingfisher
We only had a short birding session the next morning but it was enough time to find the endemic doris taxa of Common Paradise Kingfisher with its striking white mantle and rump. We also enjoyed even better views of Morotai Spangled Drongo and Dusky Friarbird to complete our birding on the island before flying back to Ternate and a relaxing afternoon before boarding the overnight ferry to Obi. Our stop in Bacan the next morning was extremely brief, in fact we spent only 40 minutes on the island and just 15 minutes of birding time! This was enough though to get excellent views of Bacan White-eye – part of the ‘Cream-throated’ split, and as we departed and headed for Obi was added the other island endemic – Bacan Spangled Drongo, currently an undescribed taxon – one of which was sat atop a tall dead tree. The rest of the day was spent sailing to Obi where we arrived in the early afternoon, having seen a good selection of seabirds on the way including Brown Booby, Bridled and Lesser Crested Tern, Arctic Skua, and a Red Phalarope with the numerous Red-necked relatives, a mega bird for Indonesia.
‘Moluccan Pitta’ and Obi Spangled Drongo
Bacan Myzomela and Obi White-eye Whilst going through the motions of trying to access a logging road on Obi we added a soaring Pygmy Eagle, then finished the afternoon with some easy roadside birding which gave our first Obi Paradise Crow, Torresian Crow, Obi Golden Bulbul and Carunculated Fruit Dove. The real action began after dark though, when a distinctive rattled called announced the approach of perhaps the tours most anticipated target, and a matter of seconds later a
Moluccan Woodcock gave a low flyby, the first of several over the next 20 minutes, while a calling Barking Owl flew low overhead before resuming his canine-like vocalisations. We spend much of the next day in the lowlands and found many of our target species with fantastic views of ‘North Moluccan’ Pitta, Obi Fantail, Obi Whistler including a pair nest-building, several Obi Spangled Drongos, the ‘Scaled’ form of Violet-necked Lory, and a delightful ‘North Moluccan’ Variable Dwarf Kingfisher. A Moluccan Cuckoo in the afternoon gave excellent views and a fine vocal performance, a set of Wallacean Cicadabirds gave excellent views and of course we couldn’t resist another performance from the woodcocks at dusk! The next day was our long-awaited hike up into the mountain where our remaining targets were possible. The morning went superbly as the targets fell one by one; firstly, our first pair of Obi White-eyes – currently an undescribed species - gave some nice looks. Bacan Myzomela, one of which ventured down from the canopy for nice views, though the undescribed birds on Obi show more extensive red on the breast from Bacan. The flavopalliatus race of Chattering Lory was a nice addition, as were our first Scarlet-breasted Fruit Doves, more Carunculated Fruit Doves including one on a nest, hoogerwerfi Pale Cicadabird, obiensis Moluccan Whistler, and obiensis Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon. It was a long walk but well worth the effort when we finally found ‘Obi’ Leaf Warblers at our furthest point to complete of set of interesting taxa. There’s wasn’t much new to look for in the afternoon but we added Spotted Kestrel and Black-naped Fruit Dove, followed by our daily dose of Moluccan Woodcock and a confiding Moluccan Scops Owl.
Moluccan Whistler and Moluccan Scops Owl With a final morning before departure we enjoyed more views of many of the birds seen over the previous two days including our best views yet of the bizarre Carunculated Fruit Dove and more prolonged views of Pale Cicadabird. We were also happy to track down the source of a mystery sound from previous days which turned out to be the rather vocally-distinct obiensis Common Paradise Kingfisher, and we had two encounters with cute Rothschild’s Cuscus. Departing Obi in the early afternoon we had another session of sea-watching from the ferry with Wedge-tailed Shearwater new. After arriving in Ternate early the next morning we later flew onwards to Ambon to join up with the rest of the group for the main tour. The tour extension finished with a total of 107 species including some of the regions most enigmatic endemics. Anyone interested in our scheduled tours to Maluku or elsewhere in Indonesia please click here for further information. Alternatively please contact us via e-mail if you would like to organise a custom tour to these superb areas. Top 5 Birds-of-the-trip
1. Moluccan Woodcock 2. Morotai White-eye 3. Carunculated Fruit Dove 4. North Moluccan Pitta 5. Dusky Friarbird
Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Obi
Great Cuckoo Dove, Morotai and Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, Obi
Moluccan Whistler and Moluccan Brush Cuckoo, Obi
Obi Golden Bulbul and Obi Fantail
Obi Whistler and Obi Paradise-crow, Obi
Obi White-eye and Rothschild’s Cuscus, Obi
Moluccan Monarch (Male left, female right), Obi
Pale Cicadabird and White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Obi
Systematic bird list MEGAPODIDAE: Megapodes
Dusky Scrubfowl Megapodius freycinet quoyii
COLUMBIDAE: Pigeons and Doves
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis tigrina
Sultan's Cuckoo Dove Macropygia doreya albiceps
Great Cuckoo Dove Reinwardtoena reinwardtii
Stephan's Dove Chalcophaps stephani wallacei
Scarlet-breasted Fruit Dove Ptilinopus bernsteinii micrus M
Blue-capped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus monacha M
Carunculated Fruit Dove Ptilinopus granulifrons M
Grey-headed Fruit Dove Ptilinopus hyogastrus M
Black-naped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus melanospila chrysorrhoa
Moluccan Imperial Pigeon Ducula perspicillata
Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula basilica basilica M
Ducula basilica obiensis M
Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor bicolor
CUCULIDAE: Cuckoos and Allies
Oriental / Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus optatus / saturatus
Moluccan Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus musschenbroeki
Australian Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus variolosus
Moluccan Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis aeruginosus aeruginosus M
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus corvinus
HEMIPROCNIDAE: Treeswifts
Moustached Treeswift Hemiprocne mystacea confirmata
APODIDAE: Swifts and Swiftlets
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta spilura
Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis waigeuensis
Halmahera Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus M
CAPRIMULGIDAE: Nightjars
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus schlegelii
RALLIDAE: Rails
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis philippensis
SCOLOPACIDAE: Sandpipers, Snipes and Allies
Moluccan Woodcock Scalopax rochussenii
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
LARINAE: Gulls and Terns
Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii cristata
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis torresii
Little Tern Sternula albifrons sinensis
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus anaethetus
Common Tern Sterna hirundo longipennis
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
STERCORARIINAE: Skuas
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus
PROCELLARIIDAE: Petrels and Shearwaters
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacificus
FRIGATIDAE: Frigatebirds
Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
SULIDAE: Gannets and Boobies
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
ARDEIDAE: Herons
Eastern Great Egret Ardea [alba] modesta
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
PANDIONIDAE: Ospreys
Osprey Pandion haliaetus cristatus
ACCIPITRIDAE: Hawks, Eagles and Allies
Pygmy Eagle Hieraaetus weiskei
White-bellied Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
Varied Goshawk Tachyspiza hiogastra mortyi
STRIGIDAE: Typical Owls
Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus obira
Barking Owl Ninox connivens rufostrigata
BUCEROTIDAE: Hornbills
Blyth's Hornbill Rhyticeros plicatus
HALCYONIDAE: Wood Kingfishers
Common Paradise-kingfisher Tanysiptera galatea obiensis
Tanysiptera galatea doris
Blue-and-white Kingfisher Todiramphus diops M
Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris chloris
Variable Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx lepidus uropygialis
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis
MEROPIDAE: Bee-eaters
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus
FALCONIDAE: Falcons and Allies
Indonesian (Spotted) Kestrel Falco moluccensis moluccensis
PSITTACIDAE: Parrots, Lories and Cockatoos
Scaled (Violet-necked) Lory Eos squamata obiensis
Violet-necked Lory Eos riciniata M
Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus flavopalliatus M
Lorius garrulus morotaianus M
Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis intensior
Eclectus Parrot Elclectus roratus vosmaeri
Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi obiensis
Geoffroyus geoffroyi cyanicollis
Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos affinis
Moluccan Hanging Parrot Loriculus amabilis
PITTIDAE: Pittas
North Moluccan Pitta Erythropitta erythrogaster rufiventris
MELIPHAGIDAE: Honeyeaters
Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura rubrotincta
Myzomela obscura mortyana
Bacan Myzomela Myzomela batjanensis ssp nov. M
Morotai Friarbird Philemon fuscicapillus M
PACHYCEPHALIDAE: Whistlers
Moluccan (Golden) Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha obiensis
Drab Whistler Pachycephala griseonota cinerascens
Obi Whistler Pachycephala johni M
CAMPEPHAGIDAE: Cuckooshrikes, Trillers and Minivets
White-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina papuensis papuensis
Wallacean Cicadabird Lalage amboinensis obiensis
Lalage amboinensis grayi
Pale Cicadabird Lalage ceramensis hoogerwerfi
Rufous-bellied Triller Lalage aurea M
RHIPIDURIDAE: Fantails
Willie Fantail Rhipidura leucophrys melaleuca
Obi Fantail Rhipidura [rufiventris] obiensis M
DICRURIDAE: Drongos
Bacan Spangled Drongo Dicrurus sp. nov. M
Obi Spangled Drongo Dicrurus guillemardi M
Morotai Spangled Drongo Dicrurus morotensis M
PARADISAEIDAE: Birds-of-paradise
Obi Paradise-crow Lycocorax [pyrrhopterus] obiensis M
Halmahera Paradise-crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus morotensis M
MONARCHIDAE: Monarchs
Moluccan Monarch Myiagra galeata galeata M
Shining Monarch Myiagra alecto alecto
Wallacean Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus diadematus M
Symposiachrus trivirgatus bimaculatus
CORVIDAE: Crows
Long-billed Crow Corvus validus M
Torresian Crow Corvus orru orru
HIRUNDINIDAE: Swallows and Martins
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
PYCNONOTIDAE: Bulbuls
Obi Golden Bulbul Hypsipetes lucasi M
Halmahera Golden Bulbul Hypsipetes chloris M
ZOSTEROPIDAE: White-eyes and Allies
Bacan White-eye Zosterops atriceps M
Morotai White-eye Zosterops [atriceps] dehaani M
Obi White-eye Zosterops sp. nov. M
PHYLLOSCOPIDAE: Leaf Warblers
Arctic Leaf Warbler Seicercus borealis
North Moluccan Leaf Warbler Seicercus waterstradti waterstradti M
Moluccan Starling Aplonis mysolensis mysolensis
Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica metallica
MUSCICAPIDAE: Chats and Flycatchers
Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Turquoise Warbling-flycatcher Eumyias panayensis obiensis
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius philippensis
DICAEIDAE: Flowerpeckers
Halmahera Flowerpecker Dicaeum schistaceiceps M
NECTARINIIDAE: Sunbirds
Black Sunbird Nectarinia aspasia auriceps
Sahul Sunbird Cinnyris clementiae frenatus
PASSERINAE: Sparrows
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
ESTRILDINAE: Estrildine Finches
Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca molucca M
MOTACILLIDAE: Wagtails and Pipits
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis taivana
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Mammals
Rothschild's Cuscus Phalanger rothschildi
Moluccan Flying Fox Pterpus chrysoproctus
Indo-Pacific Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops aduncus
Dwarf Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris
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