Taveuni in Fiji: Silktail & Orange Dove

 

Taveuni Silktail 

A 6-day stay on the delightful island of Taveuni in Fiji was the first cab off the rank for our recent overseas tour. I’d been to Fiji before but not to Taveuni, famed for two extraordinary birds: the enigmatic Taveuni Silktail (this, the Natewa Silktail from a neighbouring island, and the Pygmy Drongo from New Guinea, are the sole members of the family Lamproliidae); and the gorgeous Orange Dove. We flew from Brisbane to Nadi, where Fiji Parrotfinch and Fiji Wattled Honeyeater were among birds near the hotel the next morning.

Fiji Parrotfinch

Fiji Wattled Honeyeater

We took the short flight the following morning to Taveuni and stayed at the Maravu Taveuni Lodge. Not much around the lodge other the ubiquitous Pacific Kingfisher .

Pacific Kingfisher

I arranged to be picked up very early the next morning by the driver Ajay Narayan for a half-day on Des Voueux Peak – the go-to site for regional specialties and an hour’s drive to the south. I could have hired a guide as well but Ajay knew where to go and I had no problem knocking off all the targets other than Shy Ground-Dove, which is very difficult in Fiji. First was Maroon Shining-Parrot, which was vocal in some numbers in secondary forest at the base of the mountain in poor light. Collared Lory was also common.

Ajay

We drove to the locked gate at the top of the road. There’s no point in birding beyond the gate. In its vicinity I saw a female Azure-crested Flycatcher and an Island Thrush roadside. The thrush proved to be fairly common and I saw a male flycatcher later but didn’t manage an image of the species.

Island Thrush

There is a famous trail about 200m south of the gate that goes into the forest. About 500m down the trail I found a pair of Taveuni Silktails. They are extaordinary birds - a mix of bird-of-paradise and flycatcher with dazzling metallic blue colouring, elaborate displays and constant movements. On the way back I found an even more co-operative pair of silktails.

Also on this track I spotted a female Orange Dove: its mate would have to wait. I heard and then saw a skulking female Black-faced Shrikebill in the undergrowth. Fiji Shrikebill was more co-operative and I saw several.

Fiji Shrikebill

Orange Dove (female)

Barking Imperial-Pigeon and Many-coloured Fruit-Dove were calling commonly. In the forest several Fiji Steaked Fantails were encountered and Fiji Bush-Warbler was common.

Fiji Bush-Warbler

Fiji Streaked Fantail

Fiji Wattled Honeyeater was also common. A few hundred metres down the mountain we stopped where Ajay had recently spotted the somewhat rare Yellow-billed Honeyeater. The bird was seen well but I managed just one poor image. A brightly endowed male Fiji Whistler was also spotted along with a few Fiji Parrotfinches.

Yellow-billed Honeyeater

Further on we final scored nice if somewhat distant views of a couple of male Orange Doves. This bird is a stunner; words can’t describe it. A couple of Polynesian Trillers were also about in the area.

Orange Dove (male)

We called in to check out a large colony of Fiji Flying-Foxes on the coast on the way back to the hotel.

Fiji Flying-Fox

Several pairs of Vanikoro Flycatcher were about the hotel.

Vanikoro Flycatcher

The next day we did a shorter drive with Ajay around the island’s north coast to the village of Lavena. Along here we had better views of Maroon-chested Parrot and Barking Imperial-Pigeon, while Fiji Goshawk perched on the wires.

Barking Imperial-Pigeon

Maroon Shining-Parrot

Fiji Goshawk

SPECIES (TAVEUNI ONLY): Fiji Goshawk (1), Red Junglefowl (6), White-faced Heron (6), Lesser Frigatebird (2), Many-coloured Fruit-Dove (12), Orange Dove (3 seen, others heard), Barking Imperial-Pigeon (10)), Collared Lory (20), Maroon Shining-Parrot (15), Pacific Kingfisher (20), White-rumped Swiftlet (30), Taveuni Silktail (4), Fiji Streaked Fantail (8), Azure-crested Flycatcher (2), Fiji Bush-Warbler (8), Polynesian Triller (2), Fiji Whistler (1), Island Thrush (7), Black-throated Shrikebill (1), Fiji Shrikebill (5), Vanikoro Flycatcher (6), Layard’s White-eye (8), Orange-breasted Myzomela (6), Yellow-billed Honeyeater (1), Fiji Wattled Honeyeater (10), Fiji Woodswallow (1), Pacific Swallow (5), Polynesian Starling (4), Fiji Parrotfinch (8), Australian Magpie (6). 29 species, 6 lifers