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| Blyth's Hornbill |
The bustling Solomon Islands capital of Honiara on Guadalcanal - best-known as the site for some of the most significant naval battles of World War II - was the base for our visits to Kolombangara Island and Rennell Island in October as a guest of Tourism Solomons. I had birded Guadalcanal previously and was happy to be reacquainted with its avian inhabitants. Our first Guadalcanal foray during this visit to the Solomons was a quick stop at the Botanic Gardens after returning to Honiara from Gizo. A pair of Superb Fruit-Doves showed nicely here and Island Imperial-Pigeon was present in small numbers.
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| Superb Fruit-Dove |
Singing Starling was ever present and probably the most numerous species in Honiara.
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| Singing Starling |
After returning to Honiara from Rennell, we checked out the recently constructed Parangiju Mountain Lodge in the hills behind the city for an afternoon birding session. The cryptic Buff-headed Coucal was common along the road. Forest tracks behind the lodge yielded Solomons specialties including Chestnut-bellied Monarch and Steel-blue Flycatcher.
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| Chestnut-bellied Monarch |
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| Steel-blue Flycatcher |
The Guadalcanal endemic Black-headed Myzomela was not uncommon.
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| Black-headed Myzomela |
A single North Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike, a scarce species seen earlier on Kolombangara, was an unexpected find. Long-tailed Myna was common.
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| North Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike |
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| Long-tailed Myna |
Other birds seen from lookouts around the lodge included the smart Yellow-bibbed Lory, Solomons Cicadabird and the sprightly Midget Flowerpecker.
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| Midget Flowerpecker |
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| Yellow-bibbed Lory |
In the distance was Honiara and across the water beyond, the neighbouring island of Malaita with its own suite of endemics.
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| View from Parangiju Lodge across Honiara to Malaita |
For our three nights over eight days in Honaria, we were guests of Tourism Solomons at two delightful seaside hotels: the Coral Sea Resort and Heritage Park Hotel.
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| View from Coral Sea Resort, Honiara |
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| Heritage Park Hotgel pre-dawn, Honiara |
For our final morning in the Solomons we visited Mt Austen, another birding hotspot behind Honiara. In an isolated forest patch lurked the smart distinctive cinnamomea subspecies of Oriole Whistler - a bird that in time will likely be seven or eight species. Solomons Monarch, endemic to the central Solomons, put in a brief appearance.
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| Oriole Whistler |
A pair of charismatic Ultramarine Kingfisher showed nicely on the forest edge. A loud whooshing sound signalled the presence of a magnificent male Blyth’s Hornbill in flight (first image).
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| Ultramarine Kingfisher |
We had several glimpses of Guadalcanal Rail (regarded as a subspecies of Woodford’s Rail by some) which not so long ago was thought likely to be extinct. Surprisingly, we heard and/or saw it at three sites in a variety of habitat including garden patches, grassland and secondary forest. Buff-banded Rail was also present on the road. The Woodford's wouldn't oblige for a picture. More obliging were several Brown-winged Starlings, another Solomons specialty, and the more widespread Mackinlay's Cuckoo-Dove.
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| Mackinlay's Cuckoo-Dove |
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| Brown-winged Starling |
I noticed big changes since my last visit to Mt Austen in 1988. Extensive tracts of rainforest have been razed by Asian logging companies, which continue to wreak havoc on Rennell and many other islands including Kolombangara, although at least there the loggers have agreed to leave the upper slopes intact in return for harvesting the lowlands.
The best way to combat the loss of critical wildlife habitat to logging, mining and other development is to boost the tourism sector, providing much-needed revenue to the cash-strapped country. Apart from a feast of wonderful birds, that’s another good reason to go there.
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| View from Mt Austen |
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