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| Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise |
We flew from Manikwari to Sorong following our Arfak Mountains visit, then caught the ferry for the 2.5-hour journey to the island of Waigeo at the far western end of West Papua. Large numbers of Red-necked Phalarope were at sea. We were transferred to the pleasant Korpak Villa Resort for a 3-night stay.
Korpak Villa Resort
The next day began with another nocturnal hike through forest to be at a special spot at dawn - a hide overlooking the lek of a Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise.
Wilson's Bird-of Paradise
As the sun rose the forest resounded with the loud, distinctive call of the male Wilson's. Then a male bird landed on a bare branch near the ground in the lek. It hopped about, overturning and moving leaves, and even in the half light the vividness of its extraordinary colours was evident. That striking combination or iridescent green, blue, yellow, black and red - with violet circular tail feathers – was something to behold as the sunlight improved. At one stage the bird fluffed out its shield of breast feathers to display to a visiting female. It left and returned several times, paying close attention to tidying the lek; a large leaf that floated down between visits was swiftly removed. It was no surprise that this species – found only on Waigeo and the nearby island of Batanta, was voted by the group as the top bird of the trip.
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| Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise (displaying above) |
Returning back down the track we saw the regional endemic Raja Ampat Pitohui, which was encountered on other occasions over the next two days.
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| Raja Ampat Pithoui |
A Palm Cockatoo was spotted along the road.
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| Palm Cockatoo |
In the afternoon we visited another hide, this one two storeys high, where the Red Bird-of-Paradise put on a show for us. We watched as 6-8 birds flew about, with males displaying and chasing each other as females checked out what was on offer. Two top birds-of-paradise in a day was nothing to complain about.
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| Red Bird-of-Paradise (female above, male below) |
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The next two mornings we walked the trails of Warkesi Forest Park. Here we found the endemic Waigeo Shrikethrush to be quite common. A lookout gave us good views of Black-capped Lory, Orange-fronted (Papuan) Hanging Parrot and Black-shouldered Cuckooshrike, with brief views of White-eared Catbird for some.
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| Black-capped Lory |
Brown-headed Crow and Dusky Megapode were located along the track and a few had fly-by views of New Guinea Bronzewing. A Papuan Boobook was finally seen before dawn on our last morning; we had heard several earlier during the tour.
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| Papuan Boobook |
Returning one evening we spotlighted a female Northern Common Cuscus with a well-developed youngster in tow roadside.
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| Northern Common Cuscus |
We took a boat out one afternoon and visited the attractive Mioskon Island. Some of us enjoyed a spot of snorkelling and all of us enjoyed good views of Spice Imperial Pigeon, another regional specialty.
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| Spice Imperial Pigeon |
Pied Imperial Pigeon and Beach Kingfisher were common, while Violent-necked Lory was added to the list.
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| Pied Imperial Pigeon |
We motored on for a thoroughly enchanting ride through hundreds of limestone, rainforest-topped islands in Kabui Bay.
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| Kabui Bay |
We returned to Sorong by ferry the next day, when Matsudaira's Storm-Petrel and Bulwer's Petrel for some were notable sightings.
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| Waigeo Coast |
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