Papua New Guinea 14th June - 5th July 2011 £4500 FULLY BOOKED

 

with Ashley Banwell and expert local guides

 

June 14 arrive into Port Moresby and transfer to Granville Hotel, after check in proceed to  Pacific Adventist University Grounds. Here we shall be looking for the day roost of Papuan Frogmouth. We shall also see a good selection of water birds including Spotted Whistling Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Pied Heron, Rufous Night Heron, Comb-crested Jacana. Other goodies include Torresian Imperial Pigeon and Grey headed Munia. Overnight Granville Hotel

June 15 Varirata, an early moring start should see us at Varirata for dawn. Here we should see Ragianna BoP's displaying. Other species we will search for include Doria's Hawk, Painted Quail Thrush, Northern Scrub Robin, Brown-headed Paradise Kingfisher, Pheasant Pigeon and Dwarf Whistler.

June 16 fly to Tari and transfer to Warili Lodge. Overnight Warili Lodge (4 nights)

June 17- 19 Tari Valley here we shall have some best birding in PNG, among the many star species here are: Blue, King-of-Saxony and Superb BoP's, Short-tailed Paradigalla, Black and Brown Sicklebills, Ribbon-tailed and Stephanies Astrapias, Archibolds Nightjar. If we are lucky we shall see Shovel-billed and Mountain Kingfishers but they are usually only heard. Other goodies we search for include Greater Sooty Owl, Blue-capped Ifrita, Blue-faced Parrotbill and Macgregor's Bowerbird.

June 20 Overland transfer to Kumul Lodge, we shall make a few quick roadside stops, we may see Torrent Flycatcher en route. We should arrive at Kumul mid afternoon, we can then relax watching Sanford's Bowerbird, Brown Sicklebill and Brehm's Tiger Parrots feeding on the bird table. Night birding for Mountain Owlet-Nightjar.

June 21 birding around Kumul, An early morning start will have us in position for the Lesser BoP display, sometimes a Magnificent BoP pays us a visit here. On our return we shall stop for Yellow-breasted Bowerbird. After lunch we shall explore the nearby trails where Lesser Melampitta, Orange-crowned Fairywren and Wattled Ploughbill can be seen.

June 22 Transfer to Tabubil and then transfer Hotel Cloud lands for 3 nights

June 23 - 24 Full days birding around Tabubil

June 25 Road Tour Tabubil to Kiunga. Birding enroute. Overnight Kiunga Quest House. (2 nights)

June 26 Boystown Rd, Km 17

June 27 Early morning departure by boat along the Elevala River to the locally owned Ekame Lodge, here we stay close to nature for 4 nights. Nobody goes away without some fantastic memories. During the day we shall watch Twelve-wired and King BoP's doing their stuff, along the trails we shall search for Blue Jewel-babblers, Hooded Pitta, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Little and Common Paradise Kingfishers, Hook-billed Kingfisher, New Guinea Babbler and Hooded Monarch amongst many others. Southern Crowned Pigeons will be one of the many exciting target searched for from the boats. We should see some New Guinea Crocodiles here as well. Our night time birding will have us out searching for such mega and seldom seen species like Starry and Wallace's Owlet-nightjars, Papuan Hawk Owl, Papuan Bobook and Marbled Frogmouth!! we are going to be busy.

June 28-30 Ekame area

Jul 1 Early morning birding around Ekame Lodge. PM you will return down river by boat to Kunga-Overnight Kiunga Quest House.

Jul 2 Transfer to Kiunga and then on to Port Moresby, transfer to Hotel. Overnight Granville Hotel.

Jul 3-4 Varirata and Brown River