Sumatra 2008

White-capped Munia (Lonchura ferruginosa)

On 9th April 2008 John Gregory and myself discovered a group of 10 White-capped Munias feeding in rice paddies near Panyungkaian, Sumatra. This species had only been recorded on Java and Bali until our discovery.

 Büttikofer's Babbler (Pellorneum buettikoferi )

Just near Panyungkaian we found 3 of these rarely seen babblers. Suprisingly easy to identify, their pale pink bills being one of the most striking features, grey ear coverts contrasting with brown head and upperparts, short tail, white underparts and pale legs. Seen in secondary growth near to the track side, also seen in some bamboo. Calling frequently as they were feeding fledged young, 3 soft whistles and rolling churrs. Responded well to pishing.

The return trip to the Sumatran Ground Cuckoo

In our desire to get better views of the Ground Cuckoo we returned this April - the dry season, or so we thought!!

We heard 5 birds in total but I only managed another brief view as it sat on a log, I just got my bins on it in time to see it drop of, and that was it the only view.

Exploring Danau Ranau - the home of the Poxai hadji - Sumatran Laughingthrush

We spent from 14th - 17th April searching for the much trapped Sumatran Bicoloured Laughingthrush. Unfortunately we had to walk to over 1000m to get past the coffee plantations before we hit the forest. The remaining forest was excellent with good numbers of endemic species still doing very well, but the sound of chainsaws was ever present. To get to the higher spots 1400m+ involved a daily death march, its really hard work here, great for your figure but hard on your legs. We were rewarded with great views of a pair of Schneider's Pitta, Graceful Pitta, Salvadoris Nightjar, Sumatran Trogon, Sunda Laughingthrush, Bronze-tailed Peacock Pheasant, Red-billed Partridge and best of all brilliant views of 2 Sumatran Grey-breasted Partridge, a species that has hardly ever been seen by any birders. The Sumatran Laughingthrush was a heard only after scaling one of the higher peaks one afternoon, a group called from a dense area of  rattan, despite my best efforts I could not see them even though they called maybe 5 or 6 times over an hour, they were always a bit ahead of me the swine's!

Species list

Wandering Whistling-Duck

Crested Serpent-Eagle

Black-thighed Falconet 1 at Londos

Sumatran Gray-breasted Partridge 2 seen, another 2 heard. Excellent views were had in response to playback, Danau Ranau

Red-billed Partridge heard only, Danau Ranau

Salvadori's Pheasant several seen at Way Titias

Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant several heard at Danau Ranau

White-breasted Waterhen

Little Cuckoo-Dove

Emerald Dove

Green-spectacled Pigeon, Danau Ranau

Mountain Imperial-Pigeon

Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot

Large Hawk-Cuckoo heard

Oriental Cuckoo heard

Banded Bay Cuckoo heard

Plaintive Cuckoo heard

Asian Drongo-Cuckoo heard

Green-billed Malkoha

Sumatran Ground-Cuckoo 5 heard and 1 glimpsed at Way Titias

Greater Coucal

Reddish Scops-Owl heard at Danau Ranau

Barred Eagle Owl 1 heard at Danau Ranau, directly above our camp

Malaysian Nightjar common at Londos

Salvadori's Nightjar 1 heard at Danau Ranau

Glossy Swiftlet

Gray-rumped Treeswift

Sumatran Trogon common at Danau Ranau

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Collared Kingfisher

Rhinoceros Hornbill

Helmeted Hornbill

Bushy-crested Hornbill

Wreathed Hornbill

Fire-tufted Barbet

Gold-whiskered Barbet

Red-throated Barbet

Black-browed Barbet

Coppersmith Barbet

Rufous Piculet

Brown-capped Woodpecker

Checker-throated Woodpecker

Greater Flameback

Maroon Woodpecker

Gray-and-buff Woodpecker

Green Broadbill heard at Way Titias

Long-tailed Broadbill seen at Danau Ranau

Banded Broadbill heard

Black-and-yellow Broadbill heard

Schneider's Pitta brilliant views of a pair, another male calling Danau Ranau

Black-crowned Pitta 2 seen at Way Titias and heard at Danau Ranau (1200m)

Barn Swallow

Pacific Swallow

Scarlet Minivet

Gray-chinned Minivet

Black-headed Bulbul

Black-crested Bulbul

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Ochraceous Bulbul

Hairy-backed Bulbul

Sunda Bulbul

Blue-masked Leafbird 1 seen at Way Titias

Shiny Whistling-Thrush

Chestnut-winged Whistling-Thrush excellent views in a bird wave at Danau Ranau

Zitting Cisticola

Hill Prinia

Bar-winged Prinia

Ashy Tailorbird

Chestnut-crowned Warbler

Yellow-bellied Warbler

Fulvous-chested Jungle-Flycatcher few seen at Way Titias

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Mugimaki Flycatcher

Verditer Flycatcher

Indigo Flycatcher

Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher

Sunda Forktail

White-throated Fantail

Spotted Fantail

Black-naped Monarch

Asian Paradise-Flycatcher

Sunda Laughingthrush few at Danau Ranau

Black Laughingthrush 3 at Danau Ranau

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush common at Danau Ranau

Sumatran Bicoloured Laughingthrush one group heard in dense rattan, Danau Ranau

Buettikofer's Babbler family group of 3 at Panyungkaian, seen feeding fledged young, in secondary growth

Horsfield's Babbler

Moustached Babbler

Sooty-capped Babbler

Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler

Pygmy Wren-Babbler

Rufous-fronted Babbler

Golden Babbler

Gray-throated Babbler

Spot-necked Babbler

Brown Fulvetta

Long-tailed Sibia

Great Tit

Blue Nuthatch

Plain-throated Sunbird

Scarlet Sunbird

Little Spiderhunter

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter

Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Black-capped White-eye

Black-and-crimson Oriole

Long-tailed Shrike

Rufous-winged Philentoma 1 at Way Titias

Ashy Drongo

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

Sumatran Drongo common at Way Titias

White-breasted Woodswallow

Green Magpie

Sumatran Treepie

Asian Glossy Starling

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Baya Weaver breeding colony near Londos

Pin-tailed Parrotfinch 30+ seen near Londos

White-capped Munia 10+ seen in paddies at Panyungkaian, looks like 1st Sumatran record of this Java/Bali endemic

White-rumped Munia Danau Ranau

Javan Munia Danau Ranau

Nutmeg Mannikin

White-bellied Munia

White-headed Munia Danau Ranau