Western Pacific Odyssey New Zealand to Japan 2008. No. 3
We continue with the cruise leaving Rennell Island behind and looking forward to our next island Makira Island and then onto Gudacanal and Kolombangara Islands.
Arriving Makira Island, locals came out to meet us.
Reception committee as we were the first westerners to visit Yanuta village.
Departing from the Yanuta village on Makira Island, unfortunately the visit to the village took up much of our time on the Island and not a lot of time left for us to find the local bird endemics. There was some nice looking woodland areas.
Long-tailed Triller Lalage leucopyga on Makira Island. Six subspecies mainly on the Solomon Islands with the Norfolk Island subspecie is now exteinct. Its natural habitats are subtropical forests. We saw one on New Caledonia and six on Mikra Island. The population appears to be stable.
Red-Knobbed Imperial-Pigeon Ducula rubricera on Makira Island. We recorded this Imperial-Pigeon on three dates, with two on Mikra Island, ten on Gudalcanal and twelve on Kolombangara Island. It is found on the Bismarck and the Solomon Islands and its natural habitat is subtropical moist lowland forests and is classified of least concern. We recorded it on three Islands with a total of 24 birds.
Eclectus Parrot Eclect roratus on Makira Island. At the present time it has nine subspecies although this is due for review. It is native to the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and N.E.Australia. We recorded it on three dates with five at Makira Island, four Gudalcanal, and five at Kolobangara Island.
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus As we were leaving Makira Island heading towards Gudalcanal, seven were seen over the sea. Four subspecies.
Departed Makira Island at 16.00 hours and sailed off towards Gudalcanal arrived at 06.00 hrs the following morning.
Two views taken on Mt. Austin, Gudalcanal, where we birded for a day.
Poor record shot of a Solomons Island Cuckoo-shrike Coracina holopolia. on Gudalcanal. Found on several islands in the Solomon Island group and its natural habitat tropical moist lowland forests although it is threatened by habitat loss.
Finsch's Pygmy-Parrot Micropsitta finschii on Gudalcanal. We recorded this parrot on three dates with eight birds being seen with a daily maximum of five, and it was seen on both Mikira and Gudalcanal Islands. It inhabits tropical rainforest regions of islands in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the Bismarck Islands. There are five subspecies, and it nests in termit mounds in a tree.
Immature of the Pied Goshawk Accipiter albogularis (normal form) on Gudalcanal. We found 2 immatures on Gudalcanal and 2 adults on Kolombangara Island. Endemic to the Solomon Islands and adjacent islands from Feni (Papua New Guinea) to Santa Cruz and adjacent smaller islands. Present from sea-level up to locally 1,800 m. Probably an increasing population and extending secondary growth, forest gardens, and even urban outskirts.
The second Immature Pied Goshawk (tawny form) on Gudalcanal.
Adult Pied Goshawk on Kolombangara Island.
Local village on Kolombangra Island
Kolombangara Island mangroves which we went on a zodiac trip around this site.
Orchids on Kolombangara Island flowering around the gardens.
Dragonfly which I found on Kolombangara Island
Flying fox on Kolombangara Island, good numbers came out in the late afternoon.
Varied Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster on Kolombangara Island. Just saw this one in flight over the Island. A very variable Goshawk with a large distribution range from New Guinea to Christmas Island including many islands of the same latitudes including the Solomosn Islands etc. We just saw this single individual during our trip.
Solomons Island (Sanford's) Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus sanfordi. We recorded one on Gudalcanal Island and 2 on Kolombangara Island. Endemic to all of the Solomon Islands. Any new sea-eagle will be one of my highlights of the trip. We obtained excellent views and saw the Eagles several times during our visit. It is classified as Vulnerable and considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. It is the only large predator on the Solomon Islands and inhabits coastal forests and lakes up to an altitude of around 1,500 m.
Three Roviana Rails Gallirallus rovianae (flightless) were seen around a village on Kolombangara Island. They just wandered around the open areas with one walking right past a cat. The rail seemed to completely ignore the cat and the cat ignored the rail. Its distribution is on the islands of New Georgia, Kolombangara, Wana Wana, Kohinggo and Rendova in the central Solomon Islands, and it is considered Near Threatened.
The next five days we were out at sea heading towards Bougainville, and I took the opportunity to try to photograph some flying fish, not as easy as I thought it was going to be. We stopped at suitable areas to chum to attract more sea-birds and we crossed the Equator and continued North to Chuuk .Some of the sea-birds seen will be on my No 4 blog .
Flying fish-my best efforts.
Bottlenose Dolphin
Whale which was identified as a Sperm??
