BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND

Last expedition: 2024

Highlights included taking the first-ever field photos of Moustached Kingfisher and Bougainville Thickebird, plus recording every endemic on the island. 

Day 1: Flight to Kieta on Bougainville, from where we will drive to Arawa. Night in Arawa.

Day 2-3-4-5-6-7: Hiking to a remote area of primary forest owned by Guava Village, where we found Moustached Kingfisher and rediscovered Bougainville Thicketbird in 2024. These superb species will be at the top of our wishlists, along with a long list of endemics named for the island: Bougainville Bush Warbler, Bougainville Crow, Bougainville Whistler, Bougainville Honeyeater, Bougainville Fantail, Bougainville Monarch, Bougainville Island-Thrush, and Bougainville White-eye. Other specialties of the area include Pale Mountain Pigeon, Meek’s Lorikeet, West Solomons Boobook, Red-capped Myzomela, Oriole Whistler, Yellow-throated White-eye, and maybe even the cryptic Imitator Goshawk or lost Black-backed Thrush. Nights camping in the forest.

Day 8: Hike back to the road and descend to Arawa for night in a hotel (and showers!).

Day 9: The lowland forests and wetlands around Arawa hold an array of birds that can be seen only here and in the Solomon Islands, and we will spend the day searching out whatever we can find. Our main target will be the endemic subspecies of Woodford's Rail, but other possibilities include Pied Goshawk, Cardinal Lory, Ultramarine Kingfisher, Solomons Cuckooshrike, North Melanesian Cuckooshrike, Cockerell’s Fantail, Steel-blue Flycatcher, Solomons Monarch, Brown-winged Starling, and Long-tailed Myna. Some spotlighting will see us search for the imposing and poorly known Fearful Owl, which is closely related to both the extinct Laughing Owl of New Zealand and, confusingly, the widespread Short-eared Owl. Night in Arawa.

Day 10: Flight from Buka to Port Moresby. 

IMPORTANT: With an upcoming independence attempt slated for 2026/27, and recent changes to land agreements at the birding site at Guava, we consider visiting Bougainville for the forseeable future unsafe.

LOUISIADE ARCHIPELAGO (SUDEST & ROSSEL)

Last expedition: 2024

Highlights included seeing every single endemic, with exciting species like Louisiade Pitta, Tagula Butcherbird, Tagula White-eye, and White-chinned Myzomela all enjoyed. The snorkelling was excellent too!

Day 1: Flight from Port Moresby to Alotau, the south-eastern tip of New Guinea, and gateway to the Louisiades. We will board our liveaboard dive boat and sail overnight towards Sudest. 

Day 2-3: The Louisiade Archipelago is extremely under-travelled, and facilities for tourists do not exist outside of the main town of Liak on Misima. As such, an exact day-to-day itinerary is impossible to ascertain in advance, but we will be aiming to transfer promptly to Sudest and then onwards to Rossel for a stay in one of the villages on the west coast. Sudest is the largest island in the region where most of the Louisiade endemics can be found. The attractive Tagula Butcherbird, along with Islet Kingfisher, White-chinned Myzomela, Tagula Meliphaga, Tagula Shrikethrush, Tagula White-eye, Louisiade Imperial Pigeon, Louisiade Fantail, Louisiade Monarch, Louisiade Whistler, Louisiade Flowerpecker, and Louisiade White-eye are all present. Undervisited and understudied, many of the subspecies here could well prove to be distinct species in the future. The endemic Glossy-mantled Manucode subspecies here has a completely different call to elsewhere in New Guinea, while the plumages of the local Northern Fantail and Double-eyed Fig Parrot look quite distinct indeed. We will also try to get sound recording of the endemic Marbled Frogmouth subspecies, just incase! 

Day 4-5: Slightly further east, we will be in search of Rossel Paradise Kingfisher, Louisiade Pitta, and Rossel Cicadabird, being amongst the first birdwatchers to look for these species on this out-of-the-way island. A number of endemic subspecies can also be found on Rossel, the most alluring being the distinct form of White-bellied Whistler, along with a colourful local variant of Louisiade White-eye. After wrapping up our time on Rossel, we will travel back westwards by boat to further explore Sudest.

Day 6-7: These are our deisgnated backup days to account for flight or boat delays, but hopefully we will be able to use them for extra time on either Rossel or Sudest before heading back west. There are some small islands we will stop at, where the tramp species like Islet Kingfisher and Louisiade White-eye are more common. Not to mention some world-class snorkelling!

Day 8: Docking back at Alotau prewdawn, today we take a flight to Port Moresby, where the tour ends this afternoon.

NOTE: We sometimes add Sudest & Rossel onto our regular Papua New Guinea: Islands departures if we have garnered enough interest in extending the trip. Contact us for more details! 

HUON PENINSULA (HUON BIRDING CAMP)

Last expedition: 2024

Highlights included seeing all the expected endemics. This included the rarely-obsered Huon Bowerbird and Huon Catbird.

Day 1: This morning, we will board our charter flight and glide over the Huon Peninsula to land at Wasu on the north coast. We will be driven up to the safari-style permanent camp in 4WDs and commence our exploration of this wonderful area.

Day 2-3-4: The Huon Peninsula is most famous for three endemic birds-of-paradise, all of which we expect to see during our stay! At lower elevations, Emperor Bird-of-paradise lek in the crowns of tall forest trees, betraying their presence with an irregular cacophony of sound. On the mid-slopes, we will visit a display court of the transformative Wahnes’s Parotia and hopefully witness the incredible ballerina display of this stunning species. Higher up, the incredibly long-tailed Huon Astrapia can often be found by waiting at fruiting trees for the male to make his rounds. There are three other endemic birds on the Huon Peninsula, with the recently split Huon Bowerbird hopefully pinned down at a bower for us and the incredible Spangled Honeyeater usually found at the highest point on the road. A Huon Melidectes might appear to give us the clean sweep, but this species prefers inaccessible higher altitudes and only ventures down on occasion. Plenty of other birds are found in this forest, which is probably the best accessible site in New Guinea to see the unique Pesquet’s Parrot and the monotypic Mottled Berryhunter, both of which are easy to miss elsewhere on the island. Other species include Mountain Peltops, Mountain Kingfisher, White-bellied Thicket Fantail, Forbes’s Forest Rail, Tit Berrypecker, Black-mantled Goshawk, Blue-capped Ifrit, Greater Lophorina, White-eared Bronze Cuckoo, Brehm’s Tiger Parrot, Papuan and Fairy Lorikeets, Ornate Fruit Dove, Great Cuckoo Dove, Rufescent Imperial Pigeon, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Red-collared Myzomela, Rufous-backed, Black-throated, and Mountain Honeyeaters, Papuan Sittella, Buff-faced Scrubwren, Black-breasted Boatbill, Stout-billed Cuckooshrike, Brown-backed and Regent Whistlers, Black and Friendly Fantails, Canary Flyrobin, and Black-throated and Slaty Robins. Nights at Huon Birding Camp.

Day 5: Today, we fly back to Lae for an overnight stay near the airport.

Day 6: Today we fly back to Port Moresby. 

NOTE: We also visit the Huon Peninsula on our regular Papua New Guinea: Mainland itinerary. 

MANUS ISLAND

Last expedition: 2024

Highlights included seeing two Superb Pitta at the new feeding hide built near Lorengau, plus all the expected endemics. 

Day 1: Morning flight to Manus Island, for overnight in Lorengau.

Day 2-3-4: The rarely-visited Manus Island in the Admiralty Group holds ten endemics, of which the near-legendary Superb Pitta will be our most-wanted quarry. Sporting contrasting black, red, and turquoise plumage, many regard this species as the most beautiful pitta in the world! The other endemics we will find here are Meek’s Pygmy Parrot, Manus Boobook, Manus Dwarf Kingfisher, Manus Cuckooshrike, Admiralty Cicadabird, Manus Friarbird, Manus Fantail, and Manus Monarch. One one morning we will make the boat crossing to Tong, where the endemic Manus Fantail can be easily found. Nights in Lorengau.

Day 5: After a final morning of birding, we’ll take an afternoon flight back to Port Moresby.

NOTE: We also visit Manus Island on our regular Papua New Guinea: Islands itinerary. 

D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS (NORMANBY)

Last expedition: 2024

Highlights included seeing three displaying Goldie's Bird-of-paradise, several Curl-crested Manucode, and taking some of the first field photos of "Ochre-bellied" Yellow-billed Kingfisher. 

Day 1: This morning, we board a short flight onwards to Alotau, at the far south-eastern tip of the island. Afternoon birding will see us searching for Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot and Orange-fronted Fruit Dove. The range-restricted Silver-eared Honeyeater and attractive eastern form of Chestnut-breasted Mannikin are common in our hotel gardens! Night in Alotau.

Day 2: Boarding our comfortable liveaboard dive boat, this morning we sail towards Normanby Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago. On the way, we will make a quick stop at a small island in the Goschen Straight where Louisiade White-eye can be found at the edge of its range. Night on dive boat.

Day 3: Arriving overnight at a secluded bay, we will make our way ashore and spend all day birding lowland forest on Normanby Island. The gorgeous Goldie’s Bird-of-Paradise and the bizarre Curl-crested Manucode will be our main targets, along with the very distinct forms of Yellow-billed Kingfisher and Papuan Pitta. Night on dive boat.

Day 4: After a morning of birding, we will sail back to Alotau.

Day 5: Disembarking and heading to the airport for a flight to Port Moresby.

NOTE: We also visit Normanby Island on our regular Papua New Guinea: Islands itinerary. 

OWEN STANLEY RANGE (KOKODA TRACK)

Last expedition: 2023

Highlights included taking the first-ever photos of Streaked Bowerbird, plus seeing megas like Eastern Parotia, Lesser Lophorina, White-eyed Robin, Bicoloured Scrubwren, Eastern Alpine Mannikin, and more. 

Day 1: We take a helicopter to Kagi, a small village just before the halfway point of the infamous Kokoda Track. In this area we will search for the range-restricted Streaked Bowerbird, along with Lesser Lophorina and Black-capped Catbird. 

Day 2: Morning birding before ascent to Myola Lakes for overnight. This area holds a high-density of Goodfellow's Tree-Kangaroo and Painted Ringtail, while interesting birds include Olive Straightbill and Motted Berryhunter. 

Day 3-4: Searching for Eastern Alpine Mannikin, it is a tough walk up to the east. We may chance across the never-photographed "Yellow" Crested Satinbird, or similarly poorly-known "South-Eastern" Painted Tiger Parrot. 

Day 5-6-7: Trek to Isurava. We pass through patches of forest which are great for Forbes's Forest Rail, Eastern Parotia, Bicoloured Scrubwren, White-eyed Robin, Streaked Berrypecker, and Spotted Berrypecker. 

Day 8: Birding around Isurava in search of some of the aforementioned species, with an outside chance for the mythical Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk. Other enticing species common in the forests here include Pesquet’s Parrot, Black-billed Sicklebill, and Growling Riflebird. The eastern forms of Ornate Melidectes and Papuan White-eye are also worth seeing in this area, somewhat different to birds distributed elsewhere in New Guinea.

Day 9: Trek back to Kokoda, followed by evening flight to Port Moresby.

NEW BRITAIN HIGHLANDS (NAKANAI / WHITEMAN)

Last expedition: 2023

Highlights included taking the first-ever field photos of Rusty Thicketbird, plus seeing New Britain Goshawk, Black Honeybuzzard, and Gilliard's Melidectes. Be warned: the high altitude forests of New Britain are extremely hard work, and even pulling a couple of good species out can be considered a success. 

Day 1-2-3-4-5-6-7: Trekking up into either the remote Nakanai Range or remoter Whiteman Range, we will join the ranks of intrepid birders who have explored high altitudes here in search of some extremely poorly-known birds. Red-chinned Lorikeet, Song Parrot, Black Imperial Pigeon, Bismarck Pitta, Bismarck Whistler, Bismark Fantail, Bismarck Island-Thrush, and Bismarck White-eye are all excellent species which we should be able to see, but we will be particularly hoping to cross paths with Gilliard’s Melidectes, Rusty Thicketbird, Black-backed Thrush, or Eastern Bronze Ground Dove. 

However, several much rarer birds can be found here too... The mythical New Britain Thicketbird (not recorded since the species was discovered in 1959) is highest on our agenda, but in undisturbed primary hill forest we can certainly hope to chance across New Britain Goshawk, New Britain Sparrowhawk, Slaty-mantled Goshawk, New Britain Bronzewing, or Yellow-legged Pigeon. Depending on our access point, we may try to find Bismarck Kingfisher or "New Britain" Torrent Flyrobin, though sighting of these species are exceedingly rare.

When we return to Walindi Resort on the last afternoon, we will spend an evening searching for the now staked-out Pink-legged Rail and Golden Masked Owl as a fitting grand-finale to this adventurous expedition!

ADELBERT RANGE (KEKI LODGE)

Last expedition: 2018

Highlights included multiple sightings of Fire-maned Bowerbird, along with Banded Yellow Robin, Brown-headed Jewel-babbler, Obscure Berrypecker, and the retiring Forest Meliphaga. 

IMPORTANT: The fig tree which previously hosted Fire-maned Bowerbird every morning recently died, and an important bridge on the access road collapsed in 2020. Reaching the lodge now is a much more strenuous affair than previously, and some of the target species mentioned below are no longer easy to find.

Day 1: Domestic flight to Madang, where we will transfer in 4WDs to the fabulous Keki Lodge in the Adelbert Mountains for a four-night stay. 

Day 2-3-4: The basic but homely wooden lodgings at Keki are set right in the middle of well-preserved hill forest, and much of the birding can be done from the deck! The star attraction here is the endemic Fire-maned Bowerbird, which often sits up high on dead sticks to advertise its presence. There is a small chance that our local guide will have a bower to staked out, so we will cross our fingers! There will also be the opportunity to visit both a Lesser Bird-of-paradise lek, and a hide overlooking a court of the resident male Magnificent Bird-of-paradise. With patience, there is a good chance to see both these spectacular species display if any females pop by!

Venturing down some of the small trails, we will be on the lookout for the exquisite Banded Yellow Robin (much like a flashy version of the Australian counterparts!), Brown-headed Jewel-babbler, Tan-capped Catbird, and Collared Brushturkey. The lodge grounds are sometimes visited by the rare Obscure Berrypecker and Forest Honeyeater, while other scarce birds in the area we might chance across include Northern Cassowary and Victoria Crowned Pigeon. Otherwise, there will be plenty of more widespread New Guinea birds to entertain us, such as Dusky Lory, Dwarf Fruit Dove, Grey Crow, Blyth’s Hornbill, Long-billed Honeyeater, Ochre-collared Monarch, Sepik-Ramu Shrikethrush, and the poisonous Hooded Pitohui. Nights at Keki Lodge.

Day 5: After spending the first half of the day at Keki, we will return to Madang for an overnight stay. An afternoon outing might allow us to find the range-restricted Edward’s Fig Parrot near town, but this species is always tricky to pin down.

Day 6: Today we fly back to Port Moresby.

To reiterate, we have an extensive list of people who have asked us to run expeditions covering two or three or four of the above routes within one single itinerary. Please do send us an email if you are interested in any of these birding areas so that you can be kept in the loop for upcoming departures, which will typically be almost full before we publish them online.