West Papua, Malagafuk

The third leg of our trip took us on another domestic flight from Manokwari to Sorong. Flying over vast  unspoilt rain forest was fantastic. Our first destination from Sorong was Malagafuk village, an eco-village project. The village is reached on foot only via a three mile boardwalk through wet forest and from the village there are various forest trails to explore. Ebird lists from this area in the trip report HERE. We stayed two nights here before heading back to Sorong to get the ferry to Waigeo Island. 

Wallace's Owlet-nightjar- a local specialist 

Emperor Fairy Wren

The local lek of King Bird-of-Paradise gave us the best views of this species on the trip

Wompoo Fruit Dove

Pinion's Imperial Pigeon

Golden Myna

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Striped Possum

Presumed Common Echymipera (a Long-nosed Spiny Bandicoot) 

Presumed Northern Common Cuscus . We also saw the endemic Waigeo Cuscus later on in the trip. Other mammals seen on the trip included various smaller bats (presumed Leaf-nosed Bats). flying foxes/fruit bats and offshore we had a few cetaceans. 

The three mile long famous (and slippery!) board walk of Malagufuk

Surprised to such plush accommodation when we finally arrived at the hidden paradise

West Papua, Arfak Mountains

A magical few days in the Arfak Mountains. Updated Ebird trip report HERE. We stayed in the mountain village of Syoubri (around 1500m) and stayed one night at the German camp at around 2000m. 

It was my 50th birthday on the 18th, I slept outside 'under the stars' and woke up at 2000m in mountain rainforest at the German Camp and we spent the day watching high mountain birds, had some birthday cake that we lugged up there and opened a birthday card from Jacob. Birthday bird was a brief Arfak Astrapia. It was a two hour walk/climb up to the high camp and was certainly exhilarating. A great way to spend my 50th.  

The Arfak Mountains have to be one of the most stunning and unspoilt untouched mountain forests on the planet with some incredible birds. We are now on 15 species of Birds of Paradise and 186 species for the trip so far (232 including Java). A few photo highlights below:

Mountain Owlet-nightjar (above) and Feline Owlet-nightjar (below). Absolute stunners! 

Female Black Sicklebill

Male Western Parotia

Male Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise showing it's lime coloured mouth

Immature male Black-billed Sicklebill (it was more or less still dark when we saw this bird) 

Female Arfak Lophorina (formely Superb Bird-of-Paradise). We also saw a male semi-displaying at fruit. 

Female Western Parotia 

Arfak Catbird 

Slender -billed Cuckoo-dove

Green-backed Robin

Goldenface

Masked Bowerbird

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos

Blyth's Hornbill

Vogelkop Bowerbird bower- mind blowing! 

We ran a moth trap most nights while at Seth's homestay. Certainly the most sensational moth trapping ever (will post separately on that). 

The German Camp

Seth's Homestay

The 'cotton-candy/ candy-floss' lichen covered rainforest was simply magic

and Mountain Owlet-nightjar again just because

West Papua, Nimbokrang

All going rather well out here. Just completed the first leg of the trip and now at the airport heading to the Arfaks. Ebird trip report HERE. 93 species so far. Six Birds of Paradise species in the bag. A few photo highlights below.  

Male Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise

Pale-billed Sicklebill

Male King Bird-of-Paradise

Magnificent Riflebird (immature male) 

Male Lesser Bird-of-Paradise 

Papuan Frogmouth

Marbled Frogmouth

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Long-tailed Honey Buzzard

Channel-billed Cuckoo- what a beast, completely prehistoric like 

Grand Munia

Female Black Cicadabird

Female Golden Monarch

Male Little Bronze Cuckoo

Blyth's Hornbill

Hawkmoth sp. Got a moth trap out here - will post separately on the leps. 

Over 97% of rainforest in West Papua is still in tact. 

Happy Punter- travelling with Wise Birding HERE