Maluku extension (Morotai, Bacan, Obi)

25th September – 2nd October 2016

Leader: Rob Hutchinson

Participants: Michael Frost, Yann Muzika, Richard Rowland

Moluccan Woodcock, Obi © Rob Hutchinson / Birdtour Asia Eastern Indonesia is home to an increasing array of attractive endemics, some only recently elevated to full species status despite often bearing no resemblance to the species they were lumped with. We started the tour extension on the island of Morotai which has been strangely neglected until recently even though it lies close to Halmahera, itself firmly on the bird-tour circuit. Here we easily found our targets; Dusky Friarbird, the newly split Morotai Spangled Drongo and Morotai White-eye, the latter a stunning bird not remotely similar to Cream-throated White-eye with which it was lumped. We also found endemic taxa of Chattering Lory, Paradise Crow and Common Paradise Kingfisher. The briefest of birding sessions on Bacan gave both Bacan White-eye and Bacan Spangled Drongo, but the real action was on Obi where the stars were Moluccan Woodcock, Carunculated Fruit Dove and North Moluccan Pitta. There was of course a substantial supporting cast of Obi Paradise Crow, Obi Whistler, Obi Fantail, Obi Golden Bulbul, Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher, Moluccan Whistler, Scaled Lory, Obi White-eye and Obi Leaf Warbler. Our pre-tour extension began with an early morning arrival into Ternate before being efficient whisked northwards to the island of Morotai, an island just northeast of Halmahera which has been strangely neglected by birders until now. After a rest to recover from jetlag and lunch we headed off for our first birding session, the last part of the journey – up an old logging road in the back of a truck – being particularly memorable! Even on an overcast

afternoon the birding proved excellent and literally the first bird we saw was the very distinctive Morotai White-eye, looking rather like a North American vireo, which gave us stunning point-blank views. Next came a group of Morotai Friarbirds, a rather enigmatic species which is frequently claimed by birders and other birding tours visiting Halmahera, even though it was known to be a Morotai endemic. Violet-necked Lories and Grey-headed Fruit Dove shared a fruiting tree, the distinctive morotensis form of Halmahera Paradise Crow gave us a few flybys, Halmahera Golden Bulbul was abundant, Great Cuckoo Dove put on a great performance displaying right overhead several times, and a calling ‘Moluccan’ Drongo Cuckoo was eventually tracked down for ‘scope views after several flyovers. We had a full day along the same logging road the next day but it turned out to be a very wet one, with rain all day, at times absolutely torrential! In spite of the poor weather we were able to add our key remaining target in the form of several Morotai Spangled Drongos, besides several more Morotai Friarbird, Paradise-crow sightings and more great looks at Morotai White-eye. Pick of the rest was probably the pair of morotaianus Chattering Lory but we also added Dusky Myzomela, Moluccan Hanging Parrot, Moluccan and Wallacean Monarchs, Drab Whistler, Wallacean Cicadabird, Great-billed Parrot and some recently arrived winterers; Grey-streaked Flycatcher and several Oriental-type Cuckoos.

Morotai Friarbird and Morotai White-eye

Morotai Spangled Drongo and Common Paradise Kingfisher

We only had a short birding session the next morning but it was enough time to find the endemic doris taxa of Common Paradise Kingfisher with its striking white mantle and rump. We also enjoyed even better views of Morotai Spangled Drongo and Dusky Friarbird to complete our birding on the island before flying back to Ternate and a relaxing afternoon before boarding the overnight ferry to Obi. Our stop in Bacan the next morning was extremely brief, in fact we spent only 40 minutes on the island and just 15 minutes of birding time! This was enough though to get excellent views of Bacan White-eye – part of the ‘Cream-throated’ split, and as we departed and headed for Obi was added the other island endemic – Bacan Spangled Drongo, currently an undescribed taxon – one of which was sat atop a tall dead tree. The rest of the day was spent sailing to Obi where we arrived in the early afternoon, having seen a good selection of seabirds on the way including Brown Booby, Bridled and Lesser Crested Tern, Arctic Skua, and a Red Phalarope with the numerous Red-necked relatives, a mega bird for Indonesia.

‘Moluccan Pitta’ and Obi Spangled Drongo

Bacan Myzomela and Obi White-eye Whilst going through the motions of trying to access a logging road on Obi we added a soaring Pygmy Eagle, then finished the afternoon with some easy roadside birding which gave our first Obi Paradise Crow, Torresian Crow, Obi Golden Bulbul and Carunculated Fruit Dove. The real action began after dark though, when a distinctive rattled called announced the approach of perhaps the tours most anticipated target, and a matter of seconds later a

Moluccan Woodcock gave a low flyby, the first of several over the next 20 minutes, while a calling Barking Owl flew low overhead before resuming his canine-like vocalisations. We spend much of the next day in the lowlands and found many of our target species with fantastic views of ‘North Moluccan’ Pitta, Obi Fantail, Obi Whistler including a pair nest-building, several Obi Spangled Drongos, the ‘Scaled’ form of Violet-necked Lory, and a delightful ‘North Moluccan’ Variable Dwarf Kingfisher. A Moluccan Cuckoo in the afternoon gave excellent views and a fine vocal performance, a set of Wallacean Cicadabirds gave excellent views and of course we couldn’t resist another performance from the woodcocks at dusk! The next day was our long-awaited hike up into the mountain where our remaining targets were possible. The morning went superbly as the targets fell one by one; firstly, our first pair of Obi White-eyes – currently an undescribed species - gave some nice looks. Bacan Myzomela, one of which ventured down from the canopy for nice views, though the undescribed birds on Obi show more extensive red on the breast from Bacan. The flavopalliatus race of Chattering Lory was a nice addition, as were our first Scarlet-breasted Fruit Doves, more Carunculated Fruit Doves including one on a nest, hoogerwerfi Pale Cicadabird, obiensis Moluccan Whistler, and obiensis Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon. It was a long walk but well worth the effort when we finally found ‘Obi’ Leaf Warblers at our furthest point to complete of set of interesting taxa. There’s wasn’t much new to look for in the afternoon but we added Spotted Kestrel and Black-naped Fruit Dove, followed by our daily dose of Moluccan Woodcock and a confiding Moluccan Scops Owl.

Moluccan Whistler and Moluccan Scops Owl With a final morning before departure we enjoyed more views of many of the birds seen over the previous two days including our best views yet of the bizarre Carunculated Fruit Dove and more prolonged views of Pale Cicadabird. We were also happy to track down the source of a mystery sound from previous days which turned out to be the rather vocally-distinct obiensis Common Paradise Kingfisher, and we had two encounters with cute Rothschild’s Cuscus. Departing Obi in the early afternoon we had another session of sea-watching from the ferry with Wedge-tailed Shearwater new. After arriving in Ternate early the next morning we later flew onwards to Ambon to join up with the rest of the group for the main tour. The tour extension finished with a total of 107 species including some of the regions most enigmatic endemics. Anyone interested in our scheduled tours to Maluku or elsewhere in Indonesia please click here for further information. Alternatively please contact us via e-mail if you would like to organise a custom tour to these superb areas. Top 5 Birds-of-the-trip

1. Moluccan Woodcock 2. Morotai White-eye 3. Carunculated Fruit Dove 4. North Moluccan Pitta 5. Dusky Friarbird

Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Obi

Great Cuckoo Dove, Morotai and Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, Obi

Moluccan Whistler and Moluccan Brush Cuckoo, Obi

Obi Golden Bulbul and Obi Fantail

Obi Whistler and Obi Paradise-crow, Obi

Obi White-eye and Rothschild’s Cuscus, Obi

Moluccan Monarch (Male left, female right), Obi

Pale Cicadabird and White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Obi

Systematic bird list MEGAPODIDAE: Megapodes

Dusky Scrubfowl Megapodius freycinet quoyii

COLUMBIDAE: Pigeons and Doves

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis tigrina

Sultan's Cuckoo Dove Macropygia doreya albiceps

Great Cuckoo Dove Reinwardtoena reinwardtii

Stephan's Dove Chalcophaps stephani wallacei

Scarlet-breasted Fruit Dove Ptilinopus bernsteinii micrus M

Blue-capped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus monacha M

Carunculated Fruit Dove Ptilinopus granulifrons M

Grey-headed Fruit Dove Ptilinopus hyogastrus M

Black-naped Fruit Dove Ptilinopus melanospila chrysorrhoa

Moluccan Imperial Pigeon Ducula perspicillata

Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon Ducula basilica basilica M

Ducula basilica obiensis M

Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor bicolor

CUCULIDAE: Cuckoos and Allies

Oriental / Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus optatus / saturatus

Moluccan Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus musschenbroeki

Australian Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus variolosus

Moluccan Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis aeruginosus aeruginosus M

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus corvinus

HEMIPROCNIDAE: Treeswifts

Moustached Treeswift Hemiprocne mystacea confirmata

APODIDAE: Swifts and Swiftlets

Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta spilura

Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis waigeuensis

Halmahera Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus M

CAPRIMULGIDAE: Nightjars

Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus schlegelii

RALLIDAE: Rails

Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis philippensis

SCOLOPACIDAE: Sandpipers, Snipes and Allies

Moluccan Woodcock Scalopax rochussenii

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

LARINAE: Gulls and Terns

Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii cristata

Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis torresii

Little Tern Sternula albifrons sinensis

Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus anaethetus

Common Tern Sterna hirundo longipennis

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus

White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

STERCORARIINAE: Skuas

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus

PROCELLARIIDAE: Petrels and Shearwaters

Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacificus

FRIGATIDAE: Frigatebirds

Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel

SULIDAE: Gannets and Boobies

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

ARDEIDAE: Herons

Eastern Great Egret Ardea [alba] modesta

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

PANDIONIDAE: Ospreys

Osprey Pandion haliaetus cristatus

ACCIPITRIDAE: Hawks, Eagles and Allies

Pygmy Eagle Hieraaetus weiskei

White-bellied Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

Varied Goshawk Tachyspiza hiogastra mortyi

STRIGIDAE: Typical Owls

Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus obira

Barking Owl Ninox connivens rufostrigata

BUCEROTIDAE: Hornbills

Blyth's Hornbill Rhyticeros plicatus

HALCYONIDAE: Wood Kingfishers

Common Paradise-kingfisher Tanysiptera galatea obiensis

Tanysiptera galatea doris

Blue-and-white Kingfisher Todiramphus diops M

Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris chloris

Variable Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx lepidus uropygialis

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis

MEROPIDAE: Bee-eaters

Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus

FALCONIDAE: Falcons and Allies

Indonesian (Spotted) Kestrel Falco moluccensis moluccensis

PSITTACIDAE: Parrots, Lories and Cockatoos

Scaled (Violet-necked) Lory Eos squamata obiensis

Violet-necked Lory Eos riciniata M

Chattering Lory Lorius garrulus flavopalliatus M

Lorius garrulus morotaianus M

Red-flanked Lorikeet Charmosyna placentis intensior

Eclectus Parrot Elclectus roratus vosmaeri

Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi obiensis

Geoffroyus geoffroyi cyanicollis

Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos affinis

Moluccan Hanging Parrot Loriculus amabilis

PITTIDAE: Pittas

North Moluccan Pitta Erythropitta erythrogaster rufiventris

MELIPHAGIDAE: Honeyeaters

Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura rubrotincta

Myzomela obscura mortyana

Bacan Myzomela Myzomela batjanensis ssp nov. M

Morotai Friarbird Philemon fuscicapillus M

PACHYCEPHALIDAE: Whistlers

Moluccan (Golden) Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha obiensis

Drab Whistler Pachycephala griseonota cinerascens

Obi Whistler Pachycephala johni M

CAMPEPHAGIDAE: Cuckooshrikes, Trillers and Minivets

White-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina papuensis papuensis

Wallacean Cicadabird Lalage amboinensis obiensis

Lalage amboinensis grayi

Pale Cicadabird Lalage ceramensis hoogerwerfi

Rufous-bellied Triller Lalage aurea M

RHIPIDURIDAE: Fantails

Willie Fantail Rhipidura leucophrys melaleuca

Obi Fantail Rhipidura [rufiventris] obiensis M

DICRURIDAE: Drongos

Bacan Spangled Drongo Dicrurus sp. nov. M

Obi Spangled Drongo Dicrurus guillemardi M

Morotai Spangled Drongo Dicrurus morotensis M

PARADISAEIDAE: Birds-of-paradise

Obi Paradise-crow Lycocorax [pyrrhopterus] obiensis M

Halmahera Paradise-crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus morotensis M

MONARCHIDAE: Monarchs

Moluccan Monarch Myiagra galeata galeata M

Shining Monarch Myiagra alecto alecto

Wallacean Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus diadematus M

Symposiachrus trivirgatus bimaculatus

CORVIDAE: Crows

Long-billed Crow Corvus validus M

Torresian Crow Corvus orru orru

HIRUNDINIDAE: Swallows and Martins

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica

PYCNONOTIDAE: Bulbuls

Obi Golden Bulbul Hypsipetes lucasi M

Halmahera Golden Bulbul Hypsipetes chloris M

ZOSTEROPIDAE: White-eyes and Allies

Bacan White-eye Zosterops atriceps M

Morotai White-eye Zosterops [atriceps] dehaani M

Obi White-eye Zosterops sp. nov. M

PHYLLOSCOPIDAE: Leaf Warblers

Arctic Leaf Warbler Seicercus borealis

North Moluccan Leaf Warbler Seicercus waterstradti waterstradti M

Moluccan Starling Aplonis mysolensis mysolensis

Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica metallica

MUSCICAPIDAE: Chats and Flycatchers

Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta

Turquoise Warbling-flycatcher Eumyias panayensis obiensis

Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius philippensis

DICAEIDAE: Flowerpeckers

Halmahera Flowerpecker Dicaeum schistaceiceps M

NECTARINIIDAE: Sunbirds

Black Sunbird Nectarinia aspasia auriceps

Sahul Sunbird Cinnyris clementiae frenatus

PASSERINAE: Sparrows

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

ESTRILDINAE: Estrildine Finches

Black-faced Munia Lonchura molucca molucca M

MOTACILLIDAE: Wagtails and Pipits

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis taivana

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Mammals

Rothschild's Cuscus Phalanger rothschildi

Moluccan Flying Fox Pterpus chrysoproctus

Indo-Pacific Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops aduncus

Dwarf Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris