At mid-altitudes we were able to watch two excellent Oriental Hobbies perched on a dead tree, a stunning pair of Jerdon’s Bazas that landed right in front of us, a couple of excellent Spot-tailed Goshawks and some beautiful Purple-winged Rollers. Sulawesi Hawk Cuckoos could be heard but refused to come close enough for us to see them.

Purple-winged Roller

A little higher up, around the junction to Anaso and beyond, we saw some incredibly rare and exciting birds. Pride of place went to a stunning (presumed male) Satanic Nightjar that was seen down to a few metres in broad daylight on two separate days. It was presumed to be a male as the species is only known from one female specimen that showed far less white in the wing than our bird. Thus we are in a position to describe the (assumed) plumage of the male for the first time!

Heinrich's (Satanic) Nightjar
 

A host of other goodies were also seen. A Small Sparrowhawk perched in front of us completing an unlikely trio of difficult accipiters in just three days! Early mornings saw noisy flocks of Malias tugging at the epiphytes, a Sulawesi Thrush which showed brilliantly at the second time of asking and many other endemics including Blue-fronted Flycatcher, Piping Crow and Caerulean and Pygmy Cuckoo-Shrikes. By the lake, Ornate and Yellow and Green Lorikeets and Superb Fruit-Doves put in first appearances whilst the track to Anaso yielded another favourite, the stunning Purple-bearded Bee-eater (the first of which were abandoned when a meek Jonas, the local guide, came up to me and said "Mr Peter, they’re watching a Satanic Nightjar down there.."!!).