Stunning Red-eared Fruit-Doves, a brief Sulawesi Ground-Dove, a gorgeous but skulking Maroon-backed Whistler and a pair of stunning Mountain Serins added to the excitement. It took a while to find another of the much wanted species, but, eventually we got magic views of a Great Shortwing which repeatedly hopped up to us.

It was time to tear ourselves away from this superb area and head back to Ujung Pandang (taking in Pale-headed Munias en route). Once rested, we explored some nearby fishponds and paddies where we were amply rewarded with a host of eastern waders including White-headed Stilt, a couple of excellent Australian Pratincoles, Terek and Marsh Sandpipers, Long-toed and Red-necked Stints, Far Eastern Curlew, Grey-tailed Tattler and a brief Great Knot. We also added Little Pied Cormorant, Sunda Teal, Clamorous Reed Warbler and some dusk Savanna Nightjars to keep the list going. The next day was essentially a travel day but we did manage to see some more birds around Ujung Pandang and White-bellied Sea Eagle and Lesser and Great Frigatebirds from the ferry terminal on Ternate.
 

We arrived on Halmahera, full of anticipation. The first morning brought instant success with great views of a displaying Wallace’s Standardwing. Over the next three days we birded various patches of forest that were sadly disappearing in front of our eyes. However, the birding was still excellent. The highlight had to be the night birding. On our first attempt, not only did we find Moluccan Scops Owl, the superb Moluccan Boobook and the weird Moluccan Owlet Nightjar (all showed superbly) but we found a hat-trick of ‘megas’ roosting. First was a tiny Variable Dwarf Kingfisher frozen in the light.

Variable Dwarf Kingfisher

Then came two stunning Common Paradise Kingfishers. However, the icing on the cake was a superb and unexpected Moluccan Scrubfowl, that allowed us to view and film it down to a few metres. What a bonus!

Moluccan Scrubfowl

Other birds on Halmahera were no less exciting. Ivory-breasted Pitta was a ‘must see’ for many and we succeeded admirably in the end. Purple Dollarbird showed well for a change and a suite of superb pigeons included Grey-headed, Blue-capped and Scarlet-breasted Fruit Doves and Pied, Cinnamon-bellied and Spectacled Imperial Pigeons. White Cockatoos and Blyth’s Hornbills regularly entertained us.

Violet-necked and Chattering Lories obliged, both giving great scope views. White-naped Monarch was the pick of an interesting bunch of flycatchers, Sombre and Blue and White Kingfishers showed well, Drab and Golden Whistlers performed, Dusky Scrubfowl gave us the runaround, Pacific Bazas, Variable Goshawks and Gurney’s Eagles were regularly on view and, for some, Gray’s Grasshopper Warbler was much appreciated.

When we left we had seen nearly everything we had hoped for and had time to make a quick boat trip into the mangroves where our main quarry, Beach Kingfisher, was quickly found. The journey back to Ternate was quiet though we did see a Bulwer’s Petrel and several Red-necked Phalaropes.