Overview
Tour report
Species list
Reference
 


Species list by Birdquest leader Pete Morris

PROCELLARIIDAE

  • Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii: Fairly distant views of one off the Halmahera to Ternate ferry. Obviously an all dark, long-winged petrel that was identified as this species by the long thin tail.

FREGATIDAE

  • Great Frigatebird Fregata minor: An adult male was seen from the ferry terminal at Ternate.
  • Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel: Good numbers around the ferry terminal at Ternate included many adult males.

PHALACROCORACIDAE

  • Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos: Nice views of a flock near Ujung Pandang.

ANHINGIDAE

  • Darter (Oriental D) Anhinga melanogaster: The best views were at Lake Tambing, high up in Lore Lindu NP.

SULIDAE

  • Brown Booby Sula leucogaster: Good numbers off Manado on our last morning.

ARDEIDAE

  • Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
  • Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia: Just a single seen at the fish ponds near Ujung Pandang.
  • Little Egret Egretta garzetta: Small numbers on Sulawesi, especially at Ujung Pandang. Most birds seen belong to the race nigripes, with much less obvious yellow feet.
  • Pacific Reef Egret Egretta sacra: Just a couple of sightings on the coast of Halmahera.
  • Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
  • Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa: Common in the rice paddies in Sulawesi and especially in the fishponds around Ujung Pandang where they were abundant. Many birds were in splendid breeding plumage.
  • Little Heron (Striated H) Butorides striatus
  • Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus: Some excellent spotlight views at Dumoga Bone!
  • BlackBittern Ixobrychus flavicollis: One seen well in flight by some during the boat trip around the mangroves at Sidangoli.

CICONIIDAE

  • Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus: Good numbers circling over the paddyfields near Ujung Pandang.

PANDIONIDAE

  • Osprey Pandion haliaetus: Just a single bird seen (carrying a fish) on Halmahera.

ACCIPITRIDAE

  • Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni: Great views of a perched pair at Dongi Dongi in Lore Lindu NP.
  • Pacific Baza (Crested B) Aviceda subcristata: Many good sightings on Halmahera including a pair drying off following a lunchtime storm at the lodge.
  • Barred Honey Buzzard Pernis celebensis: Several excellent views at Lore Lindu NP. It was interesting comparing this species with the hawk-eagle that it mimics (or is it the other way around).
  • Black Kite Milvus migrans: Three with the Woolly-necked Storks near Ujung Pandang. A scarce species in the parts of Sulawesi we visit.
  • Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus: Many great views of this widespread but attractive species.
  • White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
  • Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis: Just a single adult soaring over Kamarora.
  • Sulawesi Serpent Eagle Spilornis rufipectus: Greatest numbers were seen during our raptor watch at Kamarora in Lore Lindu NP.
  • Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis: Just when we thought we had missed this predominantly Australian species, a pair floated over us in Manado on our last morning!
  • Chinese Goshawk Accipiter soloensis: Two migrants seen well in Manado.
  • Spot-tailed Goshawk Accipiter trinotatus: Some great views of perched adults in Lore Lindu NP. An attractive and distinctive accipiter.
  • Variable Goshawk (Grey G) Accipiter novaehollandiae: The common accipiter on Halmahera whenever I visit!
  • Small Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus: We eventually tracked down this little gem in the higher reaches of Lore Lindu NP.
  • Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rhodogaster: Great views of a perched adult low down in Lore Lindu NP. A tough species to see, we were lucky to see all three of the small endemic accipiters so well in a three day period!
  • Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis: Several good sightings on Sulawesi and Halmahera.
  • Gurney’s Eagle Aquila gurneyi: A few sightings of soaring adults on Halmahera.
  • Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii: After some moans and groans about "why are they always immatures?", a couple of adults gave brilliant views in Lore Lindu NP!
  • Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus lanceolatus: Surprisingly similar to the Barred Honey-Buzzard that actually mimics it. Best identified by shape and tail pattern. Interestingly, there is a paper in the latest Dutch Birding looking at mimicry in Oriental Honey Buzzards in Java where they too mimic the hawk-eagle.