reconnaissance trip 2004

New Caledonia Birding Tour

3 to 10 July 2005

Cost: $4,196.60 AUD (twin share)

This is a fully accommodated, comprehensive birding tour to New Caledonia designed to seek all the endemic and near-endemic species on the main island (Grand Terre) and nearby islands of the Loyalty group.

New Caledonia is in the southwest Pacific, about 2000 km NE of Sydney. The capital, Noumea, sits just above the Tropic of Capricorn. It is said to have the richest biodiversity per square kilometre in the world.

The highlight of New Caledonian birds is the kagu, which like the plains-wanderer, is the sole member of its family. Other species of note are the white-bellied goshawk, horned parakeet, Ouvéa parakeet, metallic pigeon, cloven-feathered dove, New Caledonian imperial pigeon, red-bellied fruit-dove, six species of honeyeater including the spectacular crow honeyeater, yellow-bellied robin, New Caledonian whistler, southern shrikebill, New Caledonian grassbird, New Caledonian crow, New Caledonian myzomela, large and small Lifou white-eyes, striated starling and red-throated parrotfinch.
_____________________________________________

Anytime after mid afternoon on the 30th June to the 3rd July, Philip and Patricia can collect you at Tontouta airport, Noumea. Tontouta is 45km from the city centre.

New Caledonia 3 - 10 July 2005
Day 1 Sunday
3 July 2005
After we collect participants at Tontouta Airport around midday, we'll visit some small wetlands around the Noumea area.
Overnight: Le Pacifique, Noumea

Day 2 Monday
4 July
Today we fly to Lifou Island, in the Loyalty group.
Flight departs Magenta Domestic Airport at 6.00 am (we need to be at the airport at 5.00 am !).
Lifou, which retains much of its natural vegetation, has two endemics – the large and small Lifou white-eyes. The latter is quite common but the large Lifou white-eye is more difficult. Other good birds on Lifou are blue-faced parrot-finch, fan-tailed gerygone, long-tailed triller, cardinal myzomela and red-bellied fruit-dove. We spend most of the day exploring the island, returning to Noumea in the evening. Flight departing Lifou 6.50 pm.
Overnight: Le Pacifique, Noumea

Day 3 Tuesday
5 July
Noumea to Parc Riviere Blue
Riviere Blue is our destination this morning where we hope to see the pièce de résistance of the New Caledonian birds - the enigmatic kagu, New Caledonia's national avian emblem. This reserve of 9000 hectares contains a good population of kagu as well as most of the other endemics or near-endemics to be found on New Caledonia. The rangers at Riviere Blue has been instrumental in the much improved status of Kagu and we will meet Yves or Jean-Marc at 7.00 am.

Other good birds are the oddly named crow honeyeater, cloven-feathered dove and horned parakeet. Less oddly named species include New Caledonian imperial pigeon (said to be the largest arboreal pigeon in the world), New Caledonian friarbird, New Caledonian myzomela, barred honeyeater, yellow-bellied robin, New Caledonian whistler, southern shrikebill, New Caledonian cuckoo-shrike, striated starling and red-throated parrot-finch.
Accommodation : Le Pacifique, Noumea

Day 4 Wednesday
6 July
Noumea to Riviere Blue to Mont Koghi
We will further explore Riviere Blue again today, giving us another chance for kagu, plus any of the above species. In the afternoon we'll venture up Mont Koghi to our accommodation nestled in a delighting forest setting.
Accommodation: Mont Koghi Auberge

Day 5 Thursday
7 July Mont Koghi to La Foa
We'll bird around Mt Koghi, a good backup for white-throated pigeon, white-bellied goshawk, barred honeyeater and southern shrikebill. After lunch we travel to La Foa, which is a couple of hours north of Noumea in central New Caledonia.
Accommodation: Le Naina Parc Hotel, La Foa

Day 6 Friday
8 July
La Fou area
We'll bird the La Fou area for one of the most difficult of the New Caledonian endemics, the dreaded New Caledonian grassbird. This area is also good for barred honeyeater, Melasnesian cuckoo-shike, white-bellied goshawk and New Caledonian crow. This latter species is one of the few species in the world that uses tools — in this case, a stick to extract grubs from wood. The area is also a good backup for cloven-feathered dove, horned parakeet and New Caledonian parakeet.
Overnight: Le Pacifique, Noumea

Day 7 Saturday
July 9
We need to be at Magenta Airport: at 7.30 am for an 8.35 am departure.
We fly to Ouvéa Island, also in the Loyalty group, to see the island's only endemic, the rare Ouvéa Parakeet. This species has been split from the horned parakeet of Grand Terre and is quite distinctive. Other species on the island include golden whistler (distinctive form) and red-bellied fruit-dove, fantail cuckoo, shining bronze-cuckoo and striated starling. At 4.30 pm we fly back to Grand Terre.
Overnight: Le Pacifique, Noumea

Day 8 Sunday
July 10
Tour finishes after breakfast
_________________________________________

Cost: $4,196.60 AUD: includes twin share accommodation from 3 to 9 July; meals from dinner 3 July to lunch 10 July; return flights to Lifou and Ouvéa Islands, park entry fees and transportation.

Tour leaders: Philip Maher & Patricia Maher

Limited to 8 participants

information

 

enquiries@philipmaher.com