More Sulawesi Birds

Grosbeak Myna

Knobbed Hornbill

Ruddy Kingfisher

Sulawesi Masked Owl

Diabolical Nightjar

What a great name!

Sulawesi Assortment

Black-billed Koel

Black-naped Fruit Dove

Black-naped Oriole

Fiery-browed Myna

Blue-capped fruit dove

A tiny fruit dove on Halmahera and the only pair we saw whilst stood under a tree sheltering in a downpour!

Red-bellied (Sahul) Pitta

We had the chance of seeing three species of Pitta on this trip with all proving extremely difficult to see due to the time of year, apparently they are much easier during August and September.  The Red-bellied (Sulawesi) Pitta we only heard, the Ivory-breasted Pitta only gave two brief views so no photos and this one Red-bellied (Moluccan) Pitta eventually gave up hiding and showed well.  The taxonomy of these Red bellied's is quite complex with recent studies splitting them into 16 different species making the Sulawesi birds a different species to the one on Halmahera where this was photographed.

Common Paradise Kingfisher

Another dramatic Kingfisher, difficult to pickup in dark dense forest as it sits motionless low down making digiscoping difficult!

Moluccan Owlet Nightjar

We were suppose to have had four nights on Halmahera but unfortunately our internal flight was delayed and we missed a night which only left three.  Owlet Nightjar was a much sought after bird which we wanted to see so we were gutted when we missed it on the first night and again on the second night - we were birding when we became aware of a bad accident on the next bend, we immediately stopped birding and assisted in the aftermath where unfortunately one gentlemen died so after this very sad end to the second day our spirits were lifted when we eventually saw this stunning bird on our last night on the Island.

Ornate Cuscus

The Ornate Cuscus or Molluccan Cuscus is a marsupial and endemic to Indonesia - this one was photographed on Halmahera.

Sulawesi Scops Owl

After a few attempts at various sites finally managed to get shots of Sulawesi Scops Owl

Green-backed Kingfisher

Again in Tangkoko, Green-backed Kingfisher another beautiful endemic of Sulawesi

Tangkoko

Tangkoko in Northern Sulawesi is amazing - the Tarsiers, the Black Macaque monkeys, Maleo birds, Cuscus and the Hornbills make this their habitat - great for photography here's a few more starting with Bear Cuscus which I can't decide whether it's ugly or cute

Black Macaque

Red-backed Thrush