Sulawesi photos updated

We have updated the Sulawesi Album with a few new photos. You can enjoy them here.

NEW! Red-bellied Pitta – Pitta erythrogaster celebensis

Moth photos

And moth photos.
Please contct us if you have more detailed info than what is provided in the photos. We will appreciate any contributions.
Moth photos

Other animals

We do come across quite a few animals on our tours.
Mehd was travelling to Waigeo for vacation recently and came across this beautiful Waigeo Cuscus.

Waigeo Cuscus – Spilocuscus papuensis

An amazing creature and they were six persons admiring it and taking photos of this magnificent creature:
When Mehd got back to Bali and started going throught the photos of his trip, he was very surprised to realized none of them had noticed this:

Waigeo Cuscus and Amethystine Python in the background

A huge snake was almost as close to them as the Cuscus.
The snake is an Amethystine Python – Morelia amethystina amethystina in the background. Thanks Des Hume for IDing both species!

This goes to show how much we probably miss seeing when we are out birding or whatever we ae looking for.

Snakes also reminded me of when Mehd was planning for a scouting trip to Merauke and Wasur National Park. The biotop in south Papua is very similar to Australia (as you can see in photos here) and I had only ONE request; “I don’t want a picture of a Taipan”.
And what did I get? Yes, you guessed it 🙂 A picture of a Taipan…

Common Taipan – Oxyuranus scutellatus

Bird photos from Waigeo

Long overdue is the Waigeo photo album that you can find here.

Spaces available for Arfak+Waigeo 2 October

Just a reminder that we still have spaces available for Arfak + Waigeo 2nd October this year.
It is the only open bird tour we have this year and we are already fully booked for 2017.
Next chance you get to travel with us in 2018. Can you really wait that long?

You get the chance to see the amazing Wilson’s Bird of Paradise. Other Birds of Paradise we hope to see Red BOP, Superb BOP, Western Parotia, Arfak Astrapia and hopefully Long-tailed Paradigalla.

One of Mehd’s missions – World Parrot Trust

Mehd’s life is filled with birds – you know that by now 🙂
Parrots have always been closest to his heart (and mine) and he has been a part of World Parrot Trust since 2010.
Indonesian projects at the World Parrot Trust are Yellow-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua sulphurea), Mitchell’s Lorikeets (Trichoglossus h. mitchelli)  and Red-and-blue Lories (Eos histrio).
They are also supporting Tasikoki Wildlife and Rescue Centre in north Sulawesi, a place that receives much of what is seized in the illegal trade there. Two years ago they received 100+ Red-and-blue Lories, last year 50+ Black-capped Lories and just today 10 more threatened birds – among them more Red-and-blur Lories.
WPT is also supporting the private zoo in Surabaya which house the cockatoos that were smuggled in plastic water bottles earlier this year (I’m sure you saw the pictures).

Sulphur-crested Cocaktoo – Cacatua s. sulphurea from Sulawesi

You can read more about Mehd’s work for WPT here.

Photos from Sulawesi

Mehd has just spent a couple of days in Tasikoki Wildlife and Rescue Centre in northern Sulawesi as he is taking his World Parrot Trust colleague Richard Switzer around the Indonesian projects.
They even had time for a quick visit to Tangkoko National Park, and Richard got the opportunity to see one of his favourite birds; the Finch-billed Muna (or Grosbeak Starling).

As Mehd travels around Indonesia, I follow up with realising that our photo albums could be improved 🙂
But no harm done, I’ve just added a Sulwesi album. You find the new album here.
These photos are old, but we will update with newer and better photos soon.

Finch-billed Myna or Grosbeak Starling – Scissirostrum dubium

Arfak photos updated

There are now some new photos in the Arfak album. These photos are a compilation of our two latest trips to Seth in the Arfaks.
A special thanks to Geert Beckers who provided the amazing photo of a male Dwarf Cassowary and his two chicks. The sighting of this species is quite unique to our knowledge.
Enjoy photos of displaying Black SIcklebills and Magnificent Birds of Paradise here.

New photos: Nimbokrang and Lake Sentani

Wow!
I just realised there were no photos from Nimbokrang. Finally we have uploaded a few photos from the famous Jamil and his birding area. You find the new album here: Nimbokrang + Lake Sentani

Video of the bower of Vogelkop Bowerbird

This is one of the scenes you can expect when you travel in the Arfak Mountains.

And here is the anonymous architect:

The anonymous architect: Vogelkop Bowerbird