INDONESIA HIGHLIGHTS:

SULAWESI, JAVA & KOMODO

AUGUST 25SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

LEADER: DION HOBCROFT

LIST COMPILED BY: DION HOBCROFT

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC.

2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746
WWW.VENTBIRD.COM
 INDONESIA HIGHLIGHTS

We observed a number of rarely seen birds on this tour, but few are as rarely seen and poorly known as
the Minahassa Masked-Owl, endemic to Sulawesi. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

 The little town of Menado is one of the prettiest in the East. It has the appearance of a large garden
containing rows of rustic villaswith a succession of pretty cottages, neat gardens, and thriving
plantations, interspersed with wildernesses of fruit trees. Alfred Russel Wallace, 1869

And so it was we arrived in Manado on the Minahassa Peninsula on the northern extremity of Sulawesi
to start our Indonesian Highlights tour. It was great to read Wallaces classic book The Malay
Archipelago while leading this tour, and I have added a few extracts to liven up this trip report.

We spent our first morning on Mahawu, a dormant volcano, birding from the park gate to the forest
edge. It was alive with small birds, and we generated a few surprises including excellent views of the
scarce Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Streak-headed Dark-eye, some recalcitrant glimpses of the
Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler, well-behaved Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpeckers, and the distinctive lilac-
breasted subspecies of Superb Fruit-Dove which was quite common. All up there was plenty of activity
ranging from close Black Eagles to colorful Sulawesi Myzomelas, while fruiting mistletoes attracted good
numbers of both Yellow-sided and Gray-sided flowerpeckers. Mixed flocks held Mountain Tailorbird,
Citrine Canary-Flycatcher, Island Verditer Flycatcher, Sulphur-vented Whistler, and Sulawesi Babbler. We
headed for a siesta. Post-break we explored some rice fields with Javan Pond-Herons in full breeding
plumage and the first arriving Wood Sandpipers of the austral summer. We created a stir in a restaurant
as we scoped a big flock of Sunda Teal. With dusk fast approaching, Mahawu gave up its biggest prize
when Albert spotted the highly unobtrusive Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. This bird gave a mega view,
although it was in thick rainforest in low light. Thank you Albert! A White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon
lumbered over. On dark we trawled for owls and hit the jackpot with a fine enormous female Sulawesi
Masked Owl that proved reluctant to perch overhead in our selected big tree. It did, however, perch for
an extended view at a distance and, thanks to Jims extraordinary torch, it gave a decent view.

To say our first day at Tangkoko was a highlight of the tour would be an understatement. While we
worked hard, the rewards just kept coming, and it was for me one of the finest birding days of the year.
Sulawesi Scops-Owl for breakfastwell, not quite, but tucked up in their bamboo thicket, it was the first
bird of the day. Pale-blue Monarch was followed by a troop of one hundred Crested Black Macaques. A
superb pair of the scarce Sulawesi Nightjar was scoped in the day, a rare event. An Isabelline Bush-hen
chose this moment to lope across in front of us. The Green-backed Kingfishers would not leave us alone
when the first of three Red-backed Thrushes posed beautifully. A Bay Coucal turned up, followed by a
phone call of a Sulawesi Pitta as breaking news. A quick dash and the colorful pitta was well-spotted
hopping across a relatively open hillside in good view. We enjoyed a pair of Spectral Tarsiersone even
jumped out to seize a grasshopper. Tabon Scrubfowl scuttled through. Lunch was delivered on the
beach by outrigger as we were shaded under the Kalapa Palms. A pair of bizarre Bear Cuscus, a powerful
arboreal marsupial, was located in a fruiting Ficus variegata. A perched Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle at close
range in the forest interior, a day-roosting Ochre-bellied Boobook, and four Ashy Woodpeckers
hammering awaywe were living the dream! A Minahassa Masked Owl in the daytime!!!!!!! A Lilac
Kingfisher, Knobbed Hornbill male feeding his hidden brood, the disappearing White-necked Myna,
perched Yellow-breasted Racquet-tails; it was all too much.

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 We had several superb views of Green-backed Kingfisher in Tangkoko. (Dion Hobcroft)

Needless to say, we were back at dawn, this time overlooking the forest at peak hour. First cab off the
rank was the Large Hanging-Parrot scoped at eye level at close range; what strange parrots are the
Loriculus. Silver-tipped and Green imperial-pigeons were quite common, while flocks of the bizarre
Grosbeak Starling added to the atmosphere. A possible distant drongo spotted by Tamara manifested
into the scarce Sulawesi Crested Myna. Next, another flew into a tree over our headsyes! We located
some distant Ivory-backed Woodswallows, but the Sulawesi Black Pigeons followed by the flocks of
Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeons were much more obliging. Then we scoped some perched Golden-mantled

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Racquet-tails followed by another typically invisible perched parrot, the really elusive Pygmy Hanging-
Parrot. A lot of high quality birds ended with a Purple-winged Roller. Then it was as if everything shut up
shop, and hardly a bird stirred for the next two hours beyond a few bits and bobs, the best of which was
a superb Draco (Flying Dragon) with citrine golden patagium. Some calling Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbills left
us in the lurch. We took a break and resumed activity with an afternoon boat trip on a quite superb
mangrove channel with strikingly clear water. It was not looking good for our desired target bird, the
rather incredible Great-billed Kingfisher. We trawled up and down the channel when, at the last minute,
we received a tip that there was one near the boat ramp. We headed there directly, and there it was
quite the beast. It was joined by a Great-billed Heron that was remarkably tame. Also of note was a
noisy churring flock of White-rumped Cuckooshrikes. That wrapped up our Sulawesi birding, and the
next morning we found ourselves arriving on the island of Java at the brand new airport in Jakarta.

A Lilac Kingfisher, another beautiful Sulawesi endemic seen well in Tangkoko. (Dion Hobcroft)

We did not waste much time heading out of this enormous metropolis and into the mountains to the
south, basing ourselves in a lovely hotel in Cibodas. The afternoon was spent exploring the Cibodas
Botanic Gardens where we spotted a few birds, the best of which was a trio of obliging Sunda Forktails.
We found a small mixed flock that contained a timid Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Little Pied Flycatcher,
Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrike, and White-flanked Sunbirds. A pair of Javan Munias was located,
actively building a nest, and bullet-like Yellow-throated Hanging-Parrots refused to settle. We decided to
stay out after dusk to try our luck with the rare Salvadoris Nightjar and had quite good views of it

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

perched on a projecting stick from a rocky outcrop. Another flying object proved to be a Red Giant
Flying-Squirrel looking like a volpaning pizza box!

The highly endangered Silvery Gibbon was seen well in Gunung Gede along with Sunda Thrush and Javan
Cochoa on the same day; we really had some great sightings on this tour. (Dion Hobcroft)

The whole of the next day was dedicated to walking the trails of Gunung Gede National Park. We had an
amazing day getting some very good rewards for our efforts. It could not have started better when we
picked up a Sunda Thrush quietly feeding in a narrow side trail for an extended view of this ever so quiet
and ghost-like bird. Bird activity was good on the lower reaches of the trail in the early morning as we
slowly crept along. We had magical views of Lesser Shortwing, Sunda Blue Robin, Eye-browed Wren-
Babbler, and Pygmy Cupwing. Mixed flocks held Javan Gray-throated White-eye, Sunda Warbler, Lesser
Cuckooshrike, Flame-fronted Barbet, Trilling and Pied shrike-babblers, Javan Fulvetta, and Crescent-
chested Babbler. We stopped for coffee at the clearing and had a superb encounter with a family of
Silvery Gibbons, watching them brachiate and leap from tree to tree, a small youngster leaving its

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mother for a bit of unsupervised climbing practice. This was a lucky break. We then continued slowly
uphill reaching an altitude of 1,900 meters. The birds slowed down in the middle of the day, but we
continued to kick a few goals with Javan Whistling-Thrush showing well, Javan Tesia popping up out of
the undergrowth for a very good experience, Fire-tufted Barbet (an introduced population), Blue
Nuthatch, Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo, and, just at the turnaround point, a very cooperative pair of
Javan Cochoas. We walked downhill where at the clearing we had a lovely pair of the now quite rare
Orange-fronted Bulbul.

Few people have seen the dapper Java Sparrow in its natural range where it is almost extinct. We made
the effort to see the handful of pairs that survive in Prambanan. Feral populations survive in Hawaii, Fiji,
Christmas Island, and Sulawesi. The species has a problematic conservation outlook. (Dion Hobcroft)

A quick half-hour the next day produced a perched Yellow-throated Hanging-Parrot in the Botanic
Gardens before we recommenced birding at Gede. We had a good result with one of my favorite Javan
endemics, the White-bibbed Babbler, with four birds lined up allopreeninglovely! Then we had a long
stream of noisy school kids and loaded hikers. We finally shook them off as we picked up a hyperactive
flock of Spotted Crocias. A Chestnut-bellied Partridge sang right next to us, but would not come into
view. The primates were in good form though, as we had excellent views in the scope of both Ebony and
Grizzled langurs. A Javan Banded Pitta started calling and, as luck would have it, it was found in a
scopeable location (not that you could see it with bins) and it pirouetted for some very lovely looks.
Beyond one more very good mixed flock, it was time to leave Gede on a high note. The drive back to
Jakarta was painless enough, and we squeezed in an hour of birding in the hotel gardens that produced
Sunda Woodpecker, an Island Collared-Dove, and some skittish Pink-breasted Green-Pigeons.

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Few Englishmen are aware of the number and beauty of the architectural remains in Java. They have
never been popularly illustrated or described, and it will therefore take most persons by surprise to learn
that they far surpass those of Central America, perhaps even those of India. Alfred Russel Wallace 1869.

We flew from Jakarta to Yogyakarta the next morning. We made a visit to the Prambanan Temple, a
famous Hindu temple of exquisite sculpture from the ninth century. We enjoyed the extensive gardens
very much, and we also enjoyed the sightings of Java Sparrow, now a critically endangered species in its
homeland, a bird most people only now encounter in a feral population. It was encouraging to see
several juveniles present. Also of note in the gardens were Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, nesting
Common Iora (feeding a chick), and the bright red-headed subspecies of Coppersmith Barbet found in
Java and Bali. After a lovely lunch where some folks tried the coffee luwak (civet coffee), we moved
along to Borobudur, Indonesias most famous archaeological attraction. This Buddhist temple built over
a century in the ninthtenth centuries has been largely restored after being abandoned when it was

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

buried in volcanic ash and damaged by earthquakes. Since being re-discovered by Raffles in the early
nineteenth century, it has been actively restored and in 1991 was added to the World Heritage register.
It is a stunning site, and we had it largely to ourselves, enjoying the view from up top until sunset. The
surrounding gardens were quite bird-rich with flocks of Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeons and small numbers
of Brown-throated Sunbirds attracted to the fruiting Ficus religiosa. We made the effort to track down
the endemic Olive-backed Tailorbird that showed well.

The handsome Black-banded Barbet is a scarce and elusive endemic to Java and Bali. (Dion Hobcroft)

A morning trek at Gunung Merapi, an active volcano, could not have gotten off to a better start when
we found a really obliging Scaly Thrush feeding on the trail. It was joined by a pair of very tame
Horsfields Babblers, while Long-tailed Macaques waited in the wings for a public handout. The
powerful call of the scarce and colorful endemic Black-banded Barbet lured us uphill and, after a bit of a
battle, we enjoyed some excellent views of this handsome species. Pink-headed Fruit-Doves showed
fantastically while a brief White-bellied Fantail was another lucky break. We had a bit of fun trying to
locate a perched Javan Hawk-Eagle that was lost in the fog before the mist lifted (after a patient wait),
and we had a rare scope view of this powerful crested forest predator, very much an endangered
species. Merapi had been brilliant. After lunch in the old center of Jogya, we flew to Bali to overnight as
we transited to the island of Flores, once again crossing Wallaces Line.

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The superb White-rumped Kingfisher described by Wallace as a beautiful new one named by Mr. Gould
Halcyon fulgidus. It was always found in thickets away from water and seemed to feed on snails and
insects picked up from the ground after the manner of the great Laughing Jackass of Australia. (Dion
Hobcroft)

Disembarking at Komodo Airport after the scenic flight that traversed Lombok and Sumbawa past the
spectacular volcanos up to 3,700 meters high like Gunung Rinjani, we were whisked away up the
mountains to Puarlolo. This forest patch turned up the enigmatic Thick-billed Heleia, which we watched
pry a spider out of a tree cleft, followed by the attractive Crested Dark-eye with its remarkably sedate
behavior for a Zosterops and its brilliant bubbly song. Then we tried our luck on the localized Flores
Monarch and succeeded in getting some good views of this Floresian special. A pair of Red-cheeked
Parrots fed tamely over our heads. A Golden-rumped Flowerpecker kept its rump well-concealed! We
drove through to Ruteng, our base for the next three nights. We tried our luck with some nocturnal

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birds, but only managed to hear two species of scops-owl (Wallaces and Moluccan). We would try again
for those folks who were keen. The cool conditions were delicious after our days in the coastal regions.

Wallace wrote in 1869: Of all the birds of Lombock, however, I sought most after the beautiful ground
thrushes (Pitta concinna), and always thought myself lucky if I obtained one. Well, not much has
changed, and we were thrilled and considered ourselves lucky when we saw the Elegant Pitta so well on
Flores. (Dion Hobcroft)

Early the next morning we were at Golo Lusang, a pass about 1,700 meters above sea level in patchy
montane rainforest with much secondary cut over scrub. This is the place for the extraordinary Bare-
throated Whistler. The males belt out a non-stop sonic, almost synthesizer-like array of complex
whistles that can literally go on for hours, the pink unfeathered throat pulsing constantly as they draw
breath. We soon had a male in the scope as the forest reverberated with their song. There were a lot of
birds about as we racked up good sightings of many endemics including the beautiful Flores Minivet,
Brown-capped Fantail, Scaly-crowned Honeyeater, Flores Leaf-Warbler, Russet-capped Tesia, and
White-browed Dark-eye. A fine adult Rufous-bellied Eagle drifted over and, after a bit of effort, we had a
beautiful Chestnut-backed Thrush teed up, continuing our very good luck with the elusive forest
thrushes on this tour. There were other species like the Blood-breasted Flowerpecker, Short-tailed
Starling, Wallacean Drongo, Cave Swiftlet, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, and Mountain White-eye. We
wandered down to some ricefields to try for some open country birds when a Brahminy Kite was
bombed by a Spotted Kestrel. We scoped the kestrels that were nesting in a church. We had an

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

entertaining moment when we shared the scope with a local lady and she could not believe what she
was seeing as she repeated constantly, happy, happy, happy! After lunch and a break, it tipped down
with rain, and the afternoon session was a quiet affair as almost no birds were on the move with the
leaden skies.

We had a big day planned down to the south coast of Flores. We started early and found ourselves
underneath a chattering Flores Scops-Owl in the predawn darkness. Trouble was that despite being
overhead we could not locate it in the canopy, blocked by much foliage. Once in the coastal forests the
birds began to cooperatefirst up a trio of Flores Green-Pigeons. This was followed by a pair of Flores
Hawk-Eagles that flew right over us, a good result for this scarce endemic. We had almost instant
success with the Glittering Kingfisher, a truly unique forest kingfisher with a powerful red bill. Next we
toyed with the paranoid Flores Crows that yapped at us and leapt about in the trees doing their best to
keep concealed. With patience we had some good views. An Elegant Pitta though, was surprisingly easy
as it perched up and allowed itself to be scoped for a long time. We spotted some more raptors
including good views of both Brown and Variable goshawks and had a fly-over Oriental Honey-buzzard
looking like the resident Javan subspecies. We returned to the mountains and explored the forest
around a volcanic lake that held numbers of Pacific Black Duck and a trio of Little Grebes (here
sometimes split as the Tricolor Grebe). The rain returned with a vengeance so we waited it out in a
picnic shelter with a cup of coffee. It lightened up, and immediately a large mixed flock came through
that included a pair of Pale-shouldered Cicadabirds. A sweet rambling song tipped us off on our next
hoped for speciesthe Flores Jungle-Flycatcherand the overcast conditions favored this bird that
flew out and perched quite openly for an extended time. The great deluge returned and some folks
opted to head in early. The rest waited where we had heard the Flores Scops-Owl; we soon had it
chattering overhead and this time spotted the little rufous, yellow-eyed rascal for a decent view before
it took off. No other nocturnal birds did much, although a Wallaces Scops-Owl called distantly once.

We bade farewell to Ruteng and started our day on a headland overlooking a spider web rice field, a
unique land sharing design of the local families in this region of Flores. Lots of small birds were about
including Rainbow Bee-eater, Golden-headed Cisticola, close views of the two endemic flowerpeckers,
several species of white-eye and Crested Dark-eye, plus a small flock of Red Avadavat. We traveled on to
a valley with numerous Eucalyptus trees planted in it and searched for the Flores Lorikeet. It took a
while to track down these green parrots in the green trees, but we managed to get some good scope
views. No wonder a recent name suggested for this species is Leaf Lorikeet! A few other birds were
bobbing about including a lovely Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove. We returned to Puarlolo where after a patient
wait we all had views of the shy and heavily trapped Chestnut-capped Thrush. In the fields we found
Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Striated Swallow, and Zitting Cisticola, while Zebra Finches greeted us at our new
hotel. The afternoon was fairly quiet as we waited for the elusive Wallaces Hanging-Parrot that was a
no-show. A Metallic Pigeon gave a lengthy flight over us, and the Flame-breasted Sunbirds were in good
form. We enjoyed interacting with the local people in this remote village area, the kids being very
friendly and delightful.

At dawn the next morning we were in a speed boat zooming across Bond-style to Komodo Island, home
to the famous Komodo Dragon, easily the worlds largest and most heavy-bodied lizard, a super-sized

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monitor. Difficult to bird from a speed boat, we managed to spot a few birds including a small flock of
Roseate Terns, one adult holding a small fish suggesting they may nest somewhere in this myriad of
islands. There was also a Bulwers Petrel, a small flock of Red-necked Phalaropes, a Lesser Frigatebird,
and plenty of Crested Terns. As we approached Komodo, several Great-billed Herons and Pacific Reef-
Herons were in evidence. Walking the loop trail, we were soon enjoying the antics of four Orange-
footed Scrubfowl involved in an aggressive dust-up, the fighting males leaping upwards of a couple of
meters as they tried to claw each other. We enjoyed some lovely studies of the now extremely rare
Yellow-crested Cockatoo, watching one pair feeding each other. A roosting Savanna Nightjar was
another good pick-up, and we soon had good views of Barred Dove, Lemon-bellied White-eye, and
luckily, a trio of Wallacean Cuckooshrikes. Of the Komodo Dragon itself, we first found an adult female
actively tongue-flicking over a patch of soil that had her much interested. She sauntered on. Then we
were shown a colorful juvenile tucked up in a tree hollow. They typically spend the first three years of
their lives hiding in the trees to avoid predation from adults. Down at the beach we found the massive
males, some actively moving, and one let out a hiss like an express train as a warning to another male.
Operation Komodo had been a big success. On the return voyage we spotted some dolphins and passed
an islet with many nesting Black-naped Terns.

Our first Komodo Dragon was this rather perfect female in excellent condition with some lovely coppery
green scales livening up the black basalt typical ground color. (Dion Hobcroft)

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A final afternoon drew a blank on Wallaces Hanging-Parrot despite a concerted effort. Asian Paradise-
Flycatchers (these now rebranded as Blyths Paradise following a recent three-way split of this taxa)
were very showy, the white streamered males always a knockout. At dusk we gave a final spotlight
session and were rewarded with excellent views of the recently described Meess Nightjar that flew
around and at us in very close fashion, but was too timid to perch for any length of time.

With an hour to spend before we were due at the airport, we squeezed in one last spot, a mangrove
swamp that was alive with birds early in the morning. We scoped a beautiful Small Blue Kingfisher and
then had a major surprise when we picked up two Stork-billed Kingfishers. Both species were very
cooperative. As a final last hurrah we scoped a female Australian Hobby at the airport terminal. As Jim
said, Our tour of Flores finished with a flourish! All up we recorded 261 species on this tour. We
winged our way to Bali where we all continued on with our fabulous Indonesian birding adventure, but
that account is in the next report.

I would like to thank all of our minders, fixers, drivers, and local guides who did such a fantastic job;
awesome Poli and Roman, Bobby and Mansour, Albert, Adoy, Max, and Alfred amongst so many more. It
was a great trip.

Later we found a few giant male Komodo Dragons; this ancient individual was about three meters long
(ten feet) and produced some explosive hissing when disturbed by another male. (Dion Hobcroft)

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 The Yellow-crested Cockatoo shows a yellow polka dot on its cheeks when you study it. This pair was
digiscoped on Komodo, one of the last remaining viable populations. (Dion Hobcroft)

BIRDS:

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Sunda Teal (Anas gibberifrons)

Tabon Scrubfowl (Megapodius cumingii)

Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt)

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Chestnut-bellied Partridge (Arborophila javanica) Heard only

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

Green Junglefowl (Gallus varius)

Little (Tricolor) Grebe (Tachybaptus [ruficollis] tricolor)

Bulwers Petrel (Bulweria bulweria)

Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel)

Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Javan Pond-Heron (Ardeola speciosa)

Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)

Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

Javan Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi)

Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus lanceolatus)

Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii)

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Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)

Isabelline Bush-hen (Amaurornis isabellina)

White-breasted Waterhen (Amauroronis phoenicurus)

White-browed Crake (Porzana cinerea)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)

Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)

Great Crested Tern (Sterna bergii)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)

Island Collared-Dove (Streptopelia bitorquata)

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia amboinensis)

Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia emiliana)

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White-faced Cuckoo-Dove (Turacoena manadensis)

Asian Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)

Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)

Barred Dove (Geopelia maugeus)

Pink-necked Green-Pigeon (Treron vernans)

Gray-cheeked Green-Pigeon (Treron griseicauda)

Flores Green-Pigeon (Treron floris)

Pink-headed Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus)

Superb Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus superbus)

Black-naped Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)

White-bellied Imperial-pigeon (Ducula forsteni)

Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)

Dark-backed Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula lacernulata) Heard only

Silver-tipped Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula luctuosa)

Sunda Cuckoo (Cuculus lepidus) Heard only

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis sepulcralis)

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris) Heard only

Black-billed Koel (Eudynamys melanorhynchus) Heard only

Yellow-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus)

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)

Bay Coucal (Centropus celebensis)

Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis) Heard only

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Minahassa Masked-Owl (Tyto inexspectata)

Sulawesi Masked-Owl (Tyto rosenbergii)

Flores Scops-Owl (Otus alfredi)

Wallaces Scops-Owl (Otus silvicola) Heard only

Moluccan Scops-Owl (Otus magicus) Heard only

Sulawesi Scops-Owl (Otus manadensis)

Ochre-bellied Boobook (Ninox ochracea)

Meess Nightjar (Caprimulgus meesi)

Sulawesi Nightjar (Caprimulgus celebensis)

Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis)

Salvadoris Nightjar (Caprimulgus pulchellus)

Waterfall Swift (Hydrochous gigas)

Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)

Cave Swiftlet (Collocalia linchi)

White-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus)

House Swift (Apus nipalensis)

Gray-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis)

Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)

Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus exarhatus) Heard only

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Small Blue Kingfisher (Alcedo caerulescens)

Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher (Cittura cyanotis)

Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)

Black-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

White-rumped Kingfisher (Caridonax fulgidus)

Green-backed Kingfisher (Actenoides monachus)

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher (Actenoides princeps)

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopgon haemacephala)

Black-banded Barbet (Psilopogon javensis)

Flame-fronted Barbet (Psilopgon armillaris)

Brown-throated Barbet (Psilopogon corvina) Heard only

Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos temminckii)

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos moluccensis)

Ashy Woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus)

Spotted Kestrel (Falco moluccensis)

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Golden-mantled Racquet-tail (Prioniturus platurus)

Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail (Prioniturus flavicans)

Red-cheeked Parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi)

Great-billed Parrot (Tanygnathus megalorynchos)

Azure-rumped Parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus)

Ornate Lorikeet (Trichoglossus ornatus) Heard only

Flores Lorikeet (Trichoglossus weberi)

Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus stigmaticus)

Pygmy Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus exilis)

Yellow-throated Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus pusillus)

Banded Broadbill (Eurylaimus javanicus) Heard only

Sulawesi Pitta (Erythropitta celebensis)

Javan Banded-Pitta (Hydrornis guajanus)

Elegant Pitta (Pitta elegans)

Sulawesi Myzomela (Myzomela chloroptera)

Sunda (Scaly-crowned) Honeyeater (Lichmera lombokia)

Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides)

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)

Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Ivory-backed Woodswallow (Artamus monachus)

White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)

Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)

Sunda Minivet (Pericrocotus miniatus)

Flores Minivet (Pericrocotus lansbergei)

Pied Cuckooshrike (Coracina bicolor) Heard only

Sunda Cuckooshrike (Coracina larvata)

Javan Cuckooshrike (Coracina javensis)

Wallacean Cuckooshrike (Coracina personata)

White-rumped Cuckooshrike (Coracina leucopygia)

Lesser Cuckooshrike (Lalage fimbriata)

Pale-shouldered Cicadabird (Edolisoma dohertyi)

Bare-throated Whistler (Pachycephala nudigula)

Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)

Sulphur-bellied Whistler (Pachycephala sulfuriventer)

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

Pied Shrike-Babbler (Pteruthius flaviscapis)

Trilling Shrike-Babbler (Pteruthius aenobarbus)

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Black and crimson Oriole (Oriolus cruentus) Heard only

Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus remifer)

Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)

Wallacean Drongo (Dicrurus densus)

Brown-capped Fantail (Rhipidura diluta)

Rufous-tailed Fantail (Rhipidura phoenicura)

White-bellied Fantail (Rhipidura euryura)

Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)

Pale-blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella)

Blyths Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone affinis)

Flores Monarch (Symposiachrus sacerdotum)

Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)

Flores Crow (Corvus florensis)

Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

Striated Swallow (Cecropis striolata)

Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Citrine Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)

Great Tit (Parus major)

Pygmy Tit (Psaltria exilis)

Blue Nuthatch (Sitta azurea)

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster)

Orange-spotted Bulbul (Pycnonotus bimaculatus)

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)

Sunda Bulbul (Ixos virescens)

Pygmy Cupwing (Pnoepyga pusilla)

Javan Tesia (Tesia superciliaris)

Russet-capped Tesia (Tesia everetti)

Mountain Tailorbird (Phyllergates cucullatus)

Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus)

Flores Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus [presbytes] floris)

Sunda Warbler (Seicercus grammiceps)

Striated Grassbird (Megalurus palustris)

Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler (Locustella castaneus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 24 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Olive-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus sepium)

Javan Grey-throated White-eye (Lophozosterops javanicus)

Streak-headed Dark-eye (Lophozosterops squamiceps)

White-browed Dark-eye (Lophozosterops superciliaris)

Crested (Dark-crowned) Dark-eye (Lophozosterops dohertyi)

Thick-billed (Flores) Dark-eye (Heleia crassirostris)

Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)

Mountain White-eye (Zosterops montanus)

Lemon-bellied White-eye (Zosterops chloris)

Yellow-spectacled White-eye (Zosterops wallacei)

Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons)

Crescent-chested Babbler (Cyanoderma melanothorax)

Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler (Pomatorhinus montanus) Heard only

White-bibbed Babbler (Stachyris thoracica)

Sulawesi Babbler (Pellorneum celebense)

Eye-browed Wren-Babbler (Napothera epilepidota)

Horsfields Babbler (Turdinus sepiarius)

Javan Fulvetta (Alcippe pyrrhoptera)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 25 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush (Garrulax rufifrons) Heard only

Spotted Crocias (Crocias albonotatus)

Hill Blue-Flycatcher (Cyornis banyumas)

Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher (Cyornis omissus)

Flores Jungle-Flycatcher (Cyornis oscillans)

Indigo Flycatcher (Eumyias indigo)

Island (Verditer) Flycatcher (Eumyias panayensis)

Lesser Shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophrys)

White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) Heard only

Javan Whistling-Thrush (Myophonus glaucinus)

Sunda Forktail (Enicurus velatus)

Sunda Blue Robin (Cinclidium diana)

Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra)

Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)

Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

Chestnut-capped Thrush (Geokickla interpres)

Chestnut-backed Thrush (Geokickla dohertyi)

Rusty (Red)-backed Thrush (Geokickla erythronota)

Sunda Thrush (Zoothera andromedae)

Scaly Thrush (Zoothera dauma)

Javan Cochoa (Cochoa azurea)

Finch-billed Myna (Scissirostrum dubium)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 26 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Short-tailed Starling (Aplonis minor)

Sulawesi Myna (Basilornis celebensis)

White-necked Myna (Streptocitta albicollis)

Blue-winged Leafbird (Chloropsis cochinchinensis)

Golden-rumped Flowerpecker (Dicaeum annae)

Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile)

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum aureolimbatum)

Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker (Dicaeum nehrkorni)

Black-fronted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum igniferum)

Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)

Blood-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum sanguinolentum)

Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trochileum)

Plain (Brown)-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)

Black Sunbird (Leptocoma sericea)

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

Flame-breasted Sunbird (Cinnyris solaris)

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)

White-flanked Sunbird (Aethopyga eximia)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 27 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

Javan Munia (Lonchura leucogastroides)

Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricappila)

Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)

MAMMALS:

Bear Cuscus (Ailurops ursinus)

Short-tailed Gymnure (Hylomys suillus)

Common Treeshrew (Tupaia glis)

Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor)

Plantain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus)

Black-striped Squirrel (Callosciurus nigrovittatus)

Sulawesi Dwarf Squirrel (Prosciurillus marinus)

Red Giant Flying-Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista)

Javan Rusa Deer (Rusa timoriensis)

Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius spectrum)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 28 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

Crested Black Macaque (Macaca nigra)

Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

Black Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus auratus)

Grizzled Leaf Monkey (Presbytis comata)

Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates moloch)

Smooth Bottle-nosed Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

REPTILES:

Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis)

Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)

Javanese Flying Lizard (Draco volans)

Draco. Sp. Sulawesi

Draco sp. Flores

Painted Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis pictus.)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 29 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

 We never anticipated seeing the ultra-rare Javan Hawk-Eagle at a nest. The species is typically seen
distantly in flight so we were quite fortunate. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 30 Indonesia Highlights, 2016

 An Orange-spotted Bulbul at Gunung Gede: now quite a scarce endemic in Java and Bali. (Jim Hill)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 31 Indonesia Highlights, 2016