Days 1-2: We have a flight to Papeete, thecapital of Tahiti in French Polynesia, witharrival on the morning of Day 2. On arrival,we make an initial exploration of thePapeeno Valley where our target speciesare Grey-green Fruit-dove and Tahiti ReedWarbler (which occurs in two colour phases)in bamboo thickets and along the rainforestedge. After lunch, we visit another forestsearching for Tahiti Kingfisher andPolynesian Imperial Pigeons. On beachesalong the coast we look for WanderingTattler. From headlands and beaches, weshould see White Tern, White-tailedTropicbird, Lesser Frigatebird, Crested Ternand Brown Booby. Return to Papeete lateafternoon.

Day 3: This morning, we visit the PoeaValley with a local expert from thePolynesian Ornithological Society to seekout the endangered Tahiti Monach. We fol-low a trail through the forest, passing bystreams and signs of old Polynesian habita-tion in the form of stone-walled terracing. Ina deep ravine to one side of the main valleyare overhangs where Tahiti Swiftlets nest.After leaving the area, we explore the coastroad in south-western Tahiti with a chance oflocating the scarce Chattering Kingfisher.

Day 4: Today, we take a ferry to Moorea. Inthe straits, we have a chance of seeing TahitiPetrel, Tropical Shearwater and Lesser

Frigatebird. Once on the island, we shouldfind Pacific Golden Plover, WanderingTattler, Pacific Black Ducks and breedingWhite-tailed Tropicbirds. The island hoststhe endemic Moorea Kingfisher and Grey-green Fruit Doves reside in the forest patch-es whilst Common Waxbill and Chestnut-breasted Munias prefer the open areas ofgrass. On the return ferry crossing, GreaterFrigatebird, Red-footed and Brown Boobiesand Wedge-tailed Shearwaters are possible.

Days 5-6: Today we fly to New Caledoniaand transfer to our hotel in Noumea.Roadside birds include Sacred Kingfisherand White-breasted Woodswallow. In theafternoon, we visit Mount Koghi which over-looks the western coastline. A walk in theremnant rainforest may produce NewCaledonian Crow, New CaledonianFriarbird, Cloven-feathered Dove, NewCaledonian Imperial Pigeon and NewCaledonian Whistler.

Days 7: This morning we make our way to

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji and Western Samoa

Birds of the South Pacific islands

Tuesday August 29th – MondaySeptember 18th 2017Leaders: Mark Finn and local guidesGroup Size: 8Birds: 150-180

Dates

The islands of the South Pacific Ocean are rarely visited by birders. This uniquecombination of islands offers you the chance to observe some of the rarest andleast known species on the planet. In Tahiti we have the opportunity to observe therarely seen Tahiti Monach and the spectacular Tahiti and Moorea Kingfishers. Ourtour moves on to the overseas French territory of New Caledonia and the islands ofGrande Terre and Lifou. New Caledonia offers us the flightless Kagu which inhabitsthe forests of the north. In addition to this unique bird, a further twenty-fourendemics occur on the islands. Next on the agenda is Fiji with twenty-five endemicspecies including the spectacular Silktail and Orange Dove. Our final island isSamoa where a further eight endemics are possible on the island of Upolu. This is agolden opportunity to see and observe some of the most poorly known and rarestbirds of the Pacific Islands.

the airport and fly to Lifou, the largest of theLoyalty Islands. Lifou is a raised coral islandwith a spectacular coastline and craggylimestone cliffs. There is rich forest in theinterior with araucaria pines and coconutplantations, a feature of the coast. Onarrival, we walk along forest roads in thecentre of the island for Small and LargeLifou White-eyes, Cardinal Myzomela andother species which are easier to see herethan on New Caledonia – Red-bellied FruitDove and Metallic Pigeon. Around thebeach, resort and town, Striated Starlingand Melanesian Cuckooshrike are present.Late afternoon flight back to Noumea.

Day 8: We rise early this morning and driveto Parc Provincial de la Riviere Bleue for theincomparable Kagu. We explore the BlueRiver Reserve, walking up the valley to findNew Caledonian Cuckoo-shrike, Cloven-feathered Dove, Crow Honeyeater, White-bellied Goshawk, Horned and NewCaledonian Parakeets, Yellow-bellied Robinand Red-throated Parrotbill. Along the parkentrance road, patches of forest and bushattract Glossy and White-rumped Swiftlets,

Southern Shrikebill and Long-tailed Trillers.After lunch, we continue around Lac d’Yateto the Chutes de la Madelaine set in anextraordinary landscape of the SouthernProvince.

Day 9: We make an early start to drivenorth to the Dumbea River estuary. Justbefore Bouloupari, we explore open countryhabitats and coastal locations for WhistlingKite and Pacific Harriers. At Dumbua weshould connect with Pacific Reef Egret, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wandering and Grey-tailedTattlers, Hudsonian Whimbrel and PacificGolden Plover. At La Foa we visit FortTeremba, a military headquarters that for-merly housed convicts, and also the sur-rounding area for Australasian Grebe,Hardhead, Pacific Black Duck and DuskyMoorhen.

Day 10: From La Foa we drive up into thehighlands of Central Grande Terre. Beyondthe village of Farino perched on the edge ofa high plateau, we enter the ReserveNatural de Table Unio. We bird along thenarrow road in rainforest and dry Melaleuca

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji and Western Samoa

Orange-breasted Myzomela Photo: Barry Lancaster

forest for Cloven-feathered Dove, NewCaledonian Crow, New Caledonian ImperialPigeon, Yellow-bellied Robin and Red-throated Parrot Finches. We park at a grassyplateau area and follow a couple of trailslooking for the elusive and scarce NewCaledonian Grassbird and Horned and Red-fronted Parakeets.

Day 11: We transfer to La Tontouta to catcha flight to Nadi in Fiji. On arrival, we transferto Wananavu on the north coast of Viti Levu.En route we pass through Lautoka (Fiji’ssecond largest city after Suva, the capital),and also make a series of short road-sidestops for open-country birds in FijiWoodswallow and Fiji Goshawk. As our jour-ney passes over high ground we may seeBarking Pigeon, Polynesian Triller andVanikoro Flycatchers. Wananavu is a won-derful place for relaxed birding. Species inthe grounds of the resort include Orange-breasted Myzomela, Eastern WattledHoneyeater and Fiji Parrotfinch. Late in theafternoon, Lesser Frigatebirds often driftcasually over headlands and islands nearthe resort.

Day 12: Before breakfast, we visit Viti LevuBay for Collared Kingfisher, Pacific Harrier,Golden Dove and Many-coloured Fruit-doves. Our main activity today is to take aboat out to Vatu-i-Ra, known locally as “BirdIsland”. Tropical sea-birding in the SouthPacific is still largely ’unknown territory’ and

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji and Western Samoa

Kagu Photo: Barry Lancaster

Collared Lory Photo: Barry Lancaster

we will be looking for Fiji, Tahiti and CollaredPetrels, along with Wedge-tailedShearwater, Brown and Red-footedBoobies, Common and Brown Noddies,Crested, Bridled and Black-naped Terns.Cetaceans are also possible with SpinnerDolphins and various species of whale.

Day 13: An early start today as we drive toNadarivatu via Tavua where we head inland,slowly ascending through cane fields, beforeclimbing steeply up switchbacks to theNadarivatu Escarpment. This is 900m highon the northern lip of the Central Highlandsarea. The wonderful Dakua (Fiji Kauri) forestholds many Fijian endemics - Golden Dove,Many-coloured Fruit Dove, Fiji BushWarbler, Fiji White-eye, Giant Honeyeaterand Fiji Goshawk. From Nadarivatu we con-tinue to Suva via Navai and the MonasavuDam at the northern limit of the NadrauPlateau area. We spend time looking for therare Black-faced Shrikebill. Our final desti-nation today is Raintree Lodge situatedadjacent to Colo-I-Suva.

Day 14: Colo-I-Suva Forest Park and the

grounds of the lodge have Masked ShiningParrot, Collared Lory and flycatchers. Wetake walks into adjacent forest areas forGolden Whistler Blue-crested and VanikoroFlycatchers, Slaty Monarch, Many-colouredFruit-dove and Fiji Parrotfinch. Later in theday, we head to Suva Point and Laucala Bayat mid-tide looking for coastal birds, andthen take an internal flight to Tavenui.

Days 15-16: We make a pre-dawn startand drive in 4X4 vehicles up to Des VoeuxPeak. We bird along the edges of the accessroad to the summit transmitter and take trailsinto the mist and rain forest looking forMaroon Shining Parrot, Silktail and OrangeDove. This walk is also good for IslandThrush, Pacific Robin, Fan-tailed Cuckoo,Blue-crested Flycatcher and the Taveunisubspecies of Giant Honeyeater. Afterlunch, we visit Korolevu Island keeping aneye on the Somosomo Strait for seabirds,Brown and Red-footed Boobies, LesserFrigatebirds and various terns and noddies.

Day 17: We transfer back to to Viti Levu andtake an internal flight to Kandavu, a remote

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji and Western Samoa

Tahiti Kingfisher Photo: Barry Lancaster

Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji and Western Samoa

island to the south.The habitat is one of lushrainforests interspersed with tumbling water-falls. On arrival in Kandavu, we transfer byboat to our remote lodge by the forest. Theisland is home to five endemics – CrimsonShining-Parrot, Whistling Dove, KandavuFantail, Kandavu Honeyeater and FijiWhistler all of which can be found near thelodge.

Day 18: This morning we catch a flight toNadi where we connect to our internationalflight to Apia in Samoa where we have athree-night stay.

Days 19-20: Upolu holds all but one of theSamoan endemics in remnant forest patch-es. Our main objective is to locate and seeFlat-billed Kingfisher, the extraordinary Mao,Samoan Whistler, Samoan Fantail, SamoanFlycatcher, Samoan Triller and SamoanStarling. In addition to these endemics, weshould also find Shy Ground Dove, Blue-crowned Lorikeet, Eastern WattledHoneyeater and non-endemic specialitiesincluding Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove andRed-headed Parrotfinch. Samoa is also

good for seabirds including Red-tailed andWhite-tailed Tropicbirds, Red-footed Booby,Brown Noddy and White Tern.

Day 21: Leave Samoa for onward connec-tions back to Europe.

Ground Price: £5,495Single room: £500Deposit: £500*Air Fare: £2,700

This holiday is fully inclusive ofaccommodation and meals, transport,boat trips, permit fees, guidance, tipsand taxes.

Not included: drinks, insurance,items of a personal nature, airportdeparture tax and fuel surcharges.

*Please refer to our terms andconditions relating to flights

Prices

Rufous Night Heron Photo: Suzanne Bowden