PO Box 387, Kuranda QLD, 4881. AustraliaT: 61(0)7 4093 7318 F: 61(0)7 4093 9855

email: info@sicklebillsafaris.comweb: www.sicklebillsafaris.com

Australia Toll Free Ph: 1300 36 88 55

International Ph: 61(0)7 4080 4080

email: tours@solhols.com

web: www.solhols.com

TOUR 3: KOLOMBANGARA AND GIZO

Kolombangara is one of our favourite islands. With relatively little highland clearance having occurred this is a great place for birding. While people of only a moderate fitness level can manage the trails around Hambere, Ringii and Imbu Ranu where some great birds including,

Roviana Rail, can be found, a much higher level of fitness is needed to access the cloud forest at the lip of the caldera which is the only place to see Kolombangara Leaf Warbler. The islands of Gizo, Vella Lavella and Ranongga are all visited on this tour and each has an endemic White-eye, and chances of Heinroth’s Shearwater are quite good.

TOUR 4: MAKIRA

The island of Makira holds some of the world’s least known birds. Although the lowland trails around Kirakira are easily accessible to most people, a quite strenuous walk up to the Hauta Conservation area and the inland mountains will allow the more serious birders a chance at

some little seen endemics including Shade Warbler, Makira Thrush, Makira Leaf Warbler and White-headed Fruit Dove. Ugi Island also offers a chance to see Silver-capped Fruit Dove, White-collared and Ugi Black Monarch.

TOUR 1: GUADALCANAL & RENNELL

The largest raised atoll in the world, Rennell is home to 43 species of breeding birds and boasts 6 endemics. All of the endemics can be seen in close proximity to the airfield by walking along the logging tracks. The tour also visits Honiara and its environs including a morning visit

to Mt Austen where Ultramarine Kingfisher, Duchess Lorikeet and White-billed Crow are amongst the highlights. A relatively easy tour with no steep treks up into the hills though the surface of the Rennell tracks can be a bit rough.

TOUR 5: GENTLE SOLOMONS

This tour visits most of the major hotspots in the Solomons with the exception of Santa Isabel. It does however, limit itself to the areas that are most easily accessed and does not attempt the more strenuous climbs up into the mountains. While it provides a very good representation

of Solomons birds, the more difficult montane birds, only found at high altitude, will not be seen.

TOUR 6: COMPREHENSIVE SOLOMONS

This exciting birdwatching tour visits all the major birding sites within the Solomons in its search for as many as possible of the islands endemics. It requires a good level of fitness as it is not an easy tour, with long steep hikes up into mountains, and nights camping under

possibly difficult conditions, but the rewards are many rarely seen and little-known species.

SICKLEBILLSAFARIS

TOUR 2: SANTA ISABEL BLACK-FACED PITTA HUNT

Offering you the chance of some of the Solomon’s most Iconic birds - the Black-faced Pitta, the Fearful Owl and the Solomon’s Frogmouth, this is one of our most popular Solomons destinations. The walk up to Tiritonga is steep and needs a reasonable level of fitness but

the rewards are great. A morning up Mt Austen before flying out ends the tour.

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Birding the Solomons

COMBINATION AND CUSTOMISED TOURS

We offer a number of “Combination Tour” packages such as Birds and Diving, Birds and Surfing and Birds and Battlefields. We also offer more general tours suitable for families and those who prefer a more relaxed experience. Our Isaisao or Tetepare packages offer

the chance for cultural activities, watching turtle hatchings, kayaking, snorkeling and beach and forest walks. Photographic tours can also be arranged.We can develop customized itineraries for those with particular interests and requirements, and are happy to cater for those with just a passing interest in natural history through to the hardcore birder.

Background “Map of Solomon Islands by FreeVectorMaps.com”

Sicklebill Safaris offers small group bird, wildlife and cultural tours to numerous destinations either led by one

of our experienced guides or using local guides only.

M A L A I T A

G U A D A L C A N A L

S A N T A I S A B E LNEW

GEORGIA

RENNELL IS.

M A K I R A

Melanesian KingfisherSanta Cruz ShrikebillVanikoro MonarchVanikoro FlycatcherMelanesian WhistlerVanikoro White-eyeRusty-winged StarlingPolynesian StarlingSanta Cruz White-eyeSanford’s White-eye

INSET

SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS (TEMOTU)

Ho n i a r a

KOLOMBANGARA

Roviana RailPale Mountain PigeonNew Georgia Dwarf KingfisherKolombangara Leaf WarblerPacific RobinIsland ThrushKolombangara White-eyeSolomons White-eyeOriole WhistlerKolombangara MonarchSolomons CuckooshrikeNorth Melanesian Cuckooshrike

GHIZO

White-capped MonarchHeinroth’s ShearwaterBlack NoddyGhizo White-eyeVella Lavella White-eyeRanongga White-eyeVella Lavella Whistler

HONIARA AREAWhite-billed CrowSolomons Sea EaglePied GoshawkGuadalcanal RailCardinal LoryYellow-bibbed LoryDuchess LorikeetGuadalcanal Boobook

Buff-headed CoucalClaret-breasted Fruit DoveUltramarine KingfisherBlack-headed MyzomelaCockereel’s FantailBrown-winged Starling

MALAITAPied GoshawkMalaita RailMalaita BoobookRed-vested MyzomelaMalaita Oriole WhistlerMalaita StarlingMalaita FantailMalaita White-eyeMalaita Monarch

MAKIRA

Red-knobbed Imperial PigeonChestnut-bellied Imperial PigeonYellow-legged PigeonWhite-headed Fruit DoveSilver-capped Fruit DoveMakira BoobookChestnut-bellied MonarchUgi Black MonarchWhite-collared MonarchMakira FlycatcherSooty MyzomelaMakira HoneyeaterShade WarblerMakira FantailMakira Spangled DrongoMakira ThrushMakira StarlingMakira Oriole WhistlerMottled FlowerpeckerMakira CicadabirdMakira Leaf Warbler

RENNELL Silver-capped Fruit DoveAustralian White IbisRennell WhistlerRennell ShrikebillRennell FantailRennell White-eyeBare-faced White-eyeIsland ThrushCardinal MyzomelaRennell Starling

GUADALCANAL HIGHLANDSSolomons Sea EagleGuadalcanal Moustached KingfisherGuadalcanal ThicketbirdGuadalcanal Spangled DrongoGuadalcanal ThrushGuadalcanal HoneyeaterBrown FantailGuadalcanal Hooded WhistlerWhite-eyed StarlingGrey-throated White-eyeGuadalcanal Dwarf Kingfisher

SANTA ISABELBlack-faced PittaSanta Isabel RailFearful OwlWest Solomons BoobookSolomons FrogmouthImitator SparrowhawkPied GoshawkIsland Monarch

Birding Hotspots

of the

Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands

“”

The Solomon Islands stretch in a south-easterly arc between Bougainville (PNG) in the north and down to Vanuatu to the south.

This collection of 992 small islands covers an area of around 11,000 square kilometres. Forested mountains, beautiful palm lined beaches and coral filled lagoons make the Solomons every bit the South Pacific idyll!

First discovered by the Spanish in 1568, the islands were notorious for headhunting and cannibalism. The warlike local inhabitants made violent reprisals on missionaries and other visitors, particularly after Europeans instigated “blackbirding” - the kidnapping of labourers for the sugar plantations of Queensland and Fiji.

For many people their knowledge of the islands is limited to their knowledge of World War 2. The Battle of Guadalcanal played a pivotal role in the war in the Pacific and there are a number of dive sites based on sunken wrecks from this period, with Iron Bottom Sound named for the shipwrecks there.

The Solomons gained independence in 1978, with an elected Prime Minister and Parliament and the British Queen remaining as the Monarch as part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Although there are ethnic tensions between different tribal groups, things have now settled down, everything is peaceful and the Solomons are a great place to visit.

A South Sea Birding Paradise

The Solomon Islands have some of the rarest and least known birds on the planet with many Solomons birds seen by relatively few people. There is a high degree of endemism with over a hundred unique

species, many found only on a single island. There are also many more that are Melanesian endemics, only found on a handful of small Melanesian islands.

About Sicklebill SafarisWith over 20 years’ experience Sicklebill Safaris is a specialist tour company with significant expertise in organising bird, wildlife and cultural tours for small groups and individuals. We are actively involved with the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau in publicising the Solomons as an attractive place for birders, with a number of visits undertaken throughout the islands to assess the birding sites, accommodation and guides. We are now involved in a training programme for the local guides, and have developed a number of ready-made itineraries, which range from a series of “Taste Of” Tours, which highlight particular areas, to comprehensive itineraries visiting all the major birding sites, with possible extensions to the less commonly visited ones. We also cater for those not specifically bird orientated, to suit the more adventurous family or people with special interests. We are happy to develop customised itineraries either for travel with one of our experienced guides, or using local guides only.

About Solomon Islands HolidaysSolomon Island Holidays is an Australian based business that has been specialising in the region since 2005. We work in partnership with Sicklebill Safaris for all their birdwatching tours. Our particular expertise is in independent and small group travel to the eco lodges, resorts and hotels throughout the Solomon Islands. We are also able to arrange surfing, World War 2 history tours, scuba diving, kayaking, cruising, travel insurance, international and domestic flights and airport transfers throughout the country.