Itinerary & schedule:
22 May: Fly Armidale – Sydney – Manila
23 May: Fly Manila – Palau (arrive 24 May)
24 May: Meet Norman; Palau Pacific Resort; birding hotel grounds, Koror and SE Babelbaob.
25 May: 05.30 depart on excellent boat charter to Ulong I. and Rock Islands; glorious early am/sunrise; large numbers of terns and shearwaters followed by fine views of very distinctive Palau Scrubfowl; swim at Eco Island; lots of sightseeing. PM Babeldaob.
26 May: 05.00 – 14.30 Babeldaob. Late afternoon, early evening very successful search for the superb Palau Owl.
27 May: 01.10 Fly Palau to Guam and Guam to Saipan. Sleep 09.00 to 13.30. PM shopping and relaxing remainder of afternoon.
28 May: AM Birding Suicide Cliffs area; PM Mt Tagachao & Lake Susupe, Saipan.
29 May: 06.45 fly Saipan – Tinian – Tinian Monarch; Atomic Bomb Bays; fly Tinian – Saipan 10.45. PM search for Mariana Scrubfowl; Commonwealth Forest area.
30 May: Birding Saipan – Commonwealth Forest area; PM Banzai & Suicide Cliffs
31 May: Fly Saipan – Guam – Rota.
1 June: AM and PM Exploring Rota.
2 June: AM & PM Rota seabird colony.
3 June: AM seabird colony. Fly Rota – Saipan – Guam.
4 June: Fly Guam – Yap. Cultural and historical tour in PM. ON: The delightful ‘Trader’s Ridge Hotel’.
5 June: 05.45 Yap - B’fast; Birding 06.10 – 11.09 and cultural tour 17.00 -19.20.
6 June: 04.10 Fly Yap – Guam – Chuuk – Pohnpei 13.30 Dreadful hotel which screwed us re our rooms! Totally shagged re no sleep and sorting the accomod. mess out BUT resolved with move to Village Hotel tomorrow. Ocean View Plaza feels like a run-down brothel.
7 June: 06.0 – 12.00 birded around the entire island anti-clock-wise. Lunch and fabulous sleep on a waterbed at Village Hotel followed by a delightful evening reminiscing over a wonderful dinner watch a sunset over the Pacific. This is THE ultimate.
8 June: Visited archaeological site of Nan Madol by boat during the morning – very interesting and quite impressive; 16.30 birding Nan Pil Valley
9 June: 06.15 -08.30 Birding Nan Pil Valley; fly Pohnpei to Kosrae; pouring rain but delightful accommodations and scenic island. Huge storm overnight.
10 June: Gentle meander along the little bit of road that exists on Kosrae then fly to Chuuk. Worst main road in the Pacific, whole island of Weno looks very care-worn and run down but people surprisingly friendly and the Blue Lagoon Resort is surprisingly nice although air-con. in the rooms is marginal.
11 June: Birding on Weno before late b’fast. Last lifer – Oceanic Flycatcher! Not permitted to land on Tol South by local landowners without special permission and clearance from police, thus excluded the opportunity of looking for Truk Monarch and Great Truk White-eye. Time to head for home…..
12 June: Fly Weno, Chuuk to Guam and much to my surprise saw four White-fronted Ground-Doves in someone’s backyard – an area of leafy scrub and trees. What a wonderful way to finish a great trip!
1. Palau Scrubfowl Megapodius senex (old man with white hair)
(Distinctive subspecies of Micronesian Scrubfowl. Marianas population NOT treated a separate species by Birdlife International)
25 May 2008: Two foraging on beach at dawn on Ulong; another 1-2 pairs on the same island; heard and briefly saw one pair on Eco I. Searched for extensively but unsuccessfully on Saipan.
2. Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
24-26 May 2008: Common and widespread, Palau. 27-28 May: Common and widespread, Saipan. 29 May: Several, Tinian.
3. Tropical Shearwater Puffinus bailloni
(formerly subspecies of Audubon’s Shearwater)
25 May 2008. A total of ca. 50 seen flying westwards in ones and twos and small, loose groups of 6-10 from the Rock Island, Palau, including one or two coming off forested islands shortly after dawn (ca. 05.30 – 06.30). Several seen in perfect light at close quarters as they crossed the bows of our boat.
4. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
28 May 2008: 1-2 on Mt. Tapochua; 1 at Lake Susupe, Saipan. 31 May - 2 June: One or two seen in flight daily on Rota. 5 June: Total three seen in flight, Yap. 6 June: Total five seen in flight, Yap.
5. Great Egret Egretta alba
26 May 2008: One in non-breeding plumage within the grounds of the new capital building, Babeldaob.
6. Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra
24-26 May 2008: Ratio of 55%:45% dark to light; no intermediates, Palau; 29 May: One dk. morph at the Blow-hole on Tinian. 7 June: One white morph, Pohnpei. 8 June: Two white one grey morph, Pohnpei. 9 – 10 June: 10 White morph, three grey morph Kosrae. 10 – 11 June: Several grey and white morphs on Weno, Chuuk.
7. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
4 June 2008: One in partial b.p. between the airport and Colonia, Yap. 5 June: Two in non b.p., Yap.
8. Rufous Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
24 May 2008: 4-6 on mudflats, Koror; 25 May 2008: One in flt. in Rock Is.
9. White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
24, 25, 26 May 2008: 5, 10, 20 totals recorded over and around Palau incl. 1-4 dropping into forest on Babeldaob. One flew through the entrance of our hotel – spectacular!
31 May - 2 June: Two flying around Rota seabird colony and landing in cliff – nesting?. 7 – 9 June: Six or more flying in front of verandah at Village Hotel – pairs nest in surrounding forest and base of giant rain tree right in the hotel grounds! Stunning!
10. Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
1 – 2 June 2008: One seen superbly in flight at the Rota Seabird Colony.
11. Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
8 June 2008: One female between Village Hotel and Nan Madol, Pohmpei.
12. Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
31 May – 2 June 2008: 3-5 females chasing boobies and in flight over Rota seabird colony
13. Abbott’s Booby Papasula abbotti
31 May 2008: Two seen in flight almost certainly this species; dark grey wings and mantle; large size; seen in flight flying away low over Rota seabird colony.
14. Red-footed Booby Sula sula
31 May – 2 June 2008: 100-150+ nesting, many with large young and in flight, Rota seabird colony. Apparently an even larger but inaccessible site is located at the western end of the island. Noticeably more birds present in early am.
15. Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
31 May - 2 June 2008: Circa. 30+ nesting in Rota seabird colony.
16. Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
24 & 25 May 2008: One Babeldaob; one jellyfish lake.
17. Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
26 May 2008: Approximately 30+ seen, many with multiple chicks on the road feeding on road-kill; foraging at the road-edge or crossing the road.
18. Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
26 May 2008: 2-3 seen briefly and poorly in rank roadside grass on west side Badeldoab.
19. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
28 May 2008: Two ad. Lake Susupe.
20. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
29 May: 4-5 Saipan Airport and total 10 on Tinian. 4 June: 2 on Rota; 5 June: 4 on Yap; 10 June: 6 on Kosrae airstrip.
21. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
25 - 26 May 2008: Singles and total three on Palau.
22. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
5 June 2008: One heard and seen in flight in mangroves, Yap
23. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
29 May 2008: 2 in non b.p. Saipan airport. 5 June: Three on the coast road, Yap. 8 June: Three on islet near Nan Madol, Pohnpei. 10 June: One on the coast on Kosrae.
24. Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii
24 May: Two off hotel; 25 May: Six in Rock Islands; 26 May: Ten near hotel. 8 June: Five, Pohnpei near Nan Madol.
25. Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
25 May 2008: ca. 40-50 Rock Islands; 26 May: ca. 30 in 1s and 2s over Babeldaop.
28 May: Two near Bird Island, Saipan. 11 June: 20-30 off Weno, Chuuk.
26. Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus
25 May 2008: ca. 20 seen daily between Rock Islands and Koror, Palau.
27. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
25 May 2008: Two spectacular looking birds in full breeding plumage shortly after dawn off Rock Islands; one ad. in breeding plumage in rank grasslands, east side Babeldaob.
28. Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
24 -28 May 2008: Very common (ca. 200), Palau.
28 May: ca. 500 (nesting?) Bird Island and scattered ones and twos throughout Saipan.
31 May - 2 June: Circa 20 nesting Rota seabird colony; many ones and twos over forest and scrub. 4-5 June: 5-10 indivs. over Yap. 7 - 9 June: Circa. 15 total over Pohnpei. 9-10 June: Several Kosrae; 10-11 June: <10 singles, Weno, Chuuk.
29. Black Noddy Anous minutus
25 May 2008: ?1-2 seen shortly after dawn, Rock Islands.
30. Pacific White Tern Gygis candida
(= Angel, Common Fairy Tern; formerly subspecies of Gygis alba)
25 May 2008: Up to 20+ Rock Islands – not as conspicuous as on Lord Howe Island.
27-28 May: Common in 2s and 3s throughout Saipan; 29 May: Ditto Tinian. 31 May – 3 June: Common on Rota. 4-5 June: Common on Yap, often perching in trees (nesting?). 7 - 9 June: Circa 40+ over Pohnpei – well inland into hills. 9-10 June: Small numbers on Kosrae; 10-11 June: Common over Weno, Chuuk.
31. Feral Pigeon Columba livia
Seen mainly in Kolonia on Pohnpei and in Weno, Chuuk.
32. Island Collared Dove Streptopelia bitorquata
27-29 May 2008: Common on Saipan; abundant on Tinian.
33. White-throated Ground Dove Gallicolumba xanthonura
28 May 2008: Superb, prolonged views of two indivs. perched in top of or mid-storey of hotel tree and scrub near Japanese War memorial. Several others incl. a juv. seen in flight. 29 May 2008: One juvenile flushed from the roadside on Tinian.
NOTE: Birdquest suggest treatment of Yap birds as separate species viz: White-
headed Ground-Dove Gallicolumba yapensis
34. White-fronted Ground Dove Gallicolumba kubaryi
(=Caroline Islands Ground Dove)
12 June 2003: A group of three followed by a fourth seen superbly well but rather too quickly in a leafy. Scrubby backyard of someone’s house with a few trees along the main road to Weno airport. An amazing last bird at the eleventh hour! Fabulous stuff!!!!
35. Palau Ground Dove Gallicolumba canifrons
BVD 26 May 2008: One seen briefly in weak fluttery flight – looked very rich rusty; short tail and rounded wings; Babeldaob.
36. Pohnpei Fruit Dove Ptilinopus ponapensis
(formerly subspecies of Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove P. porphyraceus)
7 – 9 June 2008: Several seen in flight and whilst perched; many heard, Pohnpei. 11 June: Heard commonly, two seen on Weno, Chuuk.
37. Palau Fruit Dove Ptilinopus pelewensis
24 – 26 May 2008: Heard and seen commonly in all forested/wooded areas; ca. 100-200 per day.
38. Mariana Fruit Dove Ptilinopus roseicapilla
28 May 2008: Two seen well and ca. 10 others heard Saipan; 29 May: Two seen very nicely in native forest on Tinian.1-2 June: 1-2 seen well, Rota.
39. Micronesian Imperial Pigeon Ducula oceanica
25 May 2008: 2 pairs seen briefly in flight, Rock Islands; 26 May 2008: One pair and one indiv. seen well in flight, Babeldaob. 5 June: One in flight, Yap.
40. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
(= Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)
25 May 2008: Circa 10-20, seen on Rock Islands and from beaches, Palau.
41. Pohnpei Lorikeet Trichoglossus rubiginosus
(= Pohnpei Lory)
7 - 9 June 2008: Very common to abundant; heard and seen constantly throughout the day in 1s to 4s. Noisy and when seen well, spectacular looking – rich, bright but deep red; bright deep yellow bill and dull yellow tail.
42. Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus
25 May 2008: One male seen, Rock Islands, Palau.
43. Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus orientalis
26 May 2008: 1-2 ad. seen well in ornamental trees along narrow peninsula at northern tip of Babeldaop – mid-brown iris; narrowish, slightly broken barred underparts; pale buff under-tail coverts with scattered dark feather tips; white ‘patches’ in tips of primaries of partially open wing.
44. Palau Owl Pyrrhoglaux podargina
26 May 2008: One seen superbly in response to tape play-back, 19.10hrs. in tall, lush forest at dusk on Babeldaob – could still see with naked eye; 4-5 others heard!!!!!!!!!
45. Palau Swiftlet Aerodramus pelewensis
(= pelewensis subspecies of Island Swiftlet)
24, 25, 26 May 2008: Up to 80 seen daily over Koror, Rock Islands and Babeldaob, Palau.
46. Mariana Swiftlet Aerodramus bartschi
(= bartschi subspecies of Island Swiftlet)
28 – 30 May 2008: As many as 20-30 total seen over Saipan.
2-10 over central valley and Marpi Commonwealth forest, Saipan.
47. Pohnpei Swiftlet Aerodramus inquietus
6-9 June 2008: 10-20 seen; noticeably unmarked, all dull crown. 9 - 10 June: Several over Kosrae. 10-12 June: Common over Weno, Chuuk.
48. Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris
24, 25, 26 May 2008: 10, 15, 50 per day Palau.
49. Mariana Kingfisher Todirhamphus albicilla
(= albicilla + orii subspecies of Collared Kingfisher)
27 – 29 May 2008: Up to 50 seen daily, Saipan, Rota, Tinian.