Once we got out of the ravine, the sun was out and it was not long before we got to the park entrance. The guide had some problems getting the gate open, maybe it was too early in the morning for him. We made it through and almost immediately we saw a group of Raggiana Bird of Paradise (BoP). These are the birds on the flag of the Papua New Guinea. They were very funny, one would call and then six or seven other birds would respond and soon the tree tops are a loud chorus of calls. We soaked up this spectacle as 8 to 10 of the birds were congregated right in front of us. I walked off a bit and spotted a pink spotted fruit dove. Soon a truck with the 10 folks from the Raintree Lodge arrived, perhaps their breakfast was delayed even longer than ours. It was time to head out and leave that spot for them to enjoy, or ruin depending on their bird etiquette. We headed down the road to the lookout. The lookout was perched on a a precipitous drop-off that fell off hundreds of feet. It was a stupendous view and the morning light was really lighting up the mountains. We then walked a 2 km trail and picked up 13 new life birds (LB).
The start of the park
Got to figure out to open the gate
Our first peek at the Raggiana Bird of Paradise (BoP)
There are several in the trees
This is the BoP that is on the flag
One would call and then several more would respond
A fantastic bird Life Bird #1 for the day LB#1
We are up on the top of a mountain
Narrow roads and tight turns require warnings to oncoming traffic
A pink spotted fruit dove LB#2
Brown Oriole LB#3
Look out indeed it is a very long way down
We could see the sea
We could see the mountains
A fantastic view
Off we go on a 2 km trail
Barred Owlet Nightjar LB#4
The trail starts out pretty nice. We have our local bird guile and Jun our professional bird guide
Luckily no walking through spider webs
We spotted the Brown Headed Paradise Kingfisher LB#5
A very sharp beak
Even the leaves on the ground are spectacular
A female Raggiana BoP
Little seeds sprouting
The Papuan fig tree puts off fruit with very little meat to it
The creek we are walking along
Loot at this cutie, the Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher LB#6
It was really small, maybe three inches including the beak
The ants were big
Some of the ants and beetles have toxins
A cricket
The Rusty Pitohui (LB#7) is one of only 10 types of birds that are poisonous. A powerful neurotoxin called batrachotoxin is found in its skin and feathers. This is the same neurotoxin found in poison dart frogs, they get it from the insects that they eat.
These mushrooms look ok.....famous last words
The Papuan Drongo LB#8
A Yellow Legged Flyrobin LB#9
There are as many butterflies in PNG as there are birds
A large fruit
More water is coming into the creek
Jun our hearty guide from Hokkaido Japan
A Fairy Gerygone LB#10
A Stout Billed Cuckooshrike LB#11
A message from long ago carved into the tree
The trail is getting more difficult
Variable Shrikethrush LB#12
Frilled Monarch LB#13
Mossy downed tree
Long tree roots
Intrepid travelers
These trunks will grow back together higher up
This is a huge pile of leaves made by the local brush turkey. it is basically a compost pile that is used to incubate the turkey's eggs. These megapodes are very elusive as they are on the menu of the locals
Maybe new figs sprouting
It is now a real stream
Strangler fig that has already compromised the center tree
Our last kilometer of the trail gave us a great babbling brook sound
We are at the end of the trail
Time to celebrate with a picnic lunch
