Introduction

Following the cancellation of the WPO recce visit to the Solomon Islands due to the unrest in Honiara in April 2006, the rescheduled recce took place between 20 February – 4 March 2007 with 4 days spent on Gizo and Kolombangara, 3 days on Rennell and 4 days at Mount Austin/in Honiara.

Since the violence, a multi-national force (made up primarily of Australians) has been deployed and this seems to have largely quelled the problems, resulting in the recce passing off without incident.  Indeed, many of the people met were amongst the friendliest and most helpful I have encountered anywhere in the world and I have no hesitation in concurring with the Foreign Office advice that, at the time of writing and having taken appropriate precautions, tourists can now once again visit these magical islands.

From a birding perspective, the recce was a considerable success with twenty-five Solomon Island endemics seen out of a realistic maximum of about thirty species.  In addition, a number of other birds were seen which can only be found in a few isolated places outside of the Solomon Islands giving us an impressive list of species to look for when we visit the islands on the ‘Spirit of Enderby’ in April 2007.

Amongst the birding highlights of the recce were good looks at two species of rail (Woodford’s rail and Roviana rail) which are both very poorly known and endemic to only a few islands within the Solomon chain, fantastic views of two Solomon Islands sea-eagles in their nesting tree on Kolombangara, as well as host of endemic white-eyes, fantails and monarchs.

Whilst we are unlikely to see all the birds listed below during the WPO shore excursions, with a little luck on our side, we should hopefully encounter a good proportion of them.

Chris Collins

8 March 2007

Systematic list

Great Frigatebird                     Fregata minor

This species was only seen in the Western Solomons (ie around Gizo and Kolombangara) where it was considerably outnumbered by the far commoner Lesser Frigatebird.

Lesser Frigatebird                    Fregata ariel

A moderately common bird around Gizo and Kolombangara with, for example, at least fifty birds seen in the early morning of 24 February off Gizo. 

This species was also seen in small numbers where we plan to land on Rennell.

Pacific Reef-Heron                    Egretta sacra

Only one individual was seen during the recce: on Kolombangara on 21 February.

Yellow Bittern                        Ixobrychus sinensis

A single bird was seen on 1 March whilst travelling from our intended landing site on Rennell back to the island’s airstrip.

Australian Ibis                       Threskiornis molucca

This species is very common on Rennell.

Pacific Black Duck                    Anas superciliosa

A few birds were seen on Kolombangara, eg at least five on 21 February and ten the following morning.

Osprey                                Pandion haliaetus

There is an Osprey nest just outside the village where we plan to land on Rennell and two birds were seen each day during the recce visit.

Pacific Baza                          Aviceda subcristata

This species was seen on three dates during the recce visit to the Solomon Islands: a lone individual on Gizo on 22 February, a pair at Mt Austin on 26 February and at least three birds at the same site on 3 March.

Brahminy Kite                         Haliastur indus

Only seen twice during the recce with single birds on Kolombangara on 21 February and at Mt Austin on 3 March.

Solomon Islands Sea-Eagle             Haliaeetus sanfordi

Endemic to the Solomon Islands and nearby Bougainville Island

One of the undoubted highlights of the recce was seeing a pair of sea-eagles in their nesting tree on Kolombangara on 22 February. 

Brown Goshawk                         Accipiter fasciatus

Rennell is the only island in the Solomon Islands where this fairly widespread species is found and up to two birds were seen each day during the recce visit.

Pied Goshawk                          Accipiter albogularis

Endemic to the Solomon Islands and Santa Cruz

This species was seen on about 50% of the visits made to Mount Austin with a single bird also seen on Kolombangara on 21 February.

Melanesian Scrubfowl                  Megapodius eremita

Endemic to the Solomon and Bismarck Islands 

Two individuals on Kolombangara on 21 February and a single bird was seen the following day in roadside scrub on Gizo.

A considerable degree of luck is needed to find this bird, however, as none were then seen on either 23 or 24 February, which were also spent in the Western Solomons.

Woodford's Rail                       Nesoclopeus woodfordi

Endemic to only a few islands within the Solomon Islands archipelago

One bird seen well at Mt Austin on the afternoon of 3 March.

According to “Birds of the Solomons, Vanuatu & New Caledonia” by Doughty et al, this flightless species is described as ‘possibly extinct’ on Guadalcanal, however, during discussions with our local bird guides at Mt Austin, it became apparent that they were familiar with this bird, where it is known as the ‘Grassbird’.

On the last full day of the recce visit to the Solomon Islands, one bird was seen walking out of long grass on a track we plan to use on the WPO shore excursion at Mt Austin. 

Roviana Rail                          Gallirallus rovianae

Endemic to the New Georgia islands in the Central Solomons

This endemic species can be relatively tricky to locate and some birders are known to have struggled to find it in recent years. 

During the recce visit, however, one individual was seen on the edge of the runway on Kolombangara on the evening of 22 February (the “traditional site” for this species), however, the following morning at least six birds were seen at two other locations on the island.

During our WPO shore excursion we will, therefore, concentrate our attention on these other sites and hope to see this enigmatic species which was only described in 1991.

Purple Swamphen                       Porphyrio porphyrio

Known in the Western Solomon Islands as the “Red Nose”, this species was only seen on two occasions during the recce visit: two birds on Kolombangara on 21 February and a single individual on Rennell on 1 March.

Spotless Crake                       Porzana tabuensis

One seen on Rennell on 28 February.

Pacific Golden-Plover                 Pluvialis fulva

Based on the experience of the recce visit, grass airstrips seem to be the best bet for seeing this widespread species within the Solomon Islands, with approximately twenty-five birds on the Kolombangara runway on the morning of 22 February and more than thirty individuals on the Rennell airstrip on 27 February.

Whimbrel                              Numenius phaeopus

A single bird was seen on Gizo on 21 February.

Common Sandpiper                      Actitis hypoleucos

Only odd individuals of this species were seen with a single bird on Kolombangara on both 21 and 22 February and another individual near the Gizo airport on 25 February.

Ruddy Turnstone                       Arenaria interpres

Four birds were seen on a small sandy atoll between Kolombangara and Gizo on 22 February.

Sanderling                            Calidris alba

Three individuals on a small sandy atoll between Kolombangara and Gizo on 22 February.

Great Crested Tern                    Sterna bergii

Only one sighting during the recce visit: a single bird watched flying along the seafront in Honiara on 20 February.

Black-naped Tern                      Sterna sumatrana

This species is moderately common in the waters around Gizo and Kolombangara with, for example, at least fifty birds seen on 24 February offshore from Gizo.

This species can be readily identified at a reasonable distance by its almost uniform ‘brilliant white’ plumage.

Common Tern                           Sterna hirundo

A small number were seen whilst travelling between islands in the Western Province, ie Gizo, Kolombangara etc. 

The birds found in the Solomon Islands are of the “longipennis” subspecies which differ from those found in Europe by having all dark bills.

Bridled Tern                          Sterna anaethetus

A few birds were seen in the early morning on 24 February whilst travelling by boat near Gizo.

Black Noddy                           Anous minutus

This species is relatively common in the strait between Gizo and Kolombangara.

Brown Noddy                           Anous stolidus

Appears to occur less frequently in the waters around Gizo and Kolombangara than the Black Noddy with only a few individuals seen.

Mackinlay's Cuckoo-Dove               Macropygia mackinlayi

Melanesian endemic

This species was seen on seven dates during the recce visit to the Solomon Islands although it was unusual to see more than the odd individual on any one day.  Birds were, however, seen on Kolombangara, Rennell and at Mt Austin.

Superb Fruit-Dove                     Ptilinopus superbus

Three individuals of this gorgeous little dove were seen at Mt Austin on 26 February. 

This species was also seen on Kolombangara on 22 February.

Silver-capped Fruit-Dove              Ptilinopus richardsii

Endemic to Rennell and a few other small islands in the Eastern Solomons

This species was seen on each day of the recce visit to the area where we plan to land on Rennell, although the numbers seen were relatively small with a maximum day count of five individuals.

It is worth being aware that the illustration in Doughty et al does not appear to be a particularly good representation of this species, as the birds seen on the recce all had a relatively uniform silver-grey head, breast and mantle with a fairly bright orange belly.

Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove            Ptilinopus viridis

This species can be moderately numerous at Mt Austin, especially if a fruiting tree is located, eg at least twenty were seen in one tree on 3 March.

Small numbers were also seen on Kolombangara and Gizo, eg at least three on Kolombangara on 21 February, with similar numbers the following day on Gizo.

Pacific Imperial-Pigeon               Ducula pacifica

Within the Solomon Islands archipelago, this species is restricted to Rennell and a number of nearby smaller islands. 

Although imperial-pigeons were frequently seen in flight on Rennell, these were generally too distant to assign to species as the fairly similar Island Imperial-Pigeon is also present.  At least ten individuals were, however, positively identified as this species on 28 February with a further bird seen the following day perched in a flock of six Island Imperial-Pigeons.

Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon           Ducula rubricera

Endemic to the Bismarck and Solomon Islands

This species was found in small numbers on Guadalcanal, Gizo and Kolombangara with at least three individuals seen during a “zodiac cruise” along a secluded waterway on Kolombangara on 21 February and a single bird a couple of days later on Gizo.  Single individuals were also seen on 2 dates at Mt Austin.

Island Imperial-Pigeon                Ducula pistrinaria

Endemic to Melanesia

During the recce visit to the Western Solomon Islands, this was by far the commonest large pigeon seen on both Gizo and Kolombangara with birds regularly seen flying overhead and periodically perched, especially in fruiting trees.  On the afternoon of 22 February, for example, at least fifty birds were seen on Gizo within 2-3 hours.

Smaller numbers were also found on Rennell with three birds on 28 February and six the following day.

Ducorps' Cockatoo                     Cacatua ducorpsii

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

Variable numbers of this rather raucous bird were encountered at Mt Austin with none seen on a couple of the recce visits to this site and then at least ten individuals on other occasions.

Small numbers were also found on both Gizo and Kolombangara, with two birds on Kolombangara on 21 February and a single bird the following day on Gizo.

Cardinal Lory                         Chalcopsitta cardinalis

Endemic to Solomon Islands and New Ireland

By far the most frequently encountered parrot on both Gizo and Kolombangara, this species was extremely common and conspicuous on both islands.

It can readily be separated in flight from the Rainbow lorikeet by its broad, rather than tapered, tail.

Rainbow Lorikeet                      Trichoglossus haematodus

Relatively common in “downtown Honiara” and regularly encountered on Kolombangara and Gizo, although at most sites it was significantly outnumbered by the commoner Cardinal Lory.

This species can also be found at Mt Austin with at least ten seen on 3 March.

Yellow-bibbed Lory                    Lorius chlorocercus

Endemic to the Eastern Solomon Islands

Although comparatively common at Mt Austin, getting views of perched birds is pretty difficult as this species seems to be extremely nervous of humans.  Consequently, most sightings during the recce visit were of flying birds.

Duchess Lorikeet                      Charmosyna margarethae

Endemic to Solomon Islands

Only a single individual of this handsome parrot was seen during the recce: in lowland secondary forest on Kolombangara on 21 February.

This species appears to be more of a montane bird and we will, therefore, have to hope that, as on the recce, we “get lucky” as the time we plan to spend ashore will not allow us to reach particularly high elevations on Kolombangara.

Finsch's Pygmy-Parrot                 Micropsitta finschii

This tiny parrot, which is smaller than a House Sparrow, was seen on all dates of the recce visit to Rennell, with up to four individuals sighted on any one day.  Unlike the Yellow-bibbed Lory, however, this species can be pretty tame and several individuals gave great looks.

The species is also present at Mt Austin with four birds seen there on 3 March.

Singing Parrot                        Geoffroyus heteroclitus

Endemic to the Bismarck and Solomon Islands

This species was seen on only four occasions with birds sighted on Guadalcanal, Gizo and Rennell.  Based on the recce, it appears to be easiest to find on Rennell with eleven seen on 28 February and six sighted the following day.

Eclectus Parrot                       Eclectus roratus

This fairly widespread species was seen in small numbers on most days spent on Gizo and at Mt Austin on Guadalcanal.

Australian Koel                       Eudynamys cyanocephala

A single bird was heard at Mt Austin on 26 February.

Buff-headed Coucal                    Centropus milo

Endemic to the Central Solomon Island

During the recce visit, this spectacular bird was generally heard more often than it was seen, however, it was still seen in small numbers on the majority of days spent on Guadalcanal, Gizo and Kolombangara.

It is best located by its extraordinary selection of calls which appear to resemble some sort of large mammal.

Solomon Hawk-Owl                      Ninox jacquinoti

Endemic to the Solomon Islands and Bougainville Island

Two birds were heard at Mt Austin shortly after dusk on 2 March.

Our local bird guides at this site are aware that we would like to see this species on the WPO shore excursion and the villagers have been alerted that a small reward will be paid if anyone locates a reliable roost for this species.

Glossy Swiftlet                       Collocalia esculenta

A comparatively common bird in the Solomon Islands with good numbers seen, for example, on Kolombangara and Rennell.

Uniform Swiftlet                      Aerodramus vanikorensis

This species seems to largely replace the Glossy Swiftlet at Mt Austin where it is relatively numerous.

Moustached Treeswift                  Hemiprocne mystacea

Although only ever seen in relatively small numbers, this species was seen on all the islands in the Solomons we are planning to visit on the WPO with the exception of Guadalcanal.  The largest number of sightings on any one day was ten which were seen on a "zodiac cruise" along a mangrove waterway on Kolombangara on 21 February. 

Ultramarine Kingfisher                Todirhamphus leucopygius

Endemic to the islands of Guadalcanal, Choiseul, Isabel and Bougainville

The only location on the WPO itinerary where this bird occurs is Mt Austin and during the four visits made to this site on the recce, this species were seen on two occasions, with two individuals on 26 February and a further bird on 3 March.

Collared Kingfisher                   Todirhamphus chloris

This species was seen on six dates during the recce with sightings on Rennell, Gizo and Kolombangara.  The maximum day-count was three birds on Rennell on 1 March.

It is worth noting that a number of subspecies occur along the route we plan to take on the WPO and the birds on Rennell, for example, look fairly different from those on Gizo and Kolombangara.

Dollarbird                            Eurystomus orientalis

The only sighting of this species was one bird at Mt Austin on 3 March.

Blyth's Hornbill                      Aceros plicatus

A single bird was seen perched in roadside trees on Gizo in the late afternoon of 22 February with two ‘fly-overs’ then seen close-by the following morning. 

Hornbills are, however, comparatively noisy flyers (ie as they beat their wings) and several individuals were also heard flying at Mt Austin.

Pacific Swallow                       Hirundo tahitica

This species was common in “downtown Honiara” and in more open habitats on both Gizo and Kolombangara.

Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike              Coracina caledonica

Endemic to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands

Three birds were seen during the mangrove “zodiac cruise” on Kolombangara on 21 February.

Yellow-eyed Cuckoo-shrike             Coracina lineata

This species seemed to be most numerous at Mt Austin where up to four birds were seen on any one day.

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike           Coracina papuensis

The most frequently encountered cuckoo-shrike on Kolombangara and Gizo with, for example, at least four individuals seen on Kolombangara on the late afternoon of 21 February.

There were also sightings from Mt Austin where two were seen on 3 March.

Cicadabird                            Coracina tenuirostris

This species was less commonly encountered on the recce than both the Yellow-eyed and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes and was only seen on two dates, with three birds on Gizo and a similar number at Mt Austin.

Solomon Islands Cuckoo-shrike         Coracina holopolia

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

This species is considered “uncommon” in lowland forest (Doughty et al) and the only sightings on the recce were four birds at Mt Austin on 3 March.

Island Thrush                         Turdus poliocephalus

Although this species occurs on many islands in the West Pacific, the only one on the WPO itinerary where there is a reasonable chance of finding it is Rennell. 

During the recce visit, however, the only sightings near to where we plan to land on Rennell were a party of six individuals and a separate sighting of a single bird.

All the birds seen resembled “mini Blackbirds” being black with yellow legs and bills.

Willie-wagtail                        Rhipidura leucophrys

This species is typically found in disturbed habitats and towns with several, for example, seen on Guadalcanal, Gizo and Kolombangara.

Rennell Fantail                       Rhipidura rennelliana

Endemic to Rennell Island

This species is the only fantail which occurs on Rennell and was seen on all days of the recce visit to this island.  It was, however, never seen in large numbers with the maximum number of sightings on any one day being three.

Unlike some species of fantail which will live in relatively open habitat, this bird appears to be more of a forest bird with most of the recce sightings being in forest.

Rufous Fantail                        Rhipidura rufifrons

It was something of a surprise that this species was only seen on one occasion on the recce visit to the Solomon Islands with two birds at Mt Austin on 3 March.

This species is commoner on some of the other islands we intend to visit later in the trip, eg Saipan.

Rennell Shrikebill                    Clytorhynchus hamlini

Endemic to Rennell Island

This species is moderately common near to where we plan to land on Rennell for the WPO shore excursion and an estimated twenty birds were seen on the one full day spent in this area.

Chestnut-bellied Monarch              Monarcha castaneiventris

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

The only island included on the WPO itinerary where we stand a chance of finding this species is Guadalcanal.  It is, however, not particularly common at Mt Austin and the maximum number seen on any one day during the recce visits to this site was five individuals.

White-capped Monarch                  Monarcha richardsii

Endemic to the New Georgia islands

This spectacular endemic is relatively common on Gizo and can also be seen in reasonable numbers on Kolombangara.  On 22 February, for example, at least twenty birds were seen during a late afternoon walk on Gizo.

Black-and-white Monarch               Monarcha barbatus

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

This is another relatively uncommon species where Mt Austin is the only locality on the WPO itinerary where we stand a chance of finding it.  The only sightings on the recce visit were of two birds on 26 February.

Steel-blue Flycatcher                 Myiagra ferrocyanea

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

The male plumage of this bird is very similar to the next species, however, there is no overlap in their distributions with Steel-blue flycatcher occurring on most islands in the Solomon archipelago but being absent from Makira and Rennell, whereas Rennell is the only island within the Solomon chain where Melanesian flycatcher can be found.

During the recce, this species was seen in small numbers on most days whilst visiting Kolombangara, Gizo and Guadalcanal with the maximum day count being six birds at Mt Austin on 26 February.

Melanesian (New Caledonian) Flycatcher                 Myiagra caledonica

Endemic to Rennell, Vanuatu and New Caledonia

This species was only seen on a couple of occasions during the recce visit to Rennell.

Golden Whistler                       Pachycephala pectoralis

Only seen on two occasions during the recce with a male at Mt Austin on 26 February and a female on Rennell on 28 February.

As noted in the WPO Norfolk Island recce report from 2006, the plumage of this species varies markedly across its range and further work is surely required to establish if the current taxonomic treatment is correct.  Whilst the birds seen in the Solomon Islands were closer in plumage to those in Australia than the birds on Norfolk Island, they still differed markedly with the male bird having a yellow throat and the female being far brighter in plumage than the birds on the Australian mainland.

Fan-tailed Gerygone                   Gerygone flavolateralis

Endemic to Rennell, Vanuatu and New Caledonia

This bird is relatively common in the area we plan to visit on the WPO shore excursion on Rennell.

Olive-backed Sunbird                  Cinnyris jugularis

Small numbers of this species were seen on all the islands we plan to visit in the Solomons with the largest numbers noted on Gizo, where the maximum day count was six individuals.

Midget Flowerpecker                   Dicaeum aeneum

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

This tiny member of the Flowerpecker family was relatively common at Mt Austin, however, the numbers seen did vary from one visit to the next.  For example, at least twenty birds were seen on 26 February but only five individuals were noted on 3 March.

Rennell White-eye                     Zosterops rennellianus

Endemic to Rennell Island

This species is not particularly common in the area we plan to visit on the WPO shore excursion on Rennell, however, single figure numbers were seen on each day of the recce visit.

Although Doughty el al state that this species is “restricted to primary forest” and is not well known for “venturing into disturbed areas” a few birds were seen around the village near to where we plan to land on Rennell.

Splendid White-eye                    Zosterops luteirostris

Endemic to Gizo Island

This single island endemic was encountered on all visits to the area we are planning to visit on the WPO Gizo shore excursion.

Generally this species moves around in small mixed-species flocks which typically include between four and eight white-eyes with the most common other species in these flocks being the White-capped monarch.

Typically two or three flocks were seen on most visits to the site we intend to go to, however, the flocks often moved through fairly speedily.

Solomon Islands White-eye             Zosterops rendovae

Endemic to the New Georgia Islands

Only a single bird was seen during the recce visit to Kolombangara, however, this had much brighter underparts than in the illustration in Doughty et al.

Given this species is entirely restricted to the New Georgia group of islands, it seems particularly poorly named, given the number of other endemic white-eyes there are in the Solomon Islands.

Bare-eyed White-eye                   Woodfordia superciliosa

Endemic to Rennell Island

The commonest birds in the area where we are planning to visit on the Rennell shore excursion with dozens of birds seen each day.

This is another species where the illustration in Doughty et al did not appear to be particularly accurate, as the bare skin which surrounded the eye was a relatively uniform narrow black band which then extended onto the lores.  The plate, however, suggests there is no bare skin above the eye and that this feature also extends well below and behind the eye.

Cardinal Myzomela                     Myzomela cardinalis

Rennell is the only island on the WPO itinerary where we can expect to find this species, however, it was very common and conspicuous in the area where the shore excursion is scheduled to take place.

Yellow-vented Myzomela                Myzomela eichhorni

Endemic to the New Georgia group of islands in the Western Solomon Islands

This is the only Myzomela to occur on Gizo and Kolombangara and during the recce visit, it was found to be reasonably common.  For example, at least ten birds were seen on Kolombangara on the afternoon of 21 February, at least twenty were seen on the island the following morning and then ten on Gizo that afternoon.

Black-headed Myzomela                 Myzomela melanocephala

Endemic to the Central Solomon Islands including Guadalcanal

Compared with the previous species, this bird was relatively uncommon at Mt Austin and it was only seen on a couple of the recce visits to this site.  The maximum day count was five individuals on 3 March.

White-billed (Guadalcanal) Crow                      Corvus woodfordi

Endemic to the Central Solomon Islands including Guadalcanal

This species which is considered “uncommon” by Doughty et al was seen on two occasions during the recce visits to Mt Austin, with two birds seen in the afternoon of 26 February and then three there on 3 March.

Metallic Starling                     Aplonis metallica

This species was not uncommon on Gizo.

Singing Starling                      Aplonis cantoroides

Endemic to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea

This species was common in Honiara, however, it was not seen during the recce visits to Mt Austin which is only a few miles away.  It was, however, a reasonably numerous and conspicuous bird on both Kolombangara and Gizo.

Rennell Starling                      Aplonis insularis

Endemic to Rennell Island

Although the local populace in the area we plan to visit on Rennell were very familiar with this species, only a single individual was seen during the recce visit.

It is possible that this species may move around the island depending on availability of fruiting trees etc, as several individuals were seen near the Rennell airstrip which is approximately fifteen miles from where we plan to go ashore.

Brown-winged Starling                 Aplonis grandis

Endemic to the Solomon Islands

This species was common at Mt Austin with upwards of fifty birds seen on most of the recce visits.

Yellow-faced Myna                     Mino dumontii

This species is relatively common at Mt Austin, especially around fruiting trees, and up to fifty birds were seen during the recce visits to this site.

Although also seen on Gizo, the species appeared to be significantly less common there with the maximum day count being four birds.

Common Myna                     Acridotheres tristis

This introduced species is well established in Honiara where it is common.