Made a school holiday visit to Vanuatu. It was my fourth visit so I concentrated on trekking up Pic Santo. On July 1-4 my trip was organised by Mayumi Green of Wrecks to Rainforest based in Luganville, the main city of Santo. She did a great job. Crossing two unbridged rivers in the Hilux transfer made it to Ipayato Village. Here I found Chief Pierre and Franco, the chief’s son. We trekked 6 km up hill to Ureipo Village at an altitude of 320 metres. After a lengthy game of cat and mouse I found my first of several Vanuatu Honeyeaters.
Next day we headed out trekking complete with three hunting dogs and Derek, a young kid completing our party. We trekked all day eventually making camp at 800 metres. The first Baker’s Imperial-Pigeon was seen well at 420 metres. The first Palm Lorikeets were heard at 625 metres. Next morning trekked up to 890 metres where a dry rattling call and sonic bristlebird like song alerted me to the Santo Thicket-Warbler. A few sound recordings later and up popped a pair. What a mega! A bird was calling in the background of the recordings and a movement caught my eye. A rare Rusty-winged Starling and it gave some great views-one of the few birds curious to my squeaks. Mission accomplished as there was not enough time to get to the summit that lay 800 metres higher and probably two full days walk each way to have a crack for the little known Santo Mountain Starling. Next time!
It is a rather tough trek in slippery wet conditions. I fell over at least ten times! Chief Pierre, Franco and Derek were unbelievable in the bush and we enjoyed different nuts, fruits, herbs. They made ropes from vines, roasted taro and yams on hot rocks, replenished the water supply, built fires and made sleeping nests of ferns and leaves. All up a very positive and enjoyable experience to see some of the least known birds in Vanuatu in great company.
Other interesting birds recorded on the trek were Vanuatu Scrubfowl (heard and an egg shell found), Red Junglefowl, Swamp Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Mackinlay’s Cuckoo-dove, Red-bellied Fruit-dove, Tanna Fruit-dove, Pacific Imperial-Pigeon, Rainbow Lorikeet, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (heard), Glossy Swiftlet, Uniform Swiftlet, Collared Kingfisher, Melanesian Cuckoo-shrike, Fan-tailed Gerygone, Cardinal Myzomela, Spotted and Grey Fantail, New Caledonian Flycatcher, the delightful Buff-bellied Monarch, Southern Shrikebill, Golden Whistler, Pacific Robin, Yellow-fronted White-eye and White-breasted Woodswallow.
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