Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

To Bunaken Island

I had a few shots left in the camera from my trip to Lake Tondano, just below Tomohon. There was very little to see on the side of the lake that I rode past. Just lots of weed.

Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

After five days in Tomohon, I grabbed a shared taxi to Manado and the next day caught the boat to Bunaken Island. The next morning I went for a walk along the track and found some good birds, but nothing spectacular.

Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)

Black-naped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)

Gray-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)

White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) – adult

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) – juvenile

Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) – female

Sulawesi Utara bird list

Black Kite
Barred Rail
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)
Olive-backed Sunbird
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)
Black-naped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)
Gray-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
Glosssy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)
Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)
Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
Barn Swallow

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Tomohon Birding Day Four

Yesterday afternoon, I went back to the Fish Ponds at the back of Kakaskasen. I happened to spot a Yellow Bittern but the photos are all blurry, so I will not post them. This morning I rented a motor-bike and went up to Mount Mahawu. I parked down the car park and climbed to the top of the crater. There was a lot of cloud coming in so I could not see much. After that, I stopped off at Taman Kota. Not much there either. The final stop was Bukit Doa. I had to pay to get in! But I got a free coffee from the cafe there.

Turquoise Flycatcher (Eumyias panayensis)

“The Turquoise Flycatcher (Eumyias panayensis), also known as the island flycatcher, is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.” (wikipedia)

Chinese sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis) – juvenile

“The Chinese sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. Also called Chinese goshawk or grey frog hawk.” (wikipedia). Thanks to Khaleb Yordan for the ID.

Bay Coucal (Centropus celebensis)

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)

Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)

Tomohon Bird List

Chinese sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis)
Turquoise Flycatcher (Eumyias panayensis)
Bay Coucal (Centropus celebensis)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)
Sulawesi Myzomela (Myzomela chloroptera)
Brahminy Kite

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Tomohon Birding Day Three

This morning I got up early again and headed up the hill through the fields wooded areas of Kakaskasen, north of Tomohon in Northern Sulawesi. I was not not expecting much but I got some really nice photos and a couple of new birds.

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)

This is a better photo than the ones I got yesterday. He was in a garden next to the Buddhist Monastery. I was really happy with these shots.

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)

Sulawesi Myzomela (Myzomela chloroptera)

Bad shot but just a record.

Black Sunbird ( Leptocoma sericea)

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

Baby Chestnut Munia getting fed.

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

Cattle Egret on a cattle.

Tomohon bird list

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)
Sulawesi Myzomela (Myzomela chloroptera)
Black Sunbird ( Leptocoma sericea)
Olive-backed Sunbird
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Black-headed Munia
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
Eurasian Tree-sparrow
Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons)
Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Lesser Coucal

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Tomohon Birding Day Two

This morning I got up early and wandered the back streets of Kakaskasen, just north of Tomohon. It was quite productive. After a big christmas dinner with some family of my homestay I went up in the hills out the back, near the Cecak Resort. And then found some fish ponds behind town.

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)

white-browed crake (Poliolimnas cinerea)
” The white-browed crake (Poliolimnas cinerea) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, India, Malaysia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vanuatu.” – wiki.
Not a Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus) – juvenile. Thanks Khaleb Yordan for the correction. .
tomohon. north sulawesi. indo.

Clements , September 2021, put into genus Poliolimnas ..

Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)

Black Sunbird ( Leptocoma sericea)

Grey-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis) 8198

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)

Black-naped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)

Sulawesian toad (Ingerophrynus celebensis)

“The Sulawesian toad or Celebes toad (Ingerophrynus celebensis) is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is a common and abundant species found in a wide range of habitats, including primary rainforest, secondary forest, plantations, cultivated land and towns.” (wikipedia). Thanks to Nathan Rusli for the ID.

Tomohon bird list
white-browed crake (Poliolimnas cinerea)
Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)
Black Sunbird ( Leptocoma sericea)
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
Grey-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis)
Collared Kingfisher
zebra dove
Little Egret
Eurasian Tree-sparrow
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Chestnut Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Black-headed Munia
Black-crowned White-eye
Olive-backed Sunbird
Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)
Black-naped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

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Mount Mahawu

I had to go to Manado to buy a new camera. I ended up getting the same model but a newer build. It was easier than I expected to find a camera. There a whole mall with a floor with lots of camera shops. I was lucky to choose a shop with a person who knew what they were talking about unlike a lot of the others. I jumped on a shared taxi this morning to Tomohon and am staying at a homestay to the north of the city. I took an ojek (rental motorbike) to the top of Mount Mahawahu. I was lucky that I got at least one good bird. There was not much around. Afternoons are not my favourite times for looking for birds.

Superb Fruit-Dove ( Ptilinopus superbus)

The Superb Fruit-Dove is also known as the purple-crowned fruit dove. “Native to Australasia, the superb fruit dove lives in the rainforests of New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, the Philippines and Sulawesi of Indonesia… The superb fruit-dove feeds primarily upon fruits and berries. ” (wikipedia)

Superb Fruit-Dove ( Ptilinopus superbus)

Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)

Yellow-billed Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus)

Getting ready to take off. I caught this one at Taman Kota, on the way up the hill to Gunung Mahawu.

Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus montanus)

I am a bit suss of this as it does not have a black crown. Edit: It might be a Warbling White-eye
(Zosterops japonicus). Edit 2: Yes it is. Thanks Manoli for the ID.

Sultan’s Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia doreya)

Super bad photo but it is the best I could get. I hate it when they hide behind all the leaves and branches.

Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)

I made this into a black and white because it was massively backlit. I have no idea how to process black and white, doh!

Sulawesi streaked flycatcher (Muscicapa sodhii)

Thanks to Khaleb Yordan for the ID.

Tomohon bird list

Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus montanus)
Sulawesi streaked flycatcher (Muscicapa sodhii)
Superb Fruit-Dove ( Ptilinopus superbus)
Sultan’s Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia doreya)
Yellow-billed Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus calyorhynchus)
Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)
olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis),
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Collared Kingfisher
Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)

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Banggai Islands

I got a shared taxi from Ampana to Luwuk straight after I got off the boat from the Togian Islands. Then I had to wait five hours for the taxi to leave and then it took six hours to get to Luwuk. Naturally I was exhausted so I stayed in Luwuk for two nights and then jumped on the car ferry to Salakan, the port of the Banggai Islands. In the morning I walked up the hill to the Monumen Trikora Salakan. Luckily there were a few birds up the top.

Banggai Golden Bulbul (Thapsinillas harterti)

Or Golden Bulbul (Thapsinillas affinis harterti). I am not sure if this is a full species or not. There is not much information about this bird.

Black-naped Monarch(Hypothymis azurea)

This is also called the black-naped blue flycatcher.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)

Not a Citrine Canary-flycatcher as I earlier thought. Thanks to Khaleb Yordan for the correction. doh!

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)

Black-crowned White-eye ( Zosterops atrifrons)

Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)

Sulawesi Drongo (Dicrurus montanus)

I found some identification tips – “Strongly bluish-black plumage with purple iridescence.
Short neck hackles, relatively small and narrow breast spangles.
Long and deeply forked tail, tips of outer rectrices curving upwards.
Brown or dark brown-red eye.
Straight black bill” (birdforum.net)

Banggai Islands bird list

Golden Bulbul (Thapsinillas affinis harterti) or Banggai Golden Bulbul (Thapsinillas harterti)
Black-naped Monarch(Hypothymis azurea)
Black-crowned White-eye ( Zosterops atrifrons)
Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)
Sulawesi Drongo (Dicrurus montanus)
Gray-sided Flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum)
Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca)
brown-throated sunbird

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Black Marlin Dive Resort

The Track to Barracuda Beach. This morning it was sunny so I had a look around the waterfront and spied the kingfisher I have been trying to photograph for days. Still elusive but I have got some record shots at least. Then I climbed up the hill behind the Pondok Lestari Resort and proceeded to look for birds in the interior jungle. It was pretty damn pathetic. I could hear lots of calls but could see nothing because of the dense under-story. Most of the birds were in the canopy but I could not see them. It was very frustrating. I had seen more the day before when it had been raining.

Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)

Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)

Ashy Woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus)

Ashy Woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus) – female ??

Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix) – male

Pale Blue Monarch

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Togian Islands bird list

Ashy Woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus)
Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)
Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Pale Blue Monarch
Drongo
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

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Togian Islands One

These photos are from Kadidiri Island, where I stayed at the Black Marlin Dive Resort . Every morning I ventured forth into the jungle looking for new birds to photograph. This morning it was raining. But still there are a few good birds.

Spotted Kestrel (Falco moluccensis)

“The spotted kestrel is also known as the Moluccan kestrel. Distribution and habitat Spread through Wallacea and Java, the spotted kestrel inhabits grasslands with scattered trees, lightly wooded cultivation, and the edges of primary and tall secondary forest. Along logging roads, it occasionally penetrates forests, and sometimes inhabits clearings within forested areas.” (wiki)

Togian Golden Bulbul (Thapsinillas aurea)

Togian White-eye (Zosterops somadikartai)

Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)

Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)

Also known as the Black-billed Kingfisher and Celebes Stork-billed Kingfisher. I think this is a Togian/Sula subspecies, dichrorhyncha, but I am not sure. Name in Indonesian is Pekaka bua-bua, Bonkaka, Raja udang perut hitam.

Sulawesi Cicadabird (Edolisoma morio)

Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) – female

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Another sunbird – black female or crimson female

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Butterfly

Togian Islands bird list

Spotted Kestrel
Togian Golden Bulbul (Alophoixus aurea)
Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)
Togian White-eye (Zosterops somadikartai)
Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)
Sulawesi Cicadabird (Edolisoma morio)
White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)
Black-naped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
Pacific Swallow
Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

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Bada Valley

I had an opportunity to stay in a little hut in the jungle on the road to Bada Valley. I had a yoga mat, some cooking utensil, some Indo Mie and some fruit. I was to be alone in the jungle for two nights. The hardest part was sleeping on the wooden boards with only a yoga mat under me. Ouch. But I was rewarded with some good photos and a couple of new birds. So it was worth it in the end.

Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)- male

The Knobbed Hornbill is also known as the Sulawesi wrinkled hornbill. It sounds like a dog barking. For a couple of days I was wondering why there was a dog in the jungle until I realized and saw a female Knobbed Hornbill barking like a dog up in a tree.
“A large bird, a male knobbed hornbill’s body length reaches 70-80 cm and weighs 2.36-2.5 kg. Its body and wings are black with metallic green tinge on its back. Tail white, legs black.”

Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)- female and male

“Male bird has high, wrinkled casque that is reddish brown in color. Its crown and nape are brick red-brown. The gular pouch under its mandible is deep blue with a dark line coming around below. Male knobbed hornbill’s eyes are reddish orange.”

Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)- female

“The female has yellow beak with brownish orange folds on the base. Its body and casque are smaller compared to its male counterpart. Casque yellow, head and neck are black. The female’s gular sac has a finer black line. The eyes of a female knobbed hornbill are brownish orange.” (https://rangkong.org/en/enggang-in-indonesia/knobbed-hornbill)

Citrine Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)

Turquoise Flycatcher

Pale-blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella)

Thanks to Panji Gusti Akbar for the identification. I did not think of monarchs. doh!

Citrine Lorikeet or Yellow-and-green Lorikeet ( Trichoglossus flavoviridis)

Sulawesi serpent eagle (Spilornis rufipectus)

Bada Valley bird list

Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)
Citrine Canary-flycatcher (Culicicapa helianthea)
Sulawesi serpent eagle (Spilornis rufipectus)
Pale-blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella)
Striated Heron
citrine lorikeet ( Trichoglossus flavoviridis)
Black-ringed White-eye
Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
White-breasted Woodswallow
Yellow-billed Malkoha
Turquoise Flycatcher

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