INDONESIA - SULAWESI & HALMAHERA

The province of Sulawesi in Indonesia is an oddly-shaped four-legged island lying to the east of Borneo and west of New Guinea. More importantly it is east of the famous Wallace's line, an imaginary boundary between distinct faunal regions and is the largest of the Wallacean islands with an avifauna totally distinct from the Greater Sundas to the west. Sulawesi has the largest number of endemic bird species of any Indonesian island with up to 70 currently recognised - and rising. We visit all of the best birding sites beginning at Lore Lindu with its forested mountains that are home to a wealth of birdlife, including such delights as Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Diabolical Nightjar, Geomalia & Hylocitrea. We will then make a special effort to locate the rarely seen Lopobatang Flycatcher, before heading further north to Gunung Ambang and the stunning Scaly Kingfisher. The breeding grounds of the strange-looking Maleo are next before we reach fabulous Tangkoko. Here many prizes await us, not least a fine trio of Lilac-cheeked, Green-backed and Black-billed Kingfishers. The shy Zoothera Red-backed Thrush inhabits the quieter sections of the forest floor, whilst raucous Sulawesi Dwarf & Knobbed Hornbills live high up in the canopy. This area is also noted for its richness of psittacids, with flocks of screaming parrots seen from a nearby watchpoint. Then it is over to Halmahera, largest of the Moluccas or fabled Spice Islands, which lies just a short distance to the east. It has a totally different avifauna with many more endemics and has affinities more with the Australasian region and we will spend our time amidst the wonderful setting of Foli. The overwhelming sight of a Wallace's Standardwing lek awaits us, and this is surely one of the most bizarre Birds-of-Paradise. There is also Ivory-breasted Pitta, Moluccan Owlet-Nightjar, Dusky Friarbird, White Cockatoo, Spectacled Monarch and so much more. So why not join us on this endemic rich and fun-filled ZOOTHERA tour that will leave you longing to return!