***on travel will update more info about this Island soon
Ours’ main target here are Standardwing Bird-of-Paradise & Ivory-breasted Pitta.
But we still trying for any possible birds beside for these 2 main birds for short trip here.
1. Standardwing Bird-of-Paradise, 幡羽极乐鸟, 幡羽天堂鳥, Semioptera wallacii
2. Moluccan Scops-Owl, 摩鹿加角鸮, 摩鹿加角鴞, Otus magicus
3. Ivory-breasted Pitta, 白胸八色鸫, 牙白胸八色鳥, Pitta maxima
4. Common Paradise-Kingfisher, 普通仙翡翠, 普通仙翡翠, Tanysiptera galatea, ラケットカワセミ, Cekakak-pita biasa
5. North Moluccan Pitta, 北摩鹿加八色鸫, 北摩鹿加八色鳥, Erythropitta rufiventri
6. Halmahera Boobook, 哈岛鹰鸮, 哈馬赫拉鷹鴞, Ninox hypogramma
7. Moluccan Owlet-nightjar, 冠裸鼻鸱, 摩鹿加裸鼻鴟, Aegotheles crinifrons
8. Sombre Kingfisher, 淡黑翡翠, 暗色翡翠, Todiramphus funebris
9. Moluccan Dwarf-Kingfisher, 矮三趾翠鸟, 西蘭三趾翠鳥, Ceyx lepidus
10. Blue-capped Fruit-Dove, 蓝顶果鸠, 藍頂果鳩, Ptilinopus monacha
11. White-bellied Cuckooshrike, 白腹鹃鵙, 巴布亞鵑鵙, Coracina papuensis
12. Gray-headed Fruit-Dove, 灰头果鸠, 灰頭果鳩, Ptilinopus hyogastrus
#####
1. Standardwing Bird-of-Paradise, 幡羽极乐鸟, 幡羽天堂鳥, Semioptera wallacii
A large, front-heavy brown bird with a long, pale downcurved bill and a distinctive elongated head with a flat crown and a forehead tuft. Orange legs. Unmistakable males have a green-blue breast shield and long creamy-white plumes extending from the shoulders. Females are entirely earth-brown, lacking the shoulder extensions and shield. Immature resembles female. Found in canopy of tall forests in lowlands and foothills, confined to three islands in north Moluccas. Regularly sighted at known display sites. Very loud when displaying, giving raucous “WAA-WAA…” and “KEE-KEE…” notes. [Ebird]
update 202310
– another trip another good view of this bird after longer wait compared to previous trips. I didn’t have best angle but still trying to show the beauty of this bird .. 8km bird .. worth ? YES definitely
– will share some funny video about this bird … may be finish this trip
– 另一个摄鸟行到这。虽然这次等蛮久可是还是很不错。可是这次站台太高2位团友安全问题没上来。其他都拍的很好。
– 8公里来回。很值得，这么美的鸟。一定要来拍。
– 我拍到它们踩蛋的视频，可是很奇怪。母的在上。有机会再发。
update 202310
[sorry for the bad video]
– this a weird scene I seen, or I missed out anything before .. why the female is on top and I record few times ..
– another trip another good view of this bird after longer wait compared to previous trips. I didn’t have best angle but still trying to show the beauty of this bird .. 8km bird .. worth ? YES definitely
– will share some funny video about this bird … may be finish this trip
[对不起，视屏画质真的有点差]
– 是我误会了，还是之前没看过他们踩蛋？为什么母鸟会在上面？！
– 另一个摄鸟行到这。虽然这次等蛮久可是还是很不错。可是这次站台太高2位团友安全问题没上来。其他都拍的很好。
– 8公里来回。很值得，这么美的鸟。一定要来拍。
– 我拍到它们踩蛋的视频，可是很奇怪。母的在上。有机会再发。
####
– 2nd trip to Halmahera 2023 and see you next week … never get bored to see it making noise and dance even the journey there bit challenge … I am coming
– 2023 第2团。多几天又可以见你。每次看你叫不停，跳不停终是兴奋不停。虽然来看你的路不好到。我来也。
update 202304
– lucky to see it display but not really full open view. capture video with 100p slowdown 50%
– 幸运的看到他在跳舞。可是没全露。可是还是记录下了。
###
another special tour, which has main target of this Standardwing Bird-of-Paradise.
It is a real good experience to be Halmahera, we just spend 3 nights. We easily got ours’ targets seen.
This is our main target, on 2nd morning. We hike 3.7km straight to the “hide” (on the way, we heard owlet-nightjar which is my favorite bird but we failed to see the bird and also rushing to the hide for main target.
Arrived before 6am, while every still dark. We can heard many of them already calling infront of us but just very brief view. after 30minutes, finally we got clear view of this amazing beautiful bird. But I still only got some extreme high ISO picture even with my CANON RF400mm F2.8.
Long story short, the birds stay for long and from ISO 25600 – ISO800, Managed to have perfect view of the bird and pictures… oohh video too .
Immediate of this target, we walking out and birding. There is another very good story to talk about “pick up service for the Pitta”
– 非常不一样的一次特别目标鸟团。我们其实主要3 只鸟加最好看完可以看到的猫头鹰。可是，来到这么好的鸟点。我们几乎没浪费任何时间（天气太热，我们还是有2-3小时中午到房间休息）
– 这只天堂鸟是我们主要鸟。我们到了哈马黑拉岛后第二天早山立刻步行3.7公里到鸟点。在路中听了好几次鼻鸱可是我们只是停留很短时间。所以没看到。大概1.5小时后到达鸟点，还是很暗（6am)可是这鸟已在叫不停。我们还只是看到影子而已。过了30分钟。终于看到清楚了。大家都高兴了。可是，我还是用ISO25600 (还是用CANON RF 400mm F2.8) .可是很幸运，鸟留下来到天蛮亮的。终于看到拍到。
– 回程中，我们再次去看白胸八色鸫. 当地导游竟然让我们知道人是可以与动物共处的。之前他一直讲不用担心八色鸫，他们不在的话。他会去“接“它！让我有机会下次再写写那个故事（希望有时间，完了这团后又要很忙到9月了。
#######
2. Moluccan Scops-Owl, 摩鹿加角鸮, 摩鹿加角鴞, Otus magicus
A small owl with ear tufts, a black facial border, yellow eyes, prominent black streaking on pale underside, and intricately patterned upperparts with conspicuous white wing markings. Occurs in gray and rufous forms. Adult’s crown is streaked; juvenile’s is barred. Inhabits forest and plantations within lowlands and foothills.[Ebird]
– pretty common across the center of Halmahera, almost can heard it’s call.
– cute and not that shy owl.
– 很特别的叫声，外表也不一样。蛮好看。
– 在哈马黑拉岛的特有种。几乎很普通，那都可以听到叫声。
– 可爱，也不很害羞的鸮。
update 202304
– first night, after heavy rain and long travel. we decided not look for the owl and owlet-nightjar. Next night, we didn’t spend much time to ticked this bird and Moluccan Owlet-nightjar at the same spot.
– very cute and not really shy to human.
– 第一晚经过飞机-八色鸫-船-车-大雨的一天。我们没去找这鸮。第二晚，晚饭后不用很久我们就拿下这鸮与冠裸鼻鸱（我最喜欢鸟种之一）
– 非常可爱与其他角鸮不一样。也不害羞。也很普通。3晚都听到。
#####
3. Ivory-breasted Pitta, 白胸八色鸫, 牙白胸八色鳥, Pitta maxima
A distinctive large, plump, short-tailed, long-legged forest bird with a black upperside and white underside, a striking red area on the lower belly, and a conspicuous silvery-blue shoulder patch. Juvenile duller, with buff on underparts. Shy, more often heard than seen. Usually found singly or in pairs in humid lowland and hill forest. Forages on the ground, but while calling often perches high in the understory or canopy. Very vocal; frequently given song is a mournful wolf whistle. [Ebird]
– 非常大的八色鸫。背部全黑。前部白+红。很特别。在这岛上，几乎那都听到这鸟的叫声。
update 202310
– arrived Halmahera, before anything go for this main target … due to long travel everyone seem tired but luckily the bird appear not that long compare to other waiting 😀 and it is huge in size, some with 800mm little bit suffer to take whole bird into frame
– 到达哈马黑拉岛，第一件事就是到这个点拿下目标鸟之一。其实有2个机会可是鸟人心情。还是越快拿下越好。可是因为长途跋涉，每个人都很累。还好比起其他八色鸫，这只让我们等了大概1++小时还好吧。喂食点，走到这也不难。
update 202309
– 2nd trip to Halmahera coming soon, can;t visit this amazing place again. Hope get some better pictures of night birds this time .. and this Pick up service Pitta sure another highlight of the tour soon
– 今年第2次到哈马黑拉岛，希望拍多点晚上的鸟。而这一只八色鸫应该是主打鸟之一吧。可是太容易了吧。可以接送的。
####
update 202304
– post this before I get busy months again. This is one of the most amazing experience on this trip. When day 1 arrived with heavy rain, after rain stop we did quick birding surrounding our homestay. when we walk near the river, owner say why not we go for quick try on the Pitta and keep mentioned “if the bird is nearby or little bit distance he can do pick-up service” !! (I am thinking pick-up service hmmm). But the bird came without long wait or any issue. (so we missed the pick-up service show)
– next day after Standardwing BOP, we walk back to homestay and pass by the Pitta spot. We would like to try for this pitta again for male. After long wait (~15minutes) , he say the bird is far lets’ him pick-up the pitta .. I was like hmm how ? But he walk into the bush and use whistler/call. After ~10minutes wait, we heard the bird call getting nearer and soon we saw him walking out from the bush. and you can see the Pitta is following him coming out from the bush (may be ~10-15m away) !!!!!! “pick up service”
– 觉得需要把这先写下，这是我在这11天团里觉得最不值得分享经验之一。（或在这一生中也蛮特别）。我们经过一天的飞机-车-八色鸫-船-车-大雨 的折磨。终于到了民宿。雨停后我们也不闲的去看鸟，当然我是唯一带相机的我就拍拍记录照给大家。走走的到了河边，民宿主人问我们要试试八色鸫吗？我们觉得时间不多了，怕不出来浪费时间。可是他说，不怕鸟不在。“我可以去接它过来” ！！！心想什么鬼，接！！！可是我们到后八色鸫一下就出来让我们看的兴奋了。（主要目标之一达标）
第二天一早我们先去看/拍幡羽极乐鸟。容易地拿下后。大家也想回去八色鸫的点看有运气看到巨大的公鸟吗。可是这次等了15分钟等候完全没声音，”他“就说没问题。我去接它过来！（心想又夸口）。他走了近草丛，大概10分钟后我们听到八色鸫叫了。然后他从草丛里走了出来，然后最不可思议的事。八色鸫在跟随他（大概10-15米）后跳了出来 ！！！我们都讲，这样都可以？ 我终于知道人-鸟是一起这样的。”接送服务“！
– picture after the “pick-up” service
– 被接送后的照片。
4. Common Paradise-Kingfisher, 普通仙翡翠, 普通仙翡翠, Tanysiptera galatea, ラケットカワセミ, Cekakak-pita biasa
– A long-tailed kingfisher of lowland forests. White underparts and rump, dark blue upperparts with pale blue shoulder and crown. Long white tail with 2 extended central tail feathers ending in spatula tips. Sits still for long periods whilst slowly pumping its tail. Very similar to Little Paradise-Kingfisher, but Common Paradise-Kingfisher is larger, with a paler crown, white rather than blue outer tail feathers and a heavier bill. The safest way to separate, however is by vocalization. Heard more often than seen. Song, a rapidly accelerating and slightly rising series of dry notes. [Ebird]
普通仙翡翠（学名：Tanysiptera galatea）是佛法僧目翠鸟科的鸟类。成鸟有蓝紫前额，蓝顶蓝枕。分布于太平洋诸岛屿和华莱士区。在一般的低地热带雨林，季风林，从海平面到300米都有分布。甚至在某些产地它们可以达到的高度为820米。完全肉食性的翠鸟，大部分的时间是在地面上寻找食物，用嘴挖掘土壤捕食昆虫，其中包括蜗牛、甲虫、蚱蜢、毛毛虫、蜈蚣、蚯蚓，也吃小型爬行动物蜥蜴等。
普通仙翡翠身长22 cm，雄鸟体重58-65g，雌鸟体重55-69 g。成鸟有蓝紫前额，蓝顶蓝枕。眼先黑色，脸颊和腮部蓝紫色。两侧颈部、肩胛至脑后背部有一蓝黑色半领。小覆羽黑色，中覆羽亮天蓝色。其余的飞翼上方是蓝紫色。尾部形成一个白色环带，中央抽出两根十分细长的绶带，外缘蓝色，末端纯白色膨大成拍状。嘴红色，虹膜深褐色，腿部黄褐色。 [1]幼鸟的头部羽毛深褐色，与黄色的眼先前额接壤，其它地方是红色。眼眉又长又黑。双翼，尾巴均是深褐色。大多数覆羽的内衬明亮的红色。尾巴中央是蓝色，其下浅黄色，有小覆羽羽为黑色，喉咙和胸部边缘有纹。嘴是灰棕色。 [1]
update 202310
– a beautiful Kingfisher, even is common but shy for picture
– 蛮漂亮的翠鸟。虽然普通，可是还是不容易拍照。
####
update 202304
– a beautiful Kingfisher, and for the first time feel such a beautiful bird such annoying. Each time the Pitta come near, this bird will fly from far to flush the Pitta away 🙁 no choice to wait and wait until it get bored.
– 非常漂亮的翠鸟。可是竟然一直追赶我们的目标八色鸫，每次八色鸫要出来时。他就从某处飞过来。我们没办法的等它厌倦。
5. North Moluccan Pitta, 北摩鹿加八色鸫, 北摩鹿加八色鳥, Erythropitta rufiventri
– another “Red-bellied” pitta, and it classified as North Moluccan Pitta which is endemic of Halmahera.
– it is very near to Ivory-Breasted Pitta spot
– 另一只“红胸八色鸫”分出来的摩鹿加特有种。
update 202310
– the Bird making call on tree and stand there for so long ..
– 这鸟一直在树上叫。叫了好几个小时。
####
update 202310
– another “different look” North Moluccan which photograph at feeding station at Ternate Island
– a not very easy walk as keep going steep downward sloop
– 另一只北摩鹿加八色鸫，在不一样的岛拍的。样子有点不一样。这个喂食点，也不是太容易。。。一直往下走。
####
####
6. Halmahera Boobook, 哈岛鹰鸮, 哈馬赫拉鷹鴞, Ninox hypogramma
– a small owl, found near forest here which call really funny like frog
– lovely and not so boring boobook.
update 202309
– it is fun to trying to find this owl without knowing where it should be. We just trying ours’ luck and yes.. it is calling dusk and managed to have good view of it not too late of the night.
– 野拍好玩。野寻更好玩。没资讯知道在哪找这鸟，我们就在森林里碰碰运气。天还没暗完，这鸟就在我们第一个点听到。没很久就拍到。自己找到的鸟真的无比兴奋。
7. Moluccan Owlet-nightjar, 冠裸鼻鸱, 摩鹿加裸鼻鴟, Aegotheles crinifrons
update 202310
– a very short special target tour to Halmahera, Indonesia. One of the night just trying better photo for this my favourite bird.
– 2nd night, spent not that long, spotted 3 birds and this stay long and quite reasonable distance.
– 到哈马黑拉岛找几只特别目标鸟。在一个晚上，去找找这只我最喜欢鸟类之一。
– 在1小时内，见到3只。还是蛮容易的。
8. Sombre Kingfisher, 淡黑翡翠, 暗色翡翠, Todiramphus funebris
– a Halmahera endemic, overall pied like Kingfisher
update 202310
– saw this bird all previous trip here, but this was lowest ever ~eye level and stay so long for us to get better angle pictures
– 几乎每次到哈马黑拉岛都看到的翠鸟，可是每次都蛮高。唯独这次站很低很久让我们拍够够。
9. Moluccan Dwarf-Kingfisher, 矮三趾翠鸟, 西蘭三趾翠鳥, Ceyx lepidus
– a small kingfisher just like other Dwarf-Kingfisher but overall blue
– 非常小的翠鸟。
update 202310
– a small kingfisher seem like to stay together with the North Moluccan Pitta, always calling while we waiting for the Pitta
– 这翠鸟，总喜欢与八色鸫一起生活。在等八色鸫时总听到它叫。
10. Blue-capped Fruit-Dove, 蓝顶果鸠, 藍頂果鳩, Ptilinopus monacha
– small fruit dove, as name suggested Blue headed
– 蛮小的果鸠。头顶带浅蓝。
update 202310
– use some extra time looking for bird, and this was just at road side. amazing flying so close and quite low
– 最后一天，有点时间。我们就去野拍，没很远/久。就拍到这鸠，与仙翠鸟。
11. White-bellied Cuckooshrike, 白腹鹃鵙, 巴布亞鵑鵙, Coracina papuensis
Medium-sized slender bird, pale gray above, white below, with a small dark bridge between the bill and eye (lores) and faint partial white eyering. Immature lacks distinct mask of Black-faced Cuckooshrike. Dark morph shows large but variable black bib and breast, mottled or barred at the edges. Inhabits eucalypt forest and other woodlands in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Call a high-pitched, two-note squeak. [Ebird]
12. Gray-headed Fruit-Dove, 灰头果鸠, 灰頭果鳩, Ptilinopus hyogastrus
– a gray headed small dove, overall greenish with white patch on wing
update 20240103
– a casual birding after got most the target, this bird flying left and right but after a while it gave small window for us to have photo of it
– 我们都拍到主要目标后，就随便拍拍其他鸟。这鸟一直叫不停，也不容易见到。可是最后还是让我们拍到。
####
