Southwest Pacific: New Caledonia Extension - August 2025
Dates: August 27 - 30, 2025
Leaders: Max Breckenridge & Local Leader
E-bird
Total Species: 52 birds
Click Here to view list.
Overall Summary
It was with great excitement that we were able to travel to New Caledonia this year after the recent unrest in the French territory. While there are certainly still tensions, life seems to have returned to normal for the most part, and locals are very grateful to have visitors back.
We enjoyed two very fulfilling days of birding in the company of the fantastic Isabelle Jollit. The weather was on our side, and it was a joy to explore the unique forests of Blue River National Park and the Parc Provincial des Grandes Fougères.
Our first real bird of the trip came in the form of a smart New Caledonian Goshawk perched beautifully beside the road in the morning sun. A little farther down the road, we entered Blue River National Park and quickly encountered a small flock of New Caledonia Parakeets. After switching vehicles and crossing a narrow wooden bridge that separates two parts of the park, we entered the rainforest. We started at a flowering tree where New Caledonian Friarbirds were in attendance, along with the neatly patterned Barred Honeyeater and several noisy Coconut Lorikeets. A New Caledonian Whistler did a good job of stealing our attention away, as did several excitable New Caledonian Streaked Fantails and the scarce New Caledonian Cuckooshrike.
Heading farther into the forest, a boardwalk showcasing an impressive giant kauri tree allowed us to penetrate deeper into this beautiful habitat. It didn't take long before the front of the line stopped, and there, next to the track, was a Kagu! And then another! They were practically walking around our feet, searching for insects on the forest floor. Then, from behind us on the track, a third came sprinting over, wings and crest extended! What a special encounter.
Back in the parking area, the birds kept coming, with a couple of gorgeous and inquisitive Yellow-bellied Flyrobins, as well as a friendly Southern Shrikebill and a pair of Melanesian Flycatchers. A quick check of the giant kauri again proved fortuitous, as a pair of the strange Horned Parakeets were spotted feeding above us. We enjoyed a wonderful packed lunch, with fresh salads and baguettes, coffee, and cookies—all the while being watched intently by several Yellow-bellied Flyrobins snatching up crumbs.
A short walk down the road after lunch yielded great looks at the truly huge New Caledonian Imperial-Pigeon, as well as stunning New Caledonian Myzomelas, Gray Fantails, roving groups of Green-backed White-eyes, and a showy male Melanesian Flycatcher. We then staked out a nearby flowering tree for the rare Crow Honeyeater, but despite our long vigil, no bird appeared. Leaving the park, we stopped to observe several Whistling Kites nesting in dead trees and enjoyed better looks at Dark-brown Honeyeaters.
Our second full day dawned with beautiful weather once again, and we headed north along the western coast toward La Foa and the nearby Parc Provincial des Grandes Fougères. We had a productive morning birding along the road to the park, where fruiting trees and seeding grasses yielded a number of new species—Pacific Emerald Dove, South Melanesian Cuckooshrike, Long-tailed Triller, New Caledonian Crow, Striated Starling, and several species of introduced finches.
The highlight was undoubtedly a splendid male Cloven-feathered Dove—a strangely proportioned and uniquely colored endemic pigeon that gave wonderful views. After entering the park itself, we enjoyed morning tea overlooking the verdant forests and impressive tree ferns. Afterwards, we took a very pleasant hike through the forest, where we had close looks at a great variety of Caledonian endemics. One of the highlights was good views of several tool-using New Caledonian Crows using small sticks to probe into the trunks of trees.
After another excellent packed lunch, we began the drive back to Nouméa, stopping along the entrance road once again, where we scored a pair of gorgeous Red-throated Parrotfinches.
In the evening, we enjoyed another wonderful meal on the waterfront in Nouméa and reflected on what had been a fantastic trip in stellar company!
Day-by-Day Summary
August 27 - (AM) Fly NAN-NOU; (PM) Noumea
August 28 - (AM/PM) Blue River National Park
August 29 - (AM) Farino, Parc Provincial des Grandes Fougeres; (PM) La Foa
August 30 - (AM) Departures from Noumea
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
OLD WORLD FRUIT BATS (Pteropodidae)
Pacific Flying-fox (Pteropus tonganus) - At least one observed during the day, feeding in a flowering tree in Blue River NP.