Southwest Pacific: New Caledonia Extension - August 2026
Dates: August 27-31, 2026
Leader: Max Breckenridge
E-bird
Total Species: 59 birds
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Overall Summary
From Fiji, four of the six participants from the main tour and I made for the French island territory of New Caledonia—a relatively large island located at the southern end of the Melanesian archipelago. As always during our time in Nouvelle-Calédonie, we were expertly assisted by local guide Isabelle, the territory’s premier ornithologist and guide. As such, we experienced three full and very enjoyable days across the island, with good weather, all the expected endemics under our belts, and some delicious food as well.
Our first full day was spent in Parc Provincial Rivière Bleue, which is undoubtedly one of the finest reserves in the Pacific. The birding here is wonderful and typically makes for a day brimming with “lifers” for those visiting for the first time. One of the main draws is, of course, Kagu, and one particularly confiding individual obliged us by emerging from the forest into a clearing where we were eating lunch, proceeding to spend the next half hour foraging for worms, at times only a few feet away! The other big target in the park is the critically endangered Crow Honeyeater. After struggling to track down an occasionally vocal pair early on, we eventually lucked onto a lone bird calling from a large kaori tree, which finally allowed for walkaway views of this unique and imperiled endemic. We, of course, relished great looks at a wide variety of other species during our full day in the forests here, with a New Caledonian Cuckooshrike revealing itself at the last moment—another species that is rare outside of the park.
The next day, we departed Noumea and made our way north toward Parc des Grandes Fougères, where we dodged some passing showers and added a number of birds to our growing list. Here, the stunning Cloven-feathered Dove was well received, and we had improved looks at species like New Caledonian Myzomela, Melanesian Flycatcher, New Caledonian Imperial Pigeon, Horned Parakeet, and our first Striated Starlings.
After a night at the very comfortable Le Domaine Deva resort, the next morning we made for the hills above Bourail, where a pleasant walk with stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside yielded several views of the furtive New Caledonian Thicketbird. Back down on the coast, we tracked down a calling Red-bellied Fruit-Dove before moving to a nearby observatory for lunch and some more relaxed hide birding. After adding some waterbirds to our list, it was soon time to make the drive back to Noumea, but not before stopping for a huge flock of Chestnut-breasted Munias and good looks at Long-tailed Triller. We enjoyed a final dinner together on the waterfront in Noumea, feeling very satisfied with our time in New Caledonia.
Day-by-Day Summary
August 27 - AM: Morning flight from Nadi (Fiji) to Brisbane (Australia); PM: afternoon flight from Brisbane to Noumea (New Caledonia) and transfer to hotel; night: Hotel Le Lagon.
August 28 - AM/PM: Birding at Parc de la Riviere Bleue (Blue River NP); night: Hotel Le Lagon.
August 29 - AM: Morning birding at Farino and Parc des Grandes Fougeres; PM: Deva; night: Le Domaine Deva.
August 30 - AM: Morning birding in the Bourail area and La Roche Percee; PM: Lunch and afternoon birding at Observatoire du Marais Fournier, transfer back to Noumea; night: Hotel La Lagon.
August 31 - AM: Departures.
Wildlife Seen:
MAMMALS:
Rusa Deer