July 10 – Day 14: Boat to Kwatu

Another early start but this time we boarded a boat for a two day trip downriver to Kwatu Lodge taking with us an overnight bag. 

Boat to Kwatu

Other river traffic

The weather was sunny and the birding relaxing as we slowly motored along the main Fly River highway before turning off into a tributary. 

Saltwater Crocodile, only a small one compared to the beasts in northern Australia

Pinon's Imperial Pigeon

Palm Cockatoo

Palm Cockatoos

Pigeons and Parrots were plentiful including Pinon's, Collared and Zoe’s Imperial Pigeons and the impressive Palm Cockatoos, along with the colour-opposed Sulphur-crested cousins, Double-eyed Fig-Parrots and Yellowish-streaked Lory. Other new birds included a new BoP – Trumpet Manucode, and both Black-billed and Ivory-billed Coucals. Raptors such as White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Brahminy Kite were regularly seen over the river.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

Disembarking at a very muddy quay at Kwatu

Lunch at Kwatu Lodge

We arrived at camp for a late lunch and then headed out into the forest on some very muddy trails, hearing but failing to see three species of kingfisher although we did see a Cassowary's footprint so we knew they were about. 

Cassowary footprint

Back in the boat, we added our last BoP, a female Twelve-wired. More impressive was a Southern Crowned Pigeon which sat up high in the trees and three Grey Crows flew over. We stayed out until dark, getting a Papuan Nightjar over the river and hordes of Flying Foxes heading out to feed.

The rather rustic Kwatu Lodge

Kwatu Lodge is very basic but with six twin-bedded rooms all with mattresses and mosquito nets, two outside loos and a bush shower room it is perfectly adequate. The chef made us a reasonable dinner and after the log we retired to bed early as there was no electricity to keep us up.