July 13 – Day 17: K17 and back to Port Moresby

We returned to K17 to start our last full day’s birding. There were plenty of pigeons and parrots feeding in a fruiting tree along with a Grey-headed Cicadabird. 

Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove

We tried to tape lure in a Blue Jewel-babbler but it only remained in view for a split second before disappearing back into the forest. We paid another visit to the King BoP and he was much more cooperative today, even sitting out in the open, albeit not for very long. 

King Bird-of-Paradise

We passed the spot where Sir David Attenborough was hoisted into the canopy to watch displaying Reggiana and Greater BoPs for one of his documentaries. Back at the entrance, two Grey-headed Goshawks flew around and landed in a close tree.

It was soon time to leave the area and we headed back to the hotel to checkout before making our way to Kiunga Airport for a two hour flight back to Port Moresby. Surprisingly for Air Nuigini it left early and arrived ahead of schedule. A quick stop at Dixie’s to check in and drop off our bags and then we made our way up to Varirarta. We only had a couple of hours but it was enough time for one good bird – Barred Owlet-Nightjar at his regular haunt.

Barred Owlet-Nightjar

We returned to Dixie’s for our last evening meal together, unfortunately they don’t have beer and there’s nowhere close to get any. We voted for our Top Five birds and Flame Bowerbird was the ultimate winner.