![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZiKRSU4CB_m3wRHGBv7YSsEwXQbvvpUK5XSYQ1Db8oYoa5qggBE_Rg_FuCqY27ptQRGvb3Lz0GFJbv4l7ugVqjUD43TDBqApTNKFUaiz9f8CA6vJh-yy3LqwJeTAg8casgBNJwiTOqo/s400/Ribbon-tailed-Astrapia-imm-male-IMG_1565-Kumul-Lodge-PNG-22-June-2010.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RBnniJXtsaQZQVpFWwrTnT_XZm1d3ndjBw5lRHuiJPVlDwWxvkxISn8ol2b2hJKxi1QzsW3S_Csy7Zef_-vlHKOQYB2vgohcPHAMX9jaLUfMCG8-xO1hWitYwCCjH3TJlvIqv6h1X4U/s400/Brown-Sicklebill-female-IMG_1557-Kumul-Lodge-PNG-23-June-2010.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG26YvrC6OpB0t9XbeezjmFoxejFkIe6ezbHg7bjX9CfHKQIx57pnFirkkPxWb3PQ87lBe0tVjrKldaDLsRlXrEg2rtxYTeYWDh0f0JZWmdmoa6xOzLL3Lk3vyA9tNwZzhKzBFzSCRXs/s400/Chestnut-Forest-Rail-IMG_1641-Kumul-Lodge-PNG-23-June-2010.jpg)
Near the start of my first of 2 PNG tours this year we visited the now legendary Kumul Lodge in Enga province in the bird-of-paradise (BOP) packed highlands. On arrival at the lodge we feasted on the many birds in the garden and on their amazing fruit-filled bird table, that attracted immature male Ribbon-tailed Astrapias, top photo, and female Brown Sicklebills (both dramatic BOPs), middle photo. While watching the frenetic action we noticed a movement under the table where the normally shy Chestnut Forest-Rail (this one a polka-dotted female), bottom photo, was found feeding unconcernedly! Plenty of other avian morsels were on offer, although we could not resist a foray into the forest to pick up a flame-orange Crested Bird-of-Paradise (now renamed Crested Satinbird and classified within that new, 2-bird, family) that was seen at very close range: a truly shocking black and orange bird with a gleaming blue eye! A magical day that only Kumul, and indeed Papua New Guinea, can provide. Breathtaking.
No comments:
Post a Comment