Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Sunday 8th of October 2017 and my alarm goes off at 5. I leave my room at 6 o'clock, after tea and oatmeal. Our friend's son is outside the hotel and he joins me when we cross the street to go look for birds. We came across a sleeping Pacific Kingfisher.

We saw many Pacific Kingfishers and I managed to come close to get pictures, so far they have been very scared, but today it was OK. I walked back to Vava'u Villa and my driver was waiting. I just went to check for the parrots. No parrots, but yet another Pacific Kingfisher and the bird was just sitting there so I could take pictures. What’s wrong with the kingfishers today?

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
We wake up a Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Early morning on Vava'u

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
No parrots, but a Pacific Kingfisher

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Stairs to Mount Talau

My plan was to start the day by climbing Mount Talau and we drove over to the bottom of the stairs. I'm on the second step when it starts to rain. LUCKY ME! Imagine being on the top when the rain starts to pour down. And I had forgot the rain coat for my camera. We waited in the car for 10 minutes but no improvements. We decided to drive to 'Utungake as I had read that they had spotted the Tongan Whistler.

We left Mount Talau behind, and I would be back when we were ready at 'Utungake. We have just left the dirt road behind when I spot a dove in top of a tree. We go back to investigate, turns out to be a Crimson-crowned fruit dove.

Crimson-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus porphyraceus

Crimson-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus porphyraceus
Crimson-crowned fruit dove

We drove back towards our hotel, Vava'u Villa. We passed the hotel and we turned right at the first road in the village after Vava'u Villa. The village where we had been looking for birds the first day here on Vava'u. We drove along the road and we crossed some kind of bridge or bank across the water and we were on 'Utungake Island. We see a White faced Heron on the other side of the bank.

We drove past the White faced Heron, made a U-turn and I sneaked out of the car trying to get a picture. But the bird was scared and went away. We continued driving and I went out of the car. I walked along the road and when the driver could not see me anymore he came after slowly. I got a picture of yet another Pacific Kingfisher.

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
'Utungake Island

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

We continue driving and I soon asked them to stop again. I got out of the car and I followed a small road down to the beach. I saw a few Plynesian Trillers and yet again, the Pacific Kingfisher. And I have seen many Pacific Kingfishers today, and none of them have been scared.

I had a few pictures before I got back in to the car and we continued towards the beach at the end of the 'Utungake Island.

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

I was soon out of the taxi again trying to get pictures of a Pacific Imperial Pigeon. The birds were too far away and I never got any good pictures. Walking back to the car and I see yet another Pacific Kingfisher, and the bird refused to fly away and I came very close and I got a few good pictures. But now I have enough pictures of the Pacific Kingfisher, I want to see the Tongan Whistler. But I won't give up and we continue.

We continued our drive and I went out of the car a few times to investigate some areas of interest up close. No Tongan Whistler.

Pacific Imperial Pigeon
Pacific Imperial Pigeon

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher

We arrived to the South tip of the 'Utungake Island. We drove along the beach and we spotted two Wandering tattlers but they took off as soon as we approached. At the North end of the beach we spotted a Pacific Reef Heron. Of course, the Heron took off and we decided to make another circle around the village to come back to the beach.

This time we were lucky and I managed to get some pictures of the Pacific Reef Heron. Time turns very quickly and it was time to drive back towards Vava'u Villa.

Pacific Reef Heron, Egretta sacra, Eastern Reef Heron, Eastern Reef Egret
Pacific Reef Heron

Pacific Reef Heron, Egretta sacra, Eastern Reef Heron, Eastern Reef Egret
Pacific Reef Heron

Pacific Reef Heron, Egretta sacra, Eastern Reef Heron, Eastern Reef Egret
Pacific Reef Heron

Pacific Reef Heron, Egretta sacra, Eastern Reef Heron, Eastern Reef Egret
Pacific Reef Heron

Pacific Reef Heron, Egretta sacra, Eastern Reef Heron, Eastern Reef Egret
Pacific Reef Heron

We drove past Vava'u Villa again to go check out a dirt road we had passed before. No birds and we drove back to Vava'u Villa. I was supposed to leave on a beach buggy at 13:00 but my Guide was sick. So I called the taxi again and they will come to pick me up at 15:00.

We left Vava'u Villa at 3 o'clock and my plan was to go back to Mount Talau but I decided to go check out the area north of the airport. Looks interesting on the map. Might be a chance to see some sea birds. We drive through the town and I spot a Red-vented Bulbul. We stop and I go outside, the bulbul takes off. But I get a picture of a Polynesian Starling.

While looking for the Red-vented Bulbuls I discover a spider web hanging from the wire down to some bushes. The biggest spider web I have ever seen. And in the middle of it, a big green spider.

Polynesian starling, Aplonis tabuensis
Polynesian starling

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Spider web

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Spider web

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Spider

Polynesian starling, Aplonis tabuensis
Yet another Polynesian starling

We continue the trip towards the “wilderness” North of the airport. We make a stop to look at yet another Polynesian Starling. There are plenty of them. But no sign of the Tongan Whistler or anything else interesting.

We drive past the airport and we continue on the dirt track passing a few pineapple farms. The dirt track comes to an end, but the driver continued on the since many year overgrown dirt track towards the shore line. We are hoping Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st to be able to stand and look down at the ocean and sea birds.

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is OK to drive on

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is OK to drive on

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Passing a pineapple farm

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is OK to drive on

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is slowly turning in to a jungle

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is slowly turning in to a jungle

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is slowly turning in to a jungle

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
The dirt track is slowly turning in to a jungle

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
We decide to make a U-turn

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
We decide to make a U-turn

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Passing the airport

Well, we never saw the ocean. OK, I could see the ocean below us through the bushes. We decided to make a U-turn as we were about to get stuck in the vegetation. So we turned back and we decided to go check out the Botanical Garden. Sunday so it will most likely be closed as everything is on Tonga.

They have a law against work on Sunday here on Tonga and the whole island is in church. We spotted a Red-vented Bulbul in a village and we stopped to take a few pictures before continuing to the Botanical Garden in Eneio. Otherwise, we didn't see any exciting birds on the way to Eneio Botanical Garden, of course, Polynesian Starling and the Pacific Kingfisher.

Red-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer

Red-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer
Red-vented Bulbul

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Eneio Botanical Garden

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Eneio Botanical Garden

Eneio Botanical Garden

You are not allowed to walk alone. You need a Guide, the owner. Yes, the Botanical Garden is private. I was told that you need a Guide so the owner (The Guide) can keep an eye on you so you don't throw garbage.

We stopped at a park in Neiafu this morning. Gates locked and my driver told me that it was locked to keep the people out or the park would be full of garbage. Tonga is very beautiful, but as all over the third world, they throw garbage all over the place.

Anyway, if you want to go to visit the Botanical Garden, call first!

I walked around the area outside the Botanical Garden desperate to find the Tongan Whistler and I came up with nothing. I gave up and I told the driver to go back to Vava'u Villa. The driver wanted to show me some mud flats close to the Botanical Garden. We drove over and I spotted a Pacific Black Duck, the same duck I saw in Auckland. I also saw two new birds, the Pacific Golden Plover and the Wandering tattler.

I thought that the Wandering tattler was a sandpiper as it looked like, yes, a sandpiper. But checking the internet and I discovered that it was a Wandering tattler

Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa
Pacific black duck

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Pacific Golden Plover

Wandering Tattler, Tringa incana
Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler, Tringa incana
Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler, Tringa incana
Wandering Tattler

Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga
Looking for birds

Pacific Kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer
Pacific Kingfisher - Last bird picture for today

To see the map in a full window click HERE

We drove back to Vava'u Villa for Pizza and Pasta night, eat as much as you want for 40 TOP. And yes, we stopped for a last picture of a Pacific Kingfisher. The bird was sitting on a wire close to Vava'u Villa. Whale swim tomorrow, click HERE for more about that adventure.


Birding/ Bird watching on Vava'u, Tonga

       
                  
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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