Islands visited on Main Leg: Guadalcanal, Makira, Malaita, Santa Isabel, Savo, Gizo, Kolombangara, Vella Lavella, and Ranongga.

Day 1: The tour begins this evening in Honiara, Guadalcanal. Keen observers will note Common Myna, Pacific Swallow, and Eastern Cattle Egret en route from the airport to our hotel and in the environs. Night in Honaira.

Day 2: After a relaxed breakfast, we’ll transfer to the port where we’ll board a vessel bound for the nearby beautiful island of Malaita. The Solomons are the easternmost part of the so-called Coral Triangle - a region within Asia-Pacific that has the highest marine biodiversity in the world. Our ocean crossings between islands give us a good chance of encountering cetaceans, along with an array of ocean-faring birds perhaps including Heinroth’s Shearwater and Bulwer’s Petrel. 

Upon arrival on spectacular Malaita, we’ll collect our 4x4 vehicles and begin driving to the densely forested highlands where our lodge will welcome us with a fresh, chilled coconut beverage. Birding is possible from the lodge as well as along several trails that access deeper forest. Species likely here include Yellow-bibbed and Cardinal Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Papuan Eclectus, Pacific Baza, White-bellied and Barred Cuckooshrikes, Midget Flowerpecker, Solomons Monarch, Malaita White-eye, Long-tailed Myna, and Metallic and Singing Starlings. 

Day 3: We’ll offer optional early morning birding around the lodge property, picking up new species amidst the dawn chorus. Among likely species are wonders such as Blyth’s Hornbill, Red-vested Myzomela and Claret-breasted Fruit-dove. After breakfast we’ll take an extensive but slow walk along nearby trails accompanied by our knowledgeable resident guide and target other specialties known to these lush forests such as the fascinating Malaita Boobook, the truly superb Superb Fruit-Dove, Chestnut-bellied Imperial Pigeon, a subspecies of Oriole Whistler and a glorious endemic subspecies (and likely future split) of White-winged (Cockerell’s) Fantail. Night in homestay on Malaita.

Day 4: After morning birding around the lodge, we’ll depart for the coastal town of Auki for lunch, followed by a visit to one of the coastal conservation areas where we’ll enter the realm of the magnificent Sanford’s Sea Eagle, an apex predator with a 6-foot wingspan and an appetite for everything from fruit bats to fish, ducks and pigeons! Another, and equally (if not more) coveted inhabitant of Malaita’s lowlands is the Woodford's Rail, which we’ll also target. The shores of surrounding small bays are excellent locations for views of wading and coastal specialists, including Terek and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Beach Thick-Knee and Common Sandpiper. Others such as Striated Heron and Pacific Reef Heron are distinct possibilities. Night in Auki hotel. 

Day 5: We’ll make our way back to Honiara, the central hub from which we’ll launch many of our forays to other more remote islands. Given the uncertainty of our boat’s arrival time, nothing further is scheduled. Options include relaxing at our hotel, a walk into the bustling city center of Honiara and perhaps the Central Market (selling almost every locally grown product imaginable), or perhaps a visit to the National Museum or the Botanic Gardens, which and can yield some interesting birds including Black-headed Myzomela and the stunning Duchess Lorikeet. Night in Honaira. 

Day 6: We’ll leave early for Parangiju, also on the island of Guadalcanal, where we hope to connect with several species, including Moustached Treeswift, Ducorp’s Cockatoo, Red-knobbed and Island Imperial-Pigeons, Brahminy Kite, among many others. We’ll have breakfast with a view at a lookout and afterwards walk along some of the many trails around the property. Additional species possible here include Steel-blue Flycatcher, Dollarbird, Brown-winged Starling, and the astonishingly small Finsch’s Pygmy-parrot. Later, we’ll visit a locally owned and operated cocoa farm where we’ll take lunch and sample local products. The garden, filled with a range of splendid tropical flowering plants, attracts the lovely Olive-backed Sunbird and highly coveted Midget Flowerpecker, while larger birds such as Buff-headed Coucal and Long-tailed Myna occupy the surrounding forest. Night in Honaira.

Day 7: We’ll fly to Gizo in the remote Western Province. The Solomon Islands are comprised of more than 600 islands, and as we make this flight, we’ll pass over some 300 of them! Upon arrival we’ll board a water taxi to transfer to our hotel. If time allows, we’ll bird around the hotel. Although it’s primarily a base for us, Gizo does have a sole endemic, the Gizo White-Eye, and we’ll seek an audience with this handsome little species. Specialties in and around our accommodation also include the tiny Steel-blue Flycatcher.

The Western Sols are located in a utopian coastal setting with turquoise waters and shallow reefs positively teeming with tropical fish of every imaginable color. Indeed, it may prove difficult to drag ourselves away in the morning to go island hopping! 

Day 8: We’ll depart early by boat to the nearby island of Kolombangara, a dormant volcano that rises sharply from the ocean and most often has its peaks in the clouds. After arriving, we’ll head for the hills via 4x4 vehicles. A moderate hike into the moist jungle likely will yield views of Solomons and Barred Cuckooshrikes, Blythe’s Hornbill, Willie-wagtail, White-winged Fantail, and Yellow-vented Myzomela. We’ll also be alert for Solomon’s and Kolombangara White-eyes, as well as two glorious near-threatened endemic flycatchers, the distinguishingly coiffed White-capped Monarch and Kolombangara Monarch. We’ll take lunch at a remote mountain lodge with a panoramic view of the adjacent valley and, hopefully, soaring raptors such as Pied Goshawk. After lunch we’ll bird the property for a short while, targeting other species of interest such as Long-tailed Koel, Metallic and Pale Mountain Pigeons, and Meek’s Lorikeet. On our boat ride back to Gizo we’ll be alert for marine life including seabirds such as Red-footed Booby, Common and Great Crested Terns, and Black Noddy. Night at local Gizo resort. 

Day 9: We’ll cover two islands in a single day. Our vessel propelled by powerful outboard motors, will collect us from shore in the morning and steer northwest to Vella Lavella, the largest of the Western Province islands. We’ll spend the first half of the day birding here where the main target will be the Vella Lavella White-eye. The lush landscape is also home to other species of interest, including the minuscule New-Georgia Dwarf Kingfisher, our only chance of seeing this striking bird.

In the afternoon, we’ll investigate the much smaller, but more species-rich island of Ranongga, less than 10 km away. Another single-island endemic, the Ranongga White-eye, will be our main target, along with Island Imperial Pigeon, and the usually common Beach Kingfisher, whose long churring calls should alert us to their location as they hone in on a driftwood perch. 

Travelling between the islands by boat provides us with the tour’s best pelagic birding. Among species known to these waters are Brown Noddy, Roseate Tern, Long-tailed Jaeger, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater.

Please note anyone not wanting to undertake the day trip to Vella Lavella and Ranongga will have the option of remaining on Gizo and spending a morning snorkeling and/or kayaking. 

Day 10: After breakfast we’ll travel via water taxi to the airport for our flight back to Honiara. After checking into our hotel, the rest of the day is free. Night in Honiara.

Day 11: We’ll depart early by boat for nearby Savo Island where we’ll look for Melanesian Megapode. Although views of other regional species are expected today, we’ll try to spend most of the day in the company of this large, mostly terrestrial bird whose populations have sadly been much reduced by hunting in many other areas of its remaining habitat. This island is thankfully still home to a significant population of the species and it’s our best chance of seeing it well. Night in Honiara.

Day 12: After breakfast we’ll leave for species-rich Makira, the largest of the islands in Makira Ulawa Province. It’s densely forested with habitats ranging from moist montane forest to lowland swamp and is home to a number of endemics. Upon arrival we’ll transfer to our hotel in the nearby township of Kirakira. Night on Kirakira.

Day 13: There will be two options on offer. Option1 is a moderately difficult hike into the highlands of Makira. We’ll be looking for several endemics including wonderful and varied treasures such as Sooty Myzomela, Makira Fantail, the near-endemic Silver-capped Fruit Dove, Shade Bush Warbler, Makira Flycatcher, White-collared Monarch, Makira Honeyeater, Makira Thrush, and Makira Starling. We’ll have excellent chances as well for Cardinal Myzomela, Chestnut-bellied Monarch, Chestnut-bellied Imperial-Pigeon, and vocalist extraordinaire, the Makira Cicadabird! Option 2 is a visit by boat to a location on the south of the island. Many of the same birds can be found here, except for some of the exclusively higher-altitude dependent species such as the bush warbler. Night on Kirakira.

Day 14: After breakfast we’ll head to the airport and our return flight to Honiara. Night in Honiara. 

Day 15: Early morning birding at Mount Austen birdwatching station where we’ll look for any species we may have missed, possibly including Ultramarine Kingfisher, Mackinlay’s Cuckoodove and Brown-winged Starling. Depending on the granting of private permissions from landowners (which can be difficult to acquire and are needed on every separate visit) we’ll hike as well to higher elevation forest. After lunch, we’ll visit a WWII museum and bird in the lower elevation forests among a by now familiar avifauna. Night in Honiara.

Day 16: We’ll fly to Santa Isabel, the northernmost island we’ll visit on our adventures in the South Pacific. During our hike into the densely forested highlands, we may encounter Scarlet-naped Myzomela, Yellow-throated White-eye, North Solomons Dwarf-Kingfisher, and Metallic Starling, as well as Glossy and Uniform Swiftlets performing their delicate aerial dances in the skies above. If we are incredibly fortunate, we may even see the endangered Imitator Sparrowhawk, known to inhabit this area. We’ll arrive at the highland village and overnight there in private homes. Please note that anyone not wanting to partake in the 3+ hour hike to the highland village on Santa Isabel, has the option of staying in Buala at a lodge (with a guide) and birding there. Night in Santa Isabel. 

Day 17: Using the village as a base, we’ll depart early on well-established trails into the forests and densely vegetated hillsides, targeting a selection of very difficult-to-see endemics. The most famous of these is, without question, Black-faced Pitta, the most easterly and perhaps least well-known pitta on the planet. We’ll likely need to maintain a patient vigil for this brilliantly plumaged and reclusive deep forest dweller. While on “pitta duty” we’ll also keep an eye out for the rarely seen White-eyed Starling, along with the fabulous, but perhaps not quite as adrenaline-worthy, Oriental Hobby and Pacific Koel. 

We’ll be accompanied by local guides, who use their invaluable knowledge and bird-finding skills to lead us to the best sites for our targets, including (potentially) the day-roost sites of two fabulous Solomon endemics, Fearful Owl and Solomons Frogmouth! Hopefully, they will each be "at home"; otherwise, we’ll head out in the evening to listen for calls and do spotlighting in hopes of seeing the birds in flight or actively perched. Night in Santa Isabel. 

Day 18: After breakfast we head to the airport for our flight back to Honiara. Those embarking on the optional extension to Rennell prepare for the next leg of their journey and will be on the next available flight to Rennell. Night in Honiara.

Day 19: After breakfast we head to the international airport for our homeward flights.

EXTENSION TO RENNELL ISLAND

* Participants participating in the optional extension to Rennell should note that this extension can be between 3 to 6 days and is entirely reliant on the availability and operation of regional flights. Also, Participants signing onto the optional extension should note that the accommodation here is very basic, and there are only shared bathroom facilities.

After a 1-hour flight from Honiara Airport we’ll arrive on the southernmost island in the entire Solomons chain - the large raised coral atoll of Rennell. Relative to its size, Rennell boasts an impressive number of endemics. Its remote location has been central to its identification as a key site for the evolution and migration of species in the western Pacific, and the speciation processes of the regional avifauna. Touching down on the single grass airfield at Tingoa (the height of which is maintained by various groups of islanders wielding bush-knives), we’ll make for our lodging. 

After checking into our rooms, we’ll don our gear, and the birding commences. The primary targets on Rennell are the six endemics. Rennell Starling and Rennell White-eye should be easily seen. The skulking Rennell Shrikebill and warbler-like Renell Gerygone may pose more of a challenge, but we shouldn’t have to travel far for these either. The unspectacular Rennell Fantail and occasionally very tricky Rennell Whistler often pose the greatest issues, but we shall give it our all to round off the targets.

Another highlight of our time on Renell is hopping aboard one of the only means of transport on the island and making the lengthy drive along the coral road towards the south of the island for a visit to the largest lake in the insular pacific and former lagoon of the atoll: Lake Tengano. Here, Australasian Grebe, as well as Great and Little Pied Cormorants abound. The low-lying secondary forest in the vicinity also makes for good birding, and there is typically little difficulty in getting bonus views of the island’s fascinating endemic subspecies of Singing Parrot, as well as the near-endemic and stunning Silver-capped Fruit Dove.

Following our time on Rennell, we return to Honiara for one night, before departing the following day on our homeward flights.