04 Apr 2023

Return to Kolombangara and Ranongga Islands

Yesterday we learned that we would be unable to land at Chuuk in Micronesia, but fortunately our intrepid expedition leader arranged an extra day's birding as Heritage Adventurer continued her travels along the Solomon Islands.

In the morning we returned to Kolombangara, landing at Habere Village on the west coast. Here we again tried to see the Roviana Rail, but it remained elusive, with only a few birders glimpsing the bird. We were, however, rewarded by several small groups of Duchess Lorikeets screeching overhead.

After a delightful mangrove Zodiac cruise, we steamed briskly over to Ranongga Island, where there was time for a snorkel over some stunning corals, or the chance to witness the island's endemic Ranongga White-eye.

From there we made our way back to Gizo to clear customs and leave the Solomons. En route, we found a few more Heinroth's Shearwaters among the large feeding groups of Wedge-tailed Shearwater, noddies, terns, and frigatebirds.

Image (c): Heritage Expeditions