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	(Surfbirds header - Atlantic Puffins by John Malloy)

Trip Report Regions		Solomon Islands
Africa Antarctica Arctic Asia Australasia Caribbean Central America Europe Middle East North America Pacific South America		Birds & Nature Tours ~ João Jara Birds & Nature Tours is the first and only Portuguese company specifically dedicated to birds and birding field tours... Our guided field tours are designed to offer you the best of Portuguese birding, with a specific emphasis on what you want to see. Tours are adapted to cover a wide range of ability, from novice to expert... For further information click here... Bird Guides Directory in assocation with GuidedBirding.com List yourself in the Directory of Bird Guides and reach an audience of over 13,000 birders every week! An inclusion for a full year costs only £60.00 ($115.00 US Dollars) per entry. This price entitles you to five* separate entries for the countries in which you are available to offer your services. Profile updates (as and when you wish) are also included within the price plus any additional photographs. How much is this in my local currency? Solomon Islands Tony Wilson - Contact details: e-mail: ManuTours@nzbirding.co.nz Tel: 64 7 8647475 Fax: 64 7 864 7475 Link: Manu Tours www.nzbirding.co.nz   Profile: The Western Pacific Ocean is dotted with numerous archipelagos including those of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. It may be surprising for some that rugged volcanic islands dominate these countries. Mossy montane forests dominate the higher altitudes with humid tropical forest in the lowlands. Of course these scenic surroundings wouldn’t be complete without palm-fringed sandy beaches and superb coral reefs offshore. During a long period of isolation these archipelagoes have evolved a highly endemic avifauna of many colourful and interesting birds including an endemic family, represented by the Kagu. We will be delighted by the diversity of species, ranging from the soaring Solomon’s Sea-Eagle to the tiny Pygmy-Parrots. Coastal waters support a good variety of seabirds including the rare Heinroth’s Shearwater. I must say my most exciting birding was done here and the one bird that sticks out in my mind was the Fearful Owl on Isabel Island. Imagine stumbling up a jungle path, sweating in the tropical humidity, thinking you would rather be lying on a beach when your guide taps you on the shoulder and say's "look" and an owl that very few birders have ever seen fills your binoculars. What a thrill! Other endemic species we may encounter here are Blyth’s Hornbill, Silver-capped Fruit Dove, Roviana Rail, Rennell Shrikebill and Mottled Flowerpecker. Also available to Guide in: Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Vanuatu.