24 Mar 2025

Immersed amongst native forest in Kolombangara

Our Western and Grand Pacific Odyssey adventure saw us experience an action-packed day in Kolombangara. 

The WPO team were up early again, enjoying a leisurely 4 am breakfast before heading ashore on Kolombangara in the New Georgia archipelago. After clambering onto the best available local transport, we travelled through extensive tree plantations to reach the Imbu Ranu Eco Lodge, set amongst native forests at 350 metres elevation. From the delightful veranda overlooking the 1770 metre peak of the dormant Kolombangara Volcano, we enjoyed ‘scope views’ of Red-knobbed Imperial and Pale Mountain Pigeons, as well as Blyth’s Hornbills, Cardinal Lorys and Long-tailed Mynas. 

The birders dispersed into the forest, most choosing to bird along the access road. We had great observations of White-capped Monarchs, Steel-blue Flycatchers and Crimson-rumped Myzomelas, among others. Whiskered Treeswifts soared overhead, and noisy groups of small parrots flashed through the canopy, with Duchess and Meek’s Lorikeets both seen. 

While the birders of WPO had their eyes peeled on the forest canopies, those on the GPO later immersed themselves in the forest floors surrounding the Imbu Rano Eco Lodge. With our eyes cast down, we searched for native orchids, Ant Plants and skinks along the road. Led by naturalist Rod, we marvelled at Alien Orchids, a showy Dendrobium species, with its spectacularly ‘spotted and twisted’ flowers. Heading deeper into the rainforest, we saw metallic green Gastreracantha Thorn Spiders suspended like tiny jewels from their webs and an endemic grasshopper only found in this area of the forest. We enjoyed a great observation of this mysterious creature, with a bright green head, canary yellow thorax and scarlet legs with black knees. It was less than an inch long, yet it stood out amongst the sunlit green foliage like a small neon sign.

Returning to the coast, we were welcomed by the enthusiastic and talented band and shopped exquisite local carvings. Then it was back to the Heritage Adventurer for lunch, while we moved along the coast to Leleana Resort, with its amazing displays of butterflies. Many elected to spend the afternoon snorkelling on the stunning coral reefs, while others scanned the adjacent forests for birds, including the scarce Solomon’s Sea Eagle. 

Images © C. Finch, Heritage Expeditions