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Approaching Tetepare across an unusually calm sea Dawn comes to Tetepare A coastal track enters the islands primary forest past limestone outcrops A Melanesian scrubfowl, or megapode, preoccupied with its scratchings in the leaf litter Sacred Kingfisher Male White-capped Monarch forages in the forest midstory Juvenile plants attempt to gain a foothold in the shadow of a forest giant The endemic Tetepare White-eye has unique epaulette feathers, <br>and lacks the white eye ring common to other species of its family. Looking up into the canopy of the primary rainforest The rich and sometimes quite loud whistles of yellow-faced mynahs <br>are distinctive of the island soundscape Ducoups cockatoo has a relatively melodic call (for a cockatoo) Cicadas begin calling with the dawn, <br>and will continue to chorus in waves throughout the day White-capped Monarchs begin singing in the very early dawn, <br>creating an ethereally musical effect A pair of juvenile olive-backed sunbirds huddle up for a rest in the afternoon The singing parrot is aptly named, having a tuneful, if jangly, call It is tempting to think that the female singing parrot has less colour <br>but she is quite a jewel herself! Island imperial pigeons give lovely low calls that carry through the rainforest The irridescent plumage and fiery eye of a metallic starling <br>These birds hang out in vocal flocks, and are heard throughout the day A massive starngler fig emerges clear of the surrounding rainforest A yellow-eyed cuckoo-shrike scans the midstory of the forest Peek-a-boo! A yellow-faced mynah observes warily This is the female white-capped monarch, who has an entirely different call The primary rainforest of Tetepare Lace monitors are quite commonly encountered, <br>patrolling the forest floor for delicacies such as megapode eggs. Tiny jewel spider in its web Abstract leaf patterns The un-birdlike growls and booming calls of the buff-breasted coucal <br>are both extraordinary and unique A cathedral of a tree Despite their size and colour, the first sign of Blythes hornbills <br>is often their noisy wingbeats and cackling calls Rainbow lorikeets are common (and noisy!) throughout the western Pacific <br>with a number of races found on different island groups A pair of Solomon sea eagles tumble through the air, <br>talons locked in a spectacular display flight Claret-breasted fruit doves are found throughout the islands Down by the coast, in the intertidal zone, a tiny mudskipper draws itself out of the water A beach stone curlew patrols the shoreline of Tetepares lagoon Waves crash on Tetepares barrier reef. <br>Beyond, the sun sets over nearby Rendova Island Pristine coral reefs and sea grass beds of Tetepares sheltered lagoon
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Approaching Tetepare across an unusually calm sea

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Image gallery to accompany the album: 'The Last Wild Island - Tetepare'

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