Discover one of the South Pacific’s last true frontiers on an extraordinary bird photography expedition to the Reef Islands of the Solomon Islands. Exceedingly remote and rarely visited, these pristine coral atolls rise from turquoise seas and remain virtually unchanged by modern tourism. Here, seabirds such as frigatebirds, boobies, noddies and terns breed in remarkable numbers, offering unparalleled opportunities for close, natural photography in an environment of breathtaking beauty. The focus of this Bird-Photo-Tour is immersive, respectful access to thriving seabird colonies where behavior, flight, and interaction can be captured against the dramatic backdrop of palm-fringed atolls, luminous lagoons, and endless ocean horizons.
Our journey will traverse a number of spectacular atolls each with its own character and photographic rewards. Working slowly and sensitively in these wild places, we maximize time with breeding seabirds while enjoying the rare privilege of staying within the atolls themselves, surrounded by nature day and night. This is a trip for bird photographers seeking adventure, authenticity and abundance: a chance to document seabird life as it has existed for centuries, far from crowds, in one of the least explored and most beautiful corners of the Pacific.
Frigatebirds, Noddies and Boobies: Lesser Frigatebird / Great Frigatebird / Black Noddy / Brown Noddy / Brown Booby / Red-footed Booby
Terns: Blue-billed White Tern / Greater Crested Tern / Bridled Tern / Black-naped Tern
Waders: Bristle-thighed Curlew / Wandering Tattler / Pacific Golden Plover / Ruddy Turnstone
Kingfishers: Guadalcanal Dwarf Kingfisher / Ultramarine Kingfisher / Pacific Kingfisher / Sacred Kingfisher
White-eyes: Grey-throated White-eye / Sanford’s White-eye / Santa Cruz White-eye
Fantails: White-winged Fantail / Brown Fantail / Rufous Fantail / Willie Wagtail
Monarchs & Flycatchers: Chestnut-bellied Monarch / Vanikoro / Steel-blue / Melanesian Flycatchers
Myzomelas and Starlings: Guadalcanal Myzomela / Cardinal Myzomela / Metallic Starling / Polynesian Starling / Rusty-winged Starling
Fruit Doves: Claret-breasted Fruit Dove / Red-bellied Fruit Dove / Yellow-bibbed Fruit Dove
Imperial Pigeons: Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon / Island Imperial Pigeon / Pacific Imperial Pigeon
Others: Melanesian Megapode / Polynesian Triller / Coconut Lorikeet / Guadalcanal Boobook
Note 1: Includes the cost of chartering boats throughout the whole course of this Bird-Photo-Tour
Note 2: Includes the cost of a US$800 return flight journey from Guadalcanal to Temotu Province.
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-2 Guadalcanal Province, Guadalcanal Island, Honiara Township [1N, 0D, 1S]: Arrive Honiara International Airport [Overnight: Honiara].
Days 2-11 The Reef Islands [9N, 9D, 19S]: Domestic flight 2-hours [Overnight: Various Atolls amongst The Reef Islands].
Days 11-12 Guadalcanal Province, Guadalcanal Island, Honiara Township [1N, 0D, 0S]: Domestic flight 2-hours to Guadalcanal Province [Overnight: Honiara] [END].
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day]
Extension Options
(i) Rennell Province (5-nights) (ii) Central Province (3-Nights) (iii) Western Province (5-nights) (iv) Makira Province (5-nights) (v) Malaita Province (3-nights) (vi) Isabel province (3-Nights) and (vii) Guadalcanal Province (5-Nights)
Nick Ludovic Green has spent much of his life travelling and photographing birds across Asia and Oceania, developing a depth of field experience that few bird photographers achieve. Over more than 15 years in the region, Nick has led 150+ bird photography tours in 35 countries, carefully designing each itinerary to give photographers the best possible access to light, behaviour and habitat.
Through extensive long-term travel, Nick has photographed 2,500 bird species across Asia and Oceania, many at portrait-quality standard. In China alone he has documented over 1,200 species, working in every province and returning repeatedly to key locations to refine photographic opportunities, an experience that directly benefits photographers travelling with him.
His longer bird photography expeditions include a four-month journey across Melanesia, a three-month traverse of Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China's western frontier, and a four-month Himalayan journey from Kashmir, Ladakh and Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. These extended field projects have helped build deep regional knowledge and trusted local relationships.
Nick’s images have been published internationally, and his methods reflects a long-term commitment to careful, respectful bird photography. On tour, he is known for his organized, supportive approach and practical in-field guidance, helping bird photographers of all levels improve their work whilst enjoying unhurried time amongst the region’s most sought-after species.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) Two of the locations have no guesthouses and requires staying with locals (vi) two islands involve chartering a boat for a 2-hour journey on the open sea. Summary: as two of the locations requires staying with the locals and as these guesthouses are basic, and as this trip involves two 2-hour journeys on the open sea using 60-horsepower overboard motor boat, it is for these three reasons that this trip has been graded as 'Medium'.
