Morning General Birding Tour from Tomohon Town of Indonesia

Recently I guided a couple of birdwatchers from France and the UK on a morning general birding trip from Tomohon town of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. I met them at Rimba Eco Resort at 05:00. After that we went to a hill in the territory of Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency.

Sonder town in Minahasa regency of Indonesia

It was around 06:00 when we arrived. I took out my spotting scope from the back of the car. Some Sultan's Cuckoo-dove were sitting on the branches of trees. We also saw various species of small birds hopping from one branch of a tree to another. There were Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Black-crowned White-eye, and Sulawesi Hanging Parrot. There was also Black-faced Munia and Eastern Yellow Wagtail. 

Collared Kingfisher

A collared kingfisher was calling from a distant. To attract the bird, I played its recorded sound from Ebird. In less than two minutes, the Collared Kingfisher flew towards us and landed on the branch of a tree around fifteen meters above us. I used my spotting scope to locate where the bird was. We also saw Hair-crested Drongo sitting on the branch of a dry clove tree. After spending around 30 minutes in the hill, we moved 

We continued our trip to lower elevation forest of Sonder. Our next stop was Tounelet slope, we tried to find Pygmy Woodpecker. I saw one flying away froma tree near the roadside deeper into the area teawood trees. We continued walking down the slope trying to find Pygmy Hanging Parrot. We only saw a Barred Rail walking on a cleared ground in front of us. There was a female Sahul Sunbird hopping on the branches in front of us. Sooty-headed Bulbul could be seen sitting and singing in trees too. 

Barred Rail

We continued our trip to rice field area in Talikuran village of Subdistrict Sonder. We saw Bay Coucal, Easter Yellow Wagtail, White-breasted Woodswallow and Collared Kingfisher. 

White-breasted Woodswallow in Sonder

There were still more birding sites that we need to see that morning. We decided to continue our tour that morning to Kengkang waterfall. There, we saw Small Sparrowhawk sitting on a branch of tree near the waterfall and Brahminy Kite soaring in the sky. I tried to find Green Imperial Pigeon and Sulawesi-crested Myna. Unfortunately, I did not see any of them. 

We continued our car trip through farmland and paddy fields of Sonder towards Lake Linow in Lahendong Village. Along the way  we saw Zebra Dove, and Yellow-billed Malkoha as well as Sulawesi Crow. There we saw a lot water birds including Sunda Teal, Dusky Moorhen, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Barn Swallow, Whiskered Tern, Black-naped Tern, Oriental Reed Warbler, Barred Rail, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Brahminy Kite and Collared Kingfisher again. I heard the sounds of Isabelline Bush-hen in the bush behind us. I played its recorded sounds. Unfortunately, the bird did not want to come out. It was around 11:00. We decided to return to Tomohon town and bring back to Rimba Ecoresort. 

It was a nice trip, our clients were happy to see the beautiful landscape of Minahasa highland in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. I and my driver Vecky said good bye to them and then return to our home.

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding trip in Tomohon and Sonder of Minahasa highland and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through the following contact link. 

Also read:

• Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Minahasa highland
• Birding tour in Sonder of Minahasa highland, Indonesia
• Birding in North Sulawesi of Indonesia

Birding in Indonesia

Indonesia is a very important destination in the world for birding visitors. There are 17,380 islands in this archipelago. West Papua, Bali, Sulawesi, Halmahera, Java and Sumatra are big islands that are regularly visited by birdwatchers who come from all corners of the world.

Black-naped Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Pale Blue Monarch and Pygmy Woodpecker

Sulawesi has got the highest number of endemic species in Indonesia. There are Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, and Gray-sided Flowerpecker. There are also Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, and Great-billed Kingfisher. Important birding sites in North Sulawesi Province include Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu, Sonder Forest and Farmland as well as Tincep's Ricefield and Waterfall. Water birds could be watched in Lake Linow and Lake Tondano. 

In West Papua, the main attractions are birds of paradise. There are Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, and Trumpet Manucode that could be seen in lowland and lower montane forest. In higher elevation forest, visitors could watch  Western Parotia, Vogelkop Lophorina, Black Sicklebill, Long-tailed Paradigala, Short-tailed Paradigala, and Arfak Astrapia. Raja Ampat islands have got two endemic species of paradise birds, i.e. Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. They can be found in the islands of Waigeo, Gam and Batanta. 

Bali is an important destination for visitors who love birding. Some interesting sites include Uluwatu Cliff, Bedugul Botanical Garden, Mangrove Forest, and West Bali. Birds that could be watched there include: Javan-banded Pitta, Bali Myna, Javan Kingfisher, Eastern Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Javan Myna, and etc. In general, the birding trip in Bali is usually combined with birding trip in Alas Purwo National Park and Mount Gede of West Java. 

If you are interested in taking a birding trip in Indonesia especially in Sulawesi and West Papua, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com and whatsapp through the following button:

Also read:

• Birding in North Sulawesi of Indonesia
• Birding Tour in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding and Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland

Birding in North Sulawesi of Indonesia

North Sulawesi is a province in the Republic of Indonesia. Its capital is Manado city. It has been famous around the world as a destination for visitors who love birdwatching or wildlife watching. There are a number of birding sites which birdwatchers could visit in North Sulawesi. 

Yellow-billed Malkoha

• Tambun Nature Reserve - This is an important birding site on Kotamobagu regency that is important for watching Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo). A lot of other birds could also be seen there. They include Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Pitta, White-necked Myna, Pale Blue Monarch, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Oriole, Purple-winged Roller, and etc. 
• Tapak Kolintang Forest - This birding site is good for general birding. Visitors who go there could see White-faced Cuckoo-dove (Sulawesi Black Pigeon), Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, and etc.
• Mount Mahawu - This is an inactive volcano near Tomohon town in Minahasa highland. Most birdwatchers go there to see Scaly-breasted Kingfisher as well as other tropical birds of Sulawesi that occur in high elevation forest. There are Warbling white-eye, Sulawesi Myzomela, Superb Fruit Dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker and etc.
• Lake Linow - Various species of water birds could be watched in Lake Linow. They include White-breasted Waterhen, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Medium Egret, Purple Heron, Sunda Teal, Collared Kingfisher, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail and etcm
• Lake Tondano - More birds could be watched there. Some of them are Glossy Swiftlet, Uniform Swiftlet, White-nest Swiftlet, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Moorhen, White-browed Crake, Yellow Bittern, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Spotted Harrier, Osprey, and etc.
• Sonder Hill forest and farmland - This birding sites are the habitat of a lot of species of birds including Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycacther,  Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, White-breasted Woodswallow, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Zebra Dove, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Crow, Pygmy Woodpecker, Bay Coucal, Lesser Coucal, and etc.
• Tangkoko Nature Reserve - This is a must visit forest for visitors who want to see birds and other animals that occur in tropical rainforest. Tangkoko is famous for its kingfishers from the tiny Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher to the medium sized Green-backed Kingfisher and Lilac Kingfisher and to the large one, i.e. the Great-billed Kingfisher. Forest birds are abundant in Tangkoko. They include Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Minahasa Racket-tail, Golden-mantled Racket-tail, Blue-backed Parrot, Green Imperial Pigeon, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, White-necked Myna, Finch-billed Myna, and etc.
• Coastal Area of Batu Putih village to Naun River is important site for watching sea birds. Osprey, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Purple Heron, Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Heron, Common Sandpiper, Blue Rock Thrush, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Wood Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Great-billed Kingfisher, and etc.

For visitors who do not have many days of stay in North Sulawesi. They could take 1-day birding and sight seeing tour or a short morning birding trip at the outskirts of Manado city. Birds that they could watch include Sahul Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Pacific Swallow, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Crow, and etc.

If you are interested in taking a birding and wildlife watching tour in North Sulawesi, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.

Birding and Wildlife Watching in Klaimis Forest of Sorong regency, Indonesia

There is a new site for birdwatching and wildlife watching tour. Its name is Klaimis forest. It is located around 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Sorong city - the capital of Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia. Klaimis forest is a great destination for visitors who want to explore tropical rainforest of Sorong regency before or after their trip in Raja Ampat. 

In general, visitors spend 3 to 4 days in the forest to watch birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles. Birdwatching is a popular activity among visitors. They could see a lot of species of birds while walking in or along the edge of the forest. Klaimis forest is the natural habitat of Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Papuan Pitta, Eastern-hooded Pitta, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus, Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, New Guinea Vulturine Parrot, Northern Cassowary, and etc. 

Wildlife in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency

Night walk is a favorite activity among tour participants in Klaimis forest. They could see nocturnal birds such as Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Boobooo, and Hook-billed Kingfisher. There are also birds that sleep on lower branches of trees such as Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, King Bird of Paradise,  Papuan Pitta, Eastern-hooded Pitta, and a lot more. 

There are also mammals such as echidna, dorcopsis, wild pigs, cuscus, fruit bats, bandicoot, long-fingered trike. 

Reptiles that could be seen in Klaimis forest include Green Tree python, Papuan Olive Python, Papua Forest Dragon, and etc.

For visitors who love butterfly watching, Klaimis forest is the habitat of New Guinea Clipper, Alcides agathyrsus moth, Ulysses butterfly, Common Green Birdwing, Red Lacewing (Chetosia cydippe), and etc.

If you are interested in taking a birding/ wildlife tour in Sorong city and wants me (Charles Roring) to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding and photography tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa highland
• Birding tour in Sonder of Minahasa highland

Nature Tour At the Outskirts of Sorong City of Indonesia

Sorong city is the gateway for visitors to Raja Ampat. Its outskirt areas of Sorong city itself are attractive for visitors who love nature. One of the most popular tour packages that visitors like to take is nature walk, birdwatching, butterflywatching. 

Nature Tour at the Outskirt of Sorong city

The forest and farmland at the outskirt of Aimas town is the habitat of a lot of species of birds such as Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Shining Flycatcher, Orange-breasted Fruit-dove, Helmeted Friarbird, and etc. The tour to this forest site usually starts at 05:00 and finishes at around 08:00. 

After that visitors could continue their trip to mangrove forest located at the coastal area of Sorong to look for Brown-backed Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Sacred Kingfisher, Willie Wagtail, Emperor Fairywren, and etc.

Other alternative site for birding is the Sorong Hill. There, visitors could watch 

Trumpet Manucode, Glossy-mantled Manucode, 

Willie Wagtail, Helmeted Friarbird, Brown Oriole, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Papuan Eclectus, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Hooded Butcherbird, Yellow-faced Myna, Black Butcherbird.

There are also butterflies which visitors could see including Common Green Birdwing, Cruiser Butterfly, Silky Owl, and Ulysses butterflies. 

Sultan's Cuckoo-dove (formerly called Brown Cuckoo-dove)

Other interesting sites for visitors to see the green and blue landscapes of Sorong city are the hill areas. From those hills, visitors could see the view of forest canopy, and some parts of Sorong city. 

For visitors who are interested in multiple day wildlife watching tour in Sorong regency before or after their trip in Raja Ampat, the recommended destination is Klaimis forest. It is the habitat of various species of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. 

Visitors could watch Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. There are also Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, and Hook-billed Kingfisher.  

Mammals are usually watched at nights. There are dorcopsis, fruit bats, cuscus, bandicoot, brown tree mouse, long-fingered trike, and echidna. 

On the average, the duration of wildlife watching tour in Klaimis forest is between 3 to 4 days.

Some of the wild animals that we could see in Klaimia forest of Sorong regency

If you are interested in taking a tour from Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read: 

• Birding tour in Sonder of Minahasa highland
• Bird photography tour in Tangkoko Nature reserve and Minahasa highland
• Bird and photography tour in Minahasa highland