Night Wildlife Tour in Klamis Forest Outside Sorong City

There is a rainforest area that is located around 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Sorong city. Yesterday night, I guided a couple from Europe, Mateo and Annika to that forest. Its name was Klamis forest. They were the first foreign visitors to explore Klamis forest. We had a wildlife watching tour inside the forest and along the roadside. We left Sorong city at around 16:00 and arrived at the outskirts of the forest just before sunset. 

Wildlife Tour in Klamis Forest of Sorong Regency

We explored the forest accompanied by the villagers, i.e. Neles, Dani, Daniel and Misael. Along the banks of a small stream, we saw Hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, Papuan Frogmouth, Rusty Pitohui and Western-crowned Pigeon. 

I brought a spotting scope that was mounted on a tripod. This enabled all of us who were on this trip to see birds, mammals and reptiles that were sitting on the branches of tall trees.

Night walking tour in Klamis rainforest of Sorong regency

In addition to birds, we saw mammals such as Brown Tree Mouse and Northern Common Cuscus. For reptiles, we saw monitor lizard, Papua Forest Dragon and a green tree phyton snakelet. There were various kinds of big and small frogs that we also saw. 

Green Tree Phyton (Morelia viridis) in Klamis forest of Sorong regency

We saw butterflies and moths too. There were Silky Owl Butterfly, Euchenor Butterfly and some moths.

We came out of the forest at around 22:00. We had some coffee break, and snacks. We still had an easy birding walk along the roadside to find Marbled Frogmouth. After Daniel played its recorded sounds several times, we were able to see some Marbled Frogmouths. We also saw a couple of Pinon Imperial Pigeon on the branch of a tall tree at the roadside using the spotting scope. 

Papua Forest Dragon in Klamis forest of Sorong regency

It was a nice rainforest tour. At around 23:15, we decided to return to Sorong and arrived in the city at around 01:00. 

If you are interested in taking wildlife tour in this rainforest outside of Sorong city and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing this contact link.

Also read:

• Bird Photography Tour in Klabili and Waigeo

Birding in Klasow Valley of Sorong with a Swiss Lady and a French Girl

From 5 to 7 Oct. 2025, I guided a Swiss lady on a birdwatching tour in Klasow valley of Sorong regency. We walked through the forest to find paradise birds and other tropical birds of West Papua. During the 3 day/ 2 night tour in the rainforest, we were able to see Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird and Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. We also saw Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-faced Myna, Pale-billed Scrubwren, Orange-footed Megapode, Papuan Pitta and a lot of other birds. 

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Papuan Pitta

It rained in the afternoons and at nights during the tour. However, we managed to watch most of the target birds that we had planned to see. 

During the tour, we also saw a lot of beautiful butterflies. Some of them were Silky Owl Butterfly, Ulysses Butterfly, and New Guinea Clipper, Eastern Red Lacewing (Chetosia cydippe). We completed our trip with the morning walk to the dancing site of Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise.  

Hibiscus in Klasow valley

I am now guiding a French girl on a rainforest wildlife watching tour in the same Klasow valley. We started yesterday (8 October 2025) and will finish the trip tomorrow (10 Oct. 2025). 

So far, we have seen Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, and a lot of other tropical birds of West Papua. 

If you are interested in taking a tour in West Papua or other parts of Indonesia such as Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu in Minahasa highland, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing this contact link.

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• Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Minahasa Highland and Tangkoko Nature Reserve
• Collared Kingfisher
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Late Afternoon and Night Birding in Sorong

Sorong is the transit point for visitors who want to go to Raja Ampat. However, Sorong itself has got its own natural attractions such as wildlife. The outskirts of Sorong city is still covered by rainforest which is the habitat of various species of birds, mammals, insects and reptiles. 

For visitors who arrive in the afternoon and want to have some tour to this forest, I want to offer a late afternoon and night birding tour. 

Papuan Pitta

Here is the program:

Itinerary

15:00-17:45

We will meet you in Sorong city and then organize your trip by car to a beach at the outskirts of Sorong city. We will walk along the beach to look for coastal birds such as Beach Kingfisher, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Pacific Reef Heron, Common Sandpiper, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, and etc.

17:45

We will go to the hill area to have some coffee or tea with some cakes. Birds such as Blyth's Hornbill, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus, Palm Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Helmetted Friarbird can still be seen flying back to their nests or roosting trees.

Papuan Boobook, Papuan Frogmouth, White-lipped Frog

19:00 - 23:00

We will do night birding to look for such birds as Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth or even the Papuan Hawk Owl and any birds that sleep on lower branches of trees. Sometimes cuscus or possum can be seen at night too.

At around 23:00, we will return to Sorong city. 

The above itinerary should be seen as a reference only. It could be modified based on the time which the tour participants have. 

If you are interested in taking the tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by pressing this contact link or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Morning Birding Tour in Sorong City

Today, I guided Anders, a visitor from Europe on a half day birding tour at the outskirts of Sorong. We started our tour at 05:00. It was still dark outside when we left Vega Prime Hotel by car. Because the birding site is approximately 1 hour car ride from Sorong city, I asked him to sleep.

A European birdwatcher at the beach of Sorong

When we arrived at the birding side located on a mountain ridge, birds began to sing welcoming the morning light. We had some light breakfast at the back of our chartered car. I had a cup of hot sweet tea, and a cake. 

Blyth's Hornbill flew over the hill. We could see some of them over the canopy of the forest. There are also Yellow-faced Myna that landed briefly on the branches of a tree near the roadside. When we had finished our breakfast and started to walk, we heard the call of Rufous-bellied Kookaburra. I turned on my portable loudspeaker and played it's sounds from my cell phone. After a few minutes of waiting, we continued walking. The Kookaburra did not want to fly out of his hiding places. 

One of the birding sites at the outskirts of Sorong city

More birds fly in the sky when the sky was fully bright. We saw Papuan Eclectus, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo flying. There was Gray-headed Goshawk sitting in the branch of a tree around 30 meters away from us. I adjusted the angle of my spotting-scope. When it was ready, we could watch the bird well. 

Yellow-faced Myna

We also saw Yellow-billed Kingfisher, and Gray-headed Cicadabird, and Black-browed Triller. There were some Red-cheeked Parrots flying over the road when we were looking for Yellow-billed Kingfisher. Streak-headed Munia was hopping on the tall grass that was on the left of the roadside. 

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra

Unfortunately, Anders could not find it using his binoculars. The air temperature was getting hotter after 08:00. We continued our trip by car to the beach. We planned to find Beach Kingfisher. We walked along the boardwalk to look for it. I played its recorded calls several times. Unfortunately, we could not find the bird. There were Brahminy Kite, Torresian Crow, Willie Wagtail and Lesser Frigatebird. 

Beach Kingfisher

At around 10:00, we returned to Sorong city again. We could not see all the birds that we had wanted to watch. However, it was a nice tour in very good weather. 

Terrestrial Orchid

To watch birds, I used old binoculars SVBONY 10×50. To take picture of birds, flowers, and any wildlife, I used Fujifilm HS50EXR. It was an old photographic device but still functioning well. I love older things. 

This is written by Charles Roring

Email: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing this contact link.

Also read:

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Minahasa Highland and Tangkoko Nature Reserve
• Collared Kingfisher
• Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland, Indonesia
• Birding walk in the farmland and paddy fields of Sonder in Minahasa highland
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder, Minahasa highland
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Paddy Fields of Sonder, Minahasa Highland

Tropical Birds in Sorong and Raja Ampat

A lot of visitors fly to Sorong city as the main gate to Raja Ampat. Most of them go to Raja Ampat to enjoy swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving or even take a trip by liveaboard boat to explore remote islands. 

However, there are some of them who are interested in combining their marine tour with land tour. The most popular tour which they can enjoy is birdwatching. They can do it in Sorong city and in Waigeo island. There are a lot of tropical birds which they could watch some of them are mentioned here.

Puff-backed Honeyeater in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Birds in and at the outskirts of Sorong city

Mangrove Forest - A long the coastal area of Sorong city, visitors could watch such birds as Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Blue Fronted Fig Parrot, Brown-backed Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Sacred Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Sahul Sunbird, Willie Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Striated Heron and etc.

Hill Forest - More birds could be seen when we go to a hill of Sorong city. There, we could find birds such as Yellow-faced Myna, Black Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Pacific Baza, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Black Butcher bird, Glossy Swiftlet, Uniform Swiftlet, Red-cheeked Parrot, and a lot more. 

Sorong's Ridge Forest - This birding site is located outside of Sorong city around 1 hour trip by car. Birds that we could watch include Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Mimic Honeyeater, Black-browed Triller, Helmeted Friarbird, Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Brahminy Kite.

Nortern Coast of Sorong city - This is the site for finding Beach Kingfisher, Lesser Frigatebird, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Sahul Sunbird, Whimbrel, Pacific Reef Heron, and etc.

The duration of birding tour at the outskirts of Sorong city can be as short as half day to 1 day to as long as 2 days depending on the time which participants have. 

Birds in Waigeo and Batanta of Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is an important destination for birdwatching tourism. It is the place for watching Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Hooded Butcherbird, Yellow-faced Myna, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Papuan Eclectus, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Shining Flycatcher, Mimic Honeyeater, Moustached Treeswift, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Pacific Golden Plover, and etc. 

The average duration of birding tour in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat is as short as 3 days 2 nights to as long as 4 days/ 3 nights. It can be longer if the itinerary includes trip to remote islands such as Batanta, Merpati and Urai. 

What to bring

Most birdwatchera bring a pair of binoculars. Some of them bring D-SLR or mirrorless camera with 600 mm telephoto lens. Rain poncho will also be needed. 

The birding trip in Raja Ampat could be combined with snorkeling and sightseeing trip to see marine life, tropical islandd, and karst.

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Sorong city and Raja Ampat, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read:

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland