Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia

Friday, May 9, 2025

Birdwatching in Raja Ampat of Indonesia

Raja Ampat is a famous destination for visitors who love swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling. However, it is also a good destination for birdwatching. A lot of species of tropical birds could be watched and photographed in Waigeo island such as:

Wilson's Bird of Paradise
Red Bird of Paradise
Papuan Eclectus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Palm Cockatoo
Black-capped Lory
Coconut Lorikeet
Great-billed Parrot
Red-cheeked Parrot
Yellow-faced Myna
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
Yellow-billed Kingfisher
Common Paradise Kingfisher.
Beach Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Sacred Kingfisher
Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
Sahul Sunbird
Black Sunbird
Lowland Peltop
Pinon Imperial Pigeon
Pied Imperial Pigeon
Great Cuckoo-dove
Black-billed Cuckoo-dove
Claret-breasted Fruit-dove
Brown Cuckoo-dove
Claret-breasted Fruit-dove
Spice Imperial Pigeon,
Golden Monarch
Willie Wagtail, and etc.

Red Bird of Paradise

A lot of coastal or sea birds could also be seen there. They include:

White-bellied Sea Eagle
Osprey
Lesser-crested Tern
Common Tern
Black-naped Tern
Common Sand Piper
Pacific Golden Plover
Pacific Reef Heron
Striated Heron
Great-billed Heron
Purple Heron,
Whimbrel, and etc.

Swimming and Snorkeling

Tour participants who want to enjoy swimming or snorkeling can do it at the house reef of the beach resort or homestay where we stay at. The coral reef of Raja Ampat is the habitat of a lot of species of marine creatures such as moorish idol, butterflyfish, striped surgeonfish, parrotfish, wrasse, wobbegong, anemonefish and etc.

Snorkeling in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat

White sandy beach in Urai island and Waigeo

Birding, swimming and snorkeling tour in Raja Ampat

Orange Skunk Anemonefish

Birdwatching near Sorong city

The tour to Raja Ampat for watching birds could be combined with the tour to the outskirts of Sorong city to watch interesting species of birds such as Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Glossy-mantled Manucode, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Black-browed Triller, Blyth's Hornbill, and etc. Usually, tourists who are in transit in Sorong city do not have much time. They can enjoy morning birding trip that starts at 05:00 a.m. and finishes at 10:00 a.m. or afternoon birding tour from 14:00 to 18:00 p.m.

Participants need to bring their own binoculars. If they do not have the device, as a guide provide a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod for everyone to share.

For identification of birds that we see or photograph, we could use Merlin App.

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in Raja Ampat and the outskirts of Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Night Walk Tour in the Forest of Sorong City

I have just conducted a night walk tour in the forest of Sorong city for an American tourist. The tour started at 08:00 when I picked him up from Swissbel Hotel. We went to a forest near Sorong city. I was accompanied by a driver and a local guide.

Before starting the walking tour, we had some tea and coffee with some cakes that I bought from a bread store. We could feel the sudden change of atmosphere. From a city with a lot of lights to a rainforest that is very dark. On the positive side, we could see stars in the dark sky.

When we were walking along a road inside the forest, we used sound recordings to attract birds. We played the sounds of Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook.

Flying Fox in the forest of Sorong regency

Although we walked for quite long, we did not feel hot at all. The temperature of the forest that night was cool. We were able to watch Papuan Frogmouth and Marbled Frogmouth. We also saw some flying foxes in trees and flying in the air.

Papuan Frogmouth in the forest of Sorong city

We completed our night walking tour in the rainforest of Sorong city at around 00:15. It was a nice trip although we did not see many animals. When we arrived in Swiss Belhotel, it was 00:30 in the middle of the night.

Morning or Afternoon Birding Tour

For visitors who are interesting in taking birdwatching tour at the outskirts of Sorong city. Usually the morning birding tour starts at 05:00. We will go to birdwatching site outside of Sorong city by car. It takes around 1 hour. As soon as we arrive, we could see the sun light on the canopy of the forest. Birds that we could watch include Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Eclectus Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Black-browed Triller, Black-capped Lory, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Hooded Butcherbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Blyth's hornbill, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, and etc.

Papuan Eclectus

To enhance the birding experience of the participants, I will bring spotting scope. We will also walk along the beach area to enjoy the landscape of the coastal area as well as watching birds. Beach Kingfisher is the main target at the beach but we could see other species such as Willie Wagtail, Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, Little Egret, Pacific Golden Plover and etc.

Beach Kingfisher

If you are interested in taking this night walking tour in Sorong city and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Sorong City Birding Tour

The outskirts of Sorong city have got several sites that are good for sightseeing and birdwatching tours. Tourists could take this tour to see the beautiful natural landscape of forest, hills and coastal area a little outside the busy city and at the same time, watch colorful avifauna such as parrot, doves, kingfishers, and hornbills.

These tours are suitable for tourists who are in transit to or from Raja Ampat.

Golden Myna - birdwatching tour from Sorong city

ITINERARY

05: 00- 06:00 - We usually starts early in the morning at We will meet you at your hotel and then organize your transfer by car to hill area outside the city. It takes nearly one hour to reach it. We will have tea or coffee with some biscuits and fruits to start our activity.
06:00 - 08:00 - When the sunlight brightens the sky, birds begin to show up on the branches of trees. We will use spotting scope to watch them. We will look for such birds as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Coconut Lorikeet, Black Lory, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Helmetted Friarbird, Black-browed Triller, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Pacific Baza, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Pinon Imperial pigeon. We will walk along the roadside to watch them. In general, we spend around 2 hours doing the birdwatching walk.

The harbour area of Sorong city as seen from Buddhist Temple

08:00-10:00 - We will continue our activity to the coastal area. We will do birdwatching along the boardwalk to look for coastal birds such as Beach Kingfisher, Little Egret, Pacific Reef Heron, Torresian Crow, Common Sand Piper, Whimbrel and White-bellied Sea Eagle. The seascape view of beach area outside Sorong city is beautiful.
10:00-11:00 - We will return to Sorong city. After a short stop at a Buddhist Temple or a traditional market, we will bring you back to your hotel. End of The Tour.

Yellow-faced Myna

Sightseeing and birdwatching tour from Sorong city

If you are interested in taking this short birding tour during your waiting time in Sorong and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Bird Photography Trip in Malagufuk Village of Sorong Regency

Malagufuk is a small village located in the middle of the rainforest of Klasow valley. It is the habitat of a kot of species of birds, insects, reptiles and mammals.

A lot of tourists go there to watch tropical birds such as Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-Black Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Brown Cuckoo-dove. Birds of paradise can also be watched in the forest of the village. They include: Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird.

The duration of the birding tour in Malagufuk village is usually 3 days/ 2 nights.

Birding could be carried out during the day and night. Birds that could be watched at night along the boardwalk and concrete path include Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, and Hooded Pitta, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Tawny Straightbill, and etc.

Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

Sometimes when we do night walk in the forest of Malagufuk, we could see cuscus, echidna, green tree python.

Itinerary

Here is a brief description of the tour in Malagufuk:

Day 1: We will meet you at the airport or harbor of Sorong city. We will organize your transfer by 4WD car to Malagufuk in Klasow valley. It takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the destination. Birding and wildlife watching trip into Malagufuk village for 1 to 2 hours. Check into the homestay.
Day 2: Birding and wildlife watching. Nightwalk.
Day 3: Birding and wildlife watching in Malagufuk's forest. Check-out after lunch. Return to Sorong city by 4WD car.

Western-crowned Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra Beautiful Fruit Dove

Some tropical birds in Malagufuk

Equipment

There are some devices that tour participants need to bring to enhance their birding and wildlife watching experience. They are binoculars, camera with telephoto lens, flash light. Raincoat or rain-poncho will also be needed. Participants can wear hiking boots or wellington boots to explore the forest. Insect spray will also be needed.

Accommodation

There are no hotels in Malagufuk. Tour participants will stay in simple homestays that are run by local villagers.

The birding and wildlife watching tour can be continued to Waigeo island or Batanta island of Raja Ampat for another 3 days/ 2 nights trip. Short half day birding tour in Sorong city and also be organized for tour participants who do not have much time in Sorong.

Booking

If you are interested in taking this birding tour in Malagufuk village of Sorong regency and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Birding and Sightseeing Tour from Sorong City

Sorong city is main transit point for tourists who are going to or returning from Raja Ampat. It is the place where visitors spend 1 or 2 days before continuing their trip. They look for activities that would enable them to see nature and enjoy watching birds, and butterflies as well as see beautiful scenery of the surrounding environment.

Beautiful Fruit Dove

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Birding and sightseeing tour is a popular activity which tourists can enjoy while in Sorong. Usually the birding program starts early in the morning at around 05:00. The destination is forest area outside the city. We will meet tour participants at the hotel and go by car for around 1 hour to birding site. Arriving at around 06:00, we will have some coffee or tea with biscuits or fruits.

Blyth's Hornbill

Golden Myna

After that we will start walking along the roadside to look for such birds as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Helmeted Friarbird, Blyth's Hornbill, Brown Oriole, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Pacific Baza, Gray-headed Goshawk, Brahminy Kite, Long-tailed Honeybuzzard, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, and etc.

Yellow-faced Myna

To enhance the birding experience of participants, we will bring spotting scope and binoculars. At around 09:00, we will continue our trip to beach area to look for such birds as Willie Wagtail, Beach Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, and etc.

Palm Cockatoo

We could watch these sea birds while walking along the boardwalk or the beach. At around 10:00, we will return to Sorong city.

Foreign tourists were birdwatching and sightseeing

Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour from Sorong city

This short birding and sightseeing walking tour at the outskirts of Sorong city is suitable for tourists who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape of Sorong regency and at the same time see the diverse avifauna of the region.

Olive-crowned Flowerpecker

Visitors who are interested in taking longer birding trip could take tour packages that combines visits to rainforest areas in Malagufuk, and Kasulala of Sorong regency and Waigeo island in Raja Ampat regency. The birding trip in Raja Ampat could be combined with snorkeling and sightseeing trips to islands that are located near Waigeo.

If you are interested in taking this short birding and sightseeing tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia

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