Kofiau Monarch

I spent several days in Kofiau islands early this week. My main goal was to watch Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera ellioti) and Kofiau Monarch (Symposiachrus julianae) as well as a lot of other birds. Actually, I visited the islands to give some trainings to local villagers on how to organize birding trips. The training was conducted in the field office of TNC (The Nature Conservancy). Willie Wagtail and Eastern Yellow Wagtail were everywhere at the beach especially at the parking lot of the harbor terminal.

Deer village in Kofiau islands

Birding in Arfak mountains with 5 British Tourists

Last week, I guided 5 British tourists on a 6-day/ 5-night hiking and birding tour in Arfak mountains. They were Trev, Ken, Chris, Zod and Mark. The tour was organized by Samuel and Taty from Tangkoko of North Sulawesi. Because they were not familiar with birds of Arfak mountains, they asked me to guide their clients. I said, yes. So I guided them.

During the trip, we watched such birds as Western Parotia, Black Sicklebill, Superb Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Crinkle-collared Manucode, and Masked Bowerbird. They were important targets for birding tourists who went there.
The Fantastic Masked Bowerbird
On the third day of our birding trip, we had to split the group into 3 smaller ones because the blinds for Superb BOP, Magnificent BOP, and Masked Bowerbird were small. I and Ken got the blind for the Masked Bowerbird. We had a rare experience. We were already in the blind at 05.30. The male Masked Bowerbird landed at 08.25. After checking his bower for around 3 minutes, he left again. Thirty minutes later, he came again. This time he was with the female Masked Bowerbird. She inspected the bower and then sat in the middle of the bower that looked like a gate. Seeing his female counterpart occupying his bower, the male Masked Bowerbird began to perform his courtship dance which lasted for around 1 hour. He flapped his wings, bowed down in front of his female bird while presenting a blue article that was a cap from a big bottle of mineral water, and a dried brown leaf that looked like a small carpet. He flew to horizontal branches of a shrub plant in front of his bower and jumped up and down the horizontal branches of the plant. After that he danced at the back of the female bird checking her tail. Soon after that he mounted on her back and then mated with her. The mating was less than 4 seconds.
He continued dancing again and the female bird kept on sitting between the bower. The courtship dance performance lasted for another 1 hour. They were mating again at the end of the dance show.
In total, I and Ken enjoyed a 2-hour non-stop courtship dance performance, and 2 mating sessions of the Masked Bowerbird. It was fantastic!

A Fruit Dove in Arfak mountains

Birdwatching near Sorong city and its surrounding forest

Malagufuk is one of the villages that is located in Klasow valley of Sorong regency. I and my friend Nico introduced it for the first time to the internet as a birdwatching destination in late 2014. At that time no other birding guides knew about its existence. The village was new, only two weeks old at that time. There were only 2 tents whose roofs were from big blue plastic sheets which we called terpal.

My Sketch of Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) that I saw in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari

My sketch of the same bird in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari

I have guided hundreds of tourists to this forest since then. We watched Lesser Birds of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Black-Lory, Red-cheeked Parrot, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Yellow-billed Kingfisher and etc.
There are also other villages in Klasow valley that is suitable for birdwatching such as Klayeli, and Klatomok, and etc.
I also guided my guests to hill forest of Sorong city to watch Yellow-faced Myna, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Moluccan King Parrot, Black-browed Triller, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Helmetted Friarbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, and a lot more.
The coastal area of Sorong city is also nice for birdwatching. The tours to mangrove areas will allow us to see Little Egret, Willie Wagtail, Orange Fruit Dove, Olive-backed Sunbird, and a lot more.
The rainforest birding tour to Sorong forest is usually taken by tourists before their trip to Raja Ampat. Becaue I organize tours to these regencies, I offer trips to both Raja Ampat and Sorong with combined activities such as hiking, birdwatching, swimming, snorkeling, and sightseeing by boat. If you are interested, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by cell phone's text message whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Sketch of Red Bird of Paradise

Here are sketches of Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) that I saw while I was guiding tourists in Raja Ampat. The paradise birds like to gather in the top branches of a tree, usually in the mornings between 06.00 and 09.00 and in the afternoons between 15.00 and 17.30. Male ones will perform courtship dances to attract the female birds for mating. The following sketch is now available as prints on various Redbubble products such as t-shirt, sticker, mug, pillow, iPhone case, and a lot more. You could see and order them at this page: A Couple of Red Bird of Paradise

Male and Female Red Bird of Paradise

Each tour participant needs to bring a good pair of binoculars such as Nikon, Swarovski or Leica or any brands that manufacture 10×42 mm, or 12× 50 mm. For taking pictures, a bridge camera such as the Fujifilm HS50 EXR with its 1,000 mm lens will produce significant results. D-SLR cameras with Tamron G2 or Sigma sport 150-600 mm lenses can make quality photos. Point and shoot cameras such as Canon SX60HS, Nikon P900 and Nikon P1000 can also produce good photos if the photographer leans on a wooden post, tree trunk or uses tripod.

Male Red Bird of Paradise

I frequently make sketches of things that I see when guiding tourists on hiking, bird and wildlife watching as well as sightseeing by boat and snorkeling tours. The subjects of my sketches can be birds, butterflies, flowers, electrical or optical devices that I frequently use. I also make drawings of human figures that I post in my other blogs.
If you are interested in traveling to Raja Ampat islands for watching these paradise birds and other tropical birds, and want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by text to: +6281332245180 (whatsapp message can also be sent to this number)

Watching Lesser Birds of Paradise in Susnguakti Forest

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) is one of the most beautiful bird species in the world. The male one has got yellow, brown, green and black color. This paradise bird lives in tropical rainforest of New Guinea and has been the most wanted target of watching among visitors who go to West Papua. There is a forest area in Manokwari regency which tourists can go to watch the Lesser Birds of Paradise. Its name is Susnguakti forest.

A Couple of Lesser Birds of Paradise

Male Lesser Birds of Paradise in Susnguakti forest

Courtship Dance of Paradise Birds

As a tourist guide, I have organized numerous trips for tourists to this forest. We usually spend 3 days/ 2 nights in the forest. We go hiking in the mornings, in the afternoons to find King Bird of Paradise, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Common Paradise Kingfisher, and Magnificent Riflebird, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, as well as other tropical birds that live in the forest. 

Susnguakti forest is one of the best locations for photographers who want to take pictures of the Lesser Birds of Paradise. I attach some pictures that I made yesterday when I was guiding two tourists, Geoffroy and Clementine (from Belgium and France). They were very happy to see the birds. At nights, they were guided in the forest to see cuscus possum. 

If you are interested in traveling to Manokwari city to watch and take pictures of Lesser Birds of Paradise, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
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Also read:

• Morning Bird Tour in Southern Region of Waigeo
• Birding in North Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birding in Kabui of Raja Ampat
• "Shooting birds" at Warduwer beach of Raja Ampat