Saturday, January 28, 2023

West Papua Birding Tours in Sorong and Tambrauw

I have organized a lot of birding and wildlife watching tours in West Papua. Recently, I guided a Taiwanese girl on a birding trip in Tambrauw. We saw a lot of species of birds, insects, fruit bats and snake. The tour was carried in lowland forest of Klasow valley as well as the hill forest of Tambrauw regency. In the mountain ridge are we saw Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher as well as Papuan Pitta. 

tourists were watching birds in west papua
Birding and Wildlife Watching in Sorong and Tambrauw

I also organized a birding trip for a group of visitors from the United States and the United Kingdom. They were the clients of Ventures Birding. We went birding in rainforest of Tambrauw for 4 days/ 3 nights. We stayed in Sansapore Pacific Park beach resort which was suitable for visitors who were interested not only in birding but also in swimming and snorkeling. 

After that I guided a lady from Australia on a 3-day-2-night birding and wildlife watching tour in a remote village of Tambrauw. We saw Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Lesser Black Coucal, Papuan Pitta, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Shining Flycatcher, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Brown Oriole, Helmetted Friarbird, Grey Crow, Hooded Butcherbird, Mimic Meliphaga, Azure Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Blue Black Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Blue Jewel Babbler, and a lot more. 

Olive-crowned Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pectorale)
Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
Another group of visitors that I guided was from Czech republic. There were 4 visitors who took the tour. We explored the forest to watch Wompoo Fruit Dove, Blyth's Hornbill, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-faced Myna, Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, and various species of butterflies. 

As a matter of fact, December and January were the beginning of rainy season. But the density of birds were very high because they could catch more insects and small lizards for their food. 

Dacelo gaudichaud
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra

Eclectus Parrot
Eclectus Parrot

Sorong city is the main gate for visitors who are interested in traveling to Raja Ampat islands. It is also a highly recommended destination for visitors who want to see wildlife in rainforest of the mainland New Guinea. 

To increase the chance for visitors to see more animals, I conduct night walking tours in the forest for all visitors. 

If you are interested in taking a rainforest tour in West Papua with Sorong city as the starting point, and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 



Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Birding and Wildlife Watching Holiday in Raja Ampat Islands

I have just completed a birding and wildlife watching tour in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. It was a 3 day/ 2 night-trip. I guided Christine - a lady from the United States of America. In the first day when we walked along the roadside of southern Waigeo, we saw Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Palm Cockatoo, Pacific Swallow and Lesser-crested Tern. At dusk, we also saw cuscus possum, fruitbats and snake. 

palm cockatoo of Waigeo island
Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)

The next morning, we went to a forest by car and did hiking to watch Wilson's Bird of Paradise. After that we explored the coastal area to watch Radjah Shelduck, Olive-backed Sunbird, Willie Wagtail, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Beach Kingfisher as well as Olive-crowned Flowerpecker. There were Olive-backed Sunbird, Spice Imperial Pigeon and Brahminy Kite when we did a boat trip to islands at the entrance area of Kabui bay. I brought my spotting scope and put it on a white sandy beach of Urai island when we were watching the pigeons and kingfisher. At the nearby trees, Singing Starlings were eating some tiny fruits. High in the sky Blyth's Hornbill and Lesser Frigatebirds were flying over us. 

Red Bird of Paradise
Female Red Bird of Paradise

While we were enjoying the natural beauty of Raja Ampat's blue sea and islands, we saw some dolphins swimming off the nearby reef. It was a magnificent trip. In the last day of the tour, we watched Red Bird of Paradise, Hooded Butcherbird, Yellow-bellied Longbill and Helmetted Friarbird. 

After enjoying the tour, we returned to Sorong city. This trip in Raja Ampat was an extended trip of my previous tour with a group of British and American birdwatchers in Sorong, Tambrauw, Arfak mountains of Manokwari.

If you are interested, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.