Birding in Mangrove Forest of Sorong City

Mangrove forest of Sorong city is a good place for visitors who have short time to enjoy birding before they fly back to their country or continue their trip to Raja Ampat. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes to reach it. Visitors need to bring a good pair of binoculars, a camera with telephoto lens. The best time to start watching birds is early in the morning at 06:00 or in the afternoon at 15:30. 

Birds in Coastal Forest of Sorong

The common birds in mangrove trees are Brown-backed Honeyeater, Metallic Starling, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Shining Flycatcher, Sacred Kingfisher and Olive-backed Sunbird. There are also White-bellied Cuckooshrike, White-breasted Woodswallow, Willie Wagtail, and Helmetted Friarbird. 

I used to see Australian Ibis, Blue-Black Kingfisher, Nankeen Night Heron in the forest. However, they are not so common. 

When I guide visitors, I bring 2 pairs of SVBONY 10×50 binoculars. I use one pair for myself. The other pair is mounted on a tripod to function as spotting scope, so every tour participant will have the opportunity to watch the bird. Binoculars on tripod are perfect tools for finding birds in distant branches of trees. 

Orange-breasted Fig Parrot

I usually combine this short birding trip with tour to traditional market of Sorong city. 

For extended tour, a 4-day/3-night birding in Waigeo and a 3-day/ 2-night birding trip to Klasow valley of Sorong regency or Tambrauw regency can be offered to interested visitor(s). 

The birds in these regions include Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-faced Myna, Lowland Peltop, Red-cheeked Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Beach Kingfisher, Whimbrel, Striated Heron, and a lot more.

The number of participant for the long birding tour can be one visitor to a group of eight birdwatchers. 

Flight Route to Sorong City

Sorong city can be reached by plane from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Manado, Ambon, and even Jayapura. Garuda, Lion Air, Batik Air as well as Sriwijaya have got regular flights to Sorong city. 

There are a lot of hotels in Sorong. Some of them include Kyriad M, Swissbel Hotel, Aston, Waigo, and etc. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Sorong city, Raja Ampat islands, Tambrauw regency of South West Papua province of Indonesia, and want me (Charles Roring) to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Sorong City Tours
• Private Walking Tour in Sorong City

• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder Town of Minahasa Highland

Birding in the forest near Sorong city of Indonesia

Sorong city is the entrance gate for visitors who travel to Raja Ampat. Usually after long flights from home, visitors who have just arrived in Sorong feel tired. They want to take a rest for at least one night in a hotel of the city. They are also interested in exploring interesting places such as its restaurants, traditional markets, the nearby village or island. Visitors who have just completed their holiday in Raja Ampat may also want to explore tourist attractions in Sorong city.

This bird picture was taken using Fujifilm HS50EXR

Bird or animal watching is an interesting activity that visitors can do. As a tourist guide, I have organized tours for solo or group travelers to watch birds in a forest not far from Sorong. 

Olive-backed Sunbird

We usually start early in the morning at 06:00. I bring 2 pairs of binoculars 10×50 binoculars. One pair is mounted on a tripod to function as spotting scope. I use the other pair to find birds. I also bring laser pointer and a small loudspeaker to call birds. However, in order not to disturb the bird, I don't play the bird very often. 

The lowland mangrove forest of Sorong is the habitat of tens of species of beautiful birds and butterflies. Based on my previous trips, the species that I have seen include White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Olive-backed Sunbird (now also called Sahul Sunbird), Brown-backed Honeyeater, Australian White Ibis, Nankeen Night Heron, Sacred Kingfisher, Orange-breasted Fig Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Blue Black Kingfisher, Emperor Fairy Wren, Oriental Dollarbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-breasted Woodswallow, Yellow-faced Myna and a lot more. 

For butterflies, there are Priamus butterfly, Silky Owl Butterfly and etc. 

Flight route to Sorong city

I bring a bridge camera Fujifilm HS50EXR. It is an old photographic device with 42× optical zoom that is quite powerful in shooting flora and fauna in distant or tall trees. The birdwatching or animal watching tour lasts until 09:00 morning time. 

Birds in the lowland forest near Sorong city

After the tour in the forest of Sorong, I can extend the trip to the nearby traditional market or to a nearby island. Some visitors even request 4 to 6 days animal watching trip both in the forest of mainland West Papua and in Waigeo island of Sorong city.

If you are interested in taking the birding trip and want me (Charles Roring) to guide you, please, contact me by email to peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.