Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia: 2024

Friday, December 20, 2024

Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong

Visitors who travel to Sorong city can take birding and wildlife watching tours in Raja Ampat and Sorong regency. The duration of the tours is from 5 to 7 days.

While in Sorong regency, visitors can visit Kasulala forest to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Red-cheeked Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Coconut Lorikeet as well as ground hopping birds such as Hooded Pitta and Papuan Pitta.

Visitors who like to explore rainforest could do night walk to look for Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Papuan Hawk Owl and other birds sleep on lower branches of trees.

In addition to birds, visitors could also watch butterflies, monitor lizard, cuscus and snake.

Palm Cockatoo

In Waigeo, visitors could watch such birds as Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise.

A lot of other birds could be watched in those places including Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra.

Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

Tour participants who take this tour could combine birding and snorkeling. Usually, snorkeling is done at the house reef of the resort or homestay which they stay. Snorkeling tour to other sites such as Friwen wall, Urai, and Yenbuba Strait as well as Arborek could also be organized upon request.

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

Snorkeling Photo from Raja Ampat

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

If you are interested in watching birds and enjoying snorkeling in Raja Ampat as well as hiking and wildlifewatching in Sorong regency, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Friday, December 13, 2024

Birding in Kasulala Forest of Sorong, and Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Sorong regency has been famous as destination for visitors want to explore tropical rainforest and watch tropical birds of Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia.

Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

Eclectus Parrot

There is a forest that is located in the east of Sorong city. Its name is Kasulala forest. It is the habitat of various species of birds such as Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Northern Fantail, Sooty-thicket Fantail, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, and etc.

Wompoo Fruit Dove

Equipment:

Visitors who want to watch birds in Kasulala forest need to bring binoculars. Flash light will also be needed for night walk in the forest.

There are other optional equipment which visitors may also bring such as spotting scope, laser pointer and camera with telephoto lens.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

Accommodation

Visitors who want to visit Kasulala forest can stay in guesthouses that are built on the hill overlooking Klasow valley. They can stay for 1 night, 2 nights, 3 nights or even longer.

Accommodation in Kasulala Forest

After exploring rainforest and watching birds in this part of Sorong regency, you could continue tour trip to Raja Ampat for another rainforest wildlife watching trip or snorkeling and scubadiving tour.

Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat

There are a lot of birding sites in Raja Ampat. Most birdwatchers go to Waigeo island. There, they could watch Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise as well as other birds such as Eclectus Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Great-billed Parrot, Beach Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Western-crowned Pigeon, Blyth's Hornbill, Radjah Shelduck, Whimbrel, Pacific Swallow, Collared Kingfisher, Moustached Treeswift, White-breasted Woodswallow, and etc.

A female Papuan Eclectus was flying over the blue sea in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat

Birdwatching could also be done in various small islands around Raja Ampat to look for Spice Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Violet-necked Lory, Channel-billed Cuckoo and etc.

Osprey

Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City for Non Birders

I often receive request for tours in Sorong city from visitors who plan to travel to Raja Ampat. Most of my tours are related to birdwatching. However, I also provide sightseeing tours for who are not keen on birding. Here is the places that we will visit.

Tourist Attractions in Sorong city

Traditional Market - There is a market in Sorong city that is the place for city dwellers to buy and sell goods such as rice, fish, meet, vegetables, and fruits. There are also other products that we could see from kitchen and gardening tools to smart phones.

Architectural Buildings:

Buddhist Temple has got unique architecture. It was built on a tower overlooking the city of Sorong. We could see the landscape of Sorong and some islands around it from the hill. The Chinese architecture looks unique compared to other buildings in Sorong city.

Sightseeing Tour in Sorong

Cathedral Church of Christ the King in Sorong city

Cathedral Church of Christ the King whose design was inspired by the Bower of Vogelkop Bowerbird

The design of the Cathedral Church of Christ the King was inspired by the bower of Vogelkop Bowerbird. Its wooden carving is also beautiful. It shows the unique artistic skill of the Papuan people that is reflected from relief of the wooden carvings.

Hill Forest - This is another natural attractions of Sorong city. Visitors could see the landscape of Sorong, watch birds, or just enjoy the green vegetation and fresh air that is released from.the surrounding trees of the hill

Doom Island is a small island located off the coast of Sorong city. It was the first place in Sorong where Dutch government established their administrative post. Now Doom island has become one of the crowdest human settlement in Sorong. We could see old Dutch buildings that are mixed with houses of local people who work as fishermen, traders, civil servant and etc.

Mangrove Forest is located near Sorong city. It is the place for visitors who love nature. There are several species of birds and butterflies that live in this natural places. Tour participants need binoculars and camera with telephoto lens in order to watch birds and butterflies in this site. Insect repellent lotion or spray will also be needed.

Booking

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

Short Birding Tour in Sorong City

This shrt birding tour in Sorong city is suitable for a solo traveling tourist, a couple or a small group of tourists who do not have much time. The tour starts at 06:00 and finishes at 10:00.

We will go by a chartered car to mangrove forest a little outside Sorong city. It takes around 30 minutes to reach it. We will start to explore the mangrove forest. Usually, there are not many tourists in that area at that early morning time.

Blue-fronted Fig Parrot (formerly called Orange-fronted Fig Parrot)

There are several species of tropical birds in the trees including Sahul Sunbird, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Little Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot (formerly called Orange-fronted Fig Parrot), Brown-backed Honeyeater, Brahminy Kite, Metallic Starling, Shining Flycatcher, Collared Imperial Pigeon and White-bellied Cuckooshrike.

To enhance the birdwatching experience, a pair of binoculars, spotting scope and camera with telephoto lens will be needed by the visitors.

White-bellied Cuckooshrike

The binoculars and spotting scope will enable birdwatchers to watch distant birds well. We will finish birding at 10:00. After that we will return to the hotel where this tour participants stay.

Sahul Sunbird, Shining Flycatcher, Brown-backed Honeyeater

Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird and Shining Flycatcher

After the tour, visitors could continue their trip to Raja Ampat or fly to another city.

If you are interested in taking a short birding tour in Sorong city before or after your trip in Raja Ampat, and want me to organize your tour and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Saturday, November 30, 2024

Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder of Minahasa Highland

My Minahasa Highland Tour yesterday was about birdwatching and butterfly watching in the high elevation farmland of Subdistrict Sonder. I went there by motorcycle which took me around 10 minutes to reach it. The forest and the farm were still covered by fog. So, I only spent around 30 minutes birding in one place.

Warbling White-eye

At that time, I saw Black-faced Munia, Warbling White-eye, Gray Wagtail, Crimson Sunbird, Hair-crested (White-eyed Drongo), Barred Rail, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Sahul Sunbird, and, again a bird that looks like, a Van Hasselt's Sunbird. Because the high elevation forest and farmland of Subdistrict Sonder was still in foggy condition, the pictures that I made were not so clear.

Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly

For instance, this Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove that was sitting on the branch of a tree at the side of the road. I thought there was only 1 bird in the tree. As a matter of fact, when I was walking closer towards the tree, I saw 3 Sulawesi Cuckoo-doves flying away.

Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca) in Minahasa highland

Black-faced Munia (This picture was taken under foggy condition)

More birds were hopping around the branches of the tree but they could not be photographed easily because of the fog. At around 08:00, the fog disappeared but birds had flown into deeper forest to cooler area. I slowly rode my motorcycle down the slope. I saw Yellow-billed Malkoha landed on a branch of a tree of the slope. He was there for around 3 minutes and then flew again into deeper forest.

Yellow-billed Malkoha

White-breasted Woodswallow

I still continued my birding tour that morning by motorcycle. I saw a few Collared Kingfisher sitting on higher branches. Perhaps, late November was their mating season. There were also Sulawesi Crow and White-breasted Woodswallow that were sitting at lower branch of trees. Sooty-headed Bulbul was very common. We could easily see them in farmland, forest edges and at the frontyard of the villagers.

Black Kite

Black Kite was soaring low looking for its prey. I aimed my camera at the bird and shot him several times. There was still some fog in the air. Farmland of Minahasa highland is rich of food crops. It attracts insects and rats. Birds that like to eat insect such as the kingfisher and the bird of prey that eats mouse could be found in the farmland. There were a lot of other birds that I saw during the morning tour in the farmland. I will write more about them in my next posts.

Farm tour in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province

Farmland in Minahasa regency

Where is Sonder?

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is surrounded by vegetable and fruit gardens, plantations (dry farmland), paddy fields (wet farmland) and forest. Sonder could be reached by car from Manado city for around 1 hour. Visitors need to fly to Manado city of Indonesia in order to explore the mountainous region of Minahasa with its beautiful landscape, forest, lakes, waterfalls, rivers, and farmland.

How to get to Sonder town in Minahasa highland?

Every day, there are regular flights that connect Manado with some major cities of Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar and Sorong. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Super Air Jet, Lion Air, Batik Air, and TransNusa.

Car route between Sonder town and Manado city

Subdistrict Sonder in Minahasa regency of Indonesia

Accommodation

There are homestays in Sonder town. There are also hotels in the nearby Tomohon town which visitors can choose to stay.

Booking

If you are interested in taking a sightseeing, farmtour and birding trip in Minahasa highland of the Province of North Sulawesi; and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Manado city and its surrounding farmland

Tropical Birds in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

I frequently do field survey around the forest, farmland, and paddy fields of Sonder town in Minahasa highland. There are interesting birds and butterflies that I saw. Some of them are shown below.

Van Hasselt's Sunbird?

The bird above looks like a Van Hasselt's Sunbird. However, in Merlin and in the field guide book of Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago by James Eaton et. al., the spread of Van Hasselt's Sunbird does not reach Sulawesi island. The red colour of the above bird is only on his chest.

In Van Hasselt's Sunbird, the red colour extends from chest to his belly.

This can be a subspecies of Van Hasselt's Sunbird or another different species of a sunbird. More studies are needed to accurately identify this sunbird.

Turquoise Flycatcher

This is Turquoise Flycatcher. The bird is small and can be found hopping around the branches of shrub plants in higher elevation forest and farmland of Sulawesi island. According to Merlin, this bird also occurs in Maluku and the Philipines.

Another interesting bird to see is Pale Blue Monarch. The male bird has got a thin dark line that devides his neck and chest. The nest of this bird has got the shape of a small cup and is attached to small branches of a tree or a shrub plant. Pale Blue Monarch eats insect.

Pale Blue Monarch in North Sulawesi

Below is the picture of Sulawesi Hanging Parrot (Loriculus stigmatus). This is a male bird. He has got pale eye, and red patch on the forehead. The female one has got dark eye and does not have red patch on her forehead. They can be seen in fruiting and flowering trees. The plumage of both male and female Sulawesi Hanging Parrot is mostly green. This parrot is often seen eating tree bark.

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

Black-crowned White-eye

Black-crowned White-eye is a small bird that likes to sit on the twigs of trees. We can easily recognize the bird from his black forehead, and thick white eye ring and whitish underparts.

Yellow-billed Malkoha (also known as Sulawesi Malkoha) is an endemic malkoha of Sulawesi island. It can reach a length of around 50 cm. The wings and tail are purple. Its upper bill is yellow.

Sulawesi Malkoha

Sulawesi Scops Owl

This Sulawesi Scops Owl usually comes out at dusk to look for prey and to find mating partner. The adult bird has got a length of 20 cm. I made this picture near a poultry and pig farm at the outskirt of Sonder town. At that time, I had to whistle mimicking his sounds in order to attract him to come out of his hiding place. He flew to a tree near where I stood and landed around 6 meters above me. I quickly aimed my camera and shot at the bird.

Black-naped Oriole

Sulawesi Crimson Sunbird

There are several species of sunbird in Minahasa peninsula of North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, i.e. Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Black Sunbird and Crimson Sunbird. On page 452-453 of the first edition field guide book: Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago - Greater Sundas and Wallacea by James Eaton et. al, it says that the Subspecies of Crimson Sunbird in Sulawesi island is called Sulawesi Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja flavostriata). It has got yellow streaking on scarlet throat and extensive red margins on upperwing as well as wider yellow rump.

Sulawesi Crimson Sunbird

In addition to forest and plantation areas, Subdistrict Sonder also has got rice field sites which are the habitat of water birds such as White-browed Crake, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, Little Egret and Cattle Egret. We could also see other tropical birds in the paddy field areas such as Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, Collared Kingfisher, Zebra Dove, Rock Pigeon, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Chestnut Munia.

Javan Pond Heron (non-breeding plumage)

Collared Kingfisher

Getting to Sonder town in Minahasa Highland

The main gate to explore Minahasa Highland is Manado city. There are regular daily flights between Manado and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, and Sorong. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air, Super Air Jet, and TransNusa. There is also direct flight between Manado and Singapore served by Scoot Air.

Flight routes to Manado city

It is easy to travel to Sonder town. From Manado city (the capital of the Province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia), visitors could go by car for approximately 1 hour.

Booking

If you are interested in traveling to Minahasa highland to do hiking, sightseeing and birdwatching, and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Birding Walk in the Farmland and Paddy Fields of Sonder in Minahasa Highland

The subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland is surrounded by farmland, paddy fields and hill forest. They are the habitat of various species of birds such as Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, Zebra Dove, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Oriole, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-rumped Triller, Lesser Fish Eagle, Finch-billed Myna, and etc.

Yellow-billed Malkoha

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

Black-faced Munia

Birding and Walking Tour Around the Forest, Farmland and Paddy Fields

Hiking and birding activities are usually carried out in the mornings at 06:00 to 09:30 and in the afternoons at 15:00 to 18:00. Tour participants can wear sport shoes, and bring wildlife watching devices such as 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars, laser pointer, spotting scope. Flash light or torch will also be needed for night walk.

Waterfall, flower garden, birds and butterfly in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa

Warbling White-eye

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa that is surrounded by forest, farmland and paddy fields

Butterfly Watching

There are beautiful butterflies that tour participants can see during the morning and afternoon walks including Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Sulawesi Yellow Tiger Butterfly, Lime Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus), Neptis Ida Celebensis, Sulawesi Leafwing (Dolleschalia polibete celebensis), The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia), Common Birdwing (Troides helena).

Menado Yellow Tiger Butterfly, Blanchard''s Wood Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph,

Some butterflies and an orchid flower in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland

Perhaps, these are Graphium meyeri meyeri butterflies.

How to get to Sonder

Sonder can be reached by car for 1 hour from Manado city which is the capital of the Province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia. Every day, there are regular flights between Manado city and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, and Sorong. Direct flight from Singapore to Manado city is served by Scoot Air.

Manado city is the capital of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia

Flight routes to Manado city

Car route between Sonder town and Manado city

After arriving at Sam Ratulangi airport of Manado city, visitors could continue trip to Sonder town by car. It takes approximately 1 hour to between the airport and Sonder.

Booking and More Info

If you are interested in taking a hiking, sightseeing and birding tour in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia

Pages

Friday, December 20, 2024

Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong

Friday, December 13, 2024

Birding in Kasulala Forest of Sorong, and Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City for Non Birders

Short Birding Tour in Sorong City

Saturday, November 30, 2024

Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Tropical Birds in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Birding Walk in the Farmland and Paddy Fields of Sonder in Minahasa Highland