Birding and Photography Tour in Indonesia from Sonder, Tomohon, Mount Mahawu, Manado, Tangkoko Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi to Malagufuk in Sorong regency, Klabili and Sausapor in Tambrauw, Waigeo and Salawati in Raja Ampat of West Papua. I support community based tourism. Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to +6281332245180 or by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com.
From the night of 15 to 19 July 2023, I guided 4 Spanish birders and Ilham (an Indonesian birding guide from Halmahera). We explored the forest of Klabili and Sausapor and Sorong Mangrove in search of rare birds. For paradise birds, they have seen them in Waigeo, Arfak range and Nimbokrang.
Spanish Birdwatchers in Tambrauw regency
We saw Papuan Hawk Owl, Papuan Pitta, Green-naped Pheasant Pigeon, Forest Bittern, Emperor Fairywren and Trumpet Manucode (also a paradise bird), New Guinea Vulturine Parrot, Red-necked Crake, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Thick-billed Ground Pigeon, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Blue Black Kingfisher, Collared Imperial Pigeon, and etc. Unfortunately, we did not see Hooded Pitta. The following picture was taken from my other trip.
Hooded Pitta in Tambrauw regency
We also saw a lot of common birds such as Large Fig Parrot, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Golden Myna, Black Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Black Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Dwarf Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, and etc. We minimize the use of laser pointer to avoid disturbing the birds.
They were very happy because they could watch rare birds that were in their target list to see.
If you are interested in birding and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
I am now in Malagufuk village organizing a 5 day- 4 night birdwatching tour with 5 British visitors and their tour organizer. We have been spending 4 days exploring rainforest to watch a lot of species of birds. Tomorrow, we will be our last day in this village.
Western-crowned Pigeon
So far, we have seen birds such as:
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
Azure Kingfisher
Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher
Yellow-billed Kingfisher
Common Paradise Kingfisher
Blue-Black Kingfisher
Large Fig Parrot
Eclectus Parrot
Moluccan King Parrot
Red-cheeked Parrot
Coconut Lorikeet
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Palm Cockatoo
Black Lory
Black-capped Lory
Frilled Monarch
Black-sided Robin
Black-browed Triller
Mimic Meliphaga
Tawny Straightbill
Papuan Frogmouth
Marbled Frogmouth
Papuan Boobook
Papuan Nightjar
Rufous Owl
Pinon Imperial Pigeon
Zoe Imperial Pigeon
Western-crowned Pigeon
Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon
Orange-bellied Fruit Dove
Pink-spotted Fruit Dove
Beautiful Fruit Dove
Great Cuckoo Dove
Brown Cuckoo Dove
Papuan Babbler
Blue Jewel Babbler
Hooded Butcherbird
Black Butcherbird
Lesser Birds of Paradise
King Bird of Paradise
Magnificent Riflebird
Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise
Glossy-mantled Manucode
White-bellied Cuckooshrike
Boyer's Cuckooshrike
Papuan Black Cicadabird
Yellow-faced Myna
Golden Myna
Hemeted Friarbird
Brown Oriole
Yellow-bellied Longbill
Spotted Honeyeater
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater
Frilled Monarch
Hooded Pitta
Papuan Pitta
Channel-billed Cuckoo
White-crowned Cuckoo
Ivory-billed Cuckoo
Spangled Drongo
Oriental Dollarbird
Moustached Treeswift
Glossy Swiftlet
Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
Sahul Sunbird
Black Sunbird
Gray-headed Goshawk
and etc.
There are more targets that we haven't seen although we have heard some of their sounds. They include Pheasant Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, White-crowned Cuckoo, Lowland Peltop, Trumpet Manucode, and Wallace Owlet Nightjar.
I have guided tourists to Malagufuk for years since 2014. I introduced birding for the first time to villagers when the whole community in birding industry had not known the existence of the village. There were no boardwalk, guesthouses, toilets, and 4G internet connection. Now, more facilities have allowed visitors to enjoy more comfortable birding experience. I hope other villages in West Papua could adopt more enviromentally friendly development so that they could preserve their tropical rainforest and coral reef.
We experience rain everyday, the path is very muddy. All of us have to wear rubber boots.
I bring my 10×50 binoculars, portabe loudspeaker, laser pointer, and spotting scope. I don't use them. All of my clients are experienced birdwatchers. They bring their own equipment.
After this, I will guide a small group of birders from Spain to Klabili village and Sausapor town in Tambrauw Mountains. And then I will visit the highland of Minahasa in North Sulawesi Province of the Republic of Indonesia. This trip report is written by Charles Roring.
FARM TOUR IN MINAHASA HIGHLAND
Minahasa is a regency in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It has got fertile land both in the coastal and mountainous region. Local villagers grow such crops such as vanilla, clove, rice, corn, papaya, banana, rambutan, durian, spring onion, chilli, tomato and etc.
The agricultural produce such as carrots, cabbage, palm sugar, eggs, pork and fish are sold in towns and cities in North Sulawesi as well as other parts in eastern region of Indonesia.
Agricultural Crops in Minahasa highland
During the tour, participants could also visit traditional market to see the agricultural produce and various kinds of products such as smoked bluefin tuna, fresh tilapia fish, fruits and vegetables and etc which the Minahasan people buy and sell.
Agricultural produce in a traditional market in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency, Indonesia
If you are interested in taking farm tour in Minahasa highland and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
Sorong city in Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia has been the destination for visitors who want to spend their holiday in Raja Ampat. As a matter of fact, Sorong itself has got a number of tourist attractions both inside and outside of the city.
For nature lovers, walking tour, sightseeing, birdwatching and butterfywatching are good tourism attractions that can be done at the outskirt of Sorong city. There are a number of forest areas that are good for walking tour and wildlife watching. Some of them are listed below:
Blyth's Hornbill
Sorong's Ridge Forest is approximately 1-hour drive from the city. It is the habitat of such birds as Blyth's Hornbill, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Butcherbird, Lesser Black Coucal, Greater Black (Ivory-billed) Coucal, Pacific Baza, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Mimic Meliphaga, and etc. Some times, Lesser Birds of Paradise fly over the road where the birdwatchers walk through. The best time to enjoy birding at this place is early in the mornings.
Another natural place that is good for walking, sightseeing and birding is Love Hill. The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism built a long boardwalk for visitors to enjoy sightseeing in this forest. Visitors could enjoy walking tour in this forest and at the same time watch birds and butterflies. Birds that can be watched include Yellow-faced Myna, Black Sunbird, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Golden Myna, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Helmeted Friarbird, Brown Oriole, White-throated Needletail, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Metalic Starlling and etc.
Beautiful Fruit Dove
Mangrove forest is located closer to Sorong city. It is a good place for visitors who only have little time for birding. There visitors could watch White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Helmeted Friarbird, Shining Flycatcher, Sahul Sunbird, Sacred Kingfisher, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove and Rainbow Bee-eater, Brown Oriole, White-breasted Woodswallow, Orange-breasted Fig Parrot and etc. Visitors need to apply insect repellent lotion on their skin before walking inside the mangrove forest of Sorong city.
Sorong city tour
The Buddhist temple in Sorong city is also worth visiting. It is located on a hill that allows visitors to see the coastal land and seascape of Sorong. The trees in the surrounding area of the temple is the habitat of Yellow-vented Bulbul, Willie Wagtail, Eurasian Treesparrow, Torresian Crow, Olive-backed Sunbird and etc. Another attraction is the The Cathedral Church of Christ the King whose design follows the bower of the Vogelkop Bowerbird.
Other tourist attractions at the outskirts of Sorong city. For visitors who want to see farmland areas, Aimas should be in the list of places to visit. Farmers in Aimas grow corn, rice, vegetables and fruits.
More birds could be watched in Waigeo island. Along the coastal forest, visitors could watch Eclectus Parrot, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Blyth's Hornbill, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Moustached Treeswift, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Palm Cockatoo and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
More interesting birds could be found in deeper forest such as Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Brown-headed Crow and Papuan Pitta.
If you need a guide to accompany you to explore the natural places of Sorong city to enjoy walking tour, sightseeing, birdwatching and butterfly watching, please, contact me Charles Roring by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
BIRDWATCHING IN MINAHASA HIGHLAND
Minahasa is a regency in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. Its highland is a good destination for visitors who love birdwatching. Visitors can explore the forest, agricultural land and paddy fields on foot.
Warbling White-eye
Birding Walk in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa Highland
Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland has got a number of birding sites that are suitable for visitors. While walking to enjoy the natural beauty of Subdistrict Sonder, visitors could watch various species of birds such as Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Slender-billed Crow, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Black-faced Munia, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, Collared Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Zebra Dove, Black-naped Oriole, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Finch-billed Myna, and etc.
Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher
Birdwatchers usually bring their own binoculars and a camera with telephoto lens. Bringing a spotting scope on a tripod will enhance the birding experience but it is not a must. Birdwatchers can enjoy easy birding while walking along the roadsides of Subdistrict Sonder.
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Farmland Tour
Birding walk through the roads in farmland areas will allow visitors to watch birds and see various kinds of agricultural crops which local farmers grow. There are rice, corn, peanut, banana, spinach, cabbage, tomato, chilli, kangkung, aubergine, vanilla, coconut, clove and nutmet. The farmers also run poultry, pig and fish farming. They sell their produce to towns and cities in North Sulawesi and in Central and Eastern Indonesia such as Tomohon, Tondano, Kawangkoan, Langowan, Bitung, Manado, Ternate, Ambon, Sorong, Manokwari, Biak and Jayapura.
Birds in paddy field of Minahasa: Barred Rail, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Minahasa highland has got beautiful landscape, visitors who travel to the region can see the magnificent view of Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow, Pine Forest of Lahendong, the agricultural land of Sonder, flowers and waterfall in Tincep. These places are also good for walking and birding tours. For instance, in Lake Linow, we could see Cattle Egret, Barn Swallow, and Sunda Teal and in the Pine Forest, we could watch the Gray-rumped Treeswift, Collared Kingfisher and Purple Needletail.
Flight route to Manado city
Land route from Manado city to Tomohon and Sonder in Minahasa Highland
It is easy to reach Minahasa. The main gate to Minahasa highland is Manado city. Visitors need to fly to one of the major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Makassar. After that, they can continue their trip to Manado by plane served by Indonesian airlines such as Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, and TransNusa.
International visitors can fly from Singapore to Manado by Scoot Air, and from Guangzhou to Manado city by China Southern Airlines.
The trip to Minahasa highland can be done by car with destinations: Tomohon town and Subdistrict town of Sonder.
For accommodation, there are hotels, guesthouses and homestays in Tomohon.
If you want a guide to organize your tour in Minahasa highland, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
