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Thursday, August 22, 2024

Watching Twelve-wired and King Bird of Paradise in Tambrauw

Recently I guided a European couple in Tambrauw regency. We visited Klabili village and District town of Sausapor. We spent 3 days/ 2 nights exploring tropical rainforest. We watched birds including the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise and King Bird of Paradise as well as South Papuan Pitta, Forest Bittern, New Guinea Vulturine Parrot and Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher. 

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Southern Papuan Pitta, Blyth's Hornbill, Papuan Frogmouth, Spangled Drongo,
Tropical Birds in Tambrauw Regency of Indonesia

During the tour, we also did night walk to look for nocturnal bird. We saw Papuan Frogmouth and Northern Tree Snake (Dendrelapis calligaster).

To watch the paradise birds in Klabili village, we had to wake up early at 04:00. We made preparation, and had some tea and coffee with some biscuits. At 04:30, we left our homestay for the site of Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus). It took around 1 hour of walking to reach it. It was down when we arrived. Minutes later, the male Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise began to call his mating partner. 

When the female Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise came, she landed on a lower tree trunk. Local villagers called it "stick." The male flew to that stick and began his courtship dance performance which lasted for more than 1 hour. 

After watching the dance performance, we continued rainforest tour that morning to the site of Forest Bittern. Along the path we saw other birds such as Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and Blyth's Hornbill. The Forest Bittern was sitting on his nest. We watched it using a spotting scope from a distant in order not to disturb the bird.

We continued our walking tour in the forest to King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius) at around 09:45. The bird was sitting on a branch of a tall ficus tree. It was very difficult to find it. 

We still do general birding to see Yellow-faced Myna, Red-cheeked Parrot, Helmeted Friarbird, and Black Lory. 

There was a hide behind Klabili village. We entered it before lunch time. We put some worms and played their sounds. The Hooded Pitta landed shortly. He was there for only a few seconds. The Southern Papuan Pitta came later and stayed for around 15 minutes until it started to rain. 

At 14:00, we continued our next adventure to Sausapor. We saw Brush Cuckoo, Sahul Sunbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Blyth's Hornbill, Slender-billed Cuckoo-dove and Hoodee Butcherbird. The forest at the outskirt of Sausapor is the habitat of birds of prey including White-bellied Sea Eagle, Gurney's Eagle, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite and etc.

If you are interested in taking a bird of paradise watching tour in West Papua of Indonesia and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to +6281332245180.

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Sunday, August 11, 2024

Paradise Bird Photography Tour in West Papua of Indonesia

I often organize tours for photographers who want to take pictures of paradise birds in tropical rainforest of West Papua of Indonesia. The places that we visit include Sorong city, Sausapor, Klabili, Malagufuk, and Waigeo of Raja Ampat, as well as Arfak mountains in Manokwari regency. 

King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica)
King Bird of Paradise
Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus)
Magnificent Riflebird

Birds of Paradise that can be seen and photographed in their natural habitat include: Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Western Parotia, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Black Sicklebill, Superb Bird of Paradise, Trumpet Manucode, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Red Bird of Paradise, and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. 

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca)
Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise
Participants can also see and photograph other birds such as Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Eclectus Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Violet-necked Lory, and a lot more.
Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra)
Red Bird of Paradise
To do the bird photography trip, participants need to bring D-SLR camera with large sensor plus telephoto lens such as the Sigma Sports 150 to 600 mm or Tamron G2 150-600 mm. 
Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)
Lesser Bird of Paradise
The recommended entry point for bird photography tour is Sorong city or Manokwari city in the Republic of Indonesia. Participants need to come in a group of two to four or more to share the cost.
Western Parotia (Parotia sefilata)
Western Parotia

This paradise bird tour can be combined with a birdwatching tour to a Wallace region (transitional zone from Asia to Australia), especially to North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. 

p.s. Photos in this article were taken by my clients and me during our previous tours. 


BIRDWATCHING AND SIGHTSEEING TOUR IN MINAHASA PENINSULA

Minahasa peninsula in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia is a highly recommended destination for visitors who are interested in watching tropical birds of Wallace region (the transitional zone between the continent of Asia and Australia) which is the habitat of a lot of unique tropical birds of Sulawesi island.

Pale Blue Monarch in Minahasa highland
Pale Blue Monarch

The rainforest and farmland of Minahasa is the habitat of such birds as:

  • Sulawesi Hanging Parrot 
  • Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker
  • Ashy Woodpecker
  • Gray-sided Flowerpecker
  • Yellow-sided Flowerpecker 
  • Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker
  • Sulawesi Fantail
  • Zebra Dove
  • Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove
  • White-faced Cuckoo-dove
  • Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove
  • Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
  • Green Imperial Pigeon
  • Rock Pigeon
  • Black-crowned White-eye
  • Warbling White-eye
  • Sahul Sunbird
  • Crimson Sunbird
  • Brown-throated Sunbird
  • Turquoise Flycatcher
  • Pale Blue Monarch
  • Black-naped Oriole
  • Collared Kingfisher
  • Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
  • Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher
  • Green-backed Kingfisher
  • Sooty-headed Bulbul
  • Slender-billed Crow
  • Sooty-headed Bulbul
  • White-browed Crake
  • Barred Rail
  • Buff-banded Rail
  • Barn Swallow
  • Sunda Teal
  • Cattle Egret
  • Little Egret
  • Cinnamon Bittern
  • Finch-billed Myna
  • White-breasted Woodswallow
  • Ivory-backed Woodswallow
  • Barn Swallow
  • Gray-rumped Treeswift
  • Sulphur-bellied Whistler
  • Brush Cuckoo
  • Chestnut Munia
  • Scaly-breasted Munia
  • Black-faced Munia
  • Glossy Swiftlet
  • Purple Needletail
  • Hair-crested Drongo
  • Sulawesi Drongo
  • Red-backed Thrush
  • and etc.

Red-backed Thrush
Red-backed Thrush

Birding sites that can be explored by visitors include Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow, Pine Forest, The hill forest, farmland and paddy field of Subdistrict Sonder. 

Yellow-billed Malkoha
Yellow-billed Malkoha

More birds could be watched if we explore lowland and lower montane forest in Talawaan waterfall and farmland; and in Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Birds such as Sulawesi Pygmy Hornbill, Knobbed Hornbill, Purple-winged Roller, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove, Great-billed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Myna, and etc.

Scaly-breasted Munia, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

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


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Friday, August 9, 2024

Bird Photography Tour in Sorong Regency of West Papua

I have just organized a tour for 2 Thai photographers to a lowland forest of Sorong regency in the Province of Southwest Papua. The destination of the tour is Malagufuk village. During the 5 days/ 4 nights tour, the visitors were guided by local guides and villagers.

Northern Cassowary in Malagufuk
Northern Cassowary

A lot of birds were seen and photographed by the participants. Some of them are listed below:

  • Azure Kingfisher
  • Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher
  • Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
  • Blue-black Kingfisher
  • Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
  • Lesser Birds of Paradise
  • King Birds of Paradise
  • Magnificent Riflebird
  • Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise
  • Rufous Owl
  • Northern Cassowary
  • Red-bellied Pitta
  • Hooded Pitta
  • Hooded Pitta (Pitta Sordida)
    Hooded Pitta
These photographers saw a lot of birds but they only focused their observation on certain species that they would like to photograph. 
Lesser Birds of Paradise in Malagufuk
Lesser Bird of Paradise


BIRDWATCHING TOUR IN MINAHASA PENINSULA OF NORTH SULAWESI PROVINCE, INDONESIA

I organize birdwatching tour for visitors who are interested in watching birds in Minahasa peninsula of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The areas that we can visit include Mouny Mahawu, the forest and farmland of Subdistrict Sonder, Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Tambun Maleo Sanctuary, Tapak Kolintang Forest and farmland area at the outskirt of Manado city. 

Birds that can be watched during the trip are Green-backed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo, Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Ashy Woodpecker, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Maroon-chinned Fruit-dove, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Black-naped Oriole, Gray-rumped Treeswift, White-breasted Woodswallow, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, White-browed Crake, Buff-banded Rail, Barred Rail, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Barn Swallow, Purple Needletail, Glossy Switflet, Speckled Boobook, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Ochre-bellied Boobook, Sulawesi Pygmy Hornbill, Knobned Hornbill, and a lot more. 

Sulawesi Scops Owl (Otus manadensis)
Sulawesi Scops Owl
Equipment that participants need to bring include binoculars, flashlight, camera with telephoto lens (optional). Participants need to wear dark clothing that are friendly to birds. 
Black-naped Fruit Dove
Black-naped Fruit Dove

The city which is the entry point for birding tour in Minahasa peninsula is Manado. Every day there are flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar, Sorong to Manado city. They are served by such airlines as Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, TransNusa. 

Flight route to Manado city
Traveling to Manado city

There are also international flights to Manado from Singapore served Scoot Air and from Guangzhou to Manado by China Southern Airlines. 

If you are interested in taking this birdwatching and photography tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or  by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Friday, August 2, 2024

Birding and Snorkeling in Waigeo Raja Ampat with A Couple from the US

I am now in Waigeo of Raja Ampat. I am guiding a couple from the United States. We went to the forest yesterday to watch paradise birds. We watched Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. 

Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus)
Eclectus Parrot

Until today, we have seen such birds as Black-naped Tern, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Torresian Crow, Matsudaira's Storm Petrel, Lesser Frigatebird, Blyth's Hornbill, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Ruby-throated Myzomela, Cinnamon Ground Dove, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Willie Wagtail, Lesser Frigatebird, Glossy Swiftlet, Uniform Swiftlet, Moustached Treeswift, Beach Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Spangled Drongo, Mimic Meliphaga, Puff-backed Meliphaga, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, Long-tailed Honey-buzzard, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Helmeted Friarbird, Brown Oriole, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, and etc.

Brown Oriole
Brown Oriole
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda)
Long-tailed Honey buzzard
Because Raja Ampat is still in wave season, my clients only enjoyed snorkeling at the house reef of the resort. The sea in Southern Waigeo is calm. 
At Port of Waisai



BIRDING WALK IN THE FARMLAND OF SUBDISTRICT SONDER OF MINAHASA REGENCY

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is a nice place for farm tour and easy birding walk. 
Barred Rail in Minahasa regency
Barred Rail
The paddy field areas of Subdistrict Sonder are the habitat of White-browed Crake, Buff-banded Rail, Barred Rail, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Collared Kingfisher. 
White-browed Crake in Minahasa
White-browed Crake
When we walk into the wooded farm, we will see more interesting birds such as Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Black-naped Oriole, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Finch-billed Myna, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, Sulawesi Myzomela, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker,  Crimson Sunbird, Zebra Dove, Rock Pigeon, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc.
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
The duration of stay which tourists can spend in Sonder town is at least 3 days/ 2 nights. 
Subdistrict Sonder is a highly recommended destination for visitors who are interested in seeing agricultural land as well as watching birds and butterflies. 
Visitors could walk through the farmland to see various crops that villagers grow such as rice, corn, peanuts, banana, papaya, cabbage, mustard green, chilli, tomatoes, and a lot more. 
food crops in agricultural land of Minahasa
Agricultural Crops in Minahasa highland


If you are interested in birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read: