I am now in a fast passenger ferry that is going to Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. We spent a few days in Sausapor, Klabili and Malagufuk to watch and photograph birds. We saw Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, and Glossy-mantled Manucode. We also saw Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Superb Fruit Dove, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Rusty Mouse Warbler, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Pacific Baza, Hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, and etc.
In Sausapor town, we stayed in Sansapore Pacific Park Beach Resort. It was a comfortable accommodation for visitors who love birdwatching, swimming, snorkeling and wave surfing.
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| Red Bird of Paradise |
Our next targets will be Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise as well as other birds such as Beach Kingfisher, Hooded Butcherbird, Brown Oriole, Helmetted Friarbird, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Eclectus Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, Spice Imperial Pigeon, and a lot more.
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| Wilson's Bird of Paradise |
Birding in Minahasa Highland
Before birding in West Papua, we spent 3 days/ 2 nights in Minahasa highland where we watched Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi-crested Myna, White-rumped Triller, Green Imperial Pigeon and Sulawesi Scops Owl.
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| Pale Blue Monarch |
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| Black-naped Oriole |
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| Gray-sided Flowerpecker |
We also visited rice field areas of Sonder where we watched Javan Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, White-browed Crake, Zebra Dove, Collared Kingfisher, Chestnut Munia, and Scaly-breasted Munia. We tried to watch Isabelline Bush-hen by playing his sounds, unfortunately, she was not interested to come out of her hiding place in the bush.
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| Crimson Sunbird in Sonder's Forest of Minahasa Highland |
We completed our birding trip in Minahasa highland by visiting Kengkang waterfall in Tincep village which was the habitat of Gray-rumped Treeswift, White-rumped Triller, Sulawesi-crested Myna, White-eyed Drongo, and Green Imperial Pigeon. The strong sound of the waterfall made it difficult for us to hear the sounds of birds. So, we had to fuly rely on binoculars to look for birds that were sitting on the branches of trees. I also used my spotting scope to watch birds in distant trees. The mist from the waterfall fill the surrounding atmosphere slightly reducing the image quality of birds that we saw through the telescope.
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| Forest and farmland in Minahasa highland |
After birding in Minahasa highland, we continued our trip to Sorong city where we did birding in Tambrauw, Klasow valley and Waigeo island of Raja Ampat.
Accommodation
During our birding trip in Minahasa highland, we stayed in Hotel Villa Emitta of Tomohon town which is approximately 1 hour by car from Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado city.
The main gate to travel to Minahasa highland is Manado city. It can be reached by planes of Garuda, Batik Air, Lion Air and TransNusa from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar and Sorong.
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| Flight Route from major cities in Indonesia to Manado city |
Booking
If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi and Raja Ampat, and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com
Also read:
- Birding in High Elevation Forest of Minahasa
- Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
- Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
- Manado City Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour
- Birding in North Sulawesi
- Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
- Birdwatching in Sulawesi
- Birdwatching and butterflywatching in Sonder
- https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com
