Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia: November 2024

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.

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia

Sulawesi is an island in Indonesia that is located in the transitional region between Asia and Australia. Alfred Russel Wallace drew a line that separates the fauna of Asia and Australia. There are unique tropical plants and animals that are interesting for nature lovers. Sulawesi is also an attractive destination for birding visitors. There are a lot of birdwatching sites in Sulawesi. One of them is Sonder town.

Green Imperial Pigeon

Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher

Sonder is a small town that is located in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province.

Crimson Sunbird

Pale Blue Monarch in Tounelet Slope of Sonder town

The surrounding hills, farmlands, and paddy fields of Sonder are the habitat of a lot of species of birds such as: Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flower, Sulawesi Drongo, Hair-crested (White-eyed Drongo), Barred Rail, Sulawesi Bush-Warbler, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Ashy Woodpecker, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-faced Cuckoo-dove,nSulawesi Cuckoo-dove,nZebra Dove, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, White-browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Black-naped Oriole, Collared Kingfisher, Isabelline Bush-hen, Pale Blue Monarch, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Cattle Egret, Little Egret,nPurple Heron, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Gray-rumped Treeswift, White-rumped Triller, Slender-billed Crow, White-breasted Woodswallow, Barn Swallow, Edible-nest Swiftlet, Glossy Swiftlet, and etc.

Warbling White-eye

Barred Rail

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Equipment

Most tour participants bring 10×42 or 8× 42 binoculars, camera with telephoto lens, laser pointer or even a spotting scope. As a birding guide, I also bring a small portable loudspeaker. These device will greatly enhance the birding experience of birdwatchers who take the tour.

A birdwatcher needs a good pair of binoculars.

Birding in Sonder of Minahasa regency, Indonesia

Duration of the Tour

Visitors can spend at least 3 days/ 2 nights to explore the avifauna and other wildlife in the forest and farmland of Sonder. Visitors need to bring their own binoculars and camera with telephoto lens of they want to watch and photograph birds. Longer birding tours can be done by combining this trip in Sonder of Minahasa with other tours such as snorkeling tour in Bunaken, wildlife tour in Dumoga Bone National Park, birding and snorkeling trip in Sorong and Raja Ampat regency in West Papua.

How to get to Sonder

Sonder town is located in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province of the Republic of Indonesia. Manado city is the capital of North Sulawesi Province and is the main gate to enter Minahasa highland.

Flight routes between major cities in Indonesia and Manado city

Every day, there are flights from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar and Sorong to Manado city. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, Super Air Jet, and TransNusa.

After landing in Manado city, visitors could continue their trip by car to Sonder town. It takes approximatly one hour to reach the town.

Car route between Sonder town and Manado city

Accommodation

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

Other Tourist Attractions

There are other attractions in Sonder and its surroundings such as farmland, waterfall, flower garden, terraces of rice field, hot spring and mountains which visitors can explore while visiting Sonder.

forest, farmland, river, waterfall and flowers

Rice field, waterfall, forest and flowers in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Booking and More Info

If you are interested in visiting Sonder to enjoy birdwatching or see its natural places, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk of Klasow Valley

I am now guiding a couple from Spain. We are now on Day 7. We still have 3 days to complete the trip.

In the first day of the tour, we visited the mangrove park of Sorong city. There we saw Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Common Sandpiper, and Sahul Sunbird. So far, we have seen a lot of species of birds including King Bird of Paradise, Lesser Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Red-cheeked Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Black Lory, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Black Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Forest Bittern, Gray-headed Goshawk, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, Brahminy Kite, Papuan Frogmouth, Shining Flycatcher, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, Sooty-thicket Fantail, Frilled Monarch, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Dusky Scrubfowl, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Western-crowned Pigeon, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Dwarf Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Frilled Monarch, Olive-backed Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, and etc.

Birding in rainforest of Klabili and Malagufuk

Birds in Klasow valley

We also saw Ringed-tailed Possum, Cuscus, Dorcopsis, snakes, a lot of butterflies.

Yesterday, I had to return to Sorong city to buy more food supply. The tropical rainforest of Klasow valley stretches from Sorong Regency to Tambrauw Regency. It has now become a favorite destinations among tourists who want to enjoy wildlife watching in Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia.

Papuan Frogmouth

If you are interested in taking a rainforest tour in Sorong regency, Raja Ampat, or Tambrauw and want me to organize your trip, you could contact me by WhatsApp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

BIRDING IN SONDER OF MINAHASA HIGHLAND

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa highland of Indonesia. It is surrounded by hill forest, farmland and rice fields. Some small rivers flow through Sonder too. This is a good destination for birding visitors.

Birding sites in Sonder of Minahasa highland

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove

Various species of birds could be seen there. They include: Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Turquoise Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, Brush Cuckoo, Sulawesi Malkoha (also known as Yellow-billed Malkoha), Lesser Fish Eagle, Collared Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, White-breasted Swallow, Blue-taled Bee-eater, Zebra Dove, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Sulawesi Swiftlet, Black-naped Oriole, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo, Sulawesi Drongo, Finch-billed Myna, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, and etc.

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Black-naped Oriole

Visitors who want to enjoy birding tour in Sonder can spend around 3 days/ 2 nights exploring the forest, farmland and paddy fields to see the birds that are mentioned above.

White-eyed Drongo, Collared Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Warbling White-eye

A good pair of binoculars, a camera with telephoto lens will be needed to watch and photograph them. I personally use a pair of 10×50 binoculars and an old bridge camera the Fujifilm HS50EXR. This camera is not manufactured anymore.

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

Flights

Sonder town is approximately a 1-hour drive from Manado city which is the capital of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. Therefore, visitors who want to visit Sonder need to fly to Manado city. There are regular daily flights between Manado city and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, and Sorong. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air and TransNusa.

birding in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi

Flight route to Manado city

Land route between Sonder and Manado city

Car route from Manado city to Sonder town in Minahasa highland

Accommodation

Visitors could stay in hotels in Tomohon town which can be booked online. There are also homestays in Sonder that offer rooms in more affordable prices.

Sonder town in Minahasa regency is surrounded by hill forest, farmland and paddy fields

Minahasan people are agricultural community, they grow rice, fruits and vegetables. They also run pig and poultry farm. Tour participants will see farmland everywhere in Minahasa both in lowland and highland.

Farmland and agricultural crops in Minahasa highland

Booking

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

Also read:

Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia

Pages

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

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk of Klasow Valley