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

Also read

• Birding and Snorkeling in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong regency
• Birding and Sightseeing in Raja Ampat

BIRDING TOUR IN MINAHASA

For visitors who are keen on bird watching in other parts of Indonesia, they could fly to Manado city in North Sulawesi Province and then do birdwatching in Minahasa. 

Minahasa Land has got mountains, valleys, rivers, wet and dry farmland. These environment are good destination for visitors who love nature and sightseeing trip. They are the habitat of various species of birds and butterflies.

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Drongo, Little Egret, White-browed Crake, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird

There, they could spend between 3 days to 1 week to watch various species of birds such as Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Turquoise Flycatcher, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Black-faced Munia, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Pale Blue Monarch, Sahul Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Speckled Boobook, Black Kite, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Collared Kingfisher, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret and etc.

Black-naped Oriole, Pygmy Woodpecker, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove

Visitors who are interested in birding in Minahasa need to bring binoculars, and other optional devices such as spotting scope and camera with telephoto lens. These will greatly enhance their birding or wildlife watching experience.

Flight to Manado city

To take this birding tour in Minahasa regency, visitors need to fly to Manado city. There are regular daily flights between Manado and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Balikpapan and Sorong city. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Superairjet, Lion Air, Batik Air and TransNusa.

Flight routes to Manado city

Land route from Manado city to  the towns of Tomohon and Sonder

Accommodation

Tour participants could stay in hotels or guesthouses in Tomohon town or in homestays in Subdistrict town of Sonder which is closer to birding sites. 

Booking

If you are interested in traveling to Sorong city or Manado city and want to explore its rainforest for watching birds, mammals, insects, reptiles; and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com