Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia
Wildlife Watching, Birding and Photography Tours in Sorong city, Malagufuk of Klasouw valley of Sorong regency, Klabili and Sausapor in Tambrauw, Waigeo and Batanta in Raja Ampat of West Papua as well as Sonder, Tomohon, Mount Mahawu, Manado, Bunaken National Park, Tangkoko Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi. Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180
Yesterday I did night birding with Jordan - a wildlife photographer from France. We walked along the roadside of Saporkren in search of Papuan Frogmouth. We saw one sitting on the branch of a tree around 40 meters away from us. So, we left it. We continued our walk again. I played the call of Papuan Boobook (Ninoxtheomacha). After waiting for a few minutes, we saw one flying in front of us and landing on the branch of a tree. We walked slowly to get closer to the bird. I used my binoculars and aimed them at the bird. After locking my binocs at the bird, I attached my cell phone behind them.
The Papuan Boobook was sitting on the branch for about 5 minutes. I was able to record some videos and photos of the bird.
This morning we went into the forest by a 4wd pick-up truck. We were able to see the Wilson's Bird of Paradise. It was a successful morning trip. We saw the paradise bird. Unfortunately, I did not make any picture or video of the bird.
This is a short video of Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphusnigrocyaneus) that I made in Klaimis forest, a lowland rainforest outside Sorong city. I recorded the kingfisher on 22 August 2026 at around 17:00 local time. We usually find Blue-black Kingfisher near a stream or in the mangrove area.
Klaimis is the habitat of Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher and Yellow-billed Kingfisher.
A lot of other birds could be seen there too such as Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Red-cheeked Parrot, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot and etc.
Klaimis forest is the natural habitat of Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird and Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise.
Here is a short video of Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugonterrestris) that I made when I and some villagers were guiding a French wildlife photographer in Klaimis, a lowland rainforest outside of Sorong city.
The bird was sleeping on a branch of a tree around 2.5 meters above the ground. This bird, during the day, spends most of its time on the ground feeding on fallen fruits, seeds and insects. At night it sleeps on the branch of a tree.
Deforestation that continues to happen in New Guinea is becoming a serious problem for the survival of endemic plants and animals of this tropical island.
A lot of species of birds could be seen in this forest. There are Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Trumpet Manucode, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Superb Bird of Paradise, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Western-crowned Pigeon, and etc.
Visitors who take wildlife watching trip in Klaimis need to bring their own binoculars, camera with telephoto-lens and spotting scope (optional). For night walk in the forest, visitors need to bring flashlight.
The average duration of stay for visitors who take wildlife tour in Klaimis forest is 3 to 4 days. There is a simple wooden house with 3 bedrooms that was built by villagers as accommodation for visitors.
This wildlife tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency can be combined with wildlife trip in Raja Ampat such as in Waigeo or Batanta islands for tour participants to watch Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise as well as other animals such as cuscus, and monitor lizard.
If you are interested in taking a wildlife watching and photography tour in Sorong regency or Raja Ampat of Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.
Half day morning birding tour - Sorong city is an important transit point for visitors who travel to Raja Ampat. The suburban areas of Sorong city are surrounded by farmland and forest. In recent years, these natural places have attracted birdwatchers from all corners of the world. They take birdwatching tours before or after their trip in Raja Ampat.
Some of the birds and butterflies which tour participants could see in Sorong
Some of the many birds that can be watched in the outskirt areas of Sorong city are listed below:
Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise
Glossy-mantled Manucode
Trumpet Manucode
Coconut Lorikeet
Black-capped Lory
Black Lory
Red-cheeked Parrot
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Palm Cockatoo
Sahul Sunbird
Black Sunbird
Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
Willie Wagtail
Pacific Baza
Brahminy Kite
Dollarbird
Helmeted Friarbird
Emperor Fairywren
Willie Wagtail
Blyth's Hornbill
Sacred Kingfisher
Blue Black Kingfisher
Beach Kingfisher
Pinon Imperial Pigeon
Orange-fronted Fruit-dove
Collared Imperial Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Black-browed Triller
White-bellied Cuckooshrike
Torresian Crow
And etc.
To enjoy birdwatching, tour participant needs to bring their own binoculars such as the 10×42 mm from Nikon Monarch or other brands. Birding experience for tour participants will be enhanced when they bring spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod.
This morning birdwatching tour starts at 05:00 and finishes at around 10:00 and can be extended with visits to traditional market of Sorong city or Buddhist Temple View Point.
To help identify or learn more about birds that occur in Sorong city and its surroundings, visitors could install Merlin App in their cell phone.
Tour participants need to bring rain poncho, anti insect spray. This short birdwatching tour at the outskirts of Sorong city is suitable for everybody from solo traveling tourists to a group of travelers.
In addition to birds, other natural attraction that tour participants can see while walking inside or along the forest edge is butterfly. There are New Guinea Clipper, Common Green Birdwing, Great Eggfly Butterfly, Blue Tiger Butterfly, Mangrove Tiger Butterfly, Ulysses Butterfly and a lot more.
Booking
To book your bird and butterfly watching tour, please, contact me by email to peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.
Sorong regency has been famous as the main transportation and logistical hub for visitors who want to spend their holiday in Raja Ampat. There is a rainforest area outside Sorong city which is the natural habitat of a lot of species of plants and animals. Its name is Klaimis forest. It is one of the best birding destinations in Sorong regency for visitors who want to watch paradise birds and other tropical birds, as well as wild animals.
Magnificent Riflebird, King Bird of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Blue Black Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Lesser Bird of Paradise
Birds that can be watched in this rainforest area include Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Trumpet Manucode, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Ornate Fruit-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, Great Cuckoo-dove, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Black Butcherbird, Hooded Butcherbird, Gray-headed Goshawk, Variable Goshawk, Pacific Bazza, Brahminy Kite, Forest Bittern, Red-billed Brush Turkey, Eastern-hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, Northern Fantail, Sooty-thicket Fantail, Emperor Fairywren, Lowland Peltop, Northern Cassowary, and a lot more.
Black-sided Robin
During the tour, birdwatching activities are conducted early in the mornings, in the afternoons and at nights.
Forest Bittern in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency
Visitors need to bring binoculars, usually the 8×42, 10×42 and 10×50 mm. Bringing a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod will greatly enhance the birding experience.
In addition to birds, visitors could also see butterflies such as New Guinea Clipper, Great Eggfly, Blue Mountain Swallowtail, Common Green Birdwing, Sacred Tabby, Silky Owl, Cruiser Blue Tiger, Chetosia, and etc.
Mammals are mostly marsupial. After dinner, we could watch them during night walks in the forest. Tour participants need to bring their own torch or flaashlight. There are dorcopsis, brown tree mouse, long-fingered trike, cuscus. There are also echina, fruit bat, deer, and wild pigs.
The duration of birding tour in this Klaimis forest of Sorong regency is usually between 3 to 4 days.
Where is Sorong city and how to get there?
Sorong city is the capital of Southwest Papua Province in the Republic of Indonesia. It is the main gate for visitors who want to travel to Raja Ampat islands.
Visitors who want to take their wildlife tour in Klaimis forest before or after their trip in Raja Ampat need to fly to Sorong city. There are daily direct flights between Sorong and cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Manado, Ambon, Fakfak, Manokwari.
Flight routes from cities in Indonesia to Sorong city in Southwest Papua
These flights are served by Garuda, Lion Air, Super Air Jet, Batik Air, TransNusa and Wings Air.
Booking
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in this Klaimis forest of Sorong regency of Indonesia and want me (Charles Roring) to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.
