Saturday, March 16, 2024

Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland

Recently I visited Sonder, a small town in Minahasa highland. I was there for around 1 week. I did birding walks around the forest of the surrounding hills and rice field areas of the town, I also went to a mountain near the town. It was an interesting trip. 

Black-naped Oriole, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker
Some Birds in Minahasa Highland

I stayed at a homestay in Tounelet village and watched birds in the nearby forest. Most of the photograph of birds that I took were taken from the forest. I was surprised to see that there were a lot of species of birds that lived in that small forest. I saw Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Chestnut Munia, Eurasian Treesparrow, Black-naped Oriole, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Barred Rail, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Swiftlet, White-nest Swiftlet, and Slender-billed Crow.

birdwatching trip in Sonder of North Sulawesi
Yellow-billed Malkoha, Collared Kingfisher, Warbling White-eye, and Hair-crested Drongo

In the rice field area, I saw White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, White-browed Crake, Grey Wagtail, Chestnut Munia, Collared Kingfisher, and Scaly-breasted Munia. 

Another interesting birdwatching site in Minahasa higland is Mount Lengkoan. I saw some unique birds there including White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Black-faced Munia,  Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sultan's Cuckoo Dove, and Warbling White-eye, Collared Kingfisher, and Hair-crested Drongo (which James Eaton's Birds of Indonesian Archipelago names it, White-eyed Spangled Drongo). 

Blanchard's Ghost, Manado Yellow Tiger and Blanchard's Wood Nymph Butterflies

In addition to birds, I also saw various species of butterflies including the Helena Birdwing, Blanchard's Ghost, and Blandchard's Wood Nymph (Ideopsis vitrea) butterflies that like to feed on nectar of flowers in the mornings. 

Sonder town

Sonder is a small town in Minahasa regency. It is a nice destination for nature lovers who are interested in seeing mountains, farmlands, ricefields, hotsprings, and forests while watching birds, butterflies and other wildlife in the region. 

Sonder town
Sonder town in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi, Indonesia

How to get to Minahasa?

Manado city is the main gate to visit Minahasa.

  • It is very easy to visit Minahasa. First, you need to fly from your country to Singapore. After that you could take a direct flight by Scoot Air to Manado city
  • If you fly to Jakarta, Surabaya, or Denpasar, you could continue your trip by taking domestic airline to fly to Manado city.
  • There is also daily flight between Sorong city and Manado city.

traveling to Minahasa
Flying Route to Manado City
Minahasa highland map
Sonder is a small town in the highland of Minahasa

I could meet you at the airport and organize your trip to Minahasa or other regencies in North Sulawesi.

If you are interested in taking a nature tour in Indonesia by combining West Papua and North Sulawesi regions and want me to organize your trip, you could contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

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Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Birding in Sausapor, Klabili and Sorong City

I have just completed a birding tour for two Australian birdwatchers in Sausapor town, Klabili village of Tambrauw regency, and Sorong city. We spent 4 days/ 3 nights exploring tropical rainforest of the region where we saw a lot of species of birds. Some of them include Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Black Lory, Palm Cockatoo, Hooded Pitta and South Papuan Pitta. 

wompoo fruit dove, catbird, new guinea vulturine parrot
Birds in Tambrauw regency

In Sausapor town, we went deeper into the forest by using 4WD car. There, we saw Blyth's Hornbill, Black-capped Lory, Red-cheeked Parrot, Helmetted Friarbird, Brown Oriole, Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Mimic Meliphaga, Golden Myna, Yellow-faced Myna, Rusty Pitohui, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Hooded Butcherbird, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Torresian Crow, Lesser Black Coucal, Singing Starling, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Spangled Drongo, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and a lot more. The recommended forests around Sausapor were the one along the Sausapor - Werur road and the one in hydroelectric powerplant. 

birdwatching in Sausapor
Birdwatching in Tambrauw regency of the Province of Papua Barat Daya 

We stayed 2 nights at Sansapore Pacific Park which is a beach accommodation that is suitable for visitors who like snorkeling and wildlife watching in the forest. 

hooded pitta
Hooded Pitta

Southern-Papuan Pitta
South Papuan Pitta

In Klabili village, we saw Papuan Babbler, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, New Guinea Vulturine Parrot (Merlin app. calls it Pesquet's Parrot), Shining Flycatcher, Papuan Pitta, Hooded Pitta, Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Pinon's Imperial Pigeon, Black Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, and Frilled Monarch. The forest in Klabili consisted of two parts, the lowland forest and the lower montane forest which are the habitat of Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Western-crowned Pigeon, Papua Dwarf Kingfisher, Sooty Thicket Fantail, Moluccan King-Parrot and etc. 

We stayed one night at the homestay that belongs to a villager. It was a basic accommodation but comfortable enough for birdwatching visitors who explore the forest in remote area.

Sorong City has got some interesting places for birdwatching. We went to Mangrove forest where we saw Brown-backed Honeyeater, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, Striated Heron, Sahul Sunbird, Willie Wagtail, and Orange-fronted Fruit Dove.

tourist attraction in Indonesia
Blue-fronted Fig Parrot

In my previous trip to a forest in Sorong regency, I guided two British ladies. We explored the forest in the mornings, afternoons and at nights. We saw a lot of species of birds including Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Black Lory, Black-sided Robin, Spot-winged Monarch, and Ivory-billed Coucal, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Common Paradise Kingfisher. One of the ladies suffered pains on her hip and back. She experienced it when taking a speedboat trip to Piaynemo on Raja Ampat. It was a bumpy ride because of waves.  I had to give massage treatments in several sessions at nights to relieve the pains. I massaged the lower back area, the gluteus and adductor muscles and leg muscles. I used kutus-kutus oil that I warmed up with my palm. The treatment could ease the pain and relieve the tight muscles. 

The rainforest areas from Sorong to Sausapor are great destination for wildlife watching. Visitors who are interested in visiting these places can go as single traveler or in a small group from two, three, to four people to share the cost of paying transportation, accommodation, guides and villagers who work to support the tour. 

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



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Thursday, February 8, 2024

Birdwatching and Wildlife-watching Tour to Sausapor town, Klabili village of Tambrauw Regency and Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat

For the past few months I have been running birdwatching, and wildlife-watching tours from Sorong city to Sausapor town, Klabili village and Waigeo island of Tambrauw regency with a duration of around 7 to 8 days. This tour is suitable for visitors who are traveling in group of 2 to 4 people so that they could share the cost of transportation, accommodation and guiding service. 

Tropical Birds of New Guinea
Birding in Tambrauw regency of West Papua

Sausapor is a coastal town that faces the blue water of Pacific Ocean. I takes around 4 hours by 4WD car from Sorong city to Sausapor. There is a nice beach resort there. Its name is Sansapore Pacific Park. The frontyard and backyard of the resort is a great place for watching seabirds as well as coastal birds such as Common Sandpiper, Lesser Frigatebird, Little-ringed Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Eclectus Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Mimic Meliphaga, and a lot more. I and my clients usually spend two nights at Sansapore Pacific Park. Early in the morning at around 04:00, we wake up to make preparation and have tea or coffee as well as some biscuits and then do birding to find Lesser Birds of Paradise and King Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, as well as White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Sahul Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Magnificent Riflebird, Hooded Butcherbird, Black Butcherbird, Black-capped Lory, Pinon's Imperial Pigeon, Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Helmetted Friarbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Brown Oriole, Golden Myna and a lot more. 

There is coral reef at the beach, so, in addition to birding, visitors can enjoy snorkeling to see various species of fish and other marine creatures such as sea star, parrotfish, wrasse, butterflyfish, anemonefish, and a lot more. 

birding trip to Sausapor town of West Papua
Sansapore Pacific Park Beach Resort

Sansapore Pacific Park has got flowers that attract butterflies such as Common-Green Birdwing, Great Eggfly, cruiser butterfly, Ulysses butterfly and etc. 

Frilled Monarch, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Lowland Peltop, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon
Frilled Monarch, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Lowland Peltop, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon
Klabili Village - After spending 2 nights in Sausapor, I and my clients who take this rainforest tour continue our trip to Klabili village. Our target birds to watch here include Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Western-crowned Pigeon, Lowland Peltop, Large Fig Parrot, Long-tailed Honey-buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, Yellow-faced Myna, Black-sided Robin, Spot-winged Monarch, Moluccan King Parrot, Slender-billed Cuckoo-dove, Emperor Fairywren, Sooty Thicket Fantail, Northern Fantail and etc. I usually spend 2 days/1 night in Klabili village. However, the duration of stay can be extended to 3 days/2 nights depending on the request if my clients. 

Sorong City - This is now the capital of the newly formed Province of Papua Barat Daya (meaning Southwest Papua). Mangrove forest is the usual destination for birders who want to see Orange-breasted Fig Parrot - now called Blue-fronted Fig Parrot- (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii), Orange-fronted Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus aurantiifrons). The forest is also the habitat of White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Sahul Sunbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Azure Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Shining Flycatcher, and Willie Wagtail, and etc.

mangrove park of Sorong city
Mangrove Park of Sorong city

Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat - The next part of the tour is birding and wildlife watching in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. We will cross the sea by fast ferry and then continue trip by car to a beach resort of the island. Waigeo is rich of avifauna. Some of the important targets are Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Beach Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Violet-necked Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Great-billed Parrot, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Moustached Treeswift, and etc.

How to get to Sorong city?

  • Route 1: Please, fly from your country to Singapore. After that you could continue flying to Manado city by Scoot Air. There is daily flight between Manado city and Sorong city.
  • Route 2: Fly from your country to Denpasar Bali of Indonesia. After that, take a direct flight from Denpasar to Sorong city by Garuda Indonesia airlines.
  • Route 3: Fly from your country to Jakarta which is the capital of Indonesia. Continue your trip to Sorong city by one of the domestic airlines of Indonesia.
flight route Singapore, Manado, Sorong city
Flight Routes to Sorong City

If you are interested in visiting Sorong city, Tambrauw mountains and Raja Ampat for birdwatching, wildlife watching and snorkeling, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

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Friday, February 2, 2024

Walking, Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour Around Sorong City of Indonesia

Private or Shared Tour in Sorong City. This program is suitable for single traveler or group of people, easy walking. 

Tour 1: Doom Island and Sorong Hill

Traveling to Doom Island. In the morning at around 09:00, we will go by public transportation to water taxi harbor, and cross the sea to Doom island. We will walk around the island to see local people in their daily life. During the Dutch time, Doom used to be the center of administration of Sorong. There are some old Dutch buildings and houses that still stand on the island that we could see. We will return at around 12:00.

After that, we will return to Sorong city and continue trip to a hill in Sorong city. We could see a Buddhist temple there. The scenery of some part of Sorong city is beautiful from the hill. Some birds could be watched in trees in the surrounding complex of the temple. 

We could see Yellow-vented Bulbul, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Willie Wagtail if we do birdwatching in these areas.

walking, sightseeing and birdwatching in west papua
Walking, Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour in Sorong City

Tour 2: Mangrove, Protected Forest, and Traditional Market

At 06:00, we will go to Mangrove forest by public transportation to walk around the boardwalk, to see the mangrove environment and to watch birds. We can see birds such as White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Olive-backed Sunbird, Brown-backed Honeyeater

We will return to the city at 09:00, a visit to local traditional market can be done to enable you to see what local people produce, sell and buy in their daily life. At around 12:00, we finish the tour. Back to your hotel for you to take a rest.

We can also visit the Cathedral Church of Christ the King whose architectural design is inspired by the bower of Vogelkop Bowerbird. 

Roman Catholic Church of Sorong city
Cathedral Chuch of Christ the King in Sorong City that is inspired by bower structure of Vogelkop Bowerbird

At around 15:00, we can go by public transportation to protected forest of Sorong city to see the bird clinic and orchid garden and to see the the forest canopy from a tower.


Tour 3:  Hiking, Sightseeing, and Birding in Sorong Ridge Forest and Love Hill

A visit to Sorong ridge forest in the morning to walk along a road between forest, and to watch birds as well as do sightseeing (start by a chartered car at 05:00 - finish at around 11:00).

We could see various species of birds such as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Brown Oriole, Lesser Black Coucal, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Golden Cuckooshrike, Black-browed Triller, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra and etc.

walking and birdwatching tour in Sorong city's ridge forest
Sorong City's Ridge Forest

Back to Sorong city to take a rest.

At 15:00 local time, we continue our tour to Bambu Kuning Hill to do sightseeing and birdwatching.


Tour 4: A visit to Protected Forest and Saint Mary Hill

In the morning at around 08:00, we will go by public transportation to protected forest to see nature, birds, orchids. Return to your hotel at around 10:00.

In the afternoon at 15:00, we go by public transporation to do hiking up the slope to Saint Mary Hill. There, we can see the view of Sorong city. We could watch some birds there too. At around 18:00, we return to your hotel.

End of the Program.

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Thursday, December 28, 2023

Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City

Everybody knows that Sorong city is the main gate for visitors who want to spend their holidays in Raja Ampat islands or explore rainforest for birding and wildlife watching in Tambrauw regency and Klasow valley. Sorong itself has got numerous attractions for visitors who are interested in the city and its surrounding environment. 

love hill or also called bukit cinta
Love Hill in Sorong city
Beautiful Natural Places 

Sorong city has got a number of places which are beautiful both for sightseeing and wildlife watching. Some of them include mangrove forest, nature tourism park, love hill. These places are suitable for visitors who want to see green trees that are the habitat of birds and butterflies. Birds such as Helmetted Friarbird, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Olive-backed Sunbird, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove can be seen in these places. There are also butterflies such as the Cruiser Butterfly, Silky-Owl Butterfly and Ulysses butterfly  Visitors need to bring binoculars and camera to do birdwatching and butterfly watching in these forests. 

Religious or Cultural Sites

Christ The King Cathedral of The Catholic Church has got unique design that looks like a pyramid. As a matter of fact, it is not a pyramid. The design of the church building was inspired by the physical form of the bower of the Vogelkop Bowerbird. The bower is the artistic display of a male Vogelkop bowerbird. He will decorate his bower with flowers and various colorful articles which he thinks are attractive for his female counterparts. 

Christ the king cathedral of the Catholic church
The design of Christ the King Cathedral that is inspired by the bower of Vogelkop Bowerbird
Mangrove forest, and souvenir shop
Interesting Places in Sorong
buddhist temple in Sorong city
Buddhist Temple

The Buddhist Temple - This complex building is located on a hill in the middle of Sorong city. Surrounded by green vegetations, this temple offers calm place for anyone who wants to enjoy beautiful scenery of Sorong city and peaceful environment. Visitors need to pay small amount of money to get permit to access to the front area of the worship building that overlooks some part of Sorong city. 

Traditional Markets

This is a high recommended site for anyone who want to see goods and services that are traded by the city dwellers. There are vendors who sell fruits, vegetables, rice, fish and meat and there are vendors who offer hair-cutting, cell phone repair services and etc. 

Historical Sites

For visitors who are interested in historical background of Sorong, the recommended place to go is Doom island. The Dutch built houses and offices in the island soon after World War II. The Dutch found huge oil deposit in the surrounding regions. Many of them still exist and have become informal historical evidence about the presence of the Dutch in 1950s and early 1960s

Exploring, Eating and Shopping

At night visitors can enjoy seafood or the spicy Indonesian foods in hundreds of the food booths that are scattered around the town. There are malls, big and small shops that sell various kinds of products from clothing to electronics and from snacks to medicines. Visitors who stay for 1 or 2 days in Sorong city can explore it by using public transport, chartered car or even on foot. Visitors stay mostly in hotels that are located at busy streets, they will be able to explore a lot of interesting shops, cafes, eating houses and certain neighborhoods. A visitor who walks around Sorong city for quite long will feel tired. He or she could book a massage service in the city to sooth muscles, relax, and enjoy life for a while before leaving this city.

There are still a lot of interesting places around the suburb areas which tourists can visit if they want to explore further areas of outside of Sorong city. Some of them include Aimas town, Sausapor town or even Fef town in Tambrauw mountains. Aimas has got farmlands. Sausapor is a small coastal town. 

Equipment to bring

Most visitors who go to Sorong city are snorkelers and scuba divers. They will continue their trip to Raja Ampat to see the marine life of the tropical islands. So, a mask, snorkel and swim fins will be needed for that purpose. A good underwater picture such as Nikon W300 or Olympus Tough TG 6 is a good photographic device for both snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Visitors who are more interested in wildlife usually bring binoculars, super zoom lens and laser pointer for watching birds, butterflies and other animals while walking through rainforest and nature park. 

Well, if you are interested in taking a tour around Sorong city and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to +6281332245180.

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Merchandise

Please, support this blog by buying art drawings and illustrations of wild animals and plants in the form of prints on various products as follows:

Watercolour Sketch of Bird

Watercolour Sketch of Bird
Fruit Dove from Tropical Rainforest

Vector Art Drawing in Inkscape

Vector Art Drawing in Inkscape
Swimming with Whaleshark

Vector art illustration in Inkscape

Vector art illustration in Inkscape
Baby leatherback turtle was reaching for the sea

Drawing of Paradise Bird

Drawing of Paradise Bird
Lesser Birds of Paradise art print on classic T-shirt

Digital Drawing in Autodesk Sketchbook

Digital Drawing in Autodesk Sketchbook
A Couple of Red Bird of Paradise