Paradise Bird Watching and Wildlife Tour in Indonesia

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Sorong Birding and Raja Ampat Snorkeling

Sorong is an important transit city in Indonesia for visitors who want to go snorkeling and scuba diving in Raja Ampat or adventure trip in Tambrauw. As a matter of fact, Sorong city is a nice destination for tourists who love birding. For day birding, birdwatchers can enjoy their activities, usually very early in the mornings from 06:00 to 10:00, and in late afternoons from 14:30 to 18:00 at the outskirt areas of Sorong city.

Participants can be a solo traveling visitor or a group of tourists who are interested in watching birds and other wild animals of West Papua as well as enjoying sightseeing of the natural landscapes of Sorong regency.

Blyth's Hornbill

Sorong is a recommended destination for visitors who like birding or want to see outdoor natural environment. There are a number of places which birders can go to watch birds. Some of them include mangrove forest, hill forest, Sorong's ridge forest, and northern coast of Sorong city.

Hooded Butcherbird

In the hill and ridge forest, visitors can watch Black Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Black-butcherbird, Hooded Butcherbird, Brown Oriole, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Emperor Fairywren, and etc.

Blue-fronted Fig Parrot (Nannopsittacus gulielmitertii)

Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, formerly called Orange-breasted Fig Parrot

In mangrove forest, visitors could enjoy watching such birds as Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird, Common Sandpiper, Willie Wagtail, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Beach Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Rainbow Bee-eater, Brush Cuckoo, and etc.

Papuan Eclectus

Visitors can bring binoculars, and camera if they want to take this tour. As a birding guide, I can bring a spotting scope to enable participants see birds in distant trees. This device greatly enhances the birding experience of participants.

Birding in Sorong

Rainbow Bee-eater

Birding and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

The island of Waigeo is a great destination for visitors who are interested in birding, snorkeling and scuba diving. The target birds for Waigeo includes rainforest birds such as Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Violet-necked Lory, Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Raja Ampat Pitohui, and etc.

If we do island hopping trips, we could see a wide variety of sea birds such as Common Sandpiper, Pacific Reef Heron, Whimbrel, Lesser Frigate Bird, Crested Tern, Black-naped Tern, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Striated Heron, Osprey, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, and a lot more.

Snorkeling, scuba diving and birdwatching in Raja Ampat

Tropical sea and typical beach accommodation in Kri island of Raja Ampat

The coral reef in Raja Ampat islands is one of the best in the world. Tour participants could enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving to see various species of marine creatures from grouper, barracuda, trevally, batfish, manta, surgeonfish, moorish idol, butterflyfish and etc. There are also turtles, wobbegong, walking shark, and giant sea clam that tourists can see while in the water.

Coral reef in southern coast of Waigeo island

Waigeo, Kri, Mansuar, and Gam islands are mostly chosen by visitors as their base for snorkeling and scuba diving trips. Daily excursions to various coral reef sites and islands can be done by speed boats.

LONGER TRIPS

In addition to one day trip, I also run multiple day rainforest tours that last for 3 days to around 1 week covering Sorong regency's forest in Malagufuk, Sorong's hill and mangrove park, Tambrauw and Raja Ampat.

More plants and animals could be seen during the tours from sago palm whose pith is grated to make starch (which is the staple food of local people) to giant merbau tree whose trunk is cut to make wooden blocks and planks for house contruction.

If you are interested in taking a birding tour from Sorong city and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Mangrove Tour in Sorong City

As a tourist guide, I offer a mangrove tour by boat along the coastal area of Sorong city. This trip can be carried out very early in the morning at around 06:00. The tour will allow participants to see mangrove ecosystem. Birds, shrimps, crabs, seashells, oyster, fish, coastal people depend on mangrove forest for their livelihood.

After seeing the mangrove ecosystem, we could continue the tour on land by walking along the edge of mangrove forest to watch birds, butterflies and other tidal animals such as mudskipper, crabs and etc.

Fishing

Participants who are interested in fishing can also take this tour. Please, bring your own fishing equipment.

Wildlife Watching

Participants can bring their binoculars to watch birds in trees, and cameras to take pictures of any interesting plants and animals as well as beautiful landscape which they see during the tour.

Birdwatching is a favorite activity among tourists who visit mangrove forest. Birds that could be seen during the tour include Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Little Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Common Sandpiper, and etc.

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra

Helmeted Friarbird

Mangrove Tour in Sorong city

This tour is suitable for visitors who are in transit trip in Sorong city. Tourists who have only short time such as 1 day or 2 days.

If you are interested, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Nature Walking and Birding Tour in Sorong

Sorong city is the destination for visitors who plan to visit Raja Ampat. It is also the transit point for tourists who have just finished their holiday. Most visitors need to spend at least one or two nights in Sorong before flying back to their country. This tour is suitable for visitors who have got short time in Sorong city and want to do something at outdoor environment instead of staying in the hotel for a whole day.

During their stay in Sorong, they could take a walking tour around the nature of Sorong. To see beautiful landscape, meet local people, watch birds and butterflies as well as other insects. The duration of this walking tour in Sorong is 1 to 2 days.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

We will go by car to interesting places during the tour such as Sorong's hill and Sorong's mangrove park.

For birding walk, we need to start early in the morning at 05:00. It takes around 40 minutes to 1 hour to reach our destination. Birds that we could watch during the tour include Brown-backed Honeyeater, Black Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Brown Oriole, Emperor Fairywren, Blyth's Hornbill, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Boyer's Cuckooshrike, Metallic Starling, and a lot more. Usually the morning tour ends at 10:00 morning time and can be continued in the afternoon at 15:00 again to other place outside Sorong city.

Orange-breasted Fig Parrot (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii)

Blue-fronted Fig Parrot

To enhance the wildlife watching experience of the participants, a spotting scope will be used. This device will allow participants to see flora and fauna in distant trees.

Shining Flycatcher

Participants of the tour should bring their own binoculars and cameras for the tour.

If you are interested in taking this nature walking tour, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Birding Tour Outside Sorong City

I organize birding tour to a place outside Sorong city. Its name is Kasulala forest located around 2 hours drive to the east from Sorong. The duration of the birding tour is usually 3 days/2 nights. There are guesthouses (basic accommodation) which visitors can stay during the tour.

Boardwalk in Kasulala forest of Sorong regency

Birding can be done along the clearing area and forest edge to watch such birds as Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Black-capped Lory, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Helmeted Friarbird, Black-browed Triller, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, Oriental Cuckoo, King Bird of Paradise, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Hooded Pitta, Shining Flycatcher, and etc.

roadside birding walk in Kasulala forest

Birding walk along the road in Kasulala forest

Night walk will also be conducted during the tour to find Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Hawk Owl and etc.

The forest and agricultural garden of Kasulala is also the habitat of a lot insects. There are butterflies and beetlee which tour participants can observe.

To take the tour, participants need binoculars and binoculars.

Boardwalk, guesthouse in Sorong city

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

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Saturday, January 25, 2025

Wildlife Tour in Kasulala Forest of Sorong Regency

Kasulala is the name of a forest area in the east of Sorong regency that is the natural habitat of various species of plants and animals. It can be reached by a 4WD car for around 1 hour 40 minutes.

There are cuscus, dorcopsis, fruit bats, wild pigs, bandicoot, and etc. For reptiles, there are monitor lizard, and snakes. Kasulala is also the habitat of hundreds of species insects and birds.

New Guinea Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaguineae)

Bird of Prey in Kasulala Forest

Visitors who are interested in exploring the biodiversity of Kasulala forest need to bring binoculars, flash light, rain poncho, wellington boots, insect repellent, binoculars and camera. Birdwatching is a very popular tourism activity in Kasulala. So, bringing a spotting scope is also highly recommended.

Ground Orchid in Kasulala forest of Sorong regency

Birds that can be watched in Kasulala forest include Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue-Black Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Shining Flycatcher, Frilled Monarch, Mimic Honeyeater, Brahminy Kite, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Gray-headed Goshawk, Pacific Baza, Western-crowned Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Blyth's Hornbill, and etc.

Papuan Eclectus

King Bird of Paradise

Birding activity is usually conducted very early in the mornings, in late afternoons and at nights. Tour participants need to bring their own binoculars to enhance their birding experience.

Lesser Birds of Paradise

Most often, sound player is used to call certain species of bird for tour participants to see. Some birds such as the Black-sided Robin, Blue Jewel Babbler, Papuan Pitta and Hooded Pitta can be called using their recorded sounds.

Wompoo Fruit-dove

For mammal watching, this is usually carried out at nights using flash lights and thermal scope. Night birding is often carried out after dinner to find nocturnal birds such as Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Papuan Hawk Owl, and other birds that sleep on the lower branches of trees.

Usually, visitors spend around 3 days/ 2 nights in Kasulala to explore the plants and animals of the forest.

Accommodation

There are simple guesthouses in Kasulala forest for visitors who want to stay for several days. It is not luxurious but it is good enough as accommodation for visitors who want to stay near the forest during their wildlife watching tour.

Basic Accommodation in Kasulala Forest of Sorong regency

Birding in the Suburb of Sorong City

For visitors who do not have much time, they could still enjoy nature/ birding tour in the suburb of Sorong city. Usually the duration of the tour is half or full day.

Forest areas that can be visited include mangrove, ridge forest, hill forest, and coastal area of Sorong city.

Birds that can be watched include: Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Beach Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Olive-backed Sunbird, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Glossy-mantled Manucode and etc.

birdwatching in the suburb of Aimas town and northern coast

Birding tour from Sorong city

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Kasulala forest or the suburb of Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

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