Bird Photography Trip in Malagufuk Village of Sorong Regency

Malagufuk is a small village located in the middle of the rainforest of Klasow valley. It is the habitat of a kot of species of birds, insects, reptiles and mammals. 

A lot of tourists go there to watch tropical birds such as Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-Black Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Brown Cuckoo-dove. Birds of paradise can also be watched in the forest of the village. They include: Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird. 

The duration of the birding tour in Malagufuk village is usually 3 days/ 2 nights.

Birding could be carried out during the day and night. Birds that could be watched at night along the boardwalk and concrete path include Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, and Hooded Pitta, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Tawny Straightbill, and etc.

Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

Sometimes when we do night walk in the forest of Malagufuk, we could see cuscus, echidna, green tree python. 

Itinerary

Here is a brief description of the tour in Malagufuk:

• Day 1: We will meet you at the airport or harbor of Sorong city. We will organize your transfer by 4WD car to Malagufuk in Klasow valley.  It takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the destination. Birding and wildlife watching trip into Malagufuk village for 1 to 2 hours. Check into the homestay.
• Day 2: Birding and wildlife watching. Nightwalk.
• Day 3: Birding and wildlife watching in Malagufuk's forest. Check-out after lunch. Return to Sorong city by 4WD car.  

Some tropical birds in Malagufuk

Equipment

There are some devices that tour participants need to bring to enhance their birding and wildlife watching experience. They are binoculars, camera with telephoto lens, flash light. Raincoat or rain-poncho will also be needed. Participants can wear hiking boots or wellington boots to explore the forest. Insect spray will also be needed. 

Birds in Malagufuk

Accommodation

There are no hotels in Malagufuk. Tour participants will stay in simple homestays that are run by local villagers.

The birding and wildlife watching tour can be continued to Waigeo island or Batanta island of Raja Ampat for another 3 days/ 2 nights trip. Short half day birding tour in Sorong city and also be organized for tour participants who do not have much time in Sorong. 

 

Booking

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

Also read:

• Birding in Malagufuk Village of Klasow Valley
• Night Walk in Malagufuk's Forest
• Birdwatching in Malagufuk, Snorkeling in Raja Ampat
• Rainforest Tour in Malagufuk village of Sorong regency

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BIRDS IN SONDER OF MINAHASA HIGHLAND

Bird Photo Tour to Minahasa Highland

Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa Highland is a new birding destination in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is a highly recommended destination for visitors who are interested in watching tropical birds of Sulawesi.

Subdistrict Sonder is surrounded by mountain ridges, slopes, valleys, rivers and rice fields. There are a lot of species of birds that could be watched there. 

Crimson Sunbird

The higher elevation land of Sonder is mostly covered by rainforest and agricultural crops. In this area, visitors could watch such birds as Warbling White-eye, Black-crown White-eye, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Myzomela, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sulawesi Drongo, Gray Wagtail, Collared Kingfisher, Black-faced Munia, Pygmy Woodpecker, and etc. 

Yellow-billed Malkoha

As we do birding walk from higher elevation forest along the road down to farmland areas, we will be able to see more birds such as Black Kite, Sulawesi Goshawk, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Crow, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed), Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, and etc. 

In the agricultural land and rice field areas between Sonder and Tomohon, birdwatchers could watch more interesting birds such as Black-naped Fruit Dove, Bay Coucal, Pale Blue Monarch, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, White-browed Crake, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Isabelline Bush-hen, and etc. 

Some Birds in Minahasa Highland

Birding trip in Sonder could be extended to other areas in North Sulawesi such as Mount Mahawu of Tomohon for visitors to see Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Snowy-browed Flycatcher and etc.  

Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher

Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

After birding in Minahasa highland, the tour could be continued to Tangkoko Nature Reserve for tour participants to watch Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, and Blue-backed Parrot, Ashy Woodpecker, and etc.

Celebes-crested Macaque

In addition to birds, tour participants could also watch mammals, insects and reptiles. Spectral Tarsier, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, and Celebes-crested Macaque are the main attractions of Tangkoko forest for the wildlife watching experience. 

Sulawesi Bear Cuscus in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Spectral Tarsier

Duration of the Tour

The average duration of the tour in Minahasa Highland and Tangkoko Nature Reserve is 7 days. It can be customized based on the needs of the tour participants.

Where is Sonder in Minahasa Highland, and where is Tangkoko?

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The capital of the province is Manado city. Everyone who is interested in visiting Sonder needs to fly to Manado city first. After that, they could continue their trip by car to Sonder town for approximately 1 hour depending on traffic condition. 

Sonder, and Tomohon are located in Minahasa highland whereas Tangkoko (coastal and lower montane forest) is in northern part of Minahasa peninsula. It is under the administration of Bitung municipality.

How to get there?

To take this tour, participants need to fly to Manado city. There are regular flights between Manado and major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar and Sorong cities. They are served by Indonesian domestic airlines: Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air, TransNusa, and SuperAirjet.

Direct flights from Singapore to Manado is served by Scoot Air; and from Guangzhou to Manado is served by China Southern Airlines. 

Flight routes to Manado city

If you are interested in taking a birdwatching/ wildlife watching tour in North Sulawesi and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing the following button: