Afternoon Birding Tour in Sorong

I often run morning and afternoon birding and sightseeing tours from Sorong. Some tourists request the afternoon part only. Here is the typical program:

Birding tours in Sorong

Time and Activities

• 14:30 We will meet tour participants in the hotel and then organize their trip to birding site outside Sorong city. Usually, we will go to mangrove forest located further to the south. It takes around 30 to 45 minutes to reach it depending in the traffic condition.
• 15:00 Before birding, tour participants need to apply anti insect spray on their skin. We will start birding by walking along a roadside. We will play the recorded sounds of the birds to lure them to come closer to us. 
• 17:30 We will move to Sorong hill to watch more birds. 
• 18:30 We will return to Sorong city. 

Olive-crowned Flowerpecker

Birds that tour participants can see include Brown-backed Honeyeater, Helmeted Friarbird, Sahul Sunbird, Metallic Starling, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Willie Wagtail, Sacred Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Pacific Swallow, Emperor Fairywren, Torresian Crow, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Common Sandpiper, Striated Heron, Whimbrel, and a lot more. 

In Sorong hill forest, we could watch Papuan Eclectus, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Black Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Trumpet Manucode, and etc. 

Yellow-faced Myna

What to wear and what to bring

Vistors need to wear darker colour clothing and walking shoes or sport shoes. The birding walk is easy. It will be carried out along the road side that is flat. 

Tour participants who are birdwatchers know what they need to bring. Most of them will bring 8 × 42, 10×42, or even the 10×50 binoculars. Serious birdwatchers have got spotting scope. Bird/ wildlife photographers bring camera with telephoto lens. Visitors who are not serious photographers can buy point and shoot bridge camera such as the Sony RX 10 V, Nikon Coolpix P1100, Nikon Coolpix P950, Panasonic Lumix FZ80D, or Canon Powershot SX70 HS. 

A female Shining Flycatcher

To enhance the birding experience of our tour participants, we will bring a spotting scope that mounted on a tripod. This device will allow participants to see birds that sit on distant branches of trees and even take pictures of them using their cell phone. 

Sahul Sunbird

This general birding tour can also be done in the mornings from 05:00 to 10:00. As a matter of fact, birds are more active in the mornings. 

If you are interested in taking a birding tour from Sorong city and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link. 

Also read:

• Birds in the Suburb of Sorong city
• What to do in Sorong city
• Explore Sorong city and its surroundings
• Morning general birding tour from Sorong city

• Early morning birding on the outskirts of Manado city
• Birdwatching tour in Sonder of North Sulawesi

Morning General Birding Tour from Sorong City

The forest and farmland on the outskirts of Sorong city is the natural habitat of various species of tropical birds such as Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Papuan Eclectus, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-faced Myna and a lot more. 

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

I often receive requests from tourists who only have little time in Sorong city but still want to enjoy birdwatching and see nature. Usually, I will pick them up at the hotel early in the morning at 05:00. After that I will bring them to birding site in mangrove forest. It takes around 45 minutes to reach it. Birds such as Emperor Fairywren, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Helmeted Friarbird, Brown Oriole and etc. could be found in Mangrove area. Sometimes, if we are lucky enough, we could see Blue Black Kingfisher and Collared Imperial Pigeon. Visitors who have got binoculars can bring the equipment to watch birds.

Sahul Sunbird

At around 09:00, we could continue our trip to a hill just outside Sorong city to look for such birds as Spangled Drongo, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Dollarbird, Pacific Bazza, and etc. 

The surrounding view of the hill is beautiful. We could see the landscape of Sorong city from a distant. 

At around 10:00, we will bring tour participants back to their hotel. 

If you are interested in taking a short birdwatching tour from Sorong city to the outskirt areas of Sorong city and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.

Night Birding in Raja Ampat

In my previous post, I mentioned that I guided 2 French tourists (Emilie and Jordan) in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat from 23 to 26 August 2026. We did birdwatching in the forest, along the roadside and at the beach. 

We also did night birding every time after dinner from 20:00 to 21:30. Our targets were Papuan Boobook, Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth and Hook-billed Kingfisher. In the first and second night walks, we saw Papuan Frogmouth and Papuan Boobook. In the third night, we saw Hook-billed Kingfisher after we did hiking deeper into the forest. Unfortunately, I could not take picture of the bird because he flew away before I was able to activate my digiscoping system. 

During the morning and afternoon birding, we saw a lot of unique birds such as Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Moustached Treeswift, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Papuan Eclectus, Great-billed Parrot, Blyth's Hornbill, Hooded Butcherbird, Mimic Honeyeater, and etc. We saw our main targets too, i.e.: Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. 

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Raja Ampat and Sorong regency, please, contact me by whatsapp through this contact link or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding Tour in Klaimis Forest of Sorong Regency
• Birding in Klasow valley
• Birding Tour Across Tangkoko and Minahasa highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder

Birding in Raja Ampat's Waigeo island

From 23 to 26 August 2026, I guided Jordan and Emilie on a birding tour in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. Our targets were Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. We could watch them during the trip. We also did general birding walks both along the road side and inside the forest. To increase our chance to see more birds, we did night walks after dinner.

Although it was quite exhausting, we were able to see various species of tropical birds of Raja Ampat including Moustached Treeswift, White-breasted Woodswallow, Pacific Swallow, Oriental Hobbit, Papuan Eclectus,  Great-billed Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Helmeted Friarbird, Blyth's Hornbill, Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Bird of Paradise Common Tern, Whimbrel, Woodsandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Willie Wagtail, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, and etc.

Birds of paradise that we saw in Waigeo were Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Glossy-mantled Manucode.

Birding in Klaimis Forest of Klasow valley, Sorong Regency

Before the birding tour in Waigeo, we spent 3 days/ 2 nights in Klaimis forest. We saw a lot of interesting birds such as Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Western-crowned Pigeon, Blue Black Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Thick-billed Ground Pigeon, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, and several species of birds of paradise and etc.

We also saw mammals such as bandicoot, deer, possum, and cuscus. For reptiles, we saw snake and monitor lizard.

If you are interested in taking a wildlife tour in Waigeo or Batanta of Raja Ampat regency and Klaimis forest of Sorong regency, please, send your message to my email: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link.

Also read:

• Papuan Boobook in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Adventurous Wildlife Trip in Batanta island
• Birdwatching in Sonder of North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Birding in Tangkoko

Papuan Boobook in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

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 (Ninox theomacha). 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. 

Blue-black Kingfisher

This is a short video of Blue-black Kingfisher (Todiramphus nigrocyaneus) 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. 

Also read: 

• Thick-billed Ground Pigeon
• Birding Tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency
• Wildlife Tour to Klaimis forest of Sorong
• Birdwatching tour in Sonder of North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Birds in North Sulawesi

Thick-billed Ground Pigeon

Here is a short video of Thick-billed Ground Pigeon (Trugon terrestris) 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.

Also read:

• Birding tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency
• Wildlife tour in Klaimis forest
• Wildlife watching trip in Klaimis forest
• Morning General Birding Trip from Sorong city
• Bird Photography Tour in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder

Morning General Birdwatching Trip from Sorong City

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. 

Also read:

• Things to do in Sorong, Indonesia
• Birds in the Suburb of Sorong city
• What to do in Sorong city
• Morning Birding Tour from Sorong city
• Tropical Birds in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi

Birding Tour in Klaimis forest of Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia

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.

Also read:

• Wildlife tour to Klaimis forest of Sorong regency, Indonesia
• Things to do in Sorong city, Indonesia
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birding and Photo Tour in North Sulawesi
• Red-knobbed Hornbill

Wildlife Tour to Klaimis Forest of Sorong Regency, Indonesia

Klaimis is a rainforest area in Sorong regency of Southwest Papua Province, Indonesia. The rainforest is the natural habitat of a lot of species of tropical birds, mammals, reptiles, insects. 

Wildlife watching tour in Sorong regency

Birds of paradise that could be watched in Klaimis forest include Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, and Trumpet Manucode. 

There are also Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Common Paradise Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher.

In general wildlife watching activity is usually conducted early in the morning from 05:00 to 11:00 and from 15:00 to 18:15. Night walk is carried out after dinner from 20:30 to 22:00. 

There also mammals. Some of them include fruit bats, dorcopsis, brown tree mouse, wild boar, bandicoot, long-fingered trike and cuscus. 

Eastern-hooded Pitta

For insects, visitors could see various species of butterflies such as the Silky Owl Butterfly, Ulysses Butterfly, Common Green Birdwing and Cruiser butterfly. 

The duration of the tour in Klaimis forest is usually 3 to 4 days. It can be extended to other areas in Raja Ampat such as Waigeo or Batanta. 

Accommodation: There is a small wooden house in Klaimis forest. There are seat toilets with water supplied by a pump from a nearby river.

What to bring

Visitors who take multiple day wildlife tour in rainforest need to bring camera with telephoto lens, binoculars, extra batteries, rain poncho or raincoat, anti insect lotion, and torch/ flashlight. 

Lesser Bird of Paradise

How to get there?

To take this wildlife tour, visitors need to fly from their country to Sorong city which is the capital of Southwest Papua Province in the Republic of Indonesia. 

There are daily flights from major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar and Manado city to Sorong city. They are served by 

Visitors can fly from Singapore to Manado and then to Sorong city. 

If you are interested in taking a wildlife tour to Klaimis forest and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing the following button:

Also read:

• Explore Sorong city and its surroundings
• Sorong city Sightseeing and Birding Tour
• Morning Birding Tour from Sorong city
• 1 Day Birding Tour in Sorong's Lowland Forest and Coastal Area
• Wildlife Watching Trip in Klaimis Forest of Sorong Regency of Indonesia
• Night Wildlife Tour in Klaimis Forest of Sorong regency
• Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk
• Birding in Sonder
• 1 Week Bird Watching and Photography Trip Across North Sulawesi
• Birding and Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Tour at the Outskirts of Sorong city, Indonesia

Sorong is the capital of Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia. A lot of visitors fly to Sorong of Indonesia to spend their holiday in Raja Ampat. Many of them look for tourism activities which they can enjoy while staying in this city.

Sahul Sunbird

As a tourist guide, I offer a short half day or 1 day sightseeing and nature tour to the outskirt areas of Sorong city. We usually starts very early in the morning at 05:00. Our destination is forest areas around 40 minutes drive from the city. We will go by a chartered car. When we arrive, we still have time for coffee or tea and some biscuits. When the sun is about to rise in the east, we can start walking into the nearby forest to watch it. 

Sightseeing and wildlife watching tour at the outskirts of Sorong city

Usually a male Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise will land on the top of a tree trunk and begin to call his female mating partner. If the weather is good, the female bird will come at around 06:15. We could watch how the male Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise performs his courtship dance. After watching the paradise bird, we could continue walking to an open area to watch various species of tropical birds and butterfies in the area. For birds, there are Papuan Eclectus, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-faced Myna, Sahul Sunbird, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and etc. 

For butterflies, there are New Guinea Clipper, Mangrove Tiger Butterfly and Priamus Birdwing. 

Sightseeing and Nature Tour in Sorong city

We usually bring spotting scope and binoculars to watch them. Some tour participants bring their own telephoto camera. 

Sightseeing tour in Sorong city

This tour is suitable for anyone who has got a free morning or a free afternoon in Sorong city without knowing what to do and where to go. 

Solo traveling visitor, a couple or a group of tourists can book this sightseeing and nature tour program from Sorong city. 

Birdwatching tour from Sorong city to forest areas in its surroundings

Flights to Sorong city - There are regular flights between Sorong and Jakarta as well as between Denpasar Bali and Sorong city. Flights from other major cities Indonesia such as Manado, Makassar, Surabaya, Ambon and Manokwari to Sorong city are also available. They are served by Garuda, Lion Air, Batik Air and Super Airjet. 

Accommodation - We could pick up tour participants from Swissbel hotel, Aston Hotel, Vega Hotel, Rylich Panorama or any hotels in the city and organize the trip by a chartered car to natural places outside Sorong city. 

To book your tour in Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing the following button:

Also read:

• Explore Sorong city and its surroundings
• 1 Day Birding Tour at the Outskirts of Sorong city
• Sorong city Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour
• Things to do in Sorong Indonesia
• Red-knobbed Hornbill
• Birding and Photo Tour in North Sulawesi of Indonesia
• Birds in North Sulawesi of Indonesia
• Birding and Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Wildlife Watching Trip in Klaimis Forest of Sorong Regency

Sorong city is the capital of the newly formed Southwest Papua Province of Indonesia. It is the main destination for visitors who plan to enjoy their holiday in Raja Ampat. 

Visitors who have arrived in Sorong city could take wildlife watching tour in the forest of Klasow valley to watch paradise birds and other tropical birds as well as insects, mammals and reptiles. 

Lesser Bird of Paradise

Some of the birds that visitors could watch include: Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Western-crowned Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Rufuous-bellied Kookaburra, Papuan Pitta, Eastern Hooded Pitta, Blue Jewel Babbler, Pheasant Pigeon, Thick-billed Ground Pigeon, Northern Cassowary, and etc.

Magnificent Riflebird

Birding activity is usually carried very early in the morning at 05:00. Tour participant will be guided to walk for around 1 hour to the site of Lesser Bird of Paradise. At 06:00, male paradise birds start to call their female mating partners. The courtship dance usually lasts for 2 to 3 hours depending on the weather. After watching the paradise birds, rainforest tour will be continued to the site of Magnificent Riflebird. 

Western-crowned Pigeon

Night birding is usually conducted after dinner for tour participants to watch Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Papuan Hawk Owl and Hook-billed Kingfisher.

In addition to birds, visitors could also find cuscus, Long-fingered Triok, dorcopsis, and etc. For reptile, the famous attraction is Green Tree Python. However, there are also monitor lizard that can be found when visitors explore the forest. 

Accommodation

There is a jungle homestay that visitors could use. On the average, visitors spend around 3 days/ 2 nights in the forest. They are served by local villagers. 

If you are interested in taking wildlife watching trip in Klaimis forest of Sorong regency and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through the following button:

Also read: 

• 1 Day Birding Tour at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Birdwatching in Raja Ampat of Indonesia
• Night Wildlife Tour in Klaimis Forest of Sorong Regency
• What to do in Sorong city
• Late Afternoon and Night Birding in Sorong
• Birding in Sorong, Snorkeling in Raja Ampat
• Birding Tour Across Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu, Sonder Forest and Manado city

Day Birding Tour in Sorong Regency

I have just completed a 2-day-trip birding tour for 2 visitors in several birding sites outside Sorong city. 

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise in the suburb of Sorong city

In Day 1, we started our trip at 05:00. We went to the outskirts of Aimas by car to watch Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. The weather was cloudy. There was a little rain but it stopped when the sun began to rise in the east. We watched the paradise bird for around one and a half hour. Both the male and female Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise came to their usual mating site which were two vertical branch of a tree. After that we continued the tour by walking around an open area to watch Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Sahul Brush Cuckoo, Yellow-faced Myna, Helmeted Friarbird, Variable Goshawk, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird and etc. 

Blyth's Hornbill

At 08:00, we returned to Sorong city for the tour participants to have breakfast in their hotelm We continued again at 09:00. We went to a hill outside Sorong city. There, we saw Pacific Baza, Dollardbird, Sahul Sunbird, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Coconut Lorikeet, Yellow-faced Myna, Glossy Swiftlet and etc. We returned to Sorong city at around 11:00. 

In the afternoon at 15:00, we continued our day trip birding tour to the north coast. We watched Beach Kingfisher, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Torresian Crow, and Pacific Swallow. 

The next morning which was the Day 2 of our birding trip, we went to a forest outside Sorong city. It was quite far. It took around 1 hour to reach it. Ther we watched Lesser Bird of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise and Papuan Pitta. We saw other birds as well such as Blyth's Hornbill, Papuan Eclectus, Black-capped Lory and Pinon Imperial Pigeon. 

In the afternoon at 15:00, we went by car to Mangrove forest at the outskirts of Sorong city. We saw Glossy-mantled Manucode, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot (also called Orange-breasted Fig Parrot), Collared Imperial Pigeon, Willie Wagtail, Spotted Dove, Glossy Starling, and Brown Oriole. We also saw Sacred Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher and Emperor Fairywren. 

Papuan Eclectus

It was a great birding tour. The participants enjoyed the beautiful landscape of Sorong regency. We returned to Sorong at 18:00 and arrived in the hotel at around 19:00. 

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

Also read:

• 1 Day Birding Tour at the Outskirts of Sorong
• Morning Birding Tour in Sorong city
• What to do in Sorong city
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

1 Day Birding Tour in Sorong Regency Lowland Forest and Coastal Area

A few days ago (March 13th, 2026), I guided a couple (Marcus and Jo) from Australia on a birding tour in the lowland and coastal forest of Sorong regency. We started early in the morning at 05:30. I met them at Aston hotel and then by car we went to a forest area outside Sorong city. It took around 40 minutes to reach the entrance site of the forest. At that time, we could hear the calls of Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus). 

1 Day Birding Tour in the forest of Sorong Regency

The bird was sitting on the vertical pole of a tree waiting for his female mating partner to come. I set up my 2 tripods, one with a pair of binoculars mounted on it and the other with a spottiny scope, and aimed them at the paradise bird. We waited for the female bird to come. The male Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise did some rehearsal  by hopping down and up the pole. He hopped down to the top of lower pole and sit on it for awhile. 

Marcus and Jo used their camera to take pictures of the paradise bird. They also made some video using their cell phone through the spotting scope. 

After waiting for around one and a half hour, unfortunately the female paradise bird did not come, the male one flew away leaving the dancing lek. 

We left the watching site and continued our activity by doing general birding. We saw a lot of species of interesting birds including Papuan Eclectus, Spangled Drongo, Yellow-faced Myna, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Willie Wagtail, Helmeted Friarbird, Black Butcherbird, Sahul Sunbird, Palm Cockatoo, Black-capped Lory, Shining Flycatcher, Blyth's Hornbill and Gray-headed Goshawk. 

A female Papuan Eclectus

If you are interested in taking this 1 day birding tour at the outskirts of Sorong city and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by gmail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read:

• 1 Day Birding Tour at the Outskirts of Sorong city
• Birds in the Suburb of Sorong city

• Birding and Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Reizen in Noord Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder

Water Lily from A Swamp in Merauke

In addition to guiding tourists, my daily avtivity now is drawing and painting. I have just completed an old sketch of Water Lily of Merauke in watercolour. This is a small painting on paper size A5 (14.5 cm×21 cm) Winsor & Newton Wire-O sketch book. I saw this water lily flower in a swamp at the outskirts of Merauke. I visited the town years ago. There was only one flower at that time. Usually in a swamp, there are various kinds of water plants and including tens of waterlily flowers. However, I only saw one flower. So, the only one water lily flower that was still standing in the dark water of the swamp, when I arrived, deserved my attention. The swamp was at the roadside. I even asked the driver to stop his car so that I could walk closer to it. 

Water Lily from Merauke 

The watercolour painting is now inside a simple frame that I hang on the wall of the front room of my house.

I still have other watercolour paintings that I will discuss in my later posts. 

4 Days/3 Nights Birding in Sorong Regency

Today is 3 March 2026. I have just started a birding tour with 2 participants from Germany. We are now in Klasow valley. We left Sorong city at 08:30 by a 4wd car and started to do birding through tropical rainforest at around 10:00 a.m. We saw Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Eastern Hooded Pitta. It was a good start.  When we were having lunch, a female Blyth's hornbill landed on a wooden beam of our dining hall.  

Large Fig Parrot

At 15:15, we went birding again to the southern forest of the village. We saw Black-capped Lory, Black Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Golden Myna, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Helmeted Friarbird, and Lowland Peltop. 

Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

At dusk, we were waiting for Papuan Nightjar. Unfortunately, he did not show up. There were flying fox flying over the village. Unfortunately, the Papuan nightjar did not fly that evening. So, we returned to the guesthouse.

Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot

In the morning of 4 March 2026, we went to the lek of Lesser Bird of Paradise. We left Malagufuk village at 05:00. It took around 30 minutes of walking to reach the place. We still had to wait for around 30 minutes for the sunlight to appear in the sky. After waiting for quite long and walking around the forest area for two hours to chase the birds, finally, we could watch the courtship dance of the Lesser Bird of Paradise. There were 4 male and 3 female Lesser Birds of Paradise. 

Lesser Bird of Paradise

We also went to the site of King Bird of Paradise. I could also take picture of the bird using my Vivo V40 Lite that is mounted on my SVbony SV410 spotting scope. 

King Bird of Paradise

In the afternoon, we saw a lot of birds around the edge of the village. There were Glossy-mantled Manucode, Blyth's Hornbill, Black Lory, Golden Myna, Yellow-faced Myna, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Gray-streaked Flycatcher, Golden Cuckooshrike, Sahul Sunbird, Red-cheeked Parrot, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Glossy Swiftlet. 

Sultan's Cuckoo-dove

We did night walk. We saw Yellow-bellied Gerygone, a Brown Tree Mouse. We tried to attract Papuan Boobook by playing its recorded calls. Unfortunately, when this nocturnal bird came, he landed a tall tree whose branches were blocked by other branches from a nearby tree. So, we could not see the bird.

In the morning of 5 March was a great birding experience for us. We saw Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Papuan Pitta, Northern Cassowary, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Black-sided Robin. 

Hook-billed Kingfisher

On the way back to the village after watching the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, we saw Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Hook-billed Kingfisher. We also watched birds that were active in a tall merbau tree. There were Lowland Peltops, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Yellow-faced Myna, Coconut Lorikeet and Large Fig Parrot. There was a Palm Cockatoo that landed briefly on the tip of a dry branch. I was able to take some picture of the bird. 

Palm Cockatoo

On 6 March 2026, we went to the hides of Papuan Pitta and Eastern Hooded Pitta. We were able to see them after attracting them with calls and worms. We also saw Little Shrikethrush, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Sahul Brush Cuckoo, Azure Kingfisher and Long-tailed Honeybuzzard. After lunch, we returned to Sorong city. It has been a great birding trip for our German guests. 

Azure Kingfisher

If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in Sorong regency of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp at +6281332245180. You could also press this contact link.

Also read:

• 1 Day Birding Tour at the Outskirts of Sorong tegency
• Explore Sorong city and Its Surroundings
• Bird Photography Trip in Malagufuk

• Reizen in Noord Sulawesi
• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Tangkoko National Park
• Birding and Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder
• Birdwatching Tour in the Farmland and Forest of Minahasa Highland
• Birding Tour Across Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Lake Tondano, Mount Mahawu and Sonder's Forest