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
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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 (Seleucidismelanoleucus).
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.
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.
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.
Aimas town is the capital of Sorong regency. It is around 30 minutes drive from Sorong city. There is a forest area near the town that has been the natural habitat of Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. I guided a visitor from France today (28 Feb. 2026) on a morning birdwatching tour from Sorong city.
We watched Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise for around 1 hour. After that we continued our activity by doing general birding. There were several species of interesting tropical birds that we saw including Spangled Drongo, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pacific Baza, Papuan Eclectus, Willie Wagtail, Blyth's Hornbill, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Shining Flycatcher, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-faced Myna, Singing Starling, and etc.
Yellow-faced Myna
At 09:00, we continued our trip to Mangrove forest where we saw Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird, and Emperor Fairywren.
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching and sightseeing tour to areas around Sorong city and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to +6281332245180 or through this contact link.
I often receive requests from visitors who want to do sightseeing and birdwatching trip from Sorong city. There are several interesting sites to explore. The recommended one is the rainforest area at the outskirts of Aimas Town. We need to start early in the morning at around 05:00. I will meet tour participants at the hotel in Sorong city and then organize their transfer by car to birding site. It takes around 45 minutes to reach it. We will watch the first target which is the Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise. Usually we spend between 30 minutes to 1 hour to watch the paradise bird. After that we will continue our activity by doing general birding. We will look for any species of birds that sit on the branches of trees or fly in the air. They include Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Butcherbird, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Red-cheeked Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Willie Wagtail and etc. Usually, at 10:00 a.m. the air temperature is hotter and the activity of bird is little. We will return to Sorong city to take a rest.
Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Sorong city
Afternoon Birding
We usually start at 14:00. Our destination is the mangrove forest. We will look for such birds as Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown-backed Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Spotted Dove, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Common Sandpiper, Striated Heron, Pacific Golden Plover, Emperor Fairywren, and etc. At 18:00, the light starts to decrease. We will return to Sorong city before dark.
Beautiful Fruit-dove
As a tourist guide, I provide a spotting scope or a pair of binoculars that is mounted on a tripod. This will allow tour participants to watch birds that sit in distant branches of trees.
Birdwatching in Sorong
Participants need to bring insect repellent lotion or spray, rain poncho. They could also bring binoculars or camera if they have.
More tours to other interesting places
In addition to birdwatching, I also offer sightseeing tour to Doom island, the north coast of Sorong and traditional markets.
If you are interested in taking this birding tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to +6281332245180 or through this contact link.
