Evening Bird in Raja Ampat

A few days ago I had an evening bird walk at Warduwer beach. It was located in southern region of Waigeo island. As usual, I brought my Canon 200D and Tamron 150-600 mm lens as my photograhic device. I did not have special target to shoot. The first bird that I saw near the entrance gate to the beach was a Helmetted-Friarbird. He made some calls but later was busy with his prey.

Helmetted Friarbird at Warduwer Beach of Raja Ampat

There were a couple of Yellow-faced Myna. They were sitting on the branches of a small tree. It was quite difficult for me to shoot them. I looked around the beach to find the best spot and was very happy to find a small sand hill near the tree. I walked up to the top of the hill and carefully adjusted my camera to adapt with the light condition. I raised my camera and aimed it at the birds. I shot them several times but later made several adjustments on the settings of the camera to get better quality pictures out of the camera.

Yellow-faced Myna

A crow landed on the lower branch of the same tree while I was busy making photographs of the myna. I shot the bird again but shortly after that she flew away.

Crow

After shooting the bird, I walked down the sand hill to the beach. The sun slowly disappeared from the horizon. I walked to the beach and tried to find if there were birds among the green vegetation that were standing near the sea water. I saw Sacred Kingfisher sitting on a stone but it was too far from me. Beach Kingfisher flew fast in front of me. It was evening time and the sea was in low tide. An Eastern Reef Egret landed on an exposed hard coral. I made some pictures of the bird too.

Eastern Reef Egret (Ardea modesta) at Warduwer beach

Beach Resort, House Reef and Snorkeling
Evening was a good time for birding at Warduwer beach. Soon Raja Ampat Flow (RAFLOW) Resort will begin its operation at the beach. This beach resort will become an ideal place for visitors who like birdwatching and snorkeling.
The house reef of RAFLOW Resort is in very good condition. There are a lot of fish that snorkelers can see while swimming over coral reef. Some of them include Moorish Idol, Butterflyfish, Anemonefish, Three-spot Dascyllus, Parrotfish, and even the Wobbegong, and Stonefish.

Marine Life in Raja Ampat

How to get there?

• It is easy to visit and stay at Raja Ampat Flow Resort. First, you need to fly from your country to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
• Second, you continue your flight to Sorong city.
• Arriving at Domine Eduard Osok Airport of Sorong, you need to go to Pelabuhan Rakyat by airport taxi. The usual price is 100,000 rupiahs per taxi (one way). Ir can carry around 4 people.
• The price of the ticket for crossing by ferry from Sorong to Waisai town is 100,000 rupiahs per person. 
• Arriving at the harbor, visitors are usually asked by government officers of Raja Ampat regency to pay entrance fee: 1,000,000 rupiahs per person.
• After that they can use taxi or be picked up by shuttle hus to Raja Ampat Flow Resort.

Booking
If you are interested in taking a combined Snorkeling and Birding Tour in Raja Ampat, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Beautiful Fruit Dove in Raja Ampat

I did some birding again this afternoon at Warduwer beach of Waigeo island. It is the location of Raja Ampat Flow (RAFLOW) Resort. There are trees on the side of the slope road that connects the beach resort and the main road. Fruits similar to red berry were hanging in small twigs of the tall tree. There were birds that were eating the fruits. 

Beautiful Fruit Dove

I walked closer to the tree and stood on the slope trying to find birds that could easily be shot using my camera. In less than one minute, I was able to see one bird that landed on the tip of a small branch closer to where I stood. Its name was Beautiful Fruit Dove. There were other birds that were eating the fruits but they were higher.

Beautiful Fruit Dove at Warduwer Beach of Waigeo island

I turned on my camera, adjust its setting and then wait until the bird was clearly visible. He was trying to reach a ripe red berry near the tip of the branch. I quickly aimed my camera at him and pressed its shutter button several times. 

Willie Wagtail

After eating the fruit, he continued walking and jumping on to another twig and sat there for a few seconds. I followed him by my camera and made some pictures. 

Shining Flycatcher

I thought I had made some good shots of the Beautiful Fruit Dove. In the contrary, my pictures were too bright. Now I am editting my pictures using photodirector. I have to adjust their brightness so that the colors will look more balanced. 

I also saw several other birds during my afternoon walk among the trees of Warduwer beach. Some of them were Willie Wagtail, Singing Starling, Blyth's Hornbill, Hooded Butcherbird, and Shining Flycatcher. 

The front waters of Warduwer beach has got very nice coral reef. In general, Raja Ampat is the best or the richest in the world for Marine Biodiversity. When I enjoyed snorkeling at this beach, I took a lot of pictures of the fish, reef and other marine animals. 

Coral reef of Warduwer beach

If you plan to visit Indonesia and do birdwatching or snorkeling in Raja Ampat, I highly recommend that you go to Warduwer beach. RAJA AMPAT FLOW (RAFLOW) RESORT will be a good place to stay. 

If you want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Afternoon Bird at Warduwer Beach of Raja Ampat

I did some birding walk today at Warduwer beach of Waigeo island. As usual I brought my camera the Canon 200D with Tamron 150-600 mm lens. It was quiet that afternoon. Only some birds that were seen in the air or on the branches of the trees.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

Some Lesser Frigatebird flew over the beach when I came out of the water after snorkeling for around 1 hour. After changing my clothes, I walked slowly up a slope to higher. Some Willie Wagtail were playing on the leaves of pandanus tree. A Beach Kingfisher was flying very fast above my head and then disappeared into the forest. I kept on walking to the hill behind the beach. Here I saw a couple of Pinon Imperial Pigeon sitting quietly on a branch of a tall tree. I also saw Puff-backed Honeyeater in a shrub. Perhaps, the bird was looking for some insects to eat.

Helmetted Friarbird

As the sun went further to the west, I saw a fruit dove flying fast in front of me - too fast, I could not identify it. A couple of Black Sunbird was sitting on the top leaves of another tall tree.

Puff-backed Honeyeater

Raja Ampat is a nice place for birdwatching. I really enjoy my work here. I can watch birds and swim at the beach to see colorful fish and coral reef.

If you are interested in traveling to Raja Ampat and staying in Raja Ampat Flow (RAFLOW) Resort at Warduwer beach of Waigeo island, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Brahminy Kite

Still About Birding in Warduwer Beach

In my previous post Morning Bird Walk in Raja Ampat, I presented some photos of birds that I saw at Warduwer beach. There were more photos of birds that I made including the Red Bird of Paradise, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Blyth's Hornbill, Pacific Swallow, White-breasted Wood Swallow, Brahminy Kite.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

I used Canon 200D and Tamron 150-600 mm to shoot all those birds. At around 06.00 to 07.00, the light was not fully bright. Warduwer beach was a tiny patch of land at the foot of a mountain range that stretches along the southern region of  Waigeo island. At its white sandy beach, spring water was flowing out of the ground. A beach resort was being built there. The construction works would be finished in September or October. Its name is Raja Ampat Flow Resort (RAFLOW).

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

WARDUWER BEACH was a very nice place for birding. Every time I go there, I always enjoy birding. That early morning time, I saw a Red Bird of Paradise was calling from a high branch of a tree. I shot him several time but could not make high quality pictures because he was inside thick leaves.

There were some Papuan Blyth's Hornbill sitting on the branches of a tall tree that morning. I could make a picture of the male whose had was clearly visible with white clouds as his background. 

Blyth's Hornbill at RAFLOW Resort Warduwer beach

When I rode motorcycle along the road between Waisai town and Raflow Beach Resort, I saw the White-breasted Woodswallow sitting on an electrical line. I stopped the motorcycle and shot the bird immediately. It was a nice shot so I was able to get clear picture of the bird.

White-breasted Wood Swallow

A Rufous-bellied Kookaburra was also sitting at the electrical line. I made a picture of him from a distance. After that I walked closer to the bird saw me and flew I away. I quickly aimed my camera to the bird. It was not a sharp picture but it could give us an idea of how his wings and body contour look like when flying. 

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra flying

I had a nice bird walk that morning at Warduwer Beach. For me, Warduwer beach of Raja Ampat is a good destination not only for beach lovers and snorkelers but also for birdwatchers. I have organized birdwatching, snorkeling and sightseeing tours in Raja Ampat for several years now.

Warduwer Beach in Waigeo island - RAJA AMPAT FLOW (RAFLOW) Resort

Coral Reef and Tropical Fish at Warduwer Beach of Raja Ampat

If you are interested in taking a holiday in Raja Ampat and want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.