Tropical Birds in Sorong and Raja Ampat

A lot of visitors fly to Sorong city as the main gate to Raja Ampat. Most of them go to Raja Ampat to enjoy swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving or even take a trip by liveaboard boat to explore remote islands. 

However, there are some of them who are interested in combining their marine tour with land tour. The most popular tour which they can enjoy is birdwatching. They can do it in Sorong city and in Waigeo island. There are a lot of tropical birds which they could watch some of them are mentioned here.

Puff-backed Honeyeater in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Birds in and at the outskirts of Sorong city

Mangrove Forest - A long the coastal area of Sorong city, visitors could watch such birds as Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Blue Fronted Fig Parrot, Brown-backed Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Sacred Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Sahul Sunbird, Willie Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Striated Heron and etc.

Hill Forest - More birds could be seen when we go to a hill of Sorong city. There, we could find birds such as Yellow-faced Myna, Black Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Pacific Baza, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Black Butcher bird, Glossy Swiftlet, Uniform Swiftlet, Red-cheeked Parrot, and a lot more. 

Sorong's Ridge Forest - This birding site is located outside of Sorong city around 1 hour trip by car. Birds that we could watch include Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Mimic Honeyeater, Black-browed Triller, Helmeted Friarbird, Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Brahminy Kite.

Nortern Coast of Sorong city - This is the site for finding Beach Kingfisher, Lesser Frigatebird, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Sahul Sunbird, Whimbrel, Pacific Reef Heron, and etc.

The duration of birding tour at the outskirts of Sorong city can be as short as half day to 1 day to as long as 2 days depending on the time which participants have. 

Birds in Waigeo and Batanta of Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is an important destination for birdwatching tourism. It is the place for watching Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Hooded Butcherbird, Yellow-faced Myna, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Papuan Eclectus, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Shining Flycatcher, Mimic Honeyeater, Moustached Treeswift, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Pacific Golden Plover, and etc. 

The average duration of birding tour in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat is as short as 3 days 2 nights to as long as 4 days/ 3 nights. It can be longer if the itinerary includes trip to remote islands such as Batanta, Merpati and Urai. 

What to bring

Most birdwatchera bring a pair of binoculars. Some of them bring D-SLR or mirrorless camera with 600 mm telephoto lens. Rain poncho will also be needed. 

The birding trip in Raja Ampat could be combined with snorkeling and sightseeing trip to see marine life, tropical islandd, and karst.

Booking

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

Also read:

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland

Birds in Malagufuk's Forest and Raja Ampat

Birds are attractions for tourists who love nature. I am quite busy this month because I have to guide tourists on several birdwatching trips in the forest of Malagufuk, at the outskirts of Sorong city as well as in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. Every place has got unique species to see. They also share a large number of bird species.

Palm Cockatoo

Here are birds which visitors could watch in Malagufuk village of Klasow valley: Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Trumpet Manucode, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Zoe Imperial Pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Western-crowned Pigeon, Superb Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Black-billed Cuckoo-dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Black-capped Lory, Papuan Eclectus, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, and etc.

For birds in Waigeo, here are some of the vocal points: Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Brown-headed Crow, Papuan Eclectus, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Osprey, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Beach Kingfisher, Torresian Crow, Willie Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Pacific Reef Heron, Radjah Shelduck, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Great-billed Parrot, and etc.

Most tourists will fly to Sorong city if they want to enjoy their holiday in Raja Ampat. The outskirts of Sorong city have got some interesting birds to see such as Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Sahul Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Black-browed Triller, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Helmetted Friarbird, Brown Oriole, and etc. 

There are still a lot of other species that birdwatchers and photographers could see when traveling to these places. 

Visitors could combine birdwatching and photography tour with snorkeling and sightseeing in Raja Ampat islands. 

Binoculars or Camera

Most birdwatchers bring binoculars 10×42 mm. Famous brands such as Nikon, Swarovski, and Leica are the preferable choice. Some of them will bring point and shoot camera with telephoto lens. Photographers usually bring D-SLR or mirrorless camera, telephoto lens and tripod. 

Booking

If you are interested in visiting Sorong city for your holiday in Raja Ampat, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by visiting this contact link.

Also read:

• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong Regency
• Birding near Sorong city
• Wildlife Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland

Birdwatching in Raja Ampat of Indonesia

Raja Ampat is a famous destination for visitors who love swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling. However, it is also a good destination for birdwatching. A lot of species of tropical birds could be watched and photographed in Waigeo island such as:

• Wilson's Bird of Paradise
• Red Bird of Paradise
• Papuan Eclectus
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
• Palm Cockatoo
• Black-capped Lory
• Coconut Lorikeet
• Great-billed Parrot
• Red-cheeked Parrot
• Yellow-faced Myna
• Rufous-bellied Kookaburra
• Yellow-billed Kingfisher
• Common Paradise Kingfisher.
• Beach Kingfisher
• Collared Kingfisher
• Sacred Kingfisher
• Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
• Sahul Sunbird
• Black Sunbird
• Lowland Peltop
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon
• Pied Imperial Pigeon
• Great Cuckoo-dove
• Black-billed Cuckoo-dove
• Claret-breasted Fruit-dove
• Brown Cuckoo-dove
• Claret-breasted Fruit-dove
• Spice Imperial Pigeon, 
• Golden Monarch
• Willie Wagtail, and etc. 

Red Bird of Paradise

A lot of coastal or sea birds could also be seen there. They include:

• White-bellied Sea Eagle
• Osprey
• Lesser-crested Tern
• Common Tern
• Black-naped Tern
• Common Sand Piper
• Pacific Golden Plover
• Pacific Reef Heron
• Striated Heron
• Great-billed Heron
• Purple Heron, 
• Whimbrel, and etc.

Swimming and Snorkeling

Tour participants who want to enjoy swimming or snorkeling can do it at the house reef of the beach resort or homestay where we stay at. The coral reef of Raja Ampat is the habitat of a lot of species of marine creatures such as moorish idol, butterflyfish, striped surgeonfish, parrotfish, wrasse, wobbegong, anemonefish and etc.

Snorkeling in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat

Birding, swimming and snorkeling tour in Raja Ampat

Orange Skunk Anemonefish

Birdwatching near Sorong city

The tour to Raja Ampat for watching birds could be combined with the tour to the outskirts of Sorong city to watch interesting species of birds such as Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Glossy-mantled Manucode, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Black-browed Triller, Blyth's Hornbill, and etc. Usually, tourists who are in transit in Sorong city do not have much time. They can enjoy morning birding trip that starts at 05:00 a.m.  and finishes at 10:00 a.m. or afternoon birding tour from 14:00 to 18:00 p.m. 

Participants need to bring their own binoculars. If they do not have the device, as a guide provide a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod for everyone to share. 

For identification of birds that we see or photograph, we could use Merlin App. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in Raja Ampat and the outskirts of Sorong city, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Related posts:

• Birding and Snorkeling in Waigeo Raja Ampat
• Sorong City Birding Tour
• Sorong Birding and Raja Ampat Snorkeling
• Nature Tour Around Sorong City and Raja Ampat
• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong
• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong Regency of Indonesia

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Birding and Sightseeing Tour from Sorong City

Sorong city is main transit point for tourists who are going to or returning from Raja Ampat. It is the place where visitors spend 1 or 2 days before continuing their trip. They look for activities that would enable them to see nature and enjoy watching birds, and butterflies as well as see beautiful scenery of the surrounding environment.

Beautiful Fruit Dove

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Birding and sightseeing tour is a popular activity which tourists can enjoy while in Sorong. Usually the birding program starts early in the morning at around 05:00. The destination is forest area outside the city. We will meet tour participants at the hotel and go by car for around 1 hour to birding site. Arriving at around 06:00, we will have some coffee or tea with biscuits or fruits. 

Blyth's Hornbill

Golden Myna

After that we will start walking along the roadside to look for such birds as Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Helmeted Friarbird, Blyth's Hornbill, Brown Oriole, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Pacific Baza, Gray-headed Goshawk, Brahminy Kite, Long-tailed Honeybuzzard, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, and etc. 

Yellow-faced Myna

To enhance the birding experience of participants, we will bring spotting scope and binoculars. At around 09:00, we will continue our trip to beach area to look for such birds as Willie Wagtail, Beach Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, and etc. 

Palm Cockatoo

We could watch these sea birds while walking along the boardwalk or the beach. At around 10:00, we will return to Sorong city. 

Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour from Sorong city

This short birding and sightseeing walking tour at the outskirts of Sorong city is suitable for tourists who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape of Sorong regency and at the same time see the diverse avifauna of the region.

Olive-crowned Flowerpecker

Visitors who are interested in taking longer birding trip could take tour packages that combines visits to rainforest areas in Malagufuk, and Kasulala of Sorong regency and Waigeo island in Raja Ampat regency. The birding trip in Raja Ampat could be combined with snorkeling and sightseeing trips to islands that are located near Waigeo.

If you are interested in taking this short birding and sightseeing tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Snorkeling Vacation in Raja Ampat
• Snorkeling and Birding in Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat
• Nature Walking and Birding Tour in Sorong
• Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Sorong and Raja Ampat
• Sorong Birding and Raja Ampat Snorkeling
• Birding Near Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Sorong City Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour
• Birdwatching in Malagufuk, snorkeling in Raja Ampat
• Night walk in Malagufuk's forest

• Wildlife and Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching and Photography Tour in the Farmland and Forest of Minahasa Highland

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, 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.

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. 

Related Posts:

• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong Regency of Indonesia
• Birding Near Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding Tour Outside Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Sorong City Sightseeing and Birding Tour
• Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City
• Tourist Attractions in Sorong City
• Birding in Mangrove Forest of Sorong City
• Birding in the Forest Near Sorong City of Indonesia
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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. 

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. 

Related Posts:

• Birding Near Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding Tour Outside Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
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• Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City
• Tourist Attractions in Sorong City
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Nature Tour Around Sorong City and Raja Ampat

Sorong city is the main entrance gate for visitors who want to enjoy their vacation in Raja Ampat islands. Every day airplanes land at Domine Eduard Osok (DEO) Airport of Sorong city. They bring hundreds of visitors. Most of them want to enjoy swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in Waigeo, Batanta, Gam, Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, Piaynemo, Wayag and the remote Misool islands. 

Nature tour in Sorong city

Visitors who have just landed in Sorong city are often too tired to start their trip in Raja Ampat. They may want to take a rest in Swissbel or Aston hotels in Sorong city after their long flights from home. There are also visitors who have just returned from Raja Ampat after their snorkeling or diving trips. Most of them want to take a rest for 1 or 2 days in Sorong. Some of them are interested in taking easy to do nature tour around Sorong city to see beautiful landscape, watch birds, butterflies, reptiles and mammals.

Willie Wagtail

Helmeted Friarbird

As a tourist guide, I often organize easy nature tour around Sorong city. The duration of the tours can be as short as morning or afternoon trip, 1 full day nature tour, or 2 full day birding and sightseeing tours around Sorong city.

Swamp Tiger Butterfly

During these tours, participants will be brought to places in the hills that have rainforest to see the scenery, enjoy watching birds and butterflies. Tours to mangrove forest can also be organized for visitors who are interested in seeing mangrove trees with birds, butterflies, dragon flies, and other insects,  mudskipper, fish, and crab that form the ecosystem mangrove. 

White-bellied Cuckooshrike

Participants can bring their own binoculars and cameras during the tours. To enhance the nature tour experience of the participants, I, as a tour guide, usually bring spotting scope that will enable participants to watch distant birds, or epiphytes in trees. 

Sorong city's nature tour

This nature tour around Sorong city can be taken by a solo traveling visitor, a couple or a group of tourists who are interested in exploring natural places in the suburb of Sorong city. 

Terrestrial Orchid at the outskirts of Sorong city

Nature Tour in Raja Ampat

For tour participants who want to take nature tour in Raja Ampat, it can be combined with this Sorong tour. The main destination is Waigeo. Birds that can be watched include coastal and sea birds such as Pacific Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Beach Thick Knee, Wandering Whistling Duck, Radjah Shelduck, Black-naped Tern and a lot more. For Rainforest Birds, the main targets will be the Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. There are a lot of other species too such as the Papuan Eclectus (Echletus polychloros), Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), Great-billed Parrot, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud), Beautiful Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus pulchelus), Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma toro-toro), and a lot more. Birdwatching or butterfly watching could be conducted between 06:00 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 18:00. Between these times, participants could enjoy snorkeling or sightseeing to a number of islands around Waigeo.

Nature Tour in Raja Ampat

Red Bird of Paradise

Equipment

Tour participants need to bring binoculars and camera. In general the 8×42; 10×42 and 10×50 mm are the binoculars which most wildlife observers bring during their trip. To enhance their birding experience, I, as a tourist guide, will bring a spotting scope that will enable participants to watch animals or plants in distant trees or places. 

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

Also read:

• Explore Sorong City and Its Surrounding
• Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Sorong City Sightseeing and Birdwatching Tour
• Tourist Attractions in Sorong City
• Birding in the Forest Near Sorong city
• Birding and Snorkeling in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birdwatching and Wildlife Watching Holiday in Waigeo of Raja Ampat
• Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk

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Birding in Waigeo of Raja Ampat and Klasow valley of Sorong Regency

Waigeo island is the most recommended destination for visitors who want to enjoy birding in Raja Ampat. The main targets of observation are Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. A lot of species of tropical birds can be watched in Raja Ampat especially Waigeo and its surrounding islands. They include Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit-dove, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Spangled Drongo, Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, and etc.

The trip in Raja Ampat is usually combined with snorkeling and sightseeing trips in Kabui bay, Friwen, Yenbuba Strait, Arborek island and Piaynemo karst. Visitors who are interested in snorkeling should bring their own snorkeling masks, snorkels and pipes. Underwater cameras are also needed for taking pictures of marine life during the snorkeling excursions in Raja Ampat. 

Red Bird of Paradise

Snorkeling photo from Arborek

Snorkeling Photo from Waigeo

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

I often guide tourists on birding or wildlife watching trip to Malagufuk, Sorong's ridge forest and Waigeo island in Raja Ampat. The duration of the trip is usually around 1 to 2 weeks covering lowland, hill and sea or coastal avifauna. During the tour, we could see various species of tropical birds from parrots and fruit doves to kingfishers and paradise birds. 

Blyth's Hornbill

In Malagufuk, I usually spend between 3 to 4 days. We do birding in the mornings, late afternoons and at nights. Birds that we watch include Lesser Birds of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, King Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Azure Kingfisher, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Red-cheeked Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, and a lot more. 

After exploring the rainforest of Malagufuk, we usually continue our adventure by birding in coastal mangrove forest of Sorong city. There, we could look for Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Sahul Sunbird, Willie Wagtail, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Sacred Kingfisher and etc. Sorong city is the main transit point for visitors who want to travel to Raja Ampat. 

Common Paradise Kingfisher

• Birding near Sorong city
• Birding in Kasulala Forest
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong city
• Birding in Klabili and Malagufuk

Birding and Wildlife Watching Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland

Tangkoko Nature Reserve is a favorite destination in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia for birdwatching or wildlife watching activities. The tropical rainforest of area is the habitat of Yellow-billed Malkoha, Blue-backed Parrot, Ashy Woodpecker, Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher and White-necked Myna, and Red-backed Thrush, Ochre-bellied Boobook and etc. 

At the edge of the forest, especially on Temboan hill, visitors could see Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Minahasa Racquet-tail, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon and etc. 

For visitors who are interested in mammals, they could see Celebes-crested Macaque, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Gursky's Spectral Tarsier, and Celebes Dwarf Squirrel. 

Gursky's Spectral Tarsier

The trip in Tangkoko National Park usually includes a boat ride excursion to Naun river to find Great-billed Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Heron, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, Pacific Swallow and etc. 

The duration of the birdwatching and wildlife watching tour in Tangkoko is usually 4 days/ 3 nights and can be combined with another birding tour to Minahasa Highland. 

There are several birding sites in Minahasa Highland such as Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow, Sonder's Farm Forest, Lalek Farm Forest, Talikuran Rice Field, and Kengkang Waterfalls. Visitors could spend 4 days/ 3 nights in this region. 

Some birds in Minahasa Peninsula

A lot of species, including the endemic ones, could be watched in Minahasa Highland. There are Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Zebra Dove, White-breasted Woodswallow, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, and etc. 

There are regular flights between Sorong city and Manado city of North Sulawesi served by TransNusa and Lion Air. Visitors who are interested in taking a tour in North Sulawesi first and then in Raja Ampat could fly to Singapore and then continue their trip to Manado city by Scoot Air. There is direct flight between Guangzhou China and Manado city of Indonesia served by TransNusa and China Southern Airlines. Visitors who are already in Indonesia could fly from any big cities to Sam Ratulangi International Airport of Manado city. 

Flight Routes to Manado City

Accommodation

There are hotels and homestays in Tomohon town, and lodges for visitors near Tangkoko Nature Reserve. 

If you are interested in taking a birding, sightseeing and snorkeling tour in West Papua as well as wildlife tour in North Sulawesi, and want me to organize your tour and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Related Posts:

• Birding and Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Tangkoko Nature Reserve: A Wildlife Haven in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Minahasa Highland

Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong

Visitors who travel to Sorong city can take birding and wildlife watching tours in Raja Ampat and Sorong regency. The duration of the tours is from 5 to 7 days. 

While in Sorong regency, visitors can visit Kasulala forest to watch Lesser Birds of Paradise, King0 Bird of Paradise, Brown Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Red-cheeked Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Coconut Lorikeet as well as ground hopping birds such as Hooded Pitta and Papuan . 

Visitors who like to explore rainforest could do night walk to look for Papuan Frogmouth, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Boobook, Papuan Hawk Owl and other birds sleep on lower branches of trees. 

In addition to birds, visitors could also watch butterflies, monitor lizard, cuscus and snake.

Palm Cockatoo

In Waigeo, visitors could watch such birds as Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. 

A lot of other birds could be watched in those places including Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra.

Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

Tour participants who take this tour could combine birding and snorkeling. Usually, snorkeling is done at the house reef of the resort or homestay which they stay. Snorkeling tour to other sites such as Friwen wall, Urai, and Yenbuba Strait as well as Arborek could also be organized upon request.

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

Snorkeling Photo from Raja Ampat

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

If you are interested in watching birds and enjoying snorkeling in Raja Ampat as well as hiking and wildlifewatching in Sorong regency, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read:

• Nightwalk in Malagufuk's Forest
• Birdwatching in Malagufuk, Snorkeling in Raja Ampat
• Birding in Malagufuk with 5 British Tourists

• Tropical birds in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in the farmland of Sonder
• Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birding in the Paddy Fields of Subdistrict Sonder
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder Town
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in the Farmland and Forest of Minahasa Highland
• Manado City Tour: Birdwatching and Sightseeing
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Collared Kingfisher
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi
• Birding in Higher Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com