Collared Kingfisher

Here is the picture of Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) that I saw in the highland of Minahasa. 

The bird eats grasshopper, spider, lizard, frog, earthworm, small snake, snail, small fish and etc. In Subdistrict Sonder, the bird could be seen in forest edge, dry agricultural land, water streams and paddy fields. Collared Kingfisher is a solitary bird. It likes to sit motionless on a bare branch of a tree observing its prey. 

Collared Kingfisher

Collared Kingfisher in Minahasa Highland

Most farmers like and protect the bird because it is a natural predator for pests in agricultural crops. 

Subdistrict town of Sonder is surrounded by forest, dry agricultural land and paddy fields.

Farmers in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi Province grow rice, corn, banana, papaya, tomato, chilli, cabbage, carrot, kangkung, chilli, rambutan, duku, kidney bean,vanilla, clove, coconut. They also run pig, poultry and fish farming. They sell their produce to local traditional market and to big towns and cities in the region. 

Some of the agricultural produce from Subdistrict town of Sonder

Farmers in Minahasa regency are the main supplier of agricultural produce to towns and cities in central and eastern region of Indonesia including Manado, Bitung, Tomohon, Tondano, Langowan, Sonder, Balikpapan, Ternate, Ambon, Sorong, Manokwari and Jayapura. 

Birding Walk in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa Highland

In addition to Collared Kingfisher, there are other birds which visitors could watch when traveling around Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency of Indonesia. They include Sulawesi Myzomela, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, White-rumped Triller, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Crimson Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Eurasian Treesparrow,  Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Slender-billed Crow, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Zebra Dove, Finch-billed Myna, Barred Rail, White-eyed Drongo, Sulawesi Drongo, Purple Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Sunda Teal, Purple Needletail, White-nest Swiftlet, Glossy Swiftlet, Black-naped Oriole, White-browed Crake, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, and etc. 

Black-naped Oriole, Sulawesi Cuckol-dove, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker

Visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland while walking through the villages, dry agricultural land, paddy fields and forest. At the same time, visitors could enjoy watching most of the birds that are mentioned above.

Black-crowned White-eye in Tounelet Slope of Subdistrict Sonder, Minahasa regency, Indonesia

Where is Minahasa Highland and How to get there?

Minahasa is a regency in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The entry point is Manado city. Visitors need to fly from their country to some of the major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Makassar. There are domestic flights between these cities and Manado city served by Batik Air, Lion Air, TransNusa, Garuda and Citilink. There are also direct flights between Guangzhou and Manado city served by China Southern Airlines; and between Singapore and Manado city served by Scoot Air. 

Flight route to Manado city in Indonesia

Land route to Subdistrict Sonder from Manado city and Tomohon

Accommodation

Most visitors who go to Minahasa highland stay in hotels in Tomohon town. However, accommodation in homestays in Subdistrict town of Sonder could be arranged.

Booking

If you are interested in visiting Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland for sightseeing its natural landscape and villages as well as birding in its forests, farmlands and paddy fields, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read: 

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder
• Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve of North Sulawesi
• Tropical Birds in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Minahasa
• Birding in High Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Manado City Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching and butterflywatching in Sonder
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com

Birding in Higher Elevation Forest of Minahasa

The higher elevation forest of Minahasa is an interesting site to visit for birwatching visitors. Mount Mahawu is the famous destination because visitors could enjoy birding along the slope of the volcano. There are Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Myzomela, Superb Fruit Dove, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Uniform Swiftlet, Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove, Sulawesi Leafwarbler, Purple Needletail, Japanese Goshawk, Gray-rumped Treeswift and etc.

Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Superb Fruit Dove, Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove

More birds could be watched early in the mornings between 06:00 to 09:00. However, sometimes around 06:00 A.M. fog still covers the canopy of the forest especially near the top of the crater area of the volcano. As a matter of fact, the highland of Minahasa is surrounded by volcanoes. This makes the land fertile. 

Agriculture develops well in this regency. Farmers grow rice, corn, potato, sweet potato, banana, cabbage, mustard green, carrot, spring onion, chilli, lemon grass, papaya, durian, rambutan, aren tree that produce nectar for making palm sugar, vanilla, clove. They sell their produce to cities and towns in eastern and central region of Indonesia including Sorong, Ambon, Gorontalo, and Balikpapan. 

Volcanic crater of Mount Mahawu in Minahasa highland of Indonesia

The next high elevation forest can be explored in Subdistrict Sonder. This is the site for watching Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Warbling White-eye, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Drongo, Black-faced Munia, Collared Kingfisher, and etc. Another site that is also interesting is Kanonang hill. 

Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Fantail, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker

This tour to higher elevation forest of Minahasa can be combined with walking tour and birdwatching in lower elevation forest and farmland to see Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Black-naped Orile, Sahul Sunbird, Black-crowned White-eye, Finch-billed Myna and a lot more. 

Farmland Tour

While watching birds and enjoy sightseeing in the highland of Minahasa. Visitors could walk through the farmland to see various kinds of agricultural produce which farmers grow such as rice, corn, tomatoes, chilli, aubergine, kangkung (also called water spinach), papaya flower, mustard green, sweet potatoes, cabbage, vanilla, coconut, clove, and etc. These agricultural produce are supplied to towns in Minahasa regency such as Tomohon, Tondano, Langowan, Sonder, Kawangkoan, Amurang, Bitung and Manado city.

Corn, vanilla, clove, rice and papaya

Palm sugar, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, chilli, brenebon bean (Dutch: bruinen bonen for kidney bean), eggs, tilapia fish, pork are exported to cities in central and eastern region of Indonesia including Gorontalo, Balikpapan, Sorong, Manokwari and Jayapura. 

Contact

If you are interested in taking sightseeing, birdwatching and farmland tours in Minahasa highland of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Related articles:

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder
• Birding in Paddy Fields of District Sonder in Minahasa Highland
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Manado City Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching and butterflywatching in Sonder
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com

Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Minahasa Highland and Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Minahasa in the Province of North Sulawesi of Indonesia is a highly recommended destination for visitors who love birdwatching. There are a lot of birding sites in the highland especially at the outskirts of Tomohon and Subdistrict town of Sonder. Visitors can go hiking, sightseeing and birding in the farmland, forest, and rice field of these towns.

Some Birds in Minahasa Highland

The first forest that can easily be reached by visitors is the tiny forest of Tounelet that is located inside Sonder town, at the back of Siloam hospital. Visitors can walk down the road slope of Tounelet village to watch birds and photograph them.  Birds that can be watched include Sooty-headed Bulbul, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Eurasian Treesparrow, Black-naped Oriole, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Barred Rail, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Swiftlet, White-nest Swiftlet, and Slender-billed Crow and etc.

Black-crowned White-eye

In the rice field area, we could watch more birds such as White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Cinnamon Bittern, Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Chestnut Munia, Collared Kingfisher, and Scaly-breasted Munia.

Crimson Sunbird

More birds could be watched when we go to higher elevation forest. There are White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Black-faced Munia,  Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker (Picoides temminckii), Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia albicapilla), and Warbling White-eye (Zosterops japonicus), Collared Kingfisher, and Hair-crested Drongo (which James Eaton's Birds of Indonesian Archipelago names it, White-eyed Spangled Drongo). More birds could be watched if we explore the forests and farmlands in lowland and lower montane areas like Tangkoko, Tunan and Mount Tumpa. 

Lake Linow and Lake Lahendong are also good for birdwatching. We could watch Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata),  Gray Teal, Sunda Teal, Barn Swallow, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Collared Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Barred Rail, and etc. There are buildings and watching platform at the side of the lakes which can be used by birdwatchers to observe birds. 

The roads that connect Sonder with other villages are good for general birding. Birds such as Zebra Dove, Collared Kingfisher, Slender-billed Crow, Hair-crested Drongo, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Bay Coucal, Black-billed Koel, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Finch-billed Myna, and etc. can be watched during a morning or late afternoon walking tours. 

Visitors need at least 7 days for exploring Minahasa highland, lowland and lower montane forests.

Blanchard's Ghost, Manado Yellow Tiger and Blanchard's Wood Nymph Butterflies

In addition to birds, various species of butterflies could also be seen during the hiking tour in Minahasa. They include the Common Birdwing, Blanchard's Ghost, and Blandchard's Wood Nymph (Ideopsis vitrea) butterflies that like to feed on nectar of flowers in the morning. 

Gray-sided Flowerpecker

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of the Province of North Sulawesi. It is a nice destination for nature lovers who are interested in seeing mountains, farmlands, ricefields, hotsprings, and forests while watching birds, butterflies and other wildlife in the region. 

Sonder town in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tincep - the village of Flowers

As we continue walking along the roadside from Sonder town to Tincep village, we will see rice fields with the background  of hills. Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, and swiftlets dominate the area. As we entered the village, we will see various kinds of flowers. Tincep is a beautiful village because the villagers grow colourful flowers around their house yards. Tincep is the village of flowers and butterflies. 

Flowers in Tincep

Lime Swallowtail Butterfly in Tincep village of Minahasa

WILDLIFE TOUR TO TANGKOKO NATURE RESERVE

This birdwatching and photography tour in Minahasa Highland can be extended to Tangkoko Nature Reserve for at least 3 days/ 2 nights to see various species of birds and other wild animals of North Sulawesi. 

Birds that can be found in Tangkoko include Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Great-billed Kingfisher, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Finch-billed Myna, White-necked Myna, Ashy Woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Black-naped Oriole, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail (also called Minahasa Racquet-tail), Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, and etc.

Birding activities are conducted inside the forest of Tangkoko Nature Reserve, along the edge of the forest especially in Temboan Hill and also along the coastal area. Most often a boat trip from Batu Putih village along the coastal area to Naun river will be conducted for tour participant to see Great-billed Kingfisher. At sea, visitors could also see Pacific Reef Heron, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black-naped Tern and etc.

How to get to Minahasa Highland?

Manado city is the main gate to visit Minahasa.

• It is very easy to visit Minahasa. First, visitors need to fly from your country to Singapore. After that visitors could take a direct flight by Scoot Air to Manado city. 
• If visitors fly to Jakarta, Surabaya, or Denpasar, they could continue their trip by taking domestic airline to fly to Manado city.
• There is also daily flight between Sorong city and Manado city.

Flying Route to Manado City

I could meet you at the airport and organize your trip to Minahasa or other regencies in North Sulawesi.

If you are interested in taking a nature tour in Indonesia by combining West Papua and North Sulawesi regions and want me to organize your trip, you could contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko
• Birding in Sonder
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in the Farmland and Forest of Minahasa Highland
• Manado City Tour: Birdwatching and Sightseeing
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Discover Bunaken National Park
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder Town
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi
• Birding in Higher Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• Birding in the Paddy Fields of Subdistrict Sonder
• wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com
• birdingsulawesi.com