Some Photographs of Birds from Warduwer Beach

I went to Warduwer beach again yesterday (1 December 2019). I went there by a motorcycle. A friend of mine who works at a furniture workshop rode the motorbike. I sat at the beak seat holding my camera trying to find any birds along the way to the beach. I wanted to check the progress of the construction of Raja Ampat Flower Resort. Along the road between Waisai town and Warduwer beach, I saw Brahminy Kite, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, White-breasted Woodswallow, Pacific Swallow, and Pinon Imperial Pigeon. 

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)

While I was there, I did some birding. It was not difficult to find birds at the beach. I saw a big Palm Cockcatoo on a tree not far from me. I aimed my camera at the bird and shot it. There was also a Beach Kingfisher that was calling from a tree near the basecamp of the construction workers. He flew to a branch of a tree closer to me. It was a fleeting moment. He was on the branch for less than one minute and then flew again. 

Beach Kingfisher

I also saw a group of Lesser Frigatebirds high in the sky. Some Pied Imperial Pigeons were busy having breakfast. I made some photographs of them too. It was a nice morning. Some Crested Tern were sitting on the wooden posts at the shallow water of the beach. I carefully approached them and took some pictures. They were not afraid when I was shooting them with my camera.

In the afternoon, I did some birdwatching near Waisai harbor. There were mangrove trees near the harbor and birds such as Willie Wagtail, Olive-backed Sunbird can be seen in the trees. I saw a big group of Singing Starling.

Singing Starling

The Singing Starling was the last bird that I shot that day. 

If you are interested in taking a birdwatching trip to Waigeo island of Raja Ampat and want me to be your guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read:
Birds in Raja Ampat
Coastal Birds in Raja Ampat
Birding in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat
Birding Trips to Raja Ampat and Tambrauw Mountains

Watching Birds with Singaporean Tourists in Waigeo Island

Today I guided six Singaporean tourists on a birdwatching trip in southern region of Waigeo island. We visited the rainforest of South Waigeo, the ring-road area of Marinda airport and the Warduwer beach. We watched Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Common Paradise Kingfisher, and Frilled Monarch in the forest. Because the vegetation in the forest was dense, it was not easy to see birds.

Singaporean birdwatchers at Warduwer beach of Waigeo island

After watching birds in the forest, we continued our trip to Warduwer beach. Here, more birds could easily be seen including the Torresian Crow, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Willie Wagtail, Lesser Frigatebird, and Eclectus Parrot and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Claret-breasted Fruit Dive and Hooded Butcherbird. Before lunch time, we still had a short birding trip a long the road in the east and north of Marinda airport where we saw Grey-headed Goshawk, Rainbow Bee-eater, Oriental Dollarbird, Wimbrel, and Eastern Great Egret.
The Singaporean birdwatchers brought binoculars, Swarovski and Kowa spotting scopes. They also brought D-SLR and Nikon P900 bridge cameras for taking pictures of birds. These equipment significantly enhanced their birding experience.
During lunch time at Putras resort, we saw Beach Kingfisher, and Yellow-faced Myna. We took a rest until 15.00 and continued our birding trip to a road in the west of the airpot. There we saw Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Eclectus Parrot, Helmetted Friarbird.

Watching Birds in Waigeo island

At 17.00, we returned to Warduwer beach to enjoy birdwatching until 18.30. Here, we saw more birds including Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Palm Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, a male Red Bird of Paradise (male), Glossy-mantled Manucode, Rainbow Lorikeet, and a lot of other birds that we saw in the morning.
Warduwer beach is a great place for birdwatching. A resort is being constructed at the beach. It will be an ideal place to stay for birding visitors who plan to take their holiday in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. It also has got beautiful house reef. Visitors who like swimming and snorkeling can stay at the resort too.
Thick clouds were gathering in the sky. We decided to return to the resort again. Tomorrow, we will go to the forest to see Red Bird of Paradise.
If you are interested in traveling to Raja Ampat and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Shooting Birds at Warduwer Beach of Raja Ampat

Still about birding in Warduwer beach of Waigeo island, I see more birds in the mornings and in the evenings. The branches in tall trees are the places where birds like to sit. I like to photograph birds that I see. During my recent birding walk at the beach, I made photos of Palm Cockatoo, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Hooded Butcherbird, Singing Starling, and a lot more. I had put some pictures of them in my previous posts.

Palm Cockatoo

Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove

Hooded Butcherbird

Mimic Meliphaga

It was not easy to take pictures of birds in distant trees. I sometimes have to try different settings of my camera. I also have to stabilize my hand or even hold my breath to minimize my body movements. Canon 200D is a camera for beginning level user of a D-SLR camera. The use of Tamron 150-600 mm greatly enhances its reach. However, I don't always get good pictures of birds that I shoot. For instance, when I shot a Red Bird of Paradise in high tree, it was too far from me. I could not make sharp pictures. However, I am satisfied that Warduwer beach is a great place for birdwatching. I highly recommend this place as an easy birding site for visitors who want to visit Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. 

Red Bird of Paradise

A beach resort will soon operate at this beach. Its name is Raja Ampat Flow Resort (RAFLOW). More trees and flower plants will be planted in the beach so it will look greener and beautiful. I expect to see more birds and butterflies at this beach. 

Coral reef is the rainforest of the sea. A lot of soft coral in the sea looks like flowers. Warduwer beach has got coral reef that is very beautiful. Visitors can enjoy swimming, and snorkeling to see the "flowers" and the fish. I often organize sightseeing boat tour, snorkeling, hiking and birdwatching in Raja Ampat for tourists who want to see this beautiful archipelago.

If you plan to visit Raja Ampat and want me to guide you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Coral Reef - the Flowers of the Sea

I spend much of my time in Sorong and Raja Ampat now. I usually go snorkeling and freediving at Warduwer beach. It is located in southern region of Waigeo island. The coral reef of Warduwer beach is very beautiful. It is colorful and looks like underwater flowers. There are a lot of fish that live in them including anemonefish, butterflyfish, moorish idol, damselfish, parrotfish, wrasse, coris, and a lot more. 

Christmas Tree Worm in Raja Ampat

Christmas Tree Worms are some of the many marine creatures that are similar to flowers. They have got vivid colors such as blue, orange, yellow, red and purple. They live by catching or filtering tiny food objects or microorganism. Because of this filtering function, Christmas Tree Worms play important roles in making the sea clean. There are also sea anemone whose forms are similar to flowers. They become the "nests" for fish like Orange Skunk Anemonefish, Red and Black Anemonefish as well as Spinecheeck Anemonefish. Sea Anemone maybe harmful for other fish but not for the clownfish.

Coral Reef Environment in Warduwer Beach

 There are also burrowing clams that build their houses by sinking their shells into the surface of big rocks in a very slow rate. They filter food from the sea.
Coral reef has got functions that is similar to rainforest. It is the natural habitat of a lot of marine creatures. Therefore, they have to be preserved.

Burrowing Clams

In addition to burrowing clams, christmas tree worm, table coral, cauliflower corals, there is also Pulsating Xenid (Heteroxenia fuscescens) that visitors can see in the waters of Warduwer beach of Waigeo island. It is a species of soft coral that lives in shallow water. It has got tentacles with polyps whose appearance are similar to small flowers. The movements of tentacles in the waters are influenced by waves and sea current. Its polyps open and close in a pumping or pulsating movement to filter food or nutrients from the sea.

Pulsating Xenid

Booking
If you are interested in taking a snorkeling holiday in Raja Ampat and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

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.

Palm Cockatoo of Raja Ampat

When I go birding in Raja Ampat, Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is my favorite bird to see. In Indonesia, we call it Kakaktua Raja. Raja means: King. This large parrot has got smoky black feather and big red patches on both sides of his or her cheek. In the mornings, the bird likes to fly to coastal area and land on the branches of catappa trees. Palm Cockatoo eat like to eat catappa fruits.

a couple of Palm Cockatoo at Warduwer beach of Waigeo

Closer look of the Palm Cockatoo

Because of his or her big size, Palm Cockatoo can easily be recognized when sitting and feeding on tropical fruits that grow along the beach of Waigeo island. This bird can also be identified by his or her unique whistling calls. 

When I walked along the Warduwer beach of Raja Ampat. I saw two of the  sitting on very high branches of a tree. I made some pictures of them from a distance and later a closer photograph of the Palm Cockatoo from a window between the branches of trees closer to me.

In addition to Palm Cockatoo, other birds that I often see at Warduwer beach of Waigeo island are Red-cheeked Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Brahminy Kite, Eastern Osprey, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pinon Imperial Pigeon and etc.

I use a good pair of Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars and Canon 200D as my birding gear. For field guide book, I used Birds of New Guinea, second edition by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler. This is a very important reference for identifying birds that occur in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat as well as other regions in West Papua and PNG.
Warduwer beach of Waigeo island is not only a good site for birdwatching but also for snorkeling and freediving. I have done a lot of snorkeling activities at this beach, fish like Wobbegong, Stonefish, Anemonefish, Butterflyfish, Surgeonfish, and Damselfish are some of the many birds that make the coral reef of Warduwer as their natural habitat.

Marine Life at Warduwer beach of Waigeo island

If you are interested in taking a birding and snorkeling trip to 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.

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.