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:

• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Reizen in Noord Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in Sonder of North Sulawesi
• Birding Paradise: Exploring North Sulawesi from Manado to Minahasa Highland

Tropical Birds in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

I frequently do field survey around the forest, farmland, and paddy fields of Sonder town in Minahasa highland. There are interesting birds and butterflies that I saw. Some of them are shown below.

Black Sunbird

 

This is a Black Sunbird in Sonder farm forest in Minahasa highland.

This is Turquoise Flycatcher. The bird is small and can be found hopping around the branches of shrub plants in higher elevation forest and farmland of Sulawesi island. According to Merlin, this bird also occurs in Maluku and the Philipines.  

Another interesting bird to see is Pale Blue Monarch. The male bird has got a thin dark line that devides his neck and chest. The nest of this bird has got the shape of a small cup and is attached to small branches of a tree or a shrub plant. Pale Blue Monarch eats insect.

Below is the picture of Sulawesi Hanging Parrot (Loriculus stigmatus). This is a male bird. He has got pale eye, and red patch on the forehead. The female one has got dark eye and does not have red patch on her forehead. They can be seen in fruiting and flowering trees. The plumage of both male and female Sulawesi Hanging Parrot is mostly green.  This parrot is often seen eating tree bark. 

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot in Sonder of Minahasa highland

Black-crowned White-eye

Black-crowned White-eye is a small bird that likes to sit on the twigs of trees. We can easily recognize the bird from his black forehead, and thick white eye ring and whitish underparts.

Yellow-billed Malkoha (also known as Sulawesi Malkoha) is an endemic malkoha of Sulawesi island. It can reach a length of around 50 cm. The wings and tail are purple. Its upper bill is yellow. 

Sulawesi Malkoha

Sulawesi Scops Owl

This Sulawesi Scops Owl usually comes out at dusk to look for prey and to find mating partner. The adult bird has got a length of 20 cm. I made this picture near a poultry and pig farm at the outskirt of Sonder town. At that time, I had to whistle mimicking his sounds in order to attract him to come out of his hiding place. He flew to a tree near where I stood and landed around 6 meters above me. I quickly aimed my camera and shot at the bird. 

Black-naped Oriole

There are several species of sunbird in Minahasa peninsula of North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, i.e. Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Black Sunbird and Crimson Sunbird. On page 452-453 of the first edition field guide book: Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago - Greater Sundas and Wallacea by James Eaton et. al, it says that the Subspecies of Crimson Sunbird in Sulawesi island is called Sulawesi Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja flavostriata). It has got yellow streaking on scarlet throat and extensive red margins on upperwing as well as wider yellow rump.

Sulawesi Crimson Sunbird

In addition to forest and plantation areas, Subdistrict Sonder also has got rice field sites which are the habitat of water birds such as White-browed Crake, Javan Pond Heron, Purple Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, Little Egret and Cattle Egret. We could also see other tropical birds in the paddy field areas such as Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, Collared Kingfisher, Zebra Dove, Rock Pigeon, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Chestnut Munia.

Collared Kingfisher

Getting to Sonder town in Minahasa Highland

The main gate to explore Minahasa Highland is Manado city. There are regular daily flights between Manado and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, and Sorong. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air, Super Air Jet, and TransNusa. There is also direct flight between Manado and Singapore served by Scoot Air.

Flight routes to Manado city

It is easy to travel to Sonder town. From Manado city (the capital of the Province of North Sulawesi in Indonesia), visitors could go by car for approximately 1 hour.

Booking

If you are interested in traveling to Minahasa highland to do hiking, sightseeing and birdwatching, and want me to organize your tour, 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 in 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
• Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve of North Sulawesi
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com

Tanah Papua A Paradise for Birds

Tanah Papua is the Malay words for Papua Land or New Guinea island. It is the natural habitat of a lot of species of paradise birds as well as other tropical birds. As a tourist guide, I have run birding tours in West Papua since 2010. Before that I guided visitors on snorkeling, culture and art tour.

Vogelkop Bowerbird

Lesser Birds of Paradise in Susnguakti forest

Places that I go with my clients to watch birds include Kwau village in Mokwam region, Susnguakti forest, Dopi river, Mesirrokow forest, Aiwatar hill, Ayapokiar village, Mount Sakofsiah and Ases valley, Fef, Sausapor, Syuan and Syugrar rivers; Klawos forest, Klatomok village, Malagufuk village in Klasow valley, Kabui bay, Misool, and Waigeo islands.

French tourists were camping and birding in Tambrauw's forest

Most often the places where we go are located deep in the jungle. Hotels or guesthouses are not available. So, we stay in dome tents by a river.

King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius)

During the day and night, we explore the forest. In Susnguakti forest of Manokwari, we could see Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Eclectus Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Golden Cuckooshrike, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Hooded Pitta, Red-bellied Pitta and a lot more.
It is not only birds that attract the attention of visitors. Wild flowers such as orchids, vine flowers are also beautiful. In open area, a long the roadsides and riversides, we may see passion flowers, blue trumpet vine. In lowland the size of the flower is smaller than the one in highland.

Passion flower

Traveling to higher montane forest of Vogelkop region, we will be able to watch such birds as Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Western Parotia that dances like a ballerina, Black Sicklebill, Vogelkop Super Bird of Paradise, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Black-eared Catbird, Western Smoky Honeyeater, Vogelkop Melidectes, Feline Owlet Nightjar, Spectacled Long Bill, Mottled Berryhunter, Golden Face, Wattled Brush Turkey, Masked Bowerbird, Mountain Peltop and a lot more.

Magnificent Bird of Paradise

In Mokwam regions, blinds for watching birds are provided by local people for tourists who want to watch birds. There is a simple bench in each blind that can accommodate 4 to 5 people.
The land mass in higher montane forest is less than in lowland. The population and spread of certain species of birds are very limited. The Long-tailed Paradigala and Black Sicklebill are two examples of rare birds that we may see in higher montane forest of Arfak range if we visit it to watch birds.

French tourists were watching birds in Manokwari

In lowland forest of Sorong regency, we could find Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Blue Black Kingfisher, Black Lory, Western-crowned Pigeon, Yellow-bellied Longbill, Lowland Peltop.

We could continue our adventure to Raja Ampat islands where we will be able to see a great varieties of sea birds from Wimbrel to Beach Thick Knee and from White-bellied Sea Eagle to Eastern Osprey. Walking in the forest, we will be able to see birds that are the same as the ones in mainland New Guinea, but we will also have the opportunity to watch Raja Ampat's Red Bird of Paradise and Wilson's Bird of Paradise.
The above places that I mention are some of the many interesting birding sites which tourists can go to if they want to watch beautiful tropical birds of Tanah Papua. 

Most birdwatchers bring binoculars but there are some who carry spotting scope which is a versatile tool for watching birds and any wild animals in distant branches of trees. They also use bridge camera that has super-zoom lens such as Nikon P900 or even P1000. Those who are physically fit can carry D-SLR camera with super-telephoto lens such as Tamron or Sigma 150-600 mm.

Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 if you are interested in taking a bird watching trip to this beautiful tropical island. This has been written by Charles Roring.
Also read: 

• Watching Red Bird of Paradise
• Red Bird of Paradise
• Where to watch Birds of Paradise
• Tropical Birding Tours in West Papua

Bird Art

In my spare time I sometimes make drawings of birds that I saw in the forest while I was guiding tourists. Usually, I make sketches of birds using pencil on paper.
  After that, I add some colours using Derwent Watercolour pencils. When they are finished, I still redraw the artwork digitally using Autodesk Sketchbook. My device is Samsung Galaxy Tab A with S-pen. Some of the birds that I draw can be seen in the following collage picture.

Bird Art by Charles Rorong

There are Northern Cassowary, Black-capped Lory, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pale Blue Monarch, Lesser Frigate Birds, Red Bird of Paradise. 

The artworks that look good are then uploaded into redbubble and zazzle so that they can be bought by readers. Now the bird art is available as prints on various products such as t-shirts, mugs, bed cover, clock, tote bags, iPhone cases, water bottlles and etc. Please, have a look at them at these links: Redbubble Birds, Zazzle Birds. I hope that you are interested in buying some of them. 

Birds in Raja Ampat

I often go to Raja Ampat islands to watch tropical birds with tourists whom I guide. The island which has been my favorite destination is Waigeo. There are Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra) and Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica).  These birds of paradise are the most popular targets of watching among visitors who go to Raja Ampat.

As a matter of fact, there are a lot of other birds that have got beautiful colors and sounds. Some of them include Eclectus Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Black-capped Lory, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Coconut Lorikeet, Great-billed Parrot, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Western-crowned Pigeon, and Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Puff-backed Meliphaga, and a lot more. Birdwatching activities in Raja Ampat can be done all year round.

Birds are very active in the mornings and in the afternoons. Birds also like to come out of their hiding places in good sunny days after heavy rains. To watch them a good pair of binoculars is needed. I recommend Leica, Swarovski, or Nikon Monarch 10×42, 12×50 roof prism binoculars. There is a good place in Raja Ampat where visitors can enjoy birdwatching easily. Its name is Warduwer beach.
When I guide tourists at this beach, I usually bring my Kinglux 20-60×60 mm spotting scope. It is a good device for watching birds that sit on the branch of tall trees.

Beach Kingfisher

Birdwatching Sites
There are a lot of places which tourists can visit to enjoy birdwatching. One that I highly recommend is Warduwer beach. There is a beach resort being built at this place. Its name is Raja Ampat Paradise Resort. In the mornings a lot of birds like to sit on the branches of trees in the area such as Eastern Osprey, White-breasted Wood Swallow, Torresian Crow, Spangled Drongo, and Singing Starling. In my recent visits to Warduwer beach, Sandpiper, Lesser Crested Tern and Dusky Scrubfowl.
Snorkeling and Freediving
Usually, after enjoying birdwatching, I do some snorkeling and freediving. The coral reef of this beach is very beautiful. Pink Anemonefish, Three-spots Dascyllus, Butterflyfish, Moorish Idol, Parrotfish, Striped Surgeonfish and Grouper are some of the many fish live in this water.

Coral Reef and Fish in Raja Ampat

I also do excursions by boat to various small islands near Waigeo to watch Spice Imperial Pigeon, Lesser Frigate Bird, Beach Kingfisher, Lemon-bellied White Eye, White-bellied Sea Eagle, and Stephan's Emerald Dove. This birdwatching tour is usually combined with sightseeing and snorkeling tour.
If you plan to visit Raja Ampat and wants me to organize your tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Mangrove Forest in South Sorong Regency

I made an exploratory rainforest tour in Kais village of South Sorong regency early this year. My initial intention was to assess whether the region is a suitable destination for rainforest tour program. I went to Kais village. It was quite expensive to go there but I did not regret of going to Kais. I went there by boat. The wetland of South Sorong regency was covered with hundreds of kilometers of mangrove forest and hundreds of big and small rivers. I saw a lot of birds including the Blyth's hornbills, brahminy kite, fruit doves, and sulphur crested cockatoo. I saw bats hanging in the leaves of nipa palm trees. The bio-diversity of this mangrove forest is very high. Shrimp is abundant in the river. It was much easier to catch them than fish. The mangrove forest in South Sorong regency of West Papua province was perhaps the largest mangrove eco-sytem in South East Asia. The dry land of Kais was also covered with pristine rainforest. Visitors can go hiking in the jungle guided by the villagers. I asked the villagers in Kais whether some tourists or birdwatchers had visited the area or not. They said, "no."

Mangrove Forest in South Sorong Regency

District Kais was a small village. Its population was less than 500 people. I stayed there for 2 nights and returned to Teminabuan early in the morning. On the way back to the town, I saw a bird that I could not identify. I used Birds of New Guinea to match the name of bird with the picture that I took from my rainforest trips. Well, I call it: Kais Black Bittern

Kais Black Bittern

Please, look at the following Google Earth Map which I have modified by adding the names of towns. District Kais is the one below Teminabuan town with small red dot.

Approximate location of District Kais

If you are interested in taking a rainforest tour for seeing unique plants, as well as watching birds and wildlife, please, contact me by email to peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to +6281332245180.
Mangrove is an important part of coastal marine environment especially in tropical region. Coral reef that is near mangrove area will have higher fish stock than the one that is far from the mangrove forest. 

Also read:

• Birding in Tangkoko
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Minahasa
• Manado City: Birdwatching and Sightseeing Tour
• Discover Bunaken National Park: Sightseeing, Snorkeling and Marine Tours