Birwatching and Snorkeling in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

When I run a birdwatching tour in Raja Ampat, I always provide time for me and my clients to enjoy swimming and snorkeling at the house reef of the guesthouse where we stay. This morning, I and Michael - my client from the US, went to a small island at the south of Waigeo island. It was only around fifteen minutes by speedboat to reach it.

Spice Imperial Pigeon

Approaching the island, we saw some Spice Imperial Pigeons sitting on the branches of a small tree that stood on a big rock. There were some Singing Starlings too. They were on the lower left branch of a tree of the same rock. After landing on the beach, I installed my spotting scope and aimed it at the birds that were sitting on tree tops. Using the scope, we watched Hooded Butcherbird, Eastern Osprey, Eclectus Parrot, and Lesser Frigate Bird. I also heard the sounds of Olive-backed Sunbird but I could not find it.  Torresian Crow sat on a tree that grew on a vertical cliff. We spent around 1.5 hours birding in the island. After that, we slowly moved along the coastal area of another island trying to find birds in tree again. We were quite lucky that morning because we could see White-bellied Sea Eagle, Moustached Treeswift, Brahminy Kite, Pacific Swallow, and more Spice Imperial Pigeon. The marine scenery of Raja Ampat waters was very beautiful. A Beach Kingfisher was flying fast above us. In his bill, he was holding a crab.

Beach Kingfisher

Puff-backed Meliphaga

When we had returned to our guesthouse, I did some snorkeling at its house reef. Again I saw Anemonefish, Striped Surgeonfish, Butterflyfish, Moorish Idol and a Banded Sea Krait. I tried to take pictures of the snake while he was moving fast in the water. Well, I was able to get some pictures of the venomous snake.

Banded Sea Krait

Moorish Idol

Well, I was able to get some good photos but not so sharp. In the afternoon, I saw a Puff-backed Meliphaga that is preparing her nest around twenty centimeters above the ground.
If you are interested in taking a combined birdwatching and snorkeling tour in Raja Ampat with me as your guide, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

A few weeks before Covid Pandemic reached Sorong city and Raja Ampat, I was in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. I was guiding Michael, a birdwatcher from the United States. 

In the morning, we woke up very early at 03.40 to make preparations. We did not have much time to make coffee or tea. So, we only drank water. At 04.00 we left the homestay where we stayed for a beach located in the south of Waigeo island. 

Male Wilson's Bird of Paradise

It was still dark so I used my flash-light to help our boat driver. He carefully maneuvered his boat between hard corals that grow in the front waters of the homestay. When the boat reached the open water, he raised the speed. Our boat was just a long wooden boat with a 40 horse power Yamaha outboard engine. It took only around 15 minutes to reach the beach. After that we continued our trip walking along the slope path that led us to the dancing ground of Wilson's Bird of Paradise. We walked for around 1 hour until we reached our destination which was a small hut covered by dark brown plastic tarp. 

Inside the hut there were two benches roughly made of hard wooden planks. On the front side of the hut that was facing the display ground of the paradise bird, there were around six rectangular holes that were cut through the thin tarp to allow visitors to watch the Wilson's Bird of Pararise. 

The sun was slowly rising in the east giving light to the forest. Some birds began to sing. I could hear the sounds of Helmetted Friarbird, Hooded Butcherbird, Common Paradise Kingfisher and several other birds which I could not identify. 

Male Wilson's Bird of Paradise was calling his female partners

Minutes later we heard the calls of the male Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica). He landed on wooden sticks in front of us. We were amazed by the bright colors of the paradise bird. His wings were red, neck was yellow and head was light blue. The chest was dark green. His feet were dark blue. The side of the body and the underpart were dark. The tails or the antennas were also dark. This bird was fabulous. 

Female Wilson's Bird of Paradise

He tried to attract his female counterparts by performing is courtship dance. He played his antenna, jump to the stick trunk where a female bird was sitting. Actually, there were three female birds that came that morning. Well, it was a mating season for Wilson's in March, I guess. It was interesting to see that birds of paradise were mating during rainy season. 

I took a lot of pictures of the birds. When it was still dark, I was struggling with my camera trying to find the best setting that could produce sharp pictures. All that I got were blurred ones. Finally, I found the best setting and then I could make reasonably good photographs in lowlight condition. I did not use tripod when taking pictures. I only held my camera by hand. 

It was a successful trip and we returned to our homestay with big smile and a lot of positive comments about the bird.
We immediately took our breakfast and then returned to our bedrooms to  take a rest. One hour later, We enjoyed snorkeling and freediving at the front waters of the guesthouse where I saw Striped Surgeonfish, Anemonefish, Moorish Idol, Giant Clams, and etc. It was a lovely Sunday morning.

Please, book your trip
If you are interested in taking a combined birdwatching and snorkeling tour in Raja Ampat, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read:
Birds of Paradise Watching Trip
Raja Ampat Birds
Evening Birds in Raja Ampat

Birding in Malagufuk in Rainy Season

Malagufuk is one of the many villages in Klasow valley. I introduced ecotourism for the first time to local people in late 2014. There were only two big tents where local people lived. It was very difficult to organize birding trip at that time. There were no guesthouse, toilet, or comfortable mattrasses with mosquito nets. The walking paths were muddy. The forest was infested with mosquitoes and leeches. Every time I went there, I had to carry dome tents, air mattresses, and a lot of equipments to the village. Alone I could not carry them all. So, I hired some people to work as porters.
I had to raise fund, I saved my income so that I could help provide basic things that tourists would need during their tour in the valley. I bought cooking and eating utensils and with savings that I had collected from running previous birding tours, I bought corrugated metal roofs for the construction of simple guesthouse in Malagufuk. I also contacted Wally and Coby Vreede from SDSP Foundation from the Netherlands to help. They raised money to help with the construction of a small water weir and a water sistern with its piping installation from the nearby stream to the village. With two basic basic guesthouses, dining sets, and toilets, rainforest birding tours could now be started.

Black-capped Lory

No birding guide or travel agency knew its existence. I have been guiding a lot of tourists to this village. After several years of running birding tours to the village with Nico Nauw, I began to see more visitors coming to Klasow valley.  And now more birding guides and travel agencies know about the village. Now it has become a famous destination for birdwatchers.
A few days ago from 26 to 28 February 2020, I went to Malagufuk again with an American tourist. We watched several interesting birds that lived in the rainforest of Sorong's lowland area. Some that we saw were Black-capped Lory, Black Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Large Fig Parrot, Moustached Treeswift, Metallic Starling, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Hooded Pitta, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Lesser Black Coucal, Torresian Crow, Lesser Bird of Paradise, Northern Cassowary, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Hooded Butcherbird, Grey-headed Goshawk, Mimic Meliphaga, and Blyh's Hornbill.
Local government from Sorong regency built two more bungalows. Each of them was filled with comfortable furniture (spring beds, chair and table), small kitchen, and a nice toilet. A long wooden bridge that will connect main road and the village is being constructed too.

Common Paradise Kingfisher

Every day and night we experienced heavy rain. The paths were muddy and slippery. It was quite difficult to carry heavy things such as camera, drinking water, binoculars, spotting scope and field guide book. So, we spent much of our time birding around the clearing area of the village especially along the edge of the forest. Because I brought my spotting scope, I was able to show beautiful birds to Michael, a professor from a medical school in the United States. He was my only client during the 3 days trip in the rainforest that was located in the suburb of Sorong city. Because the muddy paths were slippery, he fell several times in the forest. Well, it was part of the adventure and he still enjoyed the trip.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon

I also brought my camera the Canon 200D with Tamron 150-600mm lens. It was not the best photographic device but it was good enough for me to make some nice pictures that we saw in the rainforest. Local people were very friendly. They were happy to see me again.

Other places or villages that are also good for rainforest tour and birdwatching
There are several other villages in the suburb of Sorong that are located along the roadside and are good for tourists who like to explore the biodiversity of rainforest, or to enjoy birdwatching. Some of them include Klatomok, Klayeli.  If we go by 4wd cars or by ferry to Tambrauw regency, we will be able to explore pristine rainforest that is the natural habitat of hundreds of species of tropical birds.

Blyth's Hornbill

Booking
If you are interested in taking a rainforest tour or birdwatching tour in Sorong regency, before or after your trip to Raja Ampat, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Also read:

• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in the Forest and Farmland of Minahasa
• Manado City Tour: Birdwatching and Sightseeing

• Birding in High Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching and butterflywatching in Sonder
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com
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Tropical Birds in Sorong Forest

Sorong regency is the main gate to Raja Ampat. Visitors need to fly from their country to Jakarta, Denpasar or Manado and then continue their trip by taking domestic flight to Sorong city before continuing their trip by fast ferry boats or speed boats to tropical islands in Raja Ampat. Airlines such as Garuda, Sriwijaya Air, Batik Air, and Lion Air provide daily flights from the above major cities in Indonesia to Sorong. Sorong itself is located in western tip region of West Papua province and is a great destination for tourists who want to see rainforest.

Large Fig Parrot in the forest of Sorong regency

Tropical Birds of New Guinea

There are a lot of tropical birds which visitors can watch when exploring the lowland and ridge forest of Sorong regency. Some of them include Papuan Blyth's Hornbill, Helmetted Friarbird, Dollarbird, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Large Fig Parrot, Eclectus Parrot, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Grey-headed Goshawk, Variable Goshawk, Black-sided Robin, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Western-crowned Pigeon, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Great Cuckoo Dove, Amboyna Cuckoo Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Black-browed Triller, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Blue-black Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Golden Myna, Yellow-faced Myna, Moustached Tree Swift, Metallic Starling, Shining Flycatcher, Black Sunbird, King Bird of Paradise, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Glossy Manucode, and etc.

A Male Lesser Birds of Paradise

Where and How to watch these birds?

Well, it is easy to watch the tropical birds of New Guinea in Sorong forest. There are several good places which we can go to see them. Some of them include Sorong ridge forest located north of Sorong city, mangrove forest and Klatomok forest.  Most birdwatchers know the equipment which they need to bring. Some of them include binoculars, spotting scope (mounted on a tripod), laser pointer, bluetooth loudspeaker and records of bird sounds stored in cell phones, field guide book Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler.

Sahul Sunbird (Cynniris jugularis) in Sorong ridge forest

We are now in rainy season. It comes quite late compared to previous years. Intensive rain starts in February. So, in the next three months, i.e. March, April, and May, we will see more rainy days. After that the intensity of the rain gradually decreases. People often say, rainy season is bad for birdwatching. I don't think so. Usually after the rain, birds and other forest animals come out of their hiding places to dry their feather, fur or skin. The next day, when the sun shines brightly, we can see more birds in trees. That's the natural phenomenon that I have seen since my childhood. 

Forest Bittern in rainforest of Sorong

During rainy season, the forest floor in Sorong regency is muddy. There are also leeches. So, I suggest that tourists wear anti-leech socks and hiking or wellington boots.

Guided Birding Tour

I personally have guided a lot of tourists from 2010 on birding tours in West Papua especially from Manokwari to Sorong, Tambrauw mountains, and Raja Ampat. So, I am familiar with the tropical birds in the forest of Sorong. Usually, we will stay in a homestay that belongs to local villagers and then do birding walks in the mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Although the tour is called birding, we may also see other animals as well such as wallaby, soa-soa lizard, butterflies and beetles.

Cost of the Birding Tour

The cost of the birding tour depends on the number of days and the number of participants which visitors need to spend in Sorong forest. It the tour in Sorong is combined with the tour in Manokwari or Raja Ampat, the cost will also be different. 

So, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 to get more info on customized tours and their costs.

Also read:

Birds in the Suburb of Sorong City

Jungle Tour in Sorong

I often organize birding and wildlife watching tours in Sorong regency for tourists who want to take land trips in mainland of West Papua before and after their trip to Raja Ampat. 

The lowland rainforest in the jungle of Sorong is the natural habitat of a lot of species of birds including Western-crowned Pigeon, Golden Myna, Eclectus Parrot, Yellow-faced Myna, Lowland Peltop, Hooded Butcherbird, Dollarbird, Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit  Dove, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, and a lot more. There is a huge rainforest in eastern area of Sorong regency. It is a good place for visitors who like birdwatching and wildlife watching in general. For birding in an open area along the road or village border around the forest, the I use spotting scope. 

Golden Myna

Visitors who are interested in taking this land tour in mainland West Papua should bring binoculars, camera, flashlight, trekking boots or hiking shoes, insect repellent lotion. Don't forget to also bring anti leech sock if you like to explore the deeper part of the rainforest. In my previous birding tours with some tourists from Australia and the United States, I bring a bluetooth speaker. I played the sounds of several birds such as Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookburra and Yellow-billed Kingfisher to attract them to where I and my clients were when we were walking in the forest. Some of the birds came out of their hiding places and we were able to see the birds well. 

Western-crowned Pigeon

I usually bring field guide book Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler. Today there is a similar book written by Phil Gregory. These are the main references for birwatchers who plan to take rainforest birding trip in New Guinea. 

Rainbow Bee-eater

In addition to birdwatching, I also conduct night walk for visitors who want to see wallaby. The lowland forest of Sorong is an ideal site for watching this marsupial animal. Insect lovers can also take this tour to see cricket, spider, snout beetle, butterfly, stick insect, and moth. Sometimes we see soa-soa monitor lizard, and snakes.

Cruiser Butterfly

The duration of the birding tour is between 3 to 4 days depending on how many birds and other wild animals you want to see.  I can pick up tour participants at Domine Eduard Osok ((DEO) airport, a hotel in the city, at ferry harbor or Usaha Mina ferry harbor in Sorong city.
Hotel in Sorong
After taking the tour in the forest, participants may need to stay in a hotel in Sorong city before flying back to their country. There are a lot of hotels which they can choose such as Swissbel hotel, Belagri hotel, Mamberamo hotel, Family Guardian, M Express, Mariat, Fave hotel and etc. Tourists can book the hotel through internet.

To book your jungle tour in Sorong, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to +6281332245180. I can also be contacted by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Also read:
Tropical Birding tour in Sorong forest
Birds of Paradise in the Rainforest of Sorong