Night Birding

As a tourist guide, I often accompany birdwatchers who come from various countries in Europe, America, or Asia. We spend at least 3 days/2 nights up to 2 weeks in the forest to see birds that live in rainforest and coastal areas of West Papua. We walk in the mornings, in the afternoons, and at nights along the trails or roads or beaches. 

Rhett Butler founder of mongabay.com

We also do night birding to find birds that are active in the dark or that sleep on lower branches of trees.  Usually owls, nightjars, frogmouth, boobook, and Hook-billed Kingfishers are the ones that go out to find their prey. We detect their calls and imitate them to attract the birds.

In Mesirrokow river forest, we just walk along the banks of the river to find Large-tailed Nightjar. In Tambrauw Mountains, we walk along empty roads to find Marbled Frogmouth, Hooded Pitta and Azure Kingfisher. In Ases valley of Tambrauw, we saw fruit bats.

Large-tailed Nightjar

From my trips with tourists in the jungle, birds that I see sleeping on lower branches include King Bird of Paradise, Red-bellied Pitta, and Spot-winged Monarch. 

When we do the night birding, we often see other animals such as cuscus possum, bandicoot, snakes and a lot of insects. 

Because taking pictures of animals and plants at night are difficult, we have to use flash of our cameras or light from our torches.

King Bird of Paradise

There are venomous snakes in the forest so, birdwatchers must wear boots and socks.  

At the moment, the spread of coronavirus has forced government to curb all tourism activities. These birding trips can be continued again in the future if government has lifted the travel ban of foreign tourists. - This is written by Charles Roring

• Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Wildlife Watching Tour in West Papua
• Watching Papuan Pitta

Some Birds that Eat Flowers' Nectar

I often see birds sitting near flowers when I guide tourists in the forest. Most of them are small birds. Coconut lorikeet, large fig parrot, black-capped lory, black sunbird, olive-backed sunbird are the ones that feed of the nectar of flowers. I have got some pictures of them.

Black-capped Lory in a flowering tree of rainforest

Olive-backed Sunbird in the flowers of Papaya tree

Olive-backed Sunbird is quite unique. It can hover like a helicopter. At first, I did not pay attention until I met some Australian tourists who told me about it. After that when I went birdwatching again, in the coastal area, I saw that behavior.

Female Olive-backed Sunbird

In higher elevation forest, more smaller birds can be seen. Some of them include Papuan Flycatcher, Spectacled Longbill, and etc. 

Also read:

• Watching Red Bird of Paradise
• Watching Lesser Birds of Paradise
• Birds of Paradise in Sketches and Drawings

Birding Cameras

Taking pictures of birds in distant trees can now be done using cameras that have got telephoto lenses. The affordable ones are the bridge cameras. I used to have Nikon Coolpix P500, Nikon Coolpix P600, and.Fujifilm HS50EXR. New products have been released by camera manufacturers. 

Birding Camera Sony RX10 IV

• Bridge Cameas: Nikon Coolpix P1000, Nikon Coolpix P900, Sony DSC H400, Canon SX70HS, Canon SX540 HS are relatively new products. Most of them use 1/2.3 inch sensor. Older cameras such as Sony Cybershot HX-350, Sony DSC-H400 are also good for birders who only want to use the camera for taking pictures of birds and share them in social media or for identification purposes. I personally used several versions of Nikon and Sony. They were good for shooting birds that were sitting still on twigs in good light condition. For lowlight ones or for birds in flight, these bridge cameras would face difficulties trying to focus on their subjects. I usually lower the exposure a little to take pictures of birds in low light condition. The result can be seen at the sample picture of Magnificent Bird of Paradise below. I did not use tripod. If I edit the photograph in Adobe Photoshop to brighten it, I will get good picture. I like carrying bridge camera with me while I guide tourists in the forest of Raja Ampat, Sorong regency, Tambrauw Mountains and Arfak mountains because it is small, light, and can easily fit into my small backpack. 
• Brige Cameras with bigger sensors: Fujifilm HS50EXR, Panasonic Lumix FZ2500 and Sony Cybershot RX10 IV. I used to use Fujifilm HS50EXR for several years. Its zoom lenses were 42 times, equivalent to 1,000 mm lenses in 35 mm format. Fujifilm does not continue the development of the camera. It was a good product but not the best one. Perhaps, the Sony Cybershot RX10 IV is a good choice for those who have money. It has got 1 inch sensor and zoom lenses that are equivalent with 600 mm telephoto lenses in 35 mm format. 
• I used to try digiscoping system. It was not easy. Best results could be obtained if the scope and the camera or cell phone can be perfectly aligned using an adapter. If the scope can generate clear and sharp image, the result will be good photos. Shooting birds in flight is almost impossible.
• D-SLR cameras with telephoto lens. Professional photographers invest a lot of money on buying expensive camera such as Nikon D5, Nikon D500, Canon EOS 7D, Canon 1DX Mark II. For telephoto lens, Sigma 150-600mm sport or Tamron 150-600mm G2 is a good choice. As a birding guide, I only use photographs for promoting birding tours and guiding service, I use Canon 200D with Tamron 150-600mm G2 as my photographic device. 

Sample of Photographs:

Magnificent Bird of Paradise shot using Nikon Coolpix P500

Picture of Coconut Lorikeet in a tree in Raja Ampat which I shot using Fujifilm HS50EXR

Picture of Blyth's Hornbill in a distant palm tree which I shot using Fujifilm HS50EXR

Picture of Palm Cockatoo locally called Kakaktua Raja,
that I shot using Canon 200D with Tamron 150-600 mm G2

For me, a birdwatching guide who also maintain some blogs related to my job, having a camera is a must. However, I use the pictures that I take only for my blog posts and facebooks. I do not think I need a professional D-SLR camera. An entry level D-SLR camera with telephoto lens or a bridge camera with super telephoto lens is my favorite tool. Professional wildlife photographer usually invest in high quality photographic devices such as Canon EOS 1D X Mark II, Nikon D500. 

For lenses: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED Vibration Reduction Zoom Lens with Auto Focus and Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS Telephoto Zoom Lens are good choice. Sigma 150-600mm sport and Tamron 150-600mm G2 are also recommended. They are more affordable but have got higher reach. 
Birds are not the only subjects that I shoot when I accompany tourists in the forest. I also take pictures of flowers, insects, mammals, scenery and people. That's why in the blog readers can see other photographs as well such as Red Hibiscus and White Passion Flowers, orchids, Blue Trumpet Vine,  or landscape of Anggi lakes, or even marine life (for this purpose, I use underwater camera such as Nikon Coolpix AW130.
Also read:

• Birdwatching in Montane Forest of Tambrauw
• Birding Tour in West Papua
• Birding in North of Waigeo
• Birdwatching Tour in the forest of Sorong regency

Birding in Sorong

For the last 2 days I guided 3 birdwatchers from the United Kingdom. Alan, Jill, and Alison from Naturetrek. We went to forests in rural areas from coastal to hill ones. We chartered a car to do the trip. We brought binoculars and spotting scopes. In the first day of the birding tour, I picked them up at Usaha Mina harbor. The streets were not crowded. We could move faster to the outskirts of the city and then continued our trip to the forest. It was morning time, Two Olive-backed Sunbird came out of their hiding places and landed on a twig of a shrub. We could easily see them because their yellow underparts were glowing when exposed to bright sunlight. I heard the calls of Palm Cockatoo and told my guests where the direction of the sounds came from. Seconds later, a dark big bird was seen flying over the canopy of the forest close to the tree-tops and then perched on the top branch of a tree. I installed Alison's spotting scope and asked them to watch the beautiful bird. He sat at the branch for around 3 minutes. Alison walked closer and took more pictures. Some black birds also landed on twigs of a tree near us. They were Singing Starlings.

Birding in Sorong

More birds made their calls that morning. The noisiest one was Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. He was flying in circles. Later some Eclectus Parrots joined him. They flew around and then landed on a tree. We could not see them. We walked slowly trying to find birds on every branch of trees that stood on both sides of the road. A loud call of Yellow-billed Kingfisher could be heard from a tree on the top of a hill on the right of us. We tried to find him but we could not see him. We continued walking. Suddenly my friend Kostan Magablo who accompanied us made a sign. We walked towards him. When we reached his place, he pointed his finger at a small twig of a tree. There the Yellow-billed Kingfisher was sitting. We watched the bird using binoculars and then by spotting scope. Suddenly the weather changed. The rain started to fall. I asked my guests to get into the car. I and the driver opened the back door of the car and prepared snacks for them. We brought mugs, hot water in flasks, and tea, sugar, and biscuits, as well as spoons and tissue. They enjoyed the morning snack time from inside the car while rain was falling. It was a short one. In less then thirty minutes, it stopped. We continued birdwatching again. We saw Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Pacific Baza, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Grey Crow, Moustached Treeswift, Coconut Lorikeet, Black-capped Lory, Blyth's Hornbill, Boyers Cuckooshrike, Stout-billed Cuckooshrike, and Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Glossy Swiftlet.

At around 11.00, the weather was quite hot. We heard the calls of Hooded Pitta, Red-bellied Pitta, Magnificent Riflebird. Unfortunately, we could not see them. The activity of birds was low. So we decided to return to Sorong city again to have lunch. Alison flew to Manado that afternoon. 

In the afternoon at 15.00, we went birding in coastal areas where a lot of mangrove trees grew. We saw White-breasted Woodswallow, Olive-backed Sunbird, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Spotted Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Australian White Ibis, Striated Heron, Moustached Treeswift, Common Sandpiper, Willie Wagtail, Brahminy Kite and Glossy Swiftlets.

Mystery Fairywren

On the second day, we went hiking to hills behind Sorong city. There we saw Olive-backed Sunbird, Mimic Meliphaga, Pinon Imperial Pigeon and Black Sunbird. I saw Emperor Fairywren. We heard the calls of Rufous-belkied Kookaburra. On a slope below one of the hills, we heard the call of a small bird. Its size was the size of fairywren with greenish-grey feather, whitish-grey belly, and a cocked-up long tail. The bird had narrow white stripe behind his eyes. He made calls hopping to clear twigs on top and sides of the shrub plants. It was the first time I saw the bird and I could not identify it. I opened my field-guide book: Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler. I checked the page where the fairywrens were but none matched the bird's physical characteristics. I opened the fantail pages but they were totally different from this bird. After long discussion with Alan, and Jill, we decided to leave the bird. It was still a Mystery Fairywren for us. I took a picture of the bird but it was quite far. As the result, the picture was very blurry when I zoomed it up. So, I deleted it. I would bring a zoom camera the next time I visit this hill again. We saw Black-capped Lory, Coconut Lorikeet, Helmetted Friarbird, Yellow-faced Myna, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo near forest edge. We continued our morning walk to a small river and then returned to the city. 

About Sorong

Sorong is a city in West Papua province of Indonesia. Domestic airlines such as Garuda, Sriwijaya Air, Batik Air, Lion Air, and Nam Air and Wings Air connect Sorong with other cities in Indonesia. Regular Flights are available everyday.

 It is the main gate for visitors who want to go to Raja Ampat. There are some forest areas in Sorong that are good for birdwatchers. I usually combine Sorong and Raja Ampat into my birding, sightseeing and snorkeling tours.

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Sorong, Raja Ampat, and Manokwari, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Grey-streaked Flycatcher

Last month I guided an American tourist in Klasow valley. It was part of one-week trip birding and snorkeling tour in Sorong and Raja Ampat. In Sorong, we stayed in a house that belonged to a villager. In the first day it rained a lot so we did not go out. While watching birds from the verandah of the the homestay, we saw a very small bird on the top branch of a tree. I tried to identify it but I could not. So, I installed my spotting scope and aimed it at the bird. He flew several times in the air, perhaps to catch some insects, and then returned to the tree again. Sometimes he returned to the same branch and on the other times, he landed on different branch but still on the same tree top. Using my telephoto camera, I made some photographs of the bird.

Grey-streaked Flycatcher in Klasow valley

Later, when I had returned to home, I did some identification works. After comparing it with my other photographs that I made in the same valley, I concluded that it was Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta). From the field guide book of Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler, it said that the bird was a migrant from Asia (China, North Korea) or Siberia (Sakhalin and Kamchatka). Well, it was a nice little bird. He performed long flight from such a very far place in the north down to lowland forest of Sorong regency in West Papua which was close to the equator.
There are tens of villages in Klasow valley which tourists can choose to visit for watching birds. Some of them include Klatomok, Klasow, Klayeli, Klaluk, Malaumkarta, Asbaken, Malagubtuk, and etc.
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in Sorong forest before or after your trip in Raja Ampat islands, and want me to be your guide, please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.