Waigeo Birding West Papua by Sultan Birding Indonesia

Waigeo Birding Hotspots by Sultan Birding Tours
Waigeo,  an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals, is located off the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula. These islands are the home of three endemics, comprising the exquisite Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise with its bright cerulean-blue, bare crown, crisscrossed with fine black lines, the crimson-plumed, Red Bird-of-paradise, and the recently re-discovered Waigeo Brushturkey (unfortunately a very tough bird, which may not easily be found). Other birding highlights on these islands include Papuan Frogmouth, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Marbled Frogmouth, Dusky Megapode, Pygmy and Gurney’s Eagles, Red-necked Crake, New Guinea Bronzewing, Moustached Treeswift, Moluccan King Parrot, Brown-headed Crow, and Glossy-mantled Manucode, Great-billed Parrot, Blyth’s Hornbill, New Guinea Friarbird, Southern Variable, and Raja Ampat Pitohuis, Pheasant Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, and Hooded and Black Butcherbirds and  Western Crowned Pigeon (one of the trio of New Guinea crowned pigeons – the world’s largest pigeons)

Wilson's bird-of-paradise, Image by Sheau Thorng Lim

WAIGEO BIRDING ITINERARY 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
Day 01. Sorong arrival – by express boat to Waigeo
Upon arrival in Sorong, if we have time, we can bird around mangroves near Sorong, where we will look for Blue-black Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Barred Rail, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Moustached Treeswift, and Orange-breasted Fig-Parrot. then After lunch, we will travel by express boat from Sorong to Waigeo. On arrival at Waigeo Island, we will check into our beach resort.

Days Day 02, Day 03, and Day 04:  Birding on Waigeo Island
During our time on Waigeo, we also hope to encounter the endemics, such as Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise with its bright, cerulean-blue, bare crown crisscrossed by fine black lines considered by many as the best-looking bird on the planet, the crimson-plumed Red Bird-of-paradise, and others, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Papuan Pitta, Hooded Pitta, Blyth’s Hornbill, New Guinea Friarbird, Southern Variable, and Raja Ampat Pitohuis, Hooded and Black Butcherbirds, Marbled and Papuan Frogmouths, Papuan Boobook, Dusky Megapode, Pygmy and Gurney’s Eagles, Red-necked Crake, New Guinea Bronzewing, Moustached Treeswift, Moluccan King Parrot, Brown-headed Crow, Western Crowned, Pheasant Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, and Great-billed Parrot and Glossy-mantled Manucode. In one afternoon in Waigeo we will take a boat into Kabui Bay to look for Great-billed Heron, Raja Shelduck, White-bibbed Fruit Dove, and Moluccan Starling, Great-billed Parrots, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher, Violet-necked Lory, Island Monarch.

Day 05. Birding on Waigeo and traveling back to Sorong
Morning birding along the road on Waigeo, where we will search for more of the species. after lunch, we will travel back to Sorong by express boat, check in at a hotel, and overnight.

Day 06. Departure
Free program and departure from Sorong for the next destination.

• Arrival In: Sorong airport, WEST PAPUA of Indonesia
• Depart From Sorong airport, WEST PAPUA of Indonesia

Price included: English Speaking Bird Guide, Mineral water, Snacks, Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), Resort in Waigeo and Hotel in Sorong (Twin-Share room), Entrances to Parks and Reserves, Local guides, local park ranger, birding site fee, landowner fee, Private car

Price not included: Insurance, Alcoholic Beverages, Laundry, Tips, The Raja Ampat Entry Fee, Tag or Pin ( Rp. 1.000.000 per person ), All personal expenses that are not mentioned on the items above, Any kind of expenditures incurred due to flight cancellation/delays or due to other causes beyond our control.
Kindly please book in advance to ensure availability.

Red bird-of-paradise from Waigeo, Image by 

The Waigeo, West Papua of Indonesia

The Waigeo, West Papua

Bahari Express Boat Sorong - Waigeo - Sorong

The Harbour of Sorong, West Papua Indonesia

Bird Photograph direct at our beach resort in Waigeo

Superior room at Swiss BelHotel Sorong

Swiss BelHotel Sorong

Birding in Lore Lindu, Sulawesi birds galleries

Lore Lindu is a rich forest that offers a range of elevations, and therefore, species. Some of our birding will center around Lake Tambing, where mobile flocks of fantastic Fiery-browed Mynas come down to rest in the trees regularly; feeding flocks move through the canopy holding Pygmy and Cerulean Cuckooshrikes, Piping Crows may come to call from dead snags around the edge of the lake in the early mornings; Rusty-flanked Fantail, Sulawesi Leaf-Warbler, and the very odd Malia; while the understory is home to two of the most difficult birds in the area, the shy Great

Shortwing, and the reclusive Maroon-backed Whistler.  Other possibilities in this area include flocks Yellow and green Lorikeets,Superb Fruit-Dove, and the noisy flocks of Finch-billed Mynas. On at least one of the days, we will make the climb up the infamous Anaso Track, which allows access to higher altitudes, and the possibility of Sulawesi’s sole endemic bird family, Hylocitrea; the rare and strange Geomalia (recently found to be an odd zoothera thrush); along with Red-eared Fruit-Dove, Maroon-backed Whistler, White-eared Myza, and Streak-headed Dark-eye. These ascents will also give us a chance at the rare Sombre Pigeon, and will bring us to the favored area of the robust Purple-bearded Bee-eater, one of Sulawesi’s flagship species. There is also often the chance to find Diabolical (Satanic) Nightjars roosting during the day

at regular stakeouts along there. On at least one of the mornings we will venture out super early to try for other endemic nightbirds, with Sulawesi Masked-Owl, Speckled Boobook occurring, along with the Cinnabar Boobook, which was only recently discovered in the park. This will also enable us to visit an area at dawn when shy forest birds such as Sulawesi Thrush and Blue-fronted Flycatcher may be easier to find. Some time will also be spent around the Sedoa Valley, which offers the best raptor watching opportunities in the park, with Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, and Black and Rufous-bellied Eagles all occurring. After Lore Lindu, we shall drive back to Palu for the night, stopping en-route to bird a scrubby riverside in Oloboju area , which is good for White-shouldered Triller, day roosting Savanna Nightjars, and Pale-headed Munia; and also holds the rare Red-backed Buttonquail.

 

Lore Lindu Birding by Sultan Birding Indonesia

Birding in Lore Lindu National Park
Huge national park in central Sulawesi and the best site for easily accessed montane endemics.

Key bird species:

Small Sparrowhawk; Bare-faced Rail; Sulawesi Woodcock; Metallic Pigeon; Ornate Lorikeet; Yellow-and-green Lorikeet; Ochre-bellied Hawk-Owl; Cinnabar Hawk-Owl; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Diabolical Nightjar; Scaly Kingfisher; Purple-bearded Bee-eater; Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike; Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike; Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler; Blue-fronted Flycatcher; Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher; Geomalia; Sulawesi Thrush; Great Shortwing; Olive-flanked Whistler; Maroon-backed Whistler; Malia; White-backed Woodswallow; Sulawesi Myna; Fiery-browed Myna; Mountain Serin 

Birdwatching locations:

While the National Park of Lore Lindu is massive, the best birdwatching is concentrated is a pretty small area around the villages of Wuasa/Sedoa, Lake Tambing and the famous Anaso Track. Here you can find all of the high montane specialities of Sulawesi, including Great Shortwing, Geomalia and Sulawesi Thrush, plus much more. 

Roadside birding around Lake Tambing
Driving from Palu, the road rises and rises until it reaches its highest point at around 1,700m. A few kilometres before the highest point lies a small lake known as Lake Tambing (Danau Tambing or sometimes Danau Kalimpaa), and a few hundred meters further back towards Palu lies the start of the Anaso Track. The birdwatching in this area is fantastic. 

Working along the road, or around Lake Tambing should get you Ornate and Yellow-and-green Lorikeet (often in the big trees around the lake), Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike, Maroon-backed Whistler; Malia, Blue-fronted Flycatcher and many more of the more common Sulawesi endemics. This area, in particular between the lake and the Anaso turn off, is also among the most reliable for Sulawesi Thrush. Look for them from the roadside as they move about in the mid-storey, and be prepared to dive into the vegetation yourself to get a better look! Scaly Kingfisher has also been seen in this area. At night the road- and lakeside forest holds all three of mainland Sulawesi’s ninox owls: Ochre-bellied, Cinnabar and Speckled, plus the ever-present Sulawesi Scops-Owl. You could easily spend a day or two just in this area. 

The Anaso Track

Moving onto the Anaso track, the lower sections are good for many of the same species as around Lake Tambing, plus your chance of seeing things like Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike, Maroon-backed Whistler and Purple-bearded Bee-eater increases. The bee-eater nests on many of the exposed earth banks along the lower half of the track, so if they are there, you will see them. Chestnut-backed Bush-Warblers also line the lower sections of the track. The Anaso track continues on upwards, with the habitat changing slowly as you rise. At around 2,000 m (3-4 km?) the track emerges into a few small flat clearings. It is here that people often see day-roosting Satanic Nightjars. Crashing around the clearing may flush one, but far better to move around slowly and try and spot one (or a pair) on the ground without disturbing them. The nightjars can also be seen hawking around this area at dawn and dusk if you don’t catch up with a day-roosting one. 

From about 2,100 m the roadside forest becomes lower and mossier. Between here and the top the track passes through several dense patches like this and these are the spots to look out for a couple of Lore Lindu’s most sought-after specialities: Geomalia and Great Shortwing. For the Geomalia there is no real alternative than either walking slowly along the trail hoping to see one, or staking out a section and hoping one passes. Trying to get a view of one in the forest itself is extremely difficult. For the shortwing the same approach can work, or a tape of their call will help considerably! This area also holds both of the Sulawesi endemic honeyeaters; Dark-eared and Greater Streaked. 

At about 2,300 m the Anaso track reaches its peak. It then drops slightly to a wide clearing, before continuing to the right as a less distinct footpath. The area of the clearing makes for good birding, with a good chance of Mountain Serin (the orange-coloured Sulawesi version) and the high altitude Olive-flanked Whistler. Continuing along the footpath (which descends at first) brings you back into habitat good for Great Shortwing after a few hundred meters. 

In all the Anaso track is around 10km long. At times it is passable by 4×4 jeep, but this depends entirely on the state of minor (and major) landslides and improvised bridges. If you can’t drive it at the time of your visit, don’t despair, just start walking! (you’ll see more birds that way anyway). The Anaso track is definitely good for a couple of days of birding, or longer if you want to be sure of getting the goodies. 

Road to Wuasa/Sedoa, Driving from Palu, the road drops down soon after Lake Tambing towards the villages of Sedoa and Wuasa at around 1,200 m. The roadside forest in this area is pretty degraded, but the birding along it is excellent nevertheless. Species commonly seen in this area include Fiery-browed Myna, Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher, Malia and Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike. Other areas. Lore Lindu National Park is big, and the sites listed above all lie on the eastern edge of the park. Take a look at Google Earth to see the extent of forest extending to the west. 

Starting point to Anaso Track

Anaso Track

Anaso Track

Sedoa Valley

Sulawesi serpent eagle, Sulawesi goshawk, spot-tailed goshawk, small sparrow-hawk, vinous-breasted sparrow-hawk, Sulawesi hawk-eagle, Maleo, Snoring rail, Blue-faced rail, Isabeline waterhen, Sulawesi woodcock, Sulawesi black pigeon, Sulawesi ground-dove, Red-eared fruit-dove, White-bellied imperial pigeon, Grey-headed imperial pigeon, White imperial pigeon, Sombre pigeon, Ornate Lorikeet, Yellow and Green Lorikket, Yellow-vented Racquet-tail, Golden-mantled racquet-tail, Large Sulawesi hanging parrot, Small Sulawesi hanging parrot, Black-billed Koel, Yellow-Billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Masked Owl, Minahasa Masked Owl, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Ochre-bellied boobook, Speckled Boobook, Cinnabar Boobook, Satanic Nightjar, Sulawesi Nightjar, Green-backed Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, Sulawesi dwarf Kingfisher, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Purple-winged Roller, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Red-Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Ashy Woodpecker, Caerulean Cuckoo-shrike, White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike, Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Sulawesi Triller, Sulawesi Drongo, Piping Crow, Sulawesi babbler, Malia, Geomalia, Great Shortwing, Red-backed Thrush, Sulawesi Thrush, Chesnut-backed Bush-warbler, Sulawesi Leaf-warbler, Henna-tailed Rhynomias, Rufouss-throated Flycatcher, Blue-fronted Blue-flycatcher, Rusty-bellied Fantail, Yellow-flanked Whistler, Maroon-backed Whistler, Yellow-vented Whistler, Ivory-backed wood-swallow, Sulawesi crested Myna, White-necked Myna, Fiery-browed Myna, Finch-billed Myna, Lesser Sulawesi Honeyeater, Greater Sulawesi Honey eater, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi White-eye, Streak-headed Dark-eye, Pale-headed Munia.  

Lake Tambing, Lore Lindu National Park

Birding along roadside near Lake Tambing