Lesser Sunda Birding Overview
Our tour will focus on finding birds that are unique to specific islands, as well as those that are only found in this region. We will look for exciting birds like the Sumba Hornbill, Sumba Buttonquail, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Least Boobook, Sumba Boobook, Sumba Eclectus, and Citron-crested Cockatoo.
Other birds we may see include the Elegant Pitta, Red-naped Fruit Dove, Rote Boobook, Rote Myzomela, and an undescribed species known as “Mt Mutis Parrotfinch.” We will also search for the Black-breasted (Timor) Myzomela, Timor Imperial Pigeon, Timor Friarbird, Timor Sparrow, Orange-sided Thrush, Black-banded Flycatcher, Alor Myzomela, Alor Boobook, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Flores Scops Owl, Wallace’s Scops Owl, Chestnut-capped Thrush, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Flores Shortwing, Flores Crow, Flores Monarch, Ornate Pitta, Glittering Kingfisher, Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, and more. We will encounter many types of parrots, fruit doves, sunbirds, and raptors. When we visit Komodo Island, we may also see Komodo Dragons, adding to the excitement of our journey.
This small-group birding tour visits six islands in the Lesser Sunda region of Indonesia, which are home to many unique bird species. The tour starts and ends in Denpasar, Bali, an international gateway to the country. We will explore the islands of Sumba, Rote, West Timor, Alor, Flores, and Komodo, making this a fascinating adventure in a rarely visited area.
Lesser Sunda Birding 18D17N
Prices start from
USD / person (min 5-6 persons)
Included
Accommodation during the trip with 3 delicious meals a day, Private Car, experienced local bird guide, Entrance fee, and Park ranger fee
Lesser Sunda Birding 18D17N
Indonesia: Lesser Sunda Birding cover Sumba, Rote, Timor, Flores and Komodo 18 Days / 17 Nights
Our price start from USD / Pax (Minimum 6 Pax)
Itinerary :
Day 1: Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport-Hotel
Meet at Ngurah Rai Airport have dinner at Hotel. Night on Hotel Near Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport
Day 2 : Morning Flight to sumba then drive to Bila Forest (Manupeu Tanah Daru National Park)
We will drive for 4 Hours using 4 wheel drive Jeep to Bila and then Birding in the late afternoon, before dusk approaches we may encounter such gems as the gorgeous and endemic Red-naped Fruit Dove, Sumba Green Pigeon and Pale-shouldered Cicadabird, as dusk approaches we might hear the calls of the localized, endemic Mees’s Nightjar, We will try hard to see this species along with Sumba Boobook and litle sumba boobook. Night on Billa Post Guard Ranger Stations
Day 3 and day 4 : 2 Full day Birding at Bila Forest
Our targets are Sumba Hornbill, Yellow-crested Cockatoo (the Sumba subspecies shows an orange crest and cheeks and is sometimes split as Citron-crested Cockatoo), We have further chances for the magnificent Eclectus and Great-billed Parrots, while Marigold Lorikeet (recently split from Rainbow Lorikeet) and Red-cheeked Parrot, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Other highly desirable forest specialties on the menu include Sumba Green Pigeon, Red-naped and Black-naped Fruit Doves, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, , Wallacean Drongo (this form sometimes split as Lesser Wallacean Drongo), Sumba Elegant Pitta, Arafura Fantail (split from Rufous Fantail), Sumba Myzomela, Apricot-breasted Sunbird, Yellow-ringed and Ashy-bellied Whiteeyes, as well as three endemic flycatchers: Sumba, Russet-backed Jungle and Sumba Brown Flycatcher. Other more widespread but no less desirable species that we will also be on the lookout for today include Brown Goshawk, attractive and lively Spectacled Monarch, Oriental Dollarbird, Cinereous Tit (split from Great Tit), Helmeted Friarbird, beautiful Tenggara Whistler, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary flycatcher, delightful Sumba Flowerpecker.
Day 5 : Billa Forest - Waingapu
Morning Birding in Billa Forest then After lunch then back to waingapu and night birding in lewa if we still miss the owl. Night on Hotel in Waingapu
Day 6 : Morning birding at Yumbu grass land–Airport -Kupang-Rote Island
Top of the target list here will be the endemic and little-known Sumba Buttonquail (Sumba’s only non-forest endemic). We will traverse the surrounding grasslands and have a good chance of finding this ground-dwelling bird. Other grassland species that we may very well find include Horsfield’s Bush Lark, Brown Quail, Zebra Finch and Pied Bush Chat and drop to airport and take flight to timor and take flight to rote isand
Stay overnight at Rote
Day 7: Full day birding in the rote
Situated off the south-west coast of Timor. Despite its close proximity to Timor it holds several endemic subspecies and four endemics – Rote Boobook, Rote Fantail, Rote Leaf Warbler and Rote Myzomela. Jonquil Parrot, Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon, Timor Stubtail, Timor Oriole, Timor Warbling-flycatcher, Black Cuckoo Dove and Orange-banded Thrush, as dusk approaches we hope to find the soon-to-be-split Rote Boobook.
Night on Rote
Day 8: Morning flight from Rote to Timor –Bipolo Forest
After land on timor we will drive to bipolo forest and full day birding in bipolo nature reserve, Though small, this forest patch still holds a remarkable number of birds. We will search for several species of pigeon, including Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon, Black-backed and Rose-crowned Fruit Doves. The forest is also home to Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Orange-banded Thrush, Timor Figbird and Timor Friarbird. Buff banded ticketbird, timor stubtail , fawn breasted whistler, timor meliphaga, timor Myzomela, the nearby shrimp ponds can hold Royal Spoonbill, Red-capped Plover and Sunda Teal, Australian prantincole, Little Curlew, while the fields leading up to the ponds hold large numbers of munias, including small numbers of Five-coloured and Pale-headed along with the rare Timor Sparrow, migrant Black-faced Cuckooshrike and Black-faced Woodswallow. In the evening we shall listen for Timor Boobook, a split from the Southern Boobook complex.
Night on Kupang.
Day 9: Morning Birding at Camplong- Oelnasi – Soe
From Kupang we drive early to camplong looking for Spot-breasted Heleia (Darkeye), White-bellied Bush Chat, Black-banded Flycatcher, Timor Leaf Warbler and the ultra-skulking Buff-banded Thicketbird. Other more widespread species we are likely to encounter today include Little Bronze Cuckoo (sometimes split as Gould’s Bronze Cuckoo), delightful Spectacled Monarch, Little Pied Flycatcher and Sunda Bush Warbler and late afternoon we will birding at Oelnasi for Timor Cuckoo dove and Timor nightjar. Night on Soe
Days 10 and 11 : 2 Full Day Birding at Mount Mutis
This morning we embark early on the drive up into the mountains, in the Fatumnasi and Mount Mutis area. Top target here are the rare Timor Imperial Pigeon, although we would be very fortunate to encounter this mega rarity! We should, however, encounter Metallic Pigeon in the forests, while a host of other fabulous species that may entertain us during the day include Island Thrush, Yellow breasted and Timor Leaf Warblers, Mountain White-eye and the shy and skulking Pygmy Wren-babbler. The forest interior is the place to search for the skulking and elusive Chestnut-backed Thrush (decreasing rapidly in numbers due to trapping for the cage bird trade), while Little Cuckoo-Dove and Snowy-browed Flycatcher should prove easier to find. We will also keep a lookout for flocks of Olive-headed Lorikeet overhead and rare Janquil parrot, and very rare Iris Lorikeet if we are extremely lucky, as well as the gaudy Tricolored Parrotfinch and Mount Mutis Parrotfinch. Night on Soe
Day 12 : Morning Birding Oelnasi-Airport-Labuan Bajo Flores
We leave hotel early and birding at Oelnasi looking for what we miss yesterday, then drive 3 hour to airport, then take flight to labuan bajo and birding at labuan bajo, This afternoon we will birding in small patch of forest just nearby our hotel for flores crow, Elegant Pitta, Yellow Spectacled white eye, flores drongo, spotted kestrel, Helmeted Friarbird, Flame Breasted Sunbird, and night birding for mollucan scops owl and wallacean scops owl, Night on Labuan Bajo
Day 13: Morning Birding at Puarlolo – Ruteng Nature Reserve
Morning birding for Flores Monarch, flores hawk eagle, Chestnut-capped Thrush, Rufous-chested Flycatcher ,Crested Heleia, Little minivet, Red Cheeked parrot, Leaf Lorikeet, and drive to moutain area Ruteng nature reseve for 3 hours, if time permit we can do night birding for flores scops owl and wallacena scops owl. Night on Ruteng
Day 14 and 15 : 2 Full Day Ruteng, Ranamese Lake and Golo lusang Forest
We will have full day birding in mountain area for Crested Ibon (a species of white-eye), Black-fronted and Golden rumped Flowerpeckers and Russet-capped Tesia bouncing around on the forest floor, Thick billed Heleia (Dark-eye), Variable Goshawk, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Little (Flores) Minivet and Black-naped Monarchs, Flores Green Pigeon, Tenggara Swiftlet, Russetbacked Jungle-flycatcher, the strange Bare throated Whistler, the near-endemic Browncapped Fantail, Cream-browed (Yellowbrowed) White-eye, Scaly crowned Honeyeater and Flores Leaf Warbler. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, White-browed Shortwing (occurring here as a highly distinctive subspecies, sometimes split as Flores Shortwing) and Nomadic endemic Flores Hanging Parrot, Barred Cuckoo-Dove in the forest canopy. Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon and Chestnut-backed Thrush, as well as Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove Rusty-breasted and Sunda Cuckoos (the latter split from Oriental Cuckoo) and mouse-like Pygmy Wren-babbler in the dense, dark gullies. At dusk we will then try and track down one of the island’s least known and toughest endemics, the near-mythical Flores Scops Owl and Wallacean scops owl. Night on Ruteng
Day 16: Morning Birding at Pagal
Looking for what we still miss specially for Glitering kingfisher and Flores Hanging Parrot, after lunch then drive back to lowland area, potowangka forest for flores hanging parrot again, the elusive Flores Crow, black naped fruit dove, elegant pitta, Asian pardise flycatcher, mees nightjar and wallacean scops owl, Night on Labuan Bajo
Day 17 : Full Day Birding at Komodo Island
Early morning we will use wooden boat go to komodo island and will have full day birding for yellow crested cuckatoo, orange footed scrubfowl, black naped monarch, beach thicked knee, great billed heron, sunda pygmy woodpecker, pied imperial pigeon, and by luck try for flores hawk eagle and nicobar pigeon and for sure for Komodo dragon. Night on Labuan Bajo
Day 18 : Labuan Bajo Airport- Ngurah Rai Denpasar Airport – End of our Service
After breakfast we will have morning flight from Labuan Bajo to Denpasar in Bali, End of our service.
Included: Land transportation, hotel based on shared room, 3 Meals a Day + Mineral Water, Bird guide fee, park permits, conservation fees, boat to komodo island.
Keybirds in Tangkoko
Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher:
Unique forest Kingfisher, not easy to find, but if done (by our local guides) quite good to approach and often rewarding the clients with perfect views and photos. Male and female often sitting near each other, making it possible to see the subtle differences.
Sulawesi Dwarf-Kingfisher:
Tiny but splashy colored forest kingfisher. It has the size of a Tit, but once in sight the bright orange, purple and blue colors make it a favorite for many bird watchers.
Green-backed Kingfisher:
Endemic large and spectacular forest Kingfisher. Pairs often together resting on horizontal branches in the forest and with a bit of luck giving you perfect views and wonderful pictues.
White-necked Myna:
Peculiar endemic Myna with a very long tail and a big white breast-band. In the canopy of the forest and nearly impossible to see if you’re inside the forest. That’s why we go to a special place near the road with views of the forest edge, to scope these birds while they are gathering in dead branches in the early morning or late afternoon.
Knobbed Hornbill:
Absolutely spectacular huge Hornbill with black wings, a huge red-and-yellow casqued bill and bright blue throat colors. It’s endemic to the whole of Sulawesi, but Tangkoko is for sure one of the best places to see it.
Specialities
Other special bird species are: Philippine Megapode, White-faced Cuckoo-Dove, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Silver-tipped Imperial-Pigeon, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Nightjar, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Sulawesi Scops-Owl, Ochre-bellied Boobook, Sulawesi Hornbill, Great-billed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Purple-winged Roller, Ashy Woodpecker, Ornate Lorikeet, Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot, Pale-Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Babbler and Finch-billed Myna.
More nature
Biodiversity is very high in Tangkoko and birds are only a small part of what you can see. Of course it’s nearly impossible to miss Celebes Crested Macaque or Gursky’s Spectral Tarsier, but you’ve also got a good chance to see the marsupial Sulawesi Bear Cuscus. One of the most beautiful creatures is Blanchard’s Ghost, an enormous butterfly that flies through the forest like a ghost indeed. And if you don’t rush you will find more and more beautiful creatures hidden in the shadows of the deep forest.
Practical Info:
Minimum amount of days: 3 (2 nights).
Advised amount of days: 5 (4 nights).
Maximum amount of days: 6 (there is only one real entrance to the forest, so you walk in the same part every day).
Price Tangkoko 5 days 4 nights: US$ per person
Needed level of fitness: Average, there is some hiking involved to see the Kingfishers, accommodation is comfortable.
Logistics:
Nearest airport: Manado, connections to all Indonesian cities and Singapore.
Transport: From Manado to Tangkoko 1.5 hours with a private car and during the stay we walk, drive short distances with a private car and use a boat for a mangrove trip.
Accommodation:
Tangkoko Hill Cottages:
Cozy lodge with comfortable rooms, located on the edge of the park with a nice jungle garden and nice bird species.
Combinations and extensions:
Good destinations to combine with Tangkoko: Manado, Tomohon, Dumago Bone, Lore Lindu and Waigeo.
Practical Info:
Minimum amount of days: 3 (2 nights).
Advised amount of days: 5 (4 nights).
Maximum amount of days: 6 (there is only one real entrance to the forest, so you walk in the same part every day).
Price Tangkoko 5 days 4 nights: US$ per person
Needed level of fitness: Average, there is some hiking involved to see the Kingfishers, accommodation is comfortable.
Logistics:
Nearest airport: Manado, connections to all Indonesian cities and Singapore.
Transport: From Manado to Tangkoko 1.5 hours with a private car and during the stay we walk, drive short distances with a private car and use a boat for a mangrove trip.
Accommodation:
Tangkoko Hill Cottages:
Cozy lodge with comfortable rooms, located on the edge of the park with a nice jungle garden and nice bird species.
Combinations and extensions:
Good destinations to combine with Tangkoko: Manado, Tomohon, Dumago Bone, Lore Lindu and Waigeo.
