SULAWESI BIRDING SITES

BIRDING AT NANTU

Resume :

Popular site to see Babirusa and other mammals, and good for birding too.

Bird species :
Snoring Rail, Blue-faced Rail, Sulawesi Ground-dove, Maroon-chinned Fruit-dove, Pied Cuckooshrike, Stephan’s Dove, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Ochre-bellied Boobook, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Sulawesi Black-pigeon

Birding Sites :

Main attraction on the area is a blind at a clay lick, when mammals and birds come to drink water and ingest minerals. Maroon-chinned Fruit-dove, Stephan’s Dove, Sulawesi Black-pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-dove, and Barred Rail are common there, Snoring Rail , Blue-faced Rail and Sulawesi Ground-dove and indicated that they frequented the clay lick.

The surrounding forest has not yet been birded intensively, but Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill and Pied Cuckooshrike were common by voice. Ochre-bellied Boobook, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, and Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher were seen/heard on the short hike to the blind.

Mammals are very easy to see at the blind. Babrisua, Sulawesi Wild Boar, and Heck’s Macaque come in daily to the clay lick. Anoa is less common, but still regular; one animal crossed it twice in four days. Whitish Dwarf Squirrel, Celebes Dwarf Squirrel, Sulawesi Giant Squirrel, and Bear Cuscus are also present in the forest.

To reach Nantu Adudu national park , we need to do with the boat trip where can be productive for birding. And the species might to see on the way is Spotted Harrier, Brahminy Kite, Black Eagle, White-breasted Waterhen, Buff-banded Rail, Sunda Teal, Wandering Whistling Duck, Common Kingfisher.

Acces and Accommodation

The price is affordable, and profits are shared with local communities. Transit from Gorontalo takes most of the day, and is split between car and boat.



BIRDING ON PELENG & BANGGAI

Resume :

Home for Sula endemics, including the newly rediscovered Banggai Crow.

Bird species:

Sula Scrubfowl, Ornate Lorikeet, Great-billed Kingfisher (Endemic ssp), Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Grosbeak Starling, Banggai Fruit-Dove, Sula Hanging-Parrot,Moluccan King Parrot, Banggai [Moluccan] Scops-Owl, Ruddy Kingfisher (Endemic ssp), Red-bellied [Sula] Pitta, Slaty Cuckooshrike, Northern Golden Bulbul, Banggai Crow, Red-and-Black Thrush, ‘Peleng Leaf-Warbler’, Henna-tailed Jungle-Flycatcher, Rusty-bellied Fantail, Drab Whistler, Helmeted Myna

Birding Sites :

Dominated by the large island of Peleng, and the smaller island of Banggai  which  lies in the eastern side of Sulawesi,  the islands offerings an interesting activities of birding, sharing characteristics with both Sulawesi and the Sula Islands to the east, as well as holding its own specialties such as Banggai Crow.

Making your own way around the island and doing some exploring. A couple of sites well known, but there are more interesting places still wait to be explored.

Around Salakan

Around the Salakan are extensive areas of the lowland forest  within agriculture. Is possible from the main roads north and south of town to reach the area. One area that has been visited several times lies around 10km north, near the village of Kawalu where basic accommodation can also be arranged by the Village Head.

Birds seen in this area have included Sula Scrubfowl, Ornate Lorikeet, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Grosbeak Starling, Banggai Fruit-Dove, Sula Hanging-Parrot, Banggai [Moluccan] Scops-Owl, Ruddy Kingfisher, Red-bellied [Sula] Pitta, Red-and-Black Thrush, Henna-tailed Jungle-Flycatcher and Helmeted Myna

Tataba and Kokolomboi birding sites

To get to good condition hill and sub-mountain forest need to travel to the west side of the island, where Tataba village become a good base. From here walking up to takes you to  Kokolomboi village, in four hours walk.

Passes from coastal agriculture through the mosaic forest. Birding can be productive on the way up, and the excellent birding will be in the hill forest before the peak. Key species Birds seen here : Ornate Lorikeet, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Banggai Fruit-Dove, Sula Hanging-Parrot, Moluccan King Parrot, Banggai [Moluccan] Scops-Owl, Red-bellied [Sula] Pitta, Slaty Cuckooshrike, Northern Golden Bulbul, Banggai Crow, Red-and-Black Thrush, ‘Peleng Leaf-Warbler’, Henna-tailed Jungle-Flycatcher, Rusty-bellied Fantail, Drab Whistler and Helmeted Myna

Peleng Birding Sites

More exploration of  Southern - West of South-east of Peleng  island wil be rewarding. The coastal strip will usually be degraded, but venturing inland on foot will almost always access better habitat.

Banggai sites

Banggai  island itself become a name of the archipelago, and in turn the crow, generally receives far less attention from birders than its larger neighbor Peleng. However, it would still make for an interesting visit, rewarded with many of the same birds as Peleng.

Access and Accommodation :

Getting to Peleng is relatively straight forward from the Sulawesi town of Luwuk; now served by regular daily flights from Makassar (Merpati, Lion). From Luwuk you will then need to get to the port and try and catch a ferry to Peleng. These go most regularly overnight to Salakan, but some morning boats go direct to Tataba (but not every day it seems).

A road follows the coast on Peleng, so it is possible to drive, bus or motorbike your way between Salakan and Tataba (and beyond, if you desire). The birding sites around Salakan can also be reached by vehicle (a motorbike, most easily). To reach Kokolomboi from Tataba requires walking for a few hours.

For accommodation there are plenty of places in Luwuk. There are also simple hotels in Salakan. Outside of these places, including Kokolomboi and Kawalu) you should be reporting to the Village Head (Kepala Desa) and so can then ask for assistance in finding somewhere to stay.



BIRDING IN TANGKOKO NATURE RESERVE

Resume :

Easy access and a great introduction to Sulawesi’s birds.

Bird species : 

Maleo; Tabon Scrubfowl; Spot-tailed Goshawk; Bare-faced Rail; Golden-mantled Racquet-tail; Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot; Pygmy Hanging-Parrot; Minahassa Owl; Sulawesi Owl; Ochre-bellied Hawk-Owl; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Sulawesi Nightjar; Sulawesi Kingfisher; Lilac Kingfisher; Green-backed Kingfisher; Scaly Kingfisher; Sulawesi Hornbill; Knobbed Hornbill; Red-bellied Pitta; Rusty-backed Thrush; Sulawesi Myna; White-necked Myna; Finch-billed Myna

Birding sites :

Tangkoko is a really straight forward place to go birding. The closest accommodation options are on the main road as it enters Batu Putih village, and directly opposite them is the entrance track to Tangkoko. The track crosses a stream and then passes through some scrubby forest for 500 m before arriving at the official entrance gate to the park. From here the track continues parallel to the sea for around 2km until it reaches two small buildings (names Post 2 and Post 3). From here the track continues along the coast, but becomes more indistinct, and many trails head inland.

The birding is good all along the entrance track (from the main road to Post 3). Patches or forest along the road hold Rusty-backed Thrush and Green-backed Kingfisher, Finch-billed Myna and the endemic Yellow-billed Malkoha. By night the open grassy areas hold Sulawesi Nightjar, and Sulawesi Scops-Owl is present along the length of the track.

Around the area of Post 2 and Post 3 it is worth exploring into the forest. Here is among the best area for seeing Rusty-backed Thrush, and as you move away from the main coast track and uphill your chances of seeing Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi (Dwarf) Kingfisher, Sulawesi Hornbill, Knobbed Hornbill, Red-bellied Pitta and Tabon Scrubfowl increase. It is also in this area that Maleo are occuasionally seen, and on at least one occasions Bare-faced Rail has been recorded.

As you move inland and uphill, towards the roosting trees of the Spectral Tarsiers (which are definitely worth a look!) the forest becomes good for Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Spot-tailed Goshawk, and more of the birds mentioned above.

In the evening, should get you more Sulawesi Scops-Owl and a chance of both Ochre-bellied and Speckled Hawk-Owl. And also the area is an area where the rare and very elusive Minahassa Owl is often has seen.

For those with a few days at Tangkoko, a day of overnight camping trip on higher on the mountain is interesting. Walking upabout 6-7 hours depending on how fit you are!). Many of the same lowland birds found, and also get a better chance of seeing Sulawesi Myna, the hanging parrots, and on the highest stretches, Scaly Kingfisher.

The latter prefers areas dominated by wild ginger, and is usually found perched only 1-2 meters above the ground. They don’t move much, but can be very responsive to calls.

Other trips also easy to arrange in Tangkoko include a trip to see eastern coast to visit a still active Maleo nesting ground. Actually it’s easier to see Maleo at Tambun, in Bogani National Park, for the one who plan to visit the area, but if you don’t have a plan or time , then this is an optional chance of you.

Boat trip in to the west along the coast is offer you a chance to see of Sulawesi Masked-Owl near by from Batu Putih village at the cave on the sea cliffs. Better view if doing a short trip out of the boat.

Western site in mangrove area holds the endemic Great-billed Kingfisher. A smart looking bird and seeing it makes the trip worthwhile. Another good spot for this species is in the mangroves area near Manado opposite to Bunaken Island.

Access and Accommodation:

About 1.5 hrs drive from the airport, or about 2 hrs from the centre of Manado. By car or taxi take the main road from Manado to Bitung, and just before reaching Bitung turn left at the town of Girian. From there a narrow road  about 20 km north towards the village of Batu Putih.

No difference road if you go by public transport. Catch a bus from Manado to Bitung, and get off at Girian. From there occasional pick up, run to Batu Putih.

Nowadays, there are many of comfortable accommodation around the birding site in Batu Putih Village, within competitive price from Budget to the high-end.   

A new regulation 2014 change many things in Tangkoko Natural Reserve, include the price of Accommodation, Transportation and Guide fee, also camera fees. And for special interest like bird watching, Filming, Video graph etc is getting higher then before.   Local ranger is a must, and no entry without one of them.



BIRDING IN LORE LINDU NATIONAL PARK

Resume :

Great valley, huge national park in Central Sulawesi and the best site to accessed the mountainous endemics.

Bird species :

Small Sparrow hawk; 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

Birding sites :

National Park of Lore Lindu is a massive from Lore Utara to Lore Selatan, but the best bird watching sites is mostly in a small area around the villages of Wuasa/Sedoa, Lake Tambing and the famous Anaso Track, where you can find all of the highland specialties of Sulawesi, such as Great Shortwing, Geomalia and Sulawesi Thrush, etc

Lake Tambing Birding sites
From Palu city drive up to reach the highest peak at 1,600 m. Stop for birding at small lake known as Lake Tambing or locally named Danau Kalimpaa, combine with Anaso birding track. The bird watching is begin at this point.

Ornate and Yellow-and-green Lorikeet, Cerulean Cuckoo-shrike, Maroon-backed Whistler; Malia, Blue-fronted Flycatcher and many more Sulawesi endemics. This area also among the most reliable for Sulawesi Thrush. Scaly Kingfisher has been seen in the area.

A night birds three of mainland Sulawesi’s ninox owls : Ochre-bellied, Cinnabar and Speckled, plus the ever-present Sulawesi Scops-Owl available to see here.

Anaso Birding sites
The Anaso track, is a place where birder can see a fiew bird species as like on Lake Tambing, and there are chance of birders to see Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike, Maroon-backed Whistler and Purple-bearded Bee-eater increases. Chestnut-backed Bush-Warblers also line the lower sections of the track. 

Still in Anaso track, and walking up to 2,000 m (2 km) the track is getting smaller. Most of birders  often see the day – roosting Satanic Nightjars. From about 2,100 m the roadside forest becomes lower and more mossy. These are the spots to look out for a couple of Lore Lindu’s most sought after specialties : Geomalia and Great Shortwing.

This area also holds both of the Sulawesi endemic honey-eaters; Dark-eared and Greater Streaked. At about 2,300 m the Anaso track reaches its peak. The area of the clearing makes for good birding, with a good chance of Mountain Serin - the orange-colored Sulawesi version and the high altitude Olive-flanked Whistler, Great Shortwing,

In all the Anaso track is around 10 km long. The Anaso track is good for a couple of days of birding, or longer if you want to be sure of getting the goodies.

Wuasa/Sedoa Birding Sites
The road drops down after Lake Tambing, the villages of Sedoa and Wuasa in a 1,200 m above sea level. Species commonly seen in this area is 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. Read more www.joenjo-tours.com

Access and Accommodation :

The best way to visit Lore Lindu is by chartering a car from Palu a capital city of Central Sulawesi which is nearest big cities on the region.

The best way to hire a car is to contact one of the Sulawesi tour operators or local guides that specialist in birding tours. It can also be very useful to take along a local guide, as they can help arrange your permission to get into the national park, can sort out accommodation etc. Many of the local guides based in Palu or Manado are also excellent birders with years of knowledge on the best spots for key species.

Accommodation-wise there are plenty of hotels in Palu, but you’ll probably want to just head off direct towards the birds. In the vicinity of the sites listed above there is only one accommodation option we are aware of (other than camping!) and that is the excellent little guesthouse in Wuasa : Losmen Mona Lisa (082196604295/ 0853 40896417). This is a great base for birding locally, as it is only 20 minutes or so from all the sites listed above, and it serves excellent food. Wuasa is about 100 km from Palu, a drive of around 3 hrs.

Lore Lindu is a national park, so you officially need permission to enter. If you are arranging your trip through a local agent or guide, they will be able to advise you on the best way to obtain permission.

If you are on your own you could try the National Park head office in Palu (Jl. Mawar No. 10, Palu, Sulawesi Tengah, Tel./Fax: +62(0)451-423608), or there is a sub-office in Wuasa itself that should be able to care of arrangements (Seksi Pengelolaan Taman Nasional Wilayah VI Wuasa,
Desa Wuasa, Kecamatan Lore Utara, Kabupaten Poso).



BOGANI Nani Wartabone NATIONAL PARK

Resume : 

A massive national park – 287.000 hectares, from Dumoga in Kotamobagu – North Sulawesi to Bone Bolango, Gorontalo province, which is small part been explored and well organized tour area. Formerly Dumoga Bone National Park and nowadays famous as a Bogani Nani National Park , popular sites is Tambun Village and Doloduo village.

Bird species :

Maleo; Spot-tailed Goshawk; Metallic Pigeon; Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail; Golden-mantled Racquet-tail; Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot; Pygmy Hanging-Parrot; Bay Coucal; Ochre-bellied Hawk-Owl; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Purple-winged Roller; Sulawesi Hornbill; Knobbed Hornbill; Pale-blue Monarch; Rusty-backed Thrush; White-necked Myna; Finch-billed Myna

Birding sites :

Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park formerly known as Dumoga Bone National Park is a huge area of forest spanning the border between North Sulawesi and Gorontalo provinces. Here there are 2-3 sites where can be accessed quite easily, and it is also here that the famous Maleo nesting ground of Tambun lies and Doloduo/Toraut Village.

Doloduo / Toraut birding sites :

From the village of Doloduo there are paths follow the river, pass through some patches of nice forest. The forest is much more extensive on the western side of the river, as this lies within the national park proper. On the eastern side of the river forest patches are interspersed with open farmland. By following the river about 6-7 km south of Doloduo the trail reaches the still-active Maleo nesting ground at Matayangan.  

Birds in this area include many of the same lowland species present at Tangkoko, with perhaps a slightly better chance of seeing some species like Sulawesi Hornbill, Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail, Purple-winged Roller, Bay Coucal and the owls.

Maleo Birding Sites
Maleo lay their eggs communally in pits dug in the ground in soil heated by either volcanic hot-springs or on beaches heated by the sun. Once laid the parents take no further part in the incubation of the eggs and after around 60 days the chicks hatch and dig their own way to the surface, to emerge fully-feathered and independent.

Tambun village is the most common place visited site, and one of the most accessable. On average around 2-3 pairs of Maleo visit Tambun a day, given a pretty reliable shot at seeing the birds. Adults descend from the hills to lay eggs at dawn and dusk, but can also often be seen loitering around the site in trees during the day. To see birds here report first to the warden on-site and he will show you to the best locations to see the birds. Several hides have been set up and if you are lucky you will get amazing views. It may also be possible to see newly hatched chicks being released from the safety of the hatcheries.

Access and Accommodation :

To get to the areas of Bogani described above the best bet is to travel first to Kotamobagu. This is where the National Park office is now located (at Jalan AKD Mongkonai, Kotamobagu, 95716) and ideally you would report here to obtain permission to enter the park.

All of the sites listed above including Tambun, with the exception of Mataindo/Binerean/Lagamuru, lie within the National Park.



BIRDING AT GUNUNG MAHAWU

Resume :

About 1 hours from Manado and a great spot for Scaly Kingfisher.

Bird species :

Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk; Metallic Pigeon; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Scaly Kingfisher; Purple-winged Roller; Pale-blue Monarch; Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler; Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher; Sulphur-bellied Whistler

Birding sites :

A forested volcano about one hour drive from Manado and fifteen minutes away from the Tomohon city center, it’s accessible spot which holds some interesting species, such as Scaly Kingfisher.

Bird watching is good along the track, especially in several densely wooded gullies along the way. Scaly Kingfisher is often seen or heard in the lower sections on this path. Other nice birds commonly seen along the track include the Sulawesi endemic Pale-blue Monarch (split from Black-naped Monarch) and endemic Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher (split from Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher). Chestnut-backed Bush-Warblers abound on the higher sections. At night Sulawesi Scops-Owl is everyhwere, and occasionally Speckled and Ochre-bellied Hawk-Owls .

Access and Accommodation :

By car or taxi from Manado, drive first to Tomohon, on arrival you can stay overnight there or just get a day tour then return to Manado.

By public transport take a bus from Manado to Tomohon, and then probably easiest to get an ojek (motorbike taxi) to either site. Make sure to arrange a pick up time before the guy leaves if you want to avoid a long walk back to town! To get an ojek to the summit trail, ask for the village of Rurukan (where Sir Alfred Russell Wallace lived for a while!) and the turn off is just before it. Minibuses may also play the route to Rurukan too, as an alternative.



BIRDING AROUND MAKASSAR

Resume : 

An endemic white-eye, flycatcher and myna, and occasional good migrant shorebird action can be found by those with a few hours (or days) to kill between flights.

Bird species :

Black-ringed White-eye; Lompobatang Flycatcher, Pale-bellied Myna, Piping Crow

Birding Sites :

Black-ringed White-eye and Lompobattang Flycatcher is a two of Sulawesi endemic that you can find shortly drive from Makassar Airport. The white-eye site is pretty easy, then the flycatcher site might to chance you to do a bit of exploring around including Bantimurung and Karaenta nature reserves.

Both of these areas are reachable by car from Makassar Airport, about  30 km, just beyond the village of Bantimurung you will arrive at gate which has a giant statue looks like King-kong. The white-eye is usually seen around here, together with birds such as Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Babbler, Piping Crow, Yellow-sided Flycatcher and White-necked Myna. The somewhat mysterious ‘Sulawesi Flycatcher’ (Muscicapa spp.) has also been seen here.

There are alternative birding site for the white – eye, it’s a Karaenta nature and to reach it simply turn right just before King Kong, and follow the road for about 10 km until it starts to climb into the forest. The narrow roads through this forest for around another 10 km, and bird watching the white-eye, and for Lompobattang Flycatcher the site is a bit further to the south and east of Karaenta/Bantimurung, near the hill town of Malino (in the shadow of Mt Lompobatang!). Finding the flycatcher is an exercise in finding forest. Black-ringed white-eye is also common around Malino

The elusive South Sulawesi endemic – Pale-bellied Myna is regularly seen by those with sharp eye-sight. The resident subspecies of Wooly-necked Stork also occurs here.

Access and Accommodation : 

All of the sites listed above can easily be reached as day trips from Makassar, and Makassar abounds with accommodation option. A hire car and driver from a hotel, or a taxi from the airport, is probably the easiest and quickest option to reach any of these sites.

By public transport it should also pretty simple, by seeking out a bus to either Bantimurung or Malino, and then locally using ojek (motorbike taxis) to get where you want to be.



BIRDING AT GUNUNG AMBANG

Resume : 

Mountain birding site in north Sulawesi. Exactly in Sinsingon Village, near Modoiinding and Kotamobagu, made theis area easier to explore from Kotamobagu town.  Not as many species as Lore Lindu, but a few things are easier to see here.

Bird species :

Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle; Bare-faced Rail; Cinnabar Hawk-Owl; Speckled Hawk-Owl; Pale-blue Monarch; Matinan Flycatcher; Malia; Fiery-browed Myna

Birding sites : Mount Ambang in one of a range of mountains to the east of the city of Kotamobagu, about 3 - 4 hrs drive to the west of Manado. There are some good forest remains on the hill tops, at altitudes of between 1,000 and about 1,700 m.

Mount Ambang used to a part of Bogani Nani Wartabone (Dumoga Bone) National Park. Despite the degraded state of forests on the lower slopes, Gunung Ambang remains an excellent site to go birding, not least for the chance to see Bare-faced Rail, Cinnabar Hawk-Owl, Matinan Flycatcher and a species of Muscicapa flycatcher that is not yet fully described (“Sulawesi Flycatcher”).

Access to the birding is via the city of Kotamaobagu, and then the village of Sinsingon. Here at the forest edge you can see Malia, Fiery-browed Myna and occasionally the sought after flycatchers. This sites also is the best spot to look (and listen) for Cinnabar Hawk-owl at night, and it is along here that Bare-faced Rail has been seen.

Access and Accommodation :

To get to Gunung Ambang, travel first to Kotamobagu. Continue towards to the village of Sinsingon.

If you don’t want to stay in Sinsingon itself, it is also easy enough to visit Gunung Ambang as a day trip from Kotamobagu, where there are numerous hotels to suit all budgets.