Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of Indonesia. It has increasingly become a popular destination of birdwatching. Some of the tropical birds of Sulawesi island that can be watched in Sonder town include:
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| Juvenile Pygmy Hanging Parrot |
Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Black-sunbird, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker , Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia doreya albicapilla), Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Superb Fruit Dove, Zebra Dove, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Pale Blue Monarch, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, Black-naped Oriole, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Crow, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc.
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| Some birds in Sonder |
Birdwatchers usually bring 8×42; 10×42 or 10×50 mm binoculars. Leica, Swarovski, Nikon are some of the famous brands that manufacture high quality binoculars. For photographers, they could bring DSLR or mirrorless camera with telephoto lens.
The average duration of birding tour in Sonder is 3 days/ 2 nights. The tour can be combined with birding trip in Mount Mahawu of Tomohon town and Tangkoko Nature Reserve in Bitung. The total duration of the tour is around 1 week.
Where is Sonder and how to get there?
Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa highland. It is the destination for visitors who love nature. It is around 1 hour drive from Manado city which is the capital of North Sulawesi Province in Indonesia.
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| Car route from Manado city to Sonder town in Minahasa highland |
To visit the town, visitors need to fly to Manado city. International visitors could fly by Scoot Air from Singapore to Manado. China Southern Airlines and TransNusa also fly between Manado city and Guangzhou.
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| Flight route to Manado city |
For domestic flights between Manado and other major cities in Indonesia, they are available everyday. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, Wings Air, TransNusa, Super Airjet, Sriwijaya Air.
Accommodation
There are homestays in Sonder town. There are also hotels in the nearby Tomohon town which visitors could choose to stay.
To extend the birdwatching tour to another week in Indonesia, a trip to Sorong city is highly recommended. The areas that can be visited include Sorong regency, Tambrauw regency and Waigeo island in Raja Ampat archipelago.
Booking
If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Sonder and other areas in North Sulawesi and West Papua, and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.
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