Lesser Birds of Paradise

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) in West Papua

Here are pictures of Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) that live in tropical rainforest of West Papua. I often guide tourists to places in Indonesia such as Susnguakti forest in Manokwari, Klasow valley and Sorong forest, and Tambrauw Mountains. These are important destinations in West Papua province of Indonesia where visitors can watch Lesser Birds of Paradise and a lot of other tropical birds of New Guinea. Birds of Paradise have been hunted since hundreds of years ago for their beautiful feather. Their population is shrinking rapidly due to habitat loss. Ecotourism is a good answer to protect the birds.
If you are interested in taking a birding, hiking, and camping tours with me, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Birding Tours in Manokwari

Lesser Birds of Paradise

I often receive requests from readers of this blog about birding tours in Manokwari. There are several sites which tourists can choose to enjoy birdwatchings.

King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius)

• Mesirokow river is a rainforest area in Manokwari regency. It is a nice place for camping, birding and riverwalk activities. Visitors can watch Papuan Hornbill, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Brahminy Kite, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Boyers Cuckooshrike, Variable Goshawk, Lowland Peltop, Little-ringed Plover, Glossy-mantled Manucode, and etc.
• Susnguakti Forest: There are several paradise birds here including Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), Magnificent Riflebirds, Kingbird of Paradise, Hooded Butcherbird, and Common Paradise Kingfisher, as well as a lot of other tropical birds that live in lower montane forest of Arfak range.
• Mount Soyti: The vocal points of this higher montane forest of Arfak mountains are Vogelkop Bowerbird, Magnificent Bird of Paradise and Western Parotia. Goldenface, Sclater's whistler, Green-backed Robin, Plum-faced Lorikeet and Cinnamon Ground Dove are some of other cloud forest birds that we can watch in Mount Soyti.

Booking

Please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 for details of the tours and prices.

Olive-backed Sunbird

Olive-backed Sunbird in Sorong forest

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) is a small bird that lives in tropical rainforest particularly in lowland and coastal areas. Its yellow underparts often becomes the main physical characteristics that is used by birdwatchers to call him Olive-bellied Sunbird.
I saw this bird in Manokwari city, Sorong hill forest, Raja Ampat and even as far as Numfor island. His wings have got olive-greenish look. This small but very beautiful bird eats nectar of wild flowers in tropical rainforest. When I was guiding a tourist from India, I saw the sunbird was feeding on nectar of coconut flowers. I immediately turned on my Fujifilm HS50 EXR camera and shot the bird several times.

Olive-backed Sunbird in Raja Ampat

My most recent photographs of the bird were made when I went hiking and birdwatching in savanna hills near Sorong city. To watch this small bird, we need a good pair of binoculars that has got such magnification as 10×42 mm. My recommendation will be Swarovski, Nikon, Leica, or Zeiss binoculars. I personally use more affordable alternative - the Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars.
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching tour in Sorong city and want to see Olive-backed Sunbird and other tropical birds of West Papua, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180

Also read:

• Birds of Minahasa in Highland and Lower Montance Forest

Birding Tour in Rainforest near Sorong City

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Orange-breasted Fig Parrot

Hiking and Birding
There are a lot of birds that can be watched when we go hiking in the outskirts of Sorong city. Some of them include Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides), Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii), Olive-crowned Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pectorale), Coconut Loriket (Trichoglossus haematodus), and a couple of Back Lory (Chalcopsitta atra), Orange-breasted Fig Parrot (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii), Orange-fronted Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus aurantiifrons), White-bellied Cuckooshrike (Coracina papuensis) and a lot more. 

Terrestrial Spathoglottis Orchid

The rainforest is close to Sorong city. It takes only 20 minutes ride from the city center. However, to reach the forest, visitors need to go hiking for approximately 30 minutes to one hour to see the forest and enjoy birdwatching. Birds are usually active in the mornings and in the afternoons.
Birding Equipment
Visitors who want to enjoy birdwatching in Sorong forest need at least a pair of good binoculars. Most often avid birders carry spotting scope with tripod and adaptor for taking picture using cell phone. I personally use a pair of Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars, a 20-60x60 spotting scope and a Fujifilm HS50EXR binoculars. Experienced birdwatchers use Swarovski, Leica or Nikon ED Lens, Bak4 prism 10×42 or 8.5x42 mm binoculars.
The Jungle tour

Tropical Rainforest of Sorong

This forest can become a hiking and sightseeing destination for visitors who are waiting for their flight back home or who has just arrived in Sorong city of West Papua.
Hiking and birding tour in this forest can be organized for 1 day or several more days. For day trip, visitors can start the tour at 05.00 and then leave before dark. For multiple day hiking and birding tour, overnights stay in tents in the jungle can be arranged for visitors. Besides watching birds, visitors can see wild flowers, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles, and a lot of unique plants of Papua forest.
If you are interested in birding and hiking in this forest, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Birds in Love

Golden Myna in Klasow Valley

Birds are very romantic when they are in love. I have seen some of them when I guided visitors on birdwatching tours in several rainforest areas of West Papua.
When I was in Klasow valley, I saw a couple of Golden Myna (Mino anais) kissing or cuddling each other on a branch of a dead tree. I walked slowly trying to hide myself under the cover of shrubs and other green plants. They were not afraid of me when I aimed my camera at them. I was able to make a lot of pictures of them. The one in this blog was my best shot.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) is a species of bird that is beautiful and can be seen in lowland and lower montane forest of West Papua and its surrounding islands. The bird has got white feather with yellow crest above its head. While I was guiding a French couple in Mesirrokow river of Manokwari, I was able to see a loving couple that was sitting close to each other on a branch of a tree just above the river. They saw us but did not fly away when we walked along the riverside below them. When we were already behind them, I stopped, turned around and took some pictures of them.

Pink-spotted Fruit Dove

Another birds in love couple that I like to present in this post is Pink-spotted Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus perlatus). I saw these birds near the guesthut of Klasow valley. The male and female looked the same. I was guiding some birdwatchers in the lowland forest of Sorong regency at that time. The birds were preparing for a nest because the female bird was carrying eggs. When I returned to the valley again, I could determined the female bird had laid her eggs. I could only hear their sounds. The nest was located in higher branches blocked by leaves and twigs. The bird was also seen at Mesirrokow river - the lowland forest of Manokwari. I was guiding three French tourists. We saw the Pink-spotted Fruit Dove and Lowland Peltop at the same time.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon in lowland forest of Sorong

Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon) lives in lowland and lower montane forest of New Guinea. The feather is mostly brown. Its tail is black with very visible white stripe near its tip. I saw a couple of these birds after watching Lesser Birds of Paradise. I was guiding an Australian couple at that time.
Birding Optics
Watching birds in the forest  is a facinating activity. The birdwatching experience will be greatly enhanced if visitors bring high quality birding devices as binoculars and spotting scopes. I highly recommend Nikon EDG 8×42 mm binoculars and a pair of sturdy Swarovski SLC 10×42 mm binoculars that are suitable for all weather condition. Visitors who go birdwatching without proper birding optics will find their trips only as ordinary sightseeing tours
Written by Charles Roring

Yellow-billed Kingfisher

Yellow-billed Kingfisher lives in lowland and lower montane forest of West Papua. Here is a photograph of a couple of the birds that I saw when I was guiding a Chinese lady and an Australian couple in Klasow valley. We spent 5 days exploring the tropical rainforest of Sorong regency in search of Lesser Birds of Paradise, King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird and Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise.
Klasow valley is located in Sorong regency and can be reached by a 4WD car.

Yellow-billed Kingfisher

During the birdwatching trip in Klasow valley, we also saw Palm Cockatoo, Northern Cassowary, Pinon Imperial Pigeon.
We were very lucky to see the courtship dance of King Bird of Paradise. Actually, it was also the mating season of Yellow-billed Kingfisher. So, we had the opportunities to watch the birds several times. by Charles Roring

Spangled Drongo

This is a picture of Spangled Drongo that I saw in tropical rainforest of Klasow valley. The valley is located in Sorong regency of West Papua province of Indonesia. The birds can easily be recognized by their forked tails and black feather. They eat insect and small vertebrates.

Spangled Drongo

I also often see the Spangled Drongo when I go birdwatching in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat, and in Lowland Forest of Manokwari.