Recently I guided a couple of birdwatchers from France and the UK on a morning general birding trip from Tomohon town of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. I met them at Rimba Eco Resort at 05:00. After that we went to a hill in the territory of Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency.
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| Sonder town in Minahasa regency of Indonesia |
It was around 06:00 when we arrived. I took out my spotting scope from the back of the car. Some Sultan's Cuckoo-dove were sitting on the branches of trees. We also saw various species of small birds hopping from one branch of a tree to another. There were Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Black-crowned White-eye, and Sulawesi Hanging Parrot. There was also Black-faced Munia and Eastern Yellow Wagtail.
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| Collared Kingfisher |
A collared kingfisher was calling from a distant. To attract the bird, I played its recorded sound from Ebird. In less than two minutes, the Collared Kingfisher flew towards us and landed on the branch of a tree around fifteen meters above us. I used my spotting scope to locate where the bird was. We also saw Hair-crested Drongo sitting on the branch of a dry clove tree. After spending around 30 minutes in the hill, we moved
We continued our trip to lower elevation forest of Sonder. Our next stop was Tounelet slope, we tried to find Pygmy Woodpecker. I saw one flying away froma tree near the roadside deeper into the area teawood trees. We continued walking down the slope trying to find Pygmy Hanging Parrot. We only saw a Barred Rail walking on a cleared ground in front of us. There was a female Sahul Sunbird hopping on the branches in front of us. Sooty-headed Bulbul could be seen sitting and singing in trees too.
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| Barred Rail |
We continued our trip to rice field area in Talikuran village of Subdistrict Sonder. We saw Bay Coucal, Easter Yellow Wagtail, White-breasted Woodswallow and Collared Kingfisher.
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| White-breasted Woodswallow in Sonder |
There were still more birding sites that we need to see that morning. We decided to continue our tour that morning to Kengkang waterfall. There, we saw Small Sparrowhawk sitting on a branch of tree near the waterfall and Brahminy Kite soaring in the sky. I tried to find Green Imperial Pigeon and Sulawesi-crested Myna. Unfortunately, I did not see any of them.
We continued our car trip through farmland and paddy fields of Sonder towards Lake Linow in Lahendong Village. Along the way we saw Zebra Dove, and Yellow-billed Malkoha as well as Sulawesi Crow. There we saw a lot water birds including Sunda Teal, Dusky Moorhen, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Barn Swallow, Whiskered Tern, Black-naped Tern, Oriental Reed Warbler, Barred Rail, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Brahminy Kite and Collared Kingfisher again. I heard the sounds of Isabelline Bush-hen in the bush behind us. I played its recorded sounds. Unfortunately, the bird did not want to come out. It was around 11:00. We decided to return to Tomohon town and bring back to Rimba Ecoresort.
It was a nice trip, our clients were happy to see the beautiful landscape of Minahasa highland in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. I and my driver Vecky said good bye to them and then return to our home.
Booking
If you are interested in taking a birding trip in Tomohon and Sonder of Minahasa highland and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through the following contact link.
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