The Nature Reserve of Tangkoko is located north-east region of Minahasa Peninsula. It is covered by tropical rainforest that is the habitat of a lot of species of birds including Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ashy Woodpecker, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot and etc.
On the average, birdwatchers need at least 4 days/ 3 nights to explore the rainforest of Tangkoko and the surrounding birding sites such as the Naun River, Temboan Hill, Plant Nursery Site, Man-made Lake at the entrance to the nearby Gold Mine, and the Batu Putih Beach.
When we walk through the paths inside Tangkoko's forest, we will have higher chance to see Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingsher, Sulawesi Pitta, Ashy Woodpecker, and the Spot-tailed Goshawk. They are considered as forest dwelling birds.
The forest inside Tangkoko Nature reserve is the habitat of Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Celebes-crested Macaque, and Gursky's Spectral Tarsier. A lot of of insects and reptiles of Sulawesi could also be seen in the forest.
This a birding site that is located outside of Tangkoko forest. It can easily be reached by car from Manado city or from the birding cottages near the entrance of Tangkoko forest. Birds that like sit on the branches of trees near the canopy are the ones which tour participants could watch. They include Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeo, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Black-billed Koel, Sahul Sunbird, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and Sulawesi Cicadabird.
This birding site is located near Temboan Hill. Water birds such as Oriental Darter, Little Egret, Little Grebe, White-breasted Waterhen could be watched here.
There are also other birds such as Slender-billed Crow, Purple-Winged Roller, and etc.
There is a village near Tangkoko Forest. Its name is Batu Putih. Most of the inhabitants of the village are fishermen. Sea birds that could be seen in this area include Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, White-bellied Sea Eagle, various kinds of terns, Brahminy Kite, Osprey, Gray-billed Heron and etc.The beach of Batu Putih is black. The Minahasa Peninsula has got a few volcanoes. The black sand along its river and coastal area is the volcanic materials from these volcanoes.
Most birdwathers go to Naun river to find Great-billed Kingfisher. Sometimes the bird could be in the river that flows to the sea through Tangkoko coastal area.
Naun river could be reached by a motorized boat that is hired from the fishermen in Batu Putih beach. There are other birds which tour participants could see in Naun river such as White-rumped Cuckooshrike, Collared Kingfisher, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Common Sandpiper and Striated Heron.
Minahasa highland is the habitat of a lot of species birds that are endemic to Sulawesi. There are some towns in this region including Tondano, Tomohon, Kawangkoan, Langowan and Sonder. The most visited site for Mount Mahawu which is around twenty five minutes ride from Tomohon. There are hotels and guesthouses which visitors can choose to stay during their birding tour in the highland.
This is the habitat of Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, and etc.
The easiest birding site which visitors can reach is the tiny forest of Tounelet slope. It is located in the middle of Sonder town. Walking down the paved road of the slope of Tounelet village near Siloam Hospital, tourists could watch Sooty-headed Bulbul, Slender-billed Crow, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia. Sometimes, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia albicapilla),Pale Blue Monarch, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, and Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) land on the branches of the trees in that small Tounelet forest.
People in Sonder have trees at the front, side and backyard of their houses. They attract small birds such as Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pale Blue Monarch and Collared Kingfisher. Walking around the alleyways of Sonder will allow visitors to see those birds.
As we walk further to the outskirts of Sonder town, we will pass by houses of farmers, poultry and pig farm areas as well as fish ponds and rice fields.
More birds could be seen outside the town, in hill farmland and paddy field areas we could watch Hair-crested (White-eye) Drongo, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Black-naped Oriole, Slender-billed Crow, White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Sunda Teal, Barn Swallow, White-nest Swiftlet, and etc.
In the south of Sonder, government built asphalt paved road which is a great site for birding walk. There, we could watch birds such as Zebra Dove, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Finch-billed Myna and Sahul Sunbird and Brown-throated Sunbird, Collared Kingfisher, Barred Rail and Eastern Yellow Wagtail.
More interesting birds could be watched in the hill forest of Sonder. They include Mountain White Eye, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, and Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Black-faced Munia, Crimson Sunbird and a lot more.
The forest and farmland of Subdistrict Sonder is the habitat of beautiful tropical butterflies. So, Minahasa highland is the recommended destination for butterflywatching tour too.
Birding in the mountain forest could be done at around 06:30. Earlier than that, fog still covers the canopy of the forest.
As organizer of this tour, we will arrange accommodation for participants in one of the birding lodges or guesthouses in Tangkoko and one of the hotels in Tomohon town.
Minahasa highland is a region in the Province of North Sulawesi of Indonesia. To visit it, tourists need to fly from their country to Manado city. There are direct flights from Guangzhou of China, and from Singapore to Manado city. For domestic flights to major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Balikpapan and Sorong, the flights are available everyday and are served by such airlines as Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air and TransNusa.
If you are interested in taking a birding and wildlife watching tour in, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp: +6281332245180
