Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa highland. It is surrounded by hills, valleys and rivers. Sonder is a good destination for visitors who love birdwatching.
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| Sulawesi Hanging Parrot |
The higher elevation forest and farmland of Sonder is the habitat of various species of birds such as Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Woodpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Warbling White-eye, and etc.
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| Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker |
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| Crimson Sunbird |
From higher elevation forest and farmland, visitors could walk down the slopes that are covered by clove, spathodea, coconut, aren, durian, rambutan, and other fruit trees.
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| Sulawesi Myzomela |
They are the habitat of such birds as Yellow-billed Malkoha, Black-naped Oriole, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Gray Wagtail, Sulawesi Drongo, Black-crowned White-eye, Hair-crested Drongo (White-eye), Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, and etc.
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| Purple Heron, Collared Kingfisher, Brown-throated Sunbird, Zebra Dove, Hair-crested Drongo, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Finch-billed Myna |
There are more open areas that are good for watching birds. Roadside birding can easily be carried out along these roads because the road is mostly empty the whole day. Sometimes, we could see birds such as Zebra Dove, Barred Rail cross the road.
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| White-breasted Woodswallow |
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| Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia doreya albicapilla) |
In the rice field area of Sonder, we could watch more birds such as Javan Pond Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, White-browed Crake, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Black-faced Munia, Barn Swallow, Glossy Swiftlet, White-nest Swiftlet, and etc.
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| Barred Rail |
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| Pale Blue Monarch |
The farm forest between Tomohon and Sonder is also a great site for birdwatching. Bay Coucal, Black-naped Oriole, Sulawesi Crow, Black Kite, Sulawesi Goshawk, Lesser Fish Eagle, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, Zebra Dove, Sooty-headed Bulbul,
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| Birding and Photography Tour in Sonder of Minahasa highland |
Night birding can also be organized for tour participants to look for Sulawesi Scops Owl, Speckled Boobook and Minahasa-masked Owl.
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| Sulawesi Scops Owl |
Bringing binoculars and a spotting scope enhances the birding experience of each tour participant. For photographers, they could bring bridge camera such as Nikon Coolpix P1000, D-SLR or Mirrorless camera with telephoto lens.
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| Colorful flowers at the roadside of Tincep village in Subdistrict Sonder |
Sonder is a small subdistrict town that is formed from several smaller villages. Visitors who are interested in exploring local life could walk through the alleyways of Sonder to see the daily activities of the villagers. There are those who dry their agricultural harvest such as clove, corn and rice. There are also villagers who run fish farming in their house yards. Some open food stalls and small shops. Minahasan people like to grow flowers at the frontyards of their houses. So, visitors will be able to see various colorful flowers while visiting Sonder.
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| Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly |
These flower plants attract small birds and butterflies, dragonflies and other insects. So, visitors could also watch various species of butterflies while exploring the villages, farmland and forest of Sonder. There are Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Sulawesi-banded Swallowtail, Lime Swallowtail, The Clipper, Meyer's Jay, Milon's Bluebottle, Common Birdwing and etc.
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| Meyer's Jay Butterfly |
Where is Sonder and How to get there?
Sonder is a small subdistrict town in the highland of Minahasa. It can be reached by car from Manado city.
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| Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi, Indonesia |
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| Land route between Manado city and Sonder |
Visitors need to fly from their countries to one of the major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya or Denpasar and then continue their flight to Manado city. Airlines such as Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, and SuperAirjet provide regular daily flights between big cities in Indonesia and Manado city. There are also international direct flights between Singapore and Manado city that is served by Scoot Air; and between Guangzhou and Manado city served by China Southern Airline.
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| Flight routes to Manado city from Singapore; and other major cities in Indonesia. |
Accommodation
Visitors who want to take multiple day tour can stay in homestays in Subdistrict Sonder or in hotels in Tomohon town.
Booking
If you are interested in taking a birdwatching and butterflywatching tour in Minahasa highland, and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com. You could also contact me via whatsapp by pressing the following button:
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