Bird watching in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Tangkoko Nature Reserve is a great destination for visitors who are interested in birding in North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is the habitat of a lot of species of birds.

Green-backed Kingfisher

Some of them are listed below:

• Green-backed Kingfisher
• Lilac Kingfisher
• Ruddy Kingfisher
• Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher
• Great-billed Kingfisher
• Knobbed Hornbill
• Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill
• Purple-winged Roller
• Sulawesi Scops Owl
• Ochre-bellied Boobook
• Speckled Boobook
• Ashy Woodpecker
• Pygmy Woodpecker
• Sulawesi Serpent Eagle
• White-bellied Imperial Pigeon
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Silver-tip Imperial Pigeon
• Pied Imperial Pigeon
• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
• Pygmy Hanging Parrot
• Golden-mantled Racquet-tail
• Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail
• Spot-tailed Goshawk
• Rusty-backed Thrush

The coastal area of Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the habitat of sea birds such as White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Pacific Reef Heron, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, Blue Rock Thrush, Common Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, White-rumped Cuckooshrike and etc. 

Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Purple-winged Roller, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Knobbed Hornbill

On the average, most visitors spend 3 days/ 2 nights of bird in Tangkoko. After that they will continue their trip by birding in the highland of Minahasa. There are several interesting birding sites in that region. 

Birding Sites in Minahasa Highland

• Lake Tondano - This is the site for watching Black Kite, Osprey, White-breasted Waterhen, Javan Pond Heron, Oriental Reed Warbler, Dusky Moorhen, White-browed Crake, Purple Heron, Barn Swallow, White-nest Swiftlet, Collared Kingfisher and etc. Most of the birdwatching activity can be conducted from the edge of the Lake Tondano using binoculars and spotting scope.  
• Lake Linow - This is an alternative site for watching water birds in Minahasa highland. Birds that could be watched are similar to the ones in Lake Tondano. There are some other interesting species that could be watched in this volcanic lake  such as Sunda Teal, Australasian Swamphen, Wandering Whistling Duck, White-breasted Woodswallow, and etc.
• Mount Mahawu - Most birdwatchers go there to look for Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. However, there are a lot of other species that could be seen too such as Sulawesi Myzomela, Warbling White-eye, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, Red Jungle Fowl, and etc.
• Sonder's Forest - The higher elevation forest of Sonder is the habitat of a lot of species of birds including Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Black-crowned White-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, Black-faced Munia, Chestnut Munia, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Bay Coucal, Black-billed Koel, Sulawesi Drongo, Hair-crested (white-eyed) Drongo, Black-naped Oriole, White-breasted Woodswallow, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, . In addition to birds, the forest and farmland of Sonder is the natural habitat of a lot of species of butterflies. Some of them include Blanchard's Ghost Butterfly, Blanchard's Wood Nymph Butterfly, Common Birdwing, Gigon Swallowtail.
• Tincep's Rice Field and Kengkang Waterfall - This is another birding site in Subdistrict Sonder that is worth visiting. Birds that could be watched in this place include: Zebra Dove, Pied Stilt, White-browed Crake, Buff-banded Rail, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, White-rumped Triller, Sulawesi Myna, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle and etc.

Sulawesi Scops Owl

In general, visitors spend between 3 to 4 days in Minahasa Highland to watch birds and butterflies as well as enjoy the beautiful scenery of the landscape. 

Accommodation

Most visitors stay in the guesthouse or homestay in Tangkoko and in a hotel in Tomohon town. As a tourist guide, we could organize the accommodation, transportation and the birding tours for our tour participants.

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through the following button. 

Also read:

• Wildlife in the Rainforest of Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Bird watching tour in Minahasa Highland
• Farm Tour in Minahasa Highland
• Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko
• birdingsulawesi.com

Farm Tour in Minahasa Highland

Sightseeing and Farm Tour in Indonesia - Minahasa highland is a region in the province of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Most of the people who live in Minahasa work as farmers. 

Lake Tondano and fruits in Minahasa highland

They grow vegetables, fruits, rice, and industrial agricultural crops such as clove, nilam, and nutmeg. Therefore, it is interesting to visit the agricultural land, meet farmers and enjoy sightseeing across the beautiful landscape of Minahasa.

Rice field in Minahasa highland

Visitors who travel to Minahasa can take this agricultural tour to see farmland, the activities of farmers, the types of crops that they grow and the kinds of tools which the farmers use. 

In wetland area such as Tincep, Talikuran, Kayawu, and Langowan, visitors could see rice field. Rice is the main staple food of people in Asia. Farmers also run fish farming, usually by building ponds along the riverside. Tilapia (locally called mujair) and carp (locally called ikan mas) are two kinds of fish which farmers like to raise in their farm. 

Lake Linow and some of the flower plants which villagers grow in Subdistrict Sonder

In addition to food crops, visitors who take this farm tour can see other agricultural commodities which farmers in Minahasa like to grow such as flowers, patchouli, vanilla, and clove. Colourful flower plants could be seen in Tincep village of Subdistrict Sonder and the farmland of Tomohon town. 

In the past a lot of farmers grow because the price of its clove flower buds was very high. Now farmers have diversified the crops that they grow. 

Another important commodity that the farmers in Minahasa grow in their farmland is vanilla. It is used as ingredients in various kinds of processed food products and in cosmetics.

Corn, vanilla, clove, papaya and rice in Minahasa highland

The duration of this farm tour can be as short as 1 day to as long as 3 days. Visitors who take this trip can see the natural beauty of the landscape, visit farmlands, meet and interact with local villagers and enjoy local cuisines.

Accomodation

During the tour, participants could stay in a hotel in Manado city or in a hotel in Tomohon town of Minahasa highland. As a tourist guide, we could arrange the accommodation for all tour participants.

To take this tour, visitors need to fly from their country to Manado city which is the capital of North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Regular daily flights between Manado city and main big cities in Indonesia are served by Garuda, Batik Air, Lion Air, Super Airjet, TransNusa and etc. 

Flight routes between Manado and cities in Indonesia as well as between Manado and Singapore

There are also international direct flights between Manado and Singapore that is served by Scoot Air; as well as between Manado and Guangzhou China that is served by TransNusa.

If you are interested in taking this farm tour in Minahasa highland, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Also read:

• Minahasa Highland Tour
• Nature Tour from Manado City

Freediving Photos from Raja Ampat

Snorkeling

I am guiding a Dutch lady this week on a snorkeling and freediving trip in Raja Ampat. We stayed at a guesthouse in Waigeo island run by a Papuan family. The coral reef at the front of the guesthouse is very beautiful and is the natural habitat of a lot of species of fish and other marine creatures.
This morning I gave an introductory snorkeling lesson to her. It was the first time for her to learn snorkeling. She practiced snorkeling in shallow water at depths of 1 to 1.5 meters. Wearing a life-jacket, mask, snorkel and water shoes, she started swimming to deeper area to see such fish as moorish idol, goatfish, striped surgeonfish, convict surgeonfish, damselfish, longfin spadefish, and butterflyfish. She was very happy to see the marine life.

Marine Life in Raja Ampat

After giving her a short snorkeling lesson that morning, I continued my exploration of the coral reef alone. With an action camera in my hand, I enjoyed freediving for approximately 45 minutes. I descended to a depth of 5 to 7 meters to find anemonefish, sea-star, Christmas tree worm, and grouper. I was able to take some good pictures of the underwater world of this beautiful marine environment.
In the afternoon, we had a tour around the King's karst, a tidal cave and a lagoon in Gam island. We really liked this adventure especially this July. The wind was strong and the sea surface was rough. During July, very few tourists come to Raja Ampat because weather is bad and the sea is mostly covered by whitish big waves. During the adventure tour by boat, we did some birding. From that afternoon trip, we saw Lesser Frigatebird, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Beach Kingfisher, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Brahminy Kite, Eclectus Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Pacific Swallow, Crested Tern, Brown Cuckoo Dove, and White-breasted Woodswallow.

Blue Sea Star and white Sea Worm

To watch birds, we used 10×42 mm binoculars. For taking pictures of them, we used Canon SX430. For underwater photographs, I used Brica B-Pro 5 Alpha Edition.
As a tourist guide, I offer a combined snorkeling, sightseeing, island hopping and birding tour to Raja Ampat for tourists who are interested in seeing the birdlife, marinelife and beautiful landscape of this tropical islands. If you want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. I will be happy to organize your trip and guide you around this marine paradise.

Birding Tour in Sonder of North Sulawesi

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It has got natural sites that are good for visitors to enjoy hiking, sightseeing and birdwatching. Here are some of them:

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

Tounelet Slope - This is a very small forest in Sonder town that is located behind Siloam Hospital of Sonder town. It is good for birdwatching especially early in the mornings and in late afternoons. Birds that could be watched include: Black-crowned White-eye, Sultan's Cuckoo-dove (also called Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove), Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Zebra Dove, Sulawesi Crow, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, White-nest Swiftlet, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Black-naped Oriole, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Pale Blue Monarch, Yellow-billed Malkoha, and etc.

Some birds in Sonder of Minahasa highland of Indonesia

Paddy Field of Talikuran village - This birdwatching site is located at the outskirts of Sonder. It is the site for watching Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, White-browed Crake, White-breasted Woodswallow, Barn Swallow, Collared Kingfisher, Javan Pond Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Isabelline Bush-hen and etc. 

Another rice field area that is worth visiting in Tincep Valley, various kinds of birds could be seen in this area. They include Purple Heron, Javan Pond Heron, Hair-crested (white-eyed) Drongo, Pied Stilt, White-breasted Woodswallow, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, and etc.  Sometimes, Black Kite, and Sulawesi Serpent Eagle could be seen flying over the sky of Sonder.

The ravine of Kengkang waterfall is located in the north of Sonder. We could watch some interesting birds such as Sulawesi-crested Myna, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, White-rumped Triller, and etc. 

Sulawesi Scops Owl

Sonder - Kiawa Road is not a busy transportation lane. It has got a lot of trees and agricultural crops that grow on both sides of it. Birds that could be watched in this area include: Finch-billed Myna (formerly called Gross-beaked Starling), Zebra Dove, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Lesser Fish Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Collared Kingfisher, Gray Wagtail, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, and etc.

More birds could be watched if we go hiking in the forest of Mount Lengkoan of Sonder. There are Warbling White-eye (Japanese White-eye), Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Black Sunbird, Black-faced Munia, Black-crowned White-eye, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Mountain Tailorbird, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Pitta, and etc.

Nocturnal birds that can be watched in Minahasa highland include Speckled Boobook, Sulawesi Masked Owl and Sulawesi Scops Owl. 

Duration of the tour - In general, visitors spend at least 3 days/ 2 nights in Sonder to enjoy birdwatching. However, if the tour is combined with trips to Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Lake Tondano, the duration of the tour in this part of Minahasa highland can be as long as 4 to 5 days. 

The total duration of birding tour across North Sulawesi Province is 7 to 9 days, this will include trip to Maleo Sanctuary in Kotamobagu, Minahasa highland (Tomohon and Sonder), and Tangkoko Nature Reserve.

How to get there?

Visitors who are interested in taking a birding tour in Sonder town as well as other birwatching sites in North Sulawesi need to fly from their country to Singapore and then to Manado city. Or they can fly to Jakarta or Denpasar Bali and then continue to Manado city. We could meet you at the airport of Manado city and organize your trip to Sonder and other birdwatching sites in North Sulawesi province of Indonesia.

Booking contact

Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.  

Also read:

• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa regency
• Hiking and Birding Tour in Sonder, Minahasa regency, Indonesia
• Birding and Butterfly watching in Sonder's Forest and Farmland

Birding Trip in North Sulawesi with A Canadian Birdwatcher

A trip Report by Charles Roring during 1 week birding trip in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Temboan Hill, Lake Tondano, Lake Linow, Mount Mahawu, Sonder's Mount Lengkoan Forest, Tincep's Rice Rield, Kengkang Waterfall and the outskirts of Manado city

From 31 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, I organized tour and guided Fred Hareau, a Canadian birdwatcher, on a birding trip across the Province of North Sulawesi of Indonesia. 

We went to Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Naun River, Lake Tondano, Lake Linow, Rurukan village, Mount Mahawu of Tomohon, Sonder's forest and rice field as well as Tincep's waterfall. 

Birding in North Sulawesi

Tangkoko Forest and Temboan Hill (31 December 2025 - 1 January 2026)

In Tangkoko's forest, we saw Rusty-backed Trush, Green-backed Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Babbler, Ruddy Kingfisher, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Black-billed Koel, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Maroon-chinned, Finch-billed Myna, White-necked Myna, Chinese Sparrowhawk, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Maroon-chinned Fruit-dove, Isabelline Bush-hen, Black-billed Koel, and etc. For mammals, we saw Sulawesi Bear Cuscus and Celebes-crested Macaque.

Celebes-crested Macaque

Naun River (2 January 2026)

We also did a trip by motorized boat to Naun River to find Great-billed Kingfisher. Along the sea cliffs, beach and river area, we also saw a lot of shore birds including Blue Rock Thrush, Pied Imperial Pigeon, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, Little Egret, Sulawesi Crow, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Pacific Reef Heron, Common Sand Piper, Terek Sandpiper, Nankeen Night Heron, Medium Egret, Great-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper, Pied Stilt and etc. 

We did night birding walks during our stay in Tangkoko. We saw Ochre-bellied Boobok, Speckled Boobook, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Northern Boobok, and Sulawesi Nightjar.

Lake Tondano (3 January 2026)

After spending 3 nights in Tangkoko, on January 3, 2026, we continued our trip to Lake Tondano where we watched Brahminy Kite, Black Kite, Dusky Moorhen, Oriental Reed Warbler, White-browed Crake, Barred Rail, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Javan Pond Heron and Cattle Egret. 

During our night birding activity in Tomohon, we saw Sulawesi-masked Owl. 

Tomohon and Mount Mahawu (4 to 5 January 2026)

On 4 January 2026, we took a morning birding trip in Rurukan village to see Sulawesi Pitta. After that we continued our trip to Mount Mahawu to watch Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Warbling White-eye, and Black-crowned White-eye.

We also visited the volcanic Lake Linow near Lahendong village. There, we watched Sunda Teal, (perhaps) Whiskered Tern (in winter plumage), Sunda Teal, Collared Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Australasian Swamphen, Barn Swallow, Javan Pond Heron, and etc.

Sonder (6 January 2026)

During our birding trip in Sonder's forest from 5 to 6 January 2026 from Mount Lengkoan to Tincep's rice field and Kengkang Waterfall, we experienced a lot of rain. However, we were able to watch Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, Hair-crested Drongo, Sulawesi Myzomela, Black-faced Munia, Barred Rail, Collared Kingfisher, Pied Stilt, Javan Pond Heron, Zebra Dove, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle,  Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Black-naped Oriole, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon. 

Manado city (7 January 2026)

To do our last morning birding walk, we left Tomohon town at 05:48 for the outskirts of Manado city. We saw Yellow-billed Malkoha, Javan Myna, Brown-throated Sunbird, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Crow, and three birds of Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora). We were quite surprised to see these birds because they were not a native bird of Sulawesi. Perhaps they escaped from cages that belonged to someone in Manado city. There was a raptor soaring high in the sky. We could not see it well because the weather was cloudy. Perhaps, it was Spotted Harrier. 

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing this contact link.

Also read:

• Birdwatching in Sonder