Birds in Love

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.

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.

Golden Myna in Klasow Valley

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.

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/ E-mail: peace4wp@gmail.com Whatsapp: +6281332245180.
Palm Cockatoo
Explore the Natural Beauty of West Papua

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
Related Posts:
Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher
Azure Kingfisher
Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
Great-billed Kingfisher

Spangled Drongo

This is a picture of a couple 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 have got red eyes.  They eat insect and small vertebrates. There are several villages in Klasow valley where visitors could stay in for watching birds. Some of them include Klatomok and Klabili villages.  Visitors go there to also watch Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Brahminy Kite, Variable Goshawk, and a lot more.

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.
Also read:
Olive-backed Sunbird
Western Parotia - the ballet dancer
Cockatoos and Parrots in West Papua

Palm Cockatoo from West Papua's Forest

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) in Waigeo island
Photo: Charles Roring

Here is the picture of Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) that I saw in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat. The bird was eating catappa fruits (beach almond) when I shot it using my Fujifilm HS50EXR. It was quite big with black - greyish feather. The red patch on its cheek was very visible under the morning sunlight. This bird is also called Goliath Cockatoo, or Great Black Cockatoo.
In Indonesia, its name is Kakaktua Raja (meaning King Cockatoo). Birdwatchers can see the bird in mainland New Guinea (West Papua and Papua New Guinea), Maluku islands, northern region of Australia, and other tropical islands in the Pacific.

Palm Cockatoo in Waigeo island

The first time I saw Palm Cockatoo in its natural habitat was in Table Mountain of Manokwari. I was guiding three Russian tourists at that time. Later, I saw the bird again in Tambrauw Mountains when I guided two Belgian tourists. I was walking with them under the canopy of the forest when suddenly this goliath looking bird landed on the branch of the tree above our heads. The Belgian tourist quickly pulled his camera out of his backpack, turned it on and aimed it at the bird. He successfuly made some nice pictures of the Goliath Cockatoo. Seconds later, the bird flew away.

Personally, I have taken pictures of Palm Cockatoo in several different forest areas in West Papua. I like the bird because it is different from other birds. It is more independent. Unlike its relatives the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo that like to fly in groups, Palm Cockatoo likes flying solo exploring the lush green of tropical rainforest. Sometimes there are a couple of the birds feeding on fruits in trees.
One day, I was guiding some European birdwatchers in Klasow valley of Sorong regency. We woke up early in the morning to see Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus). While we were waiting for the Bird of Paradise to come, a Palm Cockatoo landed on the tree trunk where the Twelve-wired BOP like to play. It was staying on that trunk approximately 30 minutes. I had a chance to take a lot of pictures of the birds. Unfortunately, the bird was quite far from us and there was some glare from the rising sun. But it was a very nice moment in my life where I could see Palm Cockatoo for quite long. And the Twelve-wired BOP? He did not come that morning. This was written by Charles Roring
Also read:
Cockatoos and Parrots in West Papua
Birding Walk in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat

Magnificent Bird of Paradise

Magnificent Bird of Paradise
Photo: Charles Roring

Magnificent Birds of Paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus) live in mid-montane forest of New Guinea. This paradise bird can easily be watched in Arfak mountains especially in the mornings and in the afternoons. Physically, a male Magnificent BOP is similar to Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica). The male Magnificent BOP is slightly larger then the Wilson's BOP. He has got mostly yellow and brown feather with dark green underparts. Magnificent BOP has been a favorite tourist attractions in Manokwari for birdwatchers who come from the United Kingdom, the United States as well as a number of Asian and North American countries. For sexualy life, the Magnificent Bird of Paradise is mostly polygamous.
Camping and Wildlife Watching in Susnguakti forest