Birding Trip to Tambrauw Mountains

Moustached Treeswift in Aibogiar ridge of
Tambrauw Mountains

This is the picture of Moustached Treeswift (Hemiprocne mystacea) that I see in Aibogiar ridge of Tambrauw Mountains. I visited that region to watch birds and explore the tropical rainforest that covers most of its slopes, ravines and valleys. I also saw Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, New Guinea Vulturine Parrot and a lot of other birds that make the forest of Tambrauw as its habitat. Tambrauw regency is located between Sorong and Manokwari. It has got the potentials to be developed as a highly recommended destination for birdwatchers.
How to get there?

Tambrauw Mountains

If you want to enjoy hiking and birding in Tambrauw Mountains, here is the routes that you can take to reach the region.

• First, fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• After that, take a domestic flight to Sorong city.
• I could meet you at the airport and organize your birding and wildlife watching trip to Tambrauw.

Coconut lorikeet

What to bring

In general, every birdwatcher knows what they have to bring when they want to enjoy birding in the forest. Here are some of the things that visitors need:

• A good pair of binoculars and spotting scopes
• Digital camera with telephoto lens
• Field guide book: Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler
• Flash light/ torch
• Ponco
• Ziploc plastic bags to protect your electronics in case of rainings

Booking

Traveling to Tambrauw Mountains is quite expensive. I suggest that visitors travel in group to share the cost. If you are interested in going to Tambrauw Mountains, please, contact me by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Birding Tour in Tambrauw Mountains

This is the picture of Great Cuckoo Dove (Reinwardtoena reinwardti) that was made by a Belgian tourist in the forest of Tambrauw Mountains. There are a lot of beautiful birds which visitors can see while traveling to the regency. Birds such as Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius) and Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Diphylodes magnificus) can be found in region.

As a guide, I could organize tour to the regency for visitors who are interested in seeing rainforest environment. Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Rainforest Tour in Tambrauw Mountains

Tambrauw Mountains

Tambrauw is a mountain range that is located in the vogelkop region of West Papua. It is covered by tropical rainforest. I visited the mountain a few days ago to see the biodiversity of the forest environment. The tropical rainforest that covers the mountains and valleys of this regency is the natural habitat of a lot mammals, reptiles, marsupials, and insects. There are unique tropical trees, shrubs and lianas that visitors can see while walking through the dense forest of Tambrauw.
Birds such as Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus), Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus), Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), New Guinea Vulturine Parrot can be found in Tambrauw regency. Cuscus possum, deer, wild pigs, soa-soa monitor lizard, and a lot of species of insects also make the mountains as their natural habitat. While I was traveling in the mountains I saw plants such as sago, bamboo, a lot of kinds trees in the slopes and flat lands.
How to get there?
There are two entry points which visitors can choose to reach Tambrauw, i.e. Manokwari city and Sorong city. If you fly into Manokwari, you will be able to fly to Anjai and then by 4wd car to Tambrauw Mountains.
If you fly into Sorong city, I can organize your trip to Fef town by a chartered 4wd car.
Activities:
Hiking, camping, birdwatching/ wildlife watching

Nature lovers who are interested in seeing rainforest are highly recommended to go to Tambrauw Mountains. As a tourist guide, I organize rainforest tour for everybody who wants to explore the wealth of bio-diversity of Tambrauw. The duration of the tour is 5 to 7 days. 

If you are interested, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send whatsapp message to: +6281332245180.

Palm Cockatoo

Here are some pictures of Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus). Actually local people call the bird - Kakaktua Raja (meaning: King Cockatoo). The bird lives in tropical rainforest of New Guinea and its surrounding islands. As a tourist guide, I provide birding tours to anybody who is interested in watching King Cockatoo and other tropical birds in lowland forest especially in Manokwari or Raja Ampat.
How to get there?
Fly from your country to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.
Continue your trip to Manokwari, I will meet you at the airport and organize your trip to the forest.

Kakatua Raja (meaning: King Cockatoo)

What to bring:
A good pair of binoculars
Clothing that is suitable for tropical region
Blanket
Anti insect lotion
Field guide book: Birds of New Guinea, written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler

Booking:
Please, send message to Charles Roring by email to: leororing@gmail.com or whatsapp: +6281332245180

Large Tailed Nightjar

Large-tailed Nightjar

This is the picture of Large-Tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus). I saw it in Mesirrokow forest of Manokwari. The birds are usually active at nights. They like to sit among tall grass near rivers.
In addition to watching the nightjar, we can also watch Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Blyth's Hornbill, Brahminy Kite, and a lot more.
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp message to: +6281332245180 if you are interested in exploring tropical rainforest and birding with me.

Lesser Birds of Paradise

Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)

This is the picture of male Lesser Birds of Paradise that lives in tropical rainforest of New Guinea. Its natural habitat can be found in Vogelkop (Klasow valley, Tambrauw Mountains and Arfak mountains of Manokwari), Bomberai peninsula, Kaimana regency, Yapen Waropen, Sarmi, Jayapura and northern region of Papua New Guinea.
Susnguakti Forest of Arfak Mountains
In Susnguakti forest of Arfak mountains, visitors can watch these birds. To watch male birds of paradise perform mating dance in the branches of trees, we have to wake up early in the morning at 05.00 After that we need to have tea or coffee and make some preparation for long walk through the jungle to reach the birding ground of the paradise birds. They usually dance from 06.00 to 09.00. We need to watch them with binoculars. They are very beautiful. They are also active in the afternoons from 15.00 to 17.00.
Susnguakti forest is located in lower montane area of Arfak mountains, it is also the natural habitat of other birds of paradise such as Magnificent Riflebird, and King Bird of Paradise. - by Charles Roring
Also read:
King Bird of Paradise
Wilson's Bird of Paradise
Red Bird of Paradise

Birding in Lowland Forest of Sorong

Variable Goshawk

Klasow valley in Sorong regency is a nice destination for birdwatcher who wants to see such birds as Northern Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus), Variable Goshawk, Golden Myna, King Bird of Paradise, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Lowland Peltop, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and a lot of other birds that make the lowland rainforest of West Papua as their natural habitat.
Duration: On the average, the birding trip lasts between 4 to 5 days. Visitors can stay at a simple guesthouse built by local villagers.
How to get there?

• Fly from your country to Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia)
• Fly to Sorong city. 
• I will meet you at the airport and organize your tour to Klasow valley by a 4WD car.

If you are interested in visiting Klasow valley and enjoy birding with me, please, send email to (Charles Roring): peace4wp@gmail.com or text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180

Also read:
Watching the Courtship Dance of the Red Bird of Paradise
Watching Birds and Sea Turtle in Waigeo Island

Birding in Raja Ampat

Red Bird of Paradise

Raja Ampat islands in Indonesia have been considered as the best destination for scuba diving, snorkeling and other activities that are related to marine tourism. However, its hundreds of tropical islands are also very good destination for bird and wildlife watching. I have visited the islands a lot of times to organize marine tours as well as land tours for tourists.

Beautiful Birds

I guide birding visitors to Raja Ampat islands to see such birds as:

• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita),
• Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), 
• Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), 
• Moluccan King Parrot,
• Rainbow Lorikeet which is now called Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)
• Red-cheeked Parrot,
• Great-billed Parrot
• Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra), 
• Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica),
• Hook-billed Kingfisher, 
• Rufous Bellied Kookaburra, 
• Sacred Kingfisher, 
• Beach Kingfisher, 
• Spice Imperial Pigeon, 
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon
• Pied Imperial Pigeon
• Great cuckoo Dove
• Pink-spotted Fruit Dove
• Radjah Shelduck
• Pacific Swallow
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Sooty Tern
• Lesser-crested Tern,
• Striated Heron
• Eastern Reef Egret
• Little-pied Cormorant
• Lesser Frigatebird, 
• Eastern Osprey, 
• Brahminy Kite, 
• White-bellied Sea Eagle,
• Torresian Crow
• and a lot more. 

The duration of the birding walk can be as short as 2 days to as long as 1 full week. Most often, the birdwatching tour is combined with sightseeing trip by boat to various tropical islands and snorkeling activities in coral reef sites of Raja Ampat.

American tourists were birdwatching in Waigeo island

Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson B.O.P. and most other paradise birds are polygynous meaning that they are sexually very active and have more than one partners. To attract females, a male Red B.O.P. has to creates beautiful sounds of calls, perform a courtship dance to show his bright color plumage. This mating ritual, if I may call it, is performed early in the mornings (approximately from 06.00 to 09.00) and in the afternoons from around 15.00-17.00. We may consider them as philander or womanizer from the forest but these birds have to do that in order to survive.

Map Location of Raja Ampat

When you decide to take a birding trip to Raja Ampat islands, there are certain things that you need to bring such as:

• A good pair of binoculars
• Birding camera
• A spotting scope (optional)
• Watch/ alarm clock to manage your wake-up and birding time.
• Field guide book Birds of New Guinea
• Hat that you may need to use when birding during sunny days
• Anti-insect lotion/ spray
• Darker color clothing (dark green t-shirt and etc.)
• Flashlight

Visitors who also want to enjoy snorkeling could bring their snorkeling sets (masks, snorkels, and fins) as well as underwater camera.
If you are interested in visiting Raja Ampat and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.
Also read:
Wilson's Bird of Paradise
Marine Life in Raja Ampat
Snorkeling Tours in Raja Ampat

Birding Tour in Tambrauw Mountains of West Papua

The mountain range of Tambrauw is located between Manokwari and Sorong. It is one of the best birding sites in West Papua province of Indonesia. A lot of species of birds live there including Palm Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Yellow-faced Myna, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Mountain Peltops, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Kingfisher, and Yellow-billed Kingfisher.

French tourists were birdwatching in Tambrauw Mountains

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)  Photo: Wim Boyden

As a tourist guide, I could organize birding trip to the area especially for visitors who want to spend multiple days birding in the lower montane and upper montane forest of Tambrauw.

Pinon Imperial Pigeon  Photo: Wim Boyden

Because of its remote location, I highly suggest that visitors go in a group of 3 to 4 people or more to share the cost of transportation, food and accommodation. Most of Tambrauw regency is covered by pristine rainforest. For birding sites that are located deep in the forest, we will provide tents, sleeping bags, cooking and eating utensils for our clients.

Most birdwatchers know what they have to bring when going on a birding trip. Usually a pair of binoculars and a camera with telephoto lens will be needed for the purpose. Sometimes, laser pointer is used to show where a bird sits in a high tree. I personally use a Visionking 10×42mm binoculars that are equipped with Bak 4 Prism and multi-coated lens. For watching birds in an open forest area, I bring a Kinglux 20-60×60 mm spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod. It gives me clear view of birds in high trees especially when the weather is good.

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Tambrauw mountains and want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: leororing@gmail.com or whatsapp to: +6281332245180

Also read:

• Tour Package for Holiday in Raja Ampat
• Snorkeling and Birding in Raja Ampat

Camping and Birding in Arfak Mountains

Common Paradise Kingfisher

Arfak mountains have been famous as one of the most important destinations among birdwatchers. There are several places in the region that are frequently visited by foreign birdwatchers who want to see paradise birds. One of them is Susnguakti forest. It is located in the south of Manokwari city approximately one hour by car. To watch birds such as Magnificent Riflebird, Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), and Common Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) visitors need to stay for at least 2 to 3 days in the mountains. As of today, there is no guesthouse in the jungle of Mount Mabowi. So, birdwatchers need to stay in tents in campsites that have been prepared by local guides.

Lesser Birds of Paradise

Birds are usually active in the mornings and in the afternoons. For instance, Lesser Birds of Paradise like to gather and dance at around 06.00. So, visitors need to wake up early at 05.00. After drinking tea or coffee and some biscuits or bread, they have to walk for 20 minutes to the birding ground. They can watch the birds until 09.00. In addition to watching Lesser B.O.P., visitors can watch King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), Hooded Butcherbird, Rainbow Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, and a lot of other birds that are endemic to New Guinea.

Birders, in general, bring their own binoculars, and spotting scope. Some also bring Swiss Army Knife, GPS tracker, and sound recording device. I highly recommend a field guide book: Birds of New Guinea written by Than K. Pratt, and Bruce Beehler.

Cuscus Possum in Susnguakti forest of Manokwari.

Night walk is usually carried out by local villagers and guide to find cuscus possum. In certain places, villagers and tourists will stop and sit on the ground. After that, one of the villagers will immitate the sound of female cuscus to attract the male one. When the call is being done, all flash lights have to be off. Glowing mushrooms can also be seen at night especially during rainy season.

Bringing a portable dome tent is a good idea but not a must. There are some campsites in the forest of Mount Susnguakti which I, and local villagers built for visitors. There are also plates, glasses, and cooking pans. With all of the available equipment, I hope that visitors who go to the forest can enjoy their birding trip in the area well.


Also read:

• A Visit to North-east Region of Waigeo island
• Watching Birds and Sea Turtle in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat
• King Bird of Paradise

Birding Tour in Manokwari Lowland Forest

Birding in Lowland Forest of Manokwari

West Papua has been considered as a world class destination for birding. There are a lot of places in this region where birdwatchers can visit to see colorful birds including several species of birds of paradise. One of the birding sites that I know is the lowland forest of Manokwari. It is located in the western area of the city and can be reached by car. The birding ground itself is located deep in the forest. Visitors have to walk through the jungle, and cross rivers to reach it.
The lowland forest is the natural habitat of such birds as Papuan Blyth's Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii), Golden Myna (Mino anais), Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis), Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus), Glossy Manucode (Manucodia ater), Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor), King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), and a lot more.
The Birding Tour

Large-tailed Nightjar

Visitors stay for 3 to 5 days in the forest and do hiking a long the sides of the river to see birds. There are no hotels or resorts in the area, visitors stay in tents which they need to bring for the trip.
Day 1
We will start the tour by going to the market to buy food supplies. After that we will charter a car that will bring us to the entrance point of the lowland forest. We will continue our trip on foot. After one hour walking, we will arrive at Campsite 1. We will install our tents and put our bags in them. While our local guides prepare our lunch or evening food, we can start birding immediately.  Birds such as Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro), Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud), Pinon Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pinon) and Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) are some of the target birds that we will try to find in the surrounding area.
Overnight stay in Campsite 1 near the river
Day 2

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The next morning, we will have tea and coffee before dismantling our tents and walk deeper into the jungle. Usually between 05.30 to 07.00 we could see a lot of bird activities where Sulphur Crested Cockatoes go out of their nests and Blyth's hornbill birds begin to fly over the sky to find fruits. In the middle of the day, we will rebuild out tents in Campsite 2.
There are also Yellow-faced Myna, Moustached Treeswift, Dollarbird and Pinon Imperial Pigeon that like to have sunbathing under the morning sun before flying away to any corners of the forest. We could do night walk to find Papuan Frogmouth or Fruit Bat and other birds that sleep in lower branches of the trees at night but difficult to be seen during the day. Overnight Stay in Campsite 2
Day 3

Birding Walk

We expect more bird activity in the forest and hopefully, we could find birds such as Spangled Drongo, Golden Myna, Magnificent Riflebird, Hooded Butcherbird, Pink-spotted Fruitdove. We will walk around to find Western-Crowned Pigeon, Variable Goshawk, Helmetted Friarbird, Large Fig Parrot.
Overnight stay in Campsite 2.
Day 4
We will walk back to main road. It takes approximately several hours to reach it. During the riverwalk, we will be able to see more birds and wild animals.
We will return to Manokwari city again by car.

What to bring:
Visitors who want to do birdwatching in this area need to bring binoculars, spotting scope, field guide book Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler, and flashlight.
What we provide:
As tour guide, I provide sleeping bags, tents, eating utensil and cooking equipment.
Also read:
Birding in Raja Ampat
Watching the Courtship Dance of Red Bird of Paradise

Burung Cendrawasih Merah

Ini adalah sketsa sepasang burung Cendrawasih Merah di hutan Mamdifu, kawasan timur laut dari Pulau Waigeo - Kepulauan Raja Ampat. Dalam bahasa Inggris (dan Latin) burung ini disebut Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra). Saya melihat burung ini ketika sedang memandu 3 orang wisatawan India yang khusus datang dari negara mereka untuk melihat burung-burung surga di habitat alaminya.

Burung Cendrawasih Merah / Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) di hutan Raja Ampat

Sejauh ini ada 41 spesies Burung Cendrawasih atau Burung Surga yang dikenal dalam dunia sains. Kebanyakan tinggal di Papua. Keindahan warna bulu dan kemampuannya berdansa sering menyebabkan burung ini menjadi sasaran perburuan satwa liar. Pemerintah dan berbagai lembaga internasional yang mengawasi perdagangan hewan telah melarang perburuan maupun perdagangan satwa liar.
Salah satu cara untuk menekan dan mencegah perburuan terhadap satwa yang dilindungi ini adalah dengan mempromosikannya sebagai daya tarik ekowisata. Wisatawan bisa berkunjung ke hutan tempat Burung Cendrawasih biasanya berkumpul dan berdansa untuk menontonnya. Warga kampung diberi pekerjaan sebagai penunjuk jalan, tukang masak, tukang pikul tas serta pengelola penginapan supaya mereka bisa memperoleh penghasilan bagi keluarga mereka tanpa harus menembak dan menjual burung tersebut.
Sebagai pemandu wisata, saya telah memandu banyak wisatawan yang khusus datang dari berbagai negara di dunia untuk melihat burung surga di berbagai hutan Papua.
Secara pribadi saya sangat beruntung karena telah melihat berbagai spesies yang hidup di Papua Barat, antara lain:

• Cendrawasih Kuning / Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor)
• Cendrawasih Merah/ Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra)
• Cendrawasih Raja / King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius)
• Cendrawasih Hitam / Western Parotia (Parotia sefilata)
• Cendrawasih Knang / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus)
• Cendrawasih 12 Antena / Twelve wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca)
• Cendrawasih Leher Biru / Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus)
• Cendrawasih Paruh Lengkung Hitam / Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastuosus)
• Cendrawasih Paruh Lengkung Coklat / Brown Sicklebill (Epimachus meyeri)
• Cendrawasih Ekor Pita / Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Astrapia mayeri)

Karena saya suka sekali menggambar/ melukis maka saya telah membuat sketsa beberapa spesies yang telah saya lihat tersebut. Sebenarnya bukan hanya burung yang saya gambar.
Ada juga bunga, perahu, pemandangan alam serta gambar manusia. Berikut ini adalah gambar seorang perempuan yang duduk di tepi pantai sambil menikmati keindahan matahari terbenam. Ulasan tentang gambar ini bisa dilihat di blog saya yang lain yakni wildlife-drawing.blogspot.com.

Gambar Perempuan Memandang Senja

Jila Anda tertarik menonton secara langsung burung Cendrawasih di hutan Papua, silahkan menghubungi saya lewat email: leororing@gmail.com atau pesan teks di whatsapp: +6281332245180.

Swimming with Whaleshark

Vector Drawing

When I made figure drawing of the lady, I paid special attention to the balanced proportions of her body, legs and arms with the giant fish. It is a general rule which all artist must do. However, in this drawing of female swimmer, I gave more attention on size comparison between the human figure and the whaleshark. This fish was several times bigger than the swimmer. I had to make sure that the drawing was relevant with the real scene. The female figure should not be too small or too big.

Pencil Sketch of Female Swimmer and Whaleshark

Digital Drawing
Because  the main objective was to depict the underwater scene of how a female swimmer encounter a big fish at sea, the vocal point was not in drawing detailed parts of the body of the fish and the swimmer but in correct size comparison of the female figure and the fish.
When I re-drew the sketch in Inkscape, I moved the swimmer in more inclined position to show that she was freediving towards the giant fish.
Inkscape was a vector illustration software that was available for free to graphic design artist. Because the original file format was created as vector file, it could be exported to png file in any size. The problem was that the software was not as intuitive as other drawing program such as Autodesk Sketchbook, Artrage, or Artflow. There was Adobe Draw whose file was a vector one and its use was very intuitive as Sketchbook or Artrage or the manual paper and pencil drawing. I will discuss them in my later works if I have got the time.
Please, see products such as t-shirt, mugs, cell phone case, as well as stickers and spiral notebooks that have got the above vector illustration printed on them at this link: Swimming with Whaleshark.