Red Bird of Paradise

Male Red BOP was performing courtship dance
to attract his female birds.

Here are the photographs of Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) that I watched when I went birding in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat.
There are several places in the island which birders could visit to watch the birds. The ones that I know are Warafar, Mamdifu and Fish Lagoon forests in the eastern region of the island. There are also some birding sites in southern region of Waigeo, particularly Saporkren where the Red BOP could be seen. The best time to watch the birds is early in the morning at approximately  05.30 to 09.00.

From my personal experience, morning time is not always the best time because most often the birding site is against the morning sunlight. I usually checked the birding site first before deciding whether it is good to watch in the morning or in the afternoon. If the bench for birdwatchers or birding platform is in the east or northeast of the tree, morning time is the best. If it is in the west or south west, afternoon time will be the better choice. Watching birds of paradise with sunlight against our eyes will not give us the best birding experience. Most often, when we want to take pictures of birds in high tree in backlight condition, what we will get are dark or glare pictures.
When the sun is behind us during the birding time, we will get brighter and sharper pictures of the paradise birds.
The population of birds of paradise in the forest is decreasing due to continuous logging activities and poaching. The introduction of birding tourism in Raja Ampat is very important in supporting local people to protect their forest and animals that live in it.

Tiger Orchid

While travelling in the forest, it is not only birds that can be seen but also other animals and unique plants. One day, I went to the eastern most area of Waigeo island. While exploring the tropical rainforest, I saw beautiful orchid flowers at a steep hill. I was surprized to see that flowers were very fragrant. I took pictures of the flowers and then did some research on the internet about this interesting plant. Finally, I could identify it. Its name was  Queen of the Orchids (Grammatophyllum speciosum). It is also called Tiger Orchid. by Charles Roring
Also read:

• Lesser Bird of Paradise

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

Male Wilson's Bird of Paradise

Here is the picture of Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica) that I saw when I went organized birdwatching tour for 2 Australian and 1 Chinese visitors in the southern region of Waigeo island - Raja Ampat archipelago. We had to wake up early in the morning at 04.00 to make preparations before leaving our guesthouse for the birding site by a small motorized boat. When we arrived at the beach, we still had to hike for one hour to reach the birding hut where visitors usually watched the bird. Unfortunately the weather was not so good. It was six o'clock morning time and it started to rain heavily.
We had to wait for 12 hours just to see Wilson. Finally, we could hear his calls again and soon after that he landed on his playing ground at approximately 16.00. He cleaned the ground picking up dry leaves and twigs. He was there for approximately 30 minutes, long enough for us to take pictures of this beautiful bird. The female bird did not come but we were satisfied with the sighting of the male one. The next morning, we were able to watch the Red Bird of Paradise. It was a tiring but very successful trip.

A Guesthouse in Raja Ampat

Abundant Marine Life
The guesthouse where we stayed during our birding tour in Raja Ampat stood above sea water with beautiful coral reef and marine life. So, it was not only birding that we enjoyed but also swimming and snorkeling. I wish I could take pictures of the tropical fish. Unfortunately, my underwater camera was broken and could not be used anymore. We only spent nearly 3 days/ 2 nights here but it was an unforgetable experience. I hope that I will be able to return to this place again in the near future. by Charles Roring
Also read:

• Birding in Raja Ampat
• Birding Tour to Raja Ampat
• Coconut Lorikeet from Waigeo island of Raja Ampat
• Beach Kingfisher

Wisata Petualangan di Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat adalah salah satu destinasi wisata bahari yang terkenal di seluruh dunia. Puluhan ribu wisatawan ke sana untuk berenang dan menyelam serta melihat keindahan panorama pulau-pulau tropis yang mencuat dari lautan biru.

Petualangan di Raja Ampat

Sebagai pemandu turis, saya sudah mengatur perjalanan wisata bagi banyak pelancong yang datang dari dalam dan luar negeri. Meskipun sebagian besar dari mereka mengambil paket wisata biasa seperti snorkeling dan kunjungan ke pasir timbul, Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, Teluk Kabui dan Pianemo, ada juga pengunjung yang meminta paket wisata yang berbeda.

Naik Perahu Keliling Raja Ampat

Untuk memenuhi permintaan yang seperti itu, saya menyediakan tur khusus ke lokasi-lokasi yang terpencil atau yang tidak berada di jalur kunjungan yang umum. Contohnya: Wisata Petualangan ke Hutan dan Pulau-pulau Kosong di bagian timur Raja Ampat. Selama mengikuti tur petualangan ini para pelancong bisa menikmati berenang di pulau-pulau kosong, berkemah di dalam hutan, menonton burung, serta melihat kampung-kampung pesisir masyarakat Papua yang ada di kawasan itu. Jadi peserta tidak tidur di resort - resort mewah melainkan di dalam tenda di tepi sungai atau di tepi pantai.

Laguna Ikan di Raja Ampat

Bahkan di perairan tertentu, wisatawan bisa menikmati kegiatan mancing dan piknik di pantai sambil memanggang ikan hasil tangkapan. Pemandangan alam pegunungan yang berpadu dengan lautan seperti pada foto di atas ini sungguh memukau di mata para pelancong dan tidak kalah dibandingkan situs lainnya seperti Wayag, Pianemo dan Teluk Kabui.
Kebanyakan peserta wisata petualangan ini berasal dari luar negeri seperti India, Jerman dan bahkan dari Ceko.

Pasir Timbul di Raja Ampat

Untuk memudahkan wisatawan mengikuti petualangan tersebut, saya menyediakan tenda dome, lampu penerangan bertenaga surya serta peralatan masak dan makan.
Peserta diminta untuk membawa sendiri perlengkapan pribadi seperti baju renang, senter, dan alat snorkeling.
Wisata petualangan di Raja Ampat ini akan meninggalkan kesan tersendiri di hati setiap peserta tur tentang betapa indahnya alam ini dan betapa pentingnya upaya kita untuk melestarikannya. - Ditulis oleh Charles Roring

Baca juga:

• Jalan-jalan ke Kampung Tincep, sentra penjualan bunga di Minahasa
• Melihat Daerah Pertanian di Minahasa
• Dodol Penganan Lezat dari Minahasa
• Pedati di Minahasa

Wisata Pengamatan Burung di Hutan Papua

Sebagai pemandu turis, saya telah mengatur banyak sekali perjalanan wisata ke hutan - hutan Papua Barat bagi para pelancong dalam dan luar negeri. Kami menjelajah hutan untuk melihat berbagai macam tumbuhan dan hewan. Daya tarik utama hutan Papua baik di dataran rendah maupun dataran tinggi adalah adanya beberapa spesies burung surga yang indah warnanya. Burung-burung ini biasanya aktif di pagi dan sore hari.

Burung Cendrawasih Kuning

Wisatawan dari manca negara umumnya menghabiskan waktu selama 3 sampai 4 hari untuk melihat Cendrawasih Kuning (Lesser Birds of Paradise), Cendrawasih Raja (King Bird of Paradise) serta Magnificent Riflebird.
Di samping itu pula, ada juga burung-burung lain yang indah warnanya seperti Mina Emas (Golden Myna), Kakaktua Raja (Palm Cockatoo) serta burung Raja Udang Paruh Kuning.
Wisatawan suka memotret burung dan satwa liar lainnya. Kamera yang sesuai untuk keperluan tersebut adalah kamera bridge dengan zoom sebesar 50 hingga 60 kali seperti Nikon P900, Canon SX60HS. Kamera D-SLR dengan lensa telefoto hingga 800 mm cocok untuk memotret burung yang sedang bertengger di cabang pohon yang tinggi.
Di samping kamera, ada pula peralatan lain yang diperlukan untuk menonton burung-burung tersebut. Peralatan seperti binokular, spotting scope dan pena laser digunakan untuk mengamati burung serta satwa liar lainnya di hutan.

Kegiatan wisata pengamatan burung dapat membuka wawasan kita tentang alam sekaligus membuat kita semakin peduli untuk melestarikannya.

Common Paradise Kingfisher

Common Paradise Kingfisher

Here is the photograph of Common Paradise Kingfisher that I saw in Susnguakti forest of Arfak range when I guided a Filipino lady for 3 days/ 2 nights on a hiking and birding tour in the area. Actually, we were not waiting for the Kingfisher. What we were waiting for was Lesser Birds of Paradise. We sat silently on the ground under some trees while listening to the calls of the paradise birds on the canopy of the forest. Suddenly, the Common Paradise Kingfisher landed on the branch of a tree just a few meters from me. I quickly aimed my Fujifilm HS50EXR at the bird and pressed the shutter button of my camera several times. Seconds later, the bird flew away again. Actually, I used to see the same bird several months earlier in the same place where I made good photographs of the Paradise Kingfisher. During the tour, we also saw Dwarf Cassowary, Hooded Butcherbird and the Lesser Birds of Paradise that we were waiting for.
This Common Paradise Kingfisher can also be seen in Waigeo island of Raja Ampat and even in Halmahera island. Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher looks similar to the Common Paradise Kingfisher but its tails are thicker.

Also read:

• Yellow-billed Kingfisher
• Beach Kingfisher
• Azure Kingfisher in Halmahera
• Great-billed Kingfisher

Kingfishers

There are a lot of species of Kingfishers in tropical rainforest of West Papua. I personally have seen many of them in lowland, lower montane forest and in the islands of Raja Ampat, Klasow valley of Sorong, Arfak mountains, Tambrauw mountains and Wondama regency. In lower montane forest of Arfak range, while I was waiting for the Lesser Birds of Paradise to show up in the branches of trees above myself, suddenly I saw a Common Paradise Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea) landed on a branch of a tree just a few meters away from me. He sat there for less than one minute and then flew away again. Fortunately, I was able to make some pictures of the bird. It was the second time I saw the bird in relatively the same place.

Kingfishers of Klasow Valley

Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

I also saw several species of Kingfishers in lowland forest of Sorong regency. Some of them include Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra and Yellow-billed Kingfisher. Some like to live along the sides of the river whereas others like forest edges near the village. For the Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, I saw the bird several times in Klasow valley. I does not live near a river. The bird liked to sit alone one the branch of a tree with the above green leaves as heat cover. Actually, I did not see the bird. I was walking towards a tree where Lesser Birds of Paradise were dancing. A local guide stopped me and pointed his finger to the kingfisher. The bird was not far. I immediately aimed my Fujifilm HS 50EXR camera at the bird ant shot him. A few seconds later, the bird flew away. I was lucky, it was a good shot.

Yellow-billed Kingfisher

For the picture of these Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro), I took it when I guided a Chinese lady in Klasow valley. We were trying to see King Bird of Paradise but he did not show up. Next, we moved on to the tree where Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise like to perch and dance. He did not come either. But ee heard the sounds of Yellow-billed Kingfisher at the forest edge that bordered with the clearing area of the village. We approached the birds. They were not afraid of us. Perhaps, the birds were so much attracted to each other. It was a mating season for the kingfishers, I think.

In Raja Ampat, I had the chance to see Hook-billed Kingfisher while walking in the forest in southern region of Waigeo. I also saw Beach Kingfisher on several occasions. Recently, I visited Waisai town of Raja Ampat for two days. While I was doing a short birding walk at a cape near the harbor of the town, I saw a Beach Kingfisher calling from a branch of a tree near the sea. He was quite big compared to other kingfishers.

I will go to Sorong regency tomorrow again. I hope that I will be able to see and make photographs of the ones that I have not seen before.

Outdoor Adventure Tour in Raja Ampat

As a tourist guide, I often organize adventure tour for anyone who is interested in exploring the outdoor marine environment of Raja Ampat. The tour will include swimming, snorkeling and free-diving in some uninhabited islands where visitors can see the wealth of marine life of the archipelago. There are thousands of fish and marine creatures that we could see in the water while we enjoy snorkeling or free diving. Some of them include
butterflyfish, spadefish, moorish idol, convict surgeonfish, damselfish, pink anemonefish, snappers, groupers, parrotfish, sweetlips and giant trevally and manta.

Adventure Tour in Raja Ampat islands

In addition to water sport activities, we will also go hiking in the forest to watch wild animals and tropical birds including the Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) and Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica). From my previous experience, we could also watch other birds such as Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Blyth's Hornbill, Beach Kingfisher, Singing Starling, Brahminy Kite during the tour.
Taking Pictures

Visitors need to bring good photographic devices for taking pictures of those birds. D-SLR camera, with super telephoto lens, is an ideal one but it is heavy and expensive. Fortunately, there are bridge cameras that offer excellent quality pictures for birding and wildlife watching. Some bridge cameras that I highly recommend are Nikon P600, Nikon P900, Canon SX60 HS, and Fujifilm HS50EXR. 

Flying to Raja Ampat

I often receive questions about flight info from visitors who want to visit Raja Ampat. As a matter of fact, it is not difficult to reach Raja Ampat. 

• Fly from your country to Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia
• And then fly from the city to Sorong city. There are daily regular flights that are served by such domestic airlines as Garuda, Sriwijaya, Nam Air, Batik Air and Travira Air between Jakarta and Sorong.
• When you have arrived in Sorong, you could take ferry or speed boat to Raja Ampat.

Things to bring

If you want to enjoy swimming and snorkeling, don't forget to bring mask, fins, and fins. If you also want to enjoy birding, a good pair of binoculars is highly needed. You also need to bring ziploc plastic bags to protect your passport, money and other important documents for the trip. Torch is also needed because electricity is not always available in remote islands.

For traveling to remote uninhabited islands, bringing dome tents and mattrasses will enable us to stay there for several nights.

My Bridge Birding Camera

Lesser Birds of Paradise shot by Fujifilm HS50EXR

Most professional photographers use D-SLR camera with telephoto lens to take pictures of birds. However, they are very expensive and heavy. I have used bridge cameras for birding since 2010. The quality of photographs, may not be the best, but is good enough for bird identification and picture sharing on my blog and social media. My first bridge camera was Nikon Coolpix P500. I used it when I traveled to a lot of regions not only in West Papua but also in Indonesia. Later, when the camera could not function properly anymore, I bought Nikon Coolpix P600. It was a nice camera but had a very short life. I did not make a lot of pictures of birds with the P600. Now, there are Nikon P900 and Nikon P1000 on the market but I haven't tested them yet.

Grass flowers in Tambrauw Mountain

My Current Birding Camera

After using Nikon cameras for several years, I decided to buy a different camera from different brand. I bought a Fujifilm HS50EXR. After using the cameras for several years, I could say that this is my best choice. I have captured hundreds of good quality pictures of birds, butterflies, flowers and landscape scenery. The camera is not expensive compared to high end D-SLR camera. To take pictures of  birds, I have to turn the lens barrel manually. This saves the battery life of my camera. I often spend 3 days up to 2 weeks guiding visitors on a birding trip in the jungle of West Papua from the tropical rainforest of Arfak mountains to Klasow valley, to Raja Ampat. For that long trip, I always have 1 extra battery in the pocket of my bag. I also put the charging device and its cable in it. My Fujifilm HS50EXR allows me to take pictures of birds for several days in the jungle without recharging. I often mention this camera in my blog posts.

Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

I hope that Fujifilm will continue to upgrade this Finepix HS50 EXR camera by creating higher version with 50x or even 60x optical zoom. However, I am sad to read that the company has discontinued the production and further development this electronic product.

by Charles Roring

Red Bird of Paradise

Red Bird of Paradise

I have organized birding tours in West Papua for several years now. Most of the visitors come to watch paradise birds. One of the most favorite destinations is Raja Ampat. There are two species that are known to science, i.e. Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) and Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica). There are a lot of places that we could go to watch the Red BOP. One of them is in the forest of Waigeo island. This year, I run several birding and snorkeling tours to Raja Ampat. To watch the birds, we have to wake up at 04.00 in the morning. We need to make some preparations such as preparing our clothing, hiking shoes, binoculars, camera and food. After having some tea and biscuits, we need to walk up slopes for approximately 45 minutes to reach the birding ground. Local villagers have built a birding platform made of wood. The raised wooden structure is 4 meters tall and is suitable for photographers who want to take pictures of birds.

Birdwatching in Raja Ampat

Birds are usually active from 06.00 to 09.00. Male Red Birds of Paradise call their female counterparts and compete one another to win the heart of the female birds for mating. They perform their best courtship dance to impress the female birds. Red Birds of Paradise look similar to Lesser Birds of Paradise but they have got red feather.

To watch Red Bird of Paradise, visitors need binoculars. I highly recommend the ones manufactured by Zeiss, Swarovski or Nikon. The size can be 10×42 mm or even the 12×50 mm. There are also binoculars that are made by Chinese companies and are offered in more affordable prices. I personally use a pair of Visionking 10×42 mm binoculars. They are not the best in the market but they are good enough for birding and wildlife watching. So, if you plan to enjoy birding, don't forget to bring good quality binoculars to enhance your birdwatching experience.

Birding is not the only activity which tourists can enjoy while traveling to Raja Ampat, snorkeling and swimming are also interesting especially for visitors who like to see coral reef and marine life. So, visitors can bring mask, snorkel, and fins if they want to enjoy snorkeling in the archipelago.

Also read:
Red Bird of Paradise Digital Art
Wildlife Tour in Raja Ampat

Outdoor Adventure Trips in Raja Ampat

I organize Outdoor Adventure Trips for anyone who is interested in exploring uninhabited islands, coral reef environment and tropical rainforest of Raja Ampat. The duration of the tour is from 3 to 6 days. During the trip, visitor will be able to enjoy snorkeling over coral reef of the archipelago to see such colorful tropical fish as moorish idol, anemonefish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish and a lot more.

Panoramic View of Raja Ampat islands

For adventure in the forest, visitor will go hiking to watch paradise birds such as Wilson's Birds of Paradise (Diphyllodes respublica) and Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor). There are also a lot of other birds and animal in the jungle of the archipelago. Some of them include Lowland Peltop, Eclectus Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Beach Kingfisher, Olive-backed Sunbird, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, and Coconut Lorikeet.
Raja Ampat is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia. This regency has got hundreds of small tropical islands that are surrounded by white sandy beach and pristine coral reef.

Things to bring:
For visitors who like swimming and snorkeling, a snorkeling set such as mask, fins, and underwater camera is needed.
For birders, a good pair of binoculars, digital camera with telephoto lens will enhance their birding experience.

Crystal Clear Sea Water and Coral Reef in Raja Ampat

How to get there?
It is easy to reach the islands.

• First, visitors need to make a little research on the internet about the available tour package in Raja Ampat. 
• After finding the ones that they are interested in, they can fly from their country to Jakarta or Denpasar. 
• There are regular domestic flights served by airlines in Indonesia such as Garuda, Sriwijaya, Nam Air and Batik Air to Sorong city.
• From this city, visitors can continue their trip by fast ferry boat to Raja Ampat.

Beach Kingfisher

I was in Waisai town of Raja Ampat a few days ago for meeting with other local guides. During that trip I had a short birding walk in a small cape near the harbor. It was morning time and the activity of birds were quite high. Birds that I saw at that time were Willie Wagtail, Coconut Lorikeet, Moustached Treeswift, Singing Starling and Beach Kingfisher.

I brought with me a pair of 10×42 mm Visionking roof prism binoculars, and my old bridge camera Fujifilm HS50EXR. Because I was watching birds from the second floor of a building, I could easily find birds that were perching on the surrounding trees. I could also see some singing starlings that were sitting on top of navigation lamp post that stood on the shallow water of the cape. After watching birds for approximately 30 minutes, I walked down the building and had a short walk to the side and backyard of the building. There was a gazebo on the shallow water right below the cape. It was connected to the cape by wooden bridge. I walked to the gazebo. I could hear the sound of various species of birds in that small forest but could not see them easily due to the enormous number of leaves, branches and twigs of the trees in the steep slopes of the cape. So, I walked back to the top of the cape.

Beach Kingfisher in Waigeo island

Soon I was able to take pictures of rainbow lorikeet. I gave up hope of seeing Beach Kingfisher that was calling from inside the bush of the trees. One hour later I could hear the sound of the Beach Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus). The bird had flown on to dead branches of a tree above the sea. He called his female counterpart for a few minutes from that naked branches. As soon as I saw him, I quickly turned on my camera and aimed it at the bird. I was able to take some good pictures of the bird. He was approximately 40 meters away from me. I used maximum zoom of my camera. Less than 3 minutes later, he flew away.

Beach Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus)

About Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat islands are very beautiful destination for visitors who like marine tourism such as swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. The islands are also perfect places for birding. I have guided visitors to Raja Ampat both for birding, snorkeling and sightseeing.

There are hundreds of islands in this regency that are surrounded by pristine coral reef and covered by pristine rainforest. Every year thousands of visitors go there to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling and kayaking. But there are also significant percentage of visitors who go there for watching birds particularly the Wilson's Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. This was wriiten by Charles Roring

Also read:

• Birding and butterfly watching in Sonder's Forest and Farmland
• Azure Kingfisher
• Azure Kingfisher in Halmahera
• Yellow-billed Kingfisher
• Great-billed Kingfisher

Coconut Lorikeet in Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat

This is Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) that I saw at a hill near the harbor of Waisai town in Raja Ampat. A government building about Geopark stood on it. I was there to participate in certification works for tourist guides. While waiting outside of the Geopark building with my other friends, I did some birding. I brought a point and shoot camera. It was a Fujifilm HS50EXR. I was trying to find a Beach Kingfisher that was calling from trees at the lower area of the hill.  Suddenly when I looked at the higher branch of the tree in front of me,  I saw this lorikeet walking down a branch. I quickly aimed my camera at the lorikeet and shot it.

The Coconut Lorikeet fed on nectar of flowers in that tree. Actually there were a few lorikeets in other nearby trees but branches and leaves covered those birds. The bird was common in lowland and lower montane forest of New Guinea.

Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) in Raja Ampat

Shortly after taking picture of the lorikeet, I was able to see the Beach King Fisher that i was looking for. He was sitting on a naked branch of a tree that was close to the beach. Because I stood on a hill looking down on the bird. The background image of the bird was the sea. It was not difficult to shoot the bird. There was a big window among the branches and leaves of trees. I could take good picture of the bird through it. 

Beach Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus)

In the past this coconut lorikeet was categorized in one group with Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus). The coconut lorikeet has got red and dark blue stripes on his or her breast. Because the birds have got beautiful feather, it is often caught and sold as pets.

Birding is an environmentally friendly sport or tourism activity. To enjoy birdwatching, at least, we need a good pair of binoculars. by Charles Roring

Also read:

• Minahasa Highland Tour: Hiking, Birdwatching and Sightseeing
• Wildlife in the Rainforesr of Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Regency

Slender-Billed Cuckoo Dove

When I was guiding two Australian and one Chinese birders in Arfak mountains to watch Magnificent Bird of Paradise, I saw a bird landed on a tree near me. It was feeding on small yellow fruits some 10 meters above my head. I slowly moved under the branches and leaves and then carefully aimed my Fujifilm HS50EXR at the bird. There was a small window among the thick green leaves above my head where I could see the bird.

Slender-billed Cuckoo Dove in Arfak Mountains

I turned the lens of my camera to maximum zoom (1,000 mm) and pressed the shutter button to shoot the bird. This bird was called Slender-billed Cuckoo Dove also called Brown Cuckoo Dove. He turned his body on the same branch and sat for a while perhaps trying to find out what happened downed there. I thought the sounds of my camera had attracted his attention.

Slender-billed Cuckoo Dove in Arfak range of Manokwari

Again, I aimed my camera at the Cuckoo Dove and shot him several times. I was happy with the results. Birding in tropical rainforest was quite difficult because we could not see the birds easily. Most birds sat on the branches of trees on the canopy of the forest. Birders could not easily find them because of obstructions from the branches, twigs, vines, and leaves.
Most often, the birds sit in tall trees making it difficult to take picture of them using ordinary pocket camera. Carrying a D-SLR camera with telephoto lenses is a good solution. However, such camera is very expensive. I recommend bridge camera with telephoto lens such as the Nikon B700, Nikon P900 and Nikon P1000. The camera is suitable for wildlife watching and birding.
Birding tours in Manokwari
Birding tours in rainforest of Manokwari