Sulawesi Birdwatching

Overview

Sulawesi has some dazzling birds. The birder will find Sulawesi a real Mecca. Just a perusal of the names is enough to get the adrenaline going; Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Sulawesi Lilac cheeked Kingfisher, Fiery-browed Myna, and Great-Shortwing. An assortment of unusual mammals – the strange Babirusa of “pig deer”, The rare see Anoa ( a dwarf buffalo), three unique species of tarsier, and seven unique species of macaque – add to the excitement of being in the forest. Birders will gravitate towards the northern peninsula and central Sulawesi, where the largest areas of rainforest are found, and in particular to the huge national parks of Lore Lindu, 100 km south of the provincial capital, Palu. Dumoga Bone, on the “northern neck”, and the much smaller reserve of Tangkoko – Dua Sudara, on the tip of the Minahasa peninsula. with 120 endemic species to go for.  it is quite possible to see 80% of these endemics in a 3–week trip with a little effort and planning. Sulawesi is the highest level of endemism in Indonesia, of 421 bird species known from the island, approximately 88 (27%) are found nowhere else. Fourteen genera are so unusual that they are considered unique to Sulawesi.
 

Itinerary

SULAWESI BIRDING PACKAGES
16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS
Day 1: Arrival Makassar – Transfer to Malino
After meeting at the airport in the early afternoon, we will drive to Malino for two hours driving. 
Accommodation: Villa Tengah Sawah

Day 2: Malino Lompobattang Mountains – Ramang ramang
On this day we will find out about some very local endemics, called Lompobattang Flycatcher, and hope we can see the Hylocitrea in this area too, a much-wanted family endemic to the island. Other birds we could find include the Red-eared Fruit-dove, also Lompobattang leaf-warbler, the Sulawesi Myzemola, the Sulawesi jungle flycatcher, the Sulawesi serpent-eagle, the Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Sulfur-bellied Whistler, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Black-ringed White-eye, Little-pied flycatcher, Pied Bushchat, Sulawesi hanging parrot. After lunch transfer to Ramang Ramang takes about 4 – 5 hours driving.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Ramang ramang

Day 3:Ramang ramang
Our target in this area includes a morning visit to Karaenta Park for the Black-headed Kingfisher, Black-ringed White-eye, and Sulawesi Flycatcher. In the afternoon we will take a traditional boat along the river to see Sulawesi Hawk Eagle and Sulawesi Serpent Eagle.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Ramang-Ramang

Day 4: Ramang-ramang – Airport – Palu – Lore Lindu
This morning we will take a flight to Palu and then head for Lore Lindu National Park. Birding starts en route with Savannah Nightjar on the day roost and we are likely to connect with the Pale-headed Munia and White-shouldered Triller here. The superb montane forests of Lore Lindu may well provide us with some of the best and most enjoyable birdwatching of the trip. If we have time on this first afternoon birding in the National Park, we make stops at various altitudes which should produce the first specialties and endemics. 
Accommodation: Mama Sendi

Day 5 & 6 : Lore Lindu National Park
This park has a well deserves reputation for montane specialities. our main targets here are the Sulawesi endemic of the Purple-Beared Bee-Eater, Great Shortwing, Malia, Geomalia, Sulawesi bush-warbler (Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler), Cerulean cuckoo shrikes, Sulawesi Cicadabirds, Black-fronted White-eye, black Sunbird, Black-naped Monarch and the Citrine Flycatcher, Island Flycatcher, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Mountain serin, Sulawesi myzomela, Ivory-backed wood-swallow, Ornate lorikeet, Small-sparrow hawk, Maroon-backed Whistler, Heinrich nightjar, Speckled boobook, Cinabar Boobook, Sulawesi scops owl, Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Spotted kestrel, lemon-bellied white-eye, Sulawesi Triller, Sulawesi cicadabird, Sulawesi serpent eagle, Hylocitrea, Geomalia, Golden-mantled and Yellow-breasted Racquet-tails, Red-eared Fruit-Dove, Maroon-backed Whistler, White-eared Myza, and Streak-headed Dark-eye, Sombre Pigeon, Diabolical (Satanic) Nightjars roosting during the day at regular stakeouts along there. Accommodation: Mama Sendi

Day 7: Morning birding – Later afternoon drive to Palu
On the last day of birding in Lore Lindu then late afternoon, we shall return to Palu for another night in a very good hotel. Accommodation: Swis BelHotel Palu.

Day 8: Palu to Manado via Makassar - Kotamobagu
Today is a traveling day for all of us, in the morning from Palu to Makassar then a connecting flight to Manado. Upon arrival at Manado airport, we will drive to Kotamobagu. 
Accommodation: Sutan Raja Hotel

Day 9:Maleo nesting ground
We need to start early at 4 AM from the hotel, driving about one hour to reach the Maleo nesting ground in Muara Puisan for the otherworldly Maleo, an odd megapode, that lays its eggs in the warm volcanic soils in the park. With luck, we shall see some pink-flushed adults digging in the clearing in preparation to lay their eggs; and on some days it is possible to help with the release of chicks back into the wild. After spending some time searching for Maleos, we will walk in this small forest patch, searching for a local endemic, the Maroon-chinned fruit dove, and perhaps get further chances at Sulawesi Pitta, if needed. Mixed flocks within the forest might also see the Yellow-billed Malkoha, the strange white-eyed race of Hair-crested Drongo, Black-billed Koel, and Bay Coucal. These forests also hold White-faced Cuckoo-Dove.   
Accommodation: Sutan Raja Hotel

Day 10: Kotamobagu - Tomohon
After breakfast, we will drive about 4 – 5 hours to Tomohon. Lunch at a local resto in Tomohon and afternoon we will birding around Gunung Mahawu. Accommodation: Villa Emita 

Day 11: Tomohon, Gunung Mahawu Birding
Gunung Mahawu is a forested Volcano (1490 meters above sea level), Inside the crater, is a steaming, emerald-green lake ringed with yellow sulfur deposits. From the summit, you can see neighboring Mount Lokon with its ever-present plume of smoke. On a clear day you can also see both the Sulawesi Sea on the west and the Maluku Sea to the east, Gunung Mahawu is located near the village of Rurukan where Sir Alfred Wallace lived for a while. Now Gunung Mahawu is one of the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Asia by BirdLife International. In this birding place, we have some interesting Sulawesi endemic species, it is one of the easiest and most reliable sites in Sulawesi for the Scaly-breasted kingfisher- Actenoides princeps but please note this star bird of Sulawesi is very skittish and always hides so to spot them still need luck. Key species at Gunung Mahawu and Tomohon includes ; The Sulawesi Pitta, Scaly-breasted kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi babbler, Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler, Sulawesi jungle Flycatcher, the ultrarare Rufous-throated Flycatcher, Pale-blue  Monarch (split from Black-naped Monarch), Isabeline-bush hen, Barred rail, White-browed Crake, Sulawesi Myzomela, Island Flycatcher, Citrine Flycatcher, Grey-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black-fronted White-eye, Mountain white-eye, Streak-headed Dark-eye, Mountain Tailorbird, Sulfur-bellied Whistler, Crimson sunbird, Black Sunbird, Olive-back sunbird, Sooty-headed bulbul, Hair crested drongo, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi pygmy Woodpecker, Grey wagtail, Yellow wagtail, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted munia, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Brown-cuckoo dove, superb-fruit dove, Sulawesi black-Pigeon, Sulawesi-hanging parrot, Black Eagle, Black Kite, Osprey, Spotted Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon. During our stay here also, we have a great chance of finding Purple swamphen, White-browed crake, White-breasted waterhen, Common Moorhen, Javan pond heron on the Lake Tondano. Accommodation: Villa Emita

Day 12: Tomohon - Tangkoko
Early morning breakfast, drive to Tangkoko, birding along the road, Lunch will be at Tangkoko Hill, afternoon birding at “JAM Hill”, Night birding for Sulawesi scops owl near the Tangkoko Hill Cottages

Day:13 & 14: Tangkoko Nature Reserve
This reserve on the eastern tip of the Minahassa Peninsula, is one of Sulawesi’s flagship parks, the excellent lowland jungle and mangrove forest providing superb birding site, The reserve is especially famous for kingfishers, having no less than eight resident species, of which four are endemic but remember that Tangkoko also has much more to offer than its kingfisher though and with the assistance of the skilled our local team, we will be search for Lilac cheeked kingfisher, Green-backed kingfisher, Sulawesi-dwarf kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta, Rudy kingfisher, Common kingfisher, Blue-eared kingfisher, collared kingfisher, Red-Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi dwarf Hornbill, Ochre-bellied boobook, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Lesser coucal, Sulawesi-Hawk eagle, Sulawesi serpent eagle, Black eagle, Black kite, Sulawesi cicada bird, Rusty-breasted cuckko, Sulawesi triller, Purple-winged roller, Ashy woodpecker, Sulawesi pygmy woodpecker, Sulawesi hanging parrot, Ornate lorikeet, Golden-mantled Racquetail, Blue-backed parrot, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Black Pigeon, Stephan’s Dove, Brown-cuckoo dove, Philipine Scrubfowl, Barred rail, Isabeline Bush hen. During our boat trip to the mangrove we may find other species; White-rumped cuckoo-Shrike, Common kingfisher, Great-billed kingfisher, Pink-necked green Pigeon, Osprey, Great Frigatebirds, Lesser frigatebirds, Pasific reef egret, common dollar bird, Striated heron, Little tern, Sacred and Collared kingfisher, White-bellied Sea eagle, Brahminy kite and Purple heron. After spending much of the day birding but we have time also to see interesting mammals such as Black-macaca nigra, Tarsier spectrum, and bear cuscus in Tangkoko Park. Here also there will be a one-afternoon boat trip to the mangrove to see great-billed kingfisher.
Accommodation: Tangkoko Hill Cottage 
Note: 

Day 15: Tangkoko – Grand Luley resort Manado 
Last morning birding along the main road, back to Tangkoko Hill for check-out, drive to Manado, and Lunch will be at the local restaurant near the airport then we drive to Grand Luley Resort, at 2.30 PM depart to Gunung Tumpa for afternoon birding. 

Day 16: Manado – Next destination
After breakfast, Transfer our to Manado airport for your next destination. The end of the trip.