Birding Bali: Serangan Island
Shorebirds an outrigger ride from Sanur
Most people go to turtle island to see the important temple, Pura Sakenan, with its beautifully sculpted coral gates and shrines. During the ten days following the Galungan/kuningan (all saints/all souls) festival, tens of thousands of pilgrims, together with their sacred icons, come here in resplendent procession. But for the birdwatcher, Serangan island is the best site in Bali for shorebirds.
The nicest way to get there is by dug-out outrigger (prau) which may be hired by the hour from Sanur beach. A leisurely half-hour’s sail along the lagoon should yield an assortment of terns-predominantly common, little and great crested- and the odd white-phase reef egret; and from about April to November, squadrons of mixed frigatebirds-great and lesser (but watch out for the odd chrismast frigatebirds, too)-cruise north above the coast, note the extensive belt of protected mangrove, home to a profusion of herons, turtle-doves, kingfishers, bee-eaters, warblers, sunbirds, weavers and munias.