A day around the resorts
A great many visitors, choose to stay in the tourist resort of Nusa Dua, so here our tour begins bright and early one weekday morning. It is always better to avoid traveling at the weekend as there is more traffic. Most people tend to shun sewage farms, but to bird-watchers they are a veritable Mecca, and the one in Nusa Dua is no exception. The decantation ponds are situated in Celu, and the main entrance is exactly opposite the northern entrance to the hotel complex containing Club Med. Usually the gate is open and you but it is better to park and walk. Here, on a series of large ponds dotted with heavily vegetated islands, is one of the most impressive arrays of large waterbirds to be seen in Bali. October to March (during the wet season) is a particularly good time to visit, as many species are nesting then.
The raised embankments dividing the ponds are now gated to reduce disturbance, but good views of the birds can be enjoyed from a wander round the perimeter. Note the huge population of herons, especially breeding Purple and Black-crowned Night-herons. Also breeding are little Pied Cormorant, and Suspected Oriental Darter and Glossy Ibis. A pair of Lesser Adjutants may also be taking up permanent residence.
Both Black-throated and Red-throathed Little Grebes have been spotted here, and, although of the ducks only Sunda Teal is always present, both Lesser and Wandering Whistling-ducks, Pacific Black Duck and even Palaearctic migrants may be expected. In the encircling mangroves, look out for Small Blue Kingfisher and White Shouldered Triller. Sightings of Yellow-crested Cockatoos have been reported on several occasions, so they may be trying to established a feral population. Given proper protection of this oasis, almost anything might choose to make its home here.
Whilst still in Nusa Dua, be sure to check out the reef between the two peninsulas for a good selection of waders; also both white-phase and black-phase Reef Egret. On the main “island” is healthy population of Striated Grassbirds and Common Pipits; Long-tailed Shrikes abound.
Our next stop is Sanur, where you go directly to the district known as Merta Sari, just south of the hotel called Travelodge. Park under the magnificient suar (white oak) trees adjacent to the exquisite coral temple. If the tide is out, a vast expanse of sand-flats stretches almost to the horizon. Invariably you will see an excellent selection of waders just of-shore. If the tide is in, walk 200 m north of the temple through the coconut plantation to the as yet unspoilt southern end of Sanur Beach, then head south along the beach and, before the mangrove begins, check out the mangrove, you will find Island Collared Dove, Sacred and Collared Kingfishers, Sunda Woodpecker, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Pied Fantail and Streaked Weaver.
source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore