Birdwatching in Kali Lemahan, Surabaya, East Java

Out to the Mud-flats

in the wet months between October and march, a boat journey down to the mud-flats at the mouth of the Kali Lemahan is a must. The pond owners will assist you to hire a small motorized prau (canoe) for the 45-min journey. Seeing the thousands of wintering or passage waders here is one of Java’s great birding experiences. These mud-flats are famous for the large numbers (up to 1,000) of rare Asian Dowitchers that spend the northern winter here. Indeed, the flats are a wader-watcher’s delight: 18 or more species can be found by carefully scanning the flocks with a telescope. Other highlights are Australian Pelicans, swimming out at sea, and another endangered species, Milky Stork; although often seen on the mud-flats, the latter has yet to be recorded breeding in this part of Java.

source Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore