Birdwatching in Terimbang (Nusa Tenggara)

Terimbang
A beautiful, unspoilt cove on the south coast, with a 1 km band of beach forest between the beach and fields around the village of Terimbang. Forested escarpments rise inland from the villages. The area has yet to be birded properly, but looks to have great potential and may support all Sumba’s endemics. As yet there is no accommodatins; visitors camp on the beach. Fisherman will sell you fish to barbecue. Bring whatever else you need.

Key species
Beach Thick-knees on the beach, Orange-footed Scrub-fowl and Rainbow Lorikeets, and the forest through which the road passes on the way is good for Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Citron-crested Cockatoo and Metalic Pigeon.

Getting there
Traveling west from Waingapu on the Waikabubak road, turn left at Praipaha (47 km from Waingapu) on the road to Wahang and Tabundung. After a further 38 km, a turning on the right leads 8 km down to Terimbang. (the turning is in Kalal forest, a good area for Citron-crested Cockatoo). Buses leave the terminal in Waingapu each morning for Wahang, but you will need to walk the 8 km from the turning or wait for a lift on one of the very few vehicles going to Terimbang.

Terimbang and Wangameti are connected by a south coast road. From Wangameti return to Kanangar, then continue down to Manukangga on the south coast, turn west via Lalindi, Tabungdung and Wahang. This journey will take a full day by car or motorbike.

source: Birding Bali. Periplus Publishing. Singapore