Trawas’s Centre for Environmental Education
The Centre for Environmental Education (PPLH Seloliman) above Trawas, a 1, 5-hr drive inland from Surabaya, is a great place to combine fruitful birding with comfortable stay in the hills. You can see rare Thick-billed Flowerpeckers and Violet Cuckoos in the forest on the hill above the centre, and during the wet season, listen for the chirruping calls of Forest Wagtails. The Centre is planted with nectar rich Calliandra shrubs, which attract numerous flowerpeckers and sunbirds. It is delightful to watch splendid Javan, endemic Violet-tailed and Purple-throated Sunbirds from the breakfast table.
The walk below the centre to where tall forest drapes the river banks makes a pleasant 2-hr excursion, especially if you have so far missed Javan Kingfisher, Blue Whistling-thrush or the distinct Javan race of Greater Goldenback, all of which are quite common here. Some authorities consider the latter a full species on account of the female’s having a yellowish crown rather than the normal white-on-black pattern. In any event, walk the short distance from the Centre’s entrance to the main road, and at this junction follow a path leading down to the river, to check them out.
The more adventurous may wish to climb to mt Pananggungan (1,653 m), where there are good vantage points for eagle watching (Javan Hawk-eagle has been recorded here) and rewarding views of the surrounding area. The trail for the 3,5-hr climb starts from the Hindu temple a 15-min walk uphill (on the right0 from the Centre.
source Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore