Ruteng: Much Place For Birdwatching

Around Ruteng : much place for birdwatching

Key species

All the montane species, in particular Dark backed Imperial Pigeon, Flores Scopsowl (a speciment recently collected near lake Rana Mese), Russet-capped Tesia, Timor Leaf-warbler, Yellow-breasted Warbler, Flyeater, Brown-capped Fantail, Bare-throated Whistler, Mountain White-eye, Yellow-browe Dark-eye, Sacaly-crowned Honeyeater.

Golo Lusang

7 km south of Ruteng on the road to Iteng, the 1,650 m pass between Mt Lika and Mt Watu Ndao is a fabulous place for an early morning symphony of Bare-throated Whistlers and views to the south coast and even across to Sumba.

Getting there

For an early start arrange a charter from your hotel the night before (IDR 25,000); at other times take a bemo from the bus station in the direction of Ponggeok or Iteng (IDR 3,000) and ask to be dropped off at the pass. To return to Ruteng flag down a passing bemos or truck (IDR 3,000).

General Information

The forest on the south of the pass is less disturbed and to explore it simply wander down the road. Several wood-cutters’ trails give access to the forest. An interesting trail enters to the southeast at Ulu Wae Ces, 1 km back down from the pass in the direction of Ruteng. The trail climbs upwards through a tunnel of shrubs and after 1 km enters secondary scrub and climbs steeply for a further 1 km to another pass. There is good forest over this pass and you reach a small meadow after another 1 km.

Puarldo Telkom Station : Found Endemic Bird

Puarldo Telkom Station

At the top of the pass between Labuhanbajo and the Lembang plains, this is the site for Flores Monarch and other endemic birds of the mid-altitude forests. A 300-m road leads off the main higway to the telegraph station, which is surrounded by forest. Simply bird along the road.

Getting there

The turning for the telegraph station is between km posts 33 and 34 if you are coming from Labuhanbajo, or 96 km from the direction of Ruteng. Take any bus running the Labuanbajo-Ruteng route and get off at the turning (but expect to pay the fare to the bus’s destination).

For the return trip, all buses are likely to be packed to the gunnels, so you will probably have to hitch a lift on a passing truck. It is polite to give the driver some uang rokok (cigarette money) for the ride.