Kisol: Birdwatching in Lowland Forest

An easy base for lowland forest birding. Kisol is a small village, 68 km from Ruteng, 9 km east of Mborong, on the road to Bajawa near the south coast. At Nangarawa, on the coast south of Kisol, there are patches of lowland forest and scrub; there is also a small estuary with mangroves, 10 km along a bad road passable to 4WD vehicles. Mt Poco Ndeki (Pacandeki) is a forested mountain south of Kisol, 45 min on foot.

Key species

Most lowland species including Bonelli’s Eagle, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Green Junglefowl, Green Imperial Pigeon, Flores Green Pigeon, Great-billed Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Moluccan and Wallce’s Scopsowls, White-rumped Kingfisher, Elegant Pitta, Chestnut-capped Thrush, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Black-naped and Spectacled Monarchs, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Thick-billed Darkeye, Flores crow. In open country or on the south coast: Wooly-necked Stork, Changeable Hwak-eagle, Malaysian Plover, Beach Thick-knee, Lesser Whistling-duck.

Getting there

Take any Bajawa bus and get off at Kisol ($2). Alternatively charter a car for the 2-hr drive ($30).

Pong Toda : A slice experience bird-watch in open grass and shrub lands

A pleasant 1,,5-day walk into a beautiful ravine forested with old casuarinas trees on the slopes of Mt Golo Dukol. The walk passes across open grass and shrub lands where you should see open-country birds such as Brown Quail, Golden-headed Cisticola, Red Avadavat and Five-coloured and Pale-headed Munias.

Getting there

Charter a car or a bemo to take you the 2 km from Ruteng to Leda, where the asphalt road turns to a dirt track. Walk west along this to the susteran (nunnery). Looking west you will see the ravine and the footpath following the contour of the hill. Continue up the road for 1.5 km, cross a stream bed and walk across the grassy area until you reach a small footpath leading up to the left (south). This brings you along a gentle contour into the west side of the ravine. After about 1 km the path forks. Take the left-hand fork (which is actually a water system trail and pipeline), which leads into the casuarinas forest. Here you should find, among other species, Dark-backed imperial Pigeon, Great-billed Parrot, White-rumped Kingfisher, Little Minivet, Scaly-crowned Honeyeater and mixed bird flocks.