Bunot Bolong

it is to avoid the bustling southern coastal route on the way back home, and one final deviation is proposed. At Seririt, turn inland on the road to Pupuan, and drive through incredible mountain scenery. Bear right in Pupuan on the road signposted Negara, and the way becomes ever more spectacular. Rounding a bend, you will be surprised to find the road passing through the bole of an immense figtree. Bunut bolong (fig-tree hole) is the name of the place. Stop here; from the edge of the road, a leisurely scan of the forested valley may produce sightings of hornbills, barbets, and even the forest kingfisher and Hill Myna.

At Pekutatan, it is no longer possible to avoid the coastal road and by the time you reach Tabanan you will probably be heartily sick of it. So wahy not hop up to ubud via mengwi? Here, you can round off the tour with a relaxing bird walk in the countryside and enjoy some common or garden birds.

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birdwatching in Kerinci-Seblat National Park (Sumatra)

The massive and spectacular Kerinci-Seblat National Park in west Sumatra covers the large fertile Kerinci valley, and is one of Asia’s premier birding sites. The most popular base is the village of Kerisik Tua at the foot of Mt Kerinci, at 3,800 m the highest peak west of Papua. The trail up the mountain takes you through a succession of habitats culminating in sub-alpine heath and bogs towards the summit, but it is at the lower altitudes that several of Sumatra’s rarest endemics are regularly seen.

Other recommended birding sites in the vicinity are the Letter “W” waterfall and the Mt Tujuh trail, but other possibilities remain to be explored. Muaro Sako, on the road between Sungai Penuh, the main town in the valley, and Tapan, on the west coast, are good areas to see lower-altitude species.

Key species

Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant
www.oiseaux.net

Bronze-tailed Peacock-pheasant, Salvadori’s Pheasant, Red-billed Partridge, Horsfield’s Woodcock, Waterfall Swift, Weathed Hornbill, Fire-tufted Barbet, Orange-backed Woodpecker, Schneider’s Pitta, Pink-headed Fruit-dove, Blue-tailed Trogon, Blue-masked Leaf-ird, Sunda Laughing-thrush, Rusty-breasted Wren-babbler, Sumatran Cochoa, Sunda Treepie.

taken from Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore