Labuhan Lalang

Labuhan Lalang is the main focus for park visitors as from here they can take a boat across for the snorkeling around Menjangan Island. Fixed-price boat charter is $30 for about 4 hrs, but you can probably arrange to share a 10-seater boat with other tourists. Snorkel and mask hire is $7.

The park staff also offer guided birding walks on the mainland for $7. the pleasant, 2 hr walk takes you southwest along the shore through the back of the Jayaprana temple. Beyond the temple it drops down through scrubby forest to a river and then follows the river back to the road near Sumber Klampok. Birds to see are Buffy Fish owl, Fulvous-chested Rhinomyias and Horsfield’s Babbler. This is the place to look for migrating raptors.

Sumber Klampok

The village of sumber klampok is located mid-way between Cekik (Gilimanuk) and Labuhan Lalang. A track (with barrier) on the north side of the road leads 1,5 km through fields to the National Park research centre and captive breeding centre. The bushes around the complex are full of birds. Look for Green Junglefowl, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Racquet-tailed Treepie, Laced Woodpecker and Banded Pitta. In April-May and September-October migrant Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Arctic Warbler and Oriental Cuckoo.

Gilimanuk Bay : Good place for Birdwatching

Gilimanuk Bay

A trail running northwest along the shore from Losman Nusantara II leads after 200 m to a dry bay covered with stunted mangroves, cross the bay to a grassy peninsula. From September to November this is a good place for oriental plover and the inlet on the other side has waders in small numbers, among which are Great Knot and Grey-tailed Tattler. Along the walk look out for savanna Nightjar, Black winged Starling, Richard’s Pipit and Asian Pied Starling

Birdwatching in Banyuwedang: Watch A Beautifull Bali starling

Banyuwedang.

General Information

The national Park office is at Cekik, 4 km from Gilimanuk and directly opposite the junction of the Gilimanuk-Denpasar and north coast roads. A permit to enter the park costs IDR 6,000, and is available from both here and at Labuhan lalang. An excellent guide is I Nyoman Lodiarta,, a keen birder who speaks some English.

Seeing the Bali Starling

The last few birds are concentrated around the Teluk kabar guard post on the north shore of the Parapat Agung Peninsula. The best way to see them is to overlook their roosting area and watch them fly in at dusk. Access to this area is restricted and officially a letter of permission is required from PHPA in Jakarta (very difficult to obtain), but ask at the National Park HQ or Labuhan Lalang about the possibility of seeing the birds.

Wildlife in Bali Barat National Park and How to Get There

Other wildlife

There is fabulous snorkeling and diving off the coast of the national park and from nearly pulau Menjangan. Hundreds of species of coral and a good variety of reef fish.

Getting there and around

The park is 3 hrs by road from Denpasar and 2,5 hrs from Levina. A charter from kuta, Ubud or Levina to the park will cost IDR 6,000. There are numerous buses from Levina and Ubung bus station, Denpasar, to Gilimanuk, the ferry head on Bali for east Java.

Bemo and horse-drawn carts ply the 1 km between Gilimanuk bus terminal and the harbour (IDR 2,000/4,000). There are plenty of public minibuses or ojek to ferry you along the road to the birding sites at Sumber Klampok, Labuhan lalang

Bali Barat National Park Bird Key Species

Key species

Lesser adjutant, Great-billed Heron, Malaysian Plover, Java sparrow, Black-winged Starling, White-shouldered Triller. During the migration season shorebirds such as oriental Plover and Occasionally Great Knot; thousands of honey-buzzards and sparrow-hawks cross from East java in the first two weeks of October.

taken from: Birding Bali. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Bali Barat National Park

The 17,500 ha Bali Barat National Park lies on the far western tip of Bali. Along the northern coast it protects the last areas of dry forest on the island, home of the remaining wild population of Bali starling, which numbers just 35. the rest of the park has wetter forest. The park’s main tourist attraction is the excellent wall of reefs around menjangan island. For birders the park is poorly served with trails, nevertheless the area offers an excellent mix of habitats, muddy shores, mangroves, dry forest and scrub, with wetter forests on the east of the north coast road, which bisect the park.

taken from: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Bedugul

General Information

Bemos and buses from marketplace or lakeside, IDR 3,000 to singaraja, IDR 6,000 to Gilimanuk. Boat rides on lake Braten, $5-8 per har. To see waterfowl on Lake buyan: 2 km along south boundary road, stop near school, walk to lakeside on grassy track.

source: birding indonesia. periplus publishing. singapore

The Endemic bird Numbers in Javan Province

The Javan Province is the most extreme province of the Sundaic subregion. it is the most isolated of the remaining Sundaic land masses and also the furthest from the Asian mainland; it is also smaller than the other provinces. As a result it is slightly less rich in species than Borneo and Sumatra but more distinct with some 24 endemic species confined to it and over 170 endemic sub-species recognized. Bali and the most eastern parts of Java have also been colonised by some Lesser Sundas species which have arrived nearby Lombok, the nearest island of the Wallacean sub-region.

Similarly The Avifauna Geographical

The consequences of this geological history are that the bird faunas of the Australo-Papuan islands share many common features and are mostly Australian in origin. Similarly the bird faunas of the Sundaic are Asian (oriental) in origin. The Wallacean islands have a hotchpotch of species derived ffrom both the oriental an Australian zoogeographical region but with many endemic forms which have evolved on the different ilands as a result of their long isolation.

The Sundaic islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Java together with the Malay Peninsula share about onto the Asian mainland nor cross to adjacent Wallacea and this gives the sundaic area sufficient zoogeographical distinction to be classed as a separate faunal sub-region.

The Avifauna of Java and Bali

The Javan faunal province lies in one of the world's most interesting zoogeographical areas, the malay-Indonesia archipelago, an arc of some 17,000 islands straddling the equator and extending for five thousand kilometers between mainland Asia and the continent of Australia.

The archipelago can be divided into three distinct faunal sub-regions: the Australo-Papuan subregion which consists of all those islands which lie on the Sahul or Australian continental plate such as Aru, New Guinea and New Brittain: the sundaic sub-region which includes all those islands which lie on the Sunda or Asiatic continental shelf such as Borneo, Sumatra and Java plus the Malay Peninsula-which although not an island is faunistically more similar to the othe Sundaic areas than to the rest of the Asian mainland; and finally the Wallacean sub-region which consists of all the islands that lie between the two continental shelves such as Sulawesi, the Moluccas and the Lesser Sunda Islands. During the ice ages of the Pleistocene era between 3 million and 8,000 years ago the sea levels were lowered by as much as a hundred meters and all the islands on the Sunda shelf were linked by hand both to each other and to the mainland of Asia. Similarly the islands on the Sahul shelf wre linked to Australia. The islands of Wallcea, however were not linked to either continent, even at the times of lowest sealevel.

Bali: The Goddest Island For Birdwatcher

Bali's main beach resort's, kuta, sanur and Nusa Dua, catering for huge numbers of tourists are located 20 km south of the provincial capital, Denpasar, and within 3-6 km of Bali's Ngurah Rai airport, which is becoming one of the main entry points to Indonesia.

Getting there
by air flights the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta are frequent, and if you land in Jakarta before 5 pm you can usually get a connection to Bali. (although in peak season, these 90-min flight are almost always full. Book your flight all the way to Bali) from airport, hire a taxi to the place you intend to stay.

by train one can also take a train from Jakarta (slow, and nightmare with scuba gear) which connects to Surabaya (12 hrs on Bima, $ 43 executive; 8 hrs on the new express, $ 44 executive class), then a train to Bayuwangi, (4 hrs, $ 7.5 Business class), then a bus to and across the ketapang, Java-Gilimanuk, Bali ferry ($ 3) and on to Denpasar (4 hrs $ 2).

by long-distance bus taking a night bus the entire way is probably a better option (24 hrs Jakarta-Denpasar, $ 30) from Ubung Terminal outside Denpasar, where you are dropped off, a minibus to the tourists triangle of Kuta-Sanur-Nusa Dua runs $ 3-5. All in All best to arrive by plane.

by sea there are six ferries a day from Lembar on Lombok, $ 2,5-4 passanger, $ 25 car. there is also a high speed (2 hr) Catamaran service that departs Lembar 11.30 am and 5.00 pm, $ 17.50-25. Arrange these through your Lombok acommodation. Pelni's Kelimutu, Dobonsolo, AWU and Tilongkabila all stop in Bali on their various twoo-week routes.

Transport in Bali
Cars and Minibuses there are numerous car hire offices. rates go from as low as $ 15 excluding einsurances per day for a jimny up to $ 40 for a Kijang minibus. it/s sometimes a good idea to ask at your hotel.

Motorcycle hire has become increasingly dangerous on Bali and is definitely not recommended for the inexperienced. Hire through car hire companies or personal contact. check the bike over very carefully before agreeing to the hire.

Bus Bali is covered by a network of minibus routes and you can be dropped anywhere you can also charter minibuses, but be prepared to haggle over the price ($30-40 a day plus fuel).

taken from Birding Bali. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

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

Bali Barat National Park: Founded Balinese Starling in Remnant lowland forest

Bali Barat National Park
The problem in the national park is accommodation-or lack of it: in fact, there is none. The best bet is Pondok Sari at pemuteran on the fringe of the park, about 30 km from Gilimanuk, or, if you are not too fussy, Nusantara II in Gilimanuk itself. The advantage of the latter is very pleasant walk along the bay to a wide expanse of grassland, where Chesnut-headed Bee-eater, Asian Pied and Black-winged Starlings, White-shouldered Triller and Striated Grassbird are all to be seen. Migrating Oriental Plover and Little Curlew can be spotted on the turf, while across the bay, up to nine Lesser Adjutants are usually visible evenly spaced along the beaches.

But first you must get a permit in order to prowl around. Go to the National park headquarters at Cekik, at he junction of the north and south coast-roads, or the office at Labuhan lalang, 8 km back along the northern road. Labuhan Lalang is the departure point for snorkeling and diving tours on the fantastic reef surrounding Menjangan island, which is also the best spot for beach Thick-knee and lemon-bellied White-eye.

To see the endangered Bali Starling, you will need the assistance of the wardens who will take you by boat to Teluk Telor ranger station on Prapat Agung Peninsula. An alternative is to walk-12 km in each direction-from the Prerelease Training Centre at Tegal Blunder, located 1 km down a track that leads off the main road at the village of Sumberklampok mid-way between Labuhan Lalang and the Park Headquarters. The Bali Starling is one of the world’s rarest birds, with only 35 or so left in the wild, and as the issue of its probable extinction is so sensitive, the situation changes all the time. However, if a visit is possible, Tegal Bunder, with its varied habitats of acacia forest, scrub, savannah and manrove swamp, yield species seldom seen elsewhere, nightjars, hornbills, malkohas, pitas, rollers and treeswift are all there, and look out especially for Black-thighed Falconet, Oranged-breasted Green Pigeon and Lineated Barbet, the whole place is seething with Green Junglefowl.

For a most rewarding foray, climb the steps to the Jayaprana temple at Teluk Terina, then descend to the stream-bed behind the compound. Follow the stream back to the road, cutting across the longer, almost parallel, reaches, Marvel at the wildlife in general large squirrel, barking deer, and huge, black silvered leaf monkeys or langurs. With luck you may catch up with owls-brown hawk, buffy fish and even Oriental Bay, which has recently been “rediscovered) here. Perhaps the greatest reward will be rufous-backed kingfisher. Look for Banded Pitta and Fulvous-chested Flycatcher in the scrubby forest near the road.

If you have decided to base yourself at Pondok Sari, a walk west along the beach (or on the track behind it) will take you to a rainwater catchment area that is teeming with birds. Both large-tailed and savanna Nighjars are readily flushed and the area is good for bee-eaters, trillers, drongos, woodswallows and starlings, too.

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

The North Coaast: Exotic Place For Balinese Birdwatching

The north Coast
Leaving bedugul there are two roads tto the north coast to choose from: either due north to Singaraja or along the scenic road that runs along the crater rim skirting lake Buyan and Tamblingan, with unforgettable late afternoon views across to the volcanoes of east Java, and thence down through clove plantations to Seririt.

If you opt for the former, beware that the descent dow from the northern slopes to Bali’s former capital town is precipitous, and may be irksome if you get stuck behind a tourist bus or benzene truck. However, Singaraja boasts some old colonial architecture and you may see Bugis schooners loading on the corner of Jl Erlangga near the seafront. From singaraja it is a hard 3-hr drive via Seririt through avenues of painted tamarind to the Bali Barat National Park. An option is to spend the night at one of the many hotels at Lovina beach, and take the magical, early morning outrigger ride to see dolphins, where there is a possibility of seeing terns and even the odd skua.

source: Birding Indonesia. periplus Publishing. Singapore

Lake Bratan Environs

Once you have exhausted the gardens, the rest of the day can be devoted to exploring the ridge that rings Lake Bratan. Either drive to Hotel Bedugul or walk once more on the short trail from the Ashram. At the brow of the hill leading down to the lakeside and the water-sports centre, turn up the track by the guard post and drive to the end (not far) or, better, walk on the lakeside embankment and mount to the higher level on the obvious ramp. The original trail leads up from what looks like a new car past fields of cabbages, then forks left again at a lone, spiny coral-bean tree. Immediately you are back in babbler land and treeshrew territory. Watch out for the latter, which utter disconcertingly bird-like alarm calls.

The trail goes on and on, initially through scrub dominated by giant pandanus, then into everlasting moss forest, climbing gently to a marvelous look-out after about 3 km. a trail starting soon after the small temple enclave leads all the way to Pelaga and is well worth examining, but beware of leeches. Green and dark-acked imperial pigeons are plentiful here, the latter’s double note hoo-whoo being the commonest sound, and listen out for the ringing cries of both Lesser and Malaysian Cuckoo-shrikes. Yellow-throated Hanging-parrot is not uncommon but, like the barbets, is hard to see in the canopy. Siberian Thrush, a winter visitor, is quite easy to spot on the ground. And watch out for wren-babblers which are certainly here, but not yet positively identified.

There are some other good forest tracks: one leads from the rough road skirting the south side of lake Buyan, which has a barrier after about 3 km. even though it is some times open, it is better to park here and walk. Continue always bearing right and climb over the ridge to Lake Tamblingan: the lovely, primary montane jungle affords good views of most species already mentioned, plus Red Junglefowl and Chestnut-breasted Malkoha. Many Long-tailed Macaques and Barking Deer are also in evidence here. Another track worth exploring is the path that leads from the approach road to Bali Handara Golf Club, near the artificial ponds and adjacent to green 2. from a dry stream gully emerge on to the path adjacent to a large pipeline and look for thrushes and Sunda Bush-warbler skulking in dank thickets nearby. Lunch in the club is thoroughly recommended.

source: birding indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Bedugul-Mountain Birds and Cool Vistas

Winding up and over the pass, we reach the area known as Bedugul, and a few hundred metres beyond the summit is the colourful fruit and flower market at Candikuning. A little further down the hill, on the left just before the lakeside, is a sign announcing Lila Graha.

Make the most of the two hours’ or so daylight remaining with a short excursion to the lake. Opposite the lila Graha is the entrance to the Ashram Guest House. Cut through the Ashram’s garden to the Balinese gate and continue by the lakeside, where a wonderful array of painted lady butterflies sun themselves on the paved pathway. The trail leads up into the tall trees and comes out in the gardens of the hotel bedugul.

This little pocket of forest is full of birds, and is probably the best place anywhere to pick up the elusive lesser Shortwing, whose tantalisting crescendo is one of the most prevalent jungle sounds. At each bend in the trail, carefully check the way ahead. Here you will easily spot all three babblers-horsfield’s, the endemic Crescent-chested and Chesnut-backed Scimitar-babbler-and such little beauties as Yellow-bellied and Mountain Leaf-warblers, Mountain Tailorbird, Grey-headed Flycatcher, and all three White-eyes: Oriental, Mountain and Java Grey-throated, the latter very common.

Early next morning visit the Botanical gardens up the small road leading from the traffic island next to the market-place. Dawn is good for thrushes-Sunda and Orange-headed at the edge of the lawn, 200 m into the grounds, and scaly Thrush by the temple and Sulphur fissure at the topmost point. Loads of Grey-cheeked Green Pigeons and Short-tailed Starlings, as well as Ashy Drongo, Babblers, Honeyeaters and Common Golden Whistlers, will keep you busy until well into the morning.

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Taman Burung

The taman burung (bird park) is part of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII)(beautiful Indonesia in Miniature), a theme park featuring the varied cultural and artistic traditions of the country. The bird park design is based on Wallace’s line, and two massive domes house birds of east and west Indonesia. A great place to brush up your identification skills and to photograph birds.

Getting there
TMII is located 3-4 km south of Jakarta just off the Jagorawi toll road; take a taxi or a S15A angkot from Ragunan/Pasar Minggu (IDR 2,500)

General information
Open daily 8.00 am-05.00 pm, general admission IDR 5,000 and further IDR 5,000 to enter the bird park.
source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Ragunan Zoo

Located in the south of the city just outside the outer ring road, this zoo houses 3,600 birds and animals. The grounds are quite leafy and good for wild birds. Red-breasted Parakeet and Orange-headed Thrush are regularly seen, and even Chestnut-winged Cuckoo has been recorded.

Getting there
By taxi about $2,50 from blok M. ask for kebun binatang ragunan
By bus Metro Mini S77 from blok M to kebun Binatang (IDR 2,500). From Pasar Minggu by Kopaja S68 (IDR 2,500).

General information
The zoo is open daily 8.00 am-6.00 pm, admission IDR 2,000. there are plenty food stalls and informal restaurants in the grounds.
source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Monas: Birdwatching In Central Megapolitan Jakarta

The focal point of the city, Monas square is home to the national monument, a 132-m obelisk with a small historical museum at its base. Garden birds such as Sooty-headed Bulbul, Bar-winged Prinia and Olive-backed Sunbird can be seen in the surrounding parkland, and impressive numbers of White-bellied Swiftlets coming in to roost circle round the monument at dusk.

Getting there
On foot Monas is in the city centre close to Gambir railway station; ask for directions.

By Bus PPD 70, PPD 12 or P1 from Blok M towards Kota. Get off at Monas.
General informationVery popular with Jakartans, so best avoided on Sundays and public holidays. Elevator to the top costs IDR 2,000; museum entrance IDR 500. open every day 8.00 am-5.00 pm

Kemayoran: Birdwatching Urban

This former airport is being rebuilt as a garden city but is not due for completion until well into the 21st century. It is the home of the Jakarta Fairgrounds. A 6-ha fragment of mangrove swamp has been retained next to a man-made lagoon. Its full name is Hutan Rawa Payau Baru Bandar kemayoran. A board provides access to the marsh.

Key species
Little Cormorant, Little and Cattle Egrets, Black-crowned Night-heron, Small Blue and Sacred Kingfisher, Great Tit, Racquet-tailed Treepie.

Getting there
By bus from Blok M take metro Mini S610 to Pondok Labu (IDR 2,500), then kopaja 06 (IDR 2,500) to the Jakarta Fairgrounds, kemayoran district (IDR 2,500).

By taxi from kota station to kemayoran (near the golf course $3/IDR 27,000). The guard will ask to see your permit.

General information
A permit for a visit to kemayoran is obtained from DP3KK, Jl Angkasa, Kemayoran, Jakarta 10610 (behind pasar baru). Phone 4217135; fax 424 1356. permits are free of charge but insurance for each site is IDR 1,000

Pulau Rambut: Birdwatching Island

One of the closer in-shore “thousand Islands” of Jakarta Bay, the 45-ha Pulau Rambut is home to a large waterbird colony including Milky Stork, Herons, Egrets and Ibises. Well maintained trails enter the forest and a tall watchtower provides memorable viewing.

Key species
Breeding and roosting Milky Stork, purple and Grey Herons, Black-crowned Night-heron, Intermediate and Little Egrets, Little Cormorant, Glossy and Black-headed Ibises, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Frigatebirds on the crossing.

Getting there
From Muara Angke arrange a boat charter at the warden’s post. Expect to pay $70 for a 20+ seater, or $40 for a smaller vessel. The trip along the coast to Pulau Rambut takes 1.5 hrs.

A cheaper way to get there is to drive to Tanjung Pasir, at the back of the airport. The regular boats that ferry villagers across to the neighbouring Untung Jawa Island will drop you at Pulau Rambut for $1.5 (20 mins). Arrange for pick-up, too, for not later than 4.00 pm. Alternatively you can charter a boat ($30).

To reach Tanjung Pasir by bus: fffrom blok M to Kalideres bus station, getting off before Kalideres at Pasar Cengkareng. From there take a white bemo to Kampung Melayu (IDR 2,500), then a further bemo to Dadap (IDR 2,500), and finally at bemo (IDR 2,500) to Tanjung Pasir.

General information
A permit is required and may be obtained from SBKSDA, Jl Salemba Raya 16, Central Jakarta, phone/fax 3904402. to save waiting, fax them your permit request with your name and passport number the day before you want to collect it. This is a full-day excursion.

Researchers are allowed to stay on the island with a permit but there are no facilities on the island for visitors, so take all your own food and drink with you. PHPA has a guest house on nearby Untung Jawa Island ($7/IDR 65,000).

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Muara Angke

This once rich wetland site has been drastically reduced in extent by housing and golf course development, and now only a 27-ha nature reserve survives. However, this marsh and its adjoining mangroves still offer good birding and are one of the easiest places to see the endangered Javan Coucal.

Key species
Javan Coucal, Javan Plover, Milky Stork, Black-headed Ibis, Small blue Kingfisher, Black-winged Starling, Watercock and a good site for crakes and acrocepha warblers, passage terns and waders.

Getting there
By taxi ask for Pondok Indah Kapuk Estate ($7/IDR 65,000 from blok M).

By bus P37 Blok M-Muara Angke (IDR 2,500); P6B Kampung Rambutan bus Station-Muara Angke (IDR 2,500); P46 Pulo Gadung-Muara Angke (IDR 2,500); Metro 02 from Senen-Muara Karang (IDR 2,500); Metro U30 Kota-Muara Angke (IDR 2,500). Which ever bus you take, get off at the west end of Jl Pluit Karang. Look for the massive entrance arch to the Pondok Indah Kapuk Estate; 20 m beyond this is a roundabout. Take the only exit, Jl Pantai Indah Utara 2, and walk along for 75 m. on the north side of the road you will see a sign for the reserve and little bamboo bridge entrance.

General Information
A few metres across the bamboo bridge is a warden’s post where you should report. Boats to Pulau Rambut can also be arranged here. Immediately behind the post is a tall watchtower, which is the best place to scan from for Javan Coucal. A 1-2 km boardwalk follows the edge of the reserve (3 sides, excluding the river boundary).

There is good birding from the boardwalk, especially along the western edge, which passes through a fragment of mangrove and nipa palm swamp. Unfortunately, despite frequent repairs, the boardwalk is always in a state of collapse. Be careful not to fall through it, and expect not to be able to get the whole way. On the western edge a rickety bamboo bridge crosses from the boardwalk to the bund surrounding the new housing development. Walk seaward (north) for 55 m to the coastal mangroves.

A path runs west along the back of the mangroves until it reaches the canalized Angke river. The best area of mangrove is on the other side of the river. The mud in fron can be good for waders, and Milky Storks sometimes feed there. You may be lucky and find a boatman who will ferry you across. if not, you have to return to Jl Pantai Indah Utara 2 and walk west along this road for 1.5 km (past another roundabout) where a bridge crosses the river. The mangroves are a further 700 m down the side of the river. 500 m west along the path at the back of the mangroves is a freshwater lagoon and a stone breakwater, which gives access through the mangroves to the mud.

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Jakarta

Getting there
By air there are connections from all over the world with jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport located 12 km northwest of the city. Taxi fare into town is $15; there is also a regular AC airport bus service to downtown for $2.

By sea Pelni passenger ferries visit Tanjung Priok docks from all parts of Indonesia. Non-Pelni boats also take passengers; contact them at the harbour master’s office. There is also 24-hr ferry service from Bakauheni, Sumatra, to Merak, 140 km west of Jakarta; journey time 2 hrs.

It is also possible to go by ferry from Batan and Bintan, the two Indonesian Islands situated close to Singapore. Pelni services ply between these islands and Sumatra, as well as Jakarta and Surabaya.

Accommodation/dinning
There is a range of accommodation from the large international chains to the very inexpensive traveller’s’ losmen on Jl Jaksa, in the city centre near Monas square, but not much in the mid range for tourists. There is a very wide range of dining options: international standart (and price)! Restaurants through to roadside food stalls.

TransportBus very cheap but hot, cramped, crowded and dilapidated. Standard fare is about IDR 2,500. smaller Patas buses are slightly more expensive at IDR 6,000, but less crowded and stop anywhere. City bus route maps are (sometimes) available at theVisitor information centre in Djakarta Theatre building on Jl Thamrin. Pickpockets and bag slashers are a common hazard on buses. If you carrying expensive binoculars and cameras you will do much better to travel by taxi or hire a car.

Taxis plentiful, and can be flagged down anywhere. Fares are fairly cheap by international standards. AC flagfall is IDR 5,000, IDR 5,000/km thereafter; make sure the meter is on.

Car rental: many companies now offer both chauffer-driven (CD) cars with driver and gas included, as wel as self-drive (SD) cars. CD daily rates (12 hrs) range from $60 (kijang van) to $126 (Corola sedan); SD daily rates include insurance minus $50 deductible, range from $47 (kijang van) to $85 (corolla sedan).

General Information
Tourist Office Visitor Information Centre (for maps you can see google earth/maps and wikimapia)

Tangkuban Perahu Nature Reserve

The 2,076 m Tangkuban volcano dominates the northern side of the Bandung Basin. A surfaced road winds right to the edge of the crater. this spectacular "drive in"volcano is a popular tourist spot-with souvenir stalls and restaurants, but it is not difficult to slip off along one of the trails for some pleasant birding.

key species
this is the easiest place in Java to see the high altitude specialties-volcano Swiftlet and Island Thrush-and the forest birding is good.

Getting there
from Bandung drive north 16 km to the old Dutch resort town of Lembang. From here the Subang road skirts the eastern flanks of the volcano; a gate marking the entrance to the reserve is about 9 km from Subang. A surfaced road leads to the crater.

General Information
At the crater follow the trail anti-clockwise round the rim. 500 m below the crater is a big car park with restaurants. Across the road from the car park a trail leads 1 km through excellent forest to a second, smaller crater.

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Segara Anakan : Best Mangrove to Birdwatching

This large mangrove area, with its vast tidal mud-flat area, is unique in Java. though not particularly rich in different species, the area holds some rare species in considerable numbers.

Key species
Lesser Adjutant, Milky Stork, Javan Coucal, Ruddy and Stork-billed Kingfishers, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Copper-throated Sunbird.

Other Wildlife
Silvered Leaf Monkey, Long-tailed Macaque, Otters are often encountered along remote creeks; freswater dolphins and dugongs have been reprted but seem to have disappeared with the siltation of the estuaries.

Getting there
from Kalipucang, east of Pangandaran, there are passenger ferries to Cilacap (4 hrs, IDR 5,000 at 7.00 am, 8.00 am, 12.00 pm and 1.00 pm, although boats are sometimes cancelled. a car ferry is also planned, starting from Majingkak. there are bus connections from Cilacap to the major towns of Central Java.

Accommodation/Dining
there is no accommodation inside the area, except for some huts and shelters owned by the forestry department, and private houses in the villages. if you stay overnight in Cilacap (it is not somewhere to hang around) there is accommodation ranging from $3-50.

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Carita Beach

the patch of lowland rain forest along the trail to the Curug Gendang waterfalls is an increasingly popular destination for birdwatchers as it offers the best chances to see most of Java's lowland endemics along a very accessible trail. about 125 birds have been recorded here, with undoubtedly more to be added.

key species
Javan Hawk-eagle, Red-billed Malkoha, Javan Owlet, Brown Boobook, Javan Frogmouth, Javan Kingfisher, Black-crested Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Tit-babbler, White-breasted Babbler, Violet-tailed Sunbird, Crested Jay.

Other wildlife
Javan Leaf Monkey, Land Tortoises

Getting there
the turn off and entrance gate to the forest (where there are cheap losmen) are about 10 km north of Labuan on the coast road.

Accomodation/Dining
there are plenty of hotels, from 5-star to cheap penginapan, along the road between Cilegon and Labuan. there are also many food stalls and restaurants, though most may be closed on quiet weekdays.

General Information
the forest is managed as a hutan wisata (recreation forest) by the Perhutani Forestry Department. entrance IDR 2,500. Best time to visit Mar-Sept.

Source: Birding Indonesia, Periplus Publishing, Singapore

Cerme Cave: Speleologi, Birdwatching and Bicycling

The longest cave in Java Island
I woke up at 05.00 am. after i prayed for my God, i prepared to travelling by bicycle. i invite long my friend among tono, bejo and others. but who can go with me is tono and sunar. so, at the time who can go to cerme cave is 3 persons.

Start at krapyak wetan, we took west imogiri street, straight stay this street to south. we bicycled in morning air, its make our body fresh. the distance cerme cave from krapyak wetan less or more 18 km. We arrive in cerme cave at 09.00 am. We get relaxing and chat with genuine people. I took birdwatching activity to see bird in this area. Unfortunately i can't see them. May be they are shiny.

But i can hear their voice. we took rest and relax for 1 hrs. After that we continue to go cerme cave. We need guide to go there. We pay IDR 20,00 for 3 persons. In the cave we took 1,5 hrs journey. For 1,5 hrs we can see stalaktit-stalagmit, pilaar, beautiful rock or drip stone, canopy, gordyn (flow stone), animals cave such as bats, swiflet, fish in bottom cave river, insect. I have chance to touch of fish and insect. They are unique animals because they can live in deep cave and deep dark. They morfologi have adopt with this situation. insect have long antennae. After we get out from cave we walk trails to go back. We get fortune to see Javan eagles in canopy tek trees.

Speleologi and Birdwatching In Cerme Cave

Tomorrow, Juni 17, 2007, we will outbond activity in Cerme Cave. Cerme Cave is south of Jogjakarta city about 12 km. it has 1,1 km long. good for speleologi activity and birdwatching.

Planning Itinerary: Java Overland

Java overland: for those with more time available, the above two itineraries can be linked with birding stopovers on the overland journey from Bogor to Surabaya. In Bandung, three hours east of Bogor, a side trip to the active Tangkuban Prau volcano is a must. You can drive right up to the magnificent crater rim, which is surrounded by stunted elfin forest, so this is a place to see the speciality birds of Java’s mountain tops: the endemic volcano swiftlet, island thrush, mountain white-eye and, if you’re lucky, Sunda seri, with minimal exertion.

Five hours southeast by road from bandung is the popular south-coast resort of Pangandaran, where a small national park offers gentle lowland birding, an opportunity for a little sea-watching and the possibility of stumbling across a giant Rafflesia flower. In the same area the back waters between Pangandaran and Cilacap have lots of unexplored potential for water and marshland birds, including such locally rare species as racquet tailed treepie, milky stork and ruddy kingfisher. The route east continues to Jogjakarta, a full day-or more usually night-bus ride away. Jogja is the cultural centre and famous for the large Buddhist temple of Borobudur. The dieng plateu, lying between jogjakarta and Semarang, is popular with travelers on account of its evocative landscapes, but it features on few birder’s itineraries, for the good reason that the birding is better elsewhere.

Planning Itinerary: East Java

East Java: there is a wonderful, circular 2-3 week itinerary commencing from Surabaya, Java’s second largest city. The tour starts with a visit to the Brantas delta to look for Asian dowitchers and other waterbirds, then heads east along the north coast to Baluran National Park and its Green Peafowl, with a stopover to experience a sunrise over the awesome volcanic scenery of Mt Bromo/tengger. A short diversion can be made across to Bali Barat National Park from the ferry terminal at Banyuwangi, before swiing round south back on Java to the lowland reserves of Alas Purwo and Meru Betiri. Continuing west, the loop is completed after a relaxing sojourn at the peaceful environmental centre at Trawas, in the hills above Malang. Naturally, this can also be done as an add-on to Bali.

Planning Itinerary Sumatra and West Java

Planning an Itinerary

The first thing to realize is that you can never cover the entire archipelago, even if you were to spend months or years here. Don’t make yourself an impossibly tight schedule. Be aware that distances are great and travel slow. Better to spend more time in fewer places. You’ll see more this way, not less.

Below are four 3-4 week and two overland birding itineraries that maximize both the range of species see and time spent in the field.

Sumatra and West Java: in terms of getting a massive trip list with plenty of endemics, combining west Javan with way kambas and/or Kerinci, south and west Sumatra, is hard to better. There is a great itinerary, starting with a search for Javan Coucal in the tiny marsh reserve at Muara Angke in Jakarta, followed by a few day’s cleaning-up on the montane forest endemics at Mt Gede/Pangrango National park outside Bogor. Then head to the far west peninsula to see Green Peafowl and other lowland rainforest specialities at Ujung Kulon National Park before crossing to Sumatra to see highly prized species-Storm’s Stork and White-winged Duck at Way Kambas and Schneider’s Pitta and Sumatran Cochoa at Kerinci. Alternatively you can fly from Singapore to Padang in Sumatra and then after visiting Kerinci, travel dawn to way kambas and across to Java.

Trekking and Local Guides in Indonesian Birdwatching

To trek in most areas in Indonesia it is necessary to be self-sufficient in food and to take a guide. Aour guide will need to eat rice, and lightweight, pre-packaged food is not available, it is usually best to hire a couple of porters to carry provisions and equipment. The normal daily wage is IDR 25,000-50,000 plus food. Few guides have their own trekking equipment and you will need to buy this before setting out. They will be adept at knocking up shelters (pondok) in the forest, so there’s no need to worry about tents for them.

The usual pre-trek shopping list is : a large pot (for rice), a small pot (noodles and tea), plastic cups and plates, spoons, a ladle (for rice), a small kerosene lamp, 1 litre jerrycan with kerosene (minyak tanah) and a piece of plastic sheeting and raffia. This will add up to about $ 40 in any general store and, unfortunately unless you want to cart it around, you have to buy it again at each location. The essential food on the list is rice (plan on 1 kg/4 people/day), instant noodles (one or two packs/person/day), fish (either dried, or tinned sardines), chili sauce (sambal), creamcrackers, coffee, tea, sugar, tinned milk, cigarette lighter and cigarettes (for the guides porters and anyone else you meet). You will quickly tire of rice and noodles for breakfast lunch and dinner, so look for variety to liven up the diet. Good bets are chocolate wafers, crispy crackers, egg-coated peanuts and boiled sweets. Ask the shop for rice sacks to put all this in. the porters will carry these, either slung from poles over their shoulders or in ingenious ruck sacks rigged up from tree bark.

Almost everywhere you will be expected to take a local guide when entering a forest area, whether this is in or outside a national park or reserve. In the reserve the guide will be a local PHPA ranger. They vary greatly in knowledge and enthusiasm, and the best are noted in each sections’s practicalities. In rural areas the local village head (kepala desa) will feel responsible for your safety and will understandably be concerned if you try to wander about alone. Even if you are an old hand in tropical forests, it will be hard for them to believe it. So, even though it’s a hassle, it is wiser to go with local wishes and to take someone for you. You will be expected to pay IDR 25,000-50,000 a day for the services. The trouble with local guides is that concept of recreational birdwatching will be totally new and probably quite incomprehensible to them. Take the time to explain your needs carefully.

Birding Bali: Nusa Penida Island with exotic Seabird

Seabirds in the strait
One the way over from Bali, keep an eye open for seabirds such as Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Wedged-tailed Shearwater and Red-necked Phalarope. The main island, Nusa Penida, is now more or less ringed by road; wheter exploring by push-bike, on foot or by public transport, be prepared for some discomfort. There is seldom any shade, and it is very hot.

On arrival at Toyapakeh or Sampalan, look out for at least two species which are common here but not seen on mainland Bali: Red chested Flowerpecker and Black faced Munia. Along the coast (and on hight ground where there is some dry rice cultivation) you may be surprised to see White-faced Heron, a typically Australian bird at the very northern limit of its range.

Given limited time, two day long excursions are recommended the first to Batumadeg on the southern slopes of Bukit Mundi (Mundi hill), from where you may walk south to the remote Temiling Valley. This spectacular gorge, surrounded by the only jungle on the island, is home to many forest birds, notably imperial pigeons, drongos and flycatchers. The trail leads on to kolam dedari, the angel’s pool-a wonderful spot to cool off. Inspect the nearby Cliffside temple, pura segara, and see White-tailed Tropicbirds nesting in the 200-m chalk heads. Another route home starts with the rockhewn staircase above the pool.

The second excursion is to Tanjung Abah (Abah cape), via the incredible Karangsari cave. From Sampalan take the east coast road to Suwana (from where it is a long, hard, scenic walk) or karang (a short, rugged trail) to Tanjung Abah. White-bellied sea-eagles still nest on the limestone stacks at Abah, and the view here is stunning. There is also a good chance of seeing Osprey and Peregrine Falcon-and if you see any other tourists, they are bound to be birdwatchers!

Birding Bali: Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida: island of bandits
First known to Portuguese seafarers as Nusa pendita, this island has always had an unsavoury reputation. Many sailing ships have been wrecked and plundered on its coasts, and still today the place is wild and inhospitable. Lacking any ground-water, it is unsuited to tourist development, and thus an excellent place for birds. It can be explored in 1 2- or 3-day trip.

Accessible by charted outrigger (jukung) from sanur or by a regular passenger service from Kusambe, what appears to be a solid formation is in fact three islands. The nearest, lembongan, has been adopted by the surfing and pleasure-boating crowd. It could make a convenient base and is certainly worth a visit to see the peculiar man-made underground labyrinth at Jungutbatu. At low tide one can wander over to interveting Ceningan island to see the spectacle of a host of cave dwelling edible-nest swiftlets. The soup made from their mucus nests is delicacy in Hongkong and Taiwan, and the nests are harvested commercially here.

Birding Bali: Shorebirds on the Sand-flats

Shorebirds on the sand-flats

Ask the boatman to drop you halfway down the 11/2-km strand and walk the rest of the way. Or land at the usual disembarkation point, inspect the village and temple, and then take the clearly defined and well-shaded path that dissects the island north to south.

The main birding attraction is the vast expanse of exposed reef and sand-flat at the south end of the island that provides a feeding ground and a roost for migrating terns and waders as well as local herons. As you walk along the beach, observe parties of Sanderlings, pairs of small Malaysian Plovers and the odd Common Sandpiper. Rounding a bend in the beach and a shallow inflet, the extent of the flat becomes apparent, dotted with white egrets and an evenly-spaced line of dark, angular purple herons. Less obvious at first glance are the large numbers of Javan Pond Herons: wheter in breeding or non-breeding plumage, they blend in with their background.

Even more difficult to see are the flocks of plovers and sandpipers, all brownish, which are collectively known as waders. The easiest of this group to spot are the curlews, both Eurasian and far eastern-the former with white rumps like the numerous whi,mblers, obvious by their sheer size. Grey plover are fairly plentiful and are easely distinguished by their black axillaries (“armpits”) in flight. Not so the flocks of golden plover, which are almost impossible to detect against the mud. Calling for equally close scrutiny are the flocks of Mongolian plover, interspersed with the odd greater sandplover, grey-tailed tattler, rufous-necked stint, and sharp-tailed and curlew sandpipers. Redshanks are usually much in evidence, with a few greenshanks and ruddy turnstones. And look out for some of Bali’s more infrequent visitors, such as black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits, terek sandpiper, longbilled dowitcher and great knot.

During the spring and autumn passage, thousands of birds congregate here (though it is a rewarding site at any time). Most numerous af all are the terns-great, pied swathes of them, comprising mainly great crested terns with lesser numbers of gull-billed, common and little. But now it is time to hurry back: the tide is getting low and the boatman becoming impatient….

Birding Bali: Serangan Island

Birding Bali: Serangan Island

Shorebirds an outrigger ride from Sanur

Most people go to turtle island to see the important temple, Pura Sakenan, with its beautifully sculpted coral gates and shrines. During the ten days following the Galungan/kuningan (all saints/all souls) festival, tens of thousands of pilgrims, together with their sacred icons, come here in resplendent procession. But for the birdwatcher, Serangan island is the best site in Bali for shorebirds.

The nicest way to get there is by dug-out outrigger (prau) which may be hired by the hour from Sanur beach. A leisurely half-hour’s sail along the lagoon should yield an assortment of terns-predominantly common, little and great crested- and the odd white-phase reef egret; and from about April to November, squadrons of mixed frigatebirds-great and lesser (but watch out for the odd chrismast frigatebirds, too)-cruise north above the coast, note the extensive belt of protected mangrove, home to a profusion of herons, turtle-doves, kingfishers, bee-eaters, warblers, sunbirds, weavers and munias.

The Threat Maleo

The threat maleo
The size of the egg makes it in attractive source of food for humans and maleo nesting beaches have probably been explotted since man first arrived on Celebes. Unfortunately, however, over-exploitation has been a common phenomenon: for example, the beach at the batuputih just north of the present Tangkoko-Batuangus reserve, where Alfred Wallace watched maleo nesting in 1859, was at one time visited by egg collectors in an apparently more or less sustainable manner, but within six years at a settlement being established at batuputih in 1913, maleos no longer visited the beach (MacKinnon 1978). In 1947 about 10,000 eggs were laid in 2 ha of the panua Reserve on the coast near Marisa, Gorontalo (Uno 1949), but the present total less than 10% of this (Anon. 1982a). the total number of breeding hens is between 25% and 67% of the total 40 years ago (Wiriosoepartho 1980).

The largest site, at bakiriang, is only a few kilometers away from a transmigration site. The lowland forest the birds depend on behind the beach is being felled an unless this is protected the demise of this populatin seems almost certain. The Bakiriang site is so special that, until 50 years ago, the raja of Banggai, on Peleng island 100 km away, determined who should collect the eggs and he received a revenue from the eggs collected. The first 100 eggs were sent to the Raja and only after he had approved these could they be consumed by local people. Although the Banggai Rajas were notorious pirates and unacceptable in many ways, they were among Indonesia’s first resource managers. Now, however, eggs are taken despite legal prohibition and they can be found, wrapped in individual palm-leaf baskets, in the markets of ujung Pandang and even Jakarta.

Experiments by the head of the Gorontalo Forest service in the mid-70s showed that maleo eggs could be collected and reburied in a cage so that predation was avoided, and then hatched with significant rates of success (MacKinnon 1978). This was tried again in the Tangkoko-Batuangus Reserve and a hatching rate of 78% was achieved. This technique, together with the control of pig and lizard predators and the clearing of undergrowth to increase the area with a suitably high soil temperature, could make a significant contribution to increasing maleo populations.

Work is currently being conducted in Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park on the management of an inland of maleo birds and results are awaited with interest.


Bibliography

Guillemard, F.H.H. 1889. the cruise of the Marchesa to kamschatka and New Guinea with notice of Formosa, Liu-liu, and various islands of the Malay Archipelago. London: murray

Wathley, R.J. 1983a. Ornithological notes from sulawesi. Emu

1983b. Sandbox incubator. Anim Kingdom june/July

Wiriosoepartho, A.S. 1979. Pengamatan habitat dan tingkah laku bertelur maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) di kompleks hutan dumoga, Sulawesi Utara, Laporan no. 315 Bogor: lembaga Penelitian Hutan

Wallacea, A.R. 1869. the malay Archipelago. The land of the orangutan and the birds of paradise. A narrative of travel with studies of man and nature . London: macMillan. Republished 1962 by dover, New York

Wiriosoepatho, A.S. 1980. penggunaan habitat dalam berbagai macam aktivitas oleh macrocephalon maleo sal. Muller di Cagar alam Panua, Sulaweai Utara. Laporan no. 356 Lembaga Penelitian Hutan. Bogor

MacKinnon, J.R. 1978. sulawesi megapodes. World Pheasant Assoc

Uno, A. 1949. het natuurmonument Panoea (N. Celebes) en het maleohen (Macrocephalon maleo Sall. Muller) in het bijzonder. Tectona

Anon. 1982a. National Conservation Plan for Indonesia vol.v. sulawesi, FAO: Bogor

MacKinnon, J.R. 1981a. methods for the conservation of maleo birds, Macrocephalon maleo on the island of sulawesi, Indonesia. Biol. Conserv

The Struggle Chick Maleo From Predators

The struggle chick maleo
Maleos are communal nesters and on the largest known site at Bakiriang on the south coast of the north-east peninsula, more than 600 birds nest early in the year with the holes only two or three metres apart. Two hundred of the birds nest on just 1 ha of sand (Watling 1983).

The surface of a sandy beach can become extremely hot, over 50 celcius degree and 80 celcius degree on white and black sand respectively (MacKinnon 1978), yet just a few centimeters below the surface, the temperature is relatively stable at about 36 celcius degree. It seems as if most eggs, on beachs or elsewhere, are laid in positions where the temperature is between 32 celcius degree and 38 celcius degree (MacKinnon 1978, Wiriosoepartho 1980). The depth of the hole might be thought to be critical, and it has been suggested that the bare head of the maleo is efficient at sensing temperature but, in reality, the exact depth and temperature (within certain limits) are not so critical. Instead it seems that the eggs are laid as deep as possible for protection against predators.

Hatching takes about three months and if the chicks survive the one or two day scramble to the surface, for ants are a major predator of chicks in the ground (R. Dekker pers. Comm.), they are able to fly away immediately, already having adult plumage the manner in which they ‘explode’ from the sand and rush away is probably an adaption to avoid the attention of predators (Watling 1983). The great size of the egg is related to the need to produce a chick strong enough to struggle up to the surface (Guillemard 1889).

Maleo Birds (Macrocephalon maleo)

Maleo birds
The maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is a member of small family of mound builders, or incubator birds (megapodiidae), which with one exception is confined to eastern Indonesia, new Guinea, Australia and Polynesia. The maleo itself, however, is found only in north, central and southweast Celebes. It is about the size of a domestic hen, weighing around 1,6 kg (Guillemard 1889), with striking black and rose-white plumage, an erect tail, and a head with a bare, helmeted cranium which may serve to keep the brain cool when it is on hot beaches 9watling 1983).

The bill is pale green and red at the base. Maleo are primarily inhabitants of forest, but only lay eggs where the ground is sufficiently hot for incubation-that is near hat springs (Wiriosoepartho 1979), near volcanic vents, or on sandy beaches. The megapodes and the Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius) are the only living birds which do not use the heat of their own for incubation.

Pairs arrive at a nesting area the night before eggs are laid. The following morning, amid much duck-like quacking and turkey-like gobbing, the birds examine holes and make trial digs. When a suitable spot is found, both male and female start digging, throwing earth or sand behind them using their strong legs and claws. The toes are slightly webbed at the base which must help when scratching away loose sand (Wallace 1869). As the hole becomes cleeper, so the birds take it in turns to dig and drive away other maleos that venture too close.

This digging can take over three hours, particularly where the sand is loose, after which the female lays her enormous egg, 11 cm long and 240-270 egg g in weight (Guillemard 1889), in the bottom of the pit. Subsequent eggs are laid and is lengthened by the digging of false pits near the real one to divert predators such as monitor lizard and pigs. Against human who value maleo eggs as a delicacy, however, these precautions are of little use. During the nesting period the maleos seek food such as figs, and fruit of macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) and Dracontomelum (Anacardiaceae) in the beach forest and roost primarily in Casuarina (Casuarinaceae) trees (Wiriosoepartho 1980).

The Best Place to Watch Shorebirds in Celebes Coast

The best place to watch shorebirds in Celebes Coast.

In addition to the waders, other common large birds of the coast include the white-bellied sea eagle (Heliacetus leucogaster), the osprey (Pandion haliatus) and Brahminy kite (Haliastur Indus) all of which fish in the shallow waters and scavenge food along undisturbed beaches. There also various stork, herons, egrets and ducks seen around the shore and roosting sites for seeing these birds (Uttley 1986). The milky stork (Ibis cinereus) is of particular interest because until a few years ago it was though to be quite rare. Large numbers have now been found in Sumatra (Silvins et al. 1985) and they have also been observed, some in breeding plumage, in the Tiworo straits between Muna island and the mainland of southeast Celebes (L. Clayton pers. Comm..), near Ujungpandang and in the Cenrara River delta (Uttley 1986).


Such fish-eating birds might occasionally encounter venomous sea snakes in the shallow waters of mudflats. One species, the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus), is the most widely distributed species of snake, being found from south Siberia to Tasmania, and from the west coast of America to the Indian Ocean. It is about I m long and is often found near the water surface and eats mainly rabbitfish and mulletlike fish (voris and voris 1983). Young, hand-reared with and without their tails. The tails of sea snakes are very distinctive. The birds were most frightened by the yellow-bellied sea snake, even if its tail had been removed. This indicates a genetically-based response; they could not have learned that the snake was dangerous from experience (Caldwell and Rubinoff 1983).

Bibliography
Grant, . 1984. sediment microtopography and shorebird foranging. Mar. ecol. Prog.

Barnard, C.J. and Thompson, D.B.A. 1985. Gulls and Plovers: the ecology of mixed species feeding groups. London Croom Helm.

Uttley, J. 1986. survey of Sulawesi Selatan to asses the status of wetlands and to identify key sites for breeding and migratory waterbirds. Preliminary report, Kuala Lumpur

Voris, H.K. and voris, H.h. 1983. Feedign strategies in marine snakes : an analysis of evolutionary, morphological, behavioural and ecological relationships. Amer. Zool.

Caldwell, G.S. and Rubinoff, R.W. 1983. Avoidance of venomeous sea snakes by naïve herons and egrets . Auk 100: 195-198

The Behavior Shorebirds

The behavior Shorebirds on mudflat in along Celebes coast
The penetrability of a beach sediment depends on its water content. This may be reason that some shorebirds can be seen running along the water’s edge on the ebbing tide pushing their bills into the thixotropic (fluid) sand. A careful examination of bill marks made in tidally formed sand ripples by dowitchers, a wading bird similar to godwits, showed that more marks were found on the crests than in the water-logged troughs.

Neither the distribution of prey nor sediment grain size showed only difference between crests and troughs, but penetrating the crests required only 50%-70% of the force required to penetrate the troughs. Thus, concentrating effort on the crests reduce energy expenditure. Ripple crests are sites of active sediment transport and the arrangement of the grains is relatively unstable. This larger volume of pore space allows a higher water content and offers less resistence to penetration. Although the differences in water content between crest and trough are small, minor differences in pore volume can produce major changes in the reaction of sand grains to a shearing force (Grant 1984).

Wading birds are often seen in mixed-species flocks which might be thought to be disadvantageous to the individuals by virtue of increased competition. In fact, more often than not, the birds are taking different foods and being together has the advantage that the more birds present the more likely it is that a predator, such as a bird of prey, will be seen. One particular species is usually first to settle on a certain stretch of beach having used visual clues to make its choice. Other species follow when it is clear that food is being found. A few species act as pirates taking food have to spend more time feeding to compensate for the loss, but here are advantages in that feeding birds have their heads down searching for food whereas the pirates generally keeps its head up and serves an early warning of the approach of predators (Barnard and Thompson 1985).

Trekking until Birding Bali Mountain

Up into the hills
Now it is time to head for our first night’s destination, Bedugul in the central highlands- a mere 1 to ½ hour’s drive. An alternative more leisurely option is to make a whole day of the next stage of the journey with a detour via the amazing jungle temple, Pura Luhur, on the southern slopes of Mt Batukau. This will take you through the most spectacular landscape on the island-weather permitting.

Taking the Jl. Ngurah Rai bypass road, go straight across the crossroads in Tohpati and come out north of Denpasar on the road to Tabanan. In Tabanan pay heed to the one-way system, taking a right turn after the market and doubling back so as to reach the road leading north to Penebel. Half way to Penebel, take a left turn to Yehpanas (hot springs), continuing north to the Pura Luhur. At Tengkudak pause briefly to visit astonishing church- a brick, syncretic folly elaborated with Balinese sculpted angels and demons-before proceeding to Wangagadege (Wangaye for short), where the jungle begins. The road climbs more steeply now, and it is worth stopping to examine one or more of the vast, wayside fig trees for imperial and green pigeons, fruit-doves, minivets and barbets. The distribution of the latter in Bali, their last oriental outpost, is strange: here, in central Bali, orange-fronted, blue eared and coppersmith Barbets can be seen together in the same tree.

Some doubtless well-intentioned “improvements” to the temple precints have recently been made and the old rustic spirit of the sanctuary has to some extent now been lost. Even the lake has been cleaned up. But no matter, there are still birds in abundance. Mugimaki, little Pied and Grey-headed Flycatchers, Black-naped Monarchs, Whiterumped Warblers, Black-winged Hemipus, and orange-bellied and Blood-breasted Flowerpeckers will all be found here. You are almost bound to see the striking, pied White-crowned Forktail. Look for it in the feeder streams to the shrines and pond or, failing there, in the tumbling river-bed, which nay be gained by taking the forest path on the left before the temple.

After a bathe in the river, which is icy and so clean that you can drink from it, it is time to return to Wangaye, from where you turn left on to the pot-holed road to Jatiluwih. Drive slowly along this road, not because it is bad, but so as not to miss the wonderful landscape. There are various contenders for the most scenic route in Bali, but this one surely takes the prize. Pied Bushchats and Javan Kingfishers are everywhere-and keep an eye to the heavens for Black Eagle. Break the journey at Jatiluwih (the name means “lovely view”) and over a picnic lunch gaze in awe at the unfolding panorama of rolling rice terraces…and go on gazing. And on at length to the hamlet which is listingly Senganan Kanginan, then left on a slightly better road which joins the main road to Bedugul at Pacung.

If you do not take a packed lunch, the restaurant Mutiara Sari in Baturiti has a fine bill of fare and, amazingly, fresh milk from the local dairy herd. If it is a nice day, sit out in the ornamental garden; the view here also grand. What is that peculiar liquid twitter, followed by a shushing sound? Here are the first Brown Honeyeaters of the tour.

Resorts, Accomodation Around bali

A day around the resorts
A great many visitors, choose to stay in the tourist resort of Nusa Dua, so here our tour begins bright and early one weekday morning. It is always better to avoid traveling at the weekend as there is more traffic. Most people tend to shun sewage farms, but to bird-watchers they are a veritable Mecca, and the one in Nusa Dua is no exception. The decantation ponds are situated in Celu, and the main entrance is exactly opposite the northern entrance to the hotel complex containing Club Med. Usually the gate is open and you but it is better to park and walk. Here, on a series of large ponds dotted with heavily vegetated islands, is one of the most impressive arrays of large waterbirds to be seen in Bali. October to March (during the wet season) is a particularly good time to visit, as many species are nesting then.

The raised embankments dividing the ponds are now gated to reduce disturbance, but good views of the birds can be enjoyed from a wander round the perimeter. Note the huge population of herons, especially breeding Purple and Black-crowned Night-herons. Also breeding are little Pied Cormorant, and Suspected Oriental Darter and Glossy Ibis. A pair of Lesser Adjutants may also be taking up permanent residence.

Both Black-throated and Red-throathed Little Grebes have been spotted here, and, although of the ducks only Sunda Teal is always present, both Lesser and Wandering Whistling-ducks, Pacific Black Duck and even Palaearctic migrants may be expected. In the encircling mangroves, look out for Small Blue Kingfisher and White Shouldered Triller. Sightings of Yellow-crested Cockatoos have been reported on several occasions, so they may be trying to established a feral population. Given proper protection of this oasis, almost anything might choose to make its home here.

Whilst still in Nusa Dua, be sure to check out the reef between the two peninsulas for a good selection of waders; also both white-phase and black-phase Reef Egret. On the main “island” is healthy population of Striated Grassbirds and Common Pipits; Long-tailed Shrikes abound.

Our next stop is Sanur, where you go directly to the district known as Merta Sari, just south of the hotel called Travelodge. Park under the magnificient suar (white oak) trees adjacent to the exquisite coral temple. If the tide is out, a vast expanse of sand-flats stretches almost to the horizon. Invariably you will see an excellent selection of waders just of-shore. If the tide is in, walk 200 m north of the temple through the coconut plantation to the as yet unspoilt southern end of Sanur Beach, then head south along the beach and, before the mangrove begins, check out the mangrove, you will find Island Collared Dove, Sacred and Collared Kingfishers, Sunda Woodpecker, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Pied Fantail and Streaked Weaver.

source: Birding Indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Birding Bali: Bali island

Bali Bird Tour
An unforgettable Fusion of Birds, Culture and Landscape
Bali’s diverse attraction-tropical beaches, vibrant hindu culture, scenic rice terraces and beach resorts-have made the island one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. However, the island has much to offer the bird-watcher too: a wide range of birds and many other attractions can be enjoyed in a fabulous 5- to 7-day tour starting in the south, and going up over the mountains to the unspoilt northwest coast.

There is no need to attempt the whole tour in one fell swoop. It can be done piecemeal, with one or more stages as side-trips, or mostly in reverse if you arrive at Gilimanuk on the ferry from Ketapang in east Java. Ideally, to make the most of your time and allow the greatest degree of flexibility, it is best to have your own wheels, but all destinations are attainable by public transport.

source: Birding indonesia. Periplus Publishing. Singapore

Spot-Billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Indonesian: Undan paruh totol

Description: very large (150 cm) grey, pink-billed pelican. Grey plumage and blue-spotted pink bill distinctive. Wings darkish grey. Bill pouch is purple. Iris –pale brown; naked skin round eye –pink; bill –pink; feet –brown.

Voice: husky, hissing calls only during breeding period.

Distribution and status: breeds in Persian gulf, Sri lanka and Burma. Visits S. Asia and Philippines. Rare vagrants have reached Java.

Habits: lives in large flocks which cooperate in hunting by driving fish to a shallow corner of a lake or estuary then dip in a sweeping motion to scoop them into the pouch. Flies in V-formation or long lines. Sometimes plunge dives on fish from mid air. Inhabits sheltered coastal bays, estuaries, lakes and large rivers.

Diet: large fish

White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

Indonesian – Undan putih

Description: huge (170 cm) white pelican. Plumage white except for black primaries and secondaries. There is a small crest on back of head, a tuft of yellow on the breast. Immature birds are brown. Iris –red; bill –purplish; naked pouch –yellow; naked facial skin-pink; feet-pink.

Voice: Generally silent

Distribution and status: breeds in south Europe, Africa, and Central Asia rare winter strays have reached Java.

Habits: Typical of family with cooperative fishing, flying in formation and plunge-diving. Frequents lakes and large rivers.

Diet: Large fish

Pelicans-Family Pelecanidae

Pelicans – Family Pelecanidae

a small family of eight species of unmistakable huge waterbirds with very large bills and large distentisible pouches stretching the full length of the bill. Pelicans are generally in parties and cooperate in scoop-net fishing by side sweeping of their beaks. They can also fish by plunge diving in flight. The flight, with neck recurved, looks laboured but is powerful and several species make long migrations.
No pelicans are resident in Java but three species have been recorded as visitors.
Key to Javan Pelicans
Overall plumage grey, bill pinkish…………………..Pelecanus philippensis
Overall plumage white and black……………………………………….(2)
Back black, tail with black tip…………………………P. conspicillatus
Back and tail white…………………………………….P. onocrotalus

Red-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda)

Indonesian – Burung buntut satek merah

Description: largish (46 cm excluding tail streamers) white or pinkish tropicbird. A white and pink form occur. Adults can be distinguished from White-tailed Tropicbird by orange bill, less black in plumage and red tail streamers (very difficult to see from a moving boat). Immature distinguished by black bill. Iris –dark; feet –blue with black webs.

Voice: Ratchet-like “pirr-igh” call in flight, and loud screams at nest.

Distribution and status: tropical and sub-tropical Indian and Pacific oceans. Does not breed in our area but occasional vagrants may be brought close to the Javan by bad weather.

Habits: keeps well to sea. Flight similar to white-tailed Tropicbird. Partly nocturnal.

Diet: Squids and fish.

Race: P.r. westralis

White-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaeton lepturus)

Indonesian-Burung buntut satek putih

Description: medium-sized (41 cm excluding tail streamers) white seabird with trailing, long, white tail streamers. Adult: mainly white with black eyebrow, black wing tips and black bar on upperwing. Immature: lacks stremers and has black barring on upperparts. Iris –dark; bill –yellow; feet –greyish with black webs.

Voice: Rattling ‘tetetete’ and ‘tik’ call in flight and loud screams at nest.

Distribution and status : Tropical and sub-tropical seas of Atlantic. Indian and Pacific oceans. In Bali there are important breeding colonies in the cliffs on Nusa Penida and probably at Ulu Watu. Occasional strays are seen in Javan waters. Breeds in Rongkop (C. Java) and probably Nusa Barung (E. Java).

Habits: flies high over sea with fast wingbeat circling, or twisting and turning sharply to plunge onto food in the sea. Swims in sea with tail cocked. Partly nocturnal.

Diet: Small squids that rise to the sea surface at night, also fish.

Breeding: nests in cliff holes in the sheer cliffs of Nusa Penida. April.

Race: P.l.fulvus