Minahasa Highland Tour: Birdwatching in Tomohon and Sonder

Sulawesi island in Indonesia is considered as one of the most popular destinations for visitors who are keen on birdwatching. There are 169 species of birds that are endemic to Sulawesi island. It is the highest in Indonesia. 

Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-billed Malkoha, White-browed Crake, Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird

Minahasa highland, located in the Province of  North Sulawesi, has got a number of places which visitors can go to enjoy birdwatching. One of them is Mount Mahawu. Its forest is the habitat of such birds as Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Sulawesi Myzomela, Warbling White-eye, Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, and etc. 

Birding activity could carried out early in the morning at 06:00. However, fog often covers the top area of the volcano until around 07:00. So, the recommended time to start morning birding in Mount Mahawu is around 07:00 or 07:30 when the fog has disappeared. Another birding site in Minahasa highland is Lake Linow. This volcanogenic lake is the habitat of a lot of water birds including White-breasted Waterhen, Javan Pond Heron, Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret, Barn Swallow, Sunda Teal, Wood Sandpiper, Australasian Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Barred Rail, Isabelline Bush-hen, Collared Kingfisher and etc.

Warbling White-eye

After exploring birding sites in Tomohon, we could continue our trip to Sonder. The higher elevation forest of Mount Lengkoan is the habitat of a lot of interesting species of birds such as Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Black-crowned White-eye, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Black Kite, Sulawesi Scops Owl, and etc. 

Pygmy Woodpeckee

Sonder is surrounded by agricultural area which is a good site to watch Finch-billed Myna, Bay Coucal, Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed), Black-naped Oriole, Zebra Dove, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, White-breasted Woodswallow, and etc.

The slopes between Tomohon and Sonder are covered by forest and agricultural plants. They are the habitat of Bay Coucal, Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed), Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Black-billed Koel, Collared Kingfisher, and etc. Visitors could explore the slope by walking along the roadside. The best time for roadsode birding is early in the morning at around 06:00. 

How to get to Tomohon?

Tomohon is a town in Minahasa highland. It can be reached by car from the airport of Manado city in about 1 hour. Visitors need to fly from their country to Manado city. There is direct flight from Singapore to Manado. There is also direct flight from Guangzhou to Manado city. Every day there are regular flights between Manado city and some major Indonesian cities. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air, and TransNusa.

Flight routes from some Indonesian cities to Manado

Road that connects Manado city - Tomohon and Sonder

If you are interested in taking a Minahasa highland tour with emphasis on birdwatching, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Birding in Tangkoko

Lowland Forest and Coastal Area of Tangkoko

The tropical rainforest of Tangkoko Nature Reserve is the habitat of hundreds of species of tropical birds. Some of them include Green Imperial Pigeon,  Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, White-necked Myna, Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sahul Sunbird, Ashy Woodpecker, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc. 

Most birdwatchers will need to walk under the canopy of the thick forest of Tangkoko to see most of the above birds. 

Another birding site in Tangkoko that is good for watching birds that like to sit on the canopy of the forest is Temboan Hill. Birds that could be watched and photographed from this hill include Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Black-naped Oriole, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail, Black-billed Koel, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot and Pygmy Hanging Parrot.

Some birds in Tangkoko's Forest

Birds such as Great-billed Kingfisher, White-rumped Cuckooshrike, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser and Greater Frigatebirds, Pied Imperial Pigeon are usually watched along the coastal area. 

Speckled Boobook at the edge of Tangkoko's forest

A trip by a motorized boat to Naun river is usually conducted by tour organizer to increase the chance for tour participants to watch the Great-billed Kingfisher. 

In addition to watching birds, visitors who go to Tangkoko can also watch other animals such as Gursky's Spectral Tarsier, Celebes-crested Macaque, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, and Northern Dwarf Squirrel, and etc. Various species of butterflies could also be watched there. They include: Common Birdwing, Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly, The Clipper and Lime Swallowtail. For visitors who are keen on butterfly watching and insect watching, the farmland near Manado city and the hills of Subdistrict Sonder are good places for that purpose.

The duration of this birding and wildlife watching activity in Tangkoko is usually 3 to 4 days. 

High Elevation Forest of Minahasa Highland

After completing the birding tour in Tangkoko, the tour to watch tropical birds of Sulawesi could be continued to Tomohon town for another 3 to 4 days in Minahasa highland to look for Superb Fruit-dove, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Warbling White-eye and etc.. A lot of endemic birds could be watched in this region too. They include: Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pitta, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Scops Owl, Speckled Boobook, and Sulawesi Masked Owl. 

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher in Mount Mahawu

Birding activities in Minahasa highland will be conducted in Mount Mahawu of Tomohon, Mount Lengkoan of Sonder, and farm forest between Tomohon and Sonder as well as Lake Linow, wetland ricefield and waterfall areas of Sonder.

 

Marine Tour to Bunaken Islands

For tour participants who want to combine this birding tour and marine tour, a trip to Bunaken islands can be added in the itinerary to see the seascape of tropical islands of Bunaken, Siladen and Nain Atol as well as to see the wealth of the marine biodiversity coral reef through snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa highland, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com. 

Also read:

• Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Mount Mahawu, and Sonder's Farm Forest
• Wildlife Watching in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birds in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland 
• Some Bird List for Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Mount Mahawu of Minahasa Highland
• Wildlife watching and photography tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland

Birding in Sonder and Tomohon of Minahasa Highland, Snorkeling in Bunaken Islands of North Sulawesi

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa highland. It is a new destination for visitors who love exploring mountainous region whose land is covered by forest, and farmland.

Farm Tour -  Talking a walking tour along this farm area will allow tour participants to see various kinds of agricultural crops that are being grown by local farmers, meet local villagers in their daily life and watch birds and butterflies that thrive in the farm forest of Subdistrict Sonder. Local farmers grow vegetables, fruits, beans and grain such as: cabbage, spring onion, spinach, carrot, tomato, chilli, cucumber, pumpkin, chayote, rambutan, mango, avocado, rice, corn, peanuts, and red bean. They also grow agricultural industrial crops such as vanilla, clove, nutmeg and patchouli. 

Birdwatching Tour - Hiking, sightseeing, birdwatching are popular activities which tourists can do while spending their holiday in North Sulawesi. They could see various species of birds. Some of them are listed below:

Birds in the Farm Forest of Subdistrict Sonder

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

• Bay Coucal
• Black-billed Koel
• Sulawesi Drongo
• Hair-crested Drongo (White-eyed)
• Sulawesi Scops Owl
• Sahul Sunbird
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Crimson Sunbird
• Black Sunbird
• Gray-sided Flowerpecker
• Yellow-sided Flowerpecker
• Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker
• Sulawesi Myzomela
• Warbling White-eye
• Black-crowned White-eye
• Barred Rail
• Black-naped Oriole
• Pale Blue Monarch
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
• Pygmy Hanging Parrot
• Purple Heron
• Yellow-billed Malkoha
• Javan Pond Heron
• Little Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Barred Rail
• Buff-banded Rail
• Isabelline Bush-hen
• White-browed Crake
• Collared Kingfisher
• Finch-billed Myna
• Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon
• Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Sooty-headed Bulbul
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Sulawesi Crow
• Black Kite, 
• Chestnut Eggs
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Black-faced Munia
• Eurasian Treesparrow, 
• Grey-rumped Treeswift
• Glossy Swiftlet
• White-nest Swiftlet
• Barn Swallow
• and etc.

European visitors were watching birds in Sonder of Minahasa highland

Butterfly Watching -The forest, dry farmland, wet rice field and waterfall areas of Sonder are the habitat of a lot of species of butterflies. Exploring these places on foot will allow tour participants to see such butterflies as Helena's Birdwing, The Clipper, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Meyer's Jay, and etc.

Flowers and butterfly in Subdistrict Sonder

Butterflywatching and birdwatching at the Outskirts of Manado City

Manado is the capital of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is the destination for visitors who want to spend their holiday in Bunaken Marine National Park and Tangkoko Nature Reserve or Minahasa Highland. 

Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly

Manado city itself is surrounded by villages, farmland and forest. For visitors who are interested in nature, they could enjoy hiking, butterflywatching and birdwatching at the outskirts of Manado city. Various species of butterflies could be seen at the farm forest of Manado city. They include Gigon Swallowtail, The Clipper, Helena's Birdwing, Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly, and Lime Swallowtail. 

Blanchard's Wood Nymph

For birds, there are Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Pacific Swallow, Sahul Sunbird, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Crow, Green Imperial Pigeon, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc. The duration of this butterfly watching and birdwatching tour is usually half day and can be extended to full day tour to other site of Manado city.

Birding in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

For visitors who are keen on watching more tropical birds of Sulawesi, they could spend 3 to 4 days of their holiday time in Tangkoko forest to watch birds and other wild animals of the nature reseve. 

As a tourist guide, I could organize an extended trip to Tangkoko Nature Reserve which is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes ride from Manado city depending on the road traffic condition. A lot of birds could be found in the forest of Tangkoko including Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, White-necked Myna,  Black-naped Fruit-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, and etc.

Knobbed Hornbill

Marine Tour in Bunaken Islands

After taking the hiking, farm tour, butterflywatching and birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland, the tour will be continued to Bunaken Islands where visitors could walk along white sandy beach, swim in sea water and enjoy snorkeling over coral reef area.

A lot of marine creatures could be seen underwater including sea star, sea clam, sea cucumber, christmas tree worm, sea urchin, and various species of tropical fish such as grouper, parrotfish, wrasse, anemonefish, trevally, damsel, lionfish.

Nain Atoll Sandbank

To take pictures of the marine life, tour participants need to bring an underwater camera such as Nikon W300, Olympus TG-7 or Go Pro camera. 

Tour participants can bring their own snorkeling equipment such as the mask, snorkel and fins. They could also rent it from dive centers in Bunaken. 

Marine Tour in Bunaken Islands

Flight Routes to Manado city

To take this birding tour in Sonder of Minahasa highland and snorkeling tour in Bunaken islands, tour participants need to fly to Manado city which is the capital of North Sulawesi Province. Direct flight from Singapore and Manado is served by Scoot Air. For visitors who fly from Guangzhou to Manado, the flights are served by TransNusa and China Southern Airlines. For visitors who are already in Indonesia, they can fly from any major cities in such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Ternate, and Sorong by Garuda, Lion Air, Batik Air, SuperAirjet, and Wings Air. 

Flight routes to Manado city

Booking - If you are interested in traveling to Manado city of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Bird Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Bird List for Tangkoko Nature Reserve
• Birds in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Butterfly watching tour in the Suburb of Manado city

Snorkeling At the Shore of Bunaken and Hiking Tour in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Marine Tour - Bunaken National Park is a famous destination for visitors who love swimming and snorkeling, it is the natural habitat of a lot of marine creatures from such tropical fish as parrotfish, moorish idol, butterflyfish, anemonefish and etc. Bunaken and its nearby islands are surrounded by coral reef. The nearest one is Siladen which is circled by white sandy beach and coral reef.

These islands can be visited by speedboats. Usually the duration of snorkeling tour in Bunaken lasts for 3 to 4 days. This can be combined with walking tour around the island to see how villagers live in their daily life. Birdwatching in Bunaken islands can be done to see such birds as Pied Imperial Pigeon, Sahul Sunbird, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Collared Kingfisher, Whimbrel, Black-naped Tern, Pacific Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper, and etc. 

Bunaken and Manado Tua islands as seen from the beach of Siladen island

Hiking Tour and Birdwatching in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Land Tour - Sonder is a small subdistrict town that is located in the middle of Minahasa Highland. It is surrounded by hills, flatlands, ravines, rivers and water falls. The forest and farmland of Sonder are the habitat of various species of birds such as Yellow-billed Malkoha, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Finch-billed Myna, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, Black-naped Oriole, Bay Coucal, and Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed), and etc. 

Sooty-headed Bulbul in Tounelet Slope of Sonder town

More birds could be seen if we go trekking to higher elevation farm forest of Subdistrict Sonder. There, we could watch Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot and etc. 

Pale Blue Monarch

In addition to birdwatching, tour participants could also see various species of butterflies during the walking tour in Minahasa land. 

Meyer's Jay Butterfly in Sonder of Minahasa highland

The temperature in high elevation land of Sonder is often cold especially early in the mornings, and at nights, and during wind season. However, if the weather is good with bright sunlight, the air temperature of Sonder is quite warm, around 24 to 26 during the day. 

Hiking, birdwatching and butterfly watching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Tour participants can wear breathable clothing made of cotton. The trails in Sonder and its surrounding farmland and hills are easy to be explored. Hiking tour is usually conducted along the farm path and along roadside. 

See Agricultural Crops

During the hiking trip, tour participants can see villagers who are working in their agricultural land. They grow corn, carrot, red beans, papaya, banana, cabbage, tomato, spring onion and etc.

Corn, vanilla, papaya, clove and rice are agricultural crops in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa highland

If you are interested in taking a snorkeling tour in Bunaken as well as a hiking and birdwatching tour in Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Related Posts:

• Snorkeling in Bunaken: Exploring the Underwater Wonders of North Sulawesi
• Snorkeling in Bunaken, Hiking Tour in Minahasa Highland
• Exploring the Wonders of Bunaken: A Marine Tour Adventure

Hiking and Birding Tour in the Farmland of Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa regency of Indonesia. It is surrounded by agricultural land, wet rice field, forest, and rivers. The best way to explore Sonder is by walking through its land and villages. There are 19 villages in Subdistrict Sonder. All of them have got their own unique natural attractions. There are several interesting sites for hiking, sightseeing, birding and butterfly watching in Sonder. The hill road that connects villages between Tomohon town and Sonder can be explored on foot expecially early in the morning. Along the road, tour participants could see teakwood, pine, jackfruit, coconut and durian trees. Villagers also grow food crops such as red bean, cabbage, banana. There are bamboo plants too. 

Hiking Road between Tomohon and Sonder

Food crops provide food not only for human but also animals especially birds. When visitors along the roadside, they could various species of birds such as Black-naped Oriole, Hair-crested Drongo, Black-billed Koel, Collared Kingfisher, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sahul Sunbird, Barred Rail, Sulawesi Crow, and etc. 

Bay Coucal

Tour participants need good binoculars to watch these birds. The standard sizes are 8×42 mm, 10×42 mm and 10×50 mm. Famous brands such as Nikon, Swarovski, Leica can be bought through stores that provide equipment for outdoor activities. If tour participants are interested in birdwatching, a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod will also be needed. 

Collared Kingfisher

Hair-crested Drongo

For tour participants whose hobby is taking pictures of plants and animals for social media, the most affordable device will be bridge camera. There are Nikon P1000, Canon SX70HS. Photographers usually bring heavier D-SLR or mirrorless cameras with telephoto lenses.

Hiking and birding in higher elevation forest will allow tour participants to see more tropical birds of Sulawesi such as Sulawesi Myzomela, Black-crowned White-eye, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, and etc.

Subdistrict Sonder also has got wet paddy fields areas. They are the habitat of grass birds and water birds such as White-browed Crake, Buff-banded Rail, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Black-faced Munia, and etc.  

The duration of hiking, birding, butterfly watching in Minahasa highland is usually 3 to 4 days. This tour also includes walking tours in the villages to see the local Minahasan people live in their daily life.

Sonder of Minahasa highland

Booking

If you are interested in taking this hiking tour in Minahasa highland and want me (Charles Roring) to organize your tours, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.