Tounelet slope in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency is one of the birdwatching sites that can easily be reached by car or by motorcycle. During the whole day, the road in this slope is quite busy with cars and motorcyles going up and down the slope. Birdwatchers must avoid walking on the road. Birding from the sidewalk is much safer and can prevent any road accidents.
Birding in this small forest area could be done in the mornings, and late afternoons before sunset. Some of the birds that visitors could find include:
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| Some birds in Tounelet Slope of Subdistrict Sonder, Minahasa regency |
Sooty-headed Bulbul, Gray-headed Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Zebra Dove, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Cattle Egret, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Barred Rail, Pale Blue Monarch, Black-naped Oriole, and Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Glossy Swiftlet, White-nest Swiftlet and etc.
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| Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker in Tounelet Slope of Subdistrict Sonder |
After watching birds in Tounelet Slope, visitors could continue their birding tour in Subdistrict Sonder by visiting rice field areas in Talikuran village or Tounelet village to see Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Javan Pond Heron, White-browed Crake, White-breasted Waterhen, Isabelline Bush-hen, White-breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Hair-crested Drongo (white-eyed), and etc.
To see more birds of Sulawesi, visitors could go to Mount Lengkoan farm forest of Subdistrict Sonder. Birds that can be watched in this forest include Sulawesi Myzomela, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Superb Fruit-dove, Crimson Sunbird, Black Sunbird, Superb Fruit-dove, White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher and etc.
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| Sooty-headed Bulbul |
The duration of birding tour in Minahasa highland is usually between 3 to 4 days. The tour will include trips to Mount Mahawu in Tomohon and Lake Linow in Lahendong; Mount Lengkoan, Tounelet Slope, Rice field and farm forest of Lalek as well as Rambunan village in Subdistrict Sonder.
Visitors need to bring a good pair of binoculars to watch birds in distant trees. As a birding guide, I usually bring a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod.
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| The small town of Sonder in Minahasa regency of Indonesia |
Flying to Manado city
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| ARJ 21 of TransNusa Airline at Sam Ratulangi Airport of Manado city |
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| Traveling to North Sulawesi |
For accommodation, visitors could stay in the homestays of Sonder town or in the hotels in Tomohon town.
To boom your birding tour in Minahasa highland, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or through whatsapp by pressing the following button:
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