Morning Birding in Tounelet Village of Subdistrict Sonder, Minahasa regency

There is a small forest behind Siloam hospital of Tounelet village. The village was part of Sonder town in Minahasa regency. I did some birding walk this morning at its slope. Some interesting birds could be seen sitting on the branches of the surrounding trees and on the roof-tops of the villagers' houses. Zebra Doves were the first birds that I saw. 

Zebra Dove

After that  I looked for Sulawesi Hanging Parrot that was making noisy sounds among the trees. The bird flew over my head and landed on top of a durian tree. Unfortunately, the bird was covered by twigs and green leaves. 

When I was setting up my spotting scope, I saw an Eastern Yellow Wagtail flying away from me. Perhaps, it was surprised by my sudden appearance. 

There were Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Chestnut Munia, Zebra Dove and Cattle Egret. Some Cattle Egret, White-nest Swiftlet and Glossy Swiftlet were also flying in the air. 

I also heard Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo calling from a distant tree. I used my binoculars to find where it was sitting on. It took less than 1 minute to find it. I immediately aimed my spotting scope at the bird. I had attached my cell phone on its lens using a small adapter. I was able to make a decent picture and video of the bird using this simple digiscoping system. 

Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo in Tounelet village of Subdistrict Sonder

Birding at the beach outside Manado city

In addition to this morning birding at the slope of Tounelet village, a day before this, I had  birding walk at the beach of Murex Dive Resort at the outskirts of Manado city. There, I saw Pacific Reef Heron, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Collared Kingfisher, Pacific Swallow and Sooty-headed Bulbul. I did not bring any camera or digiscoping system. So, I did not take pictures of these birds. 

The beach at Murex Dive Resort at the outskirts of Manado city

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in North Sulawesi, and want me to organize your trip and guide you, please, contact me: Charles Roring by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link. 

Birding Tour in the Hill Forest and Wet Land of Minahasa Highland

Minahasa highland is an interesting destination for visitors who are interested in birdwatching and sightseeing. There are a lot of places which visitors can explore to watch birds and other animals. Some of them are described below:

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency

Hill Forest of Sonder - This is less visited but offers a great experience for birdwatchers. Various species of birds could be seen in this hill. They include Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Sulawesi Myzomela, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Pitta, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Mountain Tailorbird, Black-faced Munia, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Drongo, Crimson Sunbird, White-breasted Woodswallow, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Black Sunbird, and etc. The nearby farmland is a great site for finding Chinese Sparrowhawk, Collared Kingfisher, Black Kite, Sulawesi Crow, and Sulawesi Serpent Eagle.

Finch-billed Myna in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa

Mount Mahawu - Most birdwatchers go to this volcano to look for Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. However, more birds could be watched in the slope of this volcano. There are Red Jungle Fowl, Barred Rail, Superb Fruit Dove, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Collared Kingfisher, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Ashy Woodpecker, Isabelline Bush-hen, and etc. 

Lake Tondano - After exploring the mountains of Minahasa, we could go to Tondano town to watch birds in Tondano Lake. There, we could watch various species of water birds such as Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Little Egret, Yellow Bittern, Oriental Reed Warbler, Javan Pond Heron, Pacific Swallow, Whiskered Tern, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Black Kite, Osprey, Brahminy Kite, and etc.

Zebra Dove in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa

Tincep Paddy Field is another site in Minahasa highland that is suitable for watching water birds. Visitors could walk along the roadside to watch such birds as Pied Stilt, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove, Collared Kingfisher, White-browed Crake, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Eastern Cattle Egret, Medium Egret, and etc. If we continue our exploration of Tincep village, we will arrive at waterfall areas which is located in deep ravine. The landscape view is beautiful. We could watch Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit-dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Black-naped Oriole, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Hair-crested (white-eyed) Drongo, and etc. 

Sulawesi Myzomela in Sonder's forest of Minahasa highland

Lake Linow is another site for watching water birds. Some of the many birds which visitors could watch include: Sunda Teal, Barn Swallow, Glossy Swiftlet, White-breasted Waterhen, Dusky Moorhen, and etc. 

Birdwatching could also be carried out at nights. Birds that could be found include Sulawesi Scops Owl, and Speckled Boobook, and Sulawesi-masked Owl.

Collared Kingfisher in Tomohon

Extending Your Trip

More birds could be watched in the lowland and lower montane area of Minahasa Peninsula. The recommended sites include the farmland area at the outskirts of Manado city and Tangkoko Nature reserve in Bitung Municipality.  Farmland at the Outskirts of Manado city especially around Sam Ratulangi Airport. Birds that could be watched include: Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Crow, Pacific Swallow, Sahul Sunbird, Pale Blue Monarch, Javan Myna, Java Sparrow, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Zebra Dove, and etc.

Celebes-crested Macaque in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Tangkoko Nature Reserve is also the natural habitat of a lot of species of mammals, insects, and reptiles. Celebes-crested Macaque, Gursky's Spectral Tarsier, Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, Whitish Dwarf Squirrel, are some of the mammals that we could watch in Tangkoko. 

If you are interested in taking a birding tour in Minahasa highland, and want me to guide you, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding in Tomohon of North Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Wildlife watching and Photography Tour in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland