Friday, October 25, 2024

Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland, North Sulawesi

Sonder is a small subdistrict town in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is a beautiful destination for visiting birders. 

birdwatchers from United Kingdom and Poland in Sonder of North Sulawesi
Polish and British Visitors were birding in Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia
Sulawesi Myzomela, birding sulawesi
Sulawesi Myzomela in Sonder's hill farmland

It is surrounded by rivers, rice fields, farmland and forest. Most of its inhabitants work as Farmers. They grow such crops as kangkung, cabbage, carrot, corn, rice, peanuts, papaya, banana, tomato, chilli, coconut, clove and vannila. They run fish, pig and poultry farming. These agricultural and rainforest environments are good places for  visiting birders to explore the diversity of the avifauna of Sulawesi island. 

Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker
Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker in Tounelet forest of Sonder town
Black-naped Oriole, birding in north sulawesi
Black-naped Oriole
Pale Blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella)
Pale Blue Monarch

In my recent birding tour with a British tourist in higher elevation forest of Sonder, we saw various species of birds including Crimson Sunbird, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Warbling White-eye, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray-cheeked Green-pigeon, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Black-faced Munia, Black-naped Oriole, and etc. 

Crimson Sunbird
Crimson Sunbird

There was also a call of Bay Coucal but we could not see it. 

Gray-cheeked Green-pigeon

Night birding could be conducted along the edge of the forest of farmland to find birds such as Sulawesi Scops Owl and Speckled Boobook.


Sulawesi Scops Owl (Otus manadensis)
Sulawesi Scops Owl at the farmland of Sonder town of Minahasa highland

Various kinds of butterflies could be seen in this high elevation forest of Sonder. There were Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, The Clipper Butterfly, and Common Birdwing. 

The Clipper Butterfly

The small forest of Tounelet was also an interesting site for watching birds. We saw Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Chestnut Munia, Sahul Sunbird, Zebra Dove, Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo, Gray-sided Flowerpecker and Pale Blue Monarch. 

Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia albicapilla)
Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove

Another interesting birding site was the waterfall at the outskirts of Tincep village. We saw Sulawesi-crested Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-rumped Thriller, Gray-rumped Treeswift and Black-naped Oriole. The scenery of the Kengkang waterfall was beautiful. 

Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo
Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo

Another interesting site for birding was the paddy field areas of Talikuran village. It was the habitat of Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, White-browed Crake, Little Egret, Cinnamon Bittern, Cattle Egret and Purple Heron. 

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus)
Barred Rail
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
White-breasted Woodswallow

Other birds such as Collared Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Munia, White-breasted Woodswallow, Rock Pigeon, Zebra Dove could also be seen in the area. 

Collared Kingfisher

As we explored more wooded areas of Sonder, we were able to see more interesting avifauna. When we were at the road that connected Sonder and Kiawa village, we saw Lessert Fish Eagle. At that time, we were looking for Brown-throated Sunbird, and Finch-billed Myna. 

Finch-billed Myna
Finch-billed Myna

Villagers in Sonder grew corn, peanuts, aubergine, tomato, spring onion, banana among the durian, coconut and clove trees. 

Visitors could also explore the fish ponds and waterfall streams in Sonder. They could find Barn Swallow, Sulawesi Swiftlet, and Collared Kingfisher. 

Black-faced Munia
Black-faced Munia in North Sulawesi

Villagers constructed concrete roads into deeper areas of farmlands to allow easier access for farmers to their cultivated lands. These roads could also be used by visitors to enjoy birding. The small town of Sonder is surrounded by farm Lands and rice field. It is a good destination for visitors who are interested in farm tour or just sight sering. 

Paddy fields in Sonder of Minahasa highland
Paddy fields in Sonder is the site for watching water birds

A Dutch photographer was watching bird in Sonder's farmland of Minahasa regency

How to get there? 

Manado city is the main gate to enter Sonder town in Minahasa highland. Every day, there are regular flights that connect Manado city with major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makasar, Balikpapan and Sorong. The flights are served by Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air and Lion Air. It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Sam Ratulangi Airport of Manado city to Sonder town. 

Subdistrict Sonder in Minahasa regency
This is the small subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa regency

Flight routes to Manado city
Flight Route between Manado cities and some cities in Indonesia

Car route from Manado city to Sonder town
Car route from Manado city to Sonder town
Accommodation
Visitors who do birding, and walking tour in Sonder town can stay in one of the homestays that is available in the area or they can also book rooms in hotels that are located Tomohon town.
birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
A Canadian tourist was birding in Sonder
Duration of the Tour
The average duration of this birding trip is around 3 to 4 days depending on the request of the visitors. If this is combined with birding tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, the duration of the tour is around 7 days.
Booking 
If you want me to organize your trip and guide you for tours in North Sulawesi, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Thursday, October 3, 2024

Birding in Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Sonder Forest of Minahasa Highland

I guided a British tourist in early October 2024 in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The first site that we visited was Lake Linow. We watched water birds that swam, walked and flew around the lake areas such as: Sunda Teal, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Black-backed Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Barred Rail, Barn Swallow, Whiskered Tern, Javan Pond Heron, Uniform Swiftlet, Common Sandpiper.

   Sulawesi Pitta in Minahasa Highland

birds of Sulawesi in the slope of Mount Mahawu
Crater of Mount Mahawu and birds that could be found in the area
In the afternoon, at 15:00, we continued our trip to Mount Mahawu where we walked up the stairs that led us to its crater. It was raining at that time, the stairs were slippery. Fortunately, when we reached its top, the rain stopped. 
We saw Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Black Sunbird, Turquoise Flycatcher, Glossy Swiftlet, and a large flock of Warbling White-eye in trees at the edge of the crater.
When we walked down the slope to the parking lot, we saw Sulawesi Malkoha. We continued birding along the road of Mount Mahawu where we saw White-bellied Imperial Pigeon and Gray-sided Flowerpecker.
Warbling White-eye in Mount Mahawu of Tomohon
Warbling White-eye
The next morning, we watched Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, White-eyed Drongo and Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela still in the slope of Mount Mahawu. There was a Sulawesi Serpent Eagle that was soaring high in the sky above the forest area of the volcano.

We continued our birding tour to Subdistrict Sonder that late morning. We saw Crimson Sunbird, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Gray-streaked Flycatcher, Sahul Sunbird, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and etc. I saw a Pink-necked Green Pigeon and then a Stephan's Dove that were flying down fast from the forest down the slope of Sonder's hill to the farmland area.
Scaly-breasted Kingfisher
Scaly-breasted Kingfisher in Mount Mahawu
In late afternoon, we went birding again along the slope of Mount Mahawu. This time the bird was relatively the same as this morning and yesterday. Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Turquoise Flycatcher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker and etc. There were more species that we could later add in our list, i.e. Superb Fruit Dove, Sulphur-bellied Whistler, and Sulawesi Scops Owl. 
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
Crimson Sunbird in Sonder's forest of Minahasa
The last day of our birding trip in North Sulawesi was conducted in Sonder of Minahasa regency. We saw Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-rumped Triller, Sulawesi Swiftlet, Lesser Fish Eagle, White-browed Crake, Collared Kingfisher, Crimson Sunbird, and Yellow-billed Malkoha. We heard the call of Bay Coucal and Isabelline Bush Hen. Unfortunately, we could not see them. 
North Sulawesi is a highly recommended destination for birdwatching and sightseeing. 
Hair-crested (white-eyed) drongo in Sonder of Minahasa
Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo
Accommodation
Most tourists who travel to the highland of Minahasa chose Tomohon town as their place to stay. There are hotels and homestays that can be booked from the internet. 
Booking
If you are interested in traveling to Manado city and doing a walking tour for sightseeing or hiking for birdwatching, and butterfly watching, and want a guide to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

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Sunday, September 29, 2024

Birding in Sonder and Mount Mahawu of Minahasa Highland with Polish Birdwatchers

A few weeks ago, I guided some Polish birdwatchers in Minahasa highland. We visited Mount Mahawu, Lake Linow and Subdistrict town of Sonder. 

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis). This bird has got yellow feather that is paler than Baltimore Oriole.
Black-napes Oriole in the small forest of Tounelet slope of Sonder town, Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia
Finch-billed Myna
Finch-billed Myna
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

We arrived late in Mount Mahawu, It was around 14:00 local time when we went birding. Fortunately, we still saw some birds that we were looking for - the Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker,  Gray-sided Flowerpecker. 

Scaly-breasted Kingfisher (Actenoides princeps)
Scaly-breasted Kingfisher

After lunch, we went to the territory of Subdistrict town of Sonder, we saw more birds there including the Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Barred Rail, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, and Citrine Canary Flycatcher. Our time window for birding was too narrow. We missed the Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, and White-faced Cuckoo Dove. 

Turquoise Flycatcher
Turquoise Flycatcher

We went to the rice field area but we did not see the Isabelline Bush-hen that we we're looking for. We only heard their sounds in the bush.

Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove
Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove

If you are interested in taking a birding and sightseeing tour in North Sulawesi of Indonesia and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

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Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Birding in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland of North Sulawesi Indonesia

The Province of North Sulawesi is a beautiful destination for visitors who love nature. Its capital is Manado city. Birdwatching is one of the popular outdoor activities which tourists can do while visiting Manado. 

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot (Loriculus stigmatus)
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot in Subdistrict Sonder
Black-naped Oriole, Sahul Sunbird, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Collared Kingfisher
Some Birds in North Sulawesi

There are a lot of birding sites which are good watching avifauna of Sulawesi. Some of them are described below:

Olive-backed Sunbird, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Barred Rail,
Some birds in Subdistrict Sonder

ITINERARY
  • Day 1. When you arrive in Manado city, we will meet you at Sam Ratulangi airport and organize your transfer to a nearby hotel. You will take a rest for around 2 houra. After that we will organize a short tour for you by car to Talawaan Forest - this is a good site for watching birds that live in warm tropical climate such as Asian Short-tailed Starling, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Zebra Dove, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Sulawesi Crow, Green Imperial Pigeon, Little Egret, Sahul Sunbird, Brown Throated Sunbird, Glossy-swiftlet, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon in this area. The magnificent scenery of Manado city with the Bunaken islands could be seen from the coast of Manado city.
Spectral Tarsier
Spectral Tarsier
  • Day 2 - 3. We will check out of the hotel and organize your transfer to Tangkoko Batu Putih Nature Reserve. This is a great destination for birdwatching. We will spend two days here. A lot of tropical lowland birds from Sulawesi island could be watched there. They include Yellow-billed Malkoha, Black-faced Munia, Red-backed Thrush, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Great-billed Kingfisher, White-eyed Drongo, Purple Rolling, Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi-crested Myna, and a lot more. 
  • Day 4-6 We will continue our trip to Sonder where you will enjoy birding and sightseeing in it's hill forest, valleys and farmland. There are various species of endemic birds such as Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker and Gray-sided Flowerpecker could be watched in this region. Tomohon town is also the main gate to visit Mount Subdistrict Sonder. They are highly recommended destination for visitors who love watching birds. Visitors could go hiking and birding throughout the hills, slopes and paddy fields of Sonder to watch Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Pale Blue Monarch, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Purple Heron, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Ashy Woodpecker, Black-naped Oriole, Barred Rail, White-browed Crake, Black-crowned White-eye, Warbling White-eye, Black-naped Oriole, Sulawesi Drongo, and a lot more. Subdistrict town of Sonder is surrounded by water. There are fish ponds and rice fields that provide food for birds. Visitors who love to see farmland can go to Sonder to enjoy its natural beauty. 
  • Day 7. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you to Sam Ratulangi Airport of Manado city again where you will continue your trip to another destination or fly back to your country.
Birds in lowland forest of North Sulawesi

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
Crimson Sunbird
The entry point for taking a birding holiday in North Sulawesi is Manado city. Visitors can fly from major cities in Indonesia to Manado city. Regular daily flights between Manado city and Jakarta, Makassar, Denpasar, Surabaya, Sorong are served by Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air and TransNusa. 
There are international direct flights between Singapore and Manado city served by Scoot Air. 
Flight route to Manado city in Indonesia
Flight routes between Manado city and major cities in Indonesia

There are hotels in Manado city and Tomohon that can accommodate visitors who want to stay for a few days or weeks in North Sulawesi. 
North Sulawesi Birding Tour
Celebes-crested Macaque
If you are interested in traveling to Manado city to see its beautiful natural landscape and watch birds and want me (Charles Roring) to organize your trip, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Some Photos of Birds from My Birding Walk in Subdistrict Sonder

Here are some photos of birds that I took while doing birding walk in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency. 

Barred Rail (Gallirallus torquatus) in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency
Barred Rail in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency

The first picture is Barred Rail. This is a ground walking bird. When I took picture of this bird, it was walking on the branches of a small tree at a roadside. It was an unusual scene for the Barred Rail.

Sulawesi Hanging Parrot (Loriculus stigmatus) in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency
Sulawesi Hanging Parrot

The second picture is Sulawesi Hanging-parrot (Loriculus stigmatus). The bird was perhaps feeding on lichens of a tree in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency. I was standing on the frontyard of a villager's house that is on a hill. This allowed me to take some pictures of the bird on trees that stood at the frontyard of the house.

White-browed Crake in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa
White-browed Crake

White-browed Crake is a very shy bird. I frequently see them walking through paddy fields in search of food. Yesterday, I tried to walk closer to take pictures of them. Unfortunately, they moved into denser rice plants. 

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Scaly-breasted Munia

These three small birds that were sitting on a twig of a tree were Scaly-breasted Munia. They were considered as pests by farmers who cultivate rice in paddy fields. 

There are more birds that we can watch in Minahasa highland. I will continue to update this blog with more articles of birding in this region. 

Finch-billed Myna
Finch-billed Myna
If you are interested in visiting Minahasa regency in Indonesia for sightseeing, birdwatching, butterflywatching and farm tour, and want a guide to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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Sunday, July 21, 2024

Tour Around the Farmland of Minahasa

The highland of Minahasa has got beautiful landscape. Visitors who spend their holiday here can take a tour to see the villages, farmland, and forest. 

Most of the inhabitants of Minahasa land are farmers. They grow rice, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, chilli, spring onion, cabbage, kangkung, pineapple, pangi, lemon grass, orange, rambutan, durian, and etc. 

agricultural crops in north sulawesi
Vanilla, clove, coconut, road through farmland, traditional market

While walking through the villages and farmland, tour participants can meet with the farmers and talk with them. Farmers can explain the food crops which they grow and how long they have to cultivate the plants until they could harvest them. 

rice paddies tour in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi
Rice field in Sonder of Minahasa highland

In addition to dry farm, visitors could also take rice paddies trip to see how farmers cultivate their paddy field to grow rice which is the staple food of most of the Indonesian people. 

Industrial agricultural crops such as coconut, vanilla, clove and nutmeg could also be seen in Minahasa. They are harvested in certain period of time. For instance coconuts are usually picked every three months, and clove every two years. During the waiting time, farmers can do other jobs or cultivate short term food crops such as chilli, tomatoes, and other vegetable plants. Mos of the food crops are available in local markets. 

Farmers dry their harvest around their houses. That's why front-yard of a lot of farmers' houses in Minahasa are covered with concrete floor.

For coconut, farmers use other method for drying it. The meat of coconut is put on a shelf and is heated from below using fire.

Birds and Butterflies

There are birds and butterflies which visitors can watch during the farmland tour in Minahasa land. Some of them are Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sahul Sunbird, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Crimson Sunbird, Hair-crested Drongo, Black-naped Oriole, Finch-billed Myna, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia,  and a lot more. 

Collared Kingfisher, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Finch-billed Myna, Zebra Dove
Some of the birds in the farmland of Minahasa 

Butterflies that occur in Minahasa include The Clipper, Common Birdwing, Minahasa Yellow Tiger, Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Meyer's Jay, Sacred Tabby and etc.

Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly
Butterfly watching in Minahasa highland

If you are interested in traveling to Minahasa and want to tour guide to organize your trip and accompany you, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 



Saturday, July 6, 2024

Farmland Tour in Minahasa Highland

Most tourists who travel to Manado city want to enjoy their holiday in Bunaken or Lembeh Strait. As a matter of fact, they can also take a farmland tour in the highland of Minahasa. 
Papaya flower and fruit
In Minahasa, papaya flower is harvested as vegetables and papaya fruit is consumed as fruit
Villagers who live in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency work as farmers. They grow rice, corn, banana, papaya, tomato, chilli, spring onion, aubergine, kangkung, cabbage, peanut, kidney bean, durian, duku, rambutan, mango; and industrial crops such as clove and vanilla. Those who live near water streams run fish, poultry and pig farming. 
paddy fields in Subdistrict Sonder, Indonesia
Paddy fields and coconut trees in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency
Visitors who take the farm tour in Minahasa can explore the agricultural land to see plants and animals which the local people have and how local farmers cultivate their food crops. 
Palm Sugar from Rambunan village in Minahasa
Palm sugar from Rambunan village in Subdistrict Sonder is processed from the sap of aren tree
Minahasa is an important supplier of agricultural produce to towns and cities in eastern region of Indonesia. Vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish, meat are exported to Sorong, Manokwari, Jayapura, Ternate, Ambon, and Balikpapan. 
flowers in Tincep village
Villagers in Tincep village grow flowers which they sell to various towns and villages in North Sulawesi province of Indonesia
Birdwatching

Walking through the trees and shrubs in the dry agricultural land, tour participants can enjoy watching various species of birds and butterflies. Some of the birds that can be seen include :
birds in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency
Crimson Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Chestnut Munia, Cattle Egret, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove
Sahul Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-faced Munia, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-naped Oriole, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, White-eyed Drongo, Zebra Dove, Rock Pigeon, and etc. 

White-browed Crake in Rice Field
The secretive White-browed Crakes were walking through rice plants in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency 
Flight Routes
The capital of North Sulawesi Province is Manado city. It is the main gate for visitors who want to travel to Minahasa highland. There are daily flights between Manado and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Denpasar, Makassar and Sorong. Visitors could fly to these cities and continue their trip to Manado by taking one of the domestic flights served by Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion Air, TransNusa.
For direct international flights, Scoot Air fly between Manado city and Singapore several times a week. There are also direct flights between Manado city and Guangzhou served by China Southern Airlines.
Trip from Manado to Minahasa highland can be done by car. There are hotels, resorts and guesthouses in Tomohon. 
Flights between Manado city and major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Denpasar, Balikpapan and Sorong
Flights from Singapore and major cities in Indonesia to Manado city

land route from Manado to Tomohon and Sonder
Land route from Manado city to Tomohon town and Subdistrict town of Sonder
If you are interested in taking a farmland tour in the highland of Minahasa and want a guide to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

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Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Birdwatching and Photography Trip in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

The forest, agricultural land and paddy fields of Subdistrict Sonder in Minahasa regency is the habitat of various species of birds. They are beautiful subjects for visitors who like photography. 

Turquoise Flycatcher
Turquoise Flycatcher in Sonder of Minahasa Highland
female Sahul Sunbird, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Barred Rail
Bird Photography Trip in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

In higher elevation forest of Sonder, photographers can take pictures of such birds as Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye,  Sulawesi Myzomela, Crimson Sunbird, Black-faced Munia, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Drongo, Black Sunbird, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Gray Wagtail, White-breasted Woodswallow, and etc. 

blanchard's ghost butterfly, blanchard's wood nymph, Manado Yellow Tiger Butterfly
Some butterflies in Kecamatan Sonder of Minahasa regency

The farm forest of the hills of Sonder is the habitat of beautiful butterflies such as the Blanchard's Tree Nymph, Blanchard's Ghost, Common Birdwing, The Clipper, Lime Swallowtail, Celebes-banded Swallowtail, and etc. Butterflies like to feed on nectar of the wild flowers that bloom from plants that grow on both sides of the road. 

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
Crimson Sunbird

Inside the Sonder town, there is a small forest. It is located at Tounelet slope behind Siloam Hospital. Birds are active in this forest especially in the mornings and in the afternoons. Some of them are Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sahul Sunbird, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Black-naped Oriole, Brown-throated Sunbird, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Slender-billed Crow, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Brush Cuckoo, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, White-rumped Triller, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, and Black-crowned White-eye.

If we explore further to the outskirts of Sonder town and its agricultural land and paddy fields, we will be able to see more birds such as Zebra Dove, Finch-billed Myna, White-eyed Drongo, Collared Kingfisher, Cinnamon Bittern, White-browed Crake, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, White-breasted Woodswallow, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Barred Rail and etc. 

birding Sulawesi
Birds in the farmland of Sonder: Purple Heron, Collared Kingfisher, Brown-throated Sunbird, Zebra Dove, White-eye Drongo, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Finch-billed Myna

Taking pictures in the farmland is easy because photographers can put their cameras on tripods and stand on the roadside.  

There are also Barn Swallow, White-nest Swiftlet, Purple Needletail, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Sunda Teal, Purple Heron, Sulawesi Swiftlet, can be seen in open area such as in paddy fields of Tincep village, and Lake Linow.

Subdistrict town of Sonder
Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland

The entry point for visitors to Minahasa regency is Manado city. It is the capital of North Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. So, visitors need to fly from their country to this city and then continue their trip by car to Tomohon town or Subdistrict town of Sonder. 

Every day, there are flights between Manado city and some major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, and Sorong. They are served by Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air, Batik Air and TransNusa. 

Flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar  and Sorong as well as Singapore to Manado city
Flight from major cites in Indonesia to Manado city

Accommodation

There are homestays in Sonder and hotels in Tomohon town which visitors can choose to stay while birding in Sonder. 

If you are interested in spending your holiday time in Minahasa highland and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

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