Join us on this exciting tour to Indonesia, this expedition will see us venture into ‘Wallacea’, which gets its name after the world famous British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, the co-founder of the Theory Of Evolution. On this tour we do get to visit several places where A. R. Wallace himself visited. This 13 days and 12 nights tour offers an amazing array of Island and country endemics as wells as range limited species. North Sulawesi ie a renowned hotspot for birdwatching, with over 230 species of birds, of which 103 are endemics! Among the highlights are Mateo, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Golden-mantled Racquet-tailed Parrot, Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle,Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Lilac Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, and many more. This tour also take us across to the Island of Halmehera, that supports over 230 species including over 45 spercies being endemic to Halmehera, most notably the Wallace’s Standardcwing Bird of Paradise, Ivory -breasted Pitta, White Cockatoo, Voilet-necked Lory and the Goliath Coucal. Together both N.Sulawesi & Halmehera is recognised for having one of the highest endemic bird rates in the world.
Read the trip Report : Endemic Indonesia : The Birds of North Sulawesi
Pick up point: Samratulangi Manado Airport
Target Birds : 200 species with 100 Endemics
Destinations: N. Sulawesi Island (Manado, Tangkoko National Park, Tambun, Dumogo-Bone National Park , Temohon) & Halmehera Island
Departure: On request
Duration : 13 days and 12 nights
Wallacea is a myriad of oceanic islands located between the Oriental and Australasian region. The region gets its name after the renowned English naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace a contemporary of Charles Darwin and is acknowledged to be the co-founder of the Theory of Evolution.
Wallacea host a fascinating mix of Oriental and Australasian elements but most importantly its oceanic isolation has resulted in the evolution of a remarkably high number of endemic bird species. Sulawesi is the largest of the islands that make up Wallacea and supports the richest, most highly endemic and most distinctive birds. There approximately 224 birds found on Mainland Sulawesi, of which 41 species are endemics and a further 56 species are confined to Sulawesi and/or its satellite islands. Our journey begins upon arrival at at Manado International Airport , the capital of North Sulawesi.
From Manado Airport we take an interesting 2 hour journey by road to Tangkoko National Park, were we bed soon at our quaint lodge in exciting anticipation of the coming 3 days of birding at this park. In the next seven days endemics will come fast and furious!
We explore the lowland rainforest and mangrove forest in search of the endemics to be found here. Among the endemics we may see are Sulawesi Hawk Eagle, Yellow Breasted Racquet-tailed Parrot, Silver Tip Imperial Pigeon, Yellow Billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Black Pigeon, Finch Billed Myna, Golden Mantle Racquet Tailed Parrot, Green Backed Kingfisher, Lilac Cheeked Kingfisher, Sulawesi Babbler, Red Backed Thrush, White Napped Myna, Red Knob Hornbill, Ashy Woodpecker, Yellow Sided Flower-pecker, White Rumped Cuckoo-shrike, Sulawesi Masked Owl, Black Billed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Cicada Bird.
The non endemics/regional endemics that we may see are White Breasted Wood-swallow, Hairy-crested Drongo, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Buff Banded Rail, Channel Billed Cuckoo, Black Sunbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Ruddy Kingfisher, Blue Breasted Pitta, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Emerald Dove, Pale Blue Monarch, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Scared Kingfisher, Grey Cheeked Green Pigeon, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Olive Backed Sunbird, Black Fronted White Eye. Other fascinating wildlife may see are Tarsiers, Sulawesi Black Macaque, Leatheback turtles, Flying Lizards and squirrels!
On the late morning of third day we will drive to Tambun, the conservation site of the very unique Maleo bird. At Tambun and along the 4 hour journey there we will perhaps pick up some more endemics birds like Bay Coucal, Black Billed Koel and Sulawesi Pied Triller. Non endemics like the Uniform Swiftlet; Great Eared Nightjar, Spotted Marsh Harrier, Javan Pond Heron, Red Tuttle Dove. We will spend the next several days at a local homestay.
The following mornings we will bird around the National Park Dumogo-Bone and Molibagu road which will produce some more interesting endemics not seen before like Isabella Bush-hen, Ochre Bellied owl, Large Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Hawk Eagle, White Necked Myna, Yellow Bellied Malkoha, Red Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Short Crested Myna, White bellied Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Grey Sided Flowerpecker Sulawesi Goshawk, Ivory Backed Woodswallow, Small Sulawesi hanging Parrot. Among the non endemics are Cattle Egret, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black Naped Oriole, Purple Heron, Purple Needle Tailed Swift, Peregrine Falcon, Spotted Kestrel, Bared Rail, Lesser Whistling Duck, Crimson Sunbird and the stunningly beautiful Black Naped Green Pigeon.
The final destination of our expedition to Sulawesi is for montane species at Temohon, about an hour’s drive from Manado. The cool highland climate is a welcomed respite from the warm weather of the lowlands. The backdrop of volcanoes and craters make for an awe inspiring experience only to be surpassed by some superb endemics birds like Scarlet Honey-eater, Crimson Crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Spotted Goshawk, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Bay Coucal, Superb Fruit Dove, Streaky Headed White Eye and Sulawesi Dwarf Woodpecker. Non endemics would be the likes of the Island Verditer, Mountain Tailorbird, White Browed Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, Scaly Breasted Munia, Cinnamon Munia, Little Egret, Wandering Whistling Duck, Ziting Cisticola, Lesser Coucal, Glamorous Reed Warbler, Javan Pond Heron, Black Kite; Blue Breasted Quail, Rufus Bellied Eagle, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Mountain White Eye, Dark Fronted White Eye, Citrine Flycatcher.
On the final day around late morning we will travel to Manado Airport and take our flight home.
Minimum 2 persons on twin sharing room
Package Inclusive of : Accommodation in twin sharing room, breakfast, bird guide, all land transportation.
Not Included in Price: Domestic airfare, Lunch, Dinner, Beverages, Camera fees where applicable, Tips and porter
