Flores, Indonesia (1 Viewer)

[bonxie birder]

I’ve just come back from a family holiday to Flores and happened to hook up with an excellent quality guide. I’m posting his resumé here in case anyone else is interested.
I only had one full day from Labuan Bajo and managed to pick up these lifers, on top of many other Asian species.




Introduce!
I am Samuel Rabenak (Sam) I live in Labuan Bajo, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara-Indonesia.
I joined the BirdLife International Indonesia Program Sumba field office from 1998-2002 and BirdLife Indonesia from 2002 to 2017. Sumba and Flores field offices.
I have observed birds in all locations such as Sumba in Manupeu Tanah Daru-Lai Wanggi Wanggameti National Park, Flores: Komodo Island-Rinca Island-Mbeliling-Pota wangka-Puar Lolo--Sano Nggoang-Ranamese-Pagal-Golo Lusang-Poco
Ranaka-Kisol-Bajawa-Inerie and Kelimutu, Timor Bipolo, Mutis, Camplong, Oelnasi, Lombok-Rinjani, Sulawesi Tangko.
I am also familiar with the types and specific sounds of each type of bird.
if birder friends need a bird guide, please contact me at Email: [email protected] and WhatsApp +62-82266347539.
I guarantee you are satisfied to see and photograph birds.
I can also facilitate transportation and lodging.

 

[bonxie birder]

Ok. So I’ve now got time to give a little more information. Remember that this was not a birding bird. It was a family holiday with some trips. We had spent the previous week on Bali, where the highlight was of course three Bali Myna that we saw at the very end of the road at West Bali NP. The rest of the park was devoid of birds except Green Junglefowl and the road was terrible with litter everywhere.

Other locations worth mentioning

Jatiuwih Rice Terraces

Spotted Dove
Ruddy Cuckoo Dove
Zebra Dove
Cake Swiftlet
White-nest Swiftlet
White-breasted Waterhen
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Javan Pond Heron
Javan Kingfisher
Flame-fronted Barbet
Long-tailed Shrike
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Short-tailed Starling
Olive-backed Sunbird
Scaly-breasted Munia

The Salt pans at Banyu Wedang

Sunda Teal
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Cave Swiftlet
White-nest Swiftlet
Pied Stilt
Javan Plover
Whimbrel
Common Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Little Tern
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Javan Pond Heron
Straited Heron
Small Blue Kingfisher
Sacred Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Brown Honeyeater
Golden-bellied Gerygone
White-shouldered Triller
Pied Triller
Mangrove Whistler
White-breasted Woodswallow
Malaysian Pied Fantail
Long-tailed Shrike
Zitting Cisticola
Pacific Swallow
Olive-backed Sunbird
Scaly-breasted Munia
White-headed Munia
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

We heard Banded Pitta, but didn’t see them at a site that I am unable to locate

 

[bonxie birder]

On Flores we stayed at the Plataran Hotel and saw many Lemon-bellied White-eyes in the trees around the grounds

On our first full day on Flores we visited Komodo and Rinca and saw at least 11 Komodo Dragons including fully grown males and young. Tremendous experience

 

[bonxie birder]

On Komodo Island we had a local guide with no birding knowledge and we just walked around the immediate area of the landing point for around an hour

Green Junglefowl
Pied Imperial Dove
Black-naped Tern
Great Crested Tern
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Collared Kingfisher
Yellow-crested Cockatoo
Wallacean Drongo
Large-billed Crow
Brown-throated Sunbird

Again on Rinca, we only walked in the immediate vicinity on the landing area and spent about an hour on the island

Barred Dove
Green Imperial Pigeon
Beach Thick Knee
Whimbrel
Black-naped Tern
Great Crested Tern
Osprey
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Collared Kingfisher
Large-billed Crow
Pied Bushchat
Paddyfield Pipit

 

[bonxie birder]

The following day was spent entirely with the local guide Sam, as mentioned above.

Our first stop just after dawn was at Wae Lolos

Brush Cuckoo
Tenggara Swiftlet
White-rumped Kingfisher
Red-cheeked Parrot
Ornate Pitta
Helmeted Friarbird
Flores Minivet
Rusty-breasted Whistler
Black-naped Oriole
Wallacean Drongo
Flores Monarch
Flores Crow
Russet-capped Tesia
Dark-crowned White-eye
Yellow-spectacled White-eye
Golden-rumped Flowerpecker
Black-fronted Flowerpecker
Flame-breasted Sunbird

After this we travelled the short distance to Puarlolo

Black-naped Fruit Dove
Tenggara Swiftlet
Great-billed Parrot
Flores Minivet
Brown-capped Fantail
Wallacean Drongo
Tenggara Paradise Flycatcher
Flores Crow
Flores White-eye
Chestnut-capped Thrush
Chestnut-backed Thrush
Flores Jungle Flycatcher
Thick-billed Flowerpecker
Flame-breasted Sunbird

 

[bonxie birder]

In the afternoon we had a long walk at the Cecar Village Trail

Sunda Collared Dove
Spotted Dove
Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove
Asian Emerald Dove
Tenggara Swiftlet
Leaf Lorikeet
Helmeted Friarbird
Flores Minivet
Rusty-breasted Whistler
Black-naped Oriole
Black-faced Munia

Sam also saw a Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, but I couldn’t make it out in the trees.
Finally we travelled to Rawa Dolan Marsh

Javan Pond Heron
Straited Heron
Brown Goshawk
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Spotted Kestrel
Flame-breasted Sunbird
Sunda Zebra Finch

We stayed around at dusk for owls but none were forthcoming

 

[bonxie birder]

Needless to say Sam was excellent and without his help I wouldn’t have seen most of the above. If anyone wants further information, message me and I’ll do my best.
Bali was disappointing as a holiday destination and a birding location but Flores was much better. Plenty of primary forest and currently a lack of tourism away from Komodo.
Enjoy

 

[MKinHK]

Thanks for this report bonxie birder. I visited Flores in 1989 and definitely didn't do it justice, but its really not to far from Sydney, so your report's got me thinking.

Cheers
Mike