Indonesia: West Papua and Southwest Papua – Birds-of-Paradise & Endemic Birds of the Arfak Mountains and Waigeo Island

Birding Tour Indonesia: West Papua and Southwest Papua – Birds-of-Paradise &  Endemic Birds of the Arfak Mountains and Waigeo Island

August 2025

New Guinea is a geographic rather than political term that refers to the main island in the region. The western half of the island of New Guinea comprises the Indonesian provinces of Southwest Papua (Papua Barat Daya), West Papua (Papua Barat) and Papua, collectively once called West Irian or Irian Jaya; the eastern half of the main island of New Guinea comprises the country of Papua New Guinea. We will be based in Southwest and West Papua for this exhilarating, small-group birding adventure. Aside from the large landmass of New Guinea, the New Guinea region includes numerous small islands (some part of Indonesia and others part of Papua New Guinea), and we will visit one of these areas: Waigeo, part of the Raja Ampat Archipelago in Southwest Papua (also known as the Northwestern Islands).

Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise is often considered one of the best-looking birds in the world!

Approximately 680 bird species have been recorded from Southwest and West Papua, from slightly more than 900 for the whole New Guinea region. Some 550 species are considered breeding residents, with 279 New Guinea endemics (found in Indonesia and/or Papua New Guinea) and at least an additional 42 endemics found only in Southwest and West Papua. There are also over 115 Palearctic and Australian migrant species and a range of seabirds which spend some of their time in the region.

This Papuan bird tour will begin in the town of Manokwari, situated on the northeastern tip of West Papua’s Bird’s Head (or Vogelkop) Peninsula, where we could get our tour started with the huge Blyth’s Hornbill and numerous gorgeous fruit doves. We will travel to the nearby Arfak Mountains, where we will search for a fabulous suite of birds, renowned in birders’ circles as the “Vogelkop Endemics”, such as Western Parotia, Arfak Astrapia, Crescent-caped Lophorina (formerly part of the Superb Bird-of-paradise complex), Long-tailed Paradigalla, Arfak Catbird, Vogelkop Melidectes, and Vogelkop Bowerbird. We can also find more widespread birds-of-paradise (BoPs) here too, such as Black Sicklebill, Black-billed Sicklebill, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Trumpet Manucode, and Crinkle-collared Manucode.

Watching Western Parotia undertaking their ballet dancing display is incredibly impressive.

There are numerous other simply breathtaking and highly sought-after birds possible in the Arfak mountains, and just a few of these include Spotted Jewel-babbler, Blue Jewel-babbler, Masked Bowerbird, Pesquet’s (New Guinea Vulturine) Parrot, Moluccan King Parrot, Modest Tiger Parrot, White-striped Forest Rail, Feline Owlet-nightjar, Mountain Owlet-nightjar, Papuan Boobook, Tit Berrypecker, Mottled Berryhunter (a monotypic family), Papuan Treecreeper, Papuan Logrunner, Grey-banded Mannikin, Papuan Grassbird, Drongo Fantail, Goldenface, and Lesser Melampitta.

The second leg of our tour takes us to the Klasow Valley and Raja Ampat Islands, and specifically Waigeo Island. During our time in this area we will search for Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, Red Bird-of-paradise, King Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, and Glossy-mantled Manucode. Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise is often considered one of the best-looking birds on the planet, and so we will look forward to making our own judgments on this. Again, there are numerous other species high on our ‘wanted’ list, including Western Crowned Pigeon (a seriously impressive bird that will rival the birds-of-paradise for ‘bird of the trip’, if we find them), plus the likes of Blue-black Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Papuan Hawk-Owl, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Frogmouth, Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus, Great-billed Parrot, Black Lory, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Eastern Hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, and Brown-headed Crow.

A huge bird, Western Crowned Pigeon is sure to impress on Waigeo.

Birding Tour Indonesia: Sulawesi and Halmahera – Spectacular Endemic Birding tour looking for (Wallace’s) Standardwing and Halmahera Paradise-crow (these are two endemic birds-of-paradise), plus Maleo, Ivory-breasted Pitta, North Moluccan Pitta, Sulawesi Pitta, Purple-bearded Bee-eater, Green-backed Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher (with over 15 kingfisher species actually possible on this tour!), Moluccan Owlet-nightjar, Knobbed Hornbill, Hylocitrea (a monotypic family), Malia, Geomalia, and a multitude of more, exciting endemics.

Furthermore, in some years you could combine this Papuan birdwatching tour with our Birding Tour Papua New Guinea: Birding Attenborough’s Paradise tour, where we will see numerous birds-of-paradise and other exceptional birds, most different to what will be seen on this Southwest and West Papua tour, such as Blue Bird-of-paradise, Raggiana Bird-of-paradise, King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise, Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, and Princess Stephanie’s Astrapia to name a few of the stunners, along with Blue-capped Ifrit and Wattled Ploughbill (two more monotypic families), plus so many other gorgeous endemics it’s difficult to know where to start with the highlights!

Additionally, we also offer a tour to the endemic-rich, amazing satellite islands of Biak, Numfor, and Kofiau where, on our Stunning Paradise Kingfishers and Small-Island Endemics tour to the three islands, we look for small-island endemics, such as Biak Paradise Kingfisher, Numfor Paradise Kingfisher, Kofiau Paradise Kingfisher, and many more key, range-restricted species, such as Numfor Leaf Warbler, Kofiau Monarch, and Biak Myzomela.

Detailed Itinerary (12 days/11 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Manokwari

Arrival at Rendani Airport in Manokwari during the day, where you will be met and taken to your nearby hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure. We will meet for a group evening meal together as the anticipation builds for the exciting birds and adventure awaiting us.

Overnight: Aston Nui Manokwari Hotel and Conference Centre, Manokwari

Day 2. Birding near Manokwari, travel to and birding in the Arfak Mountains

We will get the tour under way with some great birds near Manokwari, such as Pacific Baza, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, White-bibbed Fruit Dove, Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Blyth’s Hornbill, Papuan Eclectus, Black-capped Lory, and Hooded Butcherbird.

Wompoo Fruit Dove is one of many fruit doves possible on this great Papuan birding tour.

Around the middle of the morning, we will leave the city and travel into the Arfak Mountains, our base for the next four days. On the lower slopes of the mountain, we might have a chance to spot Trumpet Manucode, a rather unusual crow-like bird-of-paradise and along the way we might spot other species, such as Lowland Peltops, Northern Variable Pitohui, New Guinea Friarbird, and Boyer’s Cuckooshrike. The afternoon will be spent birding in the forest near our accommodation, where we may see some of the birds listed for Days 3 to 5.

Overnight: Arfak Mountains (mid-elevation)

There is only one hornbill (Blyth’s Hornbill) in New Guinea, though it is a spectacular one.

Days 3 – 5. Birding in the Arfak Mountains

We have three full days (in addition to the afternoon of Day 2 and the morning of Day 6) to explore what is arguably the premier birding region in West Papua, the Arfak Mountains. This area supports several endemic bird species and numerous other species with restricted ranges, including several stunning birds-of-paradise.

Over the course of our stay on the mountain we will focus our attention on the birds-of-paradise, and bird our way around their display sites. This tactic works well and gives us great opportunities for viewing the birds-of-paradise on their lek sites, as well as then also picking up numerous other exciting birds along the way. We will spend a few nights in a basic yet comfortable ‘village’ at mid-elevation on the mountain, after which we will head up (on foot) to the high-elevation zone for a night in a basic camp (see the tour-specific information about this, accessed from the general information tab on the tour page). Those tour participants not wishing to make the hike higher up the mountain will be able to stay in the village and will be suitably looked-after by our excellent support staff, with further birding opportunities in that zone! The exact day-to-day routine over these few days will be dictated by the location of the birds-of-paradise lek sites, but a bird-filled time is to be expected, the birding here is seriously exciting.

Around our village base in the mid-elevation zone, we will look for Magnificent Bird-of-paradise which may be seen on his court, displaying, in sequence, his iridescent carmine back, dark-green breast shield, and sulfur-yellow cape before jerkily dancing up and down a vertical sapling, while quivering his cocked, sickle-shaped central tail feathers.

Magnificent Bird-of-paradise may be seen in the Arfak Mountains.

Around the village we will look for the additional exciting bird-of-paradise trio of Western Parotia, Black-billed Sicklebill, and Crescent-caped Lophorina. The male of the Western Parotia performs a bizarre side-step dance on the floor of their display courts, while their flank plumes are spread to form a circular skirt, with their six, wiry, antenna-like nape feathers directed forward. Black-billed Sicklebill is also found in this zone, quite a large bird, they spend a lot of time in the mid-canopy but drop down to exposed display perches early in the morning when we have a good chance to view them well. One of the most interesting though, is the Crescent-caped Lophorina (formerly part of the Superb Bird-of-paradise complex). This bird is mesmerizing when displaying, and we will hope for a repeat performance witnessed on previous tours. The males’ fixed, delta-shaped, iridescent, blue-green breast-shield (with elongated side feathers making it protrude way beyond its chest) and its expandable hind neck cape combine to give this bird a strange look, but one you (or the female birds) cannot take your eyes off!

Of all the endemic birds of the region, one of the most famous ones (though not the most beautiful!) must be Vogelkop Bowerbird – the world’s greatest avian architect. Males of this amazing species build a roofed house-like maypole (tented) bower, construction at the base of a tree sapling, inside and in front of which they place colorful berries, flowers, and insect parts to attract females, a true sight to behold for the female, and us!

The impressive bower of the Vogelkop Bowerbird is something pretty special, even if the bird is rather drab – what it lacks in good looks, it certainly makes up for in architectural ability!

Other interesting birds possible in this area may include Pheasant Pigeon, Spotted Jewel-babbler, White-striped Forest Rail, Pesquet’s (New Guinea Vulturine) Parrot, Arfak Catbird, Arfak Honeyeater, Vogelkop Melidectes, Vogelkop Scrubwren, Vogelkop Whistler, Papuan Eagle, Black-mantled Goshawk, Masked Bowerbird (the colors on this one need to be seen to be believed!), Moluccan King Parrot, Red-breasted Pygmy Parrot, Black-capped Lory, Papuan Lorikeet, Ivory-billed Coucal, White-crowned Cuckoo, Dwarf Koel, Drongo Fantail, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, White-bibbed (Mountain) Fruit Dove, Red-collared Myzomela, Papuan Black Myzomela, Rufous-sided Honeyeater, Northern Variable Pitohui, Hooded Pitohui, White-shouldered Fairywren, Papuan Parrotfinch, Wattled Brushturkey, Sclater’s Whistler, Regent Whistler, Rufous-naped Bellbird (formerly called Rufous-naped Whistler but moved from that family to a new family called Australo-Papuan bellbirds, and now known to be a poisonous bird!), Goldenface, Mountain Peltops, Black-breasted Boatbill, Papuan Treecreeper, Papuan Sittella, Green-backed Robin, Black-throated Robin, Slaty Robin, Garnet Robin, Lesser Ground Robin, and, if we are lucky, Feline Owlet-nightjar or Mountain Owlet-nightjar.

The colors on the male Masked Bowerbird really need to be seen to be believed, this is one insanely colorful bird! Its bower is nowhere near as impressive as the Vogelkop Bowerbird (above), but when it looks like this, it probably doesn’t matter to the female!

Depending on timing and road conditions, we might be able to take our 4×4 vehicles to an open area that is home to the extremely range-restricted endemic Grey-banded Mannikin, which is a beautiful bird. Other species possible in this area include Torrent-lark, Papuan Grassbird, Great Woodswallow, Pale-vented Bush-hen, and Grey Wagtail.

Our time in the high-elevation zone (almost 6,550 feet/2,000 meters) will focus on a range of different species, including three new birds-of-paradise, two of which are endemic, the little-known Arfak Astrapia and Long-tailed Paradigalla (the latter rediscovered as recently as 1989!), as well as the more widespread Black Sicklebill, with its magnificent tail, which can be 31 inches (80 centimeters) long, with an ability to turn itself into assorted shapes; the cobra move is particularly noteworthy! All three of these birds are incredibly unique and well worth the tough hike!

Our time here will be focused on finding the above three great birds-of-paradise, but we will also be in the zone for plenty of other exciting birds, and we will hope to also see the likes of Lesser Melampitta, Brehm’s Tiger Parrot, Modest Tiger Parrot, Bronze Ground Dove, Crested Berrypecker, Orange-crowned Fairywren, Obscure Berrypecker, Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Tit Berrypecker, Mottled Berryhunter (a monotypic family endemic to New Guinea), Papuan Logrunner, Ashy Robin, Smoky Robin, Black-throated Robin, Canary Flyrobin, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Arfak Honeyeater, Papuan Treecreeper, Papuan Parrotfinch, Mountain Mouse-warbler, Red-collared Myzomela, Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar, and Papuan Boobook, among, as always, so many others.

Overnight: Arfak Mountains (two nights at mid-elevation and one night at high-elevation)

The attractive White-bibbed (Mountain) Fruit Dove will be a target while birding the Arfak Mountains.

Day 6. Arfak Mountains to Manokwari

We will have a final morning birding in the Arfak Mountains, mopping up species mentioned above, or maybe taking one last look at our favorite birds-of-paradise of this area for the final time. After our final lunch in the village, we will bid a fond farewell to our hosts and we will then descend the mountain, before retuning back to Manokwari for a welcome night in our comfortable hotel.

Overnight: Aston Nui Manokwari Hotel and Conference Centre, Manokwari

Day 7. Manokwari to Sorong

We will take a short flight in the morning between Manokwari and Sorong where we will then check into our very comfortable hotel for the night. In the afternoon, after the heat of the day wanes, we will venture into the mangroves, where we hope to find Blue-black Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Barred Rail, Black Bittern, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Moustached Treeswift, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Orange-breasted Fig Parrot, and Emperor Fairywren.

Overnight: Swiss-Belhotel International, Sorong (or similar)

Day 8.  Sorong to Waigeo with morning Klasow Valley (Malagufuk) birding

A very early start today will see us birding in some forest near Sorong where we could extend our bird-of-paradise list in the form of the raucous Magnificent Riflebird and the bizarre, delightful, and rather small King Bird-of-paradise. There are many other incredible birds possible here too, and one of the most highly sought-after of these is Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, which we will look for today. Other quality birds we will look for include Papuan Pitta, Eastern Hooded Pitta, Blyth’s Hornbill, Pesquet’s (New Guinea Vulturine) Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Black Lory, Moluccan King Parrot, Large Fig Parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Blue-black Kingfisher, Red-billed Brushturkey, Golden Cuckooshrike, Brown Oriole, Dwarf Fruit Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Superb Fruit Dove, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Frilled Monarch, Rusty Pitohui, Lowland Peltops, and Long-tailed Honey Buzzard.

King Bird-of-paradise is a beautiful BoP and we will hope for some great views at their lek site.

After lunch and checking out of our hotel, we will transfer by fast ferry from Sorong to Waigeo Island (in an air-conditioned cabin) across the Indonesian Dampier Strait (sometimes also known as Augusta’s Strait). On arrival at Waigeo Island we will likely see White-breasted Woodswallow and Singing Starling in the harbor. We will then drive the short distance to our picturesque and secluded beachside dive resort where we will check in for the next few nights. As we take the short car ride between the harbor and our resort, we might spot Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Pacific Baza, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Black Sunbird, Oriental Dollarbird, New Guinea Friarbird, Moluccan Starling, Beach Kingfisher, and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra along the way.

Overnight: Raja Ampat Dive Resort, Waigeo Island

Days 9 – 10. Birding on and around Waigeo Island

Waigeo, where we will be based for the next two days, is the largest island in the Raja Ampat Archipelago, comprising over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals and located off the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula. These islands are home to two endemic birds-of-paradise, the exquisite Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise with its bright, cerulean-blue, bare crown, crisscrossed by fine black lines (considered by many as the best-looking bird on the planet – see below and the front cover of this itinerary for an idea of how stunning this bird is) and the crimson-plumed rather slick-looking Red Bird-of-paradise. We will look for both species while on Waigeo.

The astounding Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise is always a top target and highly anticipated species.

Other birding highlights on these islands include Hook-billed Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Western Crowned Pigeon (an absolutely ginormous bird), Pheasant Pigeon, Palm Cockatoo, and Great-billed Parrot. We will also hope to get good views of yet another bird-of-paradise while in this region – Glossy-mantled Manucode.

Endemic to Raja Ampat, Red Bird-of-paradise is yet another interesting BoP with its wire-like tail projections. We will visit a lek site of this bird while on the island.

During our time on Waigeo we also hope to encounter, among a multitude of others, Papuan Pitta, Eastern Hooded Pitta, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Blyth’s Hornbill, New Guinea Friarbird, Southern Variable Pitohui, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Waigeo Shrikethrush, Hooded Butcherbird, Black Butcherbird, Marbled Frogmouth, Papuan Frogmouth (often right outside the resort dining room at night!), Papuan Boobook, Dusky Megapode, Pygmy Eagle, Gurney’s Eagle, Red-necked Crake, Moustached Treeswift, Moluccan King Parrot, Brown-headed Crow, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Green-backed Honeyeater, Long-billed Honeyeater, Black-sided Robin, Golden Monarch, Spot-winged Monarch, Frilled Monarch, Beautiful Fruit Dove, Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, and Stephan’s Emerald Dove.

Glossy-mantled Manucode is yet another bird-of-paradise we will be looking for on the tour.

We will have early-morning and late-afternoon birding sessions in the forest and the late-morning and early-afternoon will be at your leisure around the resort where you can sit and enjoy the view, maybe even with Palm Cockatoos feeding above your heads! Or you can take some time to snorkel in the reef right outside our rooms, the coral reef and various fish and sea-life present here is remarkable and well worth an underwater experience.

The rather large Palm Cockatoo can often be found around our accommodation.

On one of our afternoons while here, we will take a boat into Kabui Bay to look for Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Metallic Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, White-bibbed Fruit Dove, Beach Kingfisher, Violet-necked Lory, Great-billed Heron, Dusky Megapode, Radjah Shelduck, Island Monarch, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Varied Honeyeater, Arafura Fantail, Moluccan Starling, and White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Overnight: Raja Ampat Dive Resort, Waigeo Island

We see some amazing kingfishers on this tour, like this Common Paradise Kingfisher.

A tiny dove, we will keep our eyes peeled for the attractive Claret-breasted Fruit Dove.

Day 11. Birding on Waigeo and travel to Sorong

We will have a final morning on Waigeo, where we will search for more of the species mentioned above, maybe again enjoying the otherworldly Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise. We will take the afternoon fast ferry back to Sorong, where we will enjoy a farewell dinner, a good rest, and the difficult task of deciding on a ‘bird of the trip’, not an easy choice out here!

Overnight: Swiss-Belhotel International, Sorong (or similar)

Day 12. Departure from Sorong

Time at leisure and departure from Sorong. Hotel check out is at 12 noon.

Overnight: Not included

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.

Indonesia: West Papua – Birds-Of-Paradise and Endemics of the Arfak Mountains and Waigeo Island Trip Report, August 2023

01 – 12 AUGUST 2023

By Andy Walker 

The spectacular Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise put on an incredible show for us.

 

Overview

This Indonesian bird tour visited the West Papua and Southwest Papua provinces and started in Manokwari on the 1^st of August 2023 and ended in Sorong on the 12^th of August 2023. During the tour, our birding was focused on the Arfak Mountains and the island of Waigeo. Both areas are rightly world-renowned for their spectacular birds-of-paradise and endemic birds, and our attention was firmly set on finding as many of these jewels as possible. We recorded 211 species on the tour (16 of these heard only – most of these while in birds-of-paradise blinds). Trip lists follow the report. The list of highlights was very long and included 13 birds-of-paradise seen, these were: Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Red Bird-of-paradise, King Bird-of-paradise, Western Parotia, Crescent-caped Lophorina, Black Sicklebill, Black-billed Sicklebill, Magnificent Riflebird, Long-tailed Paradigalla, Arfak Astrapia, Trumpet Manucode, and Glossy-mantled Manucode.

Western Parotia gave us some excellent views.

 

Other exciting highlights included Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar, Mountain Owlet-nightjar, Papuan Frogmouth, Gurney’s Eagle, Swamp Harrier (possibly a first for West Papua!), Blyth’s Hornbill, (Western) Ornate Fruit Dove, White-bibbed (Mountain) Fruit Dove, Pesquet’s Parrot (New Guinea Vulturine Parrot), Palm Cockatoo, Papuan Eclectus, Moluccan King Parrot, Papuan Lorikeet, Black Lory, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Beach Kingfisher, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Hooded Pitta, Papuan Pitta, Masked Bowerbird, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Arfak Catbird, Emperor Fairywren, Papuan Treecreeper, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Raja Ampat Pitohui, Mottled Berryhunter, Tit Berrypecker, Papuan Grassbird, Vogelkop Melidectes, Arfak Honeyeater, Grey Crow, Brown-headed Crow, Vogelkop Scrubwren, and Grey-banded Mannikin.

Magnificent Bird-of-paradise put on an amazing show for us and was voted one of the top birds on the tour (photo by tour participant, Chris Hill).

Mountain Owlet-nightjar in the Arfak Mountains (photo by tour participant, Chris Hill).

Day 2, 2^nd August 2023. Birding Manokwari and travel to the Arfak Mountains

We started the tour with some birding near Manokwari in an area of degraded forest. Several doves and pigeons were noted, including Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Sultan’s Cuckoo-Dove, and Great Cuckoo-Dove, with several other fleetingly glimpsed birds getting away from us. Northern Variable Pitohui were vocal but, typically, did not show well. Some of us had brief views of Black Sunbird and Olive-backed Sunbird and several kingfishers were heard distantly (Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, and Yellow-billed Kingfisher). A couple of male Blyth’s Hornbills flew over, their heavy wingbeats giving their presence away. We also saw New Guinea Friarbird, Spangled Drongo, Northern Fantail, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Streak-headed Mannikin, and a perched Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. A few heard only species included Lesser Bird-of-paradise and Black Butcherbird. In terms of raptors, a Brahminy Kite soared along the road, we had a close hunting Oriental Hobby zoom through carrying some food, and Grey-headed Goshawk shot through at eye-level, it was so close that some of us could see the red bare parts! Not a bad effort in tough conditions and all before breakfast.

The Vogelkop Bowerbird’s bower is a seriously impressive sight!

 

After breakfast and a bit of a break in the late morning to sort our gear out for our mountain expedition, we headed up into the Arfak Mountains, where we arrived, set up our rooms and then had lunch. The afternoon was spent birding near our accommodation in the birder-friendly village of Mingre. We kicked our list off here with some great birds, including roosting Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar and Mountain Owlet-nightjar, along with Black Sicklebill (female), and the extraordinary Vogelkop Bowerbird at its incredible bower.

 

Day 3, 3^rd August 2023. Birding the Arfak Mountains

We took a long hike down through the forest from our village base in the dark (with Greater Sooty Owl calling a few times) and got ourselves into position in a bird hide (bird blind) and sat and waited. A Western Parotia was calling hidden above us, and a Green-backed Robin hopped briefly into view. We were there primarily for the parotia, and after a bit of a wait the male bird dropped down into view and after a little while longer came down onto the ground and displayed for us – what an amazing sight. See the image in the trip report summary above for a shot of the bird just after he’d finished displaying. As we were sat in the hide we also had Arfak Catbird, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Black-breasted Boatbill, Goldenface, Vogelkop Scrubwren, and Large Scrubwren make brief appearances, while Black-billed Sicklebill and Crescent-caped Lophorina were calling overhead.

As we walked back to our village after enjoying the displaying Western Parotia, we found several other species, including White-bibbed (Mountain) Fruit Dove, Papuan Lorikeet, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Arfak Honeyeater, Vogelkop Melidectes, Papuan Treecreeper, Friendly Fantail, Black Fantail, Goldenface, and Slaty Robin.

Unfortunately, most of the afternoon was rained off. A Magnificent Bird-of-paradise was glimpsed by some but then the heavens opened and that was the end of that. A few other species, such as White-faced Robin, Green-backed Robin, Black Fantail, and Papuan Mountain Pigeon were noted, but conditions continued to deteriorate until nightfall.

 

Day 4, 4^th August 2023. Birding the Arfak Mountains

We had an extremely thrilling morning in the Arfak Mountains near our village. We entered the forest in the dark after an early breakfast and made our way down a gentle slope to a bird blind. We based ourselves in the blind for most of the morning and the list of highlights was long and included great and very close views of four species of birds-of-paradise: Crescent-caped Lophorina, Black-billed Sicklebill, Black Sicklebill, and Western Parotia. While waiting for the birds-of-paradise to come into our viewpoint we spotted several other exciting birds, these included Arfak Catbird, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Moluccan King Parrot, Papuan Lorikeet, Vogelkop Melidectes, Ornate Melidectes, Mountain Myzomela, Red-collared Myzomela, Papuan Monarch, and Green-backed Robin. On the edge of the forest over a snack and drink break we found Vogelkop Whistler, Black-throated Robin, and the attractive Canary Flyrobin.

Moving on to a roadside viewpoint we waited around for a short while to see what we could find, with highlights including the huge Blyth’s Hornbill, stunning Masked Bowerbird, and a flock of Papuan Mountain Pigeons, while Trumpet Manucode, Lesser Bird-of-paradise, and Magnificent Bird-of-paradise were all calling way down below us but not possible to see. Unfortunately, just after our morning birding session, the rain started and persisted all afternoon.

A male Crescent-caped Lophorina came down and fed on some fruit right in front of us. It was very shy, but what a spectacular bird.

We enjoyed some amazing views of Black-billed Sicklebill, a species usually high in the canopy, this one dropped nice and low to give some eye-level views.

Day 5, 5^th August 2023. Birding the Arfak Mountains

Some of the group commenced the long hike up into the higher zone of the Arfak Mountains. We took the full morning to get to our very basic overnight campsite, birding along the way, with some of the top targets seen including Long-tailed Paradigalla, Mottled Berryhunter, Vogelkop Melidectes, Cinnamon-browed Melidectes, Spotted Honeyeater, Arfak Honeyeater, Rufous-sided Honeyeater, Marbled Honeyeater, Crimson-collared Myzomela, Mountain Myzomela, Tit Berrypecker, Pygmy Lorikeet, Yellow-billed Lorikeet, White-shouldered Fairywren, Rufous-naped Bellbird, Black-breasted Boatbill, Friendly Fantail, Island Leaf Warbler, and Black-fronted White-eye. Unfortunately, continuing the recent trend, the afternoon was a total washout, but we were satisfied with our great morning’s bird sightings and had an early night.

Those staying at the middle elevations enjoyed plenty of good birds too, with their highlights from the morning watching an incredible display between five Magnificent Birds-of-paradise. These birds put on quite the show. They visited Anggi Lakes in the late morning where they found the top target, the highly range-restricted Grey-banded Mannikin, along with a great record of Swamp Harrier – potentially the first record for New Guinea’s “Bird’s Head Peninsula” and West Papua! Other good birds included Papuan Grassbird and Tricolored Grebe.

The rather cute and tiny Canary Flyrobin was seen well on many occasions in the Arfaks.

Day 6, 6^th August 2023. Birding the Arfak Mountains and travel to Manokwari

The group birding in the middle elevations of the Arfak Mountains headed to a couple of different spots and racked up some more great birds, including Pesquet’s Parrot (New Guinea Vulturine Parrot), Grey Crow, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Golden Monarch, Crescent-caped Lophorina, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Black-billed Sicklebill, and much more.

Those of us camping in the high elevation zone thankfully woke up to a dry, yet windy, morning (it had rained heavily for most of the night) and headed out early into the beautiful mossy forest.  While birding in the forest we searched for, then found an Arfak Astrapia adult feeding a young bird. This large bird-of-paradise gave some good views and was the last of our major bird-of-paradise targets in the region. The immediate area also gave us Black Sicklebill (female), (Western) Ornate Fruit Dove, White-bibbed (Mountain) Fruit Dove, Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Vogelkop Bowerbird, Dimorphic Fantail, Friendly Fantail, Regent Whistler, Canary Flyrobin, and Black-breasted Boatbill.

A short while later, as we were admiring the view over the forest, we had an incredible flyover from a male Black Sicklebill that passed low over our heads. We had been listening to the birds’ impressive far-carrying calls for the previous couple of hours and so it was a great ending to our time on the higher reaches of the mountain. We then made the walk off the mountain, which was rather slippery and slow-going after all the rain over the previous night. It was a pleasure to be back up the mountain and birding in a truly beautiful forest with some of the best birds of West Papua all around us.

The range-restricted Arfak Astrapia was the highlight from the high elevation zone.

 

Reluctantly, after a final lunch, we said goodbye to our village team after another enjoyable stay. The villagers really went out of their way to help us, as always, by building trails and blinds, cooking good food, helping carry gear, guide us through the forest, help us on the tougher trails, and generally look after us throughout our stay and we were all truly grateful for everything they had done for us. We spent the night back in Manokwari and enjoyed a nice warm shower and prepared for the next leg of our Papuan birding tour.

Day 7, 7^th August 2023. Manokwari to Sorong, birding the mangroves near Sorong

In the morning we took the short flight from Manokwari to Sorong and had some free time to rest during the hot part of the day.

In the afternoon we visited some nearby mangroves where we found a few new birds, including Emperor Fairywren, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Intermediate Egret, Striated Heron, Sacred Kingfisher, Oriental Dollarbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Singing Starling, and Scaly-breasted Munia, along with several other species we had seen before, such as Glossy Swiftlet, Uniform Swiftlet, Pacific Swallow, and Olive-backed Sunbird.

Emperor Fairywren gave fleeting views as it remained deep in the mangroves.

Day 8, 8^th August 2023. Birding near Malagufuk (Klasow Valley) and travel to Waigeo

An exciting morning was spent birding in the Malagufuk area and was definitely worth the early start from Sorong, as we enjoyed one of the best morning’s birding of the tour. We spent time around the car park first thing, and feasted on many new and exciting species, with top highlights including Pesquet’s Parrot (New Guinea Vulturine Parrot), Palm Cockatoo, Black Lory, Black-capped Lory, Papuan Eclectus, Large Fig Parrot, Orange-crowned Hanging Parrot, Papuan Spine-tailed Swift, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon, Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon, Oriental Dollarbird, Yellow-faced Myna, Metallic Starling, and Rufous-bellied Kookaburra. Several huge Blyth’s Hornbills flew overhead too – what a bird!

We then shifted focus to the birds-of-paradise and over the course of the next few hours enjoyed excellent views of King Bird-of-paradise, Trumpet Manucode, and Magnificent Riflebird. What a joy to hear them calling and watch them displaying – such incredible birds.

King Bird-of-paradise showed well in the mid-canopy. What a striking bird.

We enjoyed watching the gorgeous Magnificent Riflebird on a display perch deep in the forest.

 

As we entered the forest, we found plenty more birds, including Hooded Pitta, Sooty Thicket Fantail, Chestnut-bellied Fantail, Northern Fantail, Frilled Monarch, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Olive Flyrobin, Black-sided Robin, Arafura Shrikethrush, Puff-backed Honeyeater, Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher, Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot, Moluccan King Parrot, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Pacific Baza, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, and Golden Myna.

This pair of miniscule Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrots showed well.

 

After a great morning we very reluctantly left the site to get back to Sorong in time for lunch in the city and to then catch the afternoon ferry to Waigeo, part of the Raja Ampat Islands. On arrival in Waigeo, we headed straight to our accommodation, noting a few interesting birds along the way, such as Grey-headed Goshawk, Hooded Butcherbird, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon, and Moustached Treeswift.

 

Day 9, 9^th August 2023. Birding on Waigeo Island

We had another early start and hiked deep into some forest to try and see Red Bird-of-paradise. It was a tough hike and, unfortunately, the wind was a little high when we got to the spot. Although birds were heard, they were not seen. We would have to hope for our luck to improve during our stay on the island. We descended the hill and got into some blinds in a gully where in no time at all our spirits were lifted as we found ourselves eyeball-to-eyeball with Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise, one of the best-looking birds in the world (and a rather unique one at that). We spent a good amount of time with this most sought-after of birds-of-paradise. A remarkable bird, see the trip report cover photo.

After our bird-of-paradise session we continued picking up different species in the forest in the morning and early afternoon, with species including Raja Ampat Pitohui, Rusty Pitohui, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Golden Monarch, Frilled Monarch, Black-sided Robin, Hooded Butcherbird, Black Butcherbird, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, Puff-backed Honeyeater, Papuan Pitta, Yellow-bellied Longbill, Rusty Mouse-warbler, and Green-backed Gerygone. We also saw a couple of female Red Birds-of-paradise briefly as they were foraging (with more males heard distantly).

We had great looks at localized Raja Ampat Pitohui while birding on Waigeo.

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra was a popular large kingfisher that showed nicely.

 

In the afternoon we spent some time around our dive resort and some more open areas (mudflats with forest views). Here we added lots of interesting birds, such as Papuan Eclectus (nesting), Red-cheeked Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Great-billed Parrot, Gurney’s Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon, Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Oriental Dollarbird, Moustached Treeswift, Lesser Frigatebird, Beach Kingfisher, and Sacred Kingfisher. It was nice to see some shorebirds (waders) and other waterbirds too, and we found Pacific Golden Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Grey-tailed Tattler, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Striated Heron, and Pacific Reef Heron.

Day 10, 10^th August 2023. Birding on Waigeo Island and Kri Island

We had another early start (with Papuan Frogmouth in the car park) to get to a different Red Bird-of-paradise lek site and again it was a little too windy for the birds to display. One sat out of sight behind us calling but just would not come out into view. We then spent some time at a bird blind where some of the group were lucky enough to glimpse a Papuan Pitta that came through a couple of times. A Black-sided Robin showed well here, while a pair of Brown-headed Crows and several Blyth’s Hornbills flew over and a few Red-cheeked Parrots gave good views.

Late in the morning we took a speedboat over some rather lumpy water to nearby Kri Island. We arrived a little wetter than when we set off but soon dried off given the heat! We took a walk around the dive resort grounds and found several exciting birds, such as Common Paradise Kingfisher, Dusky Megapode, Violet-necked Lory, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Shining Flycatcher, Singing Starling, Moluccan Starling, Mimic Honeyeater, and had great views of Glossy-mantled Manucode, a rather distinctive bird-of-paradise.

This gorgeous Common Paradise Kingfisher gave excellent close and unconcerned views.

This Glossy-mantled Manucode was quietly resting in the canopy during the middle of the day.

 

Before a delicious lunch, several of the group went for a snorkeling session on the impressive reef and on the way back to Waigeo we found a feeding group of seabirds which included Black-naped Tern, Common Tern, Bridled Tern, Lesser Frigatebird, and Bulwer’s Petrel.

A stunning male Red Bird-of-paradise showed briefly, but mainly remained hidden.

 

In the afternoon we walked back to the Red Bird-of-paradise lek site, it was a little less windy than the morning birding session and after a short wait a stunning adult male flew in and gave a brief showing. A short while later three female/young male birds flew in and showed for a bit more of a prolonged view. Satisfied with the views we headed back to our dive resort for dinner.

 

Day 11, 11^th August 2023. Birding on Waigeo Island and travel to Sorong

We had a final morning birding on Waigeo before catching the ferry back to Sorong. Some of the group went back to the bird hides to watch Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise. One group saw a pair of birds mating and another group had a super close and showy male. A wonderful way to end the tour. Some of the group did some roadside birding near the dive resort, getting some great looks at Coconut Lorikeet, Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Grey-headed Goshawk, Pinion’s Imperial Pigeon, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Moustached Treeswift, Spangled Drongo, Hooded Butcherbird, Brown-headed Crow, Torresian Crow, Yellow-faced Myna, Singing Starling, Oriental Dollarbird, Black Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, a flock of Glossy-mantled Manucodes, including several birds displaying, and a female Red Bird-of-paradise high in a tree.

Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise gave excellent close views (photo by tour participant, Chris Hill).

 

We enjoyed a wonderfully joyous final group dinner together in Sorong, reliving the many highlights from this exciting tour. The birds were the main feature on the tour, but the people we met along the way made a lasting impression on us all and will live just as long in our memories as the stunning birds we had seen. We had fun running through possible “bird of the trip” contenders, not an easy task given what had unfolded over the previous days, but several birds-of-paradise (unsurprisingly) came out on top and included Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, Western Parotia, and Arfak Astrapia. The first three on the list had put on remarkable displays for us to watch and the fourth species a fine result after some tough physical exertion to get up the mountain to look for it.

Day 12, 12^th August 2023. Tour concluded with departure from Sorong

A non-birding day with everyone departing for onward travel in the morning. A huge thank you must go out to our excellent local team of guides, porters, cooks, drivers, etc., for helping make the tour run so smoothly, we are already excited to return next year. Another huge thank you to all the tour participants for making this such an enjoyable trip!

Papuan Eclectus was a popular parrot which was enjoyed daily on Waigeo.

 

Bird List – Following IOC (13.2)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: VU = Vulnerable.

Common Name	Scientific Name
Megapodes (Megapodiidae)
Red-billed Brushturkey (H)	Talegalla cuvieri
Dusky Megapode	Megapodius freycinet
Frogmouths (Podargidae)
Marbled Frogmouth (H)	Podargus ocellatus
Papuan Frogmouth	Podargus papuensis
Owlet-nightjars (Aegothelidae)
Mountain Owlet-nightjar	Aegotheles albertisi
Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar	Aegotheles affinis
Treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae)
Moustached Treeswift	Hemiprocne mystacea
Swifts (Apodidae)
Glossy Swiftlet	Collocalia esculenta
Mountain Swiftlet	Aerodramus hirundinaceus
Uniform Swiftlet	Aerodramus vanikorensis
Papuan Spine-tailed Swift	Mearnsia novaeguineae
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Ivory-billed Coucal (H)	Centropus menbeki
Pacific Koel (H)	Eudynamys orientalis
Channel-billed Cuckoo	Scythrops novaehollandiae
Shining Bronze Cuckoo (H)	Chrysococcyx lucidus
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo	Cacomantis castaneiventris
Brush Cuckoo	Cacomantis variolosus
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)	Columba livia [dom]
Spotted Dove	Spilopelia chinensis
Sultan’s Cuckoo-Dove	Macropygia doreya
Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove	Macropygia nigrirostris
Great Cuckoo-Dove	Reinwardtoena reinwardti
Wompoo Fruit Dove (H)	Ptilinopus magnificus
Pink-spotted Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus perlatus
Ornate Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus ornatus
Orange-fronted Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus aurantiifrons
White-bibbed Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus rivoli
Claret-breasted Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus viridis
Orange-bellied Fruit Dove	Ptilinopus iozonus
Spice Imperial Pigeon	Ducula myristicivora
Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon (H)	Ducula rufigaster
Rufescent Imperial Pigeon (H)	Ducula chalconota
Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon	Ducula pinon
Zoe’s Imperial Pigeon	Ducula zoeae
Pied Imperial Pigeon	Ducula bicolor
Papuan Mountain Pigeon	Gymnophaps albertisii
Flufftails (Sarothruridae)
White-striped Forest Rail	Rallicula leucospila
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae)
Barred Rail	Hypotaenidia torquata
Pale-vented Bush-hen	Amaurornis moluccana
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Tricolored Grebe	Tachybaptus tricolor
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Eurasian Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
Grey-tailed Tattler	Tringa brevipes
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae)
Greater Crested Tern	Thalasseus bergii
Bridled Tern	Onychoprion anaethetus
Black-naped Tern	Sterna sumatrana
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida
Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae)
Bulwer’s Petrel	Bulweria bulwerii
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
Lesser Frigatebird	Fregata ariel
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis
Striated Heron	Butorides striata
Intermediate Egret	Ardea intermedia
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta
Pacific Reef Heron	Egretta sacra
Ospreys (Pandionidae)
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae)
Pacific Baza	Aviceda subcristata
Long-tailed Honey Buzzard	Henicopernis longicauda
Gurney’s Eagle	Aquila gurneyi
Variable Goshawk	Accipiter hiogaster
Black-mantled Goshawk	Accipiter melanochlamys
Grey-headed Goshawk	Accipiter poliocephalus
Swamp Harrier	Circus approximans
Brahminy Kite	Haliastur indus
White-bellied Sea Eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster
Barn Owls (Tytonidae)
Greater Sooty Owl (H)	Tyto tenebricosa
Owls (Strigidae)
Papuan Boobook (H)	Ninox theomacha
Hornbills (Bucerotidae)
Blyth’s Hornbill	Rhyticeros plicatus
Rollers (Coraciidae)
Oriental Dollarbird	Eurystomus orientalis
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Hook-billed Kingfisher (H)	Melidora macrorrhina
Common Paradise Kingfisher	Tanysiptera galatea
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra	Dacelo gaudichaud
Beach Kingfisher	Todiramphus saurophagus
Sacred Kingfisher	Todiramphus sanctus
Yellow-billed Kingfisher (H)	Syma torotoro
Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher	Ceyx solitarius
Bee-eaters (Meropidae)
Rainbow Bee-eater	Merops ornatus
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Oriental Hobby	Falco severus
Cockatoos (Cacatuidae)
Palm Cockatoo	Probosciger aterrimus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo	Cacatua galerita
Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae)
Pesquet’s Parrot – VU	Psittrichas fulgidus
Yellow-capped Pygmy Parrot	Micropsitta keiensis
Moluccan King Parrot	Alisterus amboinensis
Papuan Eclectus	Eclectus polychloros
Red-cheeked Parrot	Geoffroyus geoffroyi
Blue-collared Parrot	Geoffroyus simplex
Great-billed Parrot	Tanygnathus megalorynchos
Plum-faced Lorikeet	Oreopsittacus arfaki
Pygmy Lorikeet	Charminetta wilhelminae
Red-flanked Lorikeet	Hypocharmosyna placentis
Papuan Lorikeet	Charmosyna papou
Yellow-billed Lorikeet	Neopsittacus musschenbroekii
Black-capped Lory	Lorius lory
Black Lory	Chalcopsitta atra
Violet-necked Lory	Eos squamata
Coconut Lorikeet	Trichoglossus haematodus
Large Fig Parrot	Psittaculirostris desmarestii
Blue-fronted Fig Parrot	Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii
Double-eyed Fig Parrot	Cyclopsitta diophthalma
Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot	Loriculus aurantiifrons
Pittas (Pittidae)
Papuan Pitta	Erythropitta macklotii
Hooded Pitta	Pitta sordida
Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchidae)
Arfak Catbird	Ailuroedus arfakianus
Vogelkop Bowerbird	Amblyornis inornata
Masked Bowerbird	Sericulus aureus
Australasian Treecreepers (Climacteridae)
Papuan Treecreeper	Cormobates placens
Australasian Wrens (Maluridae)
Emperor Fairywren	Malurus cyanocephalus
White-shouldered Fairywren	Malurus alboscapulatus
Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)
Rufous-sided Honeyeater	Ptiloprora erythropleura
Brown-backed Honeyeater	Ramsayornis modestus
Arfak Honeyeater	Melipotes gymnops
Marbled Honeyeater	Pycnopygius cinereus
Mountain Myzomela	Myzomela adolphinae
Red-collared Myzomela	Myzomela rosenbergii
New Guinea Friarbird	Philemon novaeguineae
Spotted Honeyeater	Xanthotis polygrammus
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater	Xanthotis flaviventer
Puff-backed Honeyeater	Meliphaga aruensis
Scrub Honeyeater	Microptilotis albonotatus
Mimic Honeyeater	Microptilotis analogus
Cinnamon-browed Melidectes	Melidectes ochromelas
Vogelkop Melidectes	Melidectes leucostephes
Ornate Melidectes	Melidectes torquatus
Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae)
Goldenface	Pachycare flavogriseum
Rusty Mouse-warbler	Origma murina
Mountain Mouse-warbler (H)	Origma robusta
Pale-billed Scrubwren	Aethomyias spilodera
Vogelkop Scrubwren	Aethomyias rufescens
Large Scrubwren	Sericornis nouhuysi
Brown-breasted Gerygone	Gerygone ruficollis
Green-backed Gerygone	Gerygone chloronota
Berrypeckers, Longbills (Melanocharitidae)
Yellow-bellied Longbill	Toxorhamphus novaeguineae
Painted Berrypeckers (Paramythiidae)
Tit Berrypecker	Oreocharis arfaki
Jewel-babblers, Quail-thrushes (Cinclosomatidae)
Spotted Jewel-babbler	Ptilorrhoa leucosticta
Blue Jewel-babbler (H)	Ptilorrhoa caerulescens
Boatbills (Machaerirhynchidae)
Yellow-breasted Boatbill	Machaerirhynchus flaviventer
Black-breasted Boatbill	Machaerirhynchus nigripectus
Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies (Artamidae)
White-breasted Woodswallow	Artamus leucorynchus
Mountain Peltops	Peltops montanus
Black Butcherbird	Melloria quoyi
Hooded Butcherbird	Cracticus cassicus
Mottled Berryhunter (Rhagologidae)
Mottled Berryhunter	Rhagologus leucostigma
Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae)
Boyer’s Cuckooshrike	Coracina boyeri
Black-bellied Cuckooshrike	Edolisoma montanum
Black-browed Triller	Lalage atrovirens
Australo-Papuan Bellbirds (Oreoicidae)
Rufous-naped Bellbird	Aleadryas rufinucha
Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae)
Vogelkop Whistler	Pachycephala meyeri
Grey Whistler	Pachycephala simplex
Regent Whistler	Pachycephala schlegelii
Rusty Pitohui	Pseudorectes ferrugineus
Arafura Shrikethrush	Colluricincla megarhyncha
Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios (Oriolidae)
Northern Variable Pitohui	Pitohui kirhocephalus
Raja Ampat Pitohui	Pitohui cerviniventris
Hooded Pitohui	Pitohui dichrous
Brown Oriole	Oriolus szalayi
Drongos (Dicruridae)
Spangled Drongo	Dicrurus bracteatus
Fantails (Rhipiduridae)
Willie Wagtail	Rhipidura leucophrys
Northern Fantail	Rhipidura rufiventris
Sooty Thicket Fantail	Rhipidura threnothorax
Black Fantail	Rhipidura atra
Chestnut-bellied Fantail	Rhipidura hyperythra
Friendly Fantail	Rhipidura albolimbata
Dimorphic Fantail	Rhipidura brachyrhyncha
Monarchs (Monarchidae)
Black Monarch	Symposiachrus axillaris
Golden Monarch	Carterornis chrysomela
Frilled Monarch	Arses telescopthalmus
Shining Flycatcher	Myiagra alecto
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Brown-headed Crow	Corvus fuscicapillus
Grey Crow	Corvus tristis
Torresian Crow	Corvus orru
Birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae)
Glossy-mantled Manucode	Manucodia ater
Trumpet Manucode	Phonygammus keraudrenii
Long-tailed Paradigalla	Paradigalla carunculata
Arfak Astrapia	Astrapia nigra
Western Parotia	Parotia sefilata
Crescent-caped Lophorina	Lophorina niedda
Magnificent Riflebird	Ptiloris magnificus
Black Sicklebill	Epimachus fastosus
Black-billed Sicklebill	Drepanornis albertisi
Magnificent Bird-of-paradise	Diphyllodes magnificus
Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise	Diphyllodes respublica
King Bird-of-paradise	Cicinnurus regius
Lesser Bird-of-paradise (H)	Paradisaea minor
Red Bird-of-paradise	Paradisaea rubra
Australasian Robins (Petroicidae)
White-faced Robin	Tregellasia leucops
Slaty Robin	Peneothello cyanus
Black-sided Robin	Poecilodryas hypoleuca
Black-throated Robin	Plesiodryas albonotata
Ashy Robin	Heteromyias albispecularis
Olive Flyrobin	Kempiella flavovirescens
Canary Flyrobin	Devioeca papuana
Green-backed Robin	Pachycephalopsis hattamensis
Lesser Ground Robin (H)	Amalocichla incerta
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
Pacific Swallow	Hirundo tahitica
Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae)
Island Leaf Warbler	Phylloscopus poliocephalus
Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae)
Papuan Grassbird	Cincloramphus macrurus
White-eyes (Zosteropidae)
Black-fronted White-eye	Zosterops chrysolaemus
Capped White-eye	Zosterops fuscicapilla
Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae)
Metallic Starling	Aplonis metallica
Singing Starling	Aplonis cantoroides
Moluccan Starling	Aplonis mysolensis
Yellow-faced Myna	Mino dumontii
Golden Myna	Mino anais
Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae)
Olive-crowned Flowerpecker	Dicaeum pectorale
Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)
Black Sunbird	Leptocoma aspasia
Olive-backed Sunbird	Cinnyris jugularis
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus
Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae)
Streak-headed Mannikin	Mayrimunia tristissima
Scaly-breasted Munia	Lonchura punctulata
Grey-banded Mannikin	Lonchura vana

Total seen	195
Total heard only	16
Total recorded	211

Mammal List

Common Name	Scientific Name
Cuscuses and Brushtail Possums (Phalangeridae)
Northern Common Cuscus	Phalanger orientalis
Bandicoots (Peramelidae)
Common Echymipera	Echymipera kalubu
Old World Mice and Rats (Muridae)
Brown Rat	Rattus norvegicus

Total

3

Reptile List

Common Name	Scientific Name
Geckos (Gekkonidae)
Common House Gecko	Hemidactylus frenatus
Skinks (Scincidae)
Pacific Bluetail Skink	Emoia caeruleocauda
Azure-tailed Skink	Emoia impar
Littoral Whiptail Skink	Emoia atrocostata
Indonesian Brown Rainbow Skink	Carlia fusca

Total

5

This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.

Birding Tour Indonesia: West Papua & Southwest Papua –
Birds-of-paradise and Endemics of the Arfak Mountains and Waigeo Island

Tour-Specific Information

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDONESIA CAN BE READ HERE

TOUR OUTLINE

This amazing, once-in-a-lifetime tour focuses on the multitude of endemic birds that can be found in West Papua and this includes numerous simply spectacular birds-of-paradise (BoPs), including possibly the best-looking bird in the world, Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise. This tour starts in Manokwari and ends in Sorong. We take in the excellent Arfak Mountains, home to loads of restricted-range “Vogelkop Endemics”, such as Arfak Astrapia, Crescent-caped Lophorina, Western Parotia, Long-tailed Paradigalla, and Vogelkop Bowerbird, along with more widespread (in New Guinea) Black Sicklebill, Magnificent Bird-of-paradise, Spotted Jewel-babbler, Masked Bowerbird, and so many more. While in the Sorong area, we will visit the Raja Ampat Islands (specifically Waigeo) and the recently explored Klasow Valley (also known to birders as Malagufuk) and this leg of the trip gives us the opportunity for the aforementioned Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, along with King Bird-of-paradise, Red Bird-of-paradise, Lesser Bird-of-paradise, Magnificent Riflebird, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Western Crowned Pigeon, Thick-billed Ground Pigeon, Papuan Pitta, and Hook-billed Kingfisher.  This is just a tiny sample of what’s on offer on this tour, please refer to the detailed itinerary for further details.

Note that in November/December 2022, the Indonesian government split West Papua province into two provinces, West Papua (in the east), with the capital city of Manokwari) and Southwest Papua (to the northwest of West Papua!) with the capital city of Sorong. Within this document we retain the term “West Papua” to refer to both provinces.

DAILY ACTIVITIES, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND TOUR PACE

This West Papua, Indonesia birdwatching tour requires reasonable physical fitness and good agility to bird the relatively steep slopes found here (even at coastal locations). West Papua is one of the most remote and undeveloped areas within Indonesia, so remember you are visiting a developing country and will be camping/staying in the most remote areas, where there are no proper sanitation facilities. Expect many things to be very different from home, or even other parts of Indonesia.

We will shift our body clocks on this tour rising very early but sleeping early too. While we are birding in the Arfak Mountains, we will usually have breakfast around 05:00 hrs., or earlier, to then get onto the trails and into bird blinds where we will wait for the birds-of-paradise to arrive (they usually display around first light or sometimes late in the afternoon). We will therefore usually be walking on the trails in the dark or half-light, so we can get into position before the birds do. After our early morning session in the bird blinds, we will do some forest birding on the trails and roads nearby until mid-morning. We will usually take lunch around 11:00 hrs., before a siesta during the middle part of the day. In the middle of the afternoon, we will have another birding session before it gets dark, after which we will have an early dinner, checklist session, and then showers and bed. There is no electricity in the mountains, other than that supplied by the generator, which usually gets turned off around 21:00 hrs. When we are birding on Waigeo we will follow a similar pattern of activity and when in Sorong we will have a very early start as we leave the hotel at around 04:00-04:30hrs. to get to a forest patch for our birding there, either having an early breakfast before we leave the hotel or taking a boxed breakfast away with us.

Most birding occurs on narrow, sometimes swampy forest trails, and other times we will bird from wider roads and tracks that are often uneven and can be slippery. On the trails care must be taken as there are trip and slip hazards from damp roots, fallen trees, boulders, and uneven and rough surfaces. In the Klasow Valley we walk along a boardwalk that can be slippery if wet, so care should be taken at all times, with one hand on or near the handrail.

Walking sticks or hiking poles are a great idea as they provide added stability to help with balance and are compulsory for anyone who is not steady at walking and highly recommended for everyone no matter of ability. Most trails are either going up or down due to the nature of the terrain we will be birding in. Our local porters are excellent at helping those less physically active at getting around the trails and into position to view the birds. When we are in the lower areas of the Arfak Mountains, and on Waigeo all our birding is carried out from our accommodation bases, so these walks can be optional if you’d like to take a rest for some of them. We have more than one chance for most of the birds-of-paradise (and other excellent birds) at these locations, so sitting a session out does not mean you will necessarily miss something totally.

We will also spend time within small bird blinds (which are often not particularly comfortable and may entail sitting on the ground or small stools) to get close to the various birds-of-paradise’s lekking/display sites. Any minor temporary discomfort will be well worth it when a Black Sicklebill, Western Parotia, or Magnificent Bird-of-paradise drops into view.

The village in the Arfak Mountains, makes a great base for walks of a few hours. These walks can, in sections, be tough, but we will take them slowly and we will have time to rest back in the village afterwards. The only activity different to the above scenario is the hike to the top of the Arfak Mountains. This is considered a very tough hike (both going up and coming back down), with further tough hiking when we reach the top to look for the birds themselves. This trek should only be carried out by those of a good fitness level (please contact us if you would like to discuss whether you think you will be able to do this hike). If you don’t want to do the mountain hike and basic camping at the top of the mountain (see further details in the “Accommodation” section below), it will be possible for you to stay behind in the village where you will be suitably looked after while the rest of the group head up the mountain for one night.

For our time birding in the Klasow Valley, we will hike along a relatively flat (but often slippery) boardwalk in usually hot and humid conditions.

Note that in each year the specific locations of the birds-of-paradise lek sites may change due to numerous factors beyond our control. Sometimes birds can be found displaying next to nice easy access points with very limited and simple walking of around 10-30 minutes, but at other times they can be further away and take much more effort to reach, sometime involving a walk on difficult terrain for an hour or so. We will try and provide as much information ahead of each hike for each specific bird-of-paradise lek site, to help you know what to expect and make any decisions on whether you want to miss a particular hike. When possible, we will take the easiest option, but sometimes the easiest option can also result in a fair bit of effort to reach.

In any reading you may have done on visiting West Papua, you may have seen reference to a requirement for a Surat Jalan (police clearance) for visiting the province. This is no longer required, however, please note that immigration officers at your first point of entry into Indonesia (such as Jakarta, Makassar, or Denpasar) are not always well-informed about West Papua and can be sensitive about this province, so if possible don’t even mention you are going there. Over recent years the Raja Ampat Islands have increased massively in both domestic and international tourism circles due to the excellent diving on offer, so an increase in visitors has made the area more well-known for tourism and tourists are a more familiar sight than they once were.

This is a fairly tough tour and unfortunately will not be suitable for everyone, though we try and make the birding as accessible to everyone as possible as we know that the birds-of-paradise and multitude of other spectacular and range-restricted birds are highly desired by birdwatchers the world over. The information within this document will hopefully help in your preparation for this tour and please do contact us if you have any specific requests for further information. We have helped many people see the birds of New Guinea who maybe thought they had missed their opportunity. While being physically fit will increase your enjoyment and participation in this tour we are also able to help those less active to get the most out of this tour, largely thanks to our extremely helpful local team who go above and beyond to work with everyone. The local people here are incredibly proud of their forests and their birds, and they love to share these with us. Tourism to this area provides valuable income for the villagers as well as protects the forest for the birds and future generations.

We recommend that if you decide to join this tour (no matter your fitness level) that you work on your physical fitness prior to it, hiking up and down hills/steps is a good way to prepare.

TRANSPORTATION

We use a wide range of transport on the tour. Most of the driving is carried out in 4×4 vehicles (such as Toyota Hilux or similar) and depending on the final group size we may have between one and four vehicles for our birding expedition. We require that you are fit and flexible and can maneuver yourself into these high-clearance vehicles. We ask everyone to please be aware of the amount of extra equipment they bring into the seating area of the vehicles as there will not be much room (excess luggage can go in the back of the pickup). Most of the roads away from the towns are rough and windy (bring motion sickness tablets if you suffer from motion sickness) and at times this can be a little uncomfortable, however it is the only way to get to some of these remote birding places, so it’s worth the effort when you see the amazing birds!

We will fly across the island between Manokwari and Sorong (see the “Domestic Flights” section below). We will take several boat trips during the tour when we are in the Sorong area. This includes a fast-ferry crossing between Sorong and Waigeo and back. On these crossings, which last approximately two hours each way, we have seats in an air-conditioned (usually rather cold) cabin. There is no opportunity to birdwatch from the ferry. We will take a speedboat trip around some of the smaller islands in the area one afternoon and will bird from the boat around several islands that we can’t land on, and then access others that we can do. Accessing the speedboat or ferry may require climbing up or down a ladder onto/off a pier. One island we may visit would require a “wet landing”.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

This tour requires a domestic flight between Manokwari and Sorong. The cost for this flight is included in the tour cost. The domestic flight is likely to have a hold luggage weight limit of 44 pounds (20 kilograms) and a hand luggage allowance of 15 pounds (7 kilograms) and will be with whichever local airline fits our schedule best on the day we need it, this might be one of Lion Air Indonesia, Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, or Sriwijaya Air. Any overweight baggage will likely incur costs and will be the responsibility of the individual. Excess baggage costs will need to be paid in cash to the airline at the airport.

LUGGAGE

Please pack as lightly as possible for this tour (noting the expected weight allowance of the domestic flight detailed above). A medium, soft-sided, and robust duffle bag is likely to work best for packing in the tour vehicles. We recommend a daypack is used to keep items that you wish to use daily when in the vehicle or when birding in the field.

Note we usually spend one night camping in basic facilities higher in the Arfak Mountains than our basic village base lower down the slope, where we spend most of our nights while birding the area. For this one night you will need an overnight bag, this could be your day pack, or should be another small bag large enough for what you might need for one night (noting we will be at elevation so will require warmer clothes etc.). We must hike to the overnight spot, but our porters (for a nominal charge) can carry whatever we take up the mountain and we usually leave the remaining, and majority of, our luggage with our team back at our main base. Note you can also leave luggage in the hotel in Manokwari and take a smaller set of items to the mountain.

If you are not planning on hiking up to the top of the mountain (see information in the “Daily Activities, Physical Requirements, and Tour Pace” and “Accommodation” sections) then you don’t need to worry about bringing something for carrying luggage to the top of the mountain.

SAFETY

Your safety is our paramount concern on this, and all of our tours, hence the detailed information contained within this tour-specific information and the Indonesia general information. Our tour takes us to a remote part of Indonesia, and then to a remote part of West Papua too.

Political tensions in West Papua province have previously given rise to mass demonstrations in cities like Manokwari and Sorong. We monitor local news media as well as keep in regular contact with our various local guides and ground team (who live in these cities) to keep on top of potential security threats. Sometimes there are difficulties with internet connections and communications may be limited (i.e. they are cut off to prevent demonstrators being able to keep in contact to plan further disruption). We will keep clear of any and all protests, demonstrations, and political rallies to the best of our abilities as they can turn violent without warning.

Care should be taken when we are at the port in Sorong as there are a lot of people milling around trying to get paid for loading/unloading the boat and petty theft (e.g. pickpockets etc.) can be a concern as we are likely to stand out rather a lot. It will be important that the group stays closely together and maintains a tight hold of all personal equipment with eyes on bags and personal possessions etc. Please listen to the advice of your local guide or tour leader here. Similarly, care should be taken when passing through the airports, there is often lots of people standing around outside these and similar issues could be possible. Please do not go walking around outside the city hotels on your own as you could become a target of crime. Please speak to us if there is any need for you to go outside of the hotel (such as going to a shop to purchase a SIM card or snacks) as we will have someone we know accompany you.

Trips and falls when on trails, tracks/roads, around our campsites, and getting into or out of the 4×4 vehicles or boats are all possibilities on this tour and care should be taken. A hiking pole or walking stick is compulsory if you are at all unsure on your feet. Please seek the services of one of our excellent porters who will be able to help you navigate the sometimes steep and slippery trails. They are excellent and have helped many clients safely get around these remote birding sites. We do not have access to a satellite phone and regular cell coverage is limited when we are away from the cities. The nearest good emergency medical facilities in the case of a serious emergency might be in Australia (e.g. Darwin) so make sure you have suitable medical insurance in case something unexpected occurs.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and flooding are frequent across Indonesia and we will be monitoring the situation in the lead up to, and during the tour. Be aware that a volcanic eruption far away from the tour location can cause travel (flight) disruption, e.g. if a volcano erupts in or near the Indonesian international airports in Bali or Java.

There is a high risk of malaria in West Papua. Atovaquone/Proguanil or Doxycycline, or Mefloquine are recommended, but please consult your doctor or local travel clinic for specific advice. We will be spending time birding in lowland forests and mangroves over the dawn and dusk periods, where we will come into contact with mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are also present in the Arfak Mountains and can be a pest when we try and sit quietly in the bird blinds for the birds-of-paradise. Insect repellent with a high DEET concentration can be useful for keeping them away and reducing the chance of getting bites. DEET insect spray can also keep chiggers and leeches away. Chiggers can lead to Scrub (Bush) Typhus and can be incredibly irritating. Leeches do not spread diseases, but they are rather unnerving and can cause blood loss.

Care should be taken when swimming and snorkeling in the Raja Ampat Islands. The reef life is spectacular and some of the best diving in the world, with the highest diversity of fish anywhere on earth. However, with this comes serious danger in the form of creatures such Australian Box Jellyfish (Sea Wasp) and “Blue-ringed Octopus”. Please consult with the dive resort experts prior to taking a swim and follow any health and safety advice they provide.

WEATHER/CLIMATE   

While in the lowlands of Manokwari, Sorong, and Waigeo we can expect average daytime highs of around 87 ^oF (30 ^oC) and average nighttime lows of 75 ^oF (24 ^oC). There is often thick cloud cover here, resulting in hot and humid, rather oppressive conditions.

In the mountains it is cooler than the lowland temperatures and we can expect average daytime highs of around 65 ^oF (18 ^oC) and average nighttime lows of 50 ^oF (10 ^oC) when we are birding around our middle elevation sites of 4,500 feet/1,400 meters. When we reach the higher parts of the mountain, e.g. when we camp overnight at 7,000 feet/2,200 meters, we can expect lower temperatures again, and overnight temperature can feel relatively cold.

The sun is strong at this time of year and care should be taken to remain hydrated and use sun protection. Rain is possible at any time, at any location so rain gear and an umbrella will be essential. A dry bag is also recommended for protecting optics, electrical equipment/cameras, and important documents (see the “What to Bring: Clothing and Other Items” section below).

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels in Manokwari and Sorong are typical western-style hotels with good facilities, restaurants, television, Wi-Fi internet, air-conditioning etc., and where you can get laundry done. There are supermarkets and pharmacies in the towns if you find you have forgotten something essential. Tea and coffee facilities are provided in rooms.

When you stay in the village in the Arfak Mountains (at an elevation of approximately 4,500 feet/1,400 meters), it is basic accommodation with electricity from a generator early in the morning and in the evening only (but enough to allow charging of phones/camera batteries etc.). Rooms are small bungalow-type buildings with, usually, a couple of bedrooms which are basic, and consist of beds with a mosquito net, a table, and an outside bench on the porch to soak in the astonishing views and birds. We will provide you with a sleeping bag and pillow. Most rooms now (as of May 2023) have showers with hot water. There are western-style sit-down toilets located in the toilet/shower room (which may be outside of the bungalow). We bring a cook up to the village with us and so still have very nice local meals during our stay. It is also possible to get laundry done here. Tea and coffee facilities are provided in a communal dining area. There is no Wi-Fi and very limited phone signal here.

When you hike up the mountains, you camp at 7,000 feet/2,200 meters in a very basic wooden room, and it gets even more basic than in the village. Essentially, we lay out a sleeping mat and sleeping bag in a communal shelter – with rustic pit/drop toilets, no showers, more basic food etc. We will provide you with a sleeping bag and sleeping mat (more comfortable if this is on the wooden floor). You should bring a travel pillow if you would like one. It is also cooler and damper at the top of the mountain where we spend the night, and it takes a full morning to walk up there (birding along a steep trail along the way). There is no electricity at the campsite, or a generator, so if you need to charge batteries you will need to have a power bank (portable power supply) to do so. We usually only stay at this upper campsite for one night. While this accommodation, or the trek to get there, is not going to be suitable for everyone, it is definitely worth the effort and temporary discomfort to try and see some of the special endemics that only occur high up the mountain (such as Arfak Astrapia, Black Sicklebill, and many more). Tea and coffee facilities are provided in the communal dining tent. See note in “Luggage” section regarding bringing a smaller bag for the overnight trip up the mountain. There is no Wi-Fi and very limited phone signal here.

There is a nominal charge for porters to carry daypacks, overnight bags, and other belongings, and this can be booked a day or two before the trek, when you first arrive in the village (you spend a couple of nights before (and after) the trek up the mountain, in the village at a lower altitude. You are also encouraged to tip the villagers for this service at your discretion (they also do a lot of other hard work for the group, e.g. heating water, making meals, etc.), and will help on the trails if you need help walking on the rough terrain, or if you want your daypacks carried.

In Waigeo, we usually stay in a simple dive resort near our main birding sites. Rooms have a fan and/or air-conditioning, mosquito net, and simple private bathroom facilities. Tea, coffee, and drinking water facilities are provided in the restaurant area. There is excellent snorkeling or diving off the accommodation. There is occasionally Wi-Fi in the dining room and there is now phone signal here, but it is erratic so not totally reliable. The dive resort is either reached by boat from the sea or via the nearest road by a set of c.70 steep steps with a handrail. Meals are usually of local style with plenty of freshly sourced fish and generally served buffet style.

ELECTRICITY

While we are in the Arfak Mountains we will not have any mains electricity. For our time in the village in the Arfaks (where we will spend most of our nights in the mountains) there will be limited electricity supplied by a generator. This is usually on in the early hours of the morning over breakfast and then for a few hours in the evening while we eat, do the checklist, get cleaned up, and get ready for bed. This is usually enough time to get camera and phone batteries charged up. When we go high up the mountain to our campsite there is no form of electricity at all, not even a generator. Therefore, if you think you will want/need to charge any electrical equipment you should bring a power bank (portable power supply). Make sure any power bank is certified safe for air travel as these items are likely to be inspected and checked over at airport security checkpoints (they have to go in hand luggage) and if they do not meet the required safety standards they are likely to be confiscated.

All other locations we visit on the tour should have a regular power supply, notwithstanding any unexpected power cuts etc.

COMMUNICATIONS

Phone signal is limited (or absent) for most of the tour route, except for around the cities of Manokwari and Sorong. You may be able to use your international roaming package in Indonesia, but it may be quite expensive to do so. You may be able to purchase a local SIM card, however this can be quite complicated (e.g. if you purchase a card on a different island it might not work on other islands, without adding specific “local” credit through topping up a balance at a convenience store in cash and the Indonesian government are bringing in new rules all the time about what foreigners are allowed to do in regards to phone/internet access). If you think you are going to need phone signal – where it exists – during the tour, please let us know as we might be able to purchase SIM cards in advance depending on the current rules in place, which do change from time to time. Our hotels in Manokwari and Sorong, and the dive resort in Waigeo (usually) have Wi-Fi and this might be the most convenient way to go about communicating with the outside world during the tour if you should wish to do so.

FOOD AND MEALS

In the cities and tourist areas (e.g. Manokwari and Sorong) we will eat in the hotel restaurants where most types of food (Western and Indonesian) and drinks will be available. Meals will become simpler as we move into the mountains while birding the Arfak Mountains, and there will be no alcoholic drinks (unless we bring our own with us). Our accommodation on Waigeo provides home-cooked Western and Indonesian meals served buffet style.

We can accommodate vegetarian and special dietary needs if we know in advance. Most meals are based around chicken or fish with rice and noodles, and mixed vegetables, tempeh, and tofu. Fresh fruit will be available in most places. Due to the lack of refrigeration, dairy products are not common. We suggest you bring your favorite snacks or protein bars to supplement your diet.

MONEY

Getting money out of ATMs on this tour in Manokwari and Sorong can sometimes be difficult. It is recommended that you either bring a supply of Indonesian rupiah with you from home or withdraw some cash from the international airport that you arrive at. You are likely to have time to do that prior to catching your onward flight to Manokwari, such as when you are in Jakarta, Makassar, or Denpasar, where ATMs are plentiful.

WHAT TO BRING: CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS

The following is a list of useful items to bring on this West Papua birding tour and should be read in conjunction with the Indonesia general information document.

1. A field guide to the region. Either of the following books are suitable. Our tour leader will have digital copies of each.
   1. Birds of New Guinea: Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville – Phil Gregory (2017), Lynx Edicions. This field guide has a clear and modern layout and current take on New Guinea, but is only available as a hardback and is expensive.
   2. Birds of New Guinea – Thane K Pratt and Bruce M Beehler (2014), Princeton University Press, 2nd Edition. This field guide is older and more ‘arty’ than the above guide with some plates tough to follow, but is a softback and is affordable.
2. Overnight bag (small rucksack) for stay in the Arfak Mountains, either one that is used for the time in the mountains, or just for the one night at the higher elevation campsite.
3. Hiking pole or walking stick to help on the tracks and trails. A walking stick is compulsory for anyone who is unsteady walking, as we feel this is a safety issue; we don’t want anyone slipping on the trails or anywhere else. Please discuss with us if you are unsure whether you will need one or not.
4. Torch (flashlight) and/or headlamp (headtorch), and spare batteries – we will be camping overnight in the mountains with no electricity and at our base lower down the mountains we will not have electricity between c.21:00 – 05:00 hrs. Additionally we will likely be setting off into the forest when it is still dark, so this is essential kit, with a headlamp (headtorch) allowing hands to be kept free to hold walking poles etc.
5. High concentration DEET insect repellant.
6. Anti-malarial tablets.
7. Leech socks may be useful, particularly if it is wet.
8. A small personal first aid kit. See the suggested items from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here. There are pharmacies in Manokwari and Sorong, but we will only have limited access to these, so it is always best to bring some basic essentials with you.
9. Footwear is a matter of personal preference. Rubber boots are probably essential in muddy conditions and often dry out quickly, but often lack suitable ankle support which can be given by walking/hiking boots (especially useful on the hike up the Arfak Mountains). If you don’t mind getting dirty in favor of better ankle support, go with walking boots. If it is particularly wet during the tour it may be possible to purchase rubber boots in Manokwari before heading up the mountain, if there is time/availability of your size. A set of sandals/flip flops/trainers would be useful for walking around some of the accommodation, such as the beach resort.
10. Quick-drying birding clothes (i.e. suitable forest colors) are the best for this tour and a good selection of clothing layers are also recommended for time at the higher elevations where temperatures will be much lower than in the lowlands (see the “Weather/Climate” section for further information on likely temperatures during the tour).
11. Something warm to sleep in when in the mountains as the temperatures do drop and the basic rooms can get cold.
12. Rain jacket (and small umbrella) and a coat/fleece for the time in the mountains.
13. Swimwear, mask, and snorkel for optional swimming during free time in Waigeo (note that equipment can be hired from the dive resort, so you don’t need to bring your own if you don’t want to or are limited for space in your luggage – there is likely to be a small charge (c.US$10-20) for hiring any equipment and this should be paid in cash in local currency).
14. A small hand towel or wash cloth can be handy for cleaning and drying things when in the rainforest. Not essential but handy.
15. A dry bag to keep valuable documents in such as passports, cell phones, wallets etc., as well as cameras if it rains.
16. Power bank – essential if you want to charge items while camping as there will be no electricity at all in some areas – e.g. higher parts of the Arfak Mountains, and limited electricity during the daytime lower down the mountain (see the section on “Electricity” above for further information).
17. A travel pillow and travel bath (i.e. large) towel for time in the Arfak Mountains. We will provide other camping gear, such as a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat/roll mat. If you would prefer to use your own camping equipment, please feel to bring it along.
18. A mosquito/fly net might be useful for use at the top campsite in the mountains, to keep creepy crawlies off you at night.

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Indonesia General Information