4 Days Birding Tours in Bali and East Java

We were so happy after a successful trip with clients from the US. During April 4 – 7th 2018 between their honeymoon in Indonesia, together we were birding in Bali and East Java. The tours were fantastic with a total of 118 species, also main target Bali Myna and Javan-hawk Eagle success to be recorded. 90% of the birds we found were new for Casey and Versha.

The tours started in Bali where we visited main birding locations such as around Bedugul Botanical Gardens and Bali Barat National Park. Then the following day we visited great forests around mount Ijen and savanna like grassland in Baluran NP and Alas Purwo NP. Casey and Versha were amazed with the habitat in each birding location and they enjoyed the pace of the tours.

Here the itinerary of the tours:

Day 1 – April 4th 2018 Meet up at hotel in Benoa, Bali at 5.00 am then drive to Bedugul Botanic Garden in search of montane birds. Arrived here at 7.00 am, then we birding until 11.00 am. Lunch at a small restaurant near the locations, 00.30 pm continue birding around lake Beratan and Buyan. Suddenly the rain fell so we decided to change the birding area in Bali Barat NP for the main target, Bali Myna/Starling.

Wild Bali Myna (Starling) from Bali Barat NP

We were so lucky, when we arrived the rain stopped and the wild (no rings on its legs) Bali Myna perched on the rooftop near the parking area. We spent just 30 minutes then looking at other birds in another part of Bali Barat NP while we drove to the port of Gilimanuk.

Before dawn we took a ferry and crossed the Bali strait. Then drive to the Grand Harvest Resort near Mount Ijen. We stayed overnight here before boarding Mount Ijen the next day.

Day 2 – April 5th 2018

Check out from the hotel then drive for 30 minutes to the forest around mount Ijen. When we arrived, we quickly looked for the most targeted birds in Ijen, Grey-breasted Partridge. Sadly, we only heard after hanging up for half an hour. Continue looking at other montane birds. Lunch in Paltuding (entrance ticket to hike mount Ijen), where plenty of small restaurants are available. After that at 00.30 pm drive down while stopping by in search of endemics and others.

Immature (above) and adult (below) Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker, Mount Ijen

At 02.00 pm we finished birding in mount Ijen, then we drove to the small marshes near Baluran NP. Our target is Asian Golden Weaver, successfully added to our list. After dinner we stayed in Watu Dodol for the next two nights.

Day 3 – April 6th 2018

After breakfast we went to Baluran NP, while driving-in the park we stopped in an evergreen area. Then we continue looking for other lowland birds in the mangrove area until 11.00 am. Lunch at a small canteen near the Bama beach, after that Versha wanted to enjoy the sea while we rested for a while. In the afternoon, drive-out then stop in Bekol savannah-like grassland to enjoy the sunset.

3 individuals Java Sparrow from Baluran National Park

Day 4 – April 7th 2018 We had a long drive on the last day. In the morning at 6.30 am we arrived in Alas Purwo NP at the south-eastern part of the island. First location was Sadengan grassland. We enjoyed our morning coffee while Banteng was grazing in front of us. We were birding in Alas Purwo until 9.00 am the drive out to a restaurant at Banyuwangi before we took ferries to cross Bali strait again.

One of five Great-slaty Woodpecker from Alas Purwo NP

111 species is ‘lifer’ or new for Casey, all kingfishers on this trip become Versha’s favorites, also the Long-tailed Macaque and Javn-leaf Monkey / Javan Langur. Here the highlight birds and the systematic list:

Highlights of the trip:

1. Bali Myna (Starling) Leucopsar rothschildi

Found in Teluk Trima, Bali Barat NP. 1 wild bird and about 10 individuals with rings on its legs.

2. Javan Hawk-eagle Nisaetus bartelsi

Single adult bird was soaring in the forest around Mount Ijen.

3. Grey-and-Buff (Red-crested) Woodpecker Hemicircus concretus

Pairs with immature male were foraging in the forest around mount Ijen.

4. Javan Kingfisher Halcyon cyanoventris

Single individuals perched on cable when we drive down from mount Ijen and one other in small marshes near Baluran NP

5. Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus

5 individuals were seen in the morning near Sadengan grassland, Alas Purwo NP.

Gallery:

Systematic List:

6. Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa | Buyan Lake, Bali
7. Wooly-Necked Stork Ciconia episcopus | Paddy-field near mount Ijen, East Java
8. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus | Alas Purwo NP
9. White-Bellied Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster | Bali Barat NP
10. Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela | Bali Barat NP
11. Black-Thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius |Baluran NP
12. Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator | Baluran NP
13. Green Peafowl Pavo muticus | Baluran NP
14. Green Junglefowl Gallus varius | Baluran NP
15. White-Breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus | Small marshes near Baluran NP
16. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus | Bali Barat NP
17. Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura | Small marshes near Baluran NP
18. Black-Naped Tern Sterna sumatrana | Baluran NP
19. Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii | Baluran NP
20. Pink-Necked Green-Pigeon Treron vernans | Bali Barat NP
21. Orange-Breasted Green-Pigeon Treron bicinctus | Baluran NP
22. Pink-Headed Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus porphyreus | Mt. Ijen
23. Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea | Baluran NP
24. Barred Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia unchall | Bali Botanical Gardens
25. Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia emiliana | Bali Botanical Gardens
26. Zebra Dove Geopelia striata | Bali Barat NP
27. Island Collared-Dove Streptopelia bitorquata | Bali Botanical Gardens
28. Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis | Baluran NP
29. (Grey-capped) Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica | Baluran NP
30. Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus | Small marshes near Baluran NP
31. Sunda Coucal Centropus nigrorufus | Alas Purwo NP
32. Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis | Bali Barat NP
33. Cave Swiftlet Collocalia linchi | Bedugul Botanical Gardens
34. Grey-Rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis | Bali Barat NP
35. Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo coerulescens | Bali Barat NP
36. Oriental Dwarf-kingfisher Ceyx erithaca | Baluran NP
37. Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus | Bali Barat NP
38. Collared KingfisherTodiramphus chloris | Baluran NP
39. Chestnut-Headed Bee-Eater Merops leschenaulti | Bali Barat NP
40. Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater Merops philippinus | East Java
41. Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris | Baluran NP
42. Yellow-Eared Barbet Psilopogon australis | Alas Purwo NP
43. Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus | Bali Barat NP
44. Freckle-Breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos analis | Baluran NP
45. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker Picoides moluccensis | Baluran NP
46. Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus | Alas Purwo NP
47. Crimson-Winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus | Baluran NP
48. Black-Winged Flycatcher-Shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus | Mt. Ijen
49. Sunda Cuckooshrike Coracina larvata | Mt. Ijen
50. Pied Triller Lalage nigra | Baluran NP
51. White-Shouldered Triller Lalage sueurii | Bali Botanical Gardens
52. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus | Mt. Ijen
53. Sunda Minivet Pericrocotus miniatus | Mt. Ijen
54. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia | Baluran Np
55. Sooty-Headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster | Bedugul Botanical Gardens
56. Olive-Winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus | Baluran NP
57. Yellow-Vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier | Baluran NP
58. Ruby-Throated Bulbul Pycnonotus dispar | Alas Purwo NP
59. Orange-Spotted Bulbul Pycnonotus bimaculatus | Mt. Ijen
60. Sunda (Javan) Bulbul Ixos virescens | Mt. Ijen
61. Lesser Racket-Tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer | Bali Botanical Gardens
62. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus | Bali Botanical Gardens
63. Black-Naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis | Bali Botanical Gardens
64. Blue Nuthatch Sitta azurea | Mt. Ijen
65. Crescent-Chested Babbler Cyanoderma melanothorax | Bali Botanical Gardens
66. Grey-Cheeked Tit-Babbler Mixornis flavicollis | Alas Purwo NP
67. Javan Whistling-Thrush Myophonus glaucinus | Bali Botanical Gardens
68. Golden-Bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea | Bali Barat NP
69. (Javan) Sunda Warbler Phylloscopus grammiceps | Bali Botanical Gardens
70. Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis | Bali Botanical Gardens
71. Mountain Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus | Bali Botanical Gardens
72. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis | Small marshes near Baluran NP
73. Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris | Bali Botanical Gardens
74. Sunda Bush-Warbler Cettia vulcania | Mt. Ijen
75. Russet (Javan)Bush-Warbler Locustella montis | Mt. Ijen
76. Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps | Baluran NP
77. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata | Small marshes near Baluran NP
78. Fulvous-Chested Jungle-Flycatcher Cyornis olivaceus | Bali Botanical Gardens
79. Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus | Mt. Ijen
80. Indigo Flycatcher Eumyas indigo | Mt. Ijen
81. Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina | Mt. Ijen
82. Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermani | Bali Botanical Gardens
83. Grey-Headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis | Bali Botanical Gardens
84. Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra | Baluran NP
85. Hill-blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas | Baluran NP
86. Sunda Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica | Bali Barat NP
87. White-Bellied Fantail Rhipidura euryura | Mt. Ijen
88. Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala cinerea | Baluran NP
89. White-Breasted Wood-Swallow Artamus leucorynchus | Bali Barat NP
90. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava | Bali Botanical Gardens
91. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus | Baluran NP
92. Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis | Bali Botanical Gardens
93. Short-Tailed Starling Aplonis minor | Bali Botanical Gardens
94. Black-Winged (Grey-backed) Myna Acridotheres melanopterus tricolor | Baluran NP
95. Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus | Alas Purwo NP
96. Olive-Backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis | Bali Barat NP
97. Indonesian Honeyeater Lichmera limbata | Buyan Lake, Bali
98. Scarlet-Headed Flowerpecker Dicaeum trochileum | Baluran NP
99. Blood-Breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum sanguinolentum | Bali Botanical Gardens
100. Mountain White-Eye Zosterops montanus | Bali Botanical Gardens
101. Javan Grey-Throated White-Eye Heleia javanica | Bali Botanical Gardens
102. Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora | Baluran NP
103. Javan Munia Lonchura leucogastroides | Small marshes near Baluran NP
104. Scaly-Breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata | Mt. Ijen
105. White-Headed Munia Lonchura maja | Small marshes near Baluran NP
106. Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus | Small marshes near Baluran NP
107. Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica | Alas Purwo NP
108. Black-Crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax | Small marshes near Baluran NP
109. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos | Buyan Lake, Bali
110. Gull-Billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica | Baluran NP
111. Lesser Crested-Tern Thalasseus bengalensis | Baluran NP
112. Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis | Baluran NP
113. Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica | Baluran NP
114. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus | Baluran NP
115. Great Tit Parus Major | Baluran NP
116. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus | Buyan Lake, Bali
117. Long-Tailed Shrike Lanius schach | Buyan Lake, Bali
118. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus | Buyan Lake, Bali

Other Taxa:

1. Long-talied Macque
2. Javan-leaf Monkey / Javan Langur
3. Banteng
4. Timor Deer
5. Water Buffalo

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