2 Days Mt. Ijen Birding Tour for Grey-breasted Partridge

One of the endemic birds in East Java is the well-known Grey-breasted or White-faced Partridge (Arborophila orientalis). It can be found from Yang highlands eastwards to Ijen mountains.

We have a client from England for two days birding in mount Ijen with the only target being Grey-breasted Partridge.

As of March 2019, we have already observed this endemic in the same area.

We met the client at 05.00 am 26th August 2019 on his accommodation around Banyuwangi, then we drove to the location. At around 5.45 am, we arrived at the location then we stayed in the partridge feeding station which was built by a local guide.

We spent the whole day there, but unfortunately rainfall started at midday until dusk. Even the partridge did not shown, several birds come to the station such as:

1. Red Junglefowl
2. Javan Banded Pitta
3. Temminck’s Babbler
4. Lesser Shortwing
5. Javan Whistling Thrush
6. Indigo Flycatcher
7. Snowy-browed Flycatcher
8. White-flanked Sunbird
9. White-bellied Fantail
10. Crescent-chested Babbler
11. Sunda Cuckooshrike and above us there is a fruiting tree that attract
12. Wreathed Hornbill
13. Dark-backed Imperial-pigeon
14. Grey-cheeked Green-pigeon and,
15. Pink-headed Fruit-dove.

So, after dropping off the clients on his accommodation we agreed to go on the next day. Started at the same time as yesterday but arrived earlier at 5.30 am.

Javan Banaded Pitta and Indigo Warbling Flycatcher also present in the station

Sat and waited again in the station while we enjoyed breakfast, coffee and tea. The weather was better than yesterday.

At 8.20 am we heard the partridge in the distance, then we played the playback. Slow but sure, the sound of the partridge came closer to the station.

Then at 8.40 am we heard the partridge so loud to the left of the station and came closer. Finally, a pair of White-faced Partridge came into the station.

A pair Grey-breasted Partridge foraged in the station

Enjoyed when it was foraging in front of us for about 5 minutes. That was a very proper view of this partridge that was requested by our client.

Satisfied with that, we decided to go outside from the station. The local guide told us that he knows the roosting site of Javan Frogmouth. Just 200 meters away from the station, we saw three Javan Frogmouths perched on the same horizontal branch.

Before midday we tried another station, but until 11.00 am the partridge did not shown. So, we decided to have lunch at a local restaurant and the two birding tours in mount Ijen, Banyuwangi, East Java ended.

Gallery:

4 Days Birding in Bromo Tengger Semeru NP, Probolinggo and Baluran NP

We have a successful four day birding tour in East Java, starting from 10 – 13 August 2019 for Germany clients. Three birding locations were visited, such as Bromo Tengger Semeru NP, around Probolinggo and Baluran NP.

114 bird species managed to collect in the tour list.

On the first day, we met up in Juanda international airport of Surabaya, East Java. The flight was delayed, so around 6.00 pm I started driving to the accommodation near the Bromo Tengger Semeru NP. So, the night just for rest and overnight.

Then, on the second day we started at very early morning, 04.00 am. The client has a special request to see the sunrise with the landscape of Bromo, Batok, Semeru and other mountains.

This is a famous location for a typical visitor in this national park.

Arriving at the sunrise view point at 5.15 am, we still get the first light of the day. Luckily, the weather was so bright and clear.

Spent for half an hour, then we had breakfast and coffee time at a small canteen around the viewpoint.

After that, we drove to the sand sea below the view point. Stop by to explore the birds around.

Our next stop is Ranu Pani village. We have to change the vehicle from a Jeep into an MPV car in that village.

Nothing left in the first vehicle, then we drove down in lower altitude step by step while looking for birds.

Female Banded Kingfisher, Bromo Tengger Semeru NP, East Java

In the afternoon we have to transfer to the next accommodation in Lumajang, East Java.

Check in and dinner at the restaurant of the hotel, finished at 7.30 pm. Then we went to our rooms overnight.

We had a long drive on the third day.

After breakfast, we started driving to the next birding location in Probolinggo.

Arrived at 9.15 am, then we birded in a lowland area where the habitat is mangrove and estuary.

Three of dozens Javan White-eye in Probolinggo, East Java

At 11.15 am continue driving to the last birding location in Baluran NP. Stop by the restaurant for lunch.

We still have a time when we arrive in Baluran, so we enter the forest and birded until dusk.

Same as the second day, dinner provided by the accommodation. Eat dinner, then go to bed.

On the last day, we started at 5.00 am and entered Baluran NP.

First stop was the monsoon forest before Bekol grassland-like-savannah when the birds perched, singing and drying up for the first light.

Male Green Peafowl in Baluran NP, East Java.

While enjoying the birds passing by from where we stopped, coffee and tea were served to our clients and team.

Then at 8.00 am changed the location to Bekol savanna and birding trek in Bama beach.

AT 11.00 am the birds were low activity, so we broke for lunch at the canteen after Bama beach.

Start birded at 1.00 pm in Bekol savanna until 3.30 pm.

The tour ended when we dropped off the clients in their accommodation inside Bali Barat NP, Bali.

During the birding tours, we nailed 114 birds species with the highlight:

1. Blood-breasted Flowerpecker

2. Grey-and-buff Woodpecker

3. Javan White-eye

4. Grey-backed Starling

5. Green Peafowl

6. Green Junglefowl

Gallery:

Other birds included:

7. Chestnut-bellied Partridge

8. Domestic Pigeon

9. Island/Sunda Collared Dove

10. Spotted Dove

11. Barred Cuckoo Dove

12. Zebra Dove

13. Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

14. Asian Emerald Dove

15. Green Imperial Pigeon

16. Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon

17. Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

18. Sunda Cuckoo

19. Plaintive Cuckoo

20. Javan Coucal

21. Grey-rumped Treeswift

22. Linchi Swiftlet

23. Brown-backed Needletail

24. Savanna Nightjar

25. Javan Plover

26. Common Sandpiper

27. Small Buttonquail

28. Barred Buttonquail

29. Great Crested Tern

30. Cattle Egret

31. Intermediate Egret

32. Little Egret

33. Javan Pond Heron

34. Striated Heron

35. Crested Serpent Eagle

36. Spotted Wood Owl

37. Orange-breasted Trogon

38. Oriental Pied Hornbill

39. Black-banded Barbet

40. Flame-fronted Barbet

41. Blue-eared Barbet

42. Javan Flameback

43. Common Flameback

44. Checker-throated Yellownape

45. Wood-bellied Woodpecker

46. Sunda Pygmy-woodpecker

47. Freckle-breasted Woodpecker

48. Javan Kingfisher

49. Collared Kingfisher

50. Rufous-backed Dwarf-kingfisher

51. Cerulean Kingfisher

52. Red-breasted Parakeet

53. Javan Hanging Parrot

54. Banded Broadbill

55. Javan Banded Pitta

56. Black-naped Oriole

57. Tenggara Whistler

58. Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike

59. Common Iora

60. Sunda Cuckooshrike

61. Pied Triller

62. Scarlet Minivet

63. Sunda Minivet

64. Small Minivet

65. White-bellied Fantail

66. Sunda Pied Fantail

67. Black Drongo

68. Ashy Drongo

69. Javan Spangled Drongo

70. Black-naped Monarch

71. Long-tailed Shrike

72. Racket-tailed Treepie

73. Sunda Crow

74. Cinereous Tit

75. Barn Swallow

76. Daurian Swallow

77. Sooty-headed Bulbul

78. Sunda Yellow-vented Bulbul

79. Olive-winged Bulbul

80. Ruby-throated Bulbul

81. Javan Bulbul

82. Chestnut-capped Babbler

83. Javan Tit-babbler

84. Crescent-chested Babbler

85. Horsfield’s Wren Babbler

86. Javan Heleia

87. Moutain Leaf Warbler

88. Sunda Warbler

89. Bamboo Bush Warbler

90. Sunda Bush Warbler

91. Mountain Leaftoiler

92. Pygmy Cupwing

93. Sunda Grasshopper Warbler

94. Common Tailorbird

95. Javan Tailorbird

96. Yellow-bellied Prinia

97. Plain Prinia

98. Zitting Cisticola

99. Blue Nuthatch

100. Short-tailde Starling

101. Black-winged Myna

102. Horsfield’s Thrush

103. Island Thrush

104. Indigo-warbling Flycatcher

105. Lesser Shortwing

106. Little Pied Flycatcher

107. Pied Buschat

108. Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker

109. Ornate Sunbird

110. Scaly-breasted Munia

111. Javan Munia

112. Java Sparrow

113. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

114. Paddyfield Pipit

Other Taxa:

1. Long-tailed Macaque

2. Javan Mongoose

3. Javan Langur / Leaf-monkey

4. Timor Deer

5. Water Buffalo

6. Banteng