Author: Allahummasugih

Some authors have split one of the sub-species of Buff-rumped Woodpecker that lives on Java into full species. It is White-rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tristis).

Basically, at a glance, the two species are relatively the same in size, body shape, call, habits, habitat etc.

Based on HBW.com the morphological difference in which White-rumped Woodpecker has dominantly black abdominal feathers, stony-white barring and spotting on all areas of plumage, white rump, dense black-and-white barring continuing around eyes and male have a slightly brighter red moustachial stripe than Buff-rumped Woodpecker males.

According to HBW and birdlife, this bird’s threat status is endangered. It is estimated that there are only around 1000 – 2499 individuals present and living in certain areas on the island of Java.

Besides that the habitat has been converted and fragmented, on this basis its status is endangered.

A recent survey conducted in several fragmented forests of West Java, found no existence of this bird. In fact, in October 2014 and October 2015 White-rumped Woodpecker was found in one of the national parks in East Java by Agung Sih Kurniawan, et al.

It is interesting to see the distribution map of this ‘black’ woodpecker in some field guides that look like those found only in West Java and a small part of Central Java.

In 2018, we tried to search in Meru Betiri NP, East Java where Agung met with this species.

Me and Heru Fitriadi tried to search for this endemic for 3 days.

We visited many locations such as grass land, the edge of forest, coconut, rubber; and teak plantations.

On the first two days, we failed to find it. Only managed to see Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker which is very abundant in Meru Betiri NP, especially in coconut plantations. Finally, we looked for rangers and local residents to ask for whereabouts and locations to see this.

Most of them thought what we were looking for was Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, but there was one local resident who was observant after we showed the difference between White-rumped Woodpecker and the other. He guided us to the last time he met.

On the last afternoon, with him looking for grass for his livestock, we waited in a shelter in the middle of the chinese albizia plantation on the edge of the river.

Every bird that alighted like a woodpecker we scoped straight for almost 1.5 hours.

Until 3:00 p.m. I turned on playback with a feeling of almost despair. Slowly from the back of the shelter there is a voice that is similar to the playback that I play. Initially I thought only the response sound was in the playback, suddenly two woodpeckers flew from behind the shelter to the front.

Suddenly my binoculars aimed at the target, quickly my binoculars lowered and changed to the camera while calling Heru Fitriadi who was looking at the riverbank. I pressed the camera shutter nonstop. This is the bird we were looking for for 3 days at Meru Bert NP, White-rumped Woodpecker.

Complete, male and female seen together. Both of them respond to my playback sound. His voice is almost no different.

The striking black color on the chest and abdomen makes this bird very frightening.For 2 hours this bird circled around the shelter, until satisfied with observing and taking photos, then at 5.00 pm we decided to go home leaving Meru Betiri NP. So that is the best location in East Java, Indonesia to look at it. If you also want to see them, feel free to contact us.

Kalimantan or Borneo is the third largest island in the world.

On this island there are various kinds of diverse habitats, such as lowland rain forests and the famous peat swamp forest.

Here is located the longest river in Indonesia, the Kapuas river, which reaches 1,143 Km.

For biodiversity, Kalimantan is important for the life of one of the great apes in the world, the Bornean Orangutan, which is increasingly threatened by survival because one of them is the destruction of its natural habitat.

As long as I live, only once have I set foot on the island. Precisely in 2010 with friends from university visiting the province of South Kalimantan in the Karst Meratus area.

The main purpose at that time was not for bird watching, but for research on the diversity of bats that live around the Meratus karst.

Indeed, on the sidelines of the research schedule, I took the time to observe birds. But not so many species of birds that I managed to see.

In late March and early April, I had the opportunity to visit the island of the native Dayak tribe, precisely in the province of Central Kalimantan in the area of Sampit and Tanjung Puting National Park.

The main objective this time was for training bird monitoring in Sampit and then followed by a boat trip in Tanjung Puting National Park for birding and primate tours.

In Sampit, the event is held for 3 days, the location is around the High Conservation Value (HCV) area of one of the oil palm plantation companies.

I share with plantation employees about the techniques of identifying, surveying and monitoring birds, so that they are aware of the diversity and importance of bird species in the wild.

Besides birds, there was also training on monitoring primate and herpetofauna by two other presenters. Before leaving Sampit, we were given the opportunity to share with one of the junior high schools near the HCV area. This is a good activity to introduce awareness to the preservation of birds in the wild to young people.

Students were very enthusiastic to hear stories about bird diversity, primate and herpetofauna in Indonesia, especially on their island of Borneo. After that, I continued my journey to the very popular National Park to see Orangutans along the Sekonyer Kanan river using the “Kelotok” boat.

This trip is managed by Orangutan Applause, a very experienced tour operator taking care of boat trips in the national park. For 3 days and 2 nights guided by Arif who is very professional and knowledgeable about the ins and outs and biodiversity of Tanjung Puting National Park.

Arif had worked for a long time as a research assistant-staff at the research station in the park. Previously, on campus he joined a bird watching club and was involved in water bird surveys for avian influenza.

Armed with this experience, he and his wife opened the Orangutan Applause. For two years 2017-2018 the company received a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor. And of course I saw his skills and professionalism in the field.

Although the main menu is primate, his sharp eyes in finding and identifying birds are still extraordinary. We visited 3 Orangutan feeding places including: Tanjung Harapan Camp, Camp Leakey, and Pondok Ambung. During the trip in the river and trekking it was my chance and Arif searched for birds.

Then on the last night there was an opportunity for a short two-hour night trekking in Pondok Ambung to look for night animals. The next day, after breakfast we visited the last location in the Pesalat area for tree planting. During the journey to Pesalat, there is one species of bird that flies following our kelotok.

This bird is one of the targets that I want to see and clearly as a highlight. A total of 7 Storm Stork flew slowly and occasionally soaring like eagles, then overtook the kelotok and entered the forest. What a great prize for my trip to Tanjung Puting.

For 3 days 2 nights, the following is a list of birds that I noted:

• Storm Stork
• Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot
• Stork-billed Kingfisher
• Green Broadbill
• Black-and-red Broadbill
• Striated Heron
• Rhinoceros Hornbill
• Black-winged Kite
• Wallace’s Hawk-eagle
• Brahminy Kite
• Long-tailed Parakeet
• Glossy Swiftlet
• Blue-eared Kingfisher
• Buff-necked Woodpecker
• Sooty-headed Bulbul
• Short-tailed Babler
• Malaysian Pied Fantail
• Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
• Crimson Sunbird
• Common Hill Myna
• Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
• Black-and-yellow Broadbill
• Yellow-vented Flowerpecker
• Pacific Swallow
• Spotted Dove
• Green Imperial Pigeon
• Greater Coucal
• Sunda Scops Owl
• White-throated Kingfisher
• Blue-eared Kingfisher
• Blue-thoated Kingfisher
• Malaysian Honeyguide
• Banded Woodpecker
• Green Iora
• Yellow-vented Bulbul
• Fluffy-backed Tit-babbler
• Rufous-tailed Tailorbird
• Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
• Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Olive-backed Sunbird
• Javan Myna
• Blue-eared Barbet.

Other Taxa:

Mamalia:

• Proboscis Monkey
• Bornean Orangutan
• Long-tailed Macaque
• Bornean White-bearded Gibbon
• Silvered Langur

Reptil:

• False gharial

Gallery:

In August 2018 HBW.com updated their content, one of them is the Black-winged Myna (Acridotheres melanopterus).

Splitted into three species such as the earlier nominate race, Grey-backed Myna (A. tricolor), and Grey-rumped Myna (A. tertius).

Three of them placed as Critically Endangered by IUCN-redlist, the most problems of declining population is massive hunting and poaching in their wild habitat.

Read: One-day Birding Trips in Baluran National Park

We have good news of Grey-backed Myna this month by encountering their successful breeding in one of the remaining safe areas.

For two days at the end of the rainy season, we get good and clear weather.

This endemic to the eastern part of Java island is known to be nested in February and June in east Java island and there is no more information about the breeding period (hbw.com).

The birds that we encountered used a hole in a dead palm tree, around Baluran NP, East Java on March 15-16, 2019. Height of the nest is about 10 meters away from ground level.

The nest hole is not circular, instead it tends to be rectangular with dimensions of around 8 x 17 cm. Inside the nest hole we saw 2 young birds, those who are ready to fledgling can be seen from their complete feathers.

We observed quite far from the nest.

Adults are always close to the nest and look for meals for their chicks no more than a 500-meter radius from the nest.

We saw one of the adults pick small insects like a cricket on the ground around the palm trees.

On the last day, the chicks actively looking out around the nest. Respond to the call of their parents.

Read: Easy encounter of Grey-breasted Partridge (Arborophila orientalis) in this site!

According to our predictions, the chicks will leave the nest for the next 3-4 days.

Hopefully, there will be no disruption until they learn to fly and then live independently and the population in nature will continue to increase.

Almost all endemic birds in Java island can be found in western part of this island. Birders will stay longer to swipe up on them in Gede Pangrango NP, Halimun Salak NP, around Carita and north-coast of Jakarta-West Java.

Even so, still left 2 species to catch up in eastern Java to complete all endemics. There are Grey-backed Myna Acridotheres tricolor and Grey-breasted Partridge Arborophila orientalis.

The myna is relatively easy to find. You can put effort in Baluran or Alas Purwo NP to find it.

The partridge is another exception.

You can hear it sounds loudly, but it is very difficult to see. So damn elusive species.

This species lives from Yang to Ijen mountains. Most birders came to Ijen, which is close to other main birding areas, so much data of this species is even heard-only or sight.

Yesterday (March 13, 2019) I visited Mt. Ijen took some pictures of the partridge.

Local guides at their successful made feeding site for this species that is also known as White-faced / Grey-breasted Hill / Horsfield’s Hill-partridge.

As his information, the birds show up about 3 times such as at around 06.00-07.00, 13.00-14.00, and 15.00-16.00.

Heavy rainfall in the morning until 11.30 then becomes shower rain.

We entered the site at 12.00.

While waiting for the rain to stop, we enjoyed our coffee.

At 13.30 the rain stopped for a while, so we tried to play the sound records.

15 minutes later, a medium sized-bulky bird (about 28 cm) climbed up to a big fallen tree in front of us.

Then followed by 5 other birds, it was a very clear view and just about 8 meters away from us was blocked by a camouflage tent.

A group of Grey-breasted Partridge foraging the meals which we have put before.

We’re just silent while clicking the shutter of the camera.

They spent 10 minutes foraged then disturbed by other birds, such as Javan Whistling-thrush, Horsfied’s Thrush, and Snowy-browed Flycatcher.

The final encounter that day was a single female almost eaten by Javan Mongoose at 16.30. It’s run away then we also pack our stuff, out from the hide and head back to home.

Now this elusive partridge is stable and easy to see, drop us a message if you want to encounter this mega target of East Java endemic.

This was a one-day birding trip that planned suddenly when we were still on a trip to Probolinggo. Our British clients asked to do so in Baluran NP on January 24, 2019.

The trip started at 06.00 am by meeting up at their accommodation next to the national park. We drove into the national park and stop-by for look at the birds. In the morning the weather was bright even though it’s in the rainy season. Baluran is famous for its dryness with yellowish vegetation but on this trip, it all looks green and dense.

As planned we stopped in the middle of the journey to Bekol, where there was a bird perched on a tree. Rushed out of the vehicle then saw binoculars to identify it. The bird is an Orange-breasted Fruit-dove. Then from behind us, there were 3 birds that were the same as the ones we saw at the beginning. Slowly the sounds of the birds around us were heard and one by one began to appear.

Sooty-headed Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Island Collared Dove, Long-tailed Shrike, Cave Swiftlet, Common Tailorbird, Black Drongo and Racket-tailed Treepie nailed to identify.

Before the birds get low, we continue to drive in. Not long after, a Green Junglefowl crossed the road in front. We really got a clear view from this striking male. The Green Junglefowl is plenty and easy to find in Baluran, while the Red Junglefowl is less frequent, but we managed to see a male who was scavenging the ground in a roadside bush.

At 08.30 am we arrived in Bekol savanna or at this moment better to mention the Bekol grassland. Not too many visitors around, also birds begin to quiet as the intense sun. We only saw Spotted Dove flying and noisy Common Iora. Slowly head towards Bama beach.

In the middle of the Bekol-Bama road, we stopped to look around. On the north side, there is a dead Gebang tree and there are several holes in the top. Suddenly there was a medium-sized black-and-white bird coming out of the hole. Moments later the object landed on the tree for a long time, we managed to recognize the bird was Grey-backed Myna.

Our clients were very happy to meet this critically endangered species after encountering the Junglefowl earlier. Satisfied with the Myna, the journey continues until Bama beach.

Before entering the Bama coastal forest, stop in the small canteen for coffee and tea. At 9:30 a.m., I began to walk into the Bama beach forest bird watching trail. Slowly one by one we saw the Oriental-pied Hornbill. Its size is quite large, noisy, in groups making it easy to see at the dense canopy of the Bama beach forest.

Suddenly the dominant red-sized small object flew around us and then landed 300 meters in the bush right after us. When it’s perched, it’s clearly visible through binoculars and scope, birds with long; straight and dagger-like bill; short legs. An Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, another delightful sighting that day.

Other birds we saw here were Grey-cheeked Tit-Babbler, Green Imperial Pigeon, Cerulean Kingfisher, and Olive-backed Tailorbird.

The sky began to turn into black clouds at 1:00 p.m. With 23 bird species on record we decided to end this trip and rush out of the national park to our clients’ lodging with satisfaction.

We had clients on the Holland America Noordam cruise ship which arrived in Probolinggo on January 22, 2019 and Surabaya on the next day. They want to take birding trips programmed during the docked ship in those cities.

First location on day one is around the north-west area of Mt. Argopuro. The habitat is agro-forest and stream. We got a problem with the tender that delivered our clients to the lands, and finally started driving very late at 10.00 am. Arrived at 12.00 am then began to look at the birds.

Spent 2 hours here then drove back before 04.00 pm that the ship will leave Probolinggo headed to Surabaya. At least we managed to see the highlight: a pair of Javan Sunbirds foraged in a coffee plantation.

On the next day, we met at the Port of Tanjung Perak in the north of Surabaya at 08.00 am. Then we drove for one hour to get to the Wonorejo mangrove and fishpond area. Due to the rainy season, the track was muddy. We got much time here for 4 hours birding but must walk slowly around the fishpond and mangrove until 01.30 pm. Highlight in here is: plenty of Javan Plover foraged at mudflat next to small canteen.

At 01.30 pm we started to drive back to Surabaya North Quay where the Maasdam ship docked and the two days birding trips in Probolinggo and Surabaya, East Java ended.

Other Included: Cave Swiftlet, Javan Pond Heron, Striated Heron, Little Black Cormorant, Purple Heron, Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret, Common Moorhen, Red-necked Stint, Long-toed Stint, Spotted Dove, Collared Kingfisher, Pasific Swallow, Malaysian Pied Fantail, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Scaly-breasted Munia.

Get good weather at the beginning of December 2018 which is already in the middle of the rainy season, located in Yogyakarta or simply Jogja for a 2 days birding trip. The location is in the Banaran village, Galur sub-district, Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta close to Trisik beach and the Progo River estuary.

I visited paddy-fields that are very large which are dominated by rice plants with a planting age of around 10-50 days on December 1st 2018. There is one bird species I look for, indeed endemic to Java and Bali islands.

It’s small sized passerines (11–12 cm ) with short bill, short rounded wings. Forehead to the nape and face are whitish. Upperparts chestnut, edges of uppertail-coverts and central rectrices reddish to reddish-yellow. Iris dark brown, eyering dark grey; bill light grey; legs grey.

Glimpses like White-headed Munia with the most distinguishing are chin to breast black, flanks broadly rufous extending across lower breast to form rufous band, belly to undertail-coverts black; more rarely, entire underside from chin to vent (including flanks) black.

This species is White-capped Munia (Lonchura ferruginosa), that can only be found in grasslands, wetlands with grasses, reeds and sedges (Cyperaceae), rice fields of Java and Bali islands.

I had a chance to chat with the local farmers, evidently they could distinguish the kind sof Munias around the rice fields of Banaran village. In this area, the birds are easier to see in the rice planted season. It will be more often after rice grains first appeared, about 25 days of planting.

“The birds like starch in young rice grains and grass seeds around the paddy-field. After the harvest season, this bird will disappear and return during the next rice planting season” Said local farmers.

On the second day I was still watching this bird, lucky to find that one was carrying a stem of grass that seemed to be used to make a nest. Follow the bird until it disappears in the dense vegetation next to the paddy-field area.

The rice fields in Banaran provide foraging and nesting locations for this species, hopefully it will be sustainable so that many generations can see this endemic.

To see birding in detail around Jogja, please follow this link below or click on the related post on the side bar.

First birding trip in Sumba island for clients from Lombok has gone smoothly. During October 7-9, 2018 we birded in two locations Billa and Lewa (part of Manupeu-Tanadaru-Laiwangi-Wanggameti or simply Matalawa NP).

Birding in the peak of the dried season is another challenge. After landing in Umbu Mehang Kunda airport then transferred to Billa for 5 drive hours. Stop by 2 hours before arriving for a short afternoon birding along the roadside of Lailara. There were 10 fruiting calabur trees Muntingia calabura that were often visited by Sumba Flowerpecker.

The remaining 2 hours before arriving in Billa was a bumpy road, wisely we used four-wheel-drive. It was also useful for exploring the birds inside the park.

Quickly when arrived, then birded at night looking for the owl. Until 9 pm we just hear the songs of Little Sumba Hawk-owl and Greater Sumba Boobook. Decided to take a rest in the ranger office. In Billa there are only 2 options for staying, camping inside the park and living with the rangers in the huge office building.

After breakfast we entered the clearing area in Billa. It was good when the birds started actively singing while sun-bathing. Then quickly follow the dried river. At midday we went back to the office for lunch, before entering the park once again we saw Short-toed Serpent-eagle perched at top of Kapok tree’s next to the office.

From afternoon until 9 pm continue birding in Billa to get another chance that we missed before. We birded along a dried river with small pools, and at night finally encountered Little Sumba Hawk-owl and a short view of Greater Sumba Boobook.

We have half a day to birding in Billa on 9 October before we move to Lewa. In the morning the weather was good as the day before. Starting at the entrance gate, we found a fruit tree which 10 bird species foraged. Some species that we missed yesterday nailed at that spot.

The last half day was spent in Lewa for owling. We just visited two locations here, Langgaliru forest and road-side-forest near the ranger office. Starting before dark until 9 pm, we nailed to see two endemic Booboks.

Then, here our highlights of the trip:

• Little Sumba Hawk-owl (Ninox sumbaensis) – A single close view in Billa and a pair perched on a canopy at Lewa.
• Sumba Hornbill (Rhyticeros everetti) – A male perched on a tree near its nest hole.
• Sumba Flowerpecker (Dicaeum wilhelminae) – Two pairs foraging on roadside 2 hours before Billa.
• Citron-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata) – In the afternoon we saw 2 perched and singing loudly in Billa.
• Sumba Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa segregata) – Single birds perched on top canopy in Billa.
• Greater Sumba Boobook (Ninox rudolfi) – Three individuals calling each other on the road-side of Lewa.
• Red-naped Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus dohertyi) – Single bird posed nicely in Billa.
• Sumba Jungle-flycatcher (Cyornis stresemanni) – 1-2 birds at entrance gate Billa.
• Apricot-breasted Sunbird (Cinnyris buettikoferi) – Male and female foraged near entrance gate Billa.
• Sumba Green Pigeon (Treron teysmannii) – Pair flight above clearing area in Billa and 1 perched on top tree at Lailara.
• Sumba Flycatcher (Ficedula harterti) – Single bird jump into the bushes at dried river, Billa

Other included: Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Pale-shouldered Cicadabird, Tenggara Swiftlet, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Marigold Lorikeet, Red-cheeked Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, Spotted Kestrel, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Common Emerald Dove, Black-naped Fruitdove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Eclectus Parrot, Mee’s Nightjar, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Spectacled Monarch, Arafura Fantail, Yellow-ringed White-eye, Ashy-bellied White-eye, Indonesian Honeyeater, Helmeted Friarbird, Five-colored Munia, Short-tailed Starling, Wallacean Drongo, Slender-billed Crow, Rusty-breasted Whistler, Broad-billed Flycatcher, Green Junglefowl.

Gallery:

Finished accompanied by a friend from Hong Kong to photograph Kingfisher around Malang, East Java. During April 26 – 29th 2018 we visited four birding locations.

The main target of this trip is the Indonesian endemic, Cerulean Kingfisher Alcedo coerulescens which can be found in Streams, canals, ponds, swamps, tidal estuaries, mudflats, mangroves, fish ponds, flooded paddyfields; from coast up to 800 m along South Sumatra through Java, Kangean Is and Bali to Lombok and Sumbawa; recorded also on Flores.

On the first day, Kevin and I met at Javan Banded Pitta’s site in Tretes, East Java that was managed by Heru Cahyono (Malang Birding Tours) in the afternoon. Before dark we move to a hotel in Batu city, dinner on the way.

Starting early in the morning we visited Batu Apple Farm to take pictures of Javan Kingfisher until 8.00 am. We have to hurry to reach the main target location on the south coast of Malang.

After lunch we arrived, then put up camouflage-tent around the fish-pond which is our favorite perch for.

About 30 minutes later, Cerulean Kingfsiher perch in 8 meter ahead. Along the afternoon the shutter was not stop clicking.

On the last day, we only have time until lunch time for the last target in the estuary area of south Malang. Ruddy Kingfisher.

Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda has widespread distribution, from NE China through Sulawesi island.

In Java (H.c. minor) this species has a few records, seems rare to find. In Kondang Merak, south Malang has many records compared to other locations in Java island but still challenging. The race minor is very small than the other, much darker, washed with violet, large silvery rump patch.

Quickly we waited in the location which usually this bird encountered. We were disturbed by the passing of other visitors, several of them curious with us. Until really quiet at around 10.30 am the Ruddy Kingfisher appeared.

Kevin took many shots, he even had time to change lenses because the birds perch to close about 3 meters away.

2 hours stayed in front of the tent, until Kevin was satisfied, then we had a long drive to his hotel in Surabaya before he took off back to Hong Kong the next day.

In the book of “Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago – Greater Sundas and Wallacea” written by Eaton J., et al which was published in 2017, stated that there are 18 species of birds that have not been scientifically described. Of these 16 are split species and the two remaining are newly discovered.

One of them is “Mutis/Timor Parrotfinch” Erythrura sp. nov, which was first discovered and documented by James Eaton in the Euclyptus forest around Mount Mutis, West Timor in 2012. After the first encounter, other birders also tried to find this parrotfinch without a legal Indonesian name in the same location, even some researchers who try to get holotype to be officially described.

On August 12, 2018, the birdpacker team (Swiss Winasis, Waskito Kukuh and Nurdin Setio) visited Fatumnasi village which is located at the foot of Mount Mutis. Guided by Sam, son-in-law of local village chief Mateos Anin, we tried to explore the birds there with the main target “Mutis Parrotfinch”.

Sam often guides overseas bird watchers, showing that some of the main locations that are commonly visited to see the parrotfinch which perhaps most closely resemble Red-eared Parrotfinch E. coloria that are currently only known from Mindanao in the Philippines, 2,000 km away.

The book states that this parrotfinch is usually observed alone or in pairs and rarely mixes with Tricoloured Parrotfinch E. tricolor which is quite common in West Timor. The place for food its foraging almost the same, from the bottom of the forest, shrubs to Eucalyptus top canopy. So far, this bird is found at an altitude of 1400-1850 asl.

It is quite difficult to find this bird, its small size; green dominant body; and the sound is very similar to its brother. Starting from morning to noon we visited 3 spots that usually have some records. Until we decide on the 4th spot to wait longer until late afternoon.

While making coffee and instant noodles on the spot while sharpening your ears and eyes, prepare for the sound or appearance of the main target. Until the supplies we make are finished and packed, we have not seen it coming. Then we decided to go back and repeat the luck tomorrow.

However, just shifted about 50 meters suddenly Sam and Swiss, who happened to walk more in front stopped and then lifted the camera. The shutter starts to sound without a word mentioning the name of the bird.

Waskito and Nurdin just kept quiet and did not make disturbing movements. After a while there was a small green object from the bush flying up to the middle canopy then perched on one of its branches. Simultaneously the two people behind lifted the binoculars and cameras slowly. Together the shutter flare alternately sounds for almost 2 minutes. After that, the object flew leaving the four of us, spontaneously we immediately shouted relieved that the object was a adult male Mutis Parrotfinch who we were looking for all day. “Yeeaaaahhhh … !!!”

On the second day, we tried again to repeat the same place earlier and pass by shortcut to arrive quickly. About 100 meters before the destination, we met female birds completing our search for a mysterious parrotfinch from the mountain forest of Mutis.

The difficulty of finding this bird is, like the literature, it moves solitaire; small size with ripe green; and a sound that is almost similar to the Tricoloured Parrotfinch “psssttt … psssttt” in flight. But it can be guarantee, this bird really exists!