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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo euryzona) is one of the endemic kingfishers in Java island. Described by Temminck in 1830 from the island. On IUCN-redlist, this species is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) with the remaining population assumed to be fewer than 250 mature individuals.
There are only a few new records since 1930 of Halimun Salak NP, West Java. Then, in 2018 we heard news from our friend that he found the bird in Pekalongan, Central Java. It became an eastern record for the Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher on the island of Java.
Finally we have a chance to go there, invited by Wawan from SwaraOwa. We were invited to share our knowledge about avitourism to the local communities and villagers around the site.
SwaraOwa has since 2007 conducted research on primates especially Javan Gibbon at this location, as well as mentoring local communities to reduce pressure on forests by providing a sustainable green economy.
So, 5th July 2019 we arrived at the location at night from Jogja. We stayed in one of the villages.
The next day, I went to the river just about 500 meters from the house I stayed with Imam to look for this kingfisher.
Until noon we did not see it, then we went back to the house for a break and then attended a discussion section with locals.
We have full day birding on the rest day spent in the location (07-11 July 2019, off on 09 July 2019).
Adin joined on 07 July 2019, we focused on looking at the Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher. Waiting in the river, hiding with just big rock that is so plenty in there. Finally, at around 11.00 am the male birds flush from upstream then perch on the rock 100 meters away from our hiding. It stayed just about 2 minutes before it flew downstream.
We followed it to the downstream 1 Km away from the first spot. Spent the time until it was almost dark, so we ended the day by going back to the house. At least we have lifers of this species, especially me.
Then on 08th July 2019 we tried birding in another location where highland birds for the target.
The location is part of the stretch of the Dieng mountains. This is the remaining montane forest among vegetable fields.
During morning to noon we encountered many highland endemic and resident birds, one of the highlights is Brown-throated Barbet. Limbo!!!
It was a lucky day, the barbet foraged in fruiting tree that was just about 10 meters above the ground.
At 11.00 pm we walked out of the forest, upon arriving at the boundary of the forest and vegetable fields we heard the sound of Javan Bush-warbler around 4 sources of sound.
We stopped and tried to find the species, from behind the bush we managed to see it.
After lunch, we did not birding because of the rain fall until dark.
Then on 10-11 July I went birding on my own to get a good encounter with the Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher.
I tried several places that are usually used for by this endemic kingfisher.
Until the last day in the afternoon, when I came down almost to the river, I saw a kingfisher who was perched on a rock on the river bank.
I used Binocular to confirm, it turns out that it is true that the one perched on the rock is a Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher.
Immediately I approached to get a clear vision. With a distance of about 50 meters from this bird, it is clear that the bird is a female. Seen from browner upperparts, rufous loral spot and neck patch, rufous belly, orange-red lower mandible.
Finally, I also got a good vision of this bird for about 10 minutes before it flew leaving the area towards the upstream.
This is an amazing experience, encountering one of the kingfishers that is very rarely observed.
So, during 4 days birding in Pekalongan, Central Java here’s a list of birds that I met:
On the first day we met up in the airport hotel in Juanda International Airport, Surabaya, East Java at 07:00 am. Then we drove to a hotel in Malang near the national park. Arrived at around 11:00 am in the hotel, checked in and dropped our luggage and kept our birding stuff.
Then we drove for a half hour to the first location in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.
The weather was so good in the locations where raptors are usually recorded, but that day is Sunday in one of the popular national parks in Indonesia where so many visitors came to holiday.
We tried to walk and avoid the crowd while keeping our eyes on the sky, searching for any raptors which may fly.
Until afternoon we just managed to see one species of raptor, Changable Hawk-eagle.
Then we went back to the hotel overnight.
On the second day, after we packed our breakfast we started to move to a second location in the same national park.
It takes 3 hours to drive to reach it.
The altitude of the second locations is lower than before, it’s about 100-200 asl surrounded by lowland forest and plantation.
We spent the time here until afternoon and the result was much better.
Oriental Honey-buzzard, Black-thighed Falconet, and the endemic Javan Hawk-eagle recorded so well.
Before dark we went back to the same hotel to stay.
On the third day, after breakfast and check out from the hotel, we tried again in the same location as the first day.
We’re back in around 1400 above sea level at the ridge surrounded by the vast rainforest of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. We spent from 07:00 – 11:30 am, the weather was bright and good for raptor.
After waiting for about 2,5 hours, a raptor was soaring on top of the hill quite far from us. An adult Javan Hawk-eagle encountered again.
Not long after, a Black Eagle floated just above us with a distance of about 10 meters.
After saw the Black Eage then we changed birding location to Raden Suryo Greater Park Forestry, Batu, East Java.
Arrived at 02:30 pm then hung out around twin bridges, a good place to spot Raptor from any direction surrounded by good rain forest.
This location is on the west slope of Mt. Welirang at around 1.200 asl.
Until almost dark we’re just managed to see Changable Hawk-eagle in this last location.
Then we drove to a hotel around Batu city, East Java.
On the last day we changed the plan to not birding or looking like raptor but just drop off the clients to the airport in Surabaya.
So, during 29 June – 02 July 2019 raptor that we managed to see are:
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 byAgung 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 tocontact 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 byOrangutan 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:
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.
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.
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 amessage 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.
