Category: Trip Report

Anda mungkin familiar dengan burung kutilang, perkutut atau murai, tapi pernahkan anda mendengar burung tepus gelagah (Timalia pileata) Seperti namanya burung ini sering dijumpai pada rerumputan tinggi. Tentu akan sulit menemukannya di pekarangan rumah anda, kecuali rumah anda berada di tengah sawah. Dewasa ini tepus gelagah cukup sukar ditemui, berdasarkan laporan perjumpaan di Burungnesia, hanya ada sekitar 31 cheklist, miris! Anda mungkin sudah menduga alasannya. Burung ini akan lebih mudah dijumpai di pasar burung, ketimbang di pekarangan anda (kalau betul rumah anda di tengah sawah), kita patut mencurigai lengketnya pulut dan jaring para tukang pikat, karena dari sanalah kisah kepunahan lokal banyak burung dimulai. Atau jangan-jangan anda salah satu dari mereka. Jika iya saya tak yakin anda akan membaca kelanjutan tulisan ini.

Sekitar sepekan lalu, tim Birdpacker mendapatkan informasi keberadaan tepus gelagah dari seorang fotografer Wildlife, yang akrab disapa dengan Djihadi Nopoto. “Lokasinya tak jauh dari rumah, saya biasa ke sana jalan kaki, Pak Nasis” begitu tutur beliau kepada Pak Bos, sekaligus sambutan setibanya kami di rumah beliau. Tempat tersebut memakan waktu sekitar satu setengah jam perjalanan darat dari markas Birdpacker.

Bersama Abah Djihadi, kami tancap gas menuju persembunyian si tepus, kami tak ingin narasi ini panjang-panjang, jadi sebut saja kebun tebu, untuk mewakili hunian burung itu. Feeling kami cukup bagus kala itu, cuaca mendukung dan kicauan merdu burung-burung mengiringi langkah kami. Berselang setengah jam, belum ada tanda-tanda kehadiran burung yang jadi target. Untungnya komandan Swiss melakukan ritual pemanggilan andalannya, serangkaian mantra yang digelontorkan ternyata membuahkan hasil !.

“Cukrik… krikk, tulikuk… tulikluk” seolah tanpa aba-aba, pandangan kami tertuju ke sumber suara. “Nah disana Pak” salah seorang dari kami menyahut. Kami sepakat untuk mengendap-endap dan menggerebek si target. Pucuk dicinta tepus pun tiba, kabar baiknya sepasang burung tepus tengah berseliweran di antara kami. Rentetan jepretan shutter yang tanpa ampun dari abah, seolah menggambarkan kebahagiaan kami yang tak terbendung.  Tepus gelagah bukan burung murahan alias jaim, sehingga barang tentu bukan foto burung yang kami dapat melainkan tunggak kayu bekas pijakan kakinya. Sungguh burung yang lincah!

Waktu menunjukkan pukul 12.20 WIB. Setelah jepretan foto dirasa cukup, Revan content creator kami, memberi kode dengan perutnya yang nyaring, “lapar, Pak?” tanya si bos. Wajar saja, mungkin itu imbas karena perut belum terisi suatu apapun hingga lewat jam makan siang, karena kami harus berangkat pagi-pagi buta. Abah seolah tau dengan gelagat kami yang lapar, “ada warung pecel wenak tepi jalan, hayuk kesana, mas!” usul beliau. kami mengiyakan usul abah tanpa banyak tanya. Warung pecel kami datang!

Jika kalian mengira perjalanan kami berakhir di warung pecel, anda keliru. Bapak-bapak (eh bukan, om-om deh), dengan dua motor gedenya menemui kami di warung sebelah jalan raya itu, sesaat sebelum nasi di piring kami habis. Om Ryan mengundang kami untuk pengamatan ke lereng Gunung Semeru. Om Ryan dan rekannya, om Dedi baru saja dipindah tugaskan di Taman Nasional Bromo Tengger Semeru,  Sehingga sudah semestinya melakukan eksplorasi daerah tersebut untuk mengetahui batas-batas wilayah kerjanya. kisah pun berlanjut…

Dari Turen Kami menempuh setidaknya dua setengah jam untuk sampai lokasi, berbeda dari statement Google map yang bilang kalau cuma 1,2 jam. Durasi itu mungkin tak memperhitungkan curamnya jalan yang kami lewati, belum lagi jalan makadam, hingga ungkapan ‘jalan’ kurang sesuai untuk menggambarkan kondisinya. Apalagi untuk mobil pribadi milik abah, kebetulan beliau berbaik hati dan mempersilahkan kami untuk nebeng di mobilnya.  Kami bercerita banyak selama di Mobil, Abah yang mendominasi obrolan dengan melempar belasan, atau mungkin puluhan pertanyaan pada kami terkait dunia  perkunaman (istilah perburungan di Malang). Oki, verifikator Burungnesia yang baru, tertidur dengan pulasnya selama perjalanan, seakan tak menggubris goncangan demi gonjangan akibat jalur yang rusak. “Remek, emang nih anak!” umpat si bos geram.

Setibanya di lokasi pukul 14.21 WIB, kami disambut dengan kabut tebal nan dingin menambah kesan tingginya tempat kami berdiri. Tak berselang lama, hujan pun tiba. Kami berteduh di sebuah kantin, anda mungkin heran kenapa ada kantin di lereng Semeru di ketinggian 1.400 mdpl? Mepet hutan lagi? Candi Jawar adalah nama lokasi tersebut. Bangunan peribadatan dari beberapa agama ada disana. Gazebo, kabin dan kantin dimana kami ngopi untuk menunggu hujan reda. Dua atau tiga seruputan kopi berlalu, tak terasa setiap gelas dari kami sudah mendekati habis, hujan memberi kami kesempatan untuk birding. Burung berkicau dari balik pepohonan, seolah mengiringi hujan yang mereda. Beberapa jenis burung teramati dari balik binokuler, sikatan ninon, opior jawa, hingga sikep madu asia, berhasil kami tambahkan dalam catatan. Setelah mondar-mandir mengitari area candi. Suasana mulai sepi, malam pun datang. pengamatan hari itu diakhiri dengan beristirahat di kabin yang disediakan oleh pengelola. Sungguh beruntung, apalagi jika kalian kurang persiapan.

Pagi sekali pengamatan pun dimulai, pengamatan berlangsung khidmat, apalagi sokongan makanan dari kantin yang menambah semangat. Burung yang berhasil kita amati cukup banyak. Hutan yang masih asri, meskipun sebagian lokasinya sudah menjadi ladang garapan adalah habitat yang ideal untuk semua kalangan burung (kecuali burung pantai, tentu saja). Kelimpahan burung disini terbukti dari deretan foto dan catatan yang dihasilkan. Beberapa burung yang tercatat diantaranya adalah :

• Bentet kelabu
• Bondol Jawa
• Brinji gunung
• Bubut besar
• Burung madu gunung
• Burung madu ornate
• Cabai gunung
• Cabai jawa
• Caladi ulam
• Cekakak jawa
• Cekakak sungai
• Ceret jawa
• Cici padi
• Cinenen jawa
• Cinenen pisang
• Cingcoang coklat
• Cipoh kacat
• Ciung batu siul
• Elang hitam
• Kepudang sungu gunung
• Kutilang
• Madu kelapa
• Opior jawa
• Pentis pelangi
• Perenjak padi,
• Perenjak rawa
• Perkutut
• Sepah kecil
• Sikatan ninon
• Sikep madu asia
• Takur tohtor
• Tekukur biasa
• Uncal buau
• Walet linchi
• Wiwik sp.

Tak terasa sudah setengah hari berlalu, Pak Hermawan, sopir pribadi abah mengusulkan untuk turun, sebelum hujan mendahului. Kami tak bisa membayangkan jalan yang sulit tadi, ditempuh dalam kondisi hujan. kami sepakat untuk mengakhiri sesi pengamatan dengan totalan pada si empunya kantin Candi Jawar. Sekaligus berterima kasih atas fasilitas yang disuguhkan. Lokasinya sangat recommended, apalagi untuk pengamatan bareng keluarga, juga tetap ingat sang maha kuasa. Kami cukupkan kisah kali ini, jangan lupa nantikan edisi harian Birdpacker selanjutnya,

Adios Amigos !

_{scribe by : Oki Rahmatirta and Swiss Winasis | @Birdpacker}

_{photo by : Swiss Winasis | @Birdpacker}

During 24, 30, 31 December 2022 and 01 January 2023 we have clients from Vietnam who want to birding in Jogja and Banyuwangi.

Yogyakarta or Jogja

Our first birding tour was in Yogyakarta or simply called Jogja.

We went to Gunung Merapi National Park to kick off the tour. Due to the activity of Merapi volcano we visited

Turgo hills, one of the prime birding locations around the national park that is still in the safe zone.

Start at around 6.00 AM in the parking area. The weather was shower rain and cloudy but we encountered some brilliant birds such as: Blood-breasted Flowerpecker, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, Olive-backed Tailorbird, Scarlet Minivet, Yellow-breasted Hanging Parrot fly over us, including two rare birds are Sangkar White-eye and Javan Leafbird.

Then we moved to the lower section of the hills, where we could see lava lane and Merapi volcano. Even though the weather is cloudy, the views of the volcano are so clear. Our clients enjoyed it!

Here we found Sooty-headed Bulbul, Crested Serpent-eagle, Ashy Drongo, Orange-spotted Bulbul and spectacular views of an endemic Black-banded Barbet.

Our plan was just birding around the lower section. We attempted to hike some but the birding was slow and quiet. After discussion we decided to move to the next location.

We arrived in Jatimulyo village at around 11.00 AM, and soon we transferred to the hide/blind of Oriental-dwarf Kingfisher. The kingfisher came in just a few minutes and in very close distance. After enjoying the kingfisher we had our lunch in Kopi Sulingan.

Our lunch is Javanese traditional food called “Nasi Tumpeng”, the clients are so happy with that. Following the lunch we serve local bird-friendly coffee from the village. Enjoyed our coffee while Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Little Spiderhunter, Olive-backed/Ornate Sunbird, and the brilliant endemic Javan Sunbird came to the garden.

After that we continued afternoon birding around the village. We went to another bird-hide. Same as the previous hide, we did not wait longer to see Horsfield’s Babbler, Rufous-browed Babbler and the critically endangered endemic Javan Blue-flycatcher.

We were lucky with the afternoon weather, continued our walk around the village and packed several birds into our list including: Oriental Honey-buzzard, Black-naped Monarch, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Bulbul.

Banyuwangi

We had 3 days in Banyuwangi, East Java on 30, 31 December 2022 and 01 January 2023.

On the first day our client planned to hike Ijen crater to see Blue Fire and the views up the volcano. We started in the morning at 01.40 AM and shortly we arrived at the blue fire spot at 04.50 AM.

Enjoy the views then we start climbing down the volcano while birding. We packed several special birds such as Sunda Grasshopper Warbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Orange-spotted Bulbul, Javan Grey-throated White-eye, Mountain White-eye, Olive-backed Tailorbird, Mugimaki Flycatcher, and Crescent-chested Babbler.

We moved to a grassland area and added Striated Grassbird into our list. At lunch time we got an open view of Javan Kingfisher.

After lunch, we transferred our clients to the hotel for rest.

On the second day, we visited Alas Purwo National Park at the southern-east of the island. Start birding at 06.00 AM while enjoying morning coffee. We just saw a Yellow-throated Hanging-parrot fly over us. Soon we moved to Sadengan grassland. Around the parking area we saw Green Peafowl, Slender-billed Crow, Red-billed Malkoha.

There are plenty of Banteng (Bos javanicus) grazing in the grassland and several birds such as Lesser Adjutant, Asian Woollyneck, Javan Myna, Collared Kingfisher and Cattle Egret.

Then we walked to a birding track. Lots of fallen tree branches and twigs, possibly there was a storm the previous day. Birding was slow, added Ruby-throated Bulbul, Mangrove Whistler and Great Slaty Woodpecker to the list.

Move to Pancur beach for lunch in a food stall. We got Green Imperial Pigeon and clear views of Wreathed Hornbill foraging in palm trees near the stall. We took about 45 minutes to enjoy and photograph the hornbill.

We went back to the grassland then it rained. After the rains stop we want to try to get better views and some photographs of the woodpecker in the birding trek. We stopped for a while when Javan Broadbill responded to our playback.

We failed to photograph the woodpecker but at least one of our clients saw it clearly. Continue our drive to the hotel for rest.

Our last day in Banyuwangi was so challenging. Birding in Baluran National Park when so many tourists came to celebrate a new year in grassland like savannah Bekol and Bama beach.

Luckily, our guide had some birding locations where other tourists did not enter the area.

We spent the morning started at 05.30 AM and packed several birds to the list such as: Javan Cuckooshrike, Green Junglefowl, Short-tailed Starling, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Ruddy Cuckoo-dove, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Collared Kingfisher, Red-breasted Parakeet, Black-naped Monarch, Long-tailed Shrike before the crowds come.

Then we had an early lunch in a food stall near the Bama beach.

After lunch we did not enter the birding trek due the crowds. Decided to take a nap in the ranger office and wait for the afternoon section.

There is a small swamp outside the national park around paddy fields and fish ponds. We went there for our last afternoon birding.

Our target was Cerulean Kingfisher, but after trying to find one we failed to get one. From here we listed Javan Pond-heron, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Common Moorhen on the nest.

When we drove back to the hotel in Banyuwangi, we stopped for a while to photograph the Rock Pigeon race in the paddy fields.

Transferred our clients to their hotel in Banyuwangi and the birding tours ended.

During the 4 days birding tours in Jogja and Banyuwangi we collected 84 birds including other wildlife, here is the list in below:

• Green Peafowl
• Green Junglefowl
• Rock Dove
• Eastern Spotted Dove
• Ruddy Cuckoo-dove
• Zebra Dove
• Green Imperial-pigeon
• Grey-rumped Treeswift
• Cave Swiftlet
• Red-billed Malkoha
• Common Moorhen
• Lesser Adjutant
• Asian Woollyneck
• Javan Pond-heron
• Cattle Egret
• Purple Heron
• Oriental Honey-buzzard
• Crested Serpent-eagle
• Oriental Pied Hornbill
• Wreathed Hornbill
• Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
• Oriental Dwarf-kingfisher
• Javan Kingfisher
• Collared Kingfisher
• Black-banded Barbet
• Great Slaty Woodpecker
• Freckle-breasted Woodpecker
• Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
• Yellow-throated Hanging-parrot
• Red-breasted Parakeet
• Javan Broadbill
• Mangrove Whistler
• Small Minivet
• Scarlet Minivet
• Javan Cuckooshrike
• Pied Triller
• White-breasted Woodswallow
• Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike
• Common Iora
• Sunda Pied Fantail
• Black Drongo
• Ashy Drongo
• Black-naped Monarch
• Long-tailed Shrike
• Slender-billed Crow
• Cinereous Tit
• Zitting Cisticola
• Yellow-bellied Prinia
• Common Tailorbird
• Olive-backed Tailorbird
• Sunda Grasshopper-warbler
• Striated Grassbird
• Red-rumped Swallow
• Pacific Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Ruby-throated Bulbul
• Sooty-headed Bulbul
• Orange-spotted Bulbul
• Yellow-vented Bulbul
• Cream-vented Bulbul
• Arctic Warbler
• Aberrant Bush-warbler
• Javan Grey-throated White-eye
• Mountain White-eye
• Sangkar White-eye
• Crescent-chested Babbler
• Rufous-browed Babbler
• Horsfield’s Babbler
• Javan Myna
• Short-tailed Starling
• Asian Brown Flycatcher
• Mugimaki Flycatcher
• Javan / Hill Blue-flycatcher
• Javan Leafbird
• Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker
• Blood-breasted Flowerpecker
• Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
• Little Spiderhunter
• Brown-throated Sunbird
• Olive-backed Sunbird
• Javan Sunbird
• Javan Munia
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Other wildlife:

• Banteng
• Timor Deer
• Long-tailed Macaque
• Javan Leaf Monkey

Five Birding sites around Yogyakarta city, completed in Fullday Birding. Yogyakarta (or simply Jogja) is one of Indonesia’s most famous tourist destinations, on account of its fascinating history and culture and world heritage status temples (including Prambanan and Borobodur). Besides, there is another attraction of the many attractions in the city. Birding or Bird Watching could be an attractive alternative if you have extra time between your holiday in Jogja.

There are some interesting birding sites where various birds exist around the urban area of the city. The distance of one birding site to the others are not too far away to reach. Car or personal vehicle will certainly be easier. You will get a high number of birds if you start in the morning and avoid the weekend. Some of the endemics are easy to see, like Java Sparrow. Some of the best birding-site are considered below:

Continue reading “Birding Around Yogyakarta City”

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.

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.

Gallery:

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:

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

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:

• Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher / Alcedo euryzona
• Banded Kingfisher / Lacedo pulchella
• Ruddy Cuckoo-dove / Macropygia emiliana
• Common Emerald Dove / Chalcophaps indica
• Cave Swiftlet / Collocalia linchi
• Yellow-eared Barbet / Psilopogon australis
• Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike / Hemipus hirundinaceus
• Sooty-headed Bulbul / Pycnonotus aurigaster
• Sunda Forktail – Enicurus velatus
• White-crowned Forktail / Enicurus leschenaulti
• Horsfield’s Babbler / Malacocinla sepiarium
• Pygmy Bushtit / Psaltria exilis
• Orange-bellied Flowerpecker / Dicaeum trigonostigm
• Javan Sunbird / Aethopyga mystacalis
• Flame-fronted Barbet / Psilopogon armilaris
• Long-tailed Shrike / Lanius schach
• Creted Serpent Eagle / Spilornis cheela
• Black Eagle / Ictinaetus malayensis
• Spotted Kestrel / Falco moluccensis
• Chestnut-bellied Partridge / Arborophila javanica
• Spotted Dove / Streptopelia chinensis
• Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon / Ducula lacernulata
• Lesser Coucal / Centropus bengalensis
• Chestnut-breasted Malkoha / Rhamphococcyx curvirostris
• Rusty-breasted Cuckoo / Cacomantis sepulcralis
• Sunda Cuckoo / Cuculus lepidus
• Javan Trogon / Apalharpactes reinwardtii
• Wreathed Hornbill / Rhyticeros undulatus
• Brown-throated Barbet / Psilopogon corvina
• Javan Banded Broadbill / Eurylaimus javanicus
• Lesser Shortwing / Brachypteryx leucophrys
• Javan Whistling Thrush / Myophonus glaucinus
• Blue Whistling Thrush / Myophonus caeruleus
• Crescent-chested Babbler / Stachyris melanothorax
• Javan Fulvetta / Alcippe pyrrhoptera
• Eyebrowed Wren-babbler / Napotera epilepidota
• Pygmy Wren-babbler / Pnoepyga pusilla
• Pied Shrike-babbler / Pteruthius flaviscapis
• Trilling Shrike-babbler / Pteruthius aenobarbus
• Mountain Tailorbird / Orthotomus cuculatus
• Sunda Bush Warbler / Cettia vulcania
• Javan Tesia / Tesia superciliaris
• Sunda Warbler / Seicercus grammiceps
• Javan Bush Warbler / Bradypterus montis
• Striated Grassbird / Megalurus palustris
• Little Pied FLycatcher / Ficedula westermanni
• Rufous-tailed Fantail / Rhipidura phoenicura
• Cinereous Tit / Parus major
• Blue Nuthatch / Sitta azurea
• Ashy Drongo / Dicrurus leucophaeus

Other Taxa (Primate)​:

• Javan / Silvery Gibbon / Hylobates moloch
• Ebony-leaf Monkey / Trachypithecus auratus
• Javan Surili / Presbytis comata fredericae
• Long-tailed Macaque / Macaca fascicularis

Gallery:

We had 4 Days birding trips for a couple clients from France to see Raptors in Malang, East Java.

Starting on 29 June until 02 July 2019, we birded in 4 locations around Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and Raden Suryo Greater Park Forestry.

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:

• Oriental Honey-buzzard
• Changable Hawk-eagle
• Black-thighed Falconet
• Black Eagle
• Javan Hawk-eagle.

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.