Sulawesi and Halmahera

28 August to 15 September, 2008

Nineteen days, Eighteen nights  

Part One:  Sulawesi  

Ø     South Sulawesi :

o       Bantimurung National Park

o       Karaenta National Park

Ø     Central Sulawesi

o       Pakuli

o       Lore Lindu National Park

§        Anasu Track

§        Danau Tambing

Ø     Northeastern Sulawesi

o       Gunung Ambang

o       Bogani Nani Wartabone NP

§        Tapakolintang and Toraut

§        Tambun

o       Minahasa Highland

§        Mahawu mountain

§        Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Part Two:  Halmahera

Ø     Sidangole

o       Kali Batu Putih

o       Gunung Potong

o       Galela, Tobelo

o       Tanah Batu Putih

Itinerary

 28 August 08       International arrivals in Makassar, transfer to the hotel near the airport, afternoon birding around Bantimurung National Park and Karaenta National Park (if the time is permitted).

29 August             Early departure for Karaenta National Park : Piping Crow, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, Green-backed Kingfisher, Black- ringed White-eyes, Undescribed Muscicapa Flycatcher. PM:  transfer to the airport for flight to Palu (capital city of Central Sulawesi ), drive via 4 Wheel Drive /Jeep to Pakuli. Night birding to identify owls and Boobook. Overnight at villager house.

30 August             Pakuli-Lore Lindu National Park
Early morning birding around Pakuli. We should see Purple-winged Roller, Rufous-throated Flycatcher, Stephan's Dove, Red-backed Button-Quail, Pacific Golden Plover, Pale-headed Munia, Black-faced Munia, White-breasted Waterhen, Pied Bushchat, Maleo on its nesting ground, and with luck, Minahasa Masked Owl.
After Lunch we will keep driving slowly to Lore Lindu National Park , birding along the main road. Overnight Sendy homestay (Wuasa).

31 August- 1September   

Lore Lindu National Park

Early departures for drive along logging road up to Anaso track. We should see highland species such as: Purple-bearded Bee-eater,Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, Sombre Pigeon. Red-eared Fruit-Dove, Ground Dove, Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Barred Honey-Buzzard, Sulawesi Pygmy Cuckoo-shrike, Caerulean cuckoo-shrike, Sulawesi Drongo, Ivory-breasted Woodswallow, Great Shortwing, Heinrich's (Satanic) Nightjar, and with luck Geomalia and Sulawesi Mountain Thrush. This will be our chance to see Yellow-flanked Whisler, Yellow-vented Whistler, Maroon-backed Whistler, Golden Whistler, Drab Whistler, Sulawesi Leaf-Warbler, Mountain Serin, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Streak-headed White-eye, Greater Sulawesi Honey-eater, Lesser Honey-eater, and other goodies.

Nights at Homestay or at a tent camp near park.

2 September        Lore Lindu NP to Palu.

Birding early morning at Danau Tambing for Yellow-and-green Lorikeet, Piping Crow, White-necked Myna, Fiery-browed Myna, Finch-billed (Grosbeak) Myna, Sulawesi Crested Myna, Knobbed Hornbill, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Malia, Island Verditer Flycatcher, Sulawesi Goshawk, Ashy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Rusty-bellied Fantail, and with luck, Mountain Thrush and Geomalia.

Overnight in a hotel near the city.

3 September       Palu to Manado and Kotamobagu
We will travel by air to Manado (via Makassar ), then continue to Kotamobagu. Check-in Patra Jasa hotel near the town. Afternoon birding at Gunung Ambang for endemic species; Cinnabar Boobook (this bird was described as recently as 1999, its calls only described in 2005 and has been seen by just a handful of birders!) Night at Patra Jasa hotel.

4 September       Kotamobagu, Bogani Nani Wartabone NP
We will have a second chance around Gunung Ambang for Cinnabar Boobook; other endemic species and rarities include Matinan Flycatcher and Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. Continuing to Doloduo, for afternoon birding around Tapakolintang and Toraut. We should see endemic species: Maroon-chinned Fruit-Dove, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Bay Coucal, Sulawesi Black Pigeon,and Ornate Lorikeet. An evening of owling could bring us Speckled Boobook, Ochre-bellied Boobook. Night Tante Min Homestay.

5 September       Bogani Nani Wartabone NP
Early departure for Tambun and Maleo on its nesting ground. Other species possible include Isabelline Bush-hen, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Purple Swamphen, Black-naped Monarch, Black-billed Koel, Black-naped Oriole, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Blue-breasted Pitta, Small Sparrowhawk, Brahminy Kite, Lesser Coucal, and Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher.

6 September       Bogani Nani Wartabone NP to Minahasa Highland
Another early morning at Tambun (and chance for Maleo) before continuing to Manado and the Minahasa Highland. Night near Tomohon.

7 September       Minahasa Highland, Tangkoko Nature Reserve
We will bird early morning around Mahawu mountain for Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Scarlet Honeyeater, Superb Fruit-Dove, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Bay Coucal, Rufous-throated Flycatcher, Mountain Tailorbird, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Citrine Canary-Flycatcher, Blue-faced Parrot finch, Blue-breasted Button-Quail, Yellow Wagtail, Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Yellow–sided Flowerpecker, Grey-sided Flowerpecker. Black Kite, Sooty-headed Bulbul, and Collared Kingfisher.
Afternoon drive to Tangkoko Nature Reserve, for speedboat birding along the Lembeh Strait for Sulawesi Masked Owl roosting on a cliff, Mangrove forest possibilities include Great-billed Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Lesser Frigatebird and White-bellied Sea-Eagle.  Night at Mama Roos Homestay.

8 September       Tangkoko NR
Another early departure for chances to see Blue-backed Parrot, Emerald Dove, Stephan's Dove, Tabon Scrubfowl, Sulawesi Triller, Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail, Spot-tailed Goshawk, Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Hair-crested Drongo, Sulawesi Babbler, Pied Cuckoo-shrike, White-rumped Cuckoo-shrike, Great Eared Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar, Sulawesi Nightjar, Sulawesi Scops-Owl.

9 September       Tangkoko NR
Full day of birding for endemics such as: Red-backed Thrush, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Kingfisher(on the summit of mountain), Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, Pale-Blue Monarch, Glossy Swiftlet, White-breasted Woodswallow, Red Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, and Purple-winged Roller, In the evening we may see a remarkable primate, one of the smallest in the world and one capable of rotating its head 180º: Tarsius Spectrum, A group of endangered Sulawesi Black Monkeys (Macaca nigra) may be around.

http://ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/spectral_tarsier.htm

http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/crested_black_macaque

 Part Two:  Halmahera

10 September    Tangkoko to Ternate to Halmahera
We will travel by Air to Ternate , and  onwards via a speedboat to Sidangoli. Afternoon birding around Kali Batu Putih for Molluccan Starling, Blue-capped Fruit-Dove, Golden Bulbul, Long-billed Crow, White Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Red-cheeked Parrot, Mollucan Scops-owl, Molluccan Owlet-Nightjar, Halmahera Boobook, and Goliath Coucal. Night at the Homestay near town.

11 September    Sidangoli to Kali Batu Putih (KBP)
We will arise way before dawn, cross the stream, and after a tough hike (two hours) in the darkness, reach the lek of Wallace’s Standardwing. At dawn, we expect one to appear. We should see other species: Sombre Kingfisher, Ivory-breasted Pitta, Dusky Scrubfowl, Shining Flycatcher, and Slaty Flycatcher. Later, we will drive to the main road of Gunung Potong for Molluccan Cuckoo-shrike, Halmahera Cuckoo-shrike, Dusky Honeyeater, Dusky-Brown Oriole, Paradise Crow, Halmahera Flowerpecker, Chattering Lory, Cinnamon-headed Imperial-Pigeon, Grey-headed Fruit-Dove, Gurney's Eagle, Variable Goshawk, Violet-necked Lory, Eclectus Parrot, and Great-billed Parrot.

12 September    Sidangoli:  Galela, Tobelo
We will bird early morning along Gunung Potong and Lame and, with luck, see a Halmahera endemic:  Purple Dollarbird.  We also should see other regionally uncommon species; Common Dollarbird, Blue-and-white Kingfisher, Willie Wagtail, and Drab Whistler.
After dinner we will continue birding, as we drive to Galela village. We will take a paddle canoe along a mangrove forest, and we will bird in the  darkness for seeing Molluccan Scrubfowl, its nesting ground along a black sandy beach.  Night:  local homestay near Tobelo.

13 September    Tobelo, Tanah Batu Putih, Sidangoli, Ternate
After breakfast we will pack our stuff, and drive back to Sidangoli, but birding along the way. Onwards via a speedboat, we’ll stop for birding near a mangrove forest to see Beach Kingfisher, Bridled Tern, Common Tern and Brown Booby.
Night:  Bukit Pelangi hotel near Ternate town.

14 September    Ternate, Manado , Bunaken Island
After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport, and travel by air back to Manado , then drive to the port and head for Bunaken Island . We’ll check-in at a cottage or resort near the white sandy beach of Bunaken island:  Here’s a chance to stop in Manado City for shopping or email, before on going to Bunaken island.
Bunaken is a nice place for relaxing after more than two weeks birding.  You can do snorkeling or diving around coral reefs.

15 September    Bunaken Island, Manado Airport
We will transfer you to the airport for your international departure, on your last day of the tour in Sulawesi .

                                     ****The End Of Tour*****

PRICE

 Price based on  4 person 19 Days/18 nights= US$4,500 each

 Price includes:

All transport;

Ø     two 4 Wheel Drive /Jeep during on birding into Lore Lindu National Park ( Central Sulawesi ).

Ø     two Minivan/Minibus during Birding in the south, North Sulawesi and Halmahera .

Ø     Speedboat on birding for Tangkoko, Bunaken island and Halmahera section.

Ø     Domestic Airlines tickets:

o       Jakarta or Bali or elsewhere to get into Makassar .

o       Makassar =>Palu

o       Palu=> Manado (Via Makassar ).

o       Manado => Ternate .

o       Ternate=> Manado .

 Accommodations:  Hotels and Homestays during birding tour.

Food/Mineral Water and 3 Meals Per Day.

English Speaking Guide fee/birder + Ranger for the park.

Permits + Donation to enter the park.

 Price does not include:

Ø     All personal expenses not mentioned on items above.

Ø     Phone calls, Laundry.

Ø     Extra beverages in the hotel, alcoholic drinks.

Ø     Any kind of expenditures incurred due to flight cancellation/delays or due to other causes beyond our control (force majeure).

 What to bring

Ø     Mosquito net, Mosquito repellent, Sunhat, Suncream, Sunglasses, poncho or handy umbrella.

Ø     A pair of good hiking shoes, a pair of hiking sandals.

Ø     Birdy shoes/Rubber shoes for crossing the rocky stream at Kali Batu Putih ( Halmahera section), and for the Bunaken island).