Olive-backed Sunbird

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

I like walking in the morning to see beautiful scenery and watch birds that like to perch on the branches of trees. When I was traveling in Sonder town of Minahasa regency of North Sulawesi, I saw a lot of species of birds. Some of them were small such as the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Chestnut Munia.

But there was another beautiful bird that attracted my attention. It was the Olive-backed Sunbird (Cynniris jugularis). The male one had yellow bellied feather and blue throat. His wings were olive green. I was standing still in front of my parents' house when I saw it landing on the branch of a Papaya tree to lick the nectar of its flowers.

Sulawesi Scops Owl

Sulawesi Scops Owl

I did a short night birding in the forest of Minahasa a few hours ago. My main target was Sulawesi Scops Owl (Otus manadensis). It was around 18.00 local time when I heard the call of owl. So, I immitated it by making similar call. The bird was calling from the forest in a distance of approximately 50 meters away from me. I was standing at the side of a road. After replying its calls for around 15 minutes, I heard that the calls from the bird were getting closer. There was a small forest at the roadside. The bird was sitting on the lower branch of a tree around 5 meters above the ground.

Pale Blue Monarch

Pale Blue Monarch

Here is the picture of Pale-Blue Monarch (Hypotimis puella) that I saw when I guided several Taiwanese tourists in the rainforest of North Sulawesi. It was around 10.00 morning time. We were about to leave the forest where we were birding in. Suddenly a small blue bird landed on the lower branch of a tree on the right of us. He stayed for a few seconds and then jumped to other branches of another tree. The feather of the bird was blue. It was a beautiful bird. I immediately aimed my camera to the bird and began shooting him several times. In addition to the bird, we also watched other species such as  Great-billed Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Green-backed Kingfisher, White-necked Myna (Streptocitta albicollis), Large-billed Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Sulawesi Cuckoo Dove, Sunda Teal, Spotted Whistling-Duck, Barred Rail, and etc.
If you are interested in birding in North Sulawesi, and want me to be your guide, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: leororing@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Azure Kingfisher in Halmahera

Azure Kingfisher

This morning, I accompanied the Taiwanese tourists on a birding trip to the coastal area of Halmahera island. Our main target was Azure Kingfisher and Beach Kingfisher. We focused our birding activity in the harbor area of Sidangoli across from the old ruins of the former plywood making factory.
There, we saw a couple of Beach Kingfisher, Willie Wagtail, Sunbird, and Plover. After that we moved to the bank of the river that was located across from the lodge where we stayed. There was an elementary school near the place where we enjoyed birding. We were waiting for the Azure Kingfisher when suddenly we heard that there were a lot of school children coming out of the school to meet us.

Farmland in North Sulawesi

Farmland in Minahasa

I was in North Sulawesi last week. I guided some Taiwanese tourists on a birding and wildlife watching tour across Kotamobagu and Minahasa. In Kotamobagu we watched Maleo whereas in Minahasa, we watched Scaly Kingfisher and various other species of birds. We spent several days in Tangkoko to watch monkeys, cuscus possum, and various species of birds.
While traveling in this region, I saw beautiful landscape of farmland both in lowland and in highland areas. For lowland, most of the farmland consisted on ricefield whereas for highland, the slopes were covered by vegetables such as cabbage, carrot, and fruits. This agricultural produce is sold not only to Manado, Tomohon, and Bitung but also to towns and cities in eastern region of Indonesia such as Sorong, Manokwari and Jayapura as well as Ternate, Ambon. North Sulawesi also exports palm sugar to these cities.

Great-billed Kingfisher

Great-billed Kingfisher

This is the picture of Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha) that I saw when in the mangrove forest of North Sulawesi. The bird was bigger than most other kingfishers. I was traveling with 4 Taiwanese tourists in Tangkoko region when we decided to do a trip to a river in North Minahasa to watch the bird. We went there by car. It took around 1 hour to reach the birding site. We had to continue our trip by a motorized boat through a river where mangrove trees and other coastal plants grow on its both sides.

Eruption of Mount Soputan

Mount Soputan

I am now traveling with several tourists from Taiwan on a birding tour across Sulawesi and Halmahera islands. This trip has been an extraordinary adventure for us because we experienced huge earthquake in Palu city of Central Sulawesi and saw the eruption of Mount Soputan in Minahasa.
For me earthquake, tsunami, volcano eruption are processes of nature that have happened millions of years before the introduction of concepts of religions into mankind. These natural phenomenons are not the punishment from God to human being so that they will repent from their sins. People may think that these natural disasters are bad things to ever happen to us. For me, personally, it is the best time to learn, understand, appreciate and respect nature.
Most of the time, it is not easy for us to live in harmony with nature. Men often exploit natural resources irresponsibly. Illegal logging, the use of trawl net at the bottom of the sea, or the excessive use of toxic materials to control pest in farmland are some of the many examples that occur every day.
Visiting Minahasa is an exciting moment for me. I can see mountains, and valleys. I begin to fall in love with this land. I hope that I can return very soon to Minahasa.

Flying Lizard

Celebes Flying Lizard

I am traveling with four Taiwanese tourists in North Sulawesi now. We explore the rainforest of Minahasa peninsula to watch birds and other wild animals that live in tropical rainforest. This morning, I saw Maleo, Ashy Woodpecker, Blue Roller, Hanging Parrot, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Pale-Blue Monarch.
Before that, we were traveling in South Sulawesi and Lore Lindu Natuonal Park in Central Sulawesi  where we saw Black-ringed White Eye, Lesser Myza, Citrine Canary Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Knobbed Hornbill, Pygmy Hornbill, Collared Kingfisher, and a lot more.
I also saw some flying lizards. I like the color of this reptile. So, I took a picture of the lizard. It is a very beautiful animal.
In addition to watching birds, insects and reptiles, I also saw a lot of species of wild flowers. As a tourist guide, I offer birding and wildlife watching tour to visitors who are interested in traveling to North Sulawesi. Please, contact me (Leo Roring) by email to: leororing@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Wild Flowers in the forest of Sulawesi island