Birding Excursion in Sorong Ridge Forest

Australian lady birding in rainforest of Sorong regency

I had another birding excursion with two Australian visitors in Sorong Ridge Forest a few days ago. They contacted me when they were still in Saporkren of Raja Ampat. I answered their emails and agreed with them on one day tour to Ridge Forest of Sorong city to find such birds as Oriental Dollarbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Blyth's Hornbill, Black Sunbird, Olive Crowned Sunbird (also called Yellow-bellied Sunbird), Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Singing Starling, Eclectus Parrot.
To enhance the birding experience of the tour participants, I brought a Kinglux 20-60×60 spotting scope and a field guide book: Birds of New Guinea written by Thane K. Pratt and Bruce Beehler. As we walked deeper into the forest, we saw more birds including Yellow-faced Myna, Brahminy Kite, and Black-browed Triller.

Oriental Dollarbird (Birding in Ridge Forest of Sorong city)

In the middle of the day, we reached a river located below ridge of the forest. We stopped there for a while to have hot tea and coffee. I and my friend made a fire to boil water in a cattle that he brought from his house. While we were drinking tea, rain started to fall. Fortunately it did not last long and we were able to walk back again to the main road. We still did some birding along the trails and saw Grey-headed Goshawk, and a couple of Fairy Lorikeet (Charmosyna pulchella). I used my Visionking 10×42 binocular to find the birds whereas the Australian lady used her Pentax one.
We also saw an Eupholus beetle, some species of butterflies, melastoma shrubs and beautiful mountain forest of Sorong regency.

Female Black Sunbird

This birding excursion in Sorong Ridge Forest is highly recommended for visitors who were on their trips to Raja Ampat. They could take this tour before or after their scuba diving and snorkeling tours. I suggest that they take the tour in a group of at least three, four or more participants to share the cost.
Sorong city is an important gate to Raja Ampat. There are daily regular flights between Sorong and several major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Ambon, Makassar and Manado. Batik, Garuda, Sriwijaya, Nam Air, Travira and Wings Air provide affordable flights to Sorong. As a tourist guide, I could organize birding and snorkeling tours for visitors who want to visit Sorong city, Raja Ampat and even Arfak range of Manokwari.
Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by e-mail to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to my number: +6281332245180.