West Java - Sumatera Birding 21D20N

DAY1. On your arrival into International Airport Soekarno-Hatta, Cengkareng Jakarta on the island of Java, you will be transferred to a nearby hotel for the night.

DAY 2. Short driving to birdwatch at marsh of Muara Angke where with luck we might see Javan Coucal and Black-winged Myna. In this very small area of mangroves there are plenty of birds usually present such Bar-winged Prinia, White-breasted waterhen, Black Bittern, Sunda Teal and some others. We will continue driving to Pondok Bali at Pamanukan in search of Javan endemics such Javan Munia, Javan White-eye, and Javan Plover. Night at Pamanukan.

Day3. We will return again to the marsh of Pamanukan or driving to Gunung Gede National Park. Night at Cibodas.

DAY 4 – 5. We will birdwatch from lower part to a middle part of Gunung Gede where we might see Javan endemics such Crescent-chested and White-bibbed Babblers, Pied Shrike-Babbler, Javan Fulvetta, Javan Grey-throated White-eye, Javan Tesia, White-flanked Sunbird, Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush, Pygmy Tit, Sunda Blue Robin, White-browed Shortwing, Sunda Warbler, Rufous-tailed Fantail, Javan Trogon, and Javan Cochoa. Other species we can encounter here include Sunda Warbler, Sunda Thrush, Sunda Cuckoo, Orange-spotted and Sunda Bulbuls, Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike,  Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler, Horsfield’s Babbler, Orange- backed Woodpecker, Indigo Flycatcher, Olive-backed Tailorbird, Mountain Leaf-warbler, Blood- breasted Flowerpecker, Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter, and amongs other. We might also sometimes encounter some mammals here include Javan Langur, Grizzled Leaf Monkey, Javan Ferret-Badger and Sunda Stink Badger. We will also birding at night for Javan Scops owl, Sunda Scops Owl, Sunda Frogmouth, and Salvadori’s Nightjar.
It is high recommended to camp on day 4 on the upper slopes of Gunung Gede as it is steep and long walk and too hard to go and back on the same day. On day 5 we will return down and stay the night at Cibodas.

DAY 6. This morning we will visit to the site of Javan Kingfisher, Javan Fulfetta, and Yellow-throated Hanging-Parrot before continue driving to another National Park, Halimun. In Halimun National Park we will stay for two nights at Cikaniki.

Day7. Our full day birding inside Gunung Halimun National Park, there are plenty of bird species possible to see here but more focus to the birds which we miss in Gunung Gede. Birds we might encounter here including the three Babblers – White-breasted, White-bibbed and Crescent-chested. Other birds which we also possible to encounter such Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter, Javan Sunbird, Pygmy Tit, Banded Kingfisher, White-bellied Fantail, Spotted Crocia, Sunda Forktail, Javan Trogon, Rufous Piculet, Checker-throated Woodpecker,Javan Frogmouth, Siberian Thrush, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Brown-throated and Flame-throated Barbet, Banded Broadbill, Eye-browed Wren Babbler, Blue-winged Leafbird, Pin-tailed Parrotfinch and Javan Hawk Eagle. Salvadori’s Nightjar is also possible here. Night at Cikiniki Research Station.

DAY 8. We will spend some times birding at Gunung Halimun searching for any species we miss including Brown Prinia. We then continue long driving to Carita. Lunch en-rote. Arriving Carita we should go straight birding to the forest for Javan Banded Pitta continue night birding for Javan Frogmouth, Sundas Scops-Owl, Brown Boobook, and Large-tailed Nightjar. Night at Carita.

DAY  9. Morning birding again at Carita searching for some birds we miss including some Java’s lowland endemics such Javan Frogmouth and Javan Banded Pitta again if we miss them on previous day, Black-banded Barbet, Grey-cheeked Tit Babbler, and Javan Owlet. We may also encounter Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Banded Kingfisher, Black-naped Fruit Dove, and hopefully Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher. After having lunch at our hotel then depart to Jakarta for overnight stay.

DAY 10. Take an early flight to Sumatra and heading to Way Kambas National Park where we will base for the next three nights at Way Kambas. Way Kambas National park is lowland forest from 0 – 50m above sea level, an area of swamp forest, rivers and regenerating logged, lowland rainforest which is an excellent site to birdwatch and very rich of birds searching for lowland sunda specialities. After having lunch we will birding in the afternoon till dusk.

DAYS 11 -12. We will have two full days birding in Way Kambas where we will enjoy the excellent birding in this national park. We have a good chance of seeing several species which are difficult to see elsewhere such Storm’s Stork and Lesser Adjutant on the wetlands and swamp forest including our big target the endangered and elusive White-winged Duck, which still survives here in reasonable numbers. This forest hold such Malaysian Blue Flycatcher, White-chested Babbler, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon, Crested Fireback, Malayan Banded Pitta, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Blue-eared
 Kingfisher, Little Green-Pigeon, Moustached Hawk Cuckoo, Blue-rumped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot, Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher, White-bellied, Crimson-winged, Checker-throated, Grey-and-buff, Maroon and Buff-necked Woodpeckers, Malaysian Black Magpie, Chestnut-bellied, Red-billed and Black-bellied Malkohas, Diard’s, Red-naped and Scarlet-rumped Trogons among an excellent selection of lowland species.

Way Kambas is probably the best night-birding in south-east Asia where we can encounter such Sunda, Large, and Gould’s Frogmouths including Reddish Scops Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Brown Boobook, Bonaparte’s and Malaysian Eared Nightjars are all possible.

Mammals are sometimes possible to encounter such Siamang Gibbons calls resounding across the forest, Southern Red Muntjac, and deer. This park is also populations of Sumatran Tiger, Sun Bear, and Asian Elephants but the chances of seeing them are very slim, but our last tour found a superb Leopard Cat just on road side.

DAY 13. After some early mornings birding at Way Kambas we will drive to Bandar Lampung to fly to Padang via Jakarta. Arrive Padang at midday and continue long driving to Kerinci Seblat National Park where we will base for four nights at Kersik Tua at a comfortable homestay and friendly people.

DAYS 14 – 16. 
We will have three full days exploring Mount Kerinci which is the pick 3805m asl but give us a best birding site between 1800 to 2500m asl. Our exploring here is to search in particular for Sumatra’s montane endemics such a rare Schneider’s Pitta and Sumatran Cochoa, including Sumatran Trogon, Salvadori’s Pheasant, Red-billed Partridge, Sumatran Wren-Babbler, both Sumatran Whistling Thrush and Shiny Whistling Thrush. Other possiblities are such Rusty-breasted Babbler, Sunda Warbler, Black-capped White-eye, Fire-tufted Barbet, Rufous-vented Niltava, Pygmy Wren-babbler, amongs others. We will do night birding for Sumatran Frogmouth, Rajah Scops Owl, Barred Eagle Owl, and Salvadori’s Nighjar. All are possible to see during on night birding. On my several previous tours we found Sumatran Frogmouth and Rajah Scops Owl on roosting tree in the day time. Night at Keresek Tua.

DAY 17. This morning we will birding again at Mount Kerinci searching for any missing birds or full day birding at Sungai Penuh. We will stay at Sungai Penuh for three nights.

Day 18 – 19. We will spend two full days birding at submontain forest along the Tapan Hills between Sungai Penuh and Muara Sako which give us chances of finding several species difficult or absent at Mount Kerinci. Our special effort to find in this nice forest are such Graceful Pitta, Blue-masked and Sumatran Leafbirds, Marbled Wren-babbler, Temminck’s Sunbird, Spectacled Spiderhunter and Crested Jay, Cream-striped and Spot-necked Bulbuls, Black-and-crimson Oriole, Sumatran Drongo, Sumatran Treepie, and Black Laughingthrush, amongs other. We still have good chances to see Sumatran Trogon, Banded Kingfisher and Sumatran Green Pigeon.

DAY 20. After spend some hours birding to catch up any missing birds, we depart to Padang for overnight stay.

Days 21. After breakfast transfer to the airport to fly back to Jakarta to connect with your international flight. Tour end.