Birding break (5 days/4 nights)
No less than 22 endemic bird species, including a megapode, two gorgeous paradise kingfishers and three parrots,
plus a host of morphologically highly distinctive endemic subspecies await us on this birding adventure covering the islands of
Biak and Numfor in West Papua's famed Geelvink or Cendrawasih Bay. So join us as we sound out speciation in these insular taxa,
and later still be in the fortunate opportunity to continually add 'new species' to your life list from the comfort of your easy
chair.
Please enquire for details on our upcoming departures.
Relaxed birding in flat to only slightly undulating terrain.
Day 1 > Kota Biak and Biak Island.
Day 2 > Kota Biak and Numfor Island.
Day 3 > Numfor Island and Kota Biak.
Day 4 > Kota Biak and Biak Island.
Day 5 > Kota Biak.
Day 1 > Kota Biak and Biak Island Morning arrival at Kota Biak's Frans Kaisiepo Airport on overnight
domestic flight from Jakarta or alternative gateway. We will be there to welcome you at the airport, and we shall soon set out
together on the 15 minutes' drive by chartered vehicle to an accessible area of secondary forest on the outskirts of town. Here we
could be rewarded with sightings of Variable and Grey-headed Goshawk, Sultan's and Great Cuckoo-Dove, Geelvink and Claret-breasted
Fruit Dove, Geelvink Imperial Pigeon, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Moustached Treeswift, Eclectus and Red-cheeked Parrot,
Red-fronted and Biak Lorikeet, Black-winged Lory, Emperor Fairywren, Biak Myzomela, Hooded Butcherbird, Common Cicadabird, Biak
Triller, Biak Black and Shining Flycatcher, Biak White-eye, Metallic and Long-tailed Starling, and Red-capped Flowerpecker. We
shall enjoy lunch in town and then set out again on the half an hour's drive to eastern Biak. Here we shall spend the entire
afternoon along a network of tranquil rural roads and old logging tracks running through a variety of secondary forests, making
incursions into the forest as necessary. Delightful Biak Paradise Kingfishers and Biak Hooded Pittas call everywhere in these dense
forests, but to see the wary Biak Megapode, secretive Biak Coucal, diminutive Geelvink Pygmy Parrot, and scarce Biak Gerygone,
Biak Whistler, Biak Fantail, Biak Monarch, and Biak Leaf Warbler, we shall need to persevere. Other noteworthy forest-dwellers,
invariably represented by highly distinctive endemic subspecies, that we may come across here include Common Emerald Dove and
Golden Monarch, while Pacific Baza, Long-tailed Honey Buzzard and Gurney's Eagle may soar overhead. The final hour of light or so
shall see us gathered at an open vantage point in anticipation of evening flights of pigeons and parrots, the latter perhaps still
including a few Black-capped Lory of the distinctive endemic yet heavily persecuted cyanauchen-subspecies here. Finally,
a nocturnal foray could produce Biak Scops Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar and Papuan Frogmouth. Dinner and overnight in our partnering
Kota Biak hotel.
A resounding thank you for introducing us to so many wonderful birds. Not cheap — everything is expensive
here at the end of the world — but worth every cent. — Victor Mason, Founder, Bali Bird
Walks, Indonesia
Day 2 > Kota Biak and Numfor Island After a hearty dawn breakfast in our Kota Biak hotel, we shall set out
early morning on the four hours' chartered speedboat ride to Numfor Island. The main focus of our attention here shall of course be
the delightful Numfor Paradise Kingfisher and the Numfor Leaf Warbler, both of which are usually readily located. Other noteworthy
birds we may see here include Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove, Geelvink Pygmy Parrot, and Barred Cuckooshrike, all represented by highly
distinctive endemic subspecies here. Lunch, dinner and overnight in village residence.
Day 3 > Numfor Island and Kota Biak Following an early breakfast, we shall bird all morning on Numfor and
transfer to Kota Biak again after lunch. Dinner and overnight in Kota Biak hotel.
Day 4 > Kota Biak and Biak Island After a pre-dawn breakfast in our Kota Biak hotel, we have a full day to
concentrate on finding the more elusive Biak Island endemics already mentioned above, with a packed lunch somewhere in between.
Dinner and overnight in Kota Biak hotel.
Day 5 > Kota Biak We shall enjoy breakfast in our Kota Biak hotel and transfer you to Frans Kaisiepo
Airport to check you in for the first morning flight to Jakarta or alternative destination.
❯Read on about our birding
walk on Biak Island.
❯Read on about our Easy
West Papua birding expedition visiting Biak Island.