Morning Birding Tour from Tomohon Town

As a birding guide, I offer an early morning general birding tour from Tomohon town for visitors who are interested in watching various species of tropical birds that live in the forest and farmland of Minahasa highland. 

Birding in Sonder of Minahasa highland

Usually, I will start by pick up participants at the hotel or resort in Tomohon town at 05:00. After that we will go by a chartered car to a birding site located in a hill of Subdistrict Sonder. It took around 45 minutes to reach it depending on the traffic and weather condition.

Yellow-billed Malkoha

We will start our birding activity by walking along the roadside. Birds that cand be found in this area include Sulawesi Myzomela, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Warbling White-eye, Black-crowned White-eye, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Mountain Tailorbird, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon, Superb Fruit Dove, Black-faced Munia, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, and etc. 

A female Sahul Sunbird on Papaya Flower

After spending around 1 hour birding in the area, we will continue our tour to lower elevation area of Subdistrict Sonder. We will have a short stop at Tounelet Slope to look for Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo, Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Zebra Dove, Barred Rail, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Sulawesi Crow, Gray-streaked Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Black-naped Oriole and etc. 

After birding there for around fifteen minutes, we will continue our trip to paddy field area at the outskirts of Sonder town. Birds such as Bay Coucal, Collared Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, White-browed Crake, Pied Stilt, White-breasted Waterhen, and other water birds could be found there.

Black-naped Oriole in Tounelet Slope of Sonder town

We will continue our trip to Kengkang waterfall in the north of Tincep village. Usually, we will look for Green Imperial Pigeon, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Small Sparrowhawk, Gray-rumped Treeswift and White-rumped Triller in this area. 

Most often we could also see various species of butterflies such as Gigon Swallowtail, The Clipper, and Lime Swallowtail around the flower gardern of the waterfall. 

Sulawesi Drongo

At around 09:00, we will go to Lake Linow to find Sunda Teal, Common Sandpiper, Javan Pond Heron, Barn Swallow, Black Kite, Isabelline Bushhen, Oriental Reed Warbler, and etc  

At around 10:00, we will bring tour participants back to their hotel. 

Subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa highland of Indonesia

Subdistrict town of Sonder is a highly recommended destination for birdwatchers who travel to Indonesia. It is around 1 hour drive from Manado city which is the capital of North Sulawesi province.

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Other Tourist Attractions in Minahasa

In addition to birdwatching, visitors could also see other natural and cultural attractions such as visiting agricultural land and interacting with farmers, enjoying local foods, and exploring local shops and traditional markets. 

If you are interested in taking this morning general birding trip from Tomohon town to forest, farmland and waterfall areas of Subdistrict Sonder and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp through this contact link. 

Also read:

• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birds in the Highland of Minahasa
• Birding in Minahasa Peninsula
• Lake Tondano