Indonesia: Sulawesi & Halmahera

Day 1: The tour starts this evening at our hotel near Makassar International Airport (UPG).

Day 2: Early morning transfer to the nearby Lompobattang Range. We will explore the mid-elevation forests and focus on our prime targets: Lompobattang Flycatcher and Lompobattang Leaf Warbler. At the same time we should already find several Sulawesi endemics, including the range-restricted Black-ringed White-eye and hopefully the rare Pale-bellied Myna (AKA Makassar Myna). Spotlighting in the area gives our first chances for Sulawesi Scops Owl and Speckled Boobook.

Day 3: This morning we will hike to higher elevations in the Lompobattang Range. Here we can search again for the flycatcher and leaf warbler, as well as the local forms of Red-eared Fruit Dove, Hylocitrea, Dark-eared Myza, and Malia. Many other good birds are possible in the area, including Piping Crow, Sulawesi Thrush, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Bush Warbler and many more. We will then transfer back to Makassar for overnight.

Day 4: Early this morning we will drive out of town to the nearby limestone hills of Karaenta Forest. Here we will search for the recently described Sulawesi Streaked Flycatcher, along with the distinctive Black-headed Kingfisher. We will also look for Sulawesi Hornbill and the scarce Piping Crow, both of which are easiest to see here. Other key birds include Sulawesi Babbler, White-necked Myna, Grey-sided Flowerpecker and Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, alongside more widespread species. Later in the afternoon we will return to Makassar and take a flight to Palu, from where we will transfer to Lore Lindu National Park. Night near Lore Lindu National Park.

Days 5-6-7: The famous Lore Lindu National Park is the largest protected area on the island, covering both highland and lowland habitats and hosting numerous highly sought-after Sulawesi endemics. We will have three full days to explore this world-famous birding hotspot, allowing us to focus on some of the finest Sulawesi specialties: the montane Hylocitrea, Geomalia, Great Shortwing, Purple-bearded Bee-eater and the remarkable Satanic Nightjar. There are plenty of other key species we will hope to find during our time here, such as Gold-mantled Racket-tail, Ornate and Yellow-cheeked Lorikeets, Purple Needletail, Red-eared Fruit Dove, “Western” Superb Fruit Dove, White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Dark-eared Myza, White-eared Myza, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Malia, Sulawesi Thrush, Sulawesi Drongo, Pygmy and Cerulean Cuckooshrikes, Blue-fronted Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Leaf Warbler, Sulphur-vented Whistler, the tricky Maroon-backed Whistler, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Streak-headed White-eye, the elusive Dwarf Sparrowhawk, Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Myzomela, Fiery-browed Myna and Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, among others. We will also keep an eye out for rarer specialties such as Sombre Pigeon, Sulawesi Ground Dove, Sulawesi Woodcock, and Sulawesi Cuckoo. We will count ourselves very lucky to see just one or two of these megas. Nightbirds are also well represented here, and we will have our first chances to look for Sulawesi Masked Owl and the rare Cinnabar Boobook. Nights near Lore Lindu National Park. 

Day 8: After some final birding in Lore Lindu National Park, we will transfer back to Palu, with stops along the way in search of Pale-headed Munia and Black-faced Munia, with an outside chance of Red-backed Buttonquail too. Night in Palu.

Day 9: Our travel day starts with an early morning flight to Manado (via Makassar) on the Minahassa Peninsula, from where we will transfer to Kotamobagu for a three-night stay.

Day 10-11: We will spend a full day exploring the lowland forests of Dumoga Bone National Park and nearby areas. Our primary target here is the incredible and Critically Endangered Maleo, one of Indonesia’s most unique species. These megapodes use geothermal heat to incubate their eggs, but this specialised nesting strategy has made them vulnerable to harvesting and predation. We will visit a nesting ground where local conservationists carefully protect the eggs until the chicks hatch. It may require some patience to find a superb adult Maleo, but we should succeed with the help of a brand new hide. Many other key species occur in Dumoga Bone and the surrounding areas, including Isabelline Bush-hen, Oberholser’s Fruit Dove, Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, Silver-tipped Imperial Pigeon, White-faced Cuckoo-Dove, Yellow-breasted Racket-tail, Ornate Lorikeet, Blue-backed Parrot, Great Hanging Parrot, Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Bay Coucal, Black-billed Koel, Sulawesi Malkoha, Purple-winged Roller, Knobbed Hornbill, Ivory-backed Woodswallow, Pied Cuckooshrike, Sulawesi Cicadabird, Sulawesi Myna and the elusive Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk. Night in Kotamobagu.

Day 12: Our final morning in the Kotamobagu area will be spent on Gunung Ambang, where our main target will be the rare Matinan Blue Flycatcher. This species occurs only in restricted areas of the Minahassa Peninsula. The pre-dawn walk could produce another subspecies of Cinnabar Boobook, and give us more chances for Speckled Boobook. This is a good site for the seldom-seen Sombre Pigeon, and is our first chance for the always-difficult Scaly-breasted Kingfisher. Later we will transfer to Tomohon for an overnight stay.

Day 13: This morning we will bird on Gunung Mahawu, looking in particular for Scaly-breasted Kingfisher, which is best seen here. We will also try for Sulawesi Pitta before continuing towards Tangkoko National Park, where we will enjoy a first full afternoon of birding. A boat ride through mangroves will be highlighted by Great-billed Kingfisher and several other interested species. Tonight we will have our first attempt at finding the rare Minahassa Masked Owl, while other nightbirds may include Sulawesi Masked Owl, Ochre-bellied Boobook, Sulawesi Scops Owl, and Sulawesi Nightjar. Night near Tangkoko National Park.

Day 14-15: Tangkoko National Park is home to many lowland Sulawesi endemics, and with the help of excellent local guides we will spend two full days searching for some of the area’s specialties. Kingfishers are particularly well represented here, with Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher, and Green-backed Kingfisher all expected along forest trails. Other excellent birds include Red-backed Thrush, Ashy Woodpecker, Philippine Megapode, Yellow-breasted Racket-tail, Purple-winged Roller, Pied Cuckooshrike, and White-rumped Cuckooshrike. Tangkoko is also a good backup site for several more widespread species we may have missed earlier. The reserve is also famous for its mammals, so we may encounter Sulawesi Bear Cuscus, the fascinating Spectral Tarsier, and of course the charismatic Celebes Crested Macaque.

Day 16: This morning we will transfer to Manado Airport and catch a flight to Ternate, followed by a boat ride across the channel to Sidangoli on the coast of Halmahera. Upon arrival we will keep an eye out for Beach Kingfisher in the nearby mangroves before transferring to our hotel in Tobelo for the night. After dinner we will head out again in search of another prime target, the remarkable Moluccan Megapode. A boat ride will take us along dark volcanic sand beaches where this species lays its eggs. Watching these megapodes visiting their breeding sites in the dark will certainly be a highlight of the trip. Night in Tobelo.

Days 17-18-19-20: After a morning drive to Subaim, we will check-in and set ourselves up for the next four nights. This area holds all of Halmahera's endemic species, and we expect to find most (if not all) of them! One major highlight will be a morning visit to a recently built raised hide for Wallace’s Standardwing, originally commissioned by the BBC and now available for birders. This offers exceptional close views, often at eye-level, very different from the views at other sites closer to Foli. It is a life-changing experience to watch these incredible birds lekking at dawk, the males springing upward and parachuting back down with their white shoulder plumes fully flared. The moment a female enters the lek, this graceful aerial display shatters into a raucous and chaotic chorus.

Parrots will once again be prominent during our general birding. Expect the likes of Moluccan King Parrot, Chattering Lory, Violet-necked Lory, Moluccan Hanging Parrot and White Cockatoo. Pigeons and doves are well-represented, including Scarlet-breasted Fruit Dove, Blue-capped Fruit Dove, Spectacled Imperial Pigeon, Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, and the beautiful Great Cuckoo-Dove. Then of course there are more kingfishers, with Blue-and-white Kingfisher, Sombre Kingfisher, and Moluccan Dwarf Kingfisher being the standouts. We will also search for the stunning Ivory-breasted Pitta, North Moluccan Pitta, Halmahera Paradise-crow, and the tricky Azure Roller. 

Other key species include White-streaked Friarbird, Moluccan Myzomela, Black-chinned Whistler, Drab Whistler, Dusky-brown Oriole, Halmahera Cuckooshrike, Rufous-bellied Triller, “Halmahera” Common Cicadabird, “Halmahera” Spangled Drongo, Halmahera Golden Bulbul, Halmahera Leaf Warbler, Cream-throated White-eye and Halmahera Flowerpecker. There are a few more widespread species to be seen too, like Dusky Megapode, Great-billed Parrot, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Moluccan Cuckooshrike, Moluccan Flycatcher, Moluccan Monarch and White-naped Monarch. Raptors sometimes include the scarce Halmahera Goshawk and Gurney’s Eagle, while at night we will search for the much-wanted Moluccan Owlet-nightjar and any other nocturnal species we may still be missing. Nights in Subaim.

Day 21: From Subaim we will transfer back to Ternate Airport (TTE), where the tour ends this afternoon.