Sumatra 02-10Aug08

From GC

Some quick notes. Was there from 02-10 Aug 2008.

Way Kambas
1) Bay Owl - seen on 1st night. Had to bash into forest from main track. Vocal, heard at 3 different locations along main track.
2) Brown Hawk Owl - seen on tree above main track. Very vocal, esp. at dusk and dawn.
3) Large Frogmouth - heard once at night and once at dawn, main track (Rangers know the usual place). Not seen.
4) Reddish Scops Owl - heard every night. Not seen.
5) Sunda Frogmouth - 2-3 second call heard from the canopy, presumably this species. Gould's Frogmouth, Bonaparte's Nightjar not even heard, nor responsive.

1) White-winged Duck - good views of 1 at Rawa Gajah 2.
2) Banded Pitta - seen twice at loop trail (500m in from main track). Once late afternoon (1 seen 1 heard) and once early morning (saw 2 birds).
3) Hooded Pitta (resident subsp, no brown cap) - seen well, from boat on the way back from Rawa Gajah.

Carita
1) Fulvous-breasted Flycatcher - 1st 1km of trail.
2) Black-banded Barbet - seen at waterfall area, common by call near waterfall area.
3) Grey-cheeked Tit-Babbler - near waterfall area.
4) Banded Pitta - heard at 3 locations along trail. Did not try to see it.

Gunung Gede
1) Mountain Serin - 2 at the 2nd, smaller clearing about 200m beyond the Hot Springs.
2) Chestnut-bellied Partridge - 3 between the junction to the waterfall and the Hot Springs, no distance markers, so difficult to tell exactly where.
3) Javan Frogmouth - seen just after dark near HM5.
4) Javan Tesia - common
5) Javan Whistling Thrush - common
6) Javan Fulvetta - common
7) White-flanked Sunbird - easy at the 'boardwalk' HM19 - HM22
8) Spotted Kestrel - 3 at the cliffs at the end of the golf course.
9) Rufous-tailed Fantail - twice, both in bird waves.
10) Javan Cochoa - heard at Mountain Serin place.
11) Barbets - heard only.

Did not go into the Botanic Gardens.

Gunung Halimun
1) Javan Trogon - 2 on waterfall trail
2) Brown-throated Barbet - right outside research centre! Also on Loop Trail and at fruiting fig on Kendeng Trail.
3) Orange-fronted Barbet - Loop Trail and at fruiting fig on Kendeng Trail.
4) White-bellied Fantail - Loop Trail.
5) Believe it or not - Reddish Scops Owl on waterfall trail, altitude around 1100m! Real small and compact bird. Brown back, brown iris and very rufous face.
6) Chestnut-bellied Partridge - common by call, including duetting call. Had 1 duetter 8m from trail, but only saw vegetation move.
7) Spotted Crocias - common by call, but not seen! They are always calling from high up.

At Halimun, I was shown a book on the Birds of Gunung Halimun (in Indonesian, with pictures and English and Latin names). I saw the Reddish Scops Owl in the book and asked the guide to show me the bird. On the first morning he saw it on the Kendeng Trail and on the 2nd morning I saw it on the Waterfall Trail!

Logistics/ Transportation

02 Aug - Sriwijaya Flight from Jakarta to Bandar Lampung Rp 490,000. Ticket office at Terminal 1B. Unofficial Taxi from Lampung airport to Hotel Kurnia 2 was Rp 100,000. Room was Rp 185,000. Kurnia 2 is next to a Carrefour supermarket where you can get supplies. Grand Hotel next door seems to be a better hotel at Rp 215,000.

03 - Same unofficial taxi to Way Kambas Rp 400,000, 2hr (driver's name Hendra, tel 08127973798, speaks little English). At Way Kambas entrance, paid Rp 148,000 for permit, pocket camera permit, car and driver permit, parking, etc. Another 45 min to Way Kanan. Be warned that if you are using big SLR cameras/lenses or videocams on tripods for "DOCUMENTATION", the fee is a staggering Rp 2.5 million! Pocket camera permit is only Rp 50,000, so bring a superzoom if you want to get some pictures of the birds. Room at the guesthouse is Rp 150,000, room only. Hot water and coffee available FOC. Bring own food or ask rangers to cook (cost money). Rangers compulsory when leaving the Way Kanan clearing for birding - Rp 150,000 each time. To go to Rawa Gajah for White-winged Duck is Rp 350,000 (ranger fee inclusive).

05 - Same unofficial taxi to Bakauheni Ferry Terminal Rp 500,000, 3 hr. Fast ferry (Kapal Cepat in Indonesian) to Merak, 1 hr, right most ticket counter signposted "KAPAL CEPAT, Rp 30,000". At Merak, got out of the bus terminal and took small minibus (local name Angkot) to Cilegon Rp 10,000. Another Angkot to Karong Bolong Rp 7,000. 1 more Angkot to Carita Rp 10,000 - must have been cheaper but driver did not give change, anyway... Carita - Sunset View Hotel, Rp 175,000 - aircon, hot shower. Fee for waterfall trail Rp 15,000, only if the booth is manned.

06 - Angkot to Labuan bus terminal Rp, 6,000. Bus to Serang then another to Bogor (very long journey), better to get off at Pandeglang and board a Bogor bus there. Dinner at KFC in Bogor, free internet! Taxi from under the overhead bridge outside KFC to Cibodas Rp 220,000. Stayed at Freddy's Homestay - Rp 100,000 with breakfast. Rp 150,000 for room (with breakfast) with attached bathroom. Gunung Gede entrance fee Rp 20,000 each day. Plenty of shops between Freddy's and Gunung Gede sell supplies.

08 - Same Bogor Taxi to Gunung Halimun Rp 500,000, 4.5hr. Room at research centre Rp 250,000, room only. Hot water and coffee free. Bring own supplies (can use the kitchen) or ask rangers to cook (cost money). A guide is compulsory Rp 75,000 per day (night extra Rp 25,000). Homestay at Citalahab village Rp 50,000, room only. Dinner and free flow hot water, coffee and tea another Rp 50,000. No entrance fees at Gunung Halimun.

10 - Same Bogor Taxi (driver's name Sadam, tel 02519238247, speaks Indonesian only) back to Bogor, also Rp 500,000, 4hr. Meal at KFC again! Airport bus across the road to airport (Rp 30,000, 1.5 hr, leaves every 30 mins) and flight home, sweet home.

Sumatran bird, not uncommon but not easy to see - Oriental Bay Owl.

Another Sumatran specialty - White-winged Wood Duck.This is one of the rarest (wild) ducks in the world.

Another Sumatran birdy - Hooded Pitta. Note the all black head, migrant races have a brown cap.