JAVA, BALI & KALIMANTAN (BORNEO) TOUR REPORT 2023

27 August / 1 - 14 September 2023

by Dáni Balla

Birding along three of the large islands of the Greater Sundas and seeing a good selection of the birds here, from which are many endemic or range-restricted species, is the main goal of this tour and we did a great job again this year!
The tour started with the pre-extension on the Indonesian side of Borneo which after we flew to Jakarta to begin the main tour which ended on Bali. Some of the sites are easily birded and some difficult but with a great local team supporting us we did very well finding great species as Sunda Teal, Chestnut-bellied and Grey-breasted Partridge, Green Peafowl, Green Junglefowl, Volcano Swiftlet, Salvadori’s Nightjar, Javan Frogmouth, Sunda (Javan) Coucal, Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove, Sumatran Green Pigeon, Pink-headed Fruit Dove, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Javan Plover, Javan Hawk-Eagle, Brown Boobook, Javan Owlet, Reddish-, Javan and Sunda Scops Owls, Javan Trogon, both races of Banded Kingfisher, Javan-, Cerulean- and Javan Blue-banded Kingfishers, Brown-throated, Flame-fronted, Yellow-eared and Brown Barbets, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, Javan Flameback, Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot, Banded (Javan) Broadbill, Javan Banded Pitta, Garnet Pitta, Javan and Sunda Cuckooshrikes, Pied and Trilling Shrike-babblers, Sunda and Scarlet (Javan) Minivets, Javan Oriole, Rufous-tailed Fantail, Bornean Black Magpie, Hairy-backed, Charlotte’s, Ruby-throated, and Orange Spotted Bulbuls, Javan Tesia, Pygmy Bushtit, Sunda Warbler, Javan Bush Warbler,  Brown, Bar-winged and (Javan) Plain Prinias, Olive-backed Tailorbird, Mees’s White-eye, Grey-cheeked Tit-, Bold-striped Tit-, Crescent-chested, White-breasted, White-bibbed, Black-throated, Grey-hooded, Javan Black-capped and Bornean Black-capped Babblers. Javan Fulvetta, Javan, Bali, Black-winged (Grey-rumped and Grey-backed) Mynas, Javan Cochoa, Sunda and Scaly (Horsfield’s) Thrush, Rufous-tailed Shama, Pale Blue and Javan Blue Flycatchers, Fulvus-chested and Grey-chested Jungle Flycatchers,  Sunda and White-crowned (Javan) Forktails, Javan Whistling Thrush, Javan Leafbird, Yellow-rumped, Blood-breasted and Scarlet-headed Flowerpeckers, White-flanked and Javan Sunbirds, Java Sparrow, Dusky, White-capped and White-headed Munias and Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch. In Kalimantan we briefly saw Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo twice in a morning.
Others than birds we had a Banteng herd in Alas Purwo, and a selection of primates including Proboscis Monkeys, Javan Surili, East Javan and West Javan Lutung and Müller’s Bornean Gibbon during birding.

This year’s tour began with the extension in Kalimantan Borneo. Here we spent all our time birding in Sungai Wain Protection Forest, where a magnificent patch of lowland rainforest was providing us with some Bornean endemics to be added onto our list. Birding was challenging sometimes as the forest looked empty, but with patience we managed to see a selection of Babblers including the Bornean endemic Grey-hooded and Bornean Black-capped as well as Bold-striped Tit-, Short-tailed, Ferruginous, Sooty-capped and Abbot’s. We were very lucky with a Black-throated Babbler pair showing themselves unusually well. Searching canopy living birds resulted in seeing a cooperative Green Broadbill, Banded Broadbills and Bornean Black Magpies. Trogons were very shy in the forest but several attempts to see them finally made us succeed with both Red-naped and Diard’s. One morning we were lucky to find a calling Banded Kingfisher (the Bornean Black-faced race) which soon was showing itself nicely for us. The only feeding flock we connected with was deep inside the forest and had some Babblers, Black-naped Monarch, Hairy-backed Bulbuls and superb Spotted Fantails. Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher and Rufous-tailed Shama were commonly heard along the trails but seeing the latter one was way harder than the Flycatcher, but finally a pair came close enough to spot them on a late afternoon. Reaching the furthest point on the trail system rewarded us with a fantastic Garnet Pitta which took some time to lure closer so our local guide could spot it singing on a tree, completely open for us, thus later becoming the bird of the extension.
On the forest edge we found Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird and Olive-backed Sunbirds. The more open entrance path to the forest had Dusky Munia and Yellow-bellied (Bornean) Prinia. Birding along the boardwalk system and closer to the headquarters we found Brown Barbet, Buff-necked Woodpecker and Hooded Pitta.
We tried nightbirds a few times which resulted in great views of Brown Boobook, Sunda Scops Owl and Reddish Scops Owl. Large Frogmouth was only heard after some glimpsing it in the last rays of light in the early evening.

On our last morning in Sungai Wain, we finally heard calling Bornean Ground Cuckoo so we rushed to get closer and started luring the birds. The pair got closer and were answering for several minutes but only very obscured views were possible of one individual through the dense vegetation as it called from a perch. After the birds went silent, we marched further in the silent forest and an hour later another Ground Cuckoo started calling, which turned out to be even shyer despite the time we spent trying to see it.
After a last lunch in our nice hotel, we had an afternoon flight to Jakarta where we spent the night.

The main tour started in Jakarta and we were joined by Boas Emmanuel for a few days using his help to find what we needed. Our tour started with a logistical twist as we were informed about new regulations banning camping up on Gunung Gede literally a few days before landing on Java, so instead visiting the famous Volcano our local guides suggested visiting Kawah Putih instead. Thus – for logistic reasons – we started our tour driving to Gunung Halimun National Park where we spent the first two nights in the research centre which once was built to host the crew of mammal conservation projects. Our first night we went out to try for Javan Frogmouth which we found soon after leaving after dinner. The second calling individual was close enough to try our luck with and we had great views of this Javan endemic as a start. The next day we trekked up the trail going on the nearby ridge where we had scattered views of a loud pair of Large Wren-Babblers. Further up the trail we started collecting our targets and were delighted to find a flock of Spotted Crocias in the canopy as well as Brown-throated Barbet, Javan Oriole (a recent split from Black-and-crimson) and Sunda Minivet. We had lovely Blue Nuthatches in a flock which also had the endemic White-breasted Babbler, Javan Leafbird, Javan Fulvettas and more Spotted Crocias, other sections of the trail gave us Orange-breasted Trogon and an Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler. Afternoon we walked up to the tea plantations where we only had short views of Brown Prinia but spotted a flying Sumatran Green Pigeon which landed in the open for some scope views. On the way back a flighty pair of Orange-backed Woodpeckers and tame Pygmy Cupwings were seen. Leaving Halimun in the early morning we birded the entrance road where a pair of Sunda Forktails were the first birds spotted, then a good spot further down had at least three White-bibbed Babblers. The morning activity was at its peak when we had a nice feeding flock around us consisting of Blue and Velvet-fronted Nuthatches, a Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Mees’s White-eye, Sangkar White-eye, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Javan Fulvetta, Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Sunda and Scarlet Minivets and Trilling Shrike-Babbler. Black-banded Barbet and Banded (Javan) Broadbill were also seen here and we were relieved to find singing Javan Sunbirds just near the road. A Javan Hawk-Eagle was calling but only seen for a few seconds before perching then after dropping down from a big tree. The hot hours of the day were used to drive to Kawah Putih.

With Kawah Putih being a high volcano, we hoped that we would find most of our high elevation targets at Kawah Putih. We started with a short owling on the day we arrived after having dinner. Driving up to the spot known by Boas we were lucky to immediately find a Javan Scops-Owl which we were hoping for.
Early morning driving up Kawah Putih we immediately found a Scaly (Horsfield’s) Thrush near the road. As Crescent-chested Babblers were singing we lured them in before having breakfast and a hot coffee. Birding in the morning was fruiting and Sunda Warbler, Mees’s White-eye, Aberrant (Sunda) Bush Warbler were all easily seen in flocks which also had Rufous-tailed Fantail and Indigo Flycatcher. We had incredible views of Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch feeding near the road while Volcano Swiftlets were flying above us. In the dense undergrowth Javan Tesias were singing and with patience everyone had great views of this tiny skulker. Other birds we found in flocks were Blue Nuthatches, Mountain Leaf Warbler, Pied and Trilling Shrike-Babbler and Javan Fulvetta while a Javan Whistling Thrush was followed into the forest to have good looks of. We found a small flock of Chestnut-bellied Partridge feeding near the road in the safe cover of the dense undergrowth challenging us to spot them. Our most shining highlight of the day though was a magical Javan Cochoa which sang in front of us for several minutes showing himself from every angle. Near to our hotel a pair of Javan Kingfishers were a nice surprise to find. In the evening we went back to the higher elevations and easily found Salvadori’s Nightjar which performed greatly soon after arriving back at our hotel we heard and then lured in Sunda Scops-Owl, finally everyone having good looks of the species to finish the day. Our second and last morning on Kawah Putih we had one target left to find, which we luckily tracked down before our on-site breakfast – Javan Trogon. We were lucky to find not one, but three individuals of this beautiful endemic hanging around in a fantastic looking valley of the hillside. A Sunda Thrush was seen feeding on the shoulder of the road and Horsfield’s Thrush was spotted again. Birding near the top we had friendly Little Pied and Indigo Flycatchers, Mees’s White-eyes, Sunda Warblers stunning White-flanked Sunbirds, Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers and we found Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch again.

Again, the hot hours of the day were used to relocate our group and after driving a few hours we found ourselves in the Cibodas Botanical Gardens waiting at a huge fruiting tree for birds to turn up. We heard a flock of Pygmy Bushtits from the carpark but the first birds spotted were feeding high in the canopy, luckily later as they were leaving the spot, they came down eyelevel showing themselves clearly. Our other main target here was the Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot, which was trickier to find on the same tree, but eventually everyone got on the birds as some were climbing between the branches. Other birds visiting the old giant tree were Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Sunda Cuckooshrike, Cinereous Tit and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch to mention a few. To end the day a White-crowned (Javan) Forktail was seen at the stream and we had a fantastic encounter with a Sunda Thrush almost from the dining room.

Our last morning on West Java and with our local team here and Boas was spent with an easy walk in the Cibodas Garden where we connected with two Sunda Thrush, a flock of Pygmy Bushtits, Horsfield’s Babbler, Lesser Shortwing, Javan Munia and also had great views of Orange-spotted Bulbul, Flame-fronted Barbet and some other more widespread birds before driving back to Jakarta for an afternoon flight to Yogyakarta.

In Yogyakarta we met Más, our local guide for the rest of the tour. Our first morning birding we visited two coastal sites near Yogyakarta with the main target being the Sunda (Javan) Coucal which we saw two individuals of at the first spot, where Cerulean Kingfisher, Ruddy-breasted Crake and our first Javan Plovers were also bagged while above the sea we found a Black-naped and a Greater Crested Tern. After driving up to the northern coast of Central Java we had just enough time to visit a huge area with rice fields where we hoped to see Munias. It did not take too long to locate the first bigger flock feeding in the never-ending green habitat, with telescope we were enjoying both White-capped and White-hooded Munias. Hundreds of birds were flying in the air from both species and also Scaly-breasted as they were all heading to the same direction, probably their roosting site as it was the very end of the day. We reached our hotel in Pekalongan city in the dark and enjoyed a dinner on the rooftop while Savannah Nightjars calling and hunting above us were the last surprises of the day.

An early start in the morning to reach a village south to Pekalongan was worth making, as we reached a hide at a stony riverbed in time to find the critically endangered Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher landing on a perch literally a few meters in front of us. It has never been an easy species to see but other than this recently established stake out, currently it is not available without a decent amount of luck anywhere else. A short birding stops after leaving the hide was made on the way back to Pekalongan where we found our first Grey-cheeked Tit-Babblers and Yellow-eared Barbets on the tour. After reaching our hotel we drove towards Surabaya for the night.

Near Surabaya we visited a set of fishponds surrounded by mangrove habitat in the morning in search of the endangered Javan White-eye. Our attempt resulted in a single individual in flight only. Otherwise, we collected a nice set of birds here including Lemon-bellied White-eye, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker,  White-shouldered Triller in the bushes, while Javan Plover, Tibetan Plover (formerly Lesser Sand Plover) and Australasian Grebes were seen on the waterside. As we drove towards Baluran, we had a few stops where we tried to have better views of the White-eye without luck, though collecting Yellow-bellied Prinia, the blythi race of Plain Prinia, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker and Brown-throated Sunbird were worth stopping for.

Reaching Baluran National Park we initiated birding in the early morning finding more than a dozen Green Junglefowl and a Javan Banded Pitta along the roadside while searching for another endangered species, the Black-winged Myna. The local form of the species may be split as Grey-backed Myna in the future, raising further concern of its conservation status. We were lucky to locate two pairs of which one perched for us in the nice morning lights. We saw good numbers of Sunda Collared Dove here and a tree with Small Minivets, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Cinereous Tit aside a pair of Javan Flamebacks being the best species there.

From Baluran we headed to the Ijen plateau, where we still had a short afternoon birding just enough to find a Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon in the forest besides Black-banded Barbet and Blue Nuthatches. After spending the night in a nice resort, we drove up the mountain to start our birding time in a hide, where we waited until the Grey-breasted (White-faced) Partridges turned up. We had six individuals of these fantastic ground-dwellers performing, while other harder to see species like Lesser Shortwing, Snowy-browed and Pale-blue Flycatchers were also taking the bait from the feeding area. As the best birding time of the day was spent in the hide, we had to work very hard to find the rest of the species, but we did well with the challenge and found White-bibbed Babbler, Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove, Checker-throated Woodpecker (a.k.a. Javan Yellownape), Sunda Cuckooshrike, Mountain Leaf Warbler, Mees’s White-eye in the forest. Further up the plateau we managed to see a Javan Bush Warbler in the understory of a more open patch of forest. The icing on the cake arrived in the afternoon when finally, we found Pink-headed Fruit Doves on a fruiting tree and we enjoyed its stunning colour-composition through the telescope until we decided to leave. Unfortunately, Javan Scimitar-Babbler was only heard and the one time it came closer it only presented for a brief second for Más.

As we had not heard any other new birds calling, we decided that next morning we will leave the resort at Ijen in the very early morning to arrive at Alas Purwo at first lights. This turned out to be the right decision as we were lucky to hear a singing Javan Blue Flycatcher as soon as we arrived. It did not take us much time to locate the bird and not much later we also saw the female as well. Driving further in we checked a patch of more open, savanna like grassland where a small herd of Banteng were grazing in the company of Green Peafowls, Javan Kingfisher, two Lesser Adjutants, Yellow-eared Barbets etc. After having our breakfast on site, we tried a hide where finally we had proper views of Javan Banded Pitta and Horsfield’s Babbler while a pair of Javan Black-capped Babblers were appearing as tiny gems of the forest floor. After leaving the hide we tracked down a Ruby-throated Bulbul and found a female Banded Kingfisher sitting near the trail seemingly not disturbed by our close presence. Before leaving the national park, we had a last spot where we finally heard a calling Javan Owlet but it was not showing itself, but we did see a pair of Maroon-breasted Philentomas and met a noisy group of Oriental Pied Hornbills  which was joined by a Rhinoceros Hornbill. After leaving the site we drove to the ferry where we crossed the Bali Strait in the afternoon.

Reaching Bali in the late afternoon we still had enough time to have a quick visit to Bali Barat National Park where we were lucky to find a Bali Myna and had short views of the local form of Black-winged Myna, later might be split as Grey-rumped Myna. The next morning, we were joined by Hery Kusamanegara to help us finding even more Bali Mynas and Black-winged Starlings in the area where we also saw Bar-winged Prinia, Orange-breasted and Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Javan Myna, Lineated and Coppersmith’s Barbet. We had a short visit to a local hide where we added Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher to our list and enjoyed the great views of Olive-backed Tailorbird and another Javan Banded Pitta. Our search for Javan Owlet in the area did not end with a positive result and after lunch we said goodbye to Hery and continued towards Denpasar. Más had two more sites in his bag for us on the way, the first one a gully where a Javan Owlet was not just calling back, but showing itself, even if it was flying by only a few times. As we reached our bus another individual was calling but the perched bird was almost impossible to see in the telescope. The site also had White-crowned Forktail, Javan Munias and a pair of Black-naped Fruit Dove. The second site being the last one as well for the day and the time we birded together with Más was a bus station where Java Sparrows were hanging around for our honest surprise. We arrived at our hotel in the dark and had a delicious dinner as the last one of the tour.

Next morning, we had a short visit to the local sewage treatment ponds where we added a few more widespread species to our list and a pair of Sunda Teals to end our successful tour in the region.

BIRD OF THE TOUR

1^st       Javan Banded Pitta

2^nd       Bali Myna

3^rd       Javan Trogon

4^th       Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher

5^th       Javan Black-capped Babbler

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v13.2) (this was the current version when the checklist for the tour report was created).

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in parentheses at the end of the species comment.

BIRDS

Sunda Teal ◊  Anas gibberifrons A pair was seen at Nusa Dua sewage treatment system in Denpasar.

Chestnut-bellied Partridge ◊  Arborophila javanica Endemic. Three birds were feeding in the undergrowth at Kawah Putih, obscured views.

Grey-breasted Partridge ◊ (White-faced P)  Arborophila orientalis Endemic. The hide at Ijen had 6 individuals.

Great Argus ◊  Argusianus argus Heard-only. Only one distant bird calling on one morning in Sungai Wain.

Green Peafowl ◊  Pavo muticus Many seen in Baluran and Alas Purwo NP.

Green Junglefowl ◊  Gallus varius Easily seen in East Java and Bali.

Red Junglefowl  Gallus gallus Best seen from the hide at Ijen.

Large-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus macrurus Heard-only.

Savanna Nightjar  Caprimulgus affinis Seen from the dinner table in Pekalongan.

Salvadori’s Nightjar ◊  Caprimulgus pulchellus Fantastic views on Kawah Putih.

Large Frogmouth ◊  Batrachostomus auratus One responding loudly in Sungai Wain, glimpsed before dark by some.

Javan Frogmouth ◊  Batrachostomus javensis Endemic. Seen in Gunung Halimun NP.

Grey-rumped Treeswift  Hemiprocne longipennis

Plume-toed Swiftlet ◊  Collocalia affinis

Cave Swiftlet (Linchi S)  Collocalia linchi

Volcano Swiftlet ◊  Aerodramus vulcanorum Endemic. A few seen on Kawah Putih.

Edible-nest Swiftlet  Aerodramus fuciphagus

Silver-rumped Spinetail ◊  Rhaphidura leucopygialis Two seen above the pond at Sungai Wain.

House Swift  Apus nipalensis

Sunda Coucal ◊ (Javan C)  Centropus nigrorufus Endemic. Two seen near the coast at Yogyakarta.

Greater Coucal  Centropus sinensis Heard-only.

Bornean Ground Cuckoo ◊  Carpococcyx radiceus Endemic. Three birds recorded in Sungai Wain, obscured views of one which perched while calling.

Raffles’s Malkoha  Rhinortha chlorophaea

Red-billed Malkoha  Zanclostomus javanicus

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha  Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Asian Koel (Common K)  Eudynamys scolopaceus

Plaintive Cuckoo  Cacomantis merulinus

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo  Cacomantis sepulcralis

Indian Cuckoo  Cuculus micropterus Heard-only

Sunda Cuckoo ◊  Cuculus lepidus Heard-only.

Rock Dove (introduced)  Columba livia

Sunda Collared Dove ◊  Streptopelia bitorquata Good numbers in East Java

Spotted Dove  Spilopelia chinensis

Barred Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia unchall

Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove ◊  Macropygia emiliana One seen at Ijen.

Little Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia ruficeps

Common Emerald Dove  Chalcophaps indica

Zebra Dove (introduced)  Geopelia striata

Little Green Pigeon  Treron olax Two birds in flight at Nusa Dua sewage treatment system in Denpasar.

Pink-necked Green Pigeon  Treron vernans

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon  Treron bicinctus

Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon ◊  Treron griseicauda

Sumatran Green Pigeon ◊  Treron oxyurus Near-endemic. A bird scoped in Gunung Halimun NP, another seen the following day in flight.

Pink-headed Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus porphyreus Near-endemic. Two stunning birds seen at Ijen.

Black-naped Fruit Dove ◊  Ptilinopus melanospilus A pair seen on the way to Denpasar.

Green Imperial Pigeon  Ducula aenea

Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon ◊  Ducula lacernulata Many heard and a few seen on the Ijen plateau.

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

Ruddy-breasted Crake  Zapornia fusca One seen at the coastal wetland near Yogyakarta.

White-browed Crake  Poliolimnas cinereus

White-breasted Waterhen  Amaurornis phoenicurus

Australasian Grebe  Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Barred Buttonquail  Turnix suscitator One flushed behind the leader in Bali Barat.

Pied Stilt (White-headed S)  Himantopus leucocephalus Three individuals near Surabaya.

Pacific Golden Plover  Pluvialis fulva

Grey Plover (Black-bellied P)  Pluvialis squatarola

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius

Kentish Plover  Charadrius alexandrines A few seen near Surabaya together with Javan Plovers.

Javan Plover ◊  Charadrius javanicus Endemic. 4 and 3 birds seen on two sites near Yogyakarta, and further 6 birds seen near Surabaya.

Tibetan Sand Plover  Charadrius atrifrons A few birds seen near Yogyakarta

Greater Sand Plover  Charadrius leschenaultii

Eurasian Curlew  Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit  Limosa lapponica

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea

Long-toed Stint  Calidris subminuta

Red-necked Stint (Rufous-n S)  Calidris ruficollis

Sanderling  Calidris alba

Terek Sandpiper  Xenus cinereus

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Marsh Sandpiper  Tringa stagnatilis

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Greater Crested Tern  Thalasseus bergii

Little Tern  Sternula albifrons

Black-naped Tern  Sterna sumatrana

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida

Lesser Adjutant  Leptoptilos javanicus Two at Alas Purwo NP.

Oriental Darter  Anhinga melanogaster

Little Pied Cormorant  Microcarbo melanoleucos A few at Nusa Dua sewage treatment system in Denpasar.

Little Black Cormorant  Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus A flock of several hundred seen at rice fields near Pekalongan.

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

Striated Heron (Little H)  Butorides striata

Javan Pond Heron  Ardeola speciosa

Eastern Cattle Egret  Bubulcus coromandus

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea

Great Egret (Eastern G E)  Ardea [alba] modesta

Intermediate Egret  Ardea intermedia

Little Egret (Black-footed E)  Egretta [garzetta] nigripes

Pacific Reef Heron (P R Egret)  Egretta sacra Two seen at Nusa Dua sewage treatment system in Denpasar.

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus

Crested Serpent Eagle  Spilornis cheela

Javan Hawk-Eagle ◊  Nisaetus bartelsi One bird seen as it landed and dropped from a tree at G. Halimun NP.

Black Eagle  Ictinaetus malaiensis

Brahminy Kite  Haliastur indus

Grey-headed Fish Eagle  Icthyophaga ichthyaetus One at Nusa Dua in Denpasar.

Eastern Barn Owl  Tyto javanica Heard-only.

Brown Boobook  Ninox scutulata Seen very well in Sungai Wain, ssp. borneensis.

Javan Owlet ◊  Glaucidium castanopterum Endemic. Heard in E Java and seen in flight a few times on Bali.

Reddish Scops Owl ◊  Otus rufescens Seen in Sungai Wain.

Javan Scops Owl ◊  Otus angelinae Endemic. Seen easily at Kawah Putih.

Sunda Scops Owl ◊  Otus lempiji Seen in Sungai Wain and at Kawah Putih as well.

Javan Trogon ◊  Apalharpactes reinwardtii Endemic. Three individuals together seen on Kawah Putih.

Red-naped Trogon  Harpactes kasumba Seen in Sungai Wain.

Diard’s Trogon  Harpactes diardii Seen in Sungai Wain.

Orange-breasted Trogon ◊  Harpactes oreskios Seen in G. Halimun NP, nominate race.

Rhinoceros Hornbill  Buceros rhinoceros Heard in Sungai Wain and one seen in Alas Purwo.

Oriental Pied Hornbill  Anthracoceros albirostris

Black Hornbill  Anthracoceros malayanus Seen in Sungai Wain.

Oriental Dollarbird (Common D)  Eurystomus orientalis

Banded Kingfisher  Lacedo pulchella A female seen in Alas Purwo.

Banded Kingfisher ◊ (Black-faced K)  Lacedo [pulchella] melanops A male showing well in Sungai Wain.

Stork-billed Kingfisher  Pelargopsis capensis

White-throated Kingfisher  Halcyon smyrnensis An unexpected individual at Sungai Wain pond.

Javan Kingfisher ◊  Halcyon cyanoventris Endemic. Seen a few times in both West and East Java.

Collared Kingfisher  Todiramphus chloris

Sacred Kingfisher  Todiramphus sanctus

Cerulean Kingfisher ◊ (Small Blue K)  Alcedo coerulescens Endemic. Several observations on East Java and Bali.

Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher  Alcedo euryzona Endemic. A pair seen from the hide near Pekalongan.

Blue-eared Kingfisher  Alcedo meninting Seen in Sungai Wain.

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Rufous-backed K)  Ceyx erithaca Seen in Sungai Wain, but views from the hide on Bali are unbeatable.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater  Merops philippinus

Blue-throated Bee-eater  Merops viridis

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater  Merops leschenaulti

Lineated Barbet  Psilopogon lineatus A few birds seen in Bali Barat NP.

Brown-throated Barbet ◊  Psilopogon corvinus Endemic. Two birds seen in Gunung Halimun NP.

Red-crowned Barbet ◊  Psilopogon rafflesii Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Black-banded Barbet ◊ (Javan B)  Psilopogon javensis Endemic. Seen a few times on Java.

Flame-fronted Barbet ◊ (Orange-f B)  Psilopogon armillaris Endemic. Commonly heard across Java, seen a few times, best views in Cibodas Botanical Garden.

Yellow-eared Barbet ◊ (Horsfield’s B)  Psilopogon australis Endemic. A few seen well in East Java.

Blue-eared Barbet ◊ (Black-eared B)  Psilopogon [duvaucelii] duvaucelii Seen in Sungai Wain.

Coppersmith Barbet  Psilopogon haemacephalus

Brown Barbet ◊  Caloramphus fuliginosus Endemic. Seen in Sungai Wain.

Rufous Piculet  Sasia abnormis

Grey-and-buff Woodpecker ◊  Hemicircus [concretus] sordidus Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker  Yungipicus moluccensis

Freckle-breasted Woodpecker ◊  Dendrocopos analis Seen on E Java and Bali.

White-bellied Woodpecker  Dryocopus javensis Heard a few times, leader only sighting in Baluran NP.

Banded Woodpecker  Chrysophlegma miniaceus One seen in Sungai Wain.

Checker-throated Woodpecker ◊ (Javan Yellownape)  Chrysophlegma [mentale] mentale Endemic. One seen at Ijen.

Crimson-winged Woodpecker  Picus puniceus

Javan Flameback ◊  Chrysocolaptes strictus Endemic. A pair seen in Baluran NP.

Maroon Woodpecker  Blythipicus rubiginosus Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Orange-backed Woodpecker  Reinwardtipicus validus A pair briefly seen in Gunung Halimun NP.

Rufous Woodpecker  Micropternus brachyurus Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Buff-necked Woodpecker  Meiglyptes tukki One seen in Sungai Wain.

Black-thighed Falconet  Microhierax fringillarius

Spotted Kestrel ◊ (Moluccan K)  Falco moluccensis

Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot ◊  Loriculus pusillus Endemic. Seen well in Cibodas and flight views on the East.

Banded Broadbill  Eurylaimus javanicus The race brookei seen in Sungai Wain and the nominate race (a.k.a. Javan Broadbill) seen in Halimun and Alas Purwo.

Black-and-yellow Broadbill  Eurylaimus ochromalus Heard-only.

Green Broadbill  Calyptomena viridis A cooperative bird in Sungai Wain.

Javan Banded Pitta ◊  Hydrornis guajanus Endemic. Superb views from the hides in the East.

Garnet Pitta ◊  Erythropitta granatina The gem of Sungai Wain, one seen very well.

Hooded Pitta  Pitta sordida Several recorded in Sungai Wain.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Flyeater)  Gerygone sulphurea

Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike  Hemipus hirundinaceus

Maroon-breasted Philentoma  Philentoma velata A pair seen in Alas Purwo.

White-breasted Woodswallow  Artamus leucorynchus

Common Iora  Aegithina tiphia

Green Iora  Aegithina viridissima

Small Minivet  Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Sunda Minivet ◊  Pericrocotus miniatus Endemic. Several flocks seen across Java.

Scarlet Minivet ◊ (Javan M)  Pericrocotus [speciosus] siebersi Endemic. 4 individuals seen together with Sunda Minivets in Gunung Halimun NP.

Javan Cuckooshrike ◊  Coracina javensis Endemic. One seen in Kawah Putih and a few more in Bali Barat NP.

Sunda Cuckooshrike ◊  Coracina larvata Endemic. Four seen at Ijen.

White-shouldered Triller  Lalage sueurii

Pied Triller  Lalage nigra

Lesser Cuckooshrike  Lalage fimbriata

Mangrove Whistler  Pachycephala cinerea Heard-only.

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius schach

Pied Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius flaviscapis Endemic. Several sightings in W Java.

Trilling Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius aenobarbus Endemic. Best views in Gunung Halimun NP.

Javan Oriole ◊  Oriolus cruentus Endemic. Two seen in Gunung Halimun NP.

Bronzed Drongo  Dicrurus aeneus Two in Sungai Wain.

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus paradiseus Seen in Sungai Wain.

Ashy Drongo  Dicrurus leucophaeus

Black Drongo  Dicrurus macrocercus

Malaysian Pied Fantail  Rhipidura javanica

Spotted Fantail  Rhipidura perlata Two in a mixed flock in Sungai Wain.

Rufous-tailed Fantail ◊  Rhipidura phoenicura Endemic. A few seen on Kawah Putih.

Black-naped Monarch  Hypothymis azurea

Bornean Black Magpie ◊  Platysmurus aterrimus Endemic. Good views of 3 in Sungai Wain.

Racket-tailed Treepie  Crypsirina temia

Large-billed Crow  Corvus macrorhynchos

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher  Culicicapa ceylonensis

Cinereous Tit (Grey T)  Parus cinereus

Hairy-backed Bulbul ◊  Tricholestes criniger Easily seen in Sungai Wain.

Yellow-bellied Bulbul  Alophoixus phaeocephalus A few seen in Sungai Wain.

Grey-cheeked Bulbul  Alophoixus tephrogenys Brief views of a family in Sungai Wain.

Brown-cheeked Bulbul ◊ (Melodious B)  Alophoixus bres Heard-only in Halimun.

Charlotte’s Bulbul ◊  Iole charlottae Endemic. A single bird seen in Sungai Wain.

Ruby-throated Bulbul ◊  Rubigula dispar Endemic. Seen in Alas Purwo.

Cream-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus simplex

Olive-winged Bulbul  Pycnonotus plumosus

Orange-spotted Bulbul ◊  Pycnonotus bimaculatus Near-endemic. Best sightings in Cibodas.

Yellow-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus goiavier

Sooty-headed Bulbul (introduced)  Pycnonotus aurigaster

Pacific Swallow  Hirundo tahitica

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica

Striated Swallow  Cecropis striolata

Pygmy Cupwing (P Wren-babbler)  Pnoepyga pusilla

Mountain Tailorbird (M Leaftoiler)  Phyllergates cucullatus

Aberrant Bush Warbler ◊ (Sunda B W)  Horornis [flavolivaceus] vulcanius Easily seen on Kawah Putih and Ijen.

Javan Tesia ◊  Tesia superciliaris Endemic. Many heard and a few seen on Kawah Putih.

Pygmy Bushtit ◊ (P Tit)  Aegithalos exilis Endemic. Flocks seen in Cibodas Botanical Garden.

Sunda Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus grammiceps Near-endemic. Easily seen on Kawah Putih.

Javan Bush Warbler ◊  Locustella montis A singing bird seen at the higher elevation zone in Ijen.

Striated Grassbird  Megalurus palustris

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis

Brown Prinia  Prinia polychroa Brief views a few times at Halimun’s tea plantations.

Bar-winged Prinia  Prinia familiaris Endemic. One in Bali Barat NP.

Yellow-bellied Prinia  Prinia flaviventris

Yellow-bellied Prinia (Bornean P)  Prinia [flaviventris] latrunculus Endemic. One seen at Sungai Wain entrance.

Plain Prinia ◊ (Javan P P)  Prinia [inornata] blythi  Endemic. One seen in East Java.

Common Tailorbird  Orthotomus sutorius

Rufous-tailed Tailorbird  Orthotomus sericeus

Ashy Tailorbird  Orthotomus ruficeps

Olive-backed Tailorbird ◊ (Javan T)  Orthotomus sepium Endemic. Best views from the hide on Bali.

Mees’s White-eye ◊ (Javan Grey-throated W-e, J Helia)  Heleia javanica Endemic. Several sightings across Java.

Lemon-bellied White-eye ◊  Zosterops chloris A flock seen near Surabaya.

Javan White-eye ◊  Zosterops flavus Endemic. One in flight seen near Surabaya.

Sangkar White-eye  Zosterops melanurus

Grey-cheeked Tit-Babbler ◊  Mixornis flavicollis Endemic. Seen a few times in Central and East Java.

Bold-striped Tit-Babbler ◊  Mixornis bornensis Seen in Sungai Wain.

Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler  Macronus ptilosus

Grey-hooded Babbler  Cyanoderma bicolor Endemic. Seen in Sungai Wain.

Crescent-chested Babbler ◊  Cyanoderma melanothorax Endemic. Several heard across Java, seen well on Kawah Putih.

Rufous-fronted Babbler  Cyanoderma rufifrons Heard-only.

Javan Scimitar Babbler ◊  Pomatorhinus montanus Endemic. Heard-only at Ijen.

Black-throated Babbler ◊  Stachyris nigricollis Great views of a pair in Sungai Wain.

White-breasted Babbler ◊  Stachyris grammiceps Endemic. A few seen in G. Halimun NP.

Chestnut-rumped Babbler  Stachyris maculate Heard-only.

White-bibbed Babbler ◊  Stachyris thoracica Endemic. Seen well in Halimun and briefly at Ijen.

Large Wren-Babbler  Turdinus macrodactylus A pair seen briefly in Gunung Halimun NP.

Sooty-capped Babbler  Malacopteron affine

Scaly-crowned Babbler  Malacopteron cinereum

Rufous-crowned Babbler  Malacopteron magnum

Moustached Babbler ◊ (Bornean M B) Malacopteron [magnirostre] cinereocapilla Endemic. Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Javan Black-capped Babbler ◊  Pellorneum capistratum Endemic. A pair from Alas Purwo hide.

Bornean Black-capped Babbler ◊  Pellorneum capistratoides Endemic. Seen a few times in Sungai Wain.

Short-tailed Babbler ◊  Pellorneum malaccense Seen in Sungai Wain.

White-chested Babbler  Pellorneum rostratum Heard-only.

Ferruginous Babbler  Pellorneum bicolor

Abbott’s Babbler  Malacocincla abbotti

Horsfield’s Babbler  Malacocincla sepiaria

Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler  Napothera epilepidota The nominate form seen in Halimun and heard on other sites.

Javan Fulvetta ◊  Alcippe pyrrhoptera Endemic. Several birds seen in W Java.

Spotted Crocias ◊  Laniellus albonotatus Endemic. At least 6 seen in G. Halimun NP.

Blue Nuthatch  Sitta azurea

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch  Sitta frontalis

Common Hill Myna  Gracula religiosa

Javan Myna ◊  Acridotheres javanicus Endemic.

Black-winged Myna ◊ (Grey-backed Myna)  Acridotheres [melanopterus] tricolor Endemic. 4 at Baluran NP.

Black-winged Myna ◊ (Grey-rumped Myna)  Acridotheres [melanopterus] tertius Endemic. 18 at Bali Barat NP.

Bali Myna ◊  Leucopsar rothschildi Endemic. A total of 19 individuals seen in Bali Barat NP.

Javan Cochoa ◊  Cochoa azurea Endemic. A singing birds seen well on Kawah Putih

Sunda Thrush ◊  Zoothera andromedae One seen on Kawah Putih and at least 2 individuals in Cibodas.

Scaly Thrush ◊ (Horsfield’s T)  Zoothera [dauma] horsfieldi Endemic. Seen on Kawah Putih.

Rufous-tailed Shama ◊  Copsychus pyrropygus A pair seen in Sungai Wain and many others heard.

Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis unicolor After heard many nicely seen from Ijen hide.

Javan Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis banyumas A pair showing well in Alas Purwo.

Bornean Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis superbus Endemic. Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis olivaceus Great views of one from hide in Bali.

Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis umbratilis Seen a few in Sungai Wain.

Verditer Flycatcher  Eumyias thalassinus

Indigo Flycatcher ◊  Eumyias indigo Several seen at higher elevations on Java.

Lesser Shortwing  Brachypteryx leucophris

Sunda Forktail ◊ (Lesser F)  Enicurus velatus A pair seen in G. Halimun NP.

White-crowned Forktail ◊ (Javan F)  Enicurus [leschenaulti] leschenaulti Endemic. After heard a few in G. Halimun we saw one in Cibodas.

Javan Whistling Thrush ◊  Myophonus glaucinus Endemic. One seen on Kawah Putih.

Blue Whistling Thrush  Myophonus caeruleus

Little Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula westermanni

Snowy-browed Flycatcher  Ficedula hyperythra

Lesser Green Leafbird  Chloropsis cyanopogon Heard-only in Sungai Wain.

Javan Leafbird  Chloropsis cochinchinensis Endemic. Two seen in Gunung Halimun NP.

Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker  Prionochilus maculatus

Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker  Prionochilus percussus

Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker ◊  Prionochilus xanthopygius Endemic. A male seen in Sungai Wain.

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker  Dicaeum trigonostigma

Blood-breasted Flowerpecker ◊ (Javan F)  Dicaeum [sanguinolentum] sanguinolentum Endemic. Seen on Kawah Putih and in Cibodas Botanical Garden.

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker  Dicaeum cruentatum  Three at Sungai Wain.

Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker ◊  Dicaeum trochileum First seen in a roadside stop in West Java, few more seen in East Java and Bali.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird  Chalcoparia singalensis

Brown-throated Sunbird (Plain-t S)  Anthreptes malacensis

Olive-backed Sunbird ◊ (Ornate S)  Cinnyris [jugularis] ornatus

White-flanked Sunbird ◊  Aethopyga eximia Endemic. Great views on Kawah Putih.

Crimson Sunbird  Aethopyga siparaja

Javan Sunbird ◊  Aethopyga mystacalis Endemic. A few seen in G. Halimun NP.

Purple-naped Sunbird  Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum

Little Spiderhunter  Arachnothera longirostra

Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter  Arachnothera affinis Endemic. Several flight views across Java.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (introduced)  Passer montanus

Java Sparrow ◊ (introduced)  Padda oryzivora Endemic. 5 seen on Bali at a bus station.

Scaly-breasted Munia  Lonchura punctulata

Dusky Munia ◊  Lonchura leucogastra Endemic. A small flock near the pond at Sungai Wain.

Javan Munia ◊  Lonchura leucogastroides Endemic. Common across Java and Bali.

White-capped Munia ◊  Lonchura ferruginosa Endemic. Hundreds seen at the rice fields near Pekalongan.

White-headed Munia  Lonchura maja Even more seen than the above species at the rice fields near Pekalongan.

Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch ◊  Erythrura hyperythra Fantastic views of a few birds on Kawah Putih.

MAMMALS

Lesser Gymnure (L Moonrat)  Hylomys suillus Seen on Kawah Putih.

Javan Mongoose  Urva javanica Two seen in near Surabaya and one in Baluran.

Timor Deer (Rusa)  Rusa timorensis Small numbers in Baluran and Alas Purwo.

Banteng (Bali Cattle)  Bos javanicus A herd of 16 seen in Alas Purwo.

Domestic Water Buffalo (introduced)  Bubalus bubalis

Small Asian Sheath-tailed Bat  Emballonura alecto Sungai Wain POS1

Lesser Sheath-tailed Bat  Mosia nigrescens Sungai Wain POS1

Long-tailed Macaque (Long-tailed M)  Macaca fascicularis

Southern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina One seen near Sungai Wain.

Proboscis Monkey  Nasalis larvatus A few seen in Sungai Wain.

Javan Surili (Sunda L M)  Presbytis comata Seen in Halimun and on Kawah Putih.

Javan Lutung (East J L, Ebony Leaf Monkey)  Trachypithecus auratus Seen in Baluran and Ijen.

West Javan Langur (W J Lutung)  Trachypithecus mauritius Seen in Halimun and Cibodas.

Silvery Gibbon (Javan G)  Hylobates moloch Heard-only in G. Halimun NP.

Müller’s Bornean Gibbon  Hylobates muelleri Two seen in Sungai Wain.

Black-banded Squirrel (B-striped S)  Callosciurus nigrovittatus

Plantain Squirrel  Callosciurus notatus

Least Pygmy Squirrel Exilisciurus exilis A few seen in Sungai Wain.

Black-eared Pygmy Squirrel  Nannosciurus melanotis

Common Giant Flying Squirrel  Petaurista petaurista

Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel (Pale G S)  Ratufa affinis One in Sungai Wain.

Black Giant Squirrel  Ratufa bicolor