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Reddish Scops Owl (image by Dáni Balla)

Sunda Scops Owl (image by Dáni Balla)

Salvadori's Nightjar (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Cochoa (image by Dáni Balla)

Savanna Nightjar (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Banded Pitta (image by Dáni Balla)

The ‘Horsfield’s Thrush’ is the local race of Scaly Thrush (image by Dáni Balla)

Black-faced Kingfisher is the Bornean endemic race of Banded Kingfisher (image by Dáni Balla)

Orange-spotted Bulbul (image by Dáni Balla)

View from above Kawah Putih, the name meaning White Crater (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Black-capped Babbler (image by Dáni Balla)

The nominate race of Banded Broadbill, also called Javan Broadbill (image by Dáni Balla)

Grey-bellied Partridge (image by Dáni Balla)

Brown Boobook (image by Dáni Balla)

Crescent-chested Babbler (image by Dáni Balla)

Our group enjoying scope views of Bali Myna in Bali Barat NP (image by Dáni Balla)

The stunning male of White-flanked Sunbird (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Cochoa (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Frogmouth (image by Dáni Balla)

Pygmy Tit (image by Dáni Balla)

Black-throated Babbler (image by Dáni Balla)

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (image by Dáni Balla)

East Javan Lutung (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher (image by Dáni Balla)

Banteng and Green Peafowl in Alas Purwo (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Trogon (image by Dáni Balla)

Bar-winged Prinia (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Scops Owl (image by Dáni Balla)

Pink-headed Fruit Dove (image by Dáni Balla)

Bali Myna (image by Dáni Balla)

Spotted Fantail (image by Dáni Balla)

The nominate race of Garnet Pitta (image by Dáni Balla)

Sunda Thrush (image by Dáni Balla)

Fulvous-chested Jungle-flycatcher (image by Dáni Balla)

Javan Plover (image by Dáni Balla)
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
1st Javan Banded Pitta
2nd Bali Myna
3rd Javan Trogon
4th Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher
5th 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