Sonder is a subdistrict town in Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. It is a beautiful destination for visiting birders.
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| Birding in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia |
It is surrounded by rivers, rice fields, farmland and forest. Most of its inhabitants work as Farmers. They grow such crops as kangkung, cabbage, carrot, corn, rice, peanuts, papaya, banana, tomato, chilli, coconut, clove and vannila. They run fish, pig and poultry farming. These agricultural and rainforest environments are good places for visiting birders to explore the diversity of the avifauna of Sulawesi island.
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| Black-naped Oriole |
In my recent birding tour with a British tourist in higher elevation forest of Sonder, we saw various species of birds including Crimson Sunbird, Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sulawesi Myzomela, Warbling White-eye, Sulawesi Pygmy Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Turquoise Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Malkoha, Sulawesi Drongo, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Gray-cheeked Green-pigeon, Sulawesi Bush Warbler, Black-faced Munia, Black-naped Oriole, and etc.
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| Crimson Sunbird |
There was also a call of Bay Coucal but we could not see it.
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| Gray-cheeked Green-pigeon |
Various kinds of butterflies could be seen in this high elevation forest of Sonder. There were Blanchard's Wood Nymph, Blanchard's Tree Nymph, The Clipper Butterfly, and Common Birdwing.
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| The Clipper Butterfly |
The small forest of Tounelet was also an interesting site for watching birds. We saw Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Chestnut Munia, Sahul Sunbird, Zebra Dove, Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo, Gray-sided Flowerpecker and Pale Blue Monarch.
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| Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove |
Another interesting birding site was the waterfall at the outskirts of Tincep village. We saw Sulawesi-crested Myna, Green Imperial Pigeon, White-rumped Thriller, Gray-rumped Treeswift and Black-naped Oriole. The scenery of the Kengkang waterfall was beautiful.
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| Hair-crested (White-eyed) Drongo |
Another interesting site for birding was the paddy field areas of Talikuran village. It was the habitat of Barred Rail, Buff-banded Rail, White-browed Crake, Little Egret, Cinnamon Bittern, Cattle Egret and Purple Heron.
Other birds such as Collared Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Munia, White-breasted Woodswallow, Rock Pigeon, Zebra Dove could also be seen in the area.
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| Collared Kingfisher |
As we explored more wooded areas of Sonder, we were able to see more interesting avifauna. When we were at the road that connected Sonder and Kiawa village, we saw Lessert Fish Eagle. At that time, we were looking for Brown-throated Sunbird, and Finch-billed Myna.
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| Finch-billed Myna |
Villagers in Sonder grew corn, peanuts, aubergine, tomato, spring onion, banana among the durian, coconut and clove trees.
Visitors could also explore the fish ponds and waterfall streams in Sonder. They could find Barn Swallow, Sulawesi Swiftlet, and Collared Kingfisher.
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| Black-faced Munia in North Sulawesi |
Villagers constructed concrete roads into deeper areas of farmlands to allow easier access for farmers to their cultivated lands. These roads could also be used by visitors to enjoy birding. The small town of Sonder is surrounded by farm Lands and rice field. It is a good destination for visitors who are interested in farm tour or just sight sering.
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| Paddy fields in Sonder is the site for watching water birds |
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| This is the small subdistrict town of Sonder in Minahasa regency |
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| Flight Route between Manado cities and some cities in Indonesia |
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| Car route from Manado city to Sonder town |
The average duration of the birding trip is around 3 to 4 days depending on the request of the visitors.
