Day 3 at Tahura R.Soerjo

3 April 2012
I went to Watuondo with my friend (Budi Susanto) to find some birds. On the way to the Watu Ondo bridge we saw Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra vulcani), Sunda Bulbul (Ixos virescens virescens), Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni), and Sunda Bush Warbler (Cettia vulcania). Finally we arrived at the Watu Ondo bridge and below us, we saw one family of Javan Langur (Trachypithecus auratus) feeding on the tree.

photo: Si HITAM at the Watu Ondo Bridge


After that we go to Watu Ondo and have a breakfast (with Boas and Heru Cahyono). When we were eating breakfast, we heard the Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) calling from the forest. And suddenly one pair of Crested Serpent Eagle was out of the woods and soaring above us. Wow! What a nice view.

On the way back to Basecamp, we saw some birds like Flame-fronted Barbet (Megalaima armillaris armillaris), Sunda Minivet (Pericrocotus miniatus), Sunda Warbler (Seicercus grammiceps grammiceps), and Sunda Bulbul (Ixos virescens virescens). And we saw one family Javan Langur (Trachypithecus auratus) moving in the forest and they close to us (around 15-20 meters). Spectacular!

In the afternoon after we take a rest on our Basecamp, we went to Cangar Hot Springs again. Inside the forest we saw Horsfield's Thrush (Zoothera horsfieldi) foraging in the path. He was digging with his beak to get the earthworms. And sometimes he eats small bugs and small snail too.
Not only the Horsfield's Thrush, we saw Javan Whistling thrush (Myophonus glaucinus), Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis), Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra vulcani), and Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon (Ducula lacernulata) too.

Day 2 at Tahura R.Soerjo

I returned to Cangar Hot Springs for redo the Horsfield's Thrush (Zoothera horsfieldi). When i arrived, i saw two Horsfield's Thrush in the same place. But i just focus on one bird. These birds are very familiar with human presence, so he's not afraid to get close to the human. He's getting close to me, until my camera can't get the focus.


This is the most tame bird i've ever met.

After taking some picture of Horsfield's Thrush with my friend (Heru Cahyono), and my brother (Boas) we go to Jogging Track. We got so many birds here like Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra vulcani), Grey-throated Ibon (Lophozosterops javanicus javanicus), Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis ceylonensis), Blue Nuthatch (Sitta azurea azurea), and the others. We heard the Orange-breasted Trogon (Harpactes oreskios) and Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo) call too. This track is very recommended for bird watching, but watch your step because the track is quite steep and slippery.

Day 1 at Tahura R.Soerjo

Weather: Foggy, Cloudy, and rainy.

Can't get inside the forest because the weather is bad, so i just walking around basecamp. Behind the basecamp i saw one male Pink-headed Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus), Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni), Indigo Flycacther (Eumyias indigo), and some birds.
I never seen the Pink-headed Fruit-Dove before, this is my first time and the range is not so far.

After that i go to Cangar Hot Springs with my friend. Near the Hot Spring i got the Horsfield's Thrush (Zoothera horsfieldi). This bird is very tame, so we can get closer to this bird (around 2 meters) but it's too close for 500mm lens.
I'm so happy because this is my first time saw the Horsfield Thrush in close range.



Around 9.47pm we go to find some nocturnal bird. I'm using my speaker and play some call to attract the bird, but there's no respond. Finally i saw one Brown Wood Owl (Strix leptogrammica) perching on dead tree. I never seen this bird before, so this is my first time. And my friend said this is the first record for Tahura R. Soerjo.


to be continue....