Amazing Tangkoko - Day 3 Part 2 (Post 11)

As soon as we got to our homestay, our friendly host excitedly mentioned that a Ruddy Kingfisher had been spotted near the river flowing right by us. 

After enjoying the sight of the kingfisher, we were thrilled to see probably a female Black Naped Fruit-Dove land in the tree right in front of us! 

But the bird action didn’t stop there! We also spotted Finchbill Myna joining the lively gathering of birds,

along with the eye-catching Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot. 

And just before lunch, we were delighted to see a Black-naped Fruit-Dove appear among the mix! 

After a little break, we headed back into the forest. While wandering through the undergrowth, we caught a glimpse of some shadows darting around. After a bit of chasing, we were lucky enough to identify a Philippine Megapode, despite the tricky lighting. 

After spending over an hour exploring, we finally spotted another amazing bird of Tangkoko: the Ochre-bellied Boobook! 

To wrap up our Day 3 at Tangkoko, we spotted a Lesser Coucal.

Later that evening, I took a stroll around our homestay in the light drizzle, soaking in the last moments here before we head to Tomohon tomorrow. It's hard to believe that three incredible days of birdwatching have flown by so quickly! 

Oh, and when the rain let up, we noticed swarms of termites buzzing around!

Temboan Hill Lookout - Day 3 Part 1 (Post 10)

On our third day at Tangkoko, we're off to explore the stunning Temboan Hill Lookout, which is just a short 20-minute drive away!

I fondly recall that this area was buzzing with parrot sightings on my last visit, and sure enough, the first bird we spotted was a vibrant Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot.

Just a little further along, we came across a White Necked Myna.

Then, to my delight, the Sulawesi Cicadabird made an appearance—this was a brand new species for me!

We also spotted another Bay Coucal, which seems to be quite common around here. Interestingly, even though they belong to the cuckoo family, coucals don’t engage in brood parasitism. 

The excitement hit a high when we laid eyes on the Sulawesi Dwarf Hornbill, also known as the Sulawesi Hornbill. The male features a striking yellow face and throat, while the female is entirely black.

As if that wasn’t enough, we were thrilled to see a pair of Knobbed Hornbills!

Just as the rain began to fall, a Sahul Sunbird appeared, looking quite similar to the Ornate Sunbird.

This place is a fantastic spot for birdwatching, and macro photography enthusiasts will love it too! There are plenty of opportunities to capture tiny creatures, like these wasps whose species I’m not sure of,

and some interesting flies.

I noticed a katydid resting on each flower,

and I spotted some birds perched on a wire that I believe were Gray-rumped Treeswifts.

While we were watching the treeswifts, a beautiful White-bellied Imperial-Pigeon flew gracefully across the sky. 

Following closely behind, a flock of Finchbill Mynas joined in the fun, 

landing nearby for a closer look.

One "rare" highlight was spotting a non-endemic bird, the Sooty Headed Bulbul,

along with another non-endemic visitor, the Black-naped Oriole.

I even caught sight of a Grey-sided Flowerpecker perched atop a Sahul Sunbird.

As we wrapped up our adventure and prepared to head back to our homestay, a pair of Barred Rails made a delightful final appearance, making our day even more special!

Captivating Tangkoko Forest - Day 2 Part 2 (Post 8)

While we were waiting for our lunch to arrive after an awesome time exploring Tangkoko Forest in the morning, we decided to do some birdwatching around our homestay.

We spotted a Sulawesi Hanging-Parrot chilling on a bamboo plant not too far from us.

Then, a pretty big bird zoomed by, and I managed to snap a quick photo before it flew off. That one was a Yellow-billed Malkoha. They usually hang around the Sulawesi Black Crested Macaque since when the monkeys jump around, they flush out insects, which the malkoha loves to snack on.

We also saw a Black-naped Fruit-Dove sitting quietly under some thick leaves. 

Another bird we noticed was the Hair-crested Drongo. This one is pretty common in Tangkoko, but the cool thing is that the drongos here have white eyes, which you don’t see in other places.

We spotted a Sahul Sunbird, which looks a lot like the Ornate Sunbird from Singapore. They used to be called Olive Sunbirds (just like in Singapore before) until they figured out they were their own species.

Here’s a side view of the Sahul Sunbird. Don’t they look similar to the Ornate Sunbird?

We also caught a glimpse of a Barred Rail hiding in the thick undergrowth.

Right before our lunch arrived, we saw a Chestnut Munia pop up.

After we ate, we took a quick break and then planned to hop on a boat to head out to the mangroves on the other side of Tangkoko Forest for the next part of our adventure.

Captivating Tangkoko Forest - Day 2 Part 1 (Post 7)

Our adventure in Sulawesi is off to an amazing start! We’ve been exploring Tangkoko Forest after enjoying a delightful morning of birdwatching around our cozy homestay and a tasty breakfast.

Just as we were about to step into the forest, a tiny, vibrant bird landed right in front of us. To our surprise, it turned out to be the elusive Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher! What a fantastic way to kick off the day.

Exploring the forest by day has given us a whole new perspective on Tangkoko. We’re surrounded by towering trees, some with trunks that are over 2.5 meters wide!

Since it's still the monsoon season here, we’re seeing mushrooms blooming in various spots throughout the forest.

A large part of Tangkoko is made up of primary forest, and as we venture deeper, we encounter even more gigantic trees.

We also spotted many durian-like fruits hanging from the vine-like trunks of the liana plants.

As the rain started pouring down, we found refuge under the broad leaves of a fan fern.

Once the rain eased up, we spotted another target for the day: the endemic Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher.

Not too far from the Lilac Kingfisher, we also saw the impressive Green-backed Kingfisher.

Following a distinctive call, we were thrilled to see a flock of endemic Ashy Woodpeckers.

Just before wrapping up our morning in Tangkoko Forest, we caught a glimpse of the Knobbed Hornbill, also known as the Sulawesi wrinkled hornbill.

We’re so excited to see what other wonders await us for the rest of our trip!

Sulawesi Dwarf Squirrel: A Unique Species of Indonesia

One of the creatures that always confuse me when detecting for birds are squirrels. One of the method that I use to detect birds are through movements or activities. In Tangkoko, Sulawesi Dwarf Squirrel is one that always give me a false detection of birds.

The Sulawesi dwarf squirrel (Prosciurillus murinus) is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. It primarily inhabits tropical rainforests and mountainous regions, thriving in environments ranging from lowland to higher elevations.

This species is small in size, with adults typically measuring around 30 to 40 cm in length, including a bushy tail that is nearly as long as its body. Its fur is soft and dense, often displaying a rich brown coloration with lighter underparts, providing excellent camouflage within its forested habitat.

The Sulawesi dwarf squirrel is primarily herbivorous, feeding on fruits, seeds, and nuts. Its role as a seed disperser is crucial for maintaining the health of its ecosystem, facilitating forest regeneration.

These squirrels are generally solitary. 

They are diurnal, active during the day, and are known for their agility in climbing trees and jumping between branches.