Summary
Labuan Bajo, a small coastal town on the western tip of Flores is the main gate to reach Komodo National Park. From Labuan Bajo, travelers start their journey to the National Park and also explore the mainland of Flores. For birdwatchers, Labuan Bajo is also the right place to start exploring the avifauna diversity of Flores. Don’t have enough time to go further, two days birding program should be the best chance to meet Flores endemics.
Key Birds of Labuan Bajo
Flores Monarch, Flores Hawk-eagle, White-rumped Kingfisher, Tenggara (Black-naped) Oriole, Red-cheeked Parrot, Thick-billed Heleia, Crested Heleia, Leaf/Flores Lorikeet, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Flores Scops-owl, Moluccan Scops-owl, Wallace’s Scops-owl, Ornate Pitta.
Itinerary
Day 1: Labuan Bajo – Birding at Puarlolo forest – Sanonggoang
Depart early in the morning (05:00 am) from your hotel in Labuan Bajo, and drive to Puarlolo forest. Morning birding here till 10:00 am. Simple breakfast (bread, coffee, and tea) in the forest. Continue drive to Ndengo village, the place where usually Flores Hawk-eagle soaring around.
Visit Cunca Rami waterfall, relax at the natural pool, and birding around the waterfall. Lunch at a local family in the village.
After lunch drive to Sanonggoang crater lake. Birding around the lake till dark. Finish with owling to find Moluccan sops-owl and Wallace’s scops-owl.
Dinner and stay overnight at Wae Sano guest house next to the lake.
Day 2: Sanonggoang – Labuan Bajo
Start birding at 04:00 am to find Flores scops-Owl. Continue birding around Nunang village till 08:00 am. Back to the guesthouse to have breakfast. After breakfast drive back to Labuan Bajo. Stop at Mamis for lunch. Drive to Labuan Bajo and visit the mangrove and wetlands at Gorontalo for afternoon birding. Close the day by finding Mees’s Nigtjarat at the ricefields, dinner then drop you at the hotel. Out.
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rimbaranaka@gmail.com
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