Birding in Ruteng
Ruteng is a small town that lies at an altitude of 1300masl in the western part of Flores Island, Indonesia. 2 km south of the town, there is a protected forest called Ruteng Nature Reserve. This is the forest where most Flores endemic birds inhabited except the Flores Monarch (Symposiachrus sacerdotum) found only in the Mbeliling forest near Labuan Bajo. From Ruteng, we can access the highest point of Flores at Poco Likang (2300masl), the crater peak of Nampar Nos volcano, and the largest tropical rainforest of Lesser Sunda.
Holds more than 120 species in its evergreen dan misty forest, Ruteng Nature Reserve is a must-visit birding place in Lesser Sunda. Besides its great mountainous rainforest, Ruteng is also known surrounded by beautiful ricefields and coffee plantations. These areas are potential birding sites too. Below is the birding tour program you might be interested in while visiting Ruteng.
Key Species:
Flores scops-owl, Bare-throated whistler, Flores Shortwing, Flores Leaf-warbler, Thick-billed Heleia, Crested Heleia, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Black-banded Fruit-dove, Flores Flowerpecker, Five-colored Munia, Red Avadavat, Moluccan Scops-owl, Wallace’s Scops-owl, White-rumped Kingfisher, Oranate / Elegant Pitta, Cream-browed Heleia, Ruddy Cuckoo-dove, Flores Miniver, Tenggara whistler, Flores Green pigeon, Wallace’s Hanging parrot, Tenggara Oriole, Helmeted Friarbird, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Wallace’s Heleia…and more…
Day Birding
Depart early in the morning (04.30 am) from the hotel in Ruteng, then drive to Golo Lusang forest. Start with owling to find Flores scops-owl. Continue birding in this area till midday.
Back in town for having lunch. It’s easy to find a local restaurant in Ruteng. After lunch drive a bit to the north yard of the town to a place name Mbeang Ledas. Birding here till dark. End with another owling to find Wallace’s scops-owl and or Moluccan scops-owl.
2 Days Birding
Day 1: Ruteng Nature – Reserve
Depart early in the morning (04.30am) from the hotel in town then drive to Golo Lusang forest. Owling first to find Flores-scops-owl then continue birding in the area till midday.
Back to the town for having lunch. After lunch drive to Ranamese lake. Birding here till evening. Drive back to Ruteng, dinner, and stay overnight in town.
Day 2: Pagal – Mbeang Ledas.
Depart at 05.00am, drive to pagal. Birding here for the first half of the day. Back to Ruteng for having lunch. After lunch drive to Mbeang Ledas. Birding here till dark. End with another owling to find Wallace’s scops-owl and or Moluccan scops-owl. Dinner and stay overnight in Ruteng. Out
More detail:
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