Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson’s and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson’s and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

Waisai, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Alfred Russel Wallace Journey in 1860

In June and July 1860, Alfred Russel Wallace sailed north from the island of Ceram in Maluku to the islands of Mysool and then to the south coast of the island of Waigio near Papua in search of Birds of Paradise. Following Wallace’s footsteps, we ventured to Waigio from Sorong in West Papua. We took a two-hour ferry from the city of Sorong, in West Papua to Waisai on Waigeo Island in Raja Ampat in search of two species of Bird of Paradise that only exist in Raja Ampat.

The Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
The Red Bird of Paradise.

The Ferry from Sorong

The twice-a-day ferry is normally sardines-packed. We wanted to get first-class tickets, but they were all booked by tour agencies. Learning from experience, we got a first-class ticket on the way back because we booked through our hotel agency a day earlier in Wageo.

Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson’s and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

Day 01 Sorong to Waigeo.
Day 02 Magalibit Red Bird of Paradise
Day 03 Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
Day 04 Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
Day 05 Returned to Sorong

Here are the birds we photographed on the first day in the afternoon.

1. Butcherbird

2. Mustache Treeswift

3. Rufous-billed Kokabura

4. Willie Wagtail

5. Red-breasted parrot

6. Claret-breasted Fruit-dove

7. Lesser frigatebird

Day 2 Magalibit, Red Bird of Paradise. Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson’s and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

We were supposed to take a boat from the lodge to see the Red and Wilson’s Birds of Paradise at 4 am. The poor weather stopped us from taking the bumpy ride in the open sea. We went to Magalibit instead, an inland sea from the village of Warsamdin. We hired a car from the lodge and drove about one hour to the jetty. We waited a few hours for the boatman to get ready.

We went to Magalibit instead, an inland sea from the village of Warsamdin

We waited a few hours for the boatman to get ready while watching school girls playing.

We cruised through an open boat through Magalibit inland sea, stopping at Warimak to join two other speed boats to our final destination. Along the way, we photographed terns. We snaked through the inner river and zigzagged through the verdant tropical rainforest. Slowly, we reached our destination to have our packed lunch prepared by the hotel on the boat. We shared the food with everyone to have a good lunch.

We snaked through the inner river and zigzagged through the verdant tropical rainforest.

We hiked for two hours along a plantation, crossed a stream, and climbed 100 meters up to reach the viewing hide through the rainforest. What an arduous journey to see the Redbird of Paradise. We traveled so many hours to see the birds. A total of 6 hours one way. The moment we saw the Red Bird of Paradise dancing on the tree at a close distance and almost at eye level, we forgot all the hard work that we had done.

The moment we saw the Red Bird of Paradise dancing on the tree at a close distance and almost at eye level, we forgot all the hard work that we had done.

Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson's and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

We reached the hotel at 10 pm to have our dinner.

We had about an hour with the Red Bird Of Paradise dancing on the tall tree branches with their mating ritual. We wanted to spend more time, but considering the long journey back, we reluctantly packed and left the hide. We reached the hotel at 10 pm to have our dinner.

Day 3, Wilson’s Bird Of Paradise. Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson’s and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

Brahminy Kite and Collared Sparow Hawk hunting at low tide on the beach near the lodge.

The bridge to the first Wilson’s Bird of Paradise

Having taken the Red Bird Of Paradise, we thought the Wilson’s Bird Of Paradise would be relatively easy, but we were wrong. We visited the hide in the afternoon since we had a tiring day the night before.

We first went to a hide near the lodge on the main island. A 15-minute drive took us there. We were so eager to see the second bird. We hiked one hour uphill, then zigzagged on a relatively flat jungle patch to reach the hide. We saw the beautiful male perching on a tree but was not doing the mating ritual on the ground.

There were two hides to the Wilson’s Bird of Paradise

Our first glimse of the first Wilson’s Bird of paradise

Day 4, Wilson’s Bird Of Paradise.Bird Watching in Raja Ampat: Wilson’s and Red Bird of Paradise Expedition

The next day, we visited the second hide, further away. The 4×4 Hilux picked us up before daybreak and drove us up a hilly trek. We walked onto the trail for about 15 minutes to reach the hide. It was still dark, but we could see the first juvenile Wildon’s Bird Of Paradise. Then, no bird showed up. The guide told us they were on the other hide, about 15 minutes away. We all packed our gear and moved over.

Unfortunately, we could only hear their call, but the birds did not show up. We stayed the entire day on the second hide but did not see another Wilson’s Bird Of Paradise. We thought maybe the mating season was over as it was the last day in September.

Our lodge in Waisai, D Coral Paradise Resort

Day 5, Sorong to Manado

We took the ferry back to Sorong to connect for our flight to Manado. We stayed one night in Manado then continued to Tomohon to photograph the Scaly Kingfisher, Sulawesi Pitta and the Superb Fruit Dove.