The island of New Guinea is surely one of the world’s outstanding bird photography locations. In particular, New Guinea is home to the “otherworldly” Birds-of-Paradise and it is their distinctive and unique combination of colours, plumes, calls and courtship displays which marks out this destination as one of the avian wonders-of-the-world. Furthermore, with a supporting cast of birds that includes Owlet-Nightjars, Bowerbirds, Frogmouths, Owls, Monarchs, Fruit-Doves, Kingfishers, Honeyeaters, Pittas and Parrots, this Bird-Photo-Tour to Indonesia's West Papua has so much to offer the bird photographer.
Nightjars: Feline Owlet-Nightjar / Mountain Owlet-Nightjar / Barred Owlet-Nightjar / Australian Owlet-Nightjar / Wallace’s Owlet-Nightjar
Birds-of-Paradise: Western Parotia / Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise / Red Bird-of-Paradise / Black Sicklebill / Crescent-caped Lophorina
Kingfishers: Common Paradise Kingfisher / Rufous-bellied Kookaburra / Papuan Dwarf Kingfisher / Biak Paradise Kingfisher
Pittas / Bowerbirds: Biak Island Pitta / Eastern Hooded Pitta / Papuan Pitta / Fawn-breasted Bowerbird / Vogelkop Bowerbird
Frogmouths / Owls: Papuan Frogmouth / Marbled Frogmouth / Biak Scops Owl
Others: Ornate Melidectes / Biak Monarch / Biak Triller / Metallic Starling / Biak Black Flycatcher / Claret-breasted Fruit Dove
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 0-1 Jakarta – West Papua [1N / 0D / 0S]. Arrive Jakarta, midnight domestic flight to Biak Numfor Regency, West Papua.
Days 1-4, Biak Numfor Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Photographic Targets: Biak Island Pitta / Biak Paradise Kingfisher.
Days 4-7, Jayapura Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Domestic flight from Biak Numfor Regency to Jayapura Regency. Photographic Targets: Wallace’s Owlet-Nightjar / Papuan Pitta / Eastern Hooded Pitta / Common Paradise Kingfisher / Papuan Frogmouth / Marbled Frogmouth.
Days 7-10, Meraouke Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Domestic flight from Jayapura Regency to Meraouke Regency. Photographic Targets: Australian Owlet-Nightjar / Barred Owlet-Nightjar / Fawn-breasted Bowerbird / Rufous-bellied Kookaburra.
Days 10-14, Pegunungan Arfak Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Domestic flight from Merauke Regency to Pegunungan Arfak Regency. Photographic Targets: Mountain Owlet-Nightjar / Feline Owlet-Nightjar / Western Parotia / Vogelkop Bowerbird / Black Sicklebill.
Days 14-17, Fakfak Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Domestic flight from Pegunungan Arkat Regency to Fakfak Regency. Photographic Targets: Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise / Lesser Bird-of-Paradise / Magnificent Riflebird / Eastern hooded Pitta / Southern Cassowary / Banded Yellow Robin / Papuan Pitta /
Day 17-20, Raja Ampat Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Domestic flight from Fakfak Regency to Raja Ampat Regency. Photographic Targets: Wilson’s Bird-of-Paradise / Red Bird-of-Paradise.
Day 20-23 Sorong Regency [3N / 2D / 5S]. Boat from Waigeo – Sorong, domestic flight from Sorong to Jakarta.
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day]
Roland was born in Munich in 1970. His love for nature started at an early age through his passion for mountaineering which in turn developed his interest in environmental protection. Roland spent over two decades in China from 1998 to 2021 living predominantly in Sichuan Province in western China and working as a professional guide on bird as well as mammal tours. With many of Roland’s clients being photographers, Roland has developed considerable skills and knowledge in supporting the needs of the bird photographer. Roland’s travels throughout China and South East Asia are extensive from the Tibetan Plateau to the Chinese lowlands to the rainforests of both Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia: Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Roland is fluent in Chinese, English and German and has a friendly, amicable disposition, displaying both care and thoughtfulness towards his clients, in addition to possessing strong field identification skills, all of which have combined well generating a positive reputation as a Tour Leader, particularly amongst bird photographers.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations. At one guesthouse there may be a requirement to share a room (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is one location where there is a requirement to hike and climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping. Summary: at one location it may be necessary to share a room and at another site there is a requirement to hike. Therefore, for these two reasons this trip has been has been graded as 'Medium'.
: Western
