: Western 2025
Indonesia is not only the largest island archipelago globally but home to a staggering 528 endemic bird species which ranks this country number one in the world on this metric. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia’ 23-day bird photography workshop takes in three of the Greater Sunda Islands, namely Sumatra, Java and Bali, offering the chance for close photographic encounters with some fabulous families of birds including Pheasants / Partridges / Pittas / Trogons / Kingfishers / Babblers / Wren Babblers / Flycatchers / Tailorbirds / Shortwings / Bulbuls / Flowerpeckers / Bush Warblers / Thrushes / Mynas / Frogmouths and Owls.
Kingfishers: Banded Kingfisher / Javan Blue-band Kingfisher / Javan Kingfisher / Cerulean Kingfisher / Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher
Pheasants / Partridges: Salvadori’s Pheasant / Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant / Green Peafowl / Green Junglefowl / Chestnut-bellied Partridge / White-faced Partridge
Babblers / Babblers: Rusty-breasted Wren-Babbler / Marbled Wren Babbler / Crescent-chested Babbler / Grey-throated Babbler
Pittas / Trogons: Schneider’s Pitta / Graceful Pitta / Javan Banded Pitta / Sumatran Trogon / Red-headed Trogon
Flycatchers: Pale Blue Flycatcher / Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher / Snowy-browed Flycatcher / Verditer Flycatcher
Frogmouths / Nightjars / Owls: Large Frogmouth / Sumatran Frogmouth / Sunda Frogmouth / Salvadori’s Nightjar / Rajah Scops Owl / Reddish Scops Owl / Oriental Bay Owl
Thrushes / Warblers: Shiny Whistling Thrush / Orange-headed Thrush / Javan Bush Warbler / Sunda Bush Warbler
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 1-2, Jakarta, Java Island [1N / 0D / 0S]. Arrive Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. Evening: Dinner plus Bird-Photo-Tours Asia Presentation.
Days 2-5, Lampung Province, Sumatra Island [3N / 2D / 5S]. Boat trip around Jakarta Bay, drive 6-7 hours, 240-km to Lampung Province. Photographic Targets: Christmas Island Frigatebird / Lesser Frigatebird / Greater Frigatebird / Large Frogmouth / Sunda Frogmouth / Gould’s Frogmouth / Reddish Scops Owl / Bonaparte’s Nightjar / Oriental Bay Owl.
Days 5-6, Jakarta, Java Island [1N / 0D / 0S]. Drive 6-7 hours, 240-km to Jakarta.
Days 6-9, Jambi Province, Sumatra Island [3N / 2D / 5S]. Domestic flight to Sumatra, then drive 8-hours, 200-km to Jambi Province. Photographic Targets: Schneider’s Pitta / Sumatran Cochoa / Salvadori’s Pheasant / Bronze-tailed Peacock-Pheasant / Rusty-breasted Wren-Babbler / Shiny Whistling Thrush / Sumatran Whistling Thrush / Salvadori’s Nightjar / Sumatran Frogmouth / Rajah Scops Owl.
Days 9-13, Jambi Province, Sumatra Island [4N / 3D / 5S]. Drive 2-hours, 50-km to the second location within Jambi Province. Photographic Targets: Graceful Pitta / Sumatran Trogon / Red-headed Trogon / Banded Kingfisher / Marbled Wren Babbler / White-capped Munia / White-rumped Munia / Streaked Weaver / Sumatran Treepie / Sumatran Drongo / Spot-necked Bulbul / Sumatran Bulbul / Cream-striped Bulbul / Long-tailed Broadbill / Sumatran Green Pigeon.
Days 13-15, East Java Province, Java Island [2N / 1D / 3S]. Travel Day: Domestic flight to Jakarta to then another domestic flight to East Java Province. Photographic targets: Javan Blue-band Kingfisher / Javan Kingfisher / White-crowned Forktail.
Days 15-19, East Java Province [4N / 3D / 7S]. Drive 7-hours, 400-km to our second location in East Java Province. Photographic Targets: Green Peafowl / Green Junglefowl / White-faced Partridge / Javan Blue-banded Kingfisher / Banded Kingfisher / Javan Blue Flycatcher / Javan Black-capped Babbler
Days 19-23, Bali Province [4N / 3D / 7S]. Ferry to Bali Province. Photographic Targets: Green Junglefowl / Javan Banded Pitta / Javan Kingfisher / Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher / Cerulean Kingfisher / Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker / Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher / Chestnut-headed Bee-eater / Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon / Bali Myna.
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day]
Nick, a UK National, has been living in Asia for over 15-years and in this time has conducted over 125 bird photography trips across the whole of the Asian continent ranging from Kazakhstan in the west, through India and China to Japan in the east, and from the Kamchatka coastline in the north to as far south as Indonesia. In China alone Nick has photographed to portrait-quality standard over 1,200 of China's bird species taking him to all of China's provinces as well as most of those nations bordering China. These bird photography trips have ranged in length from a few days to many months, including a three-month bird photography expedition to China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, becoming quite possibly the most travelled foreigner in this region over the past decade. Nick has also conducted a four-month bird photography trek across the Himalayas, ranging from the Indian States of Ladakh and Kashmir in the west, into the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, then onto the Indian States of West Bengal and Sikkim, ending in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the eastern Himalayas. Nick has had his images published across numerous media channels including the BBC and Chinese state-owned media outlets, various bird magazines and journals including the Oriental Bird Club's BirdingASIA. He has his own website on the Birds of China at www.BirdingInChina.com and his book 'Portraits of the Birds of China' is due for publication in 2026. Furthermore, Nick has presented films on photographing birds both in Asia and Europe, has his bird images published across many social media platforms within and outside Asia, and has led a number of bird photography lectures and walks, particularly targeted at children. Consequently, Nick has accumulated significant experience of photographing birds within the Asian continent and this expertise has formed the backdrop to setting up Bird-Photo-Tours Asia, trips designed by bird photographers for bird photographers.
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping Summary: for these five reasons this trip has been graded as 'Easy'.
