Indonesia is not only the largest island archipelago globally but is also home to a staggering 528 endemic bird species which ranks this country number one in the world on this metric. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia’ 21-day bird photography workshop takes in six of the Lesser Sunda Islands, namely Lombok, Sumba, West Timor, Rote, Flores and Komodo offering the chance for close photographic encounters with numerous endemics across some fabulous families of birds including Scrubfowl / Pittas / Tropicbirds / Kingfishers / Lorikeets / Parrots / Trillers / Friarbirds / Honeyeaters / Orioles / Hornbills / Owls / Flycatchers / Myzomelas and Whistlers.
Lombok Island: Ornate Pitta / Rufous-chested Flycatcher / Orange-footed Scrubfowl / Lombok Scops Owl / White-tailed Tropicbird.
Sumba Island: Sumba Pitta / Chestnut-backed Thrush / Sumba Hornbill / Sumba Cockatoo / Sumba Myzomela / Sumba flowerpecker / Ecletus Parrot.
West Timor & Rote Islands: Timor Boobook / Timor Sparrow / Timor Bushchat / Olive-headed Lorikeet / Sumba Zebra Finch / Timor Blue Flycatcher / Rote Boobook / Rote Myzomela / Rote Leaf Warbler / Black-breasted Myzomela / Orange-sided Thrush / Timor Oriole / Timor Friarbird / Flame-breasted Sunbird / Rainbow Bee-eater / Black-faced Woodswallow / White-shouldered Triller / Five-coloured Munia / Black-faced Munia / Scaly-breasted Munia / Golden-headed Cisticola.
Flores & Komodo Islands: Yellow-spectacled White-eye / Flores Drongo / Flores Monarch / Black-fronted Flowerpecker / Glittery Kingfisher / White-rumped Kingfisher / Russet-capped Tesia / Moluccan Scops Owl / Wallace’s Scops Owl / Sunda Nightjar / Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker / Brown-capped Fantail / Flores leaf Warbler / cream-browed White-eye / Crested White-eye / Bare-throated Whistler / Scaly-crowned Honeyeater / Golden-rumped Flowerpecker.
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, Bali [1N / 0D / 7S]. Arrive Denpassa International Airport, Transfer to Hotel [Overnight: Bali].
Days 2-5 Lombok Island [3N, 2D, 5S]. Domestic Flight Bali - Lombok. Photographic Targets: Ornate Pitta / Rufous-chested Flycatcher / Orange-footed Scrubfowl / Lombok Scops Owl / White-tailed Tropicbird.
Day 5-9 Sumba Island [4N, 3D, 7S]. Domestic Flight Lombok – Bali – Sumba. Photographic Targets: Sumba Pitta / Chestnut-backed Thrush / Sumba Hornbill / Sumba Cockatoo / Sumba Myzomela / Sumba flowerpecker / Ecletus Parrot.
Day 9-14 West Timor & Rote Islands [5N, 4D, 9S]. Domestic Flight Sumba – West Timor. Photographic Targets: Timor Boobook / Timor Sparrow / Timor Bushchat / Olive-headed Lorikeet / Sumba Zebra Finch / Timor Blue Flycatcher / Rote Boobook / Rote Myzomela / Rote Leaf Warbler / Black-breasted Myzomela / Orange-sided Thrush / Timor Oriole / Timor Friarbird / Flame-breasted Sunbird / Rainbow Bee-eater / Black-faced Woodswallow / White-shouldered Triller / Five-coloured Munia / Black-faced Munia / Scaly-breasted Munia / Golden-headed Cisticola.
Days 14-21 Flores & Komodo Islands [7N, 6D, 13S]. Domestic Flight West Timor – Flores. Photographic Targets: Yellow-spectacled White-eye / Flores Drongo / Flores Monarch / Black-fronted Flowerpecker / Glittery Kingfisher / White-rumped Kingfisher / Russet-capped Tesia / Moluccan Scops Owl / Wallace’s Scops Owl / Sunda Nightjar / Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker / Brown-capped Fantail / Flores Leaf Warbler / cream-browed White-eye / Crested White-eye / Bare-throated Whistler / Scaly-crowned Honeyeater / Golden-rumped Flowerpecker.
Day 21 Flores Airport [0N, 0D, 0S]. Domestic Flight Flores – Bali / Jakarta - International Departure.
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day]
Nick 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 (vi) At one of the locations the whole group will share one dormitory room for 2-nights. All other accommodation is premium including some resorts. Summary: for these reasons, despite Point (vi), this trip has been graded as 'Easy'.