A quick business trip saw me spending three nights in Bali. A morning walk
around Nusa Dua was highlighted by a Small Blue Kingfisher. After checking
over a ship for a future birding charter made the four hour drive to
Gilimanuk. An hour of birding in the afternoon here was highlighted by a
pair of Lesser Adjutants. Texts kept me updated on the tense AFL grand
final-go Swannies! Next morning and I was exploring the dry forests near the
campground in Bali Barat National Park. Quite a bird rich habitat with
plenty of action including knockout Green Junglefowl, Laced Woodpecker,
Common Flameback, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Lineated Barbet, Racket-tailed
Treepie, Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Small and Scarlet Minivet to mention a
few. Next we had an appointment with the Bali Mynah and I was delighted to
see four of these stunners followed shortly after by three Black-winged
Starlings which are almost as rare. We then headed to a site that provided
great views of the gem-like Rufous-backed Kingfisher and some more obscure
passerines including Mangrove Whistler, Lemon-bellied White-eye and
Fulvous-chested Jungle-Flycatcher. Final stop in west at some saltfields and
we quickly had Javan Plover in the telescope plus a bunch of migrant
shorebirds including Greater and Lesser Sand-Plover, Grey-tailed tattler and
quite a few Red-necked Stints.
Now we headed to the mountains at Bedugul at 1200-1300 metres. The following
day saw me toiling up into the hills at the Handara Golf Course where after
a bit of cat and mouse managed three Dark-backed Imperial-Pigeons in the
scope at different times. Happy with this as the species had given me the
run around on two previous trips to Java. A Red Junglefowl was a good
sighting for Bali as was a presumed Besra that failed to show its underparts
and throat but probably too early just for Japanese Sparrowhawk. Flowering
trees were full of Indonesian Honeyeaters and Javan Barred Owlet tantalised.
Last birding stop was the Botanic Gardens where I hoped to find the recently
split Javan Golden Whistler. It was relatively straight forward.
Snowy-browed Flycatcher, several Orange-fronted Barbets and some amazing
views of Lesser Shortwing rounded out the whirlwind trip. All up 106 species
seen and heard.
Going to Bali then I can recommend the outstanding duo of Wahyudi Hery at
for the birding knowledge and Made Sukanta from Bagus
Holidays at for smooth travels. They were both
great.
Cheers
Dion
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