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The majestic Western Crowned Pigeon Goura cristata is among 54 bird species that are endemic to West Papua and, except for an introduced population on the Moluccan island of Seram, occurs nowhere else on Earth. Copyright © Fabrice Tortey

Waigeo and Arfak

Birding expedition

We begin our West Papuan birding adventure with two relaxed introductory excursions outside the town of Sorong, situated on the westernmost tip of New Guinea's Bird's Head or Vogelkop Peninsula. Next morning, we set off on a four days' pilgrimage to the avian delights of Waigeo Island in the fabled Raja Ampat archipelago off Sorong. On the return journey to Sorong, we shall spend ample time on a tiny atoll in Dampier Strait in pursuit of regional small island specialists. We then shift our attention to the Arfak Mountains near Manokwari, on the opposite side of the Bird's Head, where we shall be based for four nights in search of an entire suite of so-called 'Vogelkop' endemics.

When?

Possible year-round, but most certainly best from June to November.

Scheduled departures

Please enquire for details on our upcoming departures.

Physical effort

Reasonable physical fitness and good agility are required for this tour which plies some challenging terrain.

Tour summary

Day 1 > Sorong and Sorong lowlands.
Day 2 > Sorong and Waigeo Island.
Day 3-4 > Waigeo Island.
Day 5 > Waigeo Island, Dampier Strait atoll and Sorong.
Day 6 > Sorong, Manokwari and Arfak montane forests.
Day 7-9 > Arfak montane forests.
Day 10 > Arfak montane forests and Manokwari.
Day 11 > Manokwari.

Tour description

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Recommended extensions

Sorong lowlands

Yellow-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus flaviventer is one of 245 widespread residents in West Papua that always is a thrill to see. Copyright © Myron Tay

0.5 or 1 day
This Sorong birding walk covers a heterogeneous mix of secondary lowland forests that support a well-diversified and colorful lowland forest avifauna including the restricted-range Red-billed Brushturkey, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and Black Lory, plus seven species of bird-of-paradise.

Manokwari lowlands

The celebrated 19th century naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace described the King Bird-of-paradise Cicinnurus regius as a wanton waste of extreme beauty. Copyright © Dubi Shapiro

0.5 or 1 day
This Manokwari birding walk takes us to a large tract of foothill forest that supports a well-diversified and colorful lowland forest avifauna including the restricted-range Red-billed Brushturkey, Western Crowned Pigeon, and Painted Quail-thrush plus six species of bird-of-paradise.