Trip Reports

2 Days Birding in Bali, Indonesia

Waskito Kukuh W.

11 March 2024

Our birding adventure in Bali on January 4-5, 2024, with Yann and Putri from Vietnam, was a remarkable success.

Despite concerns that the bustling tourist activity and traffic in Bali, a renowned tourist destination, might hinder our birdwatching efforts, we navigated these challenges with minimal disturbances.

Our journey took us through three diverse locations across Bali, where we were thrilled to observe 56 bird species, many of which were first-time sightings for our clients.

Our first destination was the Bali Barat National Park, where we were fortunate to spot 47 different bird species.

Some of the highlights included the opportunity to photograph the park’s avian inhabitants, among them the critically endangered and endemic Bali Myna.

Following this, our birding excursion led us to Bedugul, where we identified eight additional species in just a few hours. The day concluded in Pupuan, enriching our list with seven more bird species.

Bali Barat National Park

The westernmost point of the island houses Bali Barat National Park, an essential visit for anyone eager to spot the Bali Myna, a critically endangered species unique to the island.

Our morning began in a paddy field adjacent to the national park, where a hide had been set up on private land, allowing us to photograph the Javan Kingfisher.

Contributions were made to the landowner for the use of this hide. In addition to the Javan Kingfisher, we were able to capture images of the Bali Myna and several other species, including the Javan Myna and the Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, within the national park itself.

Our adventure continued inside the national park, where we set up in a hide to wait for the elusive Javan Banded Pitta.

Despite a brief interruption by a dominant Collared Kingfisher, which scattered the other birds, we quickly moved to a nearby mangrove area.

Here, we successfully observed species such as the Savanna Nightjar and the Cerulean Kingfisher. A visit to a fishpond near the park rewarded us with sightings of shorebirds like the Javan Plover and the Marsh Sandpiper.

Bedugul Botanical Garden

The following day, we explored the Bedugul Botanical Garden, a site known for its highland specialties.

Despite an early arrival and minimal tourist presence, our birdwatching was briefly interrupted by outdoor activities and light rain.

Nevertheless, we encountered several notable species, including the Blood-breasted Flowerpecker and the Javan Grey-throated White-eye.

Pupuan

Our journey concluded in Pupuan, where, after seeking refuge from the rain in a local resident’s house, we ventured into a bird hide.

This allowed us to photograph species such as the Horsfield’s Babbler and the Orange-headed Thrush, the latter of which is often targeted by poachers due to its popularity in songbird contests.

Fortunately, we observed that some measures are being taken to mitigate poaching, offering a glimmer of hope for the conservation of these species.