Waigeo island is the most suitable destination for visitors who are keen on and birdwatching. Most birdwatchers go to southern Waigeo. They could enjoy birdwatching and snorkeling. The best time to do birdwatching is in the mornings and in the afternoons. Birds such as Coconut Lorikeet, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's hornbill, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Beach Kingfisher, and Red Bird of Paradise.
To watch birds, visitors need a good pair of binoculars that are equipped with Bak4 roof prisms. They produce sharp image of birds in distant trees. Visitors can also bring my spotting scope. To take pictures of the birds, visitors can use D-SLR camera with telephoto lens. Personally I use an old Fujifilm HS50EXR. It is not the best birdwatching gear on the market but it is good enough to enhance my birding experience while doing birdwatching in Waigeo island.
More coral reef areas could be found in Batanta, Gam, Kri, Mansuar, Arborek, Wayag, Piaynemo, Misool islands, Kofiau. There is abundant marine life in the islands of Raja Ampat. Marine animals. table corals, elkhorn corals, and sea grass thrive at the depths from 0.5 to 10 meters.
Birding Optics |
| Female Red Bird of Paradise |
After two days of birding in the area, I completed my activities at the beach by enjoying snorkeling over its coral reef. I saw a lot of species of fish including parrotfish, surgeonfish, grouper, boxfish, butterflyfish, moorish idol, needlefish, barracuda, and various damselfish. Raja Ampat has been famous around the world as a regency that has got the highest marine bio-diversity in the world.
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| Coral reef in Raja Ampat |
A friend of mine who owns the land plans to build a dive resorts at this beach. Soon, there will be bungalows which can be rent by tourists who want to enjoy snorkeling and birdwatching at this beach.
As a matter of fact, Raja Ampat has got hundreds of islands which visitors can choose to enjoy snorkeling, and birdwatching such as Mansuar, Mansuar Kecil, Gam, Arborek, Waigeo, Piaynemo, Batanta, Salawati, Misool, and Wayag. There are homestays or dive resorts operated by local people and foreign companies.
If you are interested in taking snorkeling and birdwatching tour in Raja Ampat and mainland West Papua, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or send text message to my whatsapp: +6281332245180.
As a matter of fact, Raja Ampat has got hundreds of islands which visitors can choose to enjoy snorkeling, and birdwatching such as Mansuar, Mansuar Kecil, Gam, Arborek, Waigeo, Piaynemo, Batanta, Salawati, Misool, and Wayag. There are homestays or dive resorts operated by local people and foreign companies.
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