Birding on Java

Carita (West Java)
A locality on the west coast with some lowland forest left where the threatened White-breasted Babbler still can survive. There is a road into the forest which continues as a path to the waterfall. There are also several side trails.
Birds
For the scientific names see the List of species of Java and Bali

Black-banded Barbet: several. Javan Kingfisher: a few in the open areas at the bottom of the track. Red-billed Malkoha: a few. Black-naped Fruit-Dove: several. Javan Hawk-Eagle: rare. Banded Pitta: fairly common. Banded Broadbill: a few. Chestnut-capped Thrush: a few. Sunda Forktail: above the waterfall. Bar-winged Prinia: common. Horsfield's Babbler: several pairs. Large Wren-Babbler: a few. White-breasted Babbler: fairly common in the primary forest near the waterfall. Grey-faced Tit-Babbler: fairly common. Scarlet Sunbird: a few.
Other animals
Wild Pig (Sus scrofa), Silvered Leaf Monkey (Presbytis cristata), Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus).
Information
Getting there
From Bogor take a bus to Pandeglang. From here take a bus to Labuan. This takes 5-6 hours total. From Labuan take a minibus to the beach resort of Carita.
Accomodation
A good and cheap place to stay is Ibu Tina's house. There are a few small stalls and shops.


Pulau Dua (West Java)
A coastal reserve in north-west Java with a large Cormorant and Heron colony. Javan White-eye has been seen in the area.
Birds
For the scientific names see the List of species of Java and Bali

Grey Teal: a few in small ponds. Savanna Nightjar: common in the open areas. Island Collared-Dove: common. Oriental Darter: fairly common. Little Black Cormorant: common. Glossy Ibis: common. Black-headed Ibis: common. Milky Stork: a few. Lesser Adjutant: a few. Black-winged Starling: a few near the tower bu the guardpost. Javan White-eye: in coastal scrub. Streaked Weaver: large group near Sawar Luhur. Red Avadavat: a few near Sawar Luhur
Information
Getting there
Take a bus from Jakarta to Merak. Get off at Serang, than take a minibus to Karangatun. Here you can rent a motorbike to take you to Pulau Dua.
Accomodation
It is possible to get simple food at Sawar Luhur. Maybe you can sleep at the PHPA Guardpost in the colony!.

Bogor Botanical Gardens (West Java)
These gardens provide an interesting place for a birding visit. They are located in the centre of Bogor. Try to avoid visiting the gardens during the weekends as hundreds of Indonesians come over from Jakarta for a picknick. The trees behind the National Herbarium are a roost for a few nice species.

Birds
For the scientific names see the List of species of Java and Bali

Laced Woodpecker: a few. Blue-eared Kingfisher: a few. Collared Kingfisher: common. Spotted Dove: common. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon: fairly regular. Grey-cheeked Green-Pigeon: a few. Black-naped Fruit-Dove: a few. Black-crowned Night-Heron: there is a colony on an island in the main pond. Black-naped Oriole: common, but difficult to find. Pied Fantail: a few. Common Iora: common. Chestnut-capped Thrush: a few. Orange-headed Thrush: a few. Oriental Magpie-Robin: common. Pale-bellied Myna: a few near the thea house. Sooty-headed Bulbul: common. Bar-winged Prinia: common. Oriental White-eye: common. Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker: a few. Plain-throated Sunbird: a few. Olive-backed Sunbird: common. Javan Munia: in the trees behind the National Herbarium. Scaly-breasted Munia: in the trees behind the National Herbarium. White-headed Munia: a few Java Sparrow: in the trees behind the National Herbarium. Best in the late afternoon.
Other animals
There is a roost of Large Flying Fox (Pterops vampyrus) in the middle of the gardens. We found also a 1,5 meter long Indonesian Monitor (Varanus salvator).

Information
Getting there
A bus from Jakarta leaves for Bogor every 15 minutes. You can also take a train. They both will take about one hour travelling.
Access
Access is restricted from about 8.00 am to dark. The headquarter of the PHPA, the official body for administration of all Indonesian wildlife is located at 9 Jalan Ir. H. Juanda next to the gardens.
Accomodation
There are lots of good and cheap places to stay in Bogor. We stayed in Wisma Puri-Bali at Jalan Pledang 30. The owner I. Made Taman is a very friendly Balinese who worked in different botanical gardens in Indonesia. He will give you lots of information and self-made maps about Indonesian wildlife and the national parks.


Gunung Gede Pangrangro National Park (West Java)
This park is centred around the twin volcanic peaks of Gunung Gede (2,958 m) and Gunung Pangrango (3, 019 m). The habitat is mainly montane forest. Almost all the montane Javan endemics can be found here! At the base of the park are the Cibodas Botanical Gardens, which are also very good for birding. Near the guesthouse in the botanical gardens is a zig-zag path which is very good at first light. Try to avoid visiting the park during weekends and holidays when it can be crowded on the main trail.

Birds
For the scientific names see the List of species of Java and Bali

Chestnut-bellied Partridge: can be regularly heard. Crimson-winged Woodpecker: we have seen just one. Brown-throated Barbet: fairly common. Blue-eared Barbet: fairly common. Blue-tailed Trogon: above the Cibereum Waterfalls. Collared Kingfisher: common, Yellow-throated Hanging-Parrot: rare. Waterfall Swift: there was a colony at the Cibereum Waterfalls, but none seem to have been seen since 1989. Volcano Swiftlet: around the crater of Gunung Gede. Javan Scops-Owl: this is a very difficult species from the lower part, no sound of adults have ever been heard, only contact calls of juvenile's! A few have been accidentally netted by bat trappers. Salvadori's Nightjar: regular around the Cibereum Waterfalls. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon: a few; Sumatran Green-Pigeon: rare. Dark-backed Imperial-Pigeon: rare. Rufous Woodcock: occurs in the moss forest. They can be seen flying over at absolute first light by the hut below the hot springs! Javan Hawk-Eagle: a good site seems to be the Cibereum Waterfalls. Short-tailed Magpie: rare. Sunda Minivet: common. Rufous-tailed Fantail: common. White-bellied Fantail: regularly seen in the area below the Cibereum Waterfalls. Ashy Drongo: common. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo: a few. Sunda Whistling-Thrush: fairly regular. Orange-headed Thrush: a few. Sunda Thrush: at first light on the zig-zag path in the botanical gardens. Scaly Thrush: several. Island Thrush: around the crater rim. White-browed Shortwing: a few. Indigo Flycatcher: common Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher: a few. Sunda Robin: fairly common in lower altitudes and on the zig-zag path in the botanical gardens. Sunda Forktail: around the Cibereum Waterfalls and on the zig-zag path in the botanical gardens. White-crowned Forktail: on the zig-zag path in the botanical gardens. Javan Cochoa: difficult to see at lower altitudes. Blue Nuthatch: common in the botanicall gardens Pygmy Tit: common, particularly in the botanicall gardens. Javan Grey-throated White-eye: common. Javan Tesia: common. Sunda Bush-Warbler: common. Sunda Warbler: common. Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush: a few groups. Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler: we have seen just two. Large Wren-Babbler: common Pygmy Wren-Babbler: common, and very tame. White-breasted Babbler: rare. Crescent-chested Babbler: common. Javan Fulvetta: common. Spotted Crocias: a few. Blood-breasted Flowerpecker: fairly common. White-flanked Sunbird: fairly common. Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch: fairly regular Pin-tailed Parrotfinch: fairly regular Javan Munia: botanic gardens. Mountain Serin: a few.