Our Bird HideS
We now have 3 proper permanent bird hides, and regularly temporary basic bird hides for a specific bird. If you’re interested in using our hides, let us know in advance! In-house guests come first, but visitors from outside are most welcome.
Riverside bird hide
This bird hide overlooks the Balian River and surrounding plantations and can comfortably accommodate 3 people. From this hide you can observe and photograph the White-crowned Forktail better than anywhere else in Indonesia. Best time is in the morning, but with some patience any other time of the day is good as well.
Other birds usually seen from this hide include Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Little Spiderhunter, Ornate Sunbird and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, to name a few.
Boni tree bird hide
This bird hide is located half-way our plantation, on a slope under our Boni tree, and can comfortably accommodate 2-3 people. From this hide you can usually observe Orange-headed Thrush, Javan Banded Pitta, Horsfield’s Babbler, Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher and a little less frequently Crescent-chested Babbler, all up-close. Often visiting the hide’s surrounding Kaliandra flowers are different sunbirds and flowerpeckers.
One side of the hide is also overlooking our plantation, where a variety of birds can be seen from a longer distance.
Kingfisher bird hide
This bird hide is located next to a traditional irrigation canal that flows through our plantation, in between our Boni tree and Riverside hides. This hide is a little smaller, but can still accommodate 2 people. From this hide you can observe Collared Kingfisher, while we have also seen Blue-eared Kingfisher from here. All really up-close. Mornings are best.
Access to our bird hides
Our bird hides are accessible via bamboo-reinforced stairs that lead down into and through our plantation. The Boni tree hide is the shortest and easiest walk. The riverside and kingfisher hides are further down the sometimes fairly steep stairs. Particularly the walk back up requires some effort. Decent shoes are advised, particularly after rain. We do provide trekking poles for those who want to use these and can provide assistance with carrying any equipment.
Here some photos taken from the hides. The river side bird hide is a great place to see White-crowned Forktail up-close, and usually also the Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher and some Flowerpeckers! Some other birds visit the place as well, but Forktail are almost always around! The bird hide under our Boni tree is a great place to see Javan Banded Pitta, Orange-headed Thrush, Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher and Horsfield’s Babbler, usually up-close. Long-tailed Shrike, Little Spider Hunter and Emerald Dove are also fairly regular visitors. To the other side of the hide you can often see different Flowerpeckers and Sunbirds, while occasionally also Green Jungle Fowl, Greater Coucal, Black-naped Fruit Dove, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker and Lineated Barbet show up, be it usually a bit further away. During the main nesting season, around March and April, the spectacular Chestnut-breasted Malkoha is also often seen, sometimes in flocks of 3-5 birds…!
You can click any photo for a larger view and to scroll through the gallery.
Bird Videos from our Bird Hides
Hi-resolution, so watch full screen !
Collared Kingfisher
Javan Banded Pitta – female
White-crowned Forktail – feeding
Bird List
The birds identified so far in our plantation or in and around the rice fields next to us.
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Javan Banded Pitta
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Orange-headed Thrush
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Ornate Sunbird (Olive-backed Sunbird)
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Red-legged Crake
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Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
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Little Spider-hunter
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Green Jungle Fowl
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White-crowned Forktail
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Javan Tailorbird
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Asian Glossy Starling
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Common Gallinule
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Long-tailed Shrike
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Spotted Dove
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Sangkar White-eye
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Lemon-bellied White-eye
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Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker
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Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher
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Barred Button Quail
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Common Emerald Dove
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Horsfield’s Babbler
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Collared Kingfisher
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Javan Kingfisher
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Javan Munia
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Black-headed Bulbul
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Yellow-vented Bulbul
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Asian Cattle Egret
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Javan Pond Heron
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White-breasted Waterhen
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Sunda Pied Fantail
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Freckle-breasted Woodpecker
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Black-winged Kite
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Javan Heleia (Javan Gray-throated White-eye)
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Common Iora
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Rufous-backed Kingfisher
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Crescent-chested Babbler
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Cave Swiftlet
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Brown-cheeked Bulbul
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Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
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Striated Heron
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Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo
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Lineated Barbet
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Javan Flowerpecker (Blood-breasted Flowerpecker)
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Brown-throated Sunbird
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Black-naped Fruit Dove
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Javan Myna
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Sunda Scops Owl
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Greated Coucal
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Oriental Bay Owl
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Blue-eared Kingfisher
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Intermediate Egret
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Plaintive Cuckoo
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Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo
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Pacific Swift
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Scaly-breasted Munia
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White-headed Munia
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Oriental Magpie Robin
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Javan Owlet
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Golden-headed Cisticola
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Ruddy-breasted Crake
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Crested Honey Buzzard (migratory)
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White-breasted Woodswallow
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Gray-rumped Treeswift
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Eastern Barn Owl (released by us)
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Javan Flameback? (not clearly seen)
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Javan Whistling Thrush? (song only)
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Coming soon…!