Chasing Endemics: Birding in Flores

📍 Distances and journey time: Labuan Bajo – Puar Lolo (38.2 km): 1 hr 10 mins Puar Lolo - Lembor (29,2 km): 45 mins Lembor – Nteer (28 km): 45 mins Nteer - Cancar (21,7 km): 40 mins Cancar – Ruteng (16,2 km): 35 mins Ruteng - Hotel 2,3 km): 10 mins

Upon arrival at Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo greet by the local representative and you will then transfer to the harbor. Onboard the cruise drive to Puar Lolo Forest. This small forest patch lies alongside the main East-West of Ruteng road east of Labuanbajo, offering a destination to appreciate Flores's unique wildlife.

After an hour of birding exploration, we will continue to Lembor, known for its vast, traditional rice fields, making it a popular destination for tourists seeking to experience serene rural life and agriculture. Here we will look for the opportunity to encounter any raptors or water birds.

Proceed to Ruteng, with a stop will be made at Nteer for Flores Lorikeet, this species is Near Threatened due to its declining population, a result of habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and trapping. At Cancar, a rural area famous for its incredibly unique rice fields,  to see remarkable "cobweb" fields from the  perfect vantage point.

The day will be spent birding until dark, followed by a final owling trip to search for the Wallace's scops-owl and Moluccan scops-owl.

Arrive at the resort, rest and overnight. 

Key targets: 
Black-naped tern, Little Tern, Lesser Frigatebird, Pacific reef egret, Crested tern, White-bellied Fish Eagle , Brahminy Kite. 

Overnight in Ruteng
 

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Distances and journey time: Hotel – Golo Lusang (8,7 km): 25 mins Golo Lusang - Plantation (12,5 km): 30 mins Plantation – Hotel (7.5 km): 20 mins

Rise early at approximate 4am and drive to Golo Lusang Forest, a mountain pass in Flores, offering excellent birding in its foothill rainforests, particularly known for spotting the endemic Flores scops owl, along with other Flores endemics like the Flores Crow and Flores Hawk-Eagle. 
After enjoying a local lunch, continue with birding exploration in the coffee plantation. The day will be spent birding until dark, to see the missed  owl.

Key targets: 
Flores scops-owl, Flores Shortwing, Flores Flowerpecker, Bare-throated Whistler, Flores leaf-warbler, Cream-browed Heleia, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Banded Fruit-dove, Yellow-breasted Warbler, Pygmy Cupwing, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Crested Heleia, White-rumped Kingfisher

Overnight in Ruteng
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Distances and journey time: Hotel – Gapong Forest (30,4 km): 58 mins Gapong Forest - Puar Lolo (121 km): 3 hrs 20 mins Puar Lolo - Mbeliling (8.7 km): 16 mins

Morning birding at Gapong Forest, north of Pagal, a highland region known for its rich biodiversity and endemic species. It's a component of larger birding expeditions on the island, which feature diverse ecosystems like tropical rainforests and mangrove forests, making Flores a prime destination for encountering unique birdlife such as the Flores scops owl, Flores green pigeon, and other Wallacean specialties. 

Back to the town for lunch and drive to Mbeliling, features lush tropical evergreen forests and offers eco-tourism opportunities. On the way, a stop will be made again at Puar Lolo for another birding session.

Dinner and overnight stay in Mbeliling.

Key targets: 
Flores Green Pigeon, Pale-shouldered Cicadabird, Ornate Pitta, Tenggara Paradise Flycatcher, Balck-naped (Tenggara) Oriole, Brown-caped Fantail, Wallace’s Hangingparrot, Short-toed Snake-eagle, White-rumped Kingfisher 

Overnight in Mbeliling
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Mbeliling Mountain Ecolodg - Labuan Bajo Airport (24.4 km) : 45 mins

Morning birding exploration around the resort, it is home to a significant number of endemic bird species and also plays a vital role in the local economy and climate change mitigation.

Check out the hotel after lunch. En of the trip

Key Targets: 
White-rumped Kingfisher, Falame-breasted Sunbird, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Leaf Lorikeet, Red-cheeked Parrot, Black-naped (Tenggara) Oriole.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch