Birding Java & Bali (15D/14N)

Day 1 :
• The first morning we explore the north coast of Jakarta Bay by boat where we will photograph the majestic frigate birds (3 different species!). After lunch we scout some more mangroves in the north of the city.
Day 2 – 4:
• On our second day we take the very comfortable executive train to Yogyakarta, the city that has it all. Culture, nature, an endless coastline, an active volcano and a bustling city centre that never sleeps. We head to the forest in the west of the city and there we visit the first successful conservation project that protects birds in a very creative way. The next day we move to the coast to photograph the white-tailed tropicbird high from a cliff. August and September is breeding season so this promises to be a blazing hot photo session. That same afternoon we move to East Java.
Day 5:
• Today is one of the highlights of our trip and we capture the rarest kingfisher on the planet, the Javan blue-banded kingfisher. We stay in the hide for a whole day and hope to see some other species as well like the Javan kingfisher and Sunda forktail.
Day 6 – 7:
• We dive deeper into East Java and travel to the Bromo National Park, world famous for the Bromo volcano and the volcanic panoramas. The next morning we install ourselves early in the hides and wait for what nature brings us.
Day 8 – 9:
• We move to the most eastern point of Java, because there is another national park to die for. We hope to see the star of the park, the green peafowl but also hornbills, Javan deer, green jungle fowl, Javan langur, and the endangered banteng (wild cow). Day 10:
In the early morning we photograph the rarest partridge in the world, the gray-breasted partridge. This species only occurs in this part of Java and nowhere else in the world. After this amazing experience we check out of our hotel and take the ferry to Bali.
Day 11:
Today we explore the only national park in Bali to see the endangered Bali starling. In the 90s, it was worth over 2,000 euros each and has been traded to near extinction. There are less than 500 wild birds left. We spend the night in an eco lodge near the Batukaru mountain. This lodge is located in the middle of nature and offers great opportunities to spot and photograph birds from our balcony!
Day 12 – 13: We take the chance to explore the immediate surroundings of our lodge on foot, there is a lot to see. But it is also possible to just relax by the beautiful pool of the lodge. Before we continue towards Denpasar we stop at a nice photo spot close to our lodge where we can hopefully see the orange-headed thrush from close by. This thrush is increasingly difficult to find and is constantly being captured as a songbird.
Day 14: Our journey is almost over and this is our last day in Indonesia. Depending on the timing of our flight we will stop at a last place where we can capture a lot of water birds in action. (Please note that if the flight leaves in the morning it is not possible to go here!). Our wonderful journey through Java and Bali has come to an end and we return home.