Despite being underrepresented in documentaries and articles about nature photography, Lombok offers wonderful endemic species like the Rinjani Scops Owl (Otus jolandae) and amazing reptiles like the vibrant Blue Viper (Trimeresurus insularis). I tried to find out more during a brief visit.
With just two mornings to explore, I reached out to an experienced local birding guide Denis Wahyudi (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denis.wahyudi99) who helped to organize two half day tours for me. His knowledge and enthusiasm made for two very productive outings. Here’s a brief summary of what we encountered:
Day 1 – Kerandangan Forest Reserve
We started our tour at 7 a.m. at Taman Wisata Alam Kerandangan, a conservation area in the hills near Senggigi. In just the first 90 minutes, we were treated to some fantastic sightings:
• Ornate Pitta (Pitta concinna)
• Rufous-chested Flycatcher (Ficedula dumetoria)
• A pair of Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt)
See also short video above.
We spent a couple of hours trying to track down the stunning Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, but it remained elusive. However, we did see Black-naped Monarchs (Hypothymis azurea) twice, and on our way out, we spotted Red-chested Flowerpeckers (Dicaeum maugei) in a roadside garden.
Kerandangan is well worth a return visit—especially at night, when the Rinjani Scops Owl often makes an appearance.
At Kerandangan, we also met Raga (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disini.raga) who is also very familiar with the butterflies of Lombok.
Day 2 – Gunung Tunak & Kuta Region
For our second morning, we left early to reach Taman Wisata Alam Gunung Tunak in South Lombok by 7:30 AM. This park is a real treasure: lots of birds, large diversity of butterflies, and dramatic coastal scenery. After a brief stop at the forest around the “Butterfly Center,” we hiked from the beach up a hill opposite Gili Anakewok – a landscape reminiscent of Australia’s Great Ocean Road.
Our sightings included:
• White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) gliding above the cliffs
• Black-naped Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus melanospilus)
• Pale-headed Munia (Lonchura pallida)
• Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
• Another Red-chested Flowerpeckers (Dicaeum maugei)
At the park entrance, a small restaurant offered delicious local food and good coffee with a gorgeous sea view, recommended for a break after birding.
On the return trip, we made a quick stop near the Mandalika Circuit. There, we added several more species to our list of sightings:
• Five-colored Munia (Lonchura quinticolor)
• Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons)
• Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
Final Thoughts
Two half-days barely scratched the surface of what Lombok has to offer. With more time, the island promises even greater rewards regarding birding, but also regarding butterflies, reptiles and macro photography. There is also a lot to explore in the underwater world around Lombok, which we enjoyed on scuba diving trips in the past.
Ingo Moench Photography 