Banda Sea Cruise including Tanimbars

15th October - 2nd November 2025

Leaders: TBC and Sumaraja

Please note: Tanimbar Islands can be skipped if previously visited, please contact us for revised cost.

The huge Indonesian archipelago straddles the equator for more than 5,000km and comprises more than 17,000 islands. The eastern islands are among the least-explored of all, many have been visited by less than a handful of western ornithologists, and it is these which we will aim for on this exciting cruise which stops at Tanahjampea, Pantar, Alor, Wetar, Leti, Damar, Babar and culminating on endemic-packed Tanimbar Islands. The birds we are looking for are some of the least-known in the world; Tanahjampea Monarch, Tanahjampea Jungle-flycatcher, Kalao Jungle-flycatcher, Alor Boobook, Alor Myzomela, Sunda Grasshopper Warbler, Wetar Ground Dove, Wetar Figbird, Timor Imperial Pigeon, Black-necklaced Honeyeater, Wetar Myzomela, Kisar Friarbird, Banda Sea Fantail, Damar Flycatcher, Wallace's Fruit Dove, Slaty-backed Thrush, Tanimbar Bush Warbler, Pied Bronze Cuckoo and Tanimbar Scrubfowl, together with several new taxon currently being elevated to full species status and of course the potential for exciting discoveries of our own.

We begin on the tropical island of Flores, in the bustling harbour / diving town of Labuanbajo on the west coast of Flores. Here we will board our fine, private boat, a Phinisi as Indonesians call it and begin our journey on the open ocean, heading north deep into the Flores Sea. Our first destination is the island of Tanahjampea. Since being collected in 1927, Tanahjampea Monarch and Tanahjampea Jungle-flycatcher had only ever been observed by a single observer in 1993 until our cruises began. Our day on the island should produce both species along with a number of other endemic subspecies that are soon-to-be-elevated to full species status such as the equally seldom-seen Flores Sea Cuckoo Dove and Flores Sea Sunbird. Our first Elegant and Pink-headed Imperial Pigeons could be seen, both of which are abundant on several islands later in the tour; plus ‘supertramp’ species such as Island Monarch and Supertramp Fantail. In addition, if time allows we visit nearby Kalao to look for virginalis Elegant Pitta, a race endemic to the Flores Sea Islands, and Kalao Jungle Flycatcher - endemic to Kalao, along with the Flores Sea islands race of the Critically Endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo.

Afterwards, we sail through the Flores Sea, with our eyes peeled on the open ocean in search of rarer seabirds among the throng of Red-footed Boobies, which on our 2011 cruise included Heinroth's Shearwater and Red-billed Tropicbird - the former we now see on most cruises. Eventually we arrive on Pantar; the dry, open terrain is home to Broad-billed Monarch, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Ornate Pitta (split from Elegant) and our first Barred Doves though the real reason for anchoring here is for Alor Boobook, a vocally-distinct split from the Southern Boobook complex, with a chance of Alor Cuckooshrike, a field guide split from Wallacean Cuckooshrike.

The next island east, Alor is the only time we head to the hills, seeking out the recently-described Alor Myzomela, along with the recently-rediscovered Sunda Grasshopper Warbler (also known as Javan Bush Warbler). Several new species to the trip could also be seen; 'Alor Cuckooshrike', Timor Stubtail, Aberrant (Sunda) Bush Warbler, Olive-headed Lorikeet, Tenggara Whistler along with an outside chance of Flores Green Pigeon and two Critically Endangered species; Flores Hawk Eagle and Yellow-crested Cockatoo.

Our next stop is the much larger but far-less populated island of Wetar, recently brought to the limelight by the rediscovery of good populations of Wetar Ground Dove which will be a prime target for us. Birding in a beautiful, lush, untouched broad gorge together with roadside birding will provide us with the five Wetar endemics; Wetar Figbird, Wetar Oriole (shared with neighbouring Atauro), Wetar Scops Owl, Black-necklaced Honeyeater and Wetar Myzomela together with several which are shared with nearby Timor; Black Cuckoo Dove, Timor Imperial Pigeon, Timor Cuckoo Dove, Marigold, Iris and Olive-headed Lorikeets, Jonquil Parrot, Timor Stubtail, Timor Warbling-flycatcher, Fawn-breasted Whistler, Orange-banded Thrush and Timor Nightjar.

Moving east again to the small islands chain in the southern Banda Sea, we first visit the arid island of Leti, concentrating on Kisar (or Gray) Friarbird, endemic to just three of these tiny islands. Along with Banda Sea Fantail (a split from Northern) and Fawn-breasted Whistler (the subspecies here previously included in Yellow-throated Whistler), we might also find our first Wallacean Whistler, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher and Supertramp Fantail. An endemic subspecies of Southern Boobook awaits our night-time forays.
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Heading north-east and enjoying some R&R and fabulous snorkelling (or diving!) off the tiny, uninhabited island of Terbang Selatan we head to Damar, one of our most exciting stops of the trip for it is home to the Damar Flycatcher, a species missing since the 19th century prior to its recent rediscovery by an expedition there in 2001 and since then, our visit. Once in good forest this enigmatic species is quite common, at least by voice and we may also find Elegant and Pink-headed Imperial Pigeons, Orange-banded Thrush, White-tufted Honeyeater, Banda Sea Monarch, Black-banded Fruit Dove, another endemic subspecies of Golden Whistler, Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher and Banda Sea Gerygone.

Moving south to Babar we could see the strikingly plumaged endemic race of Southern Boobook. During the daytime we’ll search for the recently split Babar Whistler and might see our first Cinnamon-tailed Fantail (vocally distinct from Tanimbar birds and thus likely an undescribed species) and Banda Myzomela, both shared with the Tanimbars, along with further chances of Cinnamon-banded Kingfisher, Timor Stubtail, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Orange-banded Thrush, Olive-headed Lorikeet and Tricoloured Parrotfinch; the latter three enjoying the fresh mango literally dripping from the trees!

Just before we reach our final, endemic packed island, Yamdena, we stop at a nearby small island in search of Tanimbar's most difficult endemic, Tanimbar Scrubfowl. Tanimbar Islands are the easternmost cluster of the Lesser Sundas chain. A visit here will boost our endemic list considerably with Wallace's Fruit Dove, Tanimbar Cockatoo, Blue-streaked Lory, Charming Fantail, Tanimbar Oriole, Tanimbar Friarbird, Tanimbar Flyrobin, Tanimbar Starling, Pied Bronze Cuckoo, Tanimbar Monarch and Tanimbar Triller are all widespread. More elusive denizens of the forest are shy Tanimbar Scrubfowl, Tanimbar Flycatcher and Tanimbar Bush Warbler. We will listen for the fluty song of Slaty-backed Thrush emanating from the forest canopy while Fawn-breasted Thrush, the other endemic thrush skulks on the forest floor.
At night we should find Tanimbar Boobook, and with a good deal of luck, Australasian (Moluccan) Masked Owl.

With such prolonged periods onboard, a range of possible seabirds and cetaceans could provide added excitement. The seas here have never been studied in detail so the sea-birding could be exciting at times. On our previous cruises we found huge numbers of Red-footed Booby and regular encounters with Bridled and Sooty Terns, Brown Noody, Brown Booby, Tahiti Petrel, all 3 jaegers and even two firsts for Indonesia; Heinroth's Shearwater and Red-billed Tropicbird, along with a second, Tropical Shearwater so who knows what else could lurk over the waters! Cetaceans recorded included Melon-headed, False Killer, Sperm, Bryde's and Blue Whales, Risso's, Bottle-nosed, Spotted and Spinner Dolphins.

Please note: sometimes the tour is operated in reverse, beginning in Saumlaki and ending in Bali. This will be confirmed with you through email.