Indonesia 3: Java

Apart from a frustratingly distant Tropbicbird, the crossing to Java was completely uneventful, and after a short bus ride I reached Baluran National Park where I stayed 2 nights. The HQ and accommodation are located 15km into the park form the entrance, a cheap motorbike taxi ride away, and I saw Green Junglefowl and Green Peafowl while hanging on for dear life. Exploring on foot the undisputed highlight was a stunning male Javan Banded Pitta in the small patch of 'rainforest' along the main track, giving its soft 'churrr' call while bouncing through the leaf litter. 

Black-backed Kingfisher

Butterflies

Black-winged Starling

Crested Serpent Eagle

Crimson-winged Woodpecker

Green Junglefowl

There's a joke here somewhere

Green Peafowl

Grey-rumped Treeswift

Small Blue Kingfisher

Wooly-necked Stork

After Baluran I packed the binoculars away for a trip up to Gunung Bromo, an active Volcano. Birds were almost completely absent here, save for a few singing Javan Bush Warblers, one of which was coaxed out briefly, and Paddyfield Pipits which were strangely abundant. The scenery and atmosphere more than made up for this though.