Birding Tour Australia: from the Outback to the Wet Tropics

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Eastern Australia: from the Outback to the Wet Tropics
October/November 2023/2024

 

Australia, the island continent, is a remote landmass that drifted away from Antarctica tens of millions of years ago. Without significant volcanic activity and other mountain-building forces it is also the flattest continent, with the world’s oldest soils. Despite its lack of topography this incredible landmass is one of extremes. The Outback, the continent’s core, is a vast and hostile desert with unpredictable weather patterns that sometimes flush the landscape green. Along the edges more regular precipitation allows ancient rainforests, heathlands, and fire-resistant sclerophyll woodlands to grow. Due to its long isolation and harsh environments Australia is now home to birds of a different feather, including eight endemic bird families and a further seven shared only with neighboring New Guinea. About 300 bird species are endemic to Australia, making it second only to Indonesia in this regard. Throughout this country’s every extreme its amazing avifauna has shown the adaptability and resiliency to survive in even the most challenging environments. In addition, this avifauna is just dripping with charismatic species, from bowerbirds to parrots to fairywrens to kookaburras to cassowaries to lyrebirds. Throughout the course of this small-group tour we sample habitats ranging from the arid plains north of Deniliquin to the wet rainforests of the Atherton Tablelands in search of as many of these wonderful birds as possible, while also appreciating the many other unique plants and animals along the way.

The incredible birds and wildlife of eastern Australia: a virtual birding tour by Andy Walker (who guides our Australian tours). This presentation was part of the highly recommended SE Arizona birding festival hosted by the Tucson Audubon Society (also see their YouTube channel here).

 

Our journey begins at the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne, Victoria in southeast Australia, visiting coastal heathland for several localized habitat specialists such as Gang-gang Cockatoo and Beautiful Firetail. Farther north and west towards the interior, arid mallee vegetation and saline lakes provide habitat for the mound-building Malleefowl, the impossibly blue Splendid Fairywren, and the evocatively named Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, among a host of other species. On one evening we make a special effort to observe the monotypic Plains-wanderer in the dry plains north of Deniliquin in New South Wales

We will search for Plains-wanderer (a monotypic family) in the dry plains of New South Wales.

 

Following our time in New South Wales we will swing southeast through the sclerophyll forests of Chiltern and the temperate forests near Melbourne for targets such as Turquoise Parrot and Superb Lyrebird.

After an internal flight from Melbourne to Brisbane, Queensland, we drive up to the famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, nestled within a large tract of subtropical rainforest, for a totally new set of stunning birds such as Paradise Riflebird, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Noisy Pitta, Albert’s Lyrebird, and Australian Logrunner.

On the last leg of our journey we visit the Wet Tropics of far northern Queensland to explore one of the world’s most ancient rainforests for key species such as Southern Cassowary and Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher. We also take a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef, where the colors and diversity of the fish and corals rival those of the birds, with a chance to swim with Green Turtles. Evening spotlighting sessions on many of these nights should also produce a host of endearing and unusual nocturnal birds and mammals, which may include Papuan Frogmouth and Barking Owl. Other target birds in the north include Great-billed Heron, Australian Bustard, Victoria’s Riflebird, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Great Bowerbird, Golden Bowerbird, Fernwren, and Chowchilla to name a few.

The massive Southern Cassowary can be seen in northern Queensland.

 

During our time in Australia we will also look for some of the country’s incredible and unique animals, including Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Koala, Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Common Ringtail Possum, Common Brushtail Possum, Musky Rat Kangaroo, and Common Wombat. The birds in Australia are incredible, but so are the mammals, reptiles, and amphibians that we will see; they combine to result in an awesome wildlife-filled experience. This continent is a naturalist’s dream!

Sometimes we do this tour in the reverse order shown in this itinerary. Please confirm the route for your tour with us before purchasing your flight tickets.

For those wishing to continue exploring Australia (and we fully recommend it), this tour can be combined with our set of tours preceding and following this one: Australia: Tasmania – Endemics and the Orange-bellied Parrot, Australia: Northern Territory – Top End Birding, and Western Australia: Southwest Specialties.  From 2022 you can also join our new Northern Territory – Alice Springs Birding tour (it will fit perfectly between our Top End and Western Australia tours). All five of our Australian birdwatching tours could be combined into one long tour, or you could just do one or two (or more!), whatever suits your time. We can also arrange further extensions (e.g., sightseeing trips to Sydney, Uluru, etc., and pelagic trips) if you wish.

 

 Itinerary (18 days/17 nights)

 

Day 1. Arrival in Melbourne

Non-birding day with your arrival into Melbourne airport, the rest of the day will be at your leisure. We will meet in our hotel near the airport for an evening welcome dinner together.

Overnight: Melbourne Airport Hotel

 

Day 2. Melbourne to Aireys Inlet

Over the course of the day we will enjoy some of Australia’s common and widespread, yet beautiful and interesting birds, such as Magpie-lark, Rainbow Lorikeet, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Willie Wagtail, Laughing Kookaburra, and Australian Magpie.

The gaudy Rainbow Lorikeet can be seen around Melbourne.

 

We drive around Melbourne to the world-famous Werribee Western Treatment Plant area along the coast. Included in the Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance in 1983, this extremely rich, huge area contains a network of sewage treatment lagoons, unmodified saltmarsh, creeks, and lakes, which host large numbers of both sedentary and migratory waterbirds. We will navigate a series of roads around this area, where water levels permit. Among a wide assortment of other species Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, and Musk Duck will be top priorities, as well as the secretive Australian Crake and the highly localized Striated Fieldwren. The area is often great for raptors, and we may find Black-shouldered Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Australian Hobby, and Brown Falcon.

We then continue southward along the coast to Aireys Inlet for the night. Along the way a few stops may produce Southern Emu-wren, Black-tailed Nativehen, Black-fronted Dotterel, Cape Barren Goose, and White-winged Chough. Maybe we will even spot our first Eastern Grey Kangaroo or Koala along the way!

Overnight: Aireys Inlet

 

Day 3. Aireys Inlet to central Victoria

Composed of dense, low shrubs and scattered, twisted trees, coastal heathland occurs on impoverished soils with poor drainage. Despite the nutrient-poor soils this habitat boasts a high diversity of plants as well as a unique community of birds that depend on them. We spend most of the morning exploring the scenic coastal heathlands of southwest Victoria, seeking out some of these species, such as Southern Emu-wren, Beautiful Firetail, and Rufous Bristlebird. Areas of taller vegetation may host the endearing Gang-gang Cockatoo, while a sea watch may yield Black-browed Albatross, Australasian Gannet, and other pelagic birds offshore.

Beautiful Firetail inhabits low shrubs in central Victoria.

 

As the day progresses, we drive inland into central Victoria for our first taste of box-ironbark forest, a habitat endemic to Australia. Because the component tree species in this habitat are such prolific flower and nectar producers, there is a correspondingly high diversity of nectar-feeding honeyeaters and lorikeets, including the normally scarce and local Purple-gaped Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater, and Purple-crowned Lorikeet.

Overnight: Inglewood

 

Day 4. Central Victoria to Ouyen

After some brief morning birding around Inglewood we continue to the Ouyen area in northwestern Victoria. Along the way we will stop at Lake Tyrrell, a salt-crusted and mostly dry lake bed surrounded by saltbush and samphire. Despite its unlikely appearance this low vegetation is home to several charismatic birds, such as Orange Chat, White-winged Fairywren, and Eastern Bluebonnet, which we will target during our time here.

Founded in 1921, Wyperfeld National Park protects a significant tract of semi-arid mallee woodland and heathland. Depending on local conditions we may visit this site as we are passing. High on our list of priorities here would be the appropriately named Malleefowl, Southern Scrub Robin, Splendid Fairywren, and Southern Whiteface, and other birds of the dry Australian interior are also possible.

A top target while in mallee habitat will be Malleefowl.

 

In the late afternoon we will arrive in Ouyen in the mallee habitat. Due to the number of secretive and highly sought birds here we will spend two nights and days birding the area, giving us plenty of time to try and connect with some of the arid area’s great birds like Malleefowl, notable for incubating its eggs in large nesting mounds.

Overnight: Ouyen

 

Day 5. Birding Hattah-Kulkyne National Park

As one of Australia’s largest and most pristine mallee reserves, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park boasts a wide variety of bird species that are much more difficult to see elsewhere, such as Mallee Emu-wren and Striated Grasswren. We will spend the full day birding within and around the park and town. In addition to the species mentioned above we will be looking for one of the most spectacular parrots in all of Australia, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo. Hopefully the cockatoo will be accompanied by a rich and colorful supporting cast of dry-country specialties, such as Regent Parrot, Mulga Parrot, Crested Bellbird, and Emu. Possibly we will have our first look at the huge Red Kangaroo here too.

Overnight: Ouyen

The rare Mallee Emu-wren (it is considered Endangered by BirdLife International) can be found in Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.

 

Day 6. Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, travel to Deniliquin, and Plains-wanderer night trip

We will have another morning birding in the wonderful Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, where we will continue to seek out the area’s specialties, maybe including White-winged Chough, Apostlebird, Chestnut Quail-thrush, and many more. As the morning progresses, we will head out of Victoria into neighboring New South Wales. We will likely stop at Lake Tutchewop along the way, which, depending on water levels, may hold the elegant Red-necked Avocet and the dapper Banded Stilt.

The fairywrens are sure to be one of the most-enjoyed birds of the trip, this is a Splendid Fairywren, one of several fairywren species likely on the tour.

 

We will have a long day today, because during the evening we will go out to search for the bizarre Plains-wanderer, the sole representative of an endemic Australian family, most closely related to the shorebirds (but its closest living relatives are thought to be the seedsnipes of South America!). Although this species is the star attraction of this site, we may also encounter other birds, such as Inland Dotterel, Banded Lapwing, Stubble Quail, Eastern Barn Owl, or Australian Owlet-nightjar on this nocturnal foray.

Overnight: Deniliquin

 

Day 7. Transfer to Chiltern via Gulpa Island

After a late night we allow ourselves to sleep in before continuing our journey to Chiltern via Gulpa Island and various other sites in the Riverina bioregion. Targets on this more laid-back day include the vivid Superb Parrot, the elusive Gilbert’s Whistler, and the striking White-backed Swallow as we aim to arrive in Chiltern in the midafternoon.

Overnight: Chiltern

 

Day 8. Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park to Healesville

Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, established in October 2002, protects what is arguably the best flora and fauna assemblage of box-ironbark forest and woodland in Australia and forms an important link between the foothills of the Australian Alps with the plains of the Murray River. The trees which define this habitat produce an abundance of nectar when flowering, attracting birds from far and wide. The sounds of birds can be almost deafening during these times! Targets attracted to these blooms include Little Lorikeet, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Painted Honeyeater, and perhaps, with considerable luck, even the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Regent Honeyeater (this site being one of its last strongholds, but it is still exceedingly rare here). Elsewhere in the forest we search for the rainbow-like Turquoise Parrot, the bark-peeling Crested Shriketit, the ground-dwelling Speckled Warbler, and more. We may even come across the unusual Short-beaked Echidna here.

After lunch we continue our journey southward to the town of Healesville near the city of Melbourne for the night. Here we will have a chance for some evening spotlighting for birds such as Greater Sooty Owl and mammals, possibly possums and gliders.

Overnight: Healesville

Parrots are sure to continually impress during this tour, this is Turquoise Parrot.

 

Day 9. Birding near Melbourne and conclusion of the “Outback” part of the tour

We spend most of the day at Bunyip State Park, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) east of Melbourne, birding wet sclerophyll forest and swampy heathlands. Within these mossy forests we hope to find several of Australia’s most charismatic and emblematic birds. Superb Lyrebird, an unrivalled mimic and the world’s largest songbird, will be chief among our targets. The forest and heathland communities are also home to Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Pilotbird, Olive Whistler, Eastern Whipbird, Flame Robin, Rose Robin, Pink Robin, Red-browed Treecreeper, Rufous Fantail, and more. It is sure to be a wonderful end to the birding on this part of the tour. We will continue back to Melbourne, thus completing our circuit of Victoria, where we will spend the night in an airport hotel ahead of an early flight the next day.

Overnight: Melbourne

 

Day 10. Transfer from Melbourne to Brisbane and to Lamington National Park

After an early-morning flight we arrive in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, to continue our tour. We first stop at a few mangrove sites near the airport itself, searching for the endemic Mangrove Honeyeater and Mangrove Gerygone. Nearby wetland sites often hold the elusive Spotless Crake, and we could obtain our first sightings of Comb-crested Jacana, Red-backed Fairywren, Torresian Kingfisher, and more while we search for them.

Afterwards we drive to the world-famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat at Lamington National Park. A colorful and interesting suite of birds attends the lodge gardens here, including Crimson Rosella, Australian King Parrot, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Australian Brushturkey, and Wonga Pigeon. These birds are unusually tame and provide excellent opportunities for photography.

Overnight: Lamington National Park

Gorgeous Regent Bowerbirds are often present around our rooms!

 

Day 11. Full day birding Lamington National Park

Situated in the heart of Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is well-known for its rainforest location, diverse wildlife, and interesting history. Using the lodge as our base we spend the full day exploring the verdant network of subtropical rainforest trails in search of several spectacular birds unique to the area. Albert’s Lyrebird, Australian Logrunner, and Noisy Pitta inhabit the forest understory, while birds in the mid-story and canopy include Paradise Riflebird, Topknot Pigeon, Black-faced Monarch, and Green Catbird. We will make a concerted effort to see all of these species during our stay as well as leaving time to enjoy the site’s good variety of mammals, a good number of which only come out at night.

Overnight: Lamington National Park

 

Day 12. Transfer from Brisbane to Cairns, birding the Cairns Esplanade

We will have a pre-breakfast birding walk into the forest near our accommodation once again, where we will keep searching for new and interesting species, maybe finding a cryptically plumaged Russet-tailed Thrush or the gorgeous and rather cute Rose Robin. After another sumptuous O’Reilly’s breakfast, we drive off the mountain and head back toward the city in time to make our flight farther north on our tour of the Australian east coast.

When we arrive in Cairns, depending on the tide time, we might make the short jaunt from our hotel to the Cairns Esplanade to enjoy its variety of shorebirds, from the hulking Far Eastern Curlew to the dainty Terek Sandpiper. We may also check a short stretch of mangrove forest nearby for Mangrove Robin and Varied Honeyeater, localized habitat specialists. We are sure to see plenty of Torresian Imperial Pigeons, Australasian Figbirds, and Metallic Starlings flying around near our accommodation.

Overnight: Cairns

 

Day 13. Great Barrier Reef trip and travel to Kuranda

The Great Barrier Reef is an ecosystem of many superlatives that no words can do justice. After an early breakfast we board a boat that will take us out to experience this incredible reef system. Our first stop is Michaelmas Cay, a tiny islet that hosts an impressive number of nesting seabirds. Sooty Tern, Brown Noddy, and Greater Crested Tern dominate, but Lesser Crested Tern, Black Noddy, and Black-naped Tern are also possible. Brown Booby can be seen perched on man-made structures, while marauding Great and Lesser Frigatebirds often soar overhead. We will spend some time here enjoying the spectacle. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we should be able to land on the cay to get close-up views of these seabirds. There is also the likelihood of snorkeling here, but for this part of our reef trip the focus is really on the birds, though we will also keep our eyes peeled for dolphins and sea turtles.

The birds around Michaelmas Cay are outstanding, but the underwater life is just as mesmerizing. It’s well worth jumping in, with a great chance of finding a Green Turtle amongst a myriad of kaleidoscopic tropical fish.

 

After lunch the boat usually moves across to Hastings Reef, where there will be an option to snorkel, scuba dive, or take a glass bottom boat tour, all three options giving a wonderful opportunity to observe the plethora of shockingly colorful life below the surface. When we return to shore in the midafternoon we will jump into our van and head into the rainforest to the west of Cairns to the Kuranda area, where we will spend the night.

Overnight: Kuranda

 

Day 14. Birding near Kuranda, transfer to Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges

Our main target bird for the morning, and if we are successful, likely to be a ‘bird of the trip’ contender, is the humongous and rare Southern Cassowary, the largest bird in Australia by weight. Cassowary House has hosted a family of these imposing birds for many years. While we venture to a nearby rainforest road in the morning for our first shot at a variety of new fruit doves, monarch flycatchers, and honeyeaters, we will remain in contact with our lodge host, should a cassowary venture into the gardens. Other visitors to the Cassowary House feeders include the normally reclusive Red-necked Crake as well as Pacific Emerald Dove and Macleay’s Honeyeater. We might also get lucky and see the local Victoria’s Riflebird (a bird-of-paradise) displaying in and around the lodge gardens.

In the late morning we continue our journey southwest to the Atherton Tablelands, but not without stopping at a couple of wetland sites for Sarus Crane and Brolga, Wandering Whistling Duck and Plumed Whistling Duck, and other open-country species. We spend the course of the next two days visiting a variety of sites on the Atherton Tablelands, a fertile plateau hosting several habitats from high altitude rainforest to drier eucalypt woodland. There will be a lot of targets to fit into the next couple of days, so expect long days as we try to connect with as many of them as possible. Although we will keep our itinerary flexible, based on our growing trip list, we will likely spend time birding the cooler wet forest of Mount Hypipamee National Park, Lake Barrine, and the Curtain Fig Tree for Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Golden Bowerbird, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Grey-headed Robin, Chowchilla, and more. We can, with some luck, also find Victoria’s Riflebird and Spotted Catbird in the gardens of our accommodation. Nocturnal activity is also wonderfully exciting here, and we will be sure to spend some time looking for a range of possums, gliders, and more, as well as for the diurnal Musky Rat Kangaroo. Here we will also have a search for the bizarre Platypus.

Overnight: Lake Eacham

 

Day 15. Birding Atherton Tablelands

On our second day in the area we make our way northward along the much drier eastern edge of the Atherton Tablelands, stopping at various sites, which may include Granite Gorge Nature Park, Mount Carbine, Lake Mitchell, and the Maryfarms Road. Much like on the previous day there will be no shortage of potential targets. Australian Bustard, Squatter Pigeon, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Spotted Harrier, Blue-winged Kookaburra, and Great Bowerbird are only a sample of the many wonderful birds we may encounter today. After a long day of birding we settle in at Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge for the next two nights.

Overnight: Julatten

Present in the dry north, we will be on the lookout for Blue-winged Kookaburra.

 

Day 16. Birding Mount Lewis and Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge

The signature species at Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge, Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, is fully migratory in this part of its range, arriving to nest in November with the onset of the rainy season. We carefully time this itinerary to coincide with the arrival of this spectacular kingfisher to the Atherton Tablelands.

A small area of rainforest in an otherwise agricultural landscape is an amazing sight, and this small block of habitat is home to some remarkable species. We will find lots of new birds here with some target birds including Papuan Frogmouth, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Graceful Honeyeater, Pied Monarch, Superb Fruit Dove, Forest Kingfisher, and Noisy Pitta. The high-altitude rainforest at Mount Lewis offers another chance at Golden Bowerbird and several very restricted-range endemics such as Fernwren, Chowchilla, Mountain Thornbill, Atherton Scrubwren, Blue-faced Parrotfinch, and more. Evening spotlighting on the lodge grounds may produce Lesser Sooty Owl or Barking Owl and the possibility of some more interesting mammals and reptiles.

Overnight: Julatten

 

 

Day 17. Daintree River Cruise

We will need an early start today to arrive in time for our dawn cruise along the scenic Daintree River. By scanning the sandy banks and lush riverside vegetation from the comfort of our boat we will keep a sharp eye out for the bulky Great-billed Heron, family groups of Shining Flycatcher, the cryptically camouflaged Papuan Frogmouth, and flocks of the diminutive Double-eyed Fig Parrot – maybe even the rare Little Kingfisher.

Back on dry land we will search the surrounding forest for Lovely Fairywren and the sandy beaches for Beach Stone-curlew before driving south toward Cattana Wetlands in the afternoon. Here we hope to obtain views of the vivid Crimson Finch and the retiring White-browed Crake.

Upon arrival in Cairns we pay an afternoon visit to the Cairns Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes. This lush park is home to a rich assortment of birds, including Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Bush Stone-curlew, Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Black Butcherbird, and more. As the afternoon wears on a variety of woodland species, such as Rainbow Bee-eater, Brown-backed Honeyeater, and Yellow Honeyeater, become more active, often bathing on the edges of a freshwater lake. We will enjoy a final evening meal together with the difficult task of choosing the ‘Bird of the Trip’, never an easy thing to do in Australia.

Overnight: Cairns

One of the toughest kingfishers to find in Australia, we will hope to find the Little Kingfisher while on a boat trip on the Daintree River.

 

Day 18. Transfer to Cairns Airport, tour concludes

Non-birding day with your departure from Cairns Airport.

Overnight: Not included

 

 

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors.

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From the Outback to the Wet Tropics Trip Report, October 2018

28 OCTOBER – 12 NOVEMBER 2018 

By Andy Walker 

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Overview

 

This 16-day scheduled-departure Australia group tour commenced in Melbourne, Victoria, on the 28^th of October 2018 with a circuit of the state and a brief visit into New South Wales. We then flew up to Brisbane, southern Queensland, for a trip to the world-famous O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and then moved into the northern tropics of Cairns, Queensland, for a circuit of the surrounding area (including a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and a river cruise along the Daintree River). The tour concluded in Cairns on the 12^th of November 2018.

We connected with many exciting birds, and the tour yielded a long list of eastern Australian birding specialties, such as magical, prolonged observation of two adult and two young Southern Cassowaries, Victoria’s and Paradise Riflebirds feeding and practicing for display, the stunning Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo – a delightful pink parrot with an amazing red and yellow headdress, some of the best views of Double-eyed Fig Parrots imaginable as a flock fed at eye-level for ages, both Superb and Albert’s Lyrebirds (the largest passerines in the world, with incredible vocalizations), a recently-returned migrant Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher that finally gave views after a good chase through the forest, the rare Inland Dotterel, several uncommon (within this tour route) shorebirds including Oriental Plover, Australian Pratincole, and Little Curlew, an incredible male Australian Bustard giving full display, large numbers of Shy Albatrosses in the rough southern seas off Victoria, close-up nesting seabirds galore on the Great Barrier Reef, nesting Square-tailed Kite in New South Wales, the impressive and huge Black-necked Stork, Brolga, Sarus Crane, and Cape Barren Goose, the rare Freckled Duck, the very locally-distributed Rufous Bristlebird, amazing Regent, Satin, Great, and Tooth-billed Bowerbirds for their looks and displays, the gorgeous Diamond Firetail, and numerous shorebirds, honeyeaters, parrots, fairywrens, and robins. The list of highlights could go on and on, but also some of the very common birds are incredibly impressive for the first-time visitor to Australia, and these were excitingly appreciated, such as Laughing Kookaburra, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Galah, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Willie Wagtail, and Welcome Swallow.

A total of 383 bird species were seen (plus eight species heard only)[1], along with an impressive list of other animals, including Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Dingo, and Red Kangaroo. Full species lists are provided at the end of this report.

 

Detailed Report 

 

Day 0, 27^th October 2018. Pre-tour arrival in Melbourne

Tim, Kay, Sandra, and Andy arrived in Melbourne in the early evening after completing their Tasmania tour ahead of the east coast tour starting the following morning. See trip report for the exciting Tasmania tour here.

 

Day 1, 28^th October 2018. Melbourne to Healesville

After breakfast we headed to the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, where we met with Simon, our local guide. The trip got off to a flying start with the first birds looked at in the Swarovski ATX-95 telescope being a family of two adult and two young Tawny Frogmouths. Wow, what a start! We enjoyed watching these birds for a while before concentrating on a small marsh, where we found another of our site targets in a pair of Buff-banded Rails. We saw several species of waterfowl here, the most exciting being a few Pink-eared Ducks. We had plenty of parrots too, such as Long-billed Corella, Little Corella, Australian King Parrot, Red-rumped Parrot, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Musk Lorikeet, and Rainbow Lorikeet – lots of color to digest! Further exploration gave us Red Wattlebird, another Tawny Frogmouth, Pied Currawong, Olive-backed Oriole, Mistletoebird, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Grey Butcherbird, and Eastern Spinebill. Here we also found our first Eastern Grey Kangaroo of the trip.

After our time near Melbourne we drove into the mountains at Healesville, where, after lunch, we entered a forested track. We were now in a very different habitat (and at different elevation), and so the birds were correspondingly different. During an enjoyable walk we found Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Crimson Rosella, Crested Shriketit, Flame, Rose, and Eastern Yellow Robins, Australian Golden Whistler, Rufous Fantail, Crescent Honeyeater, White-throated Treecreeper, and White-browed Scrubwren, but best of all Pilotbird and Superb Lyrebird. Happy with our haul we headed to our accommodation for an early dinner.

After dinner we spent a couple of hours walking a quiet road near town, right away finding our main target, a nesting pair of Southern Boobooks. Scanning the trees after dusk also gave us good looks at Greater Glider, Common Ringtail Possum, Common Brushtail Possum, and brief views of Red Fox, Sugar Glider, and likely Common Wombat too. Nice surprises were our sixth Tawny Frogmouth of the day that flew in and landed next to us and, as we were leaving the site, a group of five Laughing Kookaburras roosting together on a branch.

 

Day 2, 29^th October 2018. Healesville to Chiltern

An optional early-morning walk near our accommodation gave great views of Common Bronzewing, New Holland Honeyeater, and Spotted Pardalote in and around the garden. After breakfast we headed into the mountains again, where the temperature plummeted, but we found some very nice birds, the top pick being Superb Lyrebird for most of the group. We had excellent, close views of a couple of Flame Robins, Australian Golden Whistler, and Pied Currawong. Frustratingly a couple of birds remained ‘heard only’, namely Olive Whistler and Red-browed Treecreeper, just that little bit too far away to tempt them closer.

Dropping down over the mountains we found a colony of Bell Miners, very vocal and eventually giving good views. Here we also had excellent looks at the beautiful Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Sacred Kingfisher, White-throated Treecreeper, Yellow, Brown, and Striated Thornbills, Crested Shriketit, White-throated Gerygone, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Red-browed Finch, and Australia’s smallest bird, the tiny Weebill. Here the increase in temperature was very much welcomed too after the recent cold weather,

After lunch we continued our journey north. A quick rest stop in a town center yielded plenty of new birds, such as Willie Wagtail, Australian Reed Warbler, White-plumed Honeyeater, Little and Noisy Friarbirds (chasing and fighting with each other), and Collared Sparrowhawk. We also improved our views of Sacred Kingfisher and Eastern Rosella here.

Our final stops of the day occurred in the Warby-Ovens National Park. We spent a couple of hours driving dirt tracks and exploring the many options here and came away with a number of new birds. Highlights included Rainbow Bee-eater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Western Gerygone, White-browed Babbler, White-winged Triller, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, White-winged Chough, and Leaden Flycatcher.

After checking into our hotel in Chiltern we met up with regular Birding Ecotours clients David and Sue from Adelaide, who joined us for a meal ahead of joining the tour for the following day.

 

Day 3, 30^th October 2018. Chiltern to Deniliquin

A pre-breakfast walk in the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park was very cold, but as the sun hit the tree tops things started to get going with a great deal of honeyeater activity. Birds were quickly moving through, but we managed to see Blue-faced, Yellow-tufted, Fuscous, Brown-headed, Black-chinned, and White-naped Honeyeaters. Other exciting birds included Speckled Warbler, White-winged Chough, and our best views to date of Brown Treecreeper. A huge flock of White-browed and Masked Woodswallows left their roost site and showed well as they foraged near a stubble field; these are both great-looking, slick species, so it was nice to see them well.

After breakfast we made a brief visit to several lakes in the area, where we found Brolga (a pair with two babies), Little Eagle, Rufous Songlark, Little Lorikeet, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Australian Pelican, and Black-fronted Dotterel. One of the favorite finds of the morning, though, was a pair of Restless Flycatchers tending to their very young babies in their nest. It was great to be able to watch their behavior (from a distance) as they returned time and again with food and also to watch them chase off potential nest predators such as Sacred Kingfisher.

A final drive through the forest gave us a couple of new birds in the form of Buff-rumped Thornbill and a male of the rather spectacular Red-capped Robin, but then it was time to hit the road.

As we headed from Victoria into New South Wales a brief toilet stop gave us the opportunity to see our first White-breasted Woodswallow, Whiskered Tern, and Australasian Darter, along with several other waterbird species.

The evening plan was to go out at night with local guide Phil, so prior to that we did some late-afternoon birding with him and got a huge boost in honeyeaters for our ever-expanding trip list. This included some really nice ones too, such as Painted, Black, White-fronted, Striped, Spiny-cheeked, and Singing Honeyeaters. Here we also found Purple-backed Fairywren, Pied Butcherbird, and Eastern Bluebonnet.

After the sun had set and we had eaten our picnic dinners we commenced our night drive through the very dry farmland. Unfortunately there was no sign of any Plains-wanderer during the evening, undoubtedly due to the drought that the area was suffering. We did, however, still see several other interesting species, such as Inland Dotterel, Banded Lapwing (a pair with two young), Emu, and Eastern Barn Owl. Other enjoyment was provided by Red Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Fat-tailed Dunnart, Common Brushtail Possum, Tessellated Gecko, and Gibber Gecko.

It was very late when we returned to our hotel, but we had seen some fantastic wildlife during the day.

 

Day 4, 31^st October 2018. Deniliquin to Ouyen

After the late night yesterday we had a relaxed start to the day and said goodbye to David and Sue. When starting birding for the morning we found three very exciting species in no time at all. First we saw a couple of the very local Superb Parrots (well named), then followed this up with some of the best views imaginable of a perched Square-tailed Kite, and finally topped things off nicely with an elegant Black Falcon! I love these easy mornings. But what was noticeable was the sudden increase in temperature over the previous days with the thermostat skyrocketing.

As we continued our journey back from New South Wales into Victoria we found White-winged Fairywren, Little Grassbird, Brown Goshawk, Zebra Finch, Lace Monitor, and Eastern Bearded Dragon.

By the afternoon we were in the Mallee, and temperatures were near 40^oC. Here almost all the birds were different, and we found Gilbert’s Whistler, Splendid Fairywren, Crested Bellbird, Southern Whiteface, Regent Parrot, Pallid Cuckoo, Chestnut-crowned Babbler, and one of the most popular, Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo. Yet more wonderful birds!

 

Day 5, 1^st November 2018. Ouyen to Central Victoria

We knew the day was going to be hot, so we headed out early into the Mallee and were rewarded with some seriously good views of a huge number of Regent Parrots and smaller numbers of Australian Ringnecks and Mulga Parrots. The sight and sound of these parrots was very impressive, as was a flock of 35 Emus. A water tank was bustling with birdlife, more of the above parrots (and Red-rumped Parrots) along with White-eared, Striped, Spiny-cheeked, Yellow-plumed, and Singing Honeyeaters, all drinking and bathing as the temperatures increased.

After breakfast we started our journey southward, stopping briefly for beautiful White-backed Swallows, a rather bizarre Common Ostrich (farmed ostriches have established feral populations in Australia, but this was not in an expected area), and our first Shingleback Lizard. We grabbed some lunch and then headed for the amazing Cullens Lake Wildlife Reserve. This waterbody was absolutely stacked with wildfowl, and it was a sight to behold. One really special bird stood out from the crowd, the rare Little Curlew, a rather unexpected bonus bird for the trip. Plenty of other great birds were also found here, such as Banded Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Pied Stilt, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. The number of ducks was staggering, there were thousands of birds: big flocks of Australian Shelducks, Pink-eared Duck, Chestnut Teal, Black Swans, Black-tailed Nativehens, and assorted cormorants, herons, and egrets. Both Royal and Yellow-billed Spoonbills were present, as was Glossy Ibis. At times the air was filled with Whiskered Terns and one White-winged Tern (an uncommon species in Victoria) and a few Caspian Terns too, and all of the above were very flighty due to the presence of Peregrine Falcon, Swamp Harrier, Brown Falcon, and Whistling Kite. Reluctantly we had to leave the lake; it was getting rather hot at about 38^oC, and the increasing wind made it feel a good deal hotter.

As we made our way to our final stop near Inglewood we found a very obliging roadside White-necked Heron; this bird was in particularly fine plumage. Our final birding location for the day was at a waterhole, where we sat patiently for an hour and enjoyed close views of drinking White-fronted, Black, Yellow-plumed, White-eared, Yellow-tufted, and Brown-headed Honeyeaters. Both Common and Brush Bronzewings were present, and a Shy Heathwren was calling nearby. A great way to end another bird-packed day in Victoria!

 

Day 6, 2^nd November 2018. Central Victoria to Aireys Inlet

The temperature had dropped a bit overnight, and we were greeted by gray skies and light rain showers during the morning. But this seemed to get the birds moving quite a bit, and we had an excellent couple of hours birding in some nearby hills. Some of our main target birds fell quite quickly, and in no time at all we had found and enjoyed great views of a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers (a rare bird in the state), a pair of Hooded Robins, multiple singing and displaying Painted Honeyeaters, a male Gilbert’s Whistler, and several Diamond Firetails – a simply exquisite little finch. Throw in a few White-winged Trillers, Mistletoebird showing down to several feet, Black Honeyeater, nesting Rainbow Bee-eaters, and White-backed Swallow, and we were all a little excited by what we had just seen! There were also plenty of other, more familiar (but not less exciting) species about, such as Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Long-billed Corella, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, and Superb Fairywren.

After some refreshment we continued our journey southward, passing some really pretty old villages along the way. We picked up several interesting birds along the way too, such as Wedge-tailed Eagle, Musk Lorikeet, Grey Currawong, Scarlet Robin, Cape Barren Goose, Black-fronted Dotterel, Red-kneed Dotterel, White-browed and Masked Woodswallows (by the hundreds), Grey Butcherbird, White-necked Heron, Latham’s Snipe, Little Wattlebird, and several gorgeous adult Nankeen Night Herons.

When we arrived at the coast the wind was absolutely howling, so we spent half an hour or so doing a sea watch. Here we had some very close fly-by Shy Albatrosses, with several also sitting on the water, where an Afro-Australian Fur Seal was foraging, along with many Fluttering and a few Short-tailed Shearwaters, Australasian Gannet, Greater Crested Tern, and Black-faced Cormorant. On land near our viewpoint we saw Blue-winged Parrot and heard a Rufous Bristlebird singing, but the wind was so strong at this point that we didn’t even try to see the bird – one to be left for the following day (hopefully)!

 

Day 7, 3^rd November 2018. Aireys Inlet to Melbourne

A pre-breakfast walk at Aireys Inlet on our final morning in Victoria gave us some fantastic views of several of the very locally-distributed Rufous Bristlebird; it was also great to hear their beautiful song. As we walked around the local area we picked up several interesting birds such as Latham’s Snipe, Blue-winged Parrot, and Australian Shelduck. A brief sea watch of an incredibly flat ocean (very different from the previous evening’s sea state) gave us Shy Albatross and the same birds as the previous evening, but in reduced numbers, with the addition of a couple of Parasitic Jaegers (Arctic Skuas).

After a lovely breakfast we started our circuit back toward Melbourne. En route we found Forest Raven, Musk Duck, and Wedge-tailed Eagle. A small clearing in some woodland was incredibly busy with birds, and here we enjoyed Varied Sittella, White-naped Honeyeater, Rufous and Australian Golden Whistlers, Red-browed Finch, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Woodswallow, Eastern Yellow Robin, and the best views imaginable of two male Satin Flycatchers.

Our final stop of the Victoria leg of the tour was one of the best birding destinations in the state (and probably the whole country), the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee. Here a huge number of waterbirds was waiting for us, and we encountered a multitude of species. New trip birds included Pectoral Sandpiper (another Australian rarity), Australian Crake, Baillon’s Crake, Blue-billed Duck, Pied Oystercatcher, Red-capped Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Marsh Sandpiper, Fairy Tern, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Eurasian Skylark, and Golden-headed Cisticola. The spectacle of so many birds giving such excellent views is one that will not be forgotten anytime soon. The numbers of Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pink-eared Duck, Chestnut Teal, Pied Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, and Whiskered Tern were really impressive. We ended the day with 130 species, not a bad haul for a fairly relaxed few hours’ birding!

After our time was up here we headed back to Melbourne, where we reluctantly said our goodbyes and thank you to Simon for all of his excellent work during this leg of the tour. We grabbed dinner and an early night ahead of the early start the following morning for our flight to Brisbane, ready for something totally different from the previous week’s birding. 

 

Day 8, 4^th November 2018. Melbourne to Brisbane to Lamington National Park

An early start was in order for today so that we could catch our flight from Melbourne to Brisbane, where we arrived around 8 a.m. to a hot and muggy morning. After picking up our new vehicle we headed to a wetland near the city, where we met with local birder Rob. We spent a couple of hours in some habitats very different from previous locations on the tour and as a result found plenty of new birds among many we were by now more familiar with. Highlights here included Comb-crested Jacana, Magpie Goose, Wandering Whistling Duck, Australasian Darter, Eastern Osprey, Brahminy Kite, Tawny Grassbird, Red-backed and Variegated Fairywrens, Oriental Dollarbird, Intermediate Egret, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Leaden Flycatcher, White-throated Gerygone, and Torresian Crow. We also saw several Eastern Water Dragons, some gave views, others just plopped into the water.

We had a final mangrove spot to check prior to lunch, so we headed over to it in the late morning. In no time at all we were watching Torresian Kingfisher and Mangrove Gerygone in the mangroves, with Bar-sided Forest-skinks hanging out on the trees too. The tide levels were pretty perfect and allowed us to scan the mud here, and we found Pacific Reef Heron, Striated Heron, Far Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Gull-billed Tern, and Little Tern.

After lunch we said goodbye to Rob and started our journey south to the legendary O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Along the way we stopped at a small dam, where in the heat of the mid-afternoon we managed to find some really spectacular birds, such as Black-necked Stork, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, White-necked Heron, Pied Butcherbird, and Topknot Pigeon. We also bettered our views of Oriental Dollarbird from a few hours previously. It would have been easy to stay here for the whole day, but we had to get to our accommodation, so we continued on our way, winding our way up into the mountains.

Just before reaching our accommodation we stopped at a scenic viewpoint, where, along with some spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, we also found a whole new suite of birds, such as Satin Bowerbird, Crimson Rosella, Australian King Parrot, Wonga Pigeon, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, and more. As we checked into our rooms a stunning Regent Bowerbird provided a bit of a distraction, as too did Australian Brushturkey. After a wonderful evening meal we grabbed an early night’s sleep.

 

Day 9, 5^th November 2018. Lamington National Park

We awoke to a warm dawn in the mountains and immediately started birding. We spent the whole day around our wonderful accommodation – O’Reilly’s is a must-visit location in eastern Australia. This area has a large mix of species, some crazily colorful, in-your-face-showy birds like Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, and Australian Brushturkey, and then there are the more skulking, cryptic species like Australian Logrunner, Bassian Thrush, and more. There are even brightly-colored, large birds that can be extremely shy too, such as Green Catbird, Noisy Pitta, and Paradise Riflebird. Over the course of the day we found all of these and many more, such as Eastern Whipbird (a bird that can be incredibly shy at most other locations), Eastern Yellow Robin, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Pied Currawong, Wonga Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Australian Golden Whistler, and Black-faced Monarch. We also found both Grey Fantail and Rufous Fantail on nests, which was really exciting to see.

During the late afternoon we had a flock of White-throated Needletails fly overhead, recently arrived migrants on the move. Across the day we found several rather cool mammals and reptiles too, such as Red-necked Wallaby, Red-necked Pademelon, Red-legged Pademelon, the humongous Land Mullet (one of the largest skinks in the world), Major Skink, and the gorgeous Southern (Angle-headed) Forest Dragon.

After dinner we headed for a brief walk near the lodge, where we enjoyed watching Short-eared Brushtail Possum, a couple of Common Brushtail Possums, and numerous Common Ringtail Possums. We also heard both Noisy Pitta singing and several Southern Boobooks calling.

 

Day 10, 6^th November 2018. Lamington National Park to Brisbane to Cairns

We had an early-morning, pre-breakfast birding walk near the lodge and were rewarded with a pair of Albert’s Lyrebirds. Over the course of a couple of hours we saw many of the birds we had recorded the previous day but also added a few more, or improved views of others, such as Bassian Thrush, Paradise Riflebird, Green Catbird, and Topknot Pigeon. Some of the different birds and our first of the trip included Grey Goshawk, Pacific Emerald Dove, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, and White-headed Pigeon.

After breakfast we traveled back to Brisbane in order to catch our afternoon flight to Cairns. Along the way we picked up our first Pacific Koel and Forest Kingfisher, but better views of these was likely on the cards over the next few days. We also found Whiptail Wallaby, Black Flying Fox, and Grey-headed Flying Fox.

We arrived in Cairns late in the afternoon and checked into our hotel for the night. We took a brief walk along the Esplanade before having an early dinner. The beach was fairly quiet, but we found Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Whimbrel, Masked Lapwing, Black-fronted Dotterel, Australian Pelican, and a number of Gull-billed Terns. The trees along the beach held numerous Torresian Imperial Pigeons, Australian Figbirds, and Rainbow Lorikeets, with Australian Swiftlets overhead too. We also had brief views of Double-eyed Fig Parrot and Varied Honeyeater, and as we ate dinner several huge Spectacled Flying Foxes flew overhead.

 

Day 11, 7^th November 2018. Great Barrier Reef Trip and travel to Kuranda

Today was about more than ‘just the birds’, since we headed out to the Great Barrier Reef, one of those ‘must-visit’ places in Australia, if not the whole world. We were the first boat to arrive at Michaelmas Cay and so made full use of our time, watching the nesting seabirds before anyone else got there. The island was covered in birds, and the tide was high, condensing a number of birds together. As we scanned the throng we found numerous Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies, the two most abundant species. Amongst these we also found plenty of Bridled Terns, Brown Boobies, and a few Great Frigatebirds. We also saw a large number of both Greater Crested Terns and Lesser Crested Terns, even finding some birds sitting next to each other to allow careful study of their differences. Silver Gulls loitered, waiting to snatch that unguarded egg or chick, and Ruddy Turnstones patrolled the cay too and were even noted eating the remaining contents of a noddy egg after the Silver Gulls had finished with it. As we were watching the above we also noted a gorgeous Green Turtle swimming through in crystal-clear water.

As the tide was high, we were able to take a short boat ride around the cay and in doing so found multiple Black-naped Terns and Common Terns, along with the many other species outlined above.

After we had finished with the birding we spent the rest of the day snorkeling at a couple of spots. It was, as usual, a simply breathtaking experience with a huge assortment of fish discovered along the reef.

As the afternoon progressed it was time to return to Cairns, and there we picked up our new vehicle before heading into the mountains for our next night’s accommodation. On entering the local pub for dinner we were somewhat shocked to find a Bush Stone-curlew standing on the doorstep of the establishment. A fitting end to another great day in Australia!

 

Day 12, 8^th November 2018. Kuranda to Lake Eacham

Wow, what an awesome day! We started off at Cassowary House in Kuranda, where a pre-breakfast walk gave us incredible views of some seriously great birds, such as Victoria’s Riflebird, Spotted Catbird, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Spangled Drongo, Varied Triller, Noisy Pitta, Forest Kingfisher, and more! As we walked into the dining area we were greeted with the sight of four giant, prehistoric-looking Southern Cassowaries, an adult pair with their two chicks. Over the course of breakfast and well beyond we were openmouthed at the views we were getting of one of the most impressive birds in the world. It was incredible to see the birds, but to be able to spend the time at close quarters with them and watch their interactions was something that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It was hard to concentrate on the other wildlife around, but this was of good quality too, such as Macleay’s Honeyeater, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Spectacled Monarch, White-throated Needletail, and Musky Rat Kangaroo.

Once we managed to drag ourselves away from the amazing cassowaries we started our journey into the Atherton Tablelands. We found a couple of good birds along the way in Sarus Crane, Australian Bustard, and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, and also Little Red Flying Fox. A small marsh held Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks, Freckled Duck, Royal Spoonbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Common Cicadabird, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Scarlet Myzomela, and Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.

Our final stop during daylight was for one very special animal, the rather unique and highly sought-after Platypus. We not only saw one but had some excellent views as one fed at close range to us – yet another exciting encounter.

After a really wonderful dinner cooked by Sandra and Kay (and a surprise birthday apple pie for Andy – thank you!) we headed out for some nocturnal exploration. During this time we found Short-beaked Echidna, Common (Copper) Brushtail Possum, Green Ringtail Possum, Striped Possum, Sugar Glider, White-tailed Giant Rat, Red-legged Pademelon, and Northern Leaf-tail Gecko. A Lesser Sooty Owl was calling but too far away to generate any interest.

A thoroughly enjoyable day for all!

 

Day 13, 9^th November 2018. Atherton Tablelands

We spent the morning birding around the crater lakes in the Atherton Tablelands. It was really busy with birds around our accommodation early in the morning, and we enjoyed further prolonged views of Victoria’s Riflebird and Spotted Catbird, along with several other species such as Grey-headed Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Pacific Emerald Dove, Black Butcherbird, and Spangled Drongo. Finding a fruiting tree gave us point-blank, eye-level views of Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Barred Cuckooshrike, and Metallic Starling, which was a true privilege. We also really enjoyed watching a foraging Pied Monarch, which moved creeper-like around tree trunks, after seeing Spectacled and Black-faced Monarchs earlier in the day. Here we also found the stunning Boyd’s Forest Dragon (one of the best-looking reptiles in the country) and Musky Rat Kangaroo.

As we drove through some agricultural land we found another Sarus Crane and a flock of over fifty Red-tailed Black Cockatoos.

Our afternoon birding took us into the much driver areas of the north, where we found Blue-winged Kookaburra, Great Bowerbird, White-browed Robin, Red-winged Parrot, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Pacific Koel, Scarlet Myzomela, Graceful Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, and Leaden Flycatcher.

We arrived at our accommodation, the excellent Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge, late in the afternoon, and while on the way to the pub for dinner we noted Nankeen Night Heron, Metallic Starling, and Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, which ended another great day’s birding.

 

Day 14, 10^th November 2018. Kingfisher Park, Mount Lewis National Park and local area

Our pre-breakfast walk around Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge with the resident local guide Andrew, who birded with us for the day, produced one of the birds of the trip, the recently-arrived Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher. It took some work, but our persistence paid off as we got some close, but brief looks at this migratory bird. Plenty of other birds were around too as we were searching for our quarry, including our first Bridled Honeyeaters of the trip. We also encountered Eastern Water Dragon and a surprise Dingo!

After breakfast, where we enjoyed the company of a Boyd’s Forest Dragon sitting nearby, we drove to Mount Lewis National Park. Blue-faced Parrotfinch was seen briefly, as were two Noisy Pittas. A Pheasant Coucal was much more obliging, as too were displaying Topknot Pigeons. As we walked around the trails here we found many new and locally-distributed species, such as Chowchilla, Fernwren, Mountain Thornbill, Atherton Scrubwren, and Tooth-billed Bowerbird, along with more familiar Barred Cuckooshrike, Victoria’s Riflebird, Spotted Catbird, Grey-headed Robin, and Pale-yellow Robin. A Pacific Baza here was a nice treat, especially as it gave some perched views.

Our afternoon birding took us into some dry areas. A brief stop in a rainforest gully gave us our best perched views of White-headed Pigeon and Brown Cuckoo-Dove as well as brief glimpses of Yellow-breasted Boatbill and Lovely Fairywren. Once in the dry country we were quickly enjoying great views of Banded Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Red-winged Parrot, Brush Cuckoo, Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, and White-bellied Cuckooshrike. However, we were really here to look for Australian Bustard, and as the temperature dropped the bustards appeared in decent numbers, some giving very close views. We really enjoyed watching a male standing in the road, puffing himself up and displaying, an amazing sight and sound thoroughly enjoyed by all.

There was one final bonus species for the day, a couple of scarce Oriental Plovers, an early birthday present for Andy! 

 

Day 15, 11^th November 2018. Daintree River Cruise and transfer to Cairns

The final day of the tour saw us make an early start from Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge to allow us to get to the Daintree River for an early-morning boat trip. We met the local boatman Murray and headed out on the river. Birds came thick and fast, and over the course of our two hours we recorded over 70 species! An early highlight was a Black Bittern that flew out of some dense vegetation right over our heads. We then had good views of White-browed Crake and Buff-banded Rail, but the best was yet to come when we found two Pale-vented Bush-hens walking about in the open right on the water’s edge, allowing excellent views of this mega-skulking species. Another major highlight was a nesting Papuan Frogmouth with young at the nest with other species such as Black Butcherbird, Shining Flycatcher, Large-billed Gerygone, and Magpie Goose nearby.

As we headed down a small creek we found a couple of rather close Azure Kingfishers, a really pretty bird, and then also enjoyed the beautiful Pacific Baza perching. Other new birds (or better looks at least) included Green Oriole, Hornbill Friarbird, and Olive-backed Sunbird. We also saw a pretty Common (Green) Tree Snake hanging in the mangroves. The highlights of this boat trip could go on and on!

After breakfast we headed back to Cairns. Along the way we found a field containing several Pacific Golden Plovers, a new trip bird that was pleasing but soon overshadowed dramatically when we found two Australian Pratincoles and another Oriental Plover. Incredible scenes! The beach was covered in terns of several species, and Far Eastern Curlew was quite noticeable, standing head and shoulders above most on the beach.

We made a brief stop in the Cattana area, where we had good views of several Green Pygmy Geese along with a flock of Wandering Whistling Ducks. Nearby a few Crimson Finches were also found, but the sight of about one hundred Chestnut-breasted Mannikins would take some beating.

Our planned final stop of the trip was the Centenary Lakes area. In no time at all we had excellent views of several Raja Shelducks, a really stunning bird. Most of the other birds we were now very familiar with, but it was still nice to see the likes of Bush Stone-curlew, Black Butcherbird, and Grey Goshawk.

After this we checked into our hotel, cleaned up, and headed for our final dinner. However, the birds had other plans… The Cairns Esplanade, deadly quiet earlier in the week, was absolutely heaving with birds, thousands of them. A quick decision to postpone dinner slightly was a good move, since we added many new shorebirds to our list, such as Great Knot, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, and Grey-tailed Tattler. Lots of other birds were numerous too, such as Whimbrel, Far Eastern Curlew, Red-necked Stint, and Terek Sandpiper. This turned out to be an excellent and fitting way to end the tour, which we did after a lovely meal and a nice bottle to celebrate all that we’d seen and done on the tour over the previous few weeks. 

 

Day 16, 12^th November 2018. Tour Concludes in Cairns

Those of us with a slightly later departure enjoyed a bit of extra birding along the Esplanade and found Broad-billed Sandpiper, Pied Oystercatcher, and many other shorebirds, all giving excellent, close views. Scaly-breasted Munia was added at the airport too!

We all had had a wonderful few weeks exploring the eastside of this amazing continent-country (and Tasmania before this also). So many beautiful, rare, interesting, and odd birds and a range of incredible other creatures too! Southern Cassowary was voted Tim and Kay’s “Bird of the Trip”, and Sandra chose the nesting pair of Restless Flycatchers as her “Bird of the Trip”.

[1] Note that because all clients had taken our Tasmania pre-tour immediately before this tour we did not try for several species that we usually would seek out on this tour in Victoria (e.g. Hooded Dotterel, Little Penguin, etc.), as we had already seen them well in Tasmania, and so we spent time instead looking for other species in order to maximize potential sightings of new birds and other opportunities.

 

Please see the downloadable PDF above with the full species lists included. This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.

GENERAL INFORMATION – AUSTRALIA

 

PASSPORT

Your passport must be valid for a period of at least six months after the date of your arrival in Australia. Please make sure that there is at least one completely empty page available in your passport.  Please also bring a photocopy of your passport, to be kept in a different location from your passport in case of loss/damage.

 

VISA

Visa are required, but different rules apply depending on your nationality. Please check http://www.australia.gov.au/help-and-contact/faqs/visas-and-immigration.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly recommend that you purchase medical and trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself against accidents, medical issues, illness, loss of valuables or luggage, etc., and travel interruptions or delays of all kinds.

 

HEALTH

Please consult your doctor regarding any vaccination requirements. All travelers should be up to date with routine vaccination and boosters (e.g. tetanus). There is no risk of yellow fever in Australia; however, there is a certificate requirement if travelers have visited/come from the following countries: http://www.who.int/ith/2015-ith-annex1.pdf?ua=1. Some travelers may require Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, and Rabies certification.

Sunscreen should be carried, and a hat should be worn to protect from the powerful rays of the sun, with sunglasses to help prevent glare. A plentiful supply of water should be carried at all times to maintain hydration.

 

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please make sure that you are covered with medical insurance in case of an emergency while on this trip. Without insurance the cost of medical care can be extremely high. Please notify us at the time of registering for this tour of any medical conditions you think we should know about (including allergies, heart conditions, epilepsy, etc.). This will greatly help us to cater to your needs and facilitate emergency services if required.

 

CURRENCY

The currency is the Australian Dollar, AUD (currently weak against the GBP and USD). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, including for drawing cash from ATMs (as everywhere, bank charges may apply). Note: USD/GBP cannot be used for purchases. We will be able to exchange or draw money at the airport upon our arrival and in the various cities we pass through.

 

WEATHER/CLIMATE   

Australian seasons are the reverse of the European/North American seasons, but the same of South America/Southern Africa. The summer months in Australia are from December to February, the fall months are from March till May, winter is from June to August, and spring is from September till November.

North Queensland and the Northern Territory are located closer to the tropics and generally have warm and humid weather all year round. New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, and Perth all experience the four seasons during the year. In Tasmania the weather is colder than on the Australia mainland because it is closer to Antarctica (this can often be a result of the wind chilling the actual temperature).

During this tour a wide variety of weather (particularly temperatures) is to be expected. It may feel cool at night in Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales, with night-time temperatures dropping to around 8^oC/46^oF. Day-time temperatures during the tour can range from 15^oC/59^oF in Tasmania to 30^oC/86^oF in northern Victoria, with similar temperatures in Northern Queensland; however, Queensland is much more humid and rainfall is likely at some point.

 

ELECTRICITY

240V, three-pronged plugs used, ITA Type I. Adaptors are needed for overseas appliances.

 

LENGTH OF DRIVES

There are a couple of days on which there are long drives; unfortunately this is a standard feature in this huge continent-country. Drives are broken up where possible with birding stops, stops for refreshments, etc.

 

WHAT TO BRING

Clothing

This is not a fashion statement trip! Casual and informal dress is fine in the hotels/motels. Loose, lightweight field clothing works best, with a warm fleece or jacket for cooler weather. Shorts and T-shirts are fine – it’s what the locals wear! You will also need to bring some warmer clothing, certainly a minimum of a warm fleece and a rain jacket. Rain is always a possibility in October/November, so an umbrella and/or rain gear is always useful to have. Early mornings can feel a bit chilly in some areas, so come prepared, especially in the south (Tasmania/Victoria), which can have the wind coming straight from Antarctica.

Sunglasses, sunhat, and sunscreen (rated SPF 30 or higher) are essential. A pair of trousers or a long skirt and a long-sleeved shirt should be included to help protect against forest vegetation and the sun. Swimwear can be brought as there are swimming pools at some of the hotels/motels, and we will have time at the Great Barrier Reef, where optional swimming is possible.

We would recommend lightweight walking boots when out on foot. You might like to consider sandals/trainers (tennis shoes) for use in the vehicles and for walking between your room and restaurant in the hotels and lodges.

Do not forget – Binoculars, prescription drugs (also bring the generic names for these drugs), toiletries, prescription glasses (and a spare pair), insect repellant, sunscreen and sunglasses, camera, flashlight, batteries (for electronic equipment and chargers for re-chargeable batteries if required), converter plug set if needed and plug adaptors, alarm clock, money pouch, field guide(s), daypacks. Your guide will have a Swarovski telescope; however, if you have your own scope it is recommended that you bring it too.

Key documents and cash – Passport, your travel or health insurance card – photocopies of which can be carried by the tour leader in case of emergency, credit cards – see info above, USD, EUR, or GBP can be exchanged into Australian Dollars if you prefer not to simply draw from ATM’s. You will need cash for drinks, gifts, tips, items of a personal nature, etc., which are not included in the tour cost.

 

LUGGAGE

Due to restricted space in the vehicles please pack as lightly as possible. A medium soft-sided duffle bag (not the hard-sided cases) works best for packing in the vehicles. This allows us to better fit the bags. Please bring a daypack for items that you wish to use or need on a daily basis.

 

DANGEROUS ANIMALS

There are a great many poisonous creatures (and plants) in Australia, and extreme caution should be taken while out and about (e.g. check your boots each time before you put them on, watch where you put your hands and feet, do not touch or approach any wildlife, specifically snakes, spiders, etc.). It is advisable to familiarize yourself with these poisonous species prior to your tour (there is a range of data online, but see here for example). Sturdy walking boots are essential to give feet and ankles added protection. It is important that you follow your guide/leader’s advice, and if you see any snakes, etc., the information has to be passed on as quickly as possible so that everyone is aware of the potential danger.

 

CRIME

Australia is generally a safe place to travel. However, as anywhere in the world at this time, it is advisable to take care and remain cautious and observant for the unexpected.

 

LANGUAGE

Australia is part of the British Commonwealth, and English is widely spoken. Local Aboriginal peoples have a huge number of languages; however, it is unlikely that we will need to speak these on this tour.

 

BOOKS

Birds

The Australian Bird Guide – Peter Menkhorst et al. (2017). Bloomsbury Publishing.

Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Eighth Edition) – Ken Simpson and Nicolas Day (2010). Viking (NB Helm have now published an undated version of this book).

Finding Australian Birds: A Field Guide to Birding Locations – Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke (2014). CSIRO Publishing.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Ninth Edition) – Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight (2012). Harper Collins.

The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (Second Edition) – Slater et al. (2012). New Holland.

Birds of Australia: A Photographic Guide – Campbell et al. (2014). Princeton University Press.

Several of the above publications are available to download as Apps for mobile phones. These apps also include bird sounds to complement the illustrations.

Mammals

A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia (Third Edition) – Peter Menkhorst and Frank Knight (2011). Oxford University Press.

Reptiles

A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia (Fourth Edition) – Steve Wilson and Gerry Swan (2013). New Holland.

 

SOUND RECORDINGS

A wide-range of CDs with bird songs are available online or as Apps and are a recommended tool for learning bird calls. In addition it is possible to download bird calls from the excellent Xeno Canto website http://www.xeno-canto.org/.

Download General Information

‘Andy is a superb guide with a wonderful knowledge of birds and where to find them. He is enthusiastic and keen, great company and a real pleasure to bird with. Our Australian trip was very successful in terms of sightings and also really enjoyable. Andy played a big part in that with his superb organisation, excellent birding skills, easy-going nature and positive attitude. I would happily join Andy on a birding trip again and hope to be able to do so later this year!’

Janice