Birding Tour Australia: Tasmania – Endemics and the Orange-bellied Parrot

Australia: Tasmania – Endemics and the Orange-bellied Parrot
October 2024

This small group tour of the Australian island state of Tasmania looks for all Tasmanian endemics (we usually see them all well) and also includes a day-trip flight to look for the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Orange-bellied Parrot, not everyone offers this option within their tours so do check as this is the only realistic way to see this species.

The handsome Orange-bellied Parrot is the primary target on this tour.

Adjoined to the mainland until the end of the last glacial period about ten thousand years ago, Tasmania is both geographically and genetically isolated from the Australian mainland. Through the millennia this island has developed its own unique set of plants and animals, including twelve avian endemics: Forty-spotted Pardalote, Tasmanian Nativehen, Green Rosella, Yellow Wattlebird, Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren, Tasmanian Thornbill, Dusky Robin, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Black-headed Honeyeater, Strong-billed Honeyeater, and Black Currawong. Beyond the endemics Tasmania also harbors several species which winter on the mainland and breed on Tasmania, such as Orange-bellied Parrot already mentioned above and Swift Parrot another Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) parrot and another major target on this tour.

Forty-spotted Pardalote is one of the Tasmanian endemics we will target on this tour.

This tour also offers wonderful opportunities for many other highly sought-after species such as Morepork (a recent split from Australian Boobook), Little Penguin, Hooded Dotterel, Freckled Duck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Grey Goshawk, Eastern Ground Parrot, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Pink Robin, Flame Robin, Scarlet Robin, Olive Whistler, Southern Emu-wren, and Beautiful Firetail.

Our search for the endemics and breeding specialties of Tasmania is set within a stunning backdrop of rugged coastlines, tall evergreen sclerophyll forests, alpine heathlands, and cool temperate rainforests, undoubtedly enriching our experience here.

For those wishing to continue exploring Australia, this tour can be combined with our set of Australia tours: Eastern Australia: from the Outback to the Wet Tropics, Australia: Northern Territory – Top End Birding, and Western Australia: Southwest Specialties. 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 (6 days/5 nights)

Day 1. Arrival in Hobart

Afternoon arrival at Hobart International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city, our base for the next few nights, with the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight: Hobart

Day 2. Hobart environs

We spend the day birding at a couple of sites within close proximity to Hobart city, exploring the beautiful Fern Glade at Mt Wellington and the nearby Waterworks Reserve, where we can expect to get our list of Tasmanian endemic species up and running with Tasmanian Scrubwren, Scrubtit, Tasmanian Thornbill, Black Currawong, Yellow Wattlebird, Dusky Robin, and Strong-billed Honeyeater. The supporting cast may include Pink Robin, Bassian Thrush, and Olive Whistler.

Endemic to Tasmania, Strong-billed Honeyeater will be an early target on the tour.

Day 3. Melaleuca Orange-bellied Parrot day trip

An unforgettable day is in store for us today! Weather-permitting we will board a small plane early in the morning, flying over some incredible scenery over southwestern Tasmania before descending onto the remote airstrip at Melaleuca. Originally a tin mine, Melaleuca is now the center of conservation efforts aimed at restoring the wild population of the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Orange-bellied Parrot. A Tasmanian breeding endemic, these beautiful little parrots are in a dire situation, with fewer than forty individuals left in the wild. Time unfortunately seems to be running out for them.

We will hopefully find Orange-bellied Parrot at Melaleuca.

The surrounding heath hosts a healthy population of Southern Emu-wren, Striated Fieldwren, Olive Whistler, Pink Robin, Crescent Honeyeater, Beautiful Firetail, and the very secretive and subtly beautiful Eastern Ground Parrot, which we will also try to find. Over the course of the day we will be truly spoiled with a range of fantastic local Tasmanian food and drink. Our return flight to Hobart late in the afternoon will likely take us on a different route back to Hobart, offering more views of stunning mountain scenery. This is often considered one of the most enjoyable days across all of our Australian tours.

Overnight: Hobart

Day 4. Hobart to Bruny Island

Located off the southeastern coast of Tasmania, Bruny Island supports all twelve currently recognized Tasmanian endemics, including the world’s largest population of the Endangered (BirdLife International) Forty-spotted Pardalote. We will board a ferry to this rich site during the morning, watching for White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pacific Gull, and Black-faced Cormorant on our way out.

Once we arrive on the island, we will spend the better part of the day looking for all the Tasmanian endemics, such as the demure Dusky Robin, the vociferous Yellow Wattlebird, and the comical Tasmanian Nativehen. By scanning sandy beaches, we also hope to connect with the increasingly rare Hooded Dotterel. While here we will also look for the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) breeding-endemic Swift Parrot, another species in a state of unfortunate rapid decline.

Swift Parrot – another Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) parrot that we hope to find on this tour.

We will take a drive and walk around at dusk to look for Little Penguin and Short-tailed Shearwater as well as the recently split Morepork (a hawk-owl). Birds of the latter species in Tasmania were formerly thought to be a subspecies of Australian Boobook, which is found widely on the Australian mainland, but recent DNA analysis has found them to be more closely related to birds on New Zealand and actually a subspecies of the species found in that country!

Overnight: Bruny Island

Day 5. Bruny Island to Hobart

We spend a full day birding Bruny Island, focusing perhaps on the scarcer endemics such as Scrubtit and Strong-billed Honeyeater. Other specialties like Wedge-tailed Eagle, Beautiful Firetail, Olive Whistler, Eastern Ground Parrot, and Swift Parrot will be among our targets too. We will also keep an eye open over the water for Black-browed Albatross and Shy Albatross, Australasian Gannet, and White-bellied Sea Eagle. In the late afternoon we will catch the ferry off Bruny Island and head back to our hotel in the city of Hobart.

Overnight: Hobart

Day 6. Birding Southeast Tasmania and tour concludes

We will have a final morning session birding at some sites in the southeast of the island, where we may find Latham’s Snipe, Baillon’s, Australian, and Spotless Crakes, Little Grassbird, and Australian Reed Warbler, as well as, hopefully, an assortment of waterbirds (depending on water levels).

The tour will end after a final lunch together before we make our way back to Hobart International Airport, where the tour ends at 2pm. Those continuing on the Eastern Australia: from the Outback to the Wet Tropics tour will fly to Melbourne for the start of that tour the following day.

Overnight: Not included

This tour gives great opportunities to see the magnificent Beautiful Firetail.

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.

Tasmania Trip Report, October 2023

25 – 30 OCTOBER 2023 

By Andy Walker 

Overview

This short birding tour of Tasmania, Australia started in Hobart on the 25^th of October 2023 and ended back there on the 30^th of October 2023. The tour focused on Tasmanian endemic birds, as well as many more widespread Australian endemics. During this Tasmanian bird tour, we birded at Waterworks Reserve, Fern Tree Trail, Mount Wellington, Melaleuca, and several sites across Bruny Island.

Orange-bellied Parrot – what a stunner! Our trip to Melaleuca was a resounding success, with great looks at multiple parrots. The day spent birding at this beautiful remote site was a definite tour highlight, as were our scenic flights there and back.

We recorded 96 bird species on this short Tasmanian birdwatching tour, (two of these were heard only). Some of the tour highlights seen included some of the best birds in Tasmania, including Musk Duck, Tasmanian Nativehen, Hooded Dotterel, Pacific Gull, Short-tailed Shearwater (thousands!), Black-faced Cormorant, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Green Rosella, Swift Parrot, Orange-bellied Parrot, Superb Fairywren, Southern Emu-wren, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Strong-billed Honeyeater, Black-headed Honeyeater, Yellow Wattlebird, Forty-spotted Pardalote, Scrubtit, Striated Fieldwren, Black Currawong, Olive Whistler, Australian Golden Whistler, Satin Flycatcher, Forest Raven, Dusky Robin, Pink Robin, Flame Robin, Scarlet Robin, and Beautiful Firetail.

In addition to the great birds seen and photographed, we also found a nice selection of other animals, such as Short-beaked Echidna, Red-necked Wallaby, and Tasmanian Pademelon. Bird and animal lists for this Tasmanian birding tour follow the report.

Tasmanian Nativehen is usually the first Tasmanian endemic bird seen on arrival in Hobart.

Detailed Report

Day 1, 25^th October 2023. Arrival in Hobart

We arrived in Hobart in the late afternoon and had a group welcome meal in the evening, discussing the plans for the coming week of birding in Tasmania, Australia.

A pair of Black-headed Honeyeaters were busily feeding their recent fledglings.

Day 2, 26^th October 2023. Birding in Hobart

We spent the morning birding at the Waterworks Reserve on the edge of Hobart city. It was a great location to start birding on the island, or the country, despite the poor weather. We found several Tasmanian endemic birds, as well as more widespread Australian endemic species. The Tasmanian endemic birds seen included Tasmanian Nativehen, Yellow Wattlebird, Green Rosella, Black Currawong, Strong-billed Honeyeater, and Black-headed Honeyeater. Tasmanian Scrubwren was heard only, keeping well hidden in the undergrowth at this time.

We enjoyed multiple sightings of the gorgeous Superb Fairywren during the morning

Other species seen during the morning, of which there were many, included Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Crescent Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Australian Golden Whistler, Silvereye, Grey Currawong, Forest Raven, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Grey Fantail, Laughing Kookaburra, and plenty of very popular Superb Fairywrens. Lots of waterbirds were attracted to the reservoirs and here we saw Masked Lapwing, Kelp Gull, Eurasian Coot, Pacific Black Duck, Maned Duck, and Little Pied Cormorant.

Eastern Spinebill, a small and very attractive honeyeater, gave excellent views.

In the afternoon we visited the Fern Trail on Mount Wellington, it was rather cold and windy but walking up the fern-filled valley, we got a little shelter and found some great birds. Top of the list of quality birds was the Scrubtit, a secretive Tasmanian endemic, quickly followed by other Tasmanian endemics including Tasmanian Scrubwren and Tasmanian Thornbill. A female Pink Robin briefly showed, but there was no sign of the male today. Several other species recorded during the morning birding session were also heard or seen again.

We enjoyed great views of Scrubtit today, a prized Tasmanian endemic.

Day 3, 27^th October 2023. Birding Melaleuca – Orange-bellied Parrot birding trip

What an amazing day! We took a scenic flight from Hobart down to Melaleuca in the far southwest of Tasmania. Our flight to Melaleuca took us out along the south coast as we flew between Tasmania and Bruny Island, enjoying the spectacular scenery along the way. Our journey back to Hobart in the late afternoon cut a more direct route as we passed over and through snow-capped mountain ranges, enjoying more equally spectacular scenic views along the way. After the pretty grim weather, endured over previous days across Tasmania, it was a great relief to enjoy a glorious, calm, and sunny day. The main reason for coming all the way to Melaleuca was to try and see the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International), Tasmanian breeding endemic, Orange-bellied Parrot, at the only known site that these tiny migratory parrots breed (with a global population estimated to be less than 30 mature individuals). We were not to be disappointed with the birding at Melaleuca, and had an awesome day. We spent the morning watching multiple Orange-bellied Parrots coming to supplementary feeding stations and visiting their nest sites, seeing a large proportion of the global population of this gorgeous but rare parrot.

Excellent views of Orange-bellied Parrot were the order of the day while birding at Melaleuca.

Once we’d enjoyed seeing the Orange-bellied Parrots, we focused our attention on the other birds of the area during the rest of the day, getting great views of Dusky Robin and Yellow-throated Honeyeater (two new Tasmanian endemics for us, the latter pulling hair from a Red-necked Wallaby to use as nesting material!). Other top birds seen included Green Rosella, Beautiful Firetail, Olive Whistler, Grey Shrikethrush, Striated Fieldwren, Southern Emu-wren, Brush Bronzewing, New Holland Honeyeater, and a brief (Eastern) Ground Parrot for some.

Beautiful Firetails were very conspicuous during our visit to Melaleuca, and several birds were seen collecting nesting material and giving an entertaining courtship display.

Some of the other birds noted through the day included Swamp Harrier, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Great Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Black Swan, and the ever-popular Superb Fairywren.

We enjoyed absolutely sensational views of a pair of Southern Emu-wrens, this is the male.

On arrival back in Hobart we noted Tasmanian Nativehen, Australasian Swamphen, Masked Lapwing, Kelp Gull, Silver Gull, Great Egret, Little Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie, Galah, Eastern Rosella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, and European Goldfinch.

Day 4, 28^th October 2023. Birding Bruny Island                                             

We left Hobart after breakfast, drove the short distance to Kettering harbor, seeing Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo and several other species along the way, and then boarded the ferry for the short journey to Bruny Island. While on the ferry we saw our first Black-faced Cormorant and several Silver Gulls.

We arrived on North Bruny Island and commenced our birding. The wind had picked up and it was rather cool, but we found plenty of exciting species as soon as we got out of the vehicle, such as Blue-winged Parrot, Pallid Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Dusky Woodswallow, Dusky Robin, and Yellow-rumped Thornbill. As we made our way to a patch of woodland, we were soon watching some stunning, and now Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Swift Parrots (a Tasmanian breeding endemic). They were rather flighty at first, but eventually we managed to get some great views. Next up was a pair of the Endangered (BirdLife International) Forty-spotted Pardalotes, a highly localized and declining Tasmanian endemic. They came in and showed nicely for everyone, but got chased around variously by Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote, Black-headed Honeyeater, and New Holland Honeyeater, the latter also chasing off a gorgeous male Satin Flycatcher that made a brief appearance. Swamp Harrier, Brown Falcon, and White-bellied Sea Eagle were overhead.

Following on from our excellent views of Orange-bellied Parrot on the previous day, we got similarly great views of the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Swift Parrot today. Both species of these declining and rare parrots are Tasmanian breeding endemics. 

As the tide in a nearby bay receded, we noted Pied Oystercatcher, White-faced Heron, and most spectacular of all, an adult Pacific Gull (which is saying a lot for a gull!). We then moved across to South Bruny Island via “The Neck”, spotting Chestnut Teal and Sooty Oystercatcher along the way.

After lunch at Adventure Bay, we walked along the beach, finding a pair of nesting and Vulnerable (BirdLife International) Hooded Dotterels. We also saw more Kelp Gulls, Pacific Gulls, Silver Gulls, and Black-faced Cormorants, with several Greater Crested Terns offshore. Flowering trees along the coast held Yellow Wattlebird and more Swift Parrots. We then drove across South Bruny Island, making a stop in some tall Mountain Ash eucalyptus forest, where we found our main target, Strong-billed Honeyeater, gaining much better and more prolonged views than we’d had earlier in the tour. As we checked into our quaint accommodation for the night, we found Scarlet Robin, Australian Pipit, Beautiful Firetail, and a couple of Pallid Cuckoos.

After dinner we went back to “The Neck”, where we watched an impressive moonrise and the incredible sight of hundreds of Short-tailed Shearwaters coming back to their nesting burrows, wheeling around right above our heads! Unfortunately, not long after the sun had set, a storm rolled in and we had even stronger wind and persistent heavy rain, which curtailed our evening activities, and resulted in the loss of power across parts of the island, which was a little unfortunate for some!

After brief views earlier in the tour, it was good to get better views of Strong-billed Honeyeater.

Day 5, 29^th October 2023. Birding Bruny Island

We had a final day birding on beautiful Bruny Island and thankfully the storm that had caused a bit of chaos overnight had departed, and we were left with a dry and relatively mild day. Pallid Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Dusky Robin, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Pied Oystercatcher, and Greater Crested Terns were all noted around our accommodations on South Bruny Island.

We moved across to Adventure Bay for our tasty breakfast and then birded in some nearby beautiful and ancient forest, noting Tasmanian Pademelon and Red-necked Wallaby along the way. Once inside the forest we found our main target, the simply spectacular Pink Robin. We had a pair of birds hanging around us for a while and giving good views. With these birds “in the bag” we started our journey back to North Bruny Island; however, we made a brief stop which turned into a longer stop, and we enjoyed watching pairs of both Flame Robin and Scarlet Robin, to go with the Pink Robin and Dusky Robin seen earlier in the day. Dusky Robin aside, it was a colorful morning! At the robin stop we also saw Striated Pardalote (probably our best views of the tour), a male Australian Golden Whistler, and a couple of small flocks of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos.

The gorgeous Pink Robin (this is the male) showed nicely.

We crossed “The Neck” again, back onto North Bruny Island, and walked a track down to a wetland. The walk was relatively quiet, it was getting to the hot part of the day, but we found White-fronted Chat, Australian Pipit, Eurasian Skylark, Silvereye, New Holland Honeyeater, Grey Shrikethrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, and Grey Fantail. At the lake we had a surprise in the form of a Pied Stilt, an uncommon species in this part of Australia, but more expected were the numerous Black Swans. A few Musk Ducks were also a highlight. Around the edge of the lake, in some recently burnt areas, were over a dozen of the attractive Blue-winged Parrots, which gave close views. A Short-beaked Echidna sighting here proved very popular. After a late and enjoyable lunch, we caught the ferry off Bruny Island, noting White-bellied Sea Eagle and Black-faced Cormorant, we then drove back to Hobart.

We had excellent views of many Blue-winged Parrots while birding on Bruny Island.

Day 6, 30^th October 2023. Departure from Hobart

The tour ended with our earlier-than-originally-planned departure from Hobart due to airline flight schedule changes. It had been an enjoyable tour of a beautiful part of Australia, seeing plenty of Tasmanian endemic birds, lots of Australian endemic birds, and with loads of great photo opportunities of many species, including two of the rarest parrots in the world.

The rather brutish Pacific Gull was a popular bird with everyone.

Bird List – Following IOC (13.2)

Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable.

Mammal List

Reptile List

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

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