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| Spotted Pardalote |
AUSTRALIAN BIRDING SAFARIS – BRISBANE BIRDING BREAKS
TOUR
NAME – NORTHERN NSW
ROUTE
AND DURATION – 6
DAYS – Brisbane – Stanthorpe – Glen Innes – Grafton – Ballina - Brisbane
DATE
/S OF DEPARTURE –
COST
AND INCLUSIONS –
ITINERARY
–
M - Day #1 – Brisbane to Stanthorpe
Depart Brisbane Transit Centre at 8-30am bound for
Stanthorpe. We will drive directly to Stanthorpe so as to buy some birding time
in the afternoon.
In the afternoon we will have some time birding in and
around the Stanthorpe area; specifically on
the road to Storm King Dam and
around the dam itself.
o/n
Stanthorpe LD
T - Day
#2 – Stanthorpe to Glen Innes via Giraween NP
Our morning birding will take us directly to the National
Park headquarters at Girraween National Park. This National Park has an awesome
setting of huge granite boulders and hills with scenic
streams running through
its valleys. It is famous for its wildflowers; indeed, Giraween is an
aboriginal word meaning ‘Place of Flowers’, [sadly though not of local origin]
Wildflowers begin to bloom in late July with golden wattle brightening the bush
canopy, and pea flowers bursting into blossom below. The park has significant
communities of eucalypt forests, sedgelands and heathlands.
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| Red Wattlebird |
Birding around the main picnic area we will start to
experience a few of the key species; White eared, Yellow tufted and Yellow
eared Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebird, Weebill, Yellow rumped, Buff rumped,
Striated, Brown and perhaps Yellow Thornbills.
We will take a short walk following the river. The path
takes us over granite rocks however it is not steep. Along this path Spotted Quail thrush have
been sighted and perhaps we will encounter
Chestnut rumped Heathwren.
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| Yellow tufted Honeyeater |
In the afternoon we will take a drive along the old
Wallangara Road; this is an excellent area for birding. Diamond Firetails,
Brown Treecreepers, Scarlet Robins, Fuscous Honeyeater, White plumed
Honeyeater, Rufous Songlark and Turquoise Parrots have all been recorded.
The road ends near Wallangara, where there is a small
series of sewerage ponds. What decent birding trip does not have sewerage
ponds? These ponds are home to a range of duck species, often including
Australian Shoveler and Pink eared Duck. In addition Australian Reed Warbler
and Little Grassbird are located here.
Towards dusk we will drive south into NSW to the town of
Glenn Innes. We may have a brief
diversion in the streets of Tenterfield to tick off Eurasian Blackbird.
o/n Glen Innes
BLD
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| Beardy Dam |
Waking in the town of Glen Innes we will start our
birding at Beardy Dam just east of the town. Here is a range of waterfowl
hopefully including Musk Duck. Surrounding the water we should encounter a
range of bush birds including Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo, Superb Blue Wren, Red
Wattlebird and Eurasian Goldfinch.
We will drive further eastwards stopping off where
appropriate and not letting any decent lookout remain invisible. These views
should also be accompanied by some bush birds and perhaps the sight of a
passing raptor.
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| Gibraltar Range Waratah |
We will visit Washpool National Park where there are a
good range of rainforest species with the added attraction of Superb Lyrebird
and Bassian Thrush. Washpool is one of the best places on the planet to see
Superb Lyrebirds. The appearance of Bassian Thrushes will allow a discussion on
the key differences between them and the very similar Russet tailed Thrush.
Gibraltar Range National Park will also deserve a visit,
specifically a day use area named Mulligan’s
Flat. Here we could score a range
of bushland species including Rose and Scarlet Robins.
We will then return the way we came and travel further
south for two hours to the University town of Armidale where we will overnight.
o/n Armidale BLD
T - Day #4 – Armidale to Maclean
Leaving Armidale we will
drive the Waterfall Way ending up in the town of Grafton. It will take our
enture day to drive this 3 ½ hour journey. The
Waterfall Way passes through some of New South Wale’s most scenic countryside [and
has even been listed as Australia's third most beautiful tourist drive]. Seven
national parks, of which three are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and
form part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, are located on or close to
the route.
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| Bassian Thrush |
Warrigal walking track,
close to Native Dog campground in Cathedral Rock National Park, is a short,
easy walk that’s popular with families and those who enjoy birdwatching.
Ebor Falls also offers spectacular waterfall views. There
is an easy walk that links the upper falls and lower falls lookout platforms
via the escarpment edge and also a picnic area which we will no doubt take
advantage of.
o/n Maclean [Dinner Grafton] BLD
F - Day
#5 – Maclean to Ballina via Brooms Head
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| Distant coastal Emus |
Brooms Head is both a beautiful piece of coastline and an
excellent place for birding. From the perspective of south east Queenslanders
there are a few target species within this area. Coastal Emus, if seen, will
certainly be the largest specie encountered. Ground Parrots, Southern Emu Wrens
and Tawny crowned Honeyeaters inhabit the heathlands. From the coastal lookouts
we may see some seabirds while among the rocks we could encounter some waders.
After a few hours of birding here we will begin to head
northwards for our lunch stop at
Ballina. Near Ballina, especially if the tide
suits we will have a look at Flat Rock near Lennox Head for a good mix of terns
and waders.
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| Poor pic of a wonderful bird |
o/n Ballina BLD
S - Day
#6 morning at Byron Bay wetlands, visit Cape Byron, drive to Brisbane
POTENTIAL BIRD SPECIES –
Emu
Magpie Goose
Freckled Duck
Black Swan
Cotton Pygmy-Goose
Maned Duck
Australian Shoveler
Pacific Black Duck
Grey Teal
Chestnut Teal
Pink-eared Duck
Hardhead
Blue-billed Duck
Musk Duck
Australian Brushturkey
Brown Quail
Blue-breasted Quail [King]
Stubble Quail
Australasian Grebe
Hoary-headed Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
White-headed Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Brown Cuckoo-Dove
Pacific Emerald Dove
Common Bronzewing
Brush Bronzewing
Crested Pigeon
Wonga Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Bar-shouldered Dove
Wompoo Fruit-Dove
Superb Fruit-Dove
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
Topknot Pigeon
Pheasant Coucal
Pacific Koel
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo
Black-eared Cuckoo
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
Pallid Cuckoo
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Brush Cuckoo
Tawny Frogmouth
Marbled Frogmouth
White-throated Nightjar
Australian Owlet-nightjar
White-throated Needletail
Lewin's Rail
Buff-banded Rail
Black-tailed Nativehen
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Australasian Swamphen
Pale-vented Bush-hen
Baillon's Crake
Spotless Crake
Brolga
Bush Thick-knee
Beach Thick-knee
Pied Stilt
Red-necked Avocet
Pied Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher
Black-bellied Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Banded Lapwing
Masked Lapwing
Lesser Sand-Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Double-banded Plover
Red-capped Plover
Red-kneed Dotterel
Black-fronted Dotterel
Australian Painted-Snipe
Comb-crested Jacana
Whimbrel
Little Curlew
Far Eastern Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Great Knot
Red Knot
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Red-necked Stint
Sanderling
Latham's Snipe
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Grey-tailed Tattler
Wandering Tattler
Common Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Painted Buttonquail
Silver Gull
Little Tern
Gull-billed Tern (Australian)
Caspian Tern
White-winged Tern
Whiskered Tern
Common Tern
Great Crested Tern
Black-necked Stork
Australasian Gannet
Australasian Darter
Little Pied Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Little Black Cormorant
Pied Cormorant
Australian Pelican
Pacific Heron
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret (Plumed)
White-faced Heron
Little Egret (Australasian)
Pacific Reef-Heron
Cattle Egret
Striated Heron
Rufous Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Australian White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Royal Spoonbill
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Osprey
Black-shouldered Kite
Square-tailed Kite
Pacific Baza
Little Eagle
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Swamp Harrier
Spotted Harrier
Grey Goshawk
Brown Goshawk
Collared Sparrowhawk
Black Kite
Whistling Kite
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Sooty Owl (Greater)
Australian Masked-Owl
Australasian Grass-Owl
Barn Owl
Powerful Owl
Barking Owl
Southern Boobook
Azure Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
Red-backed Kingfisher
Forest Kingfisher
Torresian Kingfisher
Sacred Kingfisher
Rainbow Bee-eater
Dollarbird
Australian Kestrel
Australian Hobby
Brown Falcon
Black Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Galah
Little Corella
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Cockatiel
Australian King-Parrot
Red-winged Parrot
Ground Parrot (Eastern)
Turquoise Parrot
Swift Parrot
Crimson Rosella
Eastern Rosella
Pale-headed Rosella
Greater Bluebonnet
Red-rumped Parrot
Budgerigar
Musk Lorikeet
Little Lorikeet
Rainbow Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Noisy Pitta
Albert's Lyrebird
Superb Lyrebird
Rufous Scrub-bird
Green Catbird
Regent Bowerbird
Satin Bowerbird
White-throated Treecreeper
Red-browed Treecreeper
Brown Treecreeper
Southern Emuwren
Purple-backed Fairywren
Variegated Fairywren
Superb Fairywren
Red-backed Fairywren
Eastern Spinebill
Lewin's Honeyeater
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
Bell Miner
Noisy Miner
Yellow-throated Miner
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Little Wattlebird
Regent Honeyeater
Red Wattlebird
Mangrove Honeyeater
Singing Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
Fuscous Honeyeater
Dusky Myzomela
Scarlet Myzomela
Brown Honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
White-cheeked Honeyeater
White-eared Honeyeater
Blue-faced Honeyeater
White-throated Honeyeater
White-naped Honeyeater
Brown-headed Honeyeater
Black-chinned Honeyeater
Striped Honeyeater
Painted Honeyeater
Little Friarbird
Noisy Friarbird
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
Yellow-throated Scrubwren
White-browed Scrubwren
Large-billed Scrubwren
Speckled Warbler
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Brown Thornbill
Inland Thornbill
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Yellow Thornbill
Striated Thornbill
Weebill
White-throated Gerygone
Brown Gerygone
Mangrove Gerygone
Grey-crowned Babbler
White-browed Babbler
Australian Logrunner
Spotted Quail-thrush
Ground Cuckooshrike
Barred Cuckooshrike
Black-faced Cuckooshrike
White-bellied Cuckooshrike
White-winged Triller
Varied Triller
Common Cicadabird
Varied Sittella
Eastern Whipbird
Crested Shrike-tit (Eastern)
Grey Shrikethrush
Little Shrikethrush
Olive Whistler
Golden Whistler
Rufous Whistler
Olive-backed Oriole
Australasian Figbird
White-breasted Woodswallow
Masked Woodswallow
White-browed Woodswallow
Dusky Woodswallow
Grey Butcherbird
Pied Butcherbird
Australian Magpie
Pied Currawong
Willie-wagtail
Rufous Fantail
Grey Fantail
Spangled Drongo
Paradise Riflebird
White-eared Monarch
Black-faced Monarch
Spectacled Monarch
Magpie-lark
Leaden Flycatcher
Satin Flycatcher
Restless Flycatcher
White-winged Chough
Apostlebird
Torresian Crow
Little Crow
Australian Raven
Little Raven
Jacky-winter
Scarlet Robin
Flame Robin
Rose Robin
Red-capped Robin
Hooded Robin
Pale-yellow Robin
Eastern Yellow Robin
Australasian Bushlark
Golden-headed Cisticola
Australian Reed Warbler
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| Common Euro near Giraween NP |
Brown Songlark
Rufous Songlark
Tawny Grassbird
Welcome Swallow
Fairy Martin
Tree Martin
White-backed Swallow
Silvereye
European Starling
Common Myna
Bassian Thrush
Russet-tailed Thrush
Eurasian Blackbird
Mistletoebird
Diamond Firetail
Red-browed Firetail
Plum-headed Finch
Zebra Finch
Double-barred Finch
Chestnut-breasted Munia
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
SELECTED OTHER FAUNA – Grey headed and Little Black Flying Fox, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Red necked Wallaby, Common Wallaroo, Parma Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby, Brush tailed Rock Wallaby, Echidna, Platypus, Dingo, Grey headed Flying Fox, Little Black Flying Fox,
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