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BIRDS OF THE COAST AND HINTERLAND OF NORTH-EASTERN NSW
Tourcode BIRD1
5 days / 5 nights of bird watching in National Parks on New South Wales’ subtropical North Coast and its hinterland – a large diversity of habitats in a relatively small area
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Price per person: AU$ 1,755
Single supplement: $150
Private “Take-a-Guide” Tour for 2 persons: AU$2,280 per person
Date 2006: 26.10. – 30.10.
Date 2007: 05.03. – 09.03. (there will also be a November date)
Small groups of 2 to 8 participants
Character:
An exploration of the various bird habitats found in our region. The diversity of the vegetation and the spectacular landscape within a small area is home to a huge number of bird species. From coastal birds of prey and rare shoreline birds to the spectacular honeyeaters of the western slopes of the Great Divide and a large number of rainforest dwelling birds – all can be found within the biodiversity hot spot of North-Eastern New South Wales.
Rather than covering huge distances to chase the largest possible number of species, we take advantage of the diverse bird habitats in our area. We want to spend as much time as possible on the ground – less travel time, more bird observation! With the help of our local expert ornithologist, who has an intricate knowledge of niche habitats, we will still count many different species – a total of 162 species were recorded on our last tour of these sites, amongst them rarities like Ground Parrot, White-eared Monarch, and Diamond Firetail.
Our bird-watching tours do not simply want to record as many species as possible, but aim to increase your knowledge as a “birder”. We take time to observe the birds’ behaviour on easy walks, using all our senses and learning more about their ecology. This tour is both for the novice and a “training” for advanced bird watchers to enhance their skills and expand their awareness level. The nights are spent in beautiful small accommodation places, either Bed & Breakfast style or self-contained. Delicious meals featuring fresh, local specialties are included as detailed in the itinerary.
Services:
- Pick-up and drop-off in Coffs Harbour or accommodation in Bellingen
- Transport in comfortable minibus or car depending on number of participants
- 5 nights luxurious accommodation
- Meals: 5 breakfasts, 2 lunch snacks, 3 dinners
- Expert interpretation by ornithologist
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Tour itinerary
DAY 1: Bellingen (D):
Pick-up and transport to accommodation. Free time to explore Bellingen Township with its cafes, crafts shops and art galleries. At dusk, we’ll watch thousands of endangered Grey-headed Flying Fox leave their rainforest home on Bellingen Island. To ensure our clients are clear on all tour details, we conduct an informal tour meeting over dinner at one of Bellingen’s restaurants.
DAY 2 (B,L,D):
Stop 1. Red Rock Crown Reserve –
Vegetation: This location takes advantage of a narrow corridor of very low coastal heath vegetation, dominated by flowering shrubs such as Banksia, Hakia and Grasstree, as well as an abundant diversity of wildflowers and native sedges.
Birds: A slow walk along wide tracks through the heath-land provides special opportunity to flush the rare and cryptic Ground Parrot which has a small and isolated population at this site. Emu Wrens and Red-backed Fairy Wrens are also found lurking in the heath, as are Tawny Grassbirds. The abundant nectar provisions of the heath attract a diversity of honeyeaters including Tawny-crowned Honeyeater and New Holland Honeyeater. The heath of Red Rock supports an endangered coastal population of Emus, and following rain periods, Brolga and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos are often seen.
Stop 2. Corindi River Estuary –
Vegetation: A boardwalk takes us through sand-flats, tidal sedge marsh, mangroves and a range of forest types as we slowly edge our way along this stunning coastal estuary.
Birds: The endangered Beach-stone Curlew breeds at this location. A range of majestic coastal birds of prey hunt and nest along the estuary including Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Whistling Kite and the threatened Osprey. Crested Shrike-tit, Varied Triller, Scarlet Honeyeater, Mangrove Gerygone and Leaden Flycatcher are also seen here.
Stop 3. Gibraltar Range National Park (World Heritage Area)
Vegetation: Highly diverse vegetation dominated by open montane forest with a dense shrubby understorey and cool, clear creeks. The area is renowned for its spectacular granite outcrops and forms part of a high-elevation arc of unique heath-land bogs, listed as wetlands of National significance.
Birds: Rose Robin, Flame Robin and Scarlet Robin may all be seen here, as well as Red-browed Treecreeper, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Varied Sitella, Black-faced Monarch and Shining-bronze Cuckoo.
DAY 3 (B,D):
Stop 4. Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve
Vegetation: A RAMSAR listed wetland system on the New England Tableland consisting of extensive mudflats, lakes, reed beds and open dry forest.
Birds: A huge diversity of migratory and rare wader birds including Japanese Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Blue-billed Duck, Freckled Duck and Glossy Ibis. A host of raptors hunt over the wetlands including Swamp Harrier, Brown Falcon, Australian Hobby and Little Eagle. Horsefields Cuckoo, Clamorous Reed Warbler and White-winged Triller are also birding highlights.
Stop 5. Kings Plains National Park
Vegetation: Located on the western fall of the New England Tablelands, this area straddles two rich biogeographical regions of NSW, and is dominated by dry open woodland, rugged rocky ridges and semi-arid heath.
Birds: Due to the westerly location of this site, many birds which occur here are at their most easterly distributional limit. Rare species such as Turquoise Parrot, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail and Hooded Robin occur here, as do a range of spectacular honeyeaters including Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Musk Lorikeet and the endangered Regent Honeyeater. Speckled Warbler, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike and Glossy-black Cockatoo can be seen at this site.
DAY 4 (B,L):
Stop 6. Washpool National Park (World Heritage Area)
Vegetation: Located on the Great Eastern Escarpment, this park is dominated by ancient subtropical and warm temperate rainforest with tall, wet eucalypt forest occurring on the upper slopes where wildfire is more prevalent.
Birds: This site provides great birding for rainforest dependent species such as Superb Lyrebird, Large-billed Scrubwren, Noisy Pitta, Regent Bowerbird, Rufous Fantail, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Spectacled Monarch and Southern Logrunner. The Paradise Riflebird breeds at this location and the male bird is a special target species.
DAY 5 (B):
Stop 7. Iluka Nature Reserve (World Heritage Area)
Vegetation: A coastal reserve with tidal rock pools, high wind-swept headlands and open ocean habitats, as well as Australia’s largest remaining area of littoral (coastal) rainforest.
Birds: An impressive array of rocky shoreline birds can be seen here including the rare Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher, Red-capped Dotterel, Ruddy Turnstone and Osprey. Birding the littoral rainforest of Iluka is nothing short of awesome with such rarities as White-eared Monarch, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Little Shrike-thrush, Barred Cuckoo-shrike and coastal Emu.
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Hinterland Tours, PO Box 171 Bellingen NSW 2454 Australia
Telefon: +612 6655 2957 • E-mail: info@hinterlandtour.com.au
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