Photo Gallery
Photos: David Fisher and David Stevens
Our tour begins in Melbourne, an attractive city with many green suburbs. Here in local parks we see our first Australian birds, including….
….the spectacular Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, and….
….the world-famous, Laughing Kookaburra, usually perched in an old gum tree.
Then we fly south to Tasmania and drive straight to Bruny Island in search of various Tassie endemics, such as….
….the flightless Tasmanian Native-hen, and….
….a variety of endemic passerines including the Dusky Robin.
As well as the endemics, we see a number of species that are commoner here than on the mainland, including striking Pied Oystercatchers, and….
….the gull with the biggest bill in the world – Pacific Gull.
After two nights on Tasmania we’ll return to Melbourne and head inland to Deniliquin, located amidst vast, flat plains which are sometimes covered in flowers following early spring rains.
Here we see other typical Australian creatures such as Emus….
….and the enormous Red Kangaroo.
But we stay on after sunset to look for special nocturnal birds that we see nowhere else on our Australia tours.
Our main target is the Plains-wanderer, a bizarre species of wader in its own family – the plumage of the sexes are reversed and this is the bright female.
We usually see Stubble Quail the same night.
Then the next day we look for other local specialities such as the colorful Superb Parrot….
….and the area’s wetlands usually hold three species of crake including this Australian, and….
….this Baillon’s Crake.
Heading south we stop in Melbourne to visit a vast roost of Grey-headed Flying-foxes, then….
….move on to scenic Phillip Island where we walk beautiful beaches in search of….
….elusive Black-faced Shags that sometimes roost on a old pier in the bay….
….and rare Hooded Plover that nest above the strandline.
On our way back to Melbourne we’ll visit Healesville, a delightful town surrounded by beautiful parks and vast forests. In the former we encounter….
….many species of colorful and impressive parrots that quickly make the acquaintance of both tour participants….
….and leaders alike,….
….and we should be able to watch a Satin Bowerbird visiting its remarkable bower.
In the tall eucalyptus forests we search for….
….the magnificent Powerful Owl,….
….the rare, strictly nocturnal Sooty Owl,….
….and if we are lucky, Superb Lyrebird.