Gavin Bieber on the first part of his recently completed tour, Australia: Queensland and New South Wales

We kicked off with a fantastic week around Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, the region which hosts the highest diversity of species in the country, including many of the continent’s signature birds.  We had wonderful experiences with many of these this year.  Just a sampling of our favorite sightings would includ a family group of Southern Cassowaries lounging in the afternoon sun, displaying Australian Bustard strutting on a lek site, glaring Metallic Starlings at a nesting colony, jewel-like Spotted Pardalotes attending a nest, multiple male Victoria’s Riflebirds gorging themselves on fruit on our first morning above the lodge carpark and a stunning Azure Kingfisher along the scenic Daintree River. Tours to Australia are never solely about the birds; this year around Cairns we found multiple Boyd’s Forest Dragons, incredibly tame and impossibly cute Mareeba Rock Wallabies and even a couple of the enigmatic Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos! 

Southern Cassowary Image: Kent Anderson

Australian Bustard Image: Kent Anderson

Metallic Starling

Spotted Pardalote

Azure Kingfisher

Boyds Forest Dragon Image: Kent Anderson

Mareeba Rock Wallaby Image: Kent Anderson

Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo Image: Kent Anderson