Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8 day birding tour

Transcription

1 Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2008, BERRI SA 5343 AUSTRALIA Ph BIRDING Ph Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8 day birding tour A unique opportunity to visit two of Australia s most successful private conservation reserves. We ll spend 3 days at beautiful Bowra Station in central Queensland, home to unique birds such as Hall s Babbler, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Bourke s Parrot and maybe even Grey Falcon. We ll then travel through remote outback areas (with breaks in Tibooburra and Wentworth) looking for Flock Bronzewing, Gibberbird and Grey Grasswren. Eventually we ll end up at glorious Gluepot Reserve where we ll spend 2.5 days and can expect birds such as Striated Grasswren, Black-eared Miner, Red-lored Whistler, What to bring: Please travel light. Binoculars, camera, insect repellent, sunscreen, hat, water bottle. Sturdy footwear recommended. Scopes and heavy suitcases are discouraged. Clothing: Lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirt, over the top of which you can wear layers that can be taken off as necessary, including a thick jumper or wind-proof jacket. Group size: Maximum 8 participants. Tour starts: Cunnamulla, Qld ; Tour ends: Adelaide, SA Scheduled departure date for 2015: Sunday 18 Oct 2015 Any other time as a private tour (subject to availability) Malleefowl and perhaps even Scarlet-chested Parrot! Other good birds we are likely to come across during this tour include Plumheaded Finch, Little Woodswallow, Australian Bustard, Inland Dotterel, Orange and Crimson Chat and Chestnut Quail-thrush. This trip is fully accommodated (on some nights in basic rooms without private facilities) and your flight from Brisbane to Cunnamulla (25 km from Bowra Station) is included. You re welcome to join us for only the Bowra or only the Gluepot components, in which case you may make your own way to either place, or we can arrange transfers for you contact us to discuss! Cost: $3999 per person including accommodation and all meals, based on double or twin-share occupancy. Single occupancy surcharge of $330. Not included: drinks, tips & personal expenses. Earlybird discount of $99 applies for bookings received 6 months or more before departure. Return-client discount may apply. Bookings: Online at or please complete the booking form in the back of this brochure. Leader: Peter Waanders and local guide Trip reports and photos of previous tours:

2 ITINERARY Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8-day birding tour 2015 Day 1: Sunday 18 October. Flight with SkyTrans Brisbane Cunnamulla (included in tour price). You ll be picked up from Cunnamulla airport and we ll head straight to Bowra Station which is less than ½ hour away. After settling into our rooms we start exploring the property. Overnight Bowra Station (basic rooms with no private facilities; meals included: D). Day 2: Monday 19 October. All day Bowra Station. This beautiful property consists of a patchwork of woodlands, shrublands, grasslands and riparian vegetation, providing both breeding habitat and drought refuge for an impressive diversity of semi-arid wildlife, with a particularly rich community of birds. For years it was run as a conservation-minded sheep station, and since recently Bowra is owned by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and managed in partnership with Birdlife Queensland. Tonight we ll do a spotlighting session on the property, during which we may come across Eastern Barn Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, Australian Owlet-nightjar and various reptiles. Overnight Bowra Station (basic rooms with no private facilities; meals included: B, L, D). Day 3: Tuesday 20 October. Another full day to explore Bowra Station, looking for species such as Black-breasted Buzzard, Little Woodswallow, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Hall s Babbler, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, Bourke s Parrot, Plum-headed Finch, Red-browed Pardalote and who knows, maybe even Grey Falcon!. Overnight Bowra Station (basic rooms with no private facilities; meals included: B, L, D). Day 4: Wednesday 21 October. Our final morning s birding at Bowra. After packing up our gear we depart for Tibooburra, a 500 km drive on outback roads. Birds we may come across include Australian Bustard, Cinnamon Quailthrush, Gibberbird, Orange and Crimson Chat and Flock Bronzewing. Close to Tibooburra we search for Grey Grasswren in the endless lignum canegrass swamps straddling the Qld-NSW border. Overnight Tibooburra Granites (private rooms in a large cottage with shared facilities; meals included: B, L, D). Day 5: Thursday 22 October. A backup morning for the Grey Grasswren or we ll explore adjacent Sturt NP. After packing up our gear we take the Silver City Hwy south and witness the landscape change from mulga (acacia) Hall s Babbler, Australian Pratincole, Birding at Bowra, Bourke s Parrot, Cinnamon Quail-thrush

3 Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8-day birding tour 2015 scrub and gibber plains to mallee (eucalypt) and spinifex. There s a good chance of Major Mitchell s Cockatoos along here along with Blue Bonnets. We arrive at the confluence of the Darling and Murray rivers in the evening with waterbirds and chances of Regent Parrot. Overnight Wentworth Central Motel (en-suite motel rooms; meals included: B, L, D). Day 6: Friday 23 October. We set off early to follow the Murray river, then veer off into the 1,000,000 ha block of mallee eucalypt scrub that contains a number of reserves including Birdlife Australia s Gluepot Reserve. where we ll spend the entire day. A sheep station until 1996, Gluepot was purchased by Birds Australia to protect the Black-eared Miner and 5 other nationally threatened species and has become one of Australia s conservation success stories. Overnight Waikerie Hotel-Motel (en-suite motel rooms; meals included: B, L, D). Day 7: Saturday 24 October. We bird Gluepot reserve for the entire day, looking for species such as Malleefowl, Regent Parrot, Chestnut Quailthrush, Southern Scrubrobin, White-browed Treecreeper, Mulga Parrot, up to 8 spp. of, Black-eared Miner, Splendid and White-winged Fairywren, Striated Grasswren, Shy Heathwren, Gilberts and Red-lored Whistler. Some years, Scarlet-chested Parrots breed at Gluepot. Overnight Waikerie Hotel-Motel (en-suite motel rooms; meals included: B, L, D). Day 8: Sunday 25 October. We ll spend the morning at and around Gluepot. After lunch on the banks of the Murray river we reluctantly head off to Adelaide where you ll be dropped off at the airport some time in the afternoon for your flight home (own arrangements) or at your hotel in the city centre (own arrangements). (meals included: B, L). See next page for pre- and post tour options, inclusions and exclusions. Flock Bronzewing, Gibberbird, Australian Bustard, Malleefowl

4 Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8-day birding tour 2015 Pre- and post tour options: Your flight from Brisbane to Cunnamulla (25 km from Bowra Station) is included in the tour price. You re welcome to join us for only the Bowra or only the Gluepot components, at a reduced price, in which case you may make your own way to either place, or we can arrange transfers for you contact us to discuss. If you wish to stay on in Adelaide after the tour finishes and you d like us to book you into a hotel, please indicate this on the booking form. Price inclusions and exlusions: Included: All meals commencing with Dinner on Day 1 and finishing with Lunch on Day 8, morning tea/coffee, some snacks, some fruit, some drinks, unlimited drinking water refills. Accommodation in private en-suite rooms, although on some nights only basic rooms with shared facilities are available. Transport using comfortable and reliable 4WD vehicle, expert guiding, any entry fees, taxes. Excluded: Travel to & from departure and finish points, Pre- & post trip accommodation, any meals before Dinner on Day 1, Dinner on Day 8, drinks except where provided, personal expenses, tips, insurance. Bookings: Please book online: or complete the booking form in the back of this brochure. We can also arrange your flights, accommodation and insurance through our partnership with TravelManagers please contact us for details. Reports of previous tours: Reports of previous tours can be found here:

5 Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8-day birding tour 2015

6 Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8-day birding tour Possible species 2015 list Emu Malleefowl Brown Quail Stubble Quail Plumed Wistling-duck Wandering Whistling Duck Freckled Duck Musk Duck Black Swan Australian Shelduck Australian Wood Duck Pink-eared Duck Australasian Shoveler Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Northern MallardI Pacific Black Duck Hardhead Australasian Grebe Hoary-headed Grebe Great Crested Grebe Rock DoveI Barbary DoveI Spotted DoveI Common Bronzewing Flock Bronzewing Crested Pigeon Diamond Dove Peaceful Dove Tawny Frogmouth Spotted Nightjar Australian Owletnightjar White-throated Needletail Fork-tailed Swift Australasian Darter Little Pied Cormorant Great Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Pied Cormorant Australian Pelican Eastern Great Egret Intermediate Egret Cattle Egret White-necked Heron White-faced Heron Little Egret Nankeen Night-Heron Glossy Ibis Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis Royal Spoonbill Yellow-billed Spoonbill Black-shouldered Kite Letter-winged Kite Whistling Kite Black Kite Black-breasted Buzzard Brown Goshawk Collared Sparrowhawk Spotted Harrier Swamp Harrier Wedge-tailed Eagle Little Eagle Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon Australian Hobby Grey Falcon Black Falcon Peregrine Falcon Brolga Purple Swamphen Baillon's Crake Australian Spotted Crake Spotless Crake Buff-banded Rail Black-tailed Native-hen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot Australian Bustard Black-winged Stilt Red-necked Avocet Banded Stilt Red-capped Plover Inland Dotterel Black-fronted Dotterel Red-kneed Dotterel Banded Lapwing Masked Lapwing Common Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Little Button-quail Australian Pratincole Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Whiskered Tern Silver Gull Galah Major Mitchell's Cockatoo Little Corella Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Cockatiel Rainbow Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Purple-crowned Lorikeet Regent Parrot Crimson (Adelaide) Rosella Crimson (Yellow) Rosella Australian (Pt Lincoln) Ringneck Australian (Mallee) Ringneck Blue Bonnet (yellowvented) Blue Bonnet (pale form) Red-rumped Parrot Mulga Parrot Budgerigar Bourke's Parrot Blue-winged Parrot Elegant Parrot Scarlet-chested Parrot

7 Horsfield's Bronze- Cuckoo Black-eared Cuckoo Pallid Cuckoo Fan-tailed Cuckoo Southern Boobook Eastern Barn Owl Laughing Kookaburra Red-backed Kingfisher Sacred Kingfisher Rainbow Bee-eater White-browed Treecreeper Brown Treecreeper Spotted Bowerbird Superb Fairy-wren Splendid Fairy-wren White-winged Fairywren Variegated Fairy-wren Striated Grasswren Grey Grasswren Shy Heathwren Rufous Fieldwren Western Gerygone Redthroat Weebill Yellow-rumped Thornbill Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Inland Thornbill Southern Whiteface Banded Whiteface Spotted Pardalote Red-browed Pardalote Striated Pardalote Pied Singing White-eared Yellow-plumed Grey-fronted White-plumed White-fronted Blue-faced Little Friarbird Nine Grasswren 10-day birding tour 2015 Noisy Friarbird Noisy Miner Yellow-throated Miner Black-eared Miner Spiny-cheeked Red Wattlebird Little Wattlebird Striped Crimson Chat Orange Chat White-fronted Chat Gibberbird Black Tawny-crowned New Holland Black-chinned Brown-headed White-browed Babbler Hall's Babbler Grey-crowned Babbler Chestnut-crowned Babbler Cinnamon Quail-thrush Chestnut Quail-thrush Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush Chirruping Wedgebill Varied Sittella Ground Cuckoo-shrike Black-faced Cuckooshrike White-winged Triller Gilbert's Whistler Red-lored Whistler Rufous Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush Crested Bellbird White-breasted Woodswallow Masked Woodswallow White-browed Woodswallow Black-faced Woodswallow Little Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow Grey Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Grey Currawong Grey Fantail Willie Wagtail Australian Raven Little Raven Little Crow Torresian Crow Restless Flycatcher Magpie-lark White-winged Chough Apostlebird Jacky Winter Red-capped Robin Hooded Robin Southern Scrub-robin Horsfield's Bushlark Eurasian SkylarkI Australian Reed- Warbler Little Grassbird Rufous Songlark Brown Songlark Silvereye White-backed Swallow Welcome Swallow Fairy Martin Tree Martin Common BlackbirdI Common StarlingI Mistletoebird Zebra Finch Double-barred Finch Plum-headed Finch Red-browed Finch House SparrowI Australasian Pipit

8 Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2008 BERRI SA 5343 AUSTRALIA Ph BIRDING Ph ABN Tour booking form This form contains 3 pages. Please print out and complete each page, and sign where indicated. Scan and , or send by postal mail, with payment (see last page) to the address above. You can also complete an on-line version of this form at Tour details: Name of tour Bowra Station & Gluepot Reserve 8-day birding tour 2015 Starting and Ending dates October 2015 Your details: Name and address of the registrant(s) (only one form is needed for people travelling together) Name(s) Address Identification document and number (passport for international visitors) Telephone (Home) (Work) (Mobile) tick if you do not want to receive future updates, news and special offers from Bellbird Tours by Emergency Contact Name, relationship and telephone number (required field) Accommodation requirements: Single Room / Double Room / Twin Share (please circle) (single occupancy will attract a surcharge) (continued on next page)

9 Medical conditions and dietary requirements: Do you have any medical conditions (eg. disabilities, illnesses or allergies) that might restrict your full involvement in any aspect of the tour? No / Yes If Yes, please provide details: If you have other special requirements (eg dietary requirements), please advise. While we cannot guarantee to accommodate them, we will make every attempt to do so. Optional extras: Please indicate if you would like any of the following: - Tour photo booklet (An A5-size 22-page booklet packed with stunning, high-quality photos taken during your tour) price $49 incl. postage - Tour photo CD (CD-rom packed with stunning, high-quality photos taken during your tour) price $29 incl. postage - Tour photo download package (personalized link to download our stunning, high-quality photos taken during your tour) price $19 - $25 e-voucher for the Australian Birding on-line store: price only $20 - $50 e-voucher for our Australian Birding on-line store: price only $40 - An obligation-free quote for travel insurance (travel insurance is strongly recommended, refer to our terms and conditions - Pre and/or post tour hotel bookings (we ll contact you to discuss) Payment : To secure a seat, a deposit of 20% of the tour price is required at the time of booking. Full payment is due 60 days prior to the departure date. Until full payment has been received, Bellbird Tours reserves the right to change the tour price (eg due to changing fuel prices). Continued on next page

10 Terms and Conditions: Please read the terms and conditions, ( then sign below. I agree to book this tour. I have read and understood, and accept the Terms and Conditions. Signature: Print Name: Date: Please tick which of the following payment options you will be using to pay the deposit: Money order, Australian cheques, bank drafts/cheques: made out in AU$ to Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. International bank drafts/cheques should be drawn on an Australian bank. Please enclose with this form. Electronic funds transfer: please send funds in Australian Dollars (+ AU$20 bank transaction fee for international transactions) to the following bank account: international swift code: anzbau3m bank: Australia & New Zealand Bank (ANZ), 112 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000 account name: Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd Branch No. (BSB) Account No Please use your surname as the booking reference. Please specify AU$ as the recipient s currency, and the correct amount (plus AU$20 for international transfers to cover the bank fee at the recipient s end). Any discrepancy between the amount payable and amount received will be added to the final balance, or payable in cash at the start of the tour. Prices and fees are not negotiable. Credit card: only available through PayPal (you don t need to be a member). They charge us a service fee to receive your money. Do not send money without notice: please contact us if you want to use this option, and we ll you an electronic PayPal invoice. Please use your surname as the booking reference. PayPal: They charge us a service fee to receive your money. Do not send money without notice: please contact us if you want to use this option, and we ll you an electronic PayPal invoice. Please use your surname as the booking reference.