Magic of the Mallee 4 day birding tour

Transcription

1 Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2008, BERRI SA 5343 AUSTRALIA Ph BIRDING Ph Magic of the Mallee 4 day birding tour Vast areas of semi-arid Australia were once covered in the unique Mallee scrubland. Comprising a number of multi-stemmed Eucalypt species with a varied understorey, much of this habitat has been lost to agriculture. What remains is home to many rare, threatened, specialised and often hard-to-find bird species. It s a magical environment, where one could spend hours, if not days, exploring the spinifexcovered sand dunes, listening to the wind in the Casuarina (black oak/buloke) woods, watching the sun rise through veils of fog... The Magic of the Mallee Tour travels through four of our best mallee reserves in search of enigmatic birds such as Malleefowl, Striated Grasswren, Mallee Emu-wren, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Black-eared Miner and Red-lored Whistler. It's a small group tour of like-minded people (max. 8 participants, max. 4 per guide); all- inclusive, fully guided, departing from and returning to Adelaide, SA. The Magic of the Mallee Tour visits Little Desert, Wyperfeld and Hattah-Kulkyne National Parks in western Vic. and Ngarkat and Birdlife Australia s Gluepot Reserve in SA. Tour starts & finishes: Adelaide, SA Scheduled departure & return dates: November February 2018 Leader: Steve Potter and/or Peter Waanders Trip reports and photos of previous tours: Questions? Contact BELLBIRD BIRDING TOURS : Freecall 1800-BIRDING birds@bellbirdtours.com READ ON FOR: Further tour details Daily itinerary Booking information

2 Magic of the Mallee birding tour Tour details Tour starts & finishes: Adelaide, SA (see itinerary for details of pickup locations) Scheduled departure and return dates: Tour commences after breakfast on 27 Nov 2017 / 23 Feb 2018 and finishes in the late afternoon of 30 Nov 2017 / 26 Feb See daily itinerary for further details. Leader: Steve Potter and/or Peter Waanders. Difficulty: Low/Medium/High/Excellent level of fitness required. The tour has a relaxed pace and walks are on mostly flat, often paved, surfaces, but may include some very short climbs. We generally walk slowly, with lots of stops. You can opt out of any challenging walks. What to bring: Please travel light. Binoculars, camera, mobile phone, chargers, power adaptors (if you re an international visitor), insect repellent, sunscreen, personal medications, travel umbrella, hat, water bottle, hand sanitizer. Sturdy footwear recommended. Scopes, supertelephoto lenses with tripods, and heavy suitcases are discouraged. Clothing: Lightweight long pants, t-shirt and long-sleeved shirt, over the top of which you can wear layers that can be taken off as necessary, including a rain-proof jacket. Neat casual attire for dinners. Shorts and sandals or thongs (flip-flops) are acceptable for non-birding time. Group size: Minimum 4, maximum 8 participants. Cost: AU$1,999 per person including accommodation and all meals, based on double or twinshare occupancy. Single occupancy surcharge of $195. Not included: drinks, tips, personal expenses. Earlybird discount of $99 for bookings received up to 6 months before departure date. Return-client discount may apply. Bookings: Online at or please complete the booking form in the back of this brochure.

3 ITINERARY Magic of the Mallee birding tour Day 1 (27 Nov / 23 Feb): You ll be picked up early from your hotel in the Adelaide city centre or near the airport (please ensure you ve had breakfast before departure). We ll travel a short distance to the other side of the Adelaide Hills where we ll have our first experience with mallee birding. In a small but bird-rich conservation reserve we ll search for Shy Heathwren, Southern Scrubrobin and Australian ( mallee ) Ringneck. We ll then travel to Little Desert National Park, and spend the afternoon exploring this area. Along with Malleefowl, the sanctuary s pristine Mallee-broombush habitat is home to a number of sought-after bird species. We ll check in at our accommodation at the Little Desert Nature Lodge, set in natural bushland surrounds with the birdlife, emus and kangaroos literally at your doorstep. After a BBQ dinner we ll take a night walk to see nocturnal wildlife including Sugar Glider, Brush-tailed Bettong, Bush-stone Curlew, Southern Boobook Owl and Tawny Frogmouth. Overnight Little Desert Nature Lodge (motel with en-suite rooms, meals included: L, D). Day 2 (28 Nov / 24 Feb): After an early-morning bird walk around the Nature Lodge we return for breakfast following which we continue exploring the park by vehicle. Tawny-crowned and Purple-gaped Honeyater, Blue-winged Parrot and Slender-billed Thornbill are amongst the enticing species we aim to find here. We ll drive north through nearby Wyperfeld National Park where Malleefowl, White-browed Treecreeper, Gilbert s Whistler, Chestnut Quailthrush, Southern Scrubrobin, Red-capped Robin, White-browed Treecreeper and Major Mitchell s Cockatoo await us. Some serious off-the-beaten track 4WD-ing lies ahead and at the end of the day we emerge from the northern side of the park and head to Ouyen, our destination for the night. Overnight Ouyen Hilltop Motel (motel with en-suite rooms, meals included: B, L, D). Day 3 (29 Nov / 25 Feb): An early start today as we head to nearby Hattah- Kulkyne National Park for two mega-mallee-species: Striated Grasswren and Mallee Emu-wren. We ve set aside the entire morning to search for them and no doubt will come across many other good birds, such as Chestnut Quail-thrush, Major Mitchell s Cockatoo and others. After lunch by the Murray river we drive to Berri, looking for Blue Bonnet and Regent Parrot on the way. Overnight Berri Hotel-Motel (motel with en-suite rooms, meals included: B, L, D). Malleefowl, Striated Grasswren, Southern Scrubrobin, Scarletchested Parrot P Waanders

4 Magic of the Mallee birding tour Day 4 (30 Nov / 26 Feb): We ll spend most of the day at Birdlife Australia s Gluepot Reserve. The early morning hours are the best time for key species such as Red-lored Whistler and Black-eared Miner, Scarlet-chested Parrot (if present), Shy Heathwren, Southern Scrub-robin and more. Later in the day when things quieten down we'll focus on other species such as Gilbert's Whistler, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Striped Honeyeater, Whitebrowed Treecreeper, many of Gluepot's 8 species of Honeyeater, babblers, Splendid and Variegated Fairy-wrens and others. We will spend some time in a bird hide overlooking a watering through with chances of parrots including Mulga Parrot, Regent Parrot and honeyeaters. Late in the afternoon we depart Gluepot and drive to Adelaide. Meals included are breakfast before departure and lunch in the field. You will be returned to a hotel of your choice, or the airport, around dinner time. Please don't book flights departing before 8pm this evening). Pre- and post-tour options: We ca arrange your flights and/or accommodation if you wish - please tick the relevant box(es) on the booking form. Price inclusions and exclusions: Included: All meals commencing with lunch on Day 0 and finishing with lunch on Day 4, morning tea/coffee, some snacks, some fruit, some drinks, unlimited drinking water refills. Accommodation in private en-suite rooms. 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 lunch on Day 0, any meals after lunch on Day 4, drinks except where provided, personal expenses, tips, insurance. Bookings: Please book online: or complete the booking form in the back of this brochure. Major Mitchell s Cockatoo, Mallee Emu-wren, Black-eared Miner, Redlored Whistler P Waanders

5 Emu Musk Duck Freckled Duck Black Swan Australian Shelduck Australian Wood Duck Pink-eared Duck Australasian Shoveler Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Northern MallardI Pacific Black Duck Hardhead Malleefowl Stubble Quail Brown Quail Australasian Grebe Hoary-headed Grebe Great Crested Grebe Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis Royal Spoonbill Yellow-billed Spoonbill White-necked Heron Great Egret Intermediate Egret White-faced Heron Little Egret Australian Pelican Little Pied Cormorant Great Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Pied Cormorant Australasian Darter Black-shouldered Kite Whistling Kite Black Kite Brown Goshawk Collared Sparrowhawk Spotted Harrier Swamp Harrier Wedge-tailed Eagle Little Eagle Magic of the Mallee birding tour Possible species list Purple Swamphen Australian Spotted Crake Black-tailed Native-hen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot Little Button-quail Painted Button-quail Black-winged Stilt Red-necked Avocet Red-capped Plover Black-fronted Dotterel Red-kneed Dotterel Banded Lapwing Masked Lapwing Common Sandpiper Common Greenshank Wood Sandpiper Red-necked Stint Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Gull-billed Tern Caspian Tern Whiskered Tern Silver Gull Rock DoveI Spotted DoveI Common Bronzewing Brush Bronzewing Crested Pigeon Peaceful Dove Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Black-eared Cuckoo Pallid Cuckoo Fan-tailed Cuckoo Eastern Barn Owl Southern Boobook Tawny Frogmouth Spotted Nightjar Australian Owlet-nightjar White-throated Needletail Fork-tailed Swift Laughing Kookaburra Red-backed Kingfisher Sacred Kingfisher Rainbow Bee-eater Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon Australian Hobby Black Falcon Peregrine Falcon Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Galah Major Mitchell's Cockatoo Long-billed Corella Little Corella Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cockatiel Rainbow Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Purple-crowned Lorikeet Regent Parrot Eastern Rosella Crimson (Adelaide) Rosella Crimson (Yellow) Rosella Australian (Mallee) Ringneck Blue Bonnet (yellow-vented) Red-rumped Parrot Mulga Parrot Blue-winged Parrot Elegant Parrot Scarlet-chested Parrot White-throated Treecreeper White-browed Treecreeper Brown Treecreeper Superb Fairy-wren Splendid Fairy-wren White-winged Fairy-wren Variegated Fairy-wren Mallee Emu-wren Striated Grasswren Eastern Spinebill Pied Honeyeater Yellow-faced Honeyeater Singing Honeyeater Purple-gaped Honeyeater

6 White-eared Honeyeater Yellow-plumed Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Blue-faced Honeyeater Little Friarbird Noisy Miner Yellow-throated Miner Black-eared Miner Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Striped Honeyeater Red Wattlebird Little Wattlebird White-fronted Chat Black Honeyeater Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Crescent Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater White-fronted Honeyeater Brown-headed Honeyeater White-naped Honeyeater Spotted Pardalote Striated Pardalote White-browed Scrubwren Shy Heathwren Redthroat Weebill Yellow Thornbill Magic of the Mallee birding tour Striated Thornbill Yellow-rumped Thornbill Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Slender-billed Thornbill Inland Thornbill Brown Thornbill Southern Whiteface White-browed Babbler Chestnut-crowned Babbler Chestnut Quail-thrush White-breasted Woodswallow Masked Woodswallow White-browed Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow Grey Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Grey Currawong Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike White-winged Triller Varied Sittella Crested Shrike-tit Gilbert's Whistler Red-lored Whistler Golden Whistler Rufous Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush Crested Bellbird Grey Fantail Willie Wagtail Restless Flycatcher Magpie-lark Australian Raven Little Raven Little Crow White-winged Chough Apostlebird Jacky Winter Red-capped Robin Hooded Robin Southern Scrub-robin Horsfield s Bushlark Eurasian SkylarkI White-backed Swallow Welcome Swallow Fairy Martin Tree Martin Australian Reed-Warbler Little Grassbird Rufous Songlark Brown Songlark Silvereye Common StarlingI Common BlackbirdI Mistletoebird House SparrowI Zebra Finch Red-browed Finch Diamond Firetail Australasian Pipit European Goldfinch

7 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. Tour details: Name of tour Starting and Ending dates Your details: Name and address of the registrant(s) (only one form is needed for people residing at the same address) Name(s) Date of birth 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 (continued on next page)

8 Emergency Contact Name, relationship and telephone number (required field) Accommodation requirements (please circle): Single Room / Double Room (2 people, 1 bed) / Twin Share (2 people, 2 beds) (Twin share cannot be guaranteed. A single occupancy will attract a surcharge.) 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 us to arrange any of the following (we ll contact you to discuss): - Domestic flights - International flights - Travel insurance - Pre and/or post tour hotel bookings (continued on next page)

9 Terms and Conditions: Please read the terms and conditions and the release of liability waiver (both can be found on then sign below. I/we agree to book this tour. I/we have read and understood, and accept the terms and conditions. I/we accept the release and waiver from liability. Signature 1: Signature 2: Print Name 1: Name 2: Date: Date: 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). Please tick which of the following payment options you will be using to pay the deposit: Domestic electronic funds transfer: please send funds to the following bank account: 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. Visa & Mastercard: through Pin Payments (an easy, secure online payment system). They charge us a fee of 1.75%, which unfortunately we have to pass on to you. Please contact us if you want to use this option, and we ll you a link to a secure payment page. PayPal & other credit cards through PayPal: They charge us a fee of between % to receive your money, which unfortunately we have to pass on to you. Please contact us if you want to use this option, and we ll you a secure PayPal invoice. International electronic funds transfer: please send funds in Australian Dollars (+ bank charges or AU$20 bank transaction fee, see notes below) to the following bank account: international swift code: anzbau3m (no IBAN codes are used in Australia) bank: Australia & New Zealand Bank (ANZ), 112 Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000 account name: Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd Branch No. (BSB) Account No If possible, please use your surname as the booking reference. - If you are required to provide our physical address, this is: 101 Chilton Road, Berri, SA 5343, Australia. - Please specify AU$ as the recipient s currency, and the correct amount. Select the option for you to incur any charges at both ends; if no such option exists, please add AU$20 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.