Cape York Bird Week
(see 'Special' below)
Cape York Bird Week
(see 'Special' below)
8 Day Bird Week
21 birdwatchers maximum (3 guides)
Cairns - Bamaga - Cairns (fly/fly)
This annual event takes place now at the ‘Resort Bamaga'. Bamaga is located 33 km south of the northernmost point of Australia, the Tip of Cape York. The Resort has clean comfortable rooms with air-conditioning, which is very important in January.
This birding event is timed just before the wet season and after the arrival of the last migrant from New Guinea, the beautiful Red-bellied Pitta. Only now are all migrants from New Guinea present, plus the other endemic birds of the upper Cape York region, including two species of Birds of Paradise.
During the Bird Week we visit the rainforest by
day and night, woodland, mudflats and beaches. We also travel to the
woodland and riverine forests at the Jardine River. A boat charter will
take us to a close-by Torres Strait island to look for uncommon birds
like Mangrove Golden Whistler, Pale White- eye, Mangrove Robin and
seabirds, weather permitting. During summer Bamaga is only accessible by air, and in early
January we can expect a few showers and thunderstorms.
We usually find several times all
endemic birds of this region and have generally great views of them. Of
course we also look at all aspects of nature, as we usually encounter
frogs, reptiles and marsupials.
An optional possibility is to fly
one early morning to Saibai Island or Boigu Island and return the same
day. These islands, which are located 4 km off New Guinea, could show us
Grey-headed Goshawk, Papuan Flowerpecker, Eclectus Parrot and Singing
Starling, and who knows what else might be there during the summer
months.
The special guest ornithologist / guide for the 2009
Bird Week is again Lloyd Nielsen, a well-known guide and author of several
Queensland bird books. For more information about your guides please
click
here. Additional guides are sometimes present, depending
on guest numbers.
Birding in
the tropics takes place in the early morning until lunchtime, continues
in the afternoon and at least once spotlighting at night. In the middle
of the day we relax at the pool, investigate a few local treks or have a
siesta, so you can be certain not only to have great birding in comfort,
but also an enjoyable holiday to remember.
* Flight Cairns - Bamaga - Cairns
* Transfer to and from Bamaga Airport
* All accommodation and 3 meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) per day
* Birding in rainforest, woodland and the coast
* Spotlighting for nocturnal birds and other animals
* A tour to the woodland and riverine forest at the Jardine River
* Boat charter to the Woody Islands (Torres Strait)
Not included:
* drinks, personal spending and optional extras.
* the optional excursion to fly to Saibai or Boigu Island for a day visit.
This excursion is always organised while we are in Bamaga. Only then do we know the numbers of guests interested and can get a quote for the charter.
Please keep in mind, that being so close to New Guinea there is the chance of tropical diseases. If you plan to visit one of these island please contact us beforehand and I'll update you on the latest report from the Queensland Health Department. Better to be safe than sorry.
The tour commences with your flight from Cairns to Bamaga airport. Flight times and details have to be confirmed at a later stage.
* * * SPECIAL * * *
POST CAPE YORK BIRD WEEK SPECIAL
AT KINGFISHER PARK BIRDWATCHERS LODGE
After eight days birding in Cape York, enjoy some R & R in the peaceful surrounds of Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge. Situated 1½ hours north of Cairns in the foothills of Mount Lewis, Kingfisher Park at 440m enjoys a cooler climate than the coast.
A special three night package for two people including a morning and night walk are available for $369 per couple (standard Unit) or $416 (two-bedroom unit).
Also available pre Bird Week to get you in the mood!
Check out our website www.birdwatchers.com.au for more information.
Kirrama Wildlife Tours
P.O. Box 1400, Innisfail, Queensland, 4860, Australia
Phone: (07) 4065 5181
International Phone: 61 7 40655 181
mailto:info@kirrama.com.au
All photos on these pages by Klaus Uhlenhut © 1996
All content and scripts Copyright 1997 - 1999 Graphically Speaking