Cassowary Tours Newsletter March 2008
G’day and welcome to another newsletter.
2007 proved to be an absolutely huge year for Cassowary Tours. After the tour in March I needed some time off... so I organised a relaxed 9 day trip out to Mt Isa, down to Birdsville and back via Winton with a couple of mates. The inland birding was incredible, we had Carpentarian, Kalkadoon, Eyrean, and Grey Grasswrens as well as other specials such as Grey Falcon.
Back to work in June with the first Iron Range trip of the year, great fun with the Cawley gang from WA. This was followed by the Kalkadoon Grasswren tour in July, where the highlight was crippling views of the Carpentarian Grasswren near the famous site west of Mt Isa.
August and September saw more Iron Range trips, mixed with some extended private tours of the Cairns region and a smattering of day tours. This was a good build up for the epic East Coast plus Darwin tour for the crew from Missouri. Myra, Stephan, Sue and Linda joined me for this 26 day spectacular, with highlights including all Tassie endemics, the parrots of inland Victoria, Painted Honeyeater in Chiltern and Cappertee, Alberts Lyrebird at Lamington, Golden Bowerbird on the Atherton Tablelands and Gouldian Finch in the NT for Myra’s birthday.
By October things were hotting up on Cape York Peninsular, we had a great trip with Bruce and Evonne Wedderburn, and Peter Robinson. We managed to see all the specials on offer after a last minute spot on the Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo before a dash to the airport on the last day.
The birding was superb again at Iron Range when Judie and Colin Nancarrow joined the trip in November as promised after a couple of years break from me. Black–winged Monarch, Yellow–legged Flycatcher, Eclectus Parrot, Palm Cockatoo, all the other specials, but for one birder the absolute highlight was the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, just one of those magical moments, hey Judie!
Rose Crowned Fruit Dove
To top off the season the final Cape York/ Iron Range tour of the year was a guides dream. A fantastic group including Greg and Alana Dare, Robyn Howard, and Margaret Moxon, and the birds did their very best to co–operate. On the 4th of December we were rewarded with incredible views of the Red–bellied Pitta, what colour! What a bird! Overwhelming for some, next year I will bring a big box of tissues to mop up those tears of joy/relief.
Coming up in 2008 we have a busy season in store. Cape York/ Iron Range tours are as popular as always, the Cairns, Wet Tropics and Outback trip in May is full, the Kalkadoon Grasswren tour is running in September and the first Darwin, Kakadu and the Top End trip is going in October.
Thanks to everyone who has supported Cassowary tours in the last few years. The success of the business to date is very encouraging, and the positive feedback I get from my guests is extremely rewarding. Happy birding to all.
Other Newsletters:
Royal Spoonbill
Victoria's Riflebird
Toothbilled Bowerbird
Latham's Snipe
