Cassowary Tours Newsletter April 2009
G’day All,
I have just returned from an excellent East Coast of Australia Tour with Phyllis and Bruno Becker from Victoria, Canada. We had quite a time with 331 species recorded including Mallee Emu-wren, Orange-bellied Parrot, White-tailed Tropicbird, both species of Lyrebird (Alberts in display), Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Fernwren, and Blue-faced Parrot Finch.
2008 was an incredible year for Cassowary Tours. In March the Cairns, Wet Tropics and Outback Tour produced great quality birds with most of the Wet Tropics endemics and many specials seen by Bridget Gregory and friends, and Coral and Don Packham from Sydney.
The July and August Cape York/Iron Range trips were well booked, and guests were treated to some exceptional sightings such as Eclectus parrot, Yellow-billed Kingfisher and Palm Cockatoo.
In early September the Kalkadoon Grasswren Tour was full. Sue McNeill had returned for more and joined Martin and Barbara George and Jill and Sue from Sydney. This trip produced some rare sightings such as Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswren and Rufous-crowned Emu-wren. Check out Jill’s trip report on our trip report and bird list page.
In October John Crowhurst joined the Cawley gang on the first Cassowary Tour of Darwin, Kakadu and the Top End. The trip was pretty hard going that late in the season but memorable moments include John’s spot on the Black Bittern at Mary River and the Chestnut Rail at Buffalo Creek. Gouldian Finch, Hooded Parrot, Banded Fruit-dove, Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Rufous Owl.
October and November trips to Iron Range again were a great success, with the absolute highlight being the Red-bellied Pitta, seen early December by an excited group including Heather and Fred Allsopp from Canberra.
The Allsopps joined me again in early December for a Cairns, Wet Tropics and Outback tour. The diversity and abundance of birdlife in this region is truly outstanding. Highlights include Southern Cassowary (adult with 3 chicks), Victoria’s Riflebird, Tooth-billed Bowerbird and Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher.
The year ahead is absolutely huge! I have private tours booked in July, September, and October to Cape York, The East Coast, Darwin, Kakadu and Cairns. The Kalkadoon Grasswren tour is running in August and bookings are coming in for the Cape York/Iron Range tours in Nov/Dec.
Cassowary Tours will continue to provide personalised small group birding tours to some of the best locations in Australia. We are growing strongly and enjoying the fantastic support of birders from Australia and around the globe.
Good birding to all!
Regards, Ben.
Other Newsletters:
Royal Spoonbill
Victoria's Riflebird
Toothbilled Bowerbird
Latham's Snipe
