ARNHEMLAND BIRD TOURS 2012 - CALL ROGER ON +61 889831544

The Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge is pleased to announce our birding schedules for 2012.
We will be running three dedicated bird tours in 2012, with a view to cater for every budget.

Please see details regarding our 2012 bird tours below & also take the time to visit our barralodge website or dedicated Bird Website & read all the reports & sightings from our previous bird tours.
You can also view our bird gallery to see some of the wonderful photo images recorded by clients & our guides taking part in one of our earlier bird tours.

The extreme remoteness of the pristine Arnhemland wilderness provides a unique opportunity for you to discover more about the fantastic birds of Arnhemland. We would be delighted if you were able to join us for one our fantastic birding events during 2012. Our numbers on each tour will be limited, so book early to reserve your place.

2012 BIRDING TOUR DATES

Arnhemland Bird Week 2012

5 - 11 July 2012– 6 nights with 7 days of Birding Tours

Arnhemland Bird Quest 2012

11 - 16 July 2012– 5 nights with 5 days of Birding Tours

Arnhemland Budget Birder Safari 2012

20 Aug – 24 August 2012– 4 nights with 4 days of Birding Tours

Full pricing and itineraries for each of these tours.

DAILY BIRD FIELD TRIPS
Arnhemland Bird Tours may include field trips to the following local areas (depending on seasonal variation), to enable you sample the diverse range of local habitats. Please note; Bird species may change in each of these habitats depending on time of year, amount of surface water available, food sources & varieties of flowering plants present. Our tours may vary depending on local conditions, location of bird species or better birding opportunities, which may include rare or migratory species. Accordingly local cultural events may influence access to certain locations. We may also visit additional areas not mentioned here.

River Floodplain
This 4WD adventure unveils the secrets of one of the largest Top End’s treeless floodplains and its associated rainforests. This area is normally a sea of freshwater during the wet season, but as the dry season progresses the floodplains are transformed into grasslands and reed-covered swamps. As we navigate these grasslands look for Red-backed Button-quails, Australian Pratincoles, Black-breasted Buzzard and Zitting Cisticolas. Islands of monsoon rainforest host Rainbow Pitta, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Large-tailed Nightjar, Green-backed Gerygone, Arafura Fantail and Broad-billed Flycatcher. The swamps are home to myriad waterfowl including Magpie Geese, Green Pygmy-geese, Radjah Shelducks and Wandering Whistling-ducks, Pied Herons, Brolga, ibis (3 species) and egrets (4 species).

Liverpool River Estuary, Offshore & Coral Cay
Travel offshore via the Liverpool River Estuary past remote Entrance Island and to see a variety of seabirds & even visit a true, coral cay. This is a rare opportunity to observe a breeding colony of tropical terns. Bridled, Black-naped and Roseate Terns nest on the island in most years. You should also see Lesser Crested Terns, Brown Boobies, Beach Stone-curlews, nesting Ospreys and with luck, Lesser Frigate-birds. If tides suit on the return journey, we may also visit some mangrove lined creeks which host the mangrove specialists such as the Black Butcherbird & Chestnut Rail.

Impact Crater Lakes
We visit two woodland meteor impact lakes formed in the dim past of the dreamtime. These lakes attract birds of all kinds, and are a unique introduction to Central Arnhem Land. During the mid dry season flowering eucalypts (Darwin Wooleybutt & Darwin Stringybark) & Fern-leaved Grevilleas attract hundreds of Varied Lorikeets, and up to 7 species of honeyeaters, including Banded and Rufous-throated. A variety of water birds can also be sighted here.

Tropical Savannahs
Traverse the vast savannah-woodlands dotted with remnant ponds on ephemeral creeks which attract Gouldian, Long-tailed and Masked Finches that feed on green herbs. The surrounding savannahs are home to the Black-tailed Treecreeper and Golden-backed Honeyeater, as well as one of the Top End’s rarest birds, the Northern Shrike-tit.

Liverpool River, Tompkinson River
Travel via the Liverpool River Estuary upstream to the confluence of the Tompinson & Liverpool Rivers. Cruise the lower middle mangrove lined reaches which host the mangrove specialists such as the Black Butcherbird Chestnut Rail & Great billed Heron. As you travel along these magnificent waterways keep a lookout for the Brahminy Kite, White Breasted Sea Eagles, Rajah Shellduck, Kingfishers & Herons.

Stone & Hill Country
Travel via road to visit some sandstone hill & escarpment country, along the way you will cross a number of pandanus & paperbark lined watercourses that flow unabated with crystal clear fresh water in the “Dry Season”. Upon reaching the sandstone outcrops you may have the opportunity of seeing the unique feathered gems including the sandstone-endemic species, such as the White-lined Honeyeater, Sandstone Shrike-thrush and Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon.

Moremaker Billabongs
Drive through magnificent savannah woodland to the secluded Moremaker billabongs, this is a chain of small interconnected freshwater billabongs fringed by paperbark trees and sandy banks. Enjoy a relaxed shady stroll along the watercourse, watch out for Yellow-tinted and Bar-breasted Honeyeaters, Black Bittern, waterfowl & a variety of other species.

Crab Creek & Surrounds
A shorter tour closer to Maningrida township, where you may observe; Mangrove (Collared) Kingfisher, Mangrove Golden Whistler, Large-billed and Mangrove Gerygones and occasionally the shy Chestnut Rail; and in the surrounding eucalypt savannas, look out for the Red Goshawk which has been observed nesting in this area.

Tomkinson Floodplain Tour
Descend from the Lodge down the escarpment to the massive Tomkinson river floodplain. Among the grasslands there are excellent opportunities to see flocks of Gouldian Finches as they forage in the native grasses & drink from remnant “Wet Season” pools. Many hundreds of Red Tailed Black Cockatoos are commonly seen in this area together with many different waterbirds on the billabongs. The elusive Hooded Parrot delighted birders during 2010, with regular sightings of significant numbers of these beautiful birds foraging along the floodplain.

Notable Bird Species

Red Goshawk
Gouldian Finch
Northern Shrike-tit
Great-billed Heron
Chestnut Rail
White-lined Honeyeater
Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon
Hooded Parrot
Sandstone Shrike-thrush
Red-backed Button-quail
Mangrove Grey Fantail
Arafura Fantail
Zitting Cisticola

Social Events
Happy hour before dinner. Bird call each evening, guests will enjoy interactive discussions with our expert guides.
Night spotlighting tours for nocturnal species by arrangement– please discuss with your guides.

Please contact Roger on 08 8983 1544 or roger@nafa.com.au should you require any further details or assistance with arranging your booking. We look forward to you joining us during 2012.