TRACKS BIRDING & PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS
Ever wanted to see a Rainbow Pitta hopping around the forest floor? Dreamed of seeing a Gouldian Finch in the wild? How about seeing your first Banded Fruit-dove amongst Monsoon Forests of Kakadu? Being a local bird photographer I have extensive knowledge of Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu and the Victoria River Regions. I can help you find and photograph that bird you've always dreamed of seeing, join Tracks Birding & Photography Tours for an unforgettable day out or the adventure of a multi-day Birding Tour around the Top End of the Northern Territory.
ULTIMATE TOP END | 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 : Pick you up from your accommodation in Darwin between 6 - 7 am. We will spend the morning exploring the many nature reserves around Darwin. The main species we will be targeting are Rufous Owl, Barking Owl, Tawny Frogmouth, Rainbow Pitta, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Bush-stone Curlew, Brown Whistler, Northern Fantail, Forest Kingfisher and Little Corella. We will also spend time in the Mangroves trying to photograph Red-headed Myzomela, Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Golden Whistler and Torresian Kingfisher.
Lunch will be had at one of Darwin great Cafes before we spend the afternoon photographing anything we missed in the morning and depending on tides photographing some of the mangrove and shorebird species out at Lee Point and Buffalo Creek.
Driving Time - 1.0 Hours
Accommodation - Club Tropical Resort, Darwin (http://clubtropicalresortdarwin.com.au/)
Meals included: (L, D).
DAY 2 : We head out early to one of Darwin’s best and famous birding spots, Fogg Dam. Targets here include Black-necked Stork, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Pied Heron, Comb-crested Jacana, Arafura Fantail, Paperbark Flycatcher, Royal Spoonbill, Crimson Finch and Forest Kingfisher. After our time at Fogg Dam we explore the Adelaide River Flood Plains and maybe Marrakai Tracks before making our way East towards Kakadu and our accommodation for the night.
After checking in at our hotel in Jabiru we will then head South toward Nawurlandja to bird our first Arnhemland Sandstone and watch the sunset. Targets here are Banded Fruit-dove, Partridge Pigeon, Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, White-lined Honeyeater, Sandstone Shrike-thrush and the Sandstone race of Helmeted Friarbird.
Driving Time - 3.0 Hours
Accommodation - The Crocodile Hotel, Jabiru (https://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation/kakadu-crocodile-hotel/)
Meals included: (B, L, D).
DAY 3 : An early morning to head North to Bardedjilidji for an early morning walk, here we will be looking Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Sandstone Shrike-thrush and maybe a Rainbow Pitta or Rose-crowned Fruit-dove. After the walk our next spot is Ubirr for the rest of the morning. This spectacular view over the floodplain can also be a great place for Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon and Sandstone Shrike-thrush. This is also a great place to see Short-eared Rock Wallaby.
If the tide is right we will check out Cahill crossing to see its famous crocodiles feeding together then it will be time to head back for lunch.
After a break in the middle of the day we will head to Nourlangie to clean up any of the endemics we have missed, this is also a great spot to see some aboriginal artwork.
Driving Time - 2.0 Hours
Accommodation - The Crocodile Hotel, Jabiru (https://www.kakadutourism.com/accommodation/kakadu-crocodile-hotel/)
Meals included: (B, L, D).
DAY 4 : This morning we will be booked on a 2 hour cruise around the famous Yellow-waters Billabong, this is usually one of the highlights of the tour with usually thousands of water birds to point out lens at. Main targets are Little & Azure Kingfishers, Black Bittern, Nankeen Night-heron, Plumbed & Wandering Whistling-ducks, Black-necked Storks, Green Pygmy-goose and Great-billed Heron. After the cruise we will head back to the lodge for a big brunch before making our way South towards Pine Creek and our accommodation for the night.
The afternoon is spent around Pine Creek photographing the beautiful endemic Hooded Parrot and Partridge Pigeon if we haven’t already found one.
Driving Time - 2.0 Hours
BOAT CRUISE - 2 Hour Yellow Water Boat Cruise in the Morning
Accommodation - Lazy Lizard, Pine Creek (https://lazylizardpinecreek.com.au/)
Meals included: (B, L, D).
DAY 5 : A nice early morning to head just south to set up a bird hide at one of my secret water holes for the morning, this is one of the best chance to photograph the spectacular Gouldian Finch, other birds that come into drink include Hooded Parrots, Long-Tailed Finch, Masked Finch, Double-barred Finch, Banded Honeyeater, Great Bowerbird and Brown Quail. After this we have a 4 hour drive west to the Victoria River Region about 300 km west of Katherine, along the way we will stop at a few secret spots to see what we can find.
The afternoon can be spent around Timber Creek searching for the spectacular Purple-crowned Fairy-wren along the river banks we will also be keeping an eye out for Red-backed Kingfishers and maybe even the very elusive Yellow-rumped Mannikin which can sometimes be found in the area.
Driving Time - 4.0 Hours
Accommodation - Timber Creek Hotel (http://timbercreekhotel.com.au/)
Meals included: (B, L, D).
DAY 6 : This morning we will be setting up at one of the many great dry season watering holes in the area, possibilities here are Double-barred Finch, Crimson Finch, Long-tailed Finch, Masked Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Star Finch, Zebra Finch, Yellow-rumped Mannikin, Pictorella Mannikin and Gouldian Finch. Hopefully have birds coming down to drink in front of us.
The afternoon will be spent looking for and photographing Red-backed Kingfisher, Banded Honeyeaters, Black-faced, Masked, White-browed, White-breasted and Little Woodswallow along with Square-tailed Kites, Little Eagles, Black-tailed Treecreeper and anything else we missed.
Driving Time - 2.0 Hours
Accommodation - Timber Creek Hotel (http://timbercreekhotel.com.au/)
Meals included: (B, L, D).
DAY 7 : What we do this morning will depend on what we need to improve on, we can go back to photograph the Finches or maybe photograph the Purple-crowned Fairywrens again, it will be totally up to you.
After a morning in the area we start heading back East and to our accommodation in Katherine for the night, after checking in we will bird one of the many sites around Katherine ether looking for Chestnut-backed Button-quail or head South to look for the rare Northern Crested Shrike-tit.
Accommodation - Ibis Styles, Katherine (https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-3112-ibis-styles-katherine/index.shtml)
Meals included: (B, L, D).
DAY 8 - Depending on what we are missing will determine where we go this morning, after a morning around Katherine we will enjoy lunch before the 3 - 4 hour drive back to Darwin. I plan to have everyone back to Darwin by mid afternoon
Meals included: (B, L).
Accommodation - Not included (Can book for you at an extra cost)
Cost - $14950.00 AUD - All inclusive for two people | Twin or Double Accommodation
Single Supplement $700.00
For larger groups please contact me for pricing and numbers etc.
Contact Us:
Phone numbers:
Australia +61 476 110 084 / 0476 110 084
E-mail:
[email protected]
Postal:
Head Office (Darwin):
Tracks Birding & Photography Tours
7/26 Daldawa Terrace
Lyons 0810
Northern Territory, Australia
Photo Website:
www.laurieross.com.au
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