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OUTBACK BIRDING BONANZA
Read trip report here
  • 5 chats, 5 grasswren species
  • many other rare outback birds
  • Guiding to this area - 3 days or more
    		•
    NEW: Mop-up Tours!

    Southern Birding Services is proud to offer an exciting new concept in Australian birding: Mop-up Tours! Do you need one or two specific species? Do you have a bogey bird that's been eluding you for years? Why would you join a lengthy tour just to get that one particular bird?

    Join our Mop-up Tours instead! This brand-new concept has been specifically designed in consultation with our valuable clients. Mop-up Tours are short, economical, targeted and flexible. Read on to find out how it works!

    The basic concept of a Mop-up Tour is simple. It's a short (max. 3 days), all-inclusive, fully guided tour, targeting one specific species. Other good bird species are always found at the same time and once good views of the target species are had the group will be consulted to choose what to do next. Options include spending more time with the target species to allow photographic opportunities, or searching for other good species nearby, etc. Here's our 2012 list of Mop-up species:

  • Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, 3 days, dep. Adelaide, 27-29 July 2012 $1299 per person all inclusive;
  • Western (Mallee) Whipbird, 3 days, dep. Adelaide, 30 Jul-1 Aug 2012 $1299 per person all inclusive;
  • Red-lored Whistler, 2 days, dep. Adelaide, 25-26 Aug 2012 $1099 per person all inclusive;
  • Mallee Emu-wren, 2 days, dep. Mildura, 27-28 Oct 2012 $1099 per person all inclusive.
  • Or name your species!


    • For further information on specific Mop-up Tours and itineraries, please read below:

    Chestnut-breasted Whiteface on the southern Strzelecki track:

    Day 1. Adelaide to Lyndhurst:

    Depart Adelaide 8am. On the way north look for Slender-billed Thornbill, Banded Stilt, and chance of Elegant & Blue-winged Parrot. Arrive at Lyndhurst mid-afternoon, check-in at accommodation. Search for Chestnut-breasted Whiteface until sunset. Other good species usually encountered here include Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Rufous Fieldwren, Thick-billed Grasswren. Overnight: Lyndhurst Pub. Included: picnic lunch, dinner and accommodation (based on twin-share or double room and shared bathroom facilities)

    Day 2. Southern Strzelecki track:

    Spend all day in the Chestnut-breasted Whiteface's core area, allowing photographic opportunities of the species as well as the others mentioned above. Time permitting we can look for Gibberbird, Inland Dotterel or other birds. Overnight: Lyndhurst Pub. Included: Continental breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner and accommodation (based on twin-share or double room and shared bathroom facilities)

    Day 3. Lyndhurst to Adelaide:

    If necessary or desired we can return to the Chestnut-breasted Whiteface's site or try for any other species in the area. Mid-morning we start the drive back south, to return to Adelaide early in the evening. Included: continental breakfast, picnic lunch.

    This Mop-up Tour can be combined with the next one, resulting in a 10% overall discount.

    Western (Mallee) Whipbird on the Yorke Peninsula:

    Day 1. Adelaide to Marion Bay:

    Depart Adelaide 10am. On the way north look for Slender-billed Thornbill, Banded Stilt, and chance of Elegant & Blue-winged Parrot. Arrive at Marion Bay early afternoon, check-in at accommodation. Birding until sunset, good species usually encountered here include Malleefowl, Rock Parrot. Whipbirds are mostly active around sunset and we'll focus on them from late afternoon onwards. Overnight: holiday house in Marion Bay. Included: picnic lunch, dinner and accommodation (based on twin-share or double room and shared bathroom facilities)

    Day 2. All day southern Yorke Peninsula:

    Spend all day in Innes National Park, from well before sunrise to well after sunset. There'll be a break after lunch if required. Whipbirds are notoriously difficult to see so photographic opportunities may be limited but we should be able to get 'tickable' views of the species. During the day we'll also look for Malleefowl, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Osprey, Rock Parrot, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Southern Scrubrobin and other birds. Overnight: Overnight: holiday house in Marion Bay. Included: picnic lunch, dinner and accommodation (based on twin-share or double room and shared bathroom facilities)

    Day 3. Marion Bay to Adelaide:

    Another morning to spend with the Whipbirds. If all else fails we'll stay around until after sunset but usually we depart some time after lunch to be back in Adelaide early in the evening. Included: continental breakfast, picnic lunch.

    This Mop-up Tour can be combined with the previous one, resulting in a 10% overall discount.

    Red-lored Whistler at Gluepot:

    Day 1. Adelaide to Gluepot:

    Depart Adelaide 10am. Arrive at Gluepot in time for a picnic lunch. Red-lored Whistler is often active late in the afternoon. Birding until sunset, good species usually encountered here include Chestnut Quail-thrush, Southern Scrubrobin, Black-eared Miner, Striated Grasswren and other. Overnight: Waikerie Hotel-Motel. Included: picnic lunch, dinner and accommodation (based on twin-share or double room with private bathroom facilities)

    Day 2. All day Gluepot Reserve:

    Spend most of the day in Birdlife Australia's Gluepot Reserve, from sunrise to late in the afternoon. The early morning hours are best for Red-lored Whistler and once we've had good views (and if required, photographic opportunities) of the species, we may move on to other species such as those mentioned above. We depart some time in the afternoon to be back in Adelaide early in the evening. Included: continental breakfast, picnic lunch.

    Mallee Emu-wren at Hattah National Park:

    Day 1. Mildura to Hattah:

    Depart Mildura 6am. Arrive at Hattah less than an hour later and commence the search for the elusive yet beautiful Mallee Emu-wren. Birding until sunset, including a break after lunch if required. Other good species usually encountered here include Chestnut Quail-thrush, Southern Scrubrobin, Regent Parrot, Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Striated Grasswren and other. Overnight: motel in Ouyen. Included: picnic lunch, dinner and accommodation (based on twin-share or double room with private bathroom facilities)

    Day 2. All day Hattah National Park:

    Spend most of today in Hattah, from sunrise to late in the afternoon. We'll focus on obtaining photographable views of Mallee Emu-wren and once we've had good views, we may move on to other species such as those mentioned above. We depart some time in the afternoon to be back in Mildura in time for the last flight to Melbourne. Included: continental breakfast, picnic lunch.



    Terms and Conditions               Contact us for enquiries or to book

    Interested but these dates don't suit? You'd be surprised how economical a private tour can be.



    • Leader: Peter Waanders. Min. 2, max. 8 participants.





























           
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