TOP END AUSTRALIA!
Featuring Darwin & Kakadu

June 27 - July 4, 2013

Other tours in Australia to be combined with this:
The Best of Queensland: July 5 - 14>>
O'Reilly's Extension: July 14 - 17>>

Australia's famed "Top End" is the most diverse area of the Northern Territory and this special tour explores the remarkable birds on offer here. Gouldian Finch, Purple-crowned Fairywren, Rainbow Pitta, and Hooded Parrot are just a few of the dazzling inhabitants of this incredible outback landscape. From our base in Darwin we explore wet forests, Eucalypt savanna and spectacular sandstone canyons in search of highly localized species found only here. We visit the famous Kakadu National Park, the largest National Park in Australia, renowned internationally for Aboriginal rock art sites and offering a fascinating landscape in which to enjoy incredible wildlife. One morning we will take a cruise on Yellow Water, a land-locked billabong brimming with wildlife and one of Australia's most important areas for waterfowl where it is possible to see up to 70 species, including Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Black-fronted Dotterel, Forest and Little Kingfishers, Banded Fruit-dove, Great Bowerbird and Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon. Another boat trip has us search for the rare Hooded Parrot and finishing off with Blue-winged Kookaburra and Red-tailed Black-cockatoo!

The unique wildlife of the Top End is completely different to what we see in eastern Australia making it a great combination with our Queensland tour.  Join us for an amazing birding tour down under!  For information on our Queensland tour, click here >>

Trip Cost and Travel Planning>>   
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ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival Darwin
Plan to arrive in Darwin, Australia ( Airport code DRW) on June 27.  

Days 2-3: Darwin / Buffalo Creek / Rainbow Pitta
Today we head to Knuckeys Lagoons, East Point and the Botanic Gardens. We should connect with Orange-footed Scrubfowl and hopefully Beach Thick-knee. Depending upon the tide we may check the exposed reefs for roosting waders which are likely to include Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Pacific Golden Plover, Gray-tailed Tattler, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint and Red-capped Plover. If the tide is low Eastern Reef Egrets and Striated Herons can be seen feeding. Other memorable species should include Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Pied Imperial Pigeon, and with a little luck Rufous Owl.

On Day 3, we'll start early with breakfast at Buffalo Creek where we will look for the elusive Chestnut Rail, a species that can prove difficult as it spends its time among the mangroves. Other birds here should include Black Butcherbirds, Green-backed and Mangrove Gerygones, Mangrove Robin, Mangrove Fantail, Red-headed Honeyeater and Yellow White-eyes. This will probably be our best chance of a Freshwater Crocodile. We will tour the local area visiting a range of habitats including Jungle and Sewage Ponds where other species likely to be seen include Australian Pratincole, Azure and Forest Kingfishers, Radjah Shelduck, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Emerald Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian Koel, Helmeted, Silver-crowned and Little Friarbird, Lemon-bellied and Shining Flycatchers, Red-headed Honeyeater, Spangled Drongo, Little Shrike- Thrush, Yellow and Olive-backed Orioles, Figbird and several species of finch such as Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and the colorful Crimson Finch. One of the prizes of this area is the gorgeous Rainbow Pitta which, unlike most species of pitta, can show itself very well. Various seabirds and waders are also possible with a chance of the elusive Beach Thick-knee (Photo: Steve Bird).  In the early evening we may again visit the Botanical Gardens to look for Rufous Owl. Two nights Darwin.

Days 4-5: Darwin - Kakadu National Park
After breakfast, we will drive 'down the track' from Darwin heading for Kakadu National Park, where we will look for Black-faced Woodswallow and Horsfield's Bushlark. Stopping at Fogg Dam and the Mamukala Wetlands we can keep a lookout for Black-fronted Dotterel, large flocks of ducks and Magpie Geese, as well as the scarce Black Bittern, Pied Heron, Comb-crested Jacana, Plumed Whistling-duck, White-browed and Baillon's Crakes, Brolga, Black-necked Stork, Royal Spoonbill, Green Pygmy-goose, Gray Whistler, Broad-billed and Restless Flycatcher, Rufous Fantail, White-gaped Honeyeater, Tawny Grassbird and Golden-headed Cisticola. Other birding stops may yield Partridge Pigeon, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Blue-faced Honeyeater and Black-tailed Treecreeper. Various raptors including Spotted Harrier, Whistling Kite and White-bellied Sea-eagle are likely to be seen today.

The next day we will take a cruise on Yellow Water Billabong, one of Australia's most important areas for waterfowl. It is possible to see up to 70 species here including White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Darter, Great-billed and Pied Herons, Straw-necked Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Black-fronted Dotterel (photo: Steve Bird), Forest and Little Kingfishers, Plumed and Wandering Whistling-ducks, Green Pygmy-Goose and Restless Flycatcher.

Later, we will visit Nourlangie Rock to view the famous aboriginal rock art and possibly see Banded Fruit-dove, Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Great Bowerbird and White-lined Honeyeater. Pacific Baza and Australian Hobby are likely around the lodge as well as Varied and Rainbow Lorikeets. Two nights Kakadu.

Day 6: Kakadu - Pine Creek
We will drive south today in Kakadu visiting Mardugal and Gunlom (Waterfall Creek) areas looking for species such as Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon, Partridge Pigeon, and various honeyeaters and finches. In the afternoon we will leave Kakadu National Park and head to Pine Creek where we will overnight. Stops along the way may yield Northern Rosella and Varied Lorikeet. From here we head south with several stops looking for finches including Crimson and Long-tailed as well as Northern Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Dollarbird (Photo: Steve Bird), and Silver-crowned Friarbird. Late afternoon we will visit areas to the west of Katherine. One night Pine Creek.

Days 7-8: Pine Creek - Katherine
Today we have an early start looking for Hooded Parrot, and then we will drive to Copperfield Dam for a birding breakfast. From here we head south with several stops along the way and in the afternoon we will stop at Edith Falls in Nitmiluk National Park where Gouldian, Double-barred and other finches and Banded Fruit-Dove can be found. There is also an opportunity for a cooling swim here. Our destination tonight is Katherine.

The next day, we visit the spectacular Katherine Gorge in the Nitmiluk National Park, taking a boat cruise to view the spectacular scenery and observe wildlife including Freshwater Crocodiles. In the afternoon we will bird around Katherine looking for Red-backed Kingfisher, Chestnut-backed Button Quail, Little Corella, Varied Lorikeet, Cockatiel, Yellow-tinted and Banded Honeyeaters, Apostlebird, Gray-crowned Babbler, Masked and Star Finch. Around this former gold mining town we also hope to see the smart looking Black-fronted Dotterel. Nearby deep valleys and dramatic gorges play host to Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens, White-quilled Rock Pigeon, Spinifex Pigeon, Gray-fronted Honeyeater, Red-capped Robin and Crimson Chat, while more open areas hold Square-tailed Kite, Black-breasted Buzzard and Spotted Harrier. Others creatures of interest include Frill-necked Lizards, Agile Wallabies and Black Wallaroos. Two nights Katherine.

Day 9: Katherine - Darwin
Today we travel back to Darwin visiting the spectacular Litchfield National Park with its weathered sandstone and perennial rivers. Many spectacular birds are also found here including Blue-winged Kookaburra and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Great Bowerbird, Dollarbird and Rainbow Bee-eater, plus opportunities for mammals such as Dingo, Wallaroo, Agile Wallaby, Sugar Glider, Northern Brushtail Possum, Black and Little Red Flying Foxes. We will also visit Howard Springs which is a great to look for Rainbow Pitta and other species we may have missed. One night Darwin.

Day 10: Departures from Darwin
This morning we will bird around Darwin before departing Darwin.  Those continuing on our Queensland tour will fly to Cairns for an overnight and to begin the tour the next day.

Leaders: Gina Nichol, Steve Bird & Local guides