Great day in NT

Hi Birders We had a special experience yesterday that we think birders would enjoy: Staying at Point Stuart Wilderness Lodge, Mary River NP, east of Darwin. Host Dean took us on his ATV tour into the back blocks of this property and the adjoining, vast Opium Creek Station. Incredible opportunity for birdwatchers at a very reasonable price, and something you can’t do yourself on foot or by car. First highlight was 2 male Bustards and a Dollarbird still on Pt Stuart property. Onto Opium Creek driving towards Mary River floodplain we say more Australian Pratincole than we could count, 3 more Bustards, 2 Brolga, plus huge flocks of Plumed Whistling-ducks, Magpie Geese, also Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, green Pygmy-Goose, great Egrets, Red-kneed Dotterel, Jacana, Royal Spoonbill and others. We were rushing (doing a familiarisation) so probably missed some. Also saw a Dingo! Then back on Pt stuart land we saw a Red-necked Avocet! Also Pink-eared Duck, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis and more. Later Dean took us up to two billabongs on Opium creek land – Twin Sisters and Turtle Billabong. Highlights here were Black Falcon and lots more pratincoles, and 3 Antilopine Kangaroos. Really worth staying here and paying a little to Dean to get this rare opportunity to access private land billabongs! I’m sure really good birders could find some awesome stuff here. Janine and Roger JANINE DUFFY Director Marketing & Research ECHIDNA WALKABOUT PO Box 370 Port Melbourne 3207 AUSTRALIA Email: janine@echidnawalkabout.com.au Web: www.echidnawalkabout.com.au Tel: +61 (0)3 9646 8249 Fax: +61 (0)3 9681 9177 ABN: 72 716 985 505 Sent via Blackberry =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au http://birding-aus.org ===============================