Heading north in October – seeking feedback on the best cruise for birders? Targets I guess will be Little Kingfisher and Great-billed Heron ===============================
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Hi, Have you checked the Cairns birding guide here: http://aussiebirding.wildiaries.com/articles/11-Cairns-Australia-Birding-Guide Also http://qld.tnq-birding.wildiaries.com/locations/603-Daintree-Riverhttp://qld.tnq-birding.wildiaries.com/species/19222-Little-Kingfisherhttp://qld.tnq-birding.wildiaries.com/species/19485-Great-billed-Heron Regards, Simon.
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Simon Mustoe Tel: +61 (0) 405220830 | Skype simonmustoe | Email simonmustoe@ecology-solutions.com.au
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Yes, we also found Little Kingfisher at the Marrdja Boardwalk way back in 2006!
Rosemary
Thanks to all who replied both publicly and privately – definitely seems Murray is the man. I don’t think we care if the Herons are drugged or just well trained – and I hope he did not read the post that says he could charge more…..
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Yes, Murray IS your man for the river cruises!
If by chance these species are missed on the Daintree River, then may I suggest Centennary Lakes in Cairns for Little Kingfisher at that time of year, & sometimes you can get the heron there as well, but not so reliably… The kingfishers are usually there from late January (usually with newly fledged young) until late Sept-Oct, when they disappear somewhere, presumably to breed elsewhere…
Cheers, Martin Cachard, Cairns
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I don’t think one can count Murray’s Great-billed Herons. I believe he has them drugged. I grew up with these birds and they hold a special meaning to me but I have never had better views than those he got for me last year. Regards, Alan
Murray Hunt is the one. He’s done his homework: takes you to active nests and is conscious of client wants with respect to ticks. The boat seats are ideal for birding. On our trip we went nearly 30 mins overtime. I thought that he could have charged more, given the knowledge and effort put in.
I think your chances of GBH are good in October – don’t know about little kingfisher.
Carl Weber
Whichever cruise you go on, the birds you see are very dependant on river and tide levels, and Great Billed Heron is seasonal to some extent, as I understand it.
Best to talk to the actual operators you are considering. The trips are quite pricey so I think they’d understand if you’re being a bit picky!
Rosemary
(We failed to see both your target species)
I can absolutely recommend Murray Hunt’s cruises (http://daintreerivertours.com.au/)
I dipped on the Little Kingfisher (one did go past but I didn’t get tickable views, just a tiny blue hypersonic streak, and there were Azures around so I couldn’t rule out an undersized Azure on too much Red Bull), but I got brilliant views of the Great Billed Heron.