Birding Australia - New Zealand - PNG - New Caledonia - Indonesia + + +
Trips departing somewhere weekly during 2008 - Private tours a speciality
2009
Apr - Western Queensland
May - June - New Caledonia
West Papua
Sept - N S W & south west Queensland
Oct - N W Western Australia & Tasmania
Alan has been leading birding tours around Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, south-east Asia and the Sub-Antarctic islands of Australia and New Zealand for almost 30 years. He started the world famous Wollongong and Sydney pelagic trips back in 1978, taking them into deep water and beyond the Continental Shelf for the first time and has since been on well over 850 pelagic trips from Australia, New Zealand, North America, UK, Europe as well as many of the worlds great ocean voyages around the world. Alan organised and led the first full birding tour group to the Sub-Antarctic islands and was a pioneer in organising bird tour groups around Australia in the 70’s, (which he has been around more times than he can remember - although he will have it written down somewhere).
Either birding independently or leading individuals or groups Alan has seen over 764 of Australia’s birds. Having led or co-led for most of the world’s major bird tour companies in Australia as well as leading in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Hong Kong, India, Costa Rica, etc., he is well versed in planning your tour and finding you the birds (and the mammals, butterflies et al) that you’d like to see.
In fact, wherever you want to go, just hit the e-mail address below and ask.
Hi there,
Recent highlights: Black Grasswren, Chestnut-backed Button-Quail, Christmas Island Hawk-Owl & all the other Christmas Island endemics. Grey, Pied & Black Honeyeater in one hour in WA! Rufous & Noisy Scrubbirds, Red Goshawk, Letter-winged Kite and Grey Falcon; in fact most of our stunning parrots including Scarlet-chested, our finches, honeyeaters, waders and seabirds, etc. as well as various kangaroos, echidna, platypus, devil, quolls, koala and a wombat or two: and to top it all off some truly wonderful clients came to a land down under!
Thanks for your company.
Birding Australia - New Zealand and sub-Antarctic Islands - New Caledonia - PNG - West Papua -
or anywhere you want to go to!
Photo’s: Mike Malpass, Tony Palliser, Mike Reed, Paul Davis, Alan McBride and anon.
For pelagic birding in Australia, see also: http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/palliser/pelagic
If you are looking for Lloyd Nielsen’s Birding Australia and his great books, go to:
http://www.birdingaustralia.com.au/
For some great Australian bird art see: http://www.jeffdavies.com.au/
Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguinea Also called Giant Kingfisher, Laughing Jackass and curiously Settler’s Clock, no doubt due to it’s endearing habit of calling just outside the bedroom window from 03.30 onwards every day. Has been heard in Tarzan and similar movies of that ilk which only makes the producer / director look stupid!
Found in pairs or small parties, chiefly foraging in open forest, suburban gardens and opportunistically at household barbecues, restaurants, etc. Feeds on small reptiles, insects, crabs, fish including our ornamental goldfish, will rob other birds nests and is very big on hamburger and chips but not the sauce. You can see just how big he is when you see him; here on a regular dinner plate! Has difficulty opening Sprite and other bottles and prefers cappuccino (if they don’t have lids on the cups)!
Bandy Bandy Vermicella annulata
