Birding in the Northern Territory

Day 1 – Darwin to Mary River

Collected from your Darwin accommodation, we begin our birdwatching tour in the city’s mangroves - tide permitting - to search for the elusive Chestnut Rail. Other key species in this habitat include Red-headed Honeyeater, Collared Kingfisher, Black Butcherbird, Yellow White-eye, Mangrove Golden Whistler and Green-backed Gerygone.

We continue to Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve for morning tea and an excellent variety of wetland species. Brolga, Jabiru (Black-necked Stork), White-browed Crake and Buff-banded Rail are among the many possibilities.

From here, we travel along the Marrakai Track, where we look for woodland species such as Black-tailed Treecreeper, Varied Sittella, Red-backed Kingfisher and, with luck, Gouldian Finch. A picnic lunch in the Mary River region offers further chances for finches and open woodland birds.

Later in the afternoon we target Barking Owl, Partridge Pigeon, Northern Rosella and Buff-sided Robin. Other possibilities include Black Bittern, Great Bowerbird, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, and several finches - Crimson, Masked, Long-tailed and Double-barred - as well as Rufous Whistler.

In the late afternoon, join a cruise on the Mary River. This is one of the best opportunities to spot Black Bittern and Great-billed Heron, as well as raptors like Pacific Baza and the white morph of Grey Goshawk. Both Freshwater and Saltwater Crocodiles are also likely to be seen.

Overnight at Mary River Wilderness Retreat.

Day 2 – Mary River to Kakadu

An early start this morning to look again for Gouldian Finch before breakfast. Depart Mary River and head east toward Kakadu National Park, stopping en route for monsoon forest species and exploring the South Alligator River floodplains, where key targets include Yellow Chat, Spotted Harrier, Letter-winged Kite and Golden-headed Cisticola.

Continue to the Mamukala wetlands for an impressive array of wetland and woodland birds. Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks, Magpie Goose, Green Pygmy-goose and Comb-crested Jacana are regular here, along with Buff-sided Robin, Black-eared Cuckoo and raptors such as Square-tailed Kite and Black-breasted Buzzard.

After lunch, drive to Ubirr, where we explore the sandstone escarpment in search of Arnhem Land endemics. Key targets here include White-lined Honeyeater, Sandstone Shrike-thrush and Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon. We’ll also visit the ancient Aboriginal rock art sites for which Ubirr is famous.

Later, we continue to the Bardedjilidji Walk to further our chances of finding the sandstone specialities. Rainbow Pitta is also found in this area.

Return to Jabiru with the opportunity for spotlighting nocturnal species such as Spotted and Large-tailed Nightjar, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Tawny Frogmouth, and both Barking and Rufous Owls.

Overnight Kakadu National Park

Day 3 – Kakadu to Pine Creek

An early morning cruise on Yellow Water Billabong provides excellent views of wetland birds including Magpie Goose, Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks, and both Azure and Little Kingfishers. Flycatchers, egrets, herons and various waterfowl are also well represented.

After lunch, travel south to Gunlom Falls in the escarpment country of Kakadu’s south-west. Enjoy views across southern Kakadu and the chance for a swim in the plunge pool or upper escarpment pools. Key species here include Galah, Varied Triller, Northern Rosella, Crimson Finch, White-throated Honeyeater and Brown Falcon.

Later, depart Kakadu and continue to the township of Pine Creek. Time permitting, we’ll visit the Pine Creek Water Gardens, where species such as Hooded Parrot, Great Bowerbird and Red-winged Parrot are often seen.

Overnight Pine Creek.

Day 4 – Pine Creek to Darwin

An early visit to Leliyn (Edith Falls) provides another opportunity to search for Gouldian Finch and Hooded Parrot. Afterwards, visit the Pine Creek sewage ponds, where regular sightings include Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked, Long-tailed and Double-barred Finches, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Cockatiel, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo and two species of woodswallow. Partridge Pigeon is also a possibility in surrounding habitat.

In the afternoon, we travel north-west along the Stuart Highway, returning to Darwin via Adelaide River. Along the way, we keep an eye out for species such as Varied Lorikeet and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.