Cairns and its immediate hinterland offers a number of great birding sites. Whilst the most famous is undoubtedly the Esplanade with its flocks of shorebirds on the mudflats, mangrove species at the northern end plus parrots and honeyeaters amongst the species found in the trees of the adjacent park, there are a number of other sites also worth visiting both within the city and in the surrounding suburbs.
AU$150.00 per person (minimum 2 people)
As arranged at time of booking
As arranged at time of booking
A short introduction to the birds and some of the best birding sites around Cairns. You are likely to visit a number of different habitats from mudflats to mangroves, parklands, wetlands and bush.
A good variety of waders can be seen when the tide is right. In the Esplanade gardens Rainbow Lorikeet, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, Sacred Kingfisher and a variety of Honeyeaters are common. Along the edge of the mangroves at the northern end of the Esplanade Mangrove Robin and Torresian Kingfisher are regularly seen.
An area of shallow ponds and reed beds with surrounding scrub near Yorkeys Knob. Good for White-browed Crakes, Magpie Goose and other waterbirds.
A wide variety of habitats can be found here. There are mangroves along the creeks, small pockets of rainforest trees, fresh water and saltwater lakes. Little Kingfisher, crakes and Black Bittern are sometimes seen here and at times there are some very interesting ducks including Spotted Whistling Duck and Radjah Shelduck.
Here there is a small pond with swamp vegetation. It is a good place to see honeyeaters and of course, water birds. Australian Darter breeds here. The undeveloped land nearby often has some interesting species.
