DAY 3 : This morning we will be concentrating on the species of Grasswren who didn't perform yesterday. After a delicious lunch at a local cafe we will then start the drive south-east towards Winton. During the drive to Winton we will be keeping an eye out for some of the harder to see outback species including Ground Cuckoo-shrike and Grey Falcon. We will arrive in Winton in time for dinner and ready for an early start in the morning.

Driving Time - 5.0 Hours

Accommodation : Winton Outback Motel - Winton, QLD (https://wintonoutbackmotel.com/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

DAY 4 : This morning we have a nice early start to arrive at Lark Quarry or Opalton on sunrise, these are the sites for our 3rd Grasswren, the Rusty Grasswren (Amytornis striatus rowleyi). Other species in the area include Grey Falcon, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Hall’s Babbler, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush and Spinifexbird. The afternoon will be spent exploring Bladensburg National Park where we will be looking for Budgerigars, Pictorella Mannikin, Spinifex Pigeons, Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush and possibly Grey Falcon.

Driving Time - 4.0 Hours

Accommodation : Winton Outback Motel - Winton, QLD (https://wintonoutbackmotel.com/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

DAY 5 : This morning we have another chance to look for the local specialties including Rusty Grasswren (Amytornis striatus rowleyi), Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Grey Falcon, Hall’s Babbler and Spinifexbird. After a productive morning we then start our drive towards the remote and outback township of Boulia. The drive there might find up Australian Pratincole, Banded Lapwing and maybe even an Inland Dotterel. We will spend the afternoon birding around the grassy plains around Boulia, hopefully connecting with a Flock Bronzewings around sunset.

Driving Time - 7.0 Hours

Accommodation : Desert Sands Motel - Boulia, QLD (https://desertsandsmotel.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

DAY 6 : At sunrise we will head back out onto the grass plains in search of the stunning Flock Bronzewings again, hopefully we can connect with this great bird. After a morning around Boulia it will now be time to head South towards Birdsville. While driving South we will be checking out good looking habitat and any water we find looking for things like Bourke’s Parrot and maybe a Ground Cuckoo-shrike. The afternoon around Birdsville we will be looking for our next Grasswren, Eyrean Grasswrens (Amytornis goyderi), Eyreans live on the red sand dunes in the area.

We will enjoy dinner at the Birdsville Pub before getting a nice rest before an early morning looking for our next target, Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus barbatus)

Driving Time - 5.0 Hours

Accommodation : Birdsville Hotel - Birdsville, QLD (https://birdsvillehotel.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

Day 7 : A nice early morning will get us in place to look for our next main target, Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus barbatus). We will be searching the lignum around the Bulloo Overflow for suitable habitat and hopefully connect with this very unique Grasswren. The whole day will be spent in the area and depending how we are going for views will then look for some of the other local birds like Yellow Chat and maybe a Grey Falcon.

Driving Time - 4.0 Hours

Accommodation : Birdsville Hotel - Birdsville, QLD (https://birdsvillehotel.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

DAY 8 : Today we have another chance at Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus barbatus). We we'll be heading back to the swamp we were at yesterday morning. If for some reason we did extraordinary well yesterday we can go in search of Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus cowarie) a subspecies only found on the nearby Cowarie Station. We might also come across a Grey Falcon, Crimson Chat, Orange Chat, Red-browed Pardalote, Red-backed Kingfisher, Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Banded Whiteface and if we are lucky a Gibberbird on the surrounding gibber plains. The afternoon we can spend on the sand dunes near our accommodation looking for better views of Eyrean Grasswrens (Amytornis goyderi).

Driving Time - 5.0 Hours

Accommodation : Mungerannie Pub, SA (https://www.mungeranniehotel.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

DAY 9 : Depending on what we found yesterday will depend on what we target this morning, we will ether look for better views of Eyrean Grasswrens (Amytornis goyderi) near the accommodation or head back out onto Cowarie Station in search of better views of Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus cowarie). We will head back to Mungerannie Pub for lunch before packing up and heading South towards Marree for the night.

Driving Time - 3 Hours

Accommodation : Marree Hotel - Marree,  SA (http://www.marreehotel.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

DAY 10 : This morning we will be targeting another subspecies of Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus raglessi), other species we will be keeping an eye out for are Chirruping Wedgebill, White-backed Swallow and Rufous Fieldwren.

After a hopefully productive morning we head south to Parachilna for a nice lunch before carrying on to our base for the next three days, the Standpipe Inn in Port Augusta.

Driving Time - 4.0 Hours

Accommodation : The Standpipe, Port Augusta SA (https://www.standpipe.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

Day 11 : This morning we will be heading South towards Whyalla, home to our next Grasswren target the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis myall) this will be our main target this afternoon, we will also be keeping an eye out for Splendid Fairywren, Redthroat, White-fronted Honeyeaters and maybe a Chirruping Wedgebill.

Driving Time - 4.0 Hours

Accommodation : The Standpipe, Port Augusta SA (https://www.standpipe.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

Day 12 : This morning we will be getting up extremely early to head North-west towards Mount Ives, home to our next target the Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi pedleri) other birds in the area are Slender-billed Thornbill, Western Grasswren and possibly a Splendid Fairywren.

The afternoon will be spent exploring Arid Lands Botanic Gardens near Port Augusta, targets here are White-fronted Chat, Pied Honeyeater and hopefully Churruping Wedgebill

Driving Time - 3.0 Hours

Accommodation : The Standpipe, Port Augusta SA (https://www.standpipe.com.au/)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

Day 13 : This morning we will be heading West to Lake Gilles Conservation Reserve, here we have a chance for a whole new set of birds. These include Gilbert's Whistler, Rufous Treecreeper, Western Yellow-robin, Blue-breasted Fairy-wren and our main target the Copper-backed Quail-thrush.

We will enjoy some lunch before heading North towards Coober Pedy, our next stop. Hopefully arriving at a reasonable hour we will explore the surrounding gibber plains for our next target the Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus indulkanna) and maybe a Chestnut-breasted Whiteface.

Driving Time - 7.0 Hours

Accommodation : BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort - Coober Pedy, SA (https://www.stuartrangeoutbackresort.com.au)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

Day 14 - The morning we will be spending time looking for the local race of Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus indulkanna) and if we missed it, Chestnut-breasted Whiteface. Once were done in Coober Pedy we will head North to our final destination, Alice Springs. Home to our last Grasswren.

The afternoon (time permitting) we will go out in search of our last Grasswren species, the Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli) other birds in the area include Bourke's Parrot, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren and maybe Ground Cuckoo-shrike.

Driving Time - 5.0 Hours

Accommodation: Hilton - Alice Springs, NT (www.hiltonalicesprings)

Meals included: (B, L, D).

Day 15 : This morning I leave free to follow up on other birds in the area or revisit Dusky Grasswren if we missed it yesterday.

The tour wraps up after lunch when I am happy to drop you off to your accommodation or flight if booked that afternoon.

Meals included: (B, L).

Cost -  Contact for pricing

Exclusions : Airfare arriving into Mount Isa before the tour & Airfare departing Alice Springs on the last day of tour.

For larger groups please contact me for pricing and numbers etc.

Cost -  Please Contact AUD - All inclusive for two people | Twin or Double Accommodation 

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