A couple of weeks ago I did a cruise with Daintree Boatman. He located the
frogmouth and enabled me to see the Spotted Whistling Duck.
Would recommend. https://www.daintreerivertours.com.au/
Wendy McWilliams
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Subject: Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 133, Issue 4
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Today's Topics:
1. Two Questions (ERIC JEFFREY)
2. Re: Two Questions (Russell Woodford)
3. Re: Two Questions (Russell Woodford)
4. Re: Two Questions (ERIC JEFFREY)
5. Re: Two Questions (ERIC JEFFREY)
6. Re: Two Questions (David Clark)
7. Re: Two Questions (Tony Russell)
8. Re: Two Questions
9. Re: Two Questions
10. Re: Two Questions (ERIC JEFFREY)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:37:11 -0400
From: ERIC JEFFREY <>
To:
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of 2026. Two
quick questions:
1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones are
Pizzey and Morecombe.
2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more than one,
which is best?
Thanks in advance.
Eric Jeffrey
Virginia, USA.
Sent from my iPhone
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:39:46 +1000
From: Russell Woodford <>
To: ERIC JEFFREY <>, "birding-aus (E-mail)"
<>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID:
<CAEUd7=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Hi Eric
There are three good birding apps (and a few free ones that range from very
basic to very limited) Pizzey and Knight Birds of Australia - good info and
maps, has calls for nearly all species, though the sound files have been quite
heavily processed. App updated 4 weeks ago, so everything current.
Morcombe & Stewart Guide to Birds of Australia - Pretty good coverage, much
more natural sound files (recorded by Dave Stewart), but a little out of date
re taxonomy, as there hasn't been an update for four years. Also, a few of the
maps are famously wrong!
David Stewart Bird Calls of Australia - the most comprehensive collection of
bird calls for Australia. Birds are grouped by subspecies and region so it
gives a more accurate set of calls for where you are. I tend to use this and
Pizzey because I only ever used the Morcombe guide for the calls, but since the
publication of the Stewart app I really don't need the Morcombe app for
anything.
If you're an eBirder, then definitely use the Explore feature in the app, which
shows you the hotspots in the LGA you're in (and you can change the settings to
show any area in the world). Great for seeing what's been seen in the last 3,
7, 30 days etc.
The Merlin app, which is so good at identifying birds by call in Europe and
North America, is in its infancy here in Australia. All the birds occurring
commonly in Europe and NA are included, but to date there are only about 25
local species included. More are added every few months.
There's also a handful of printed guides, some of them a bit big to be called
field guides:
Australian Bird Guide (Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers et al) published by CSIRO
- by far the best book covering all Australian birds, but it won't fit in your
back pocket!
The other main ones are:
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Simpson & Day) Field Guide to the Birds
of Australia (Pizzey and Knight) paper version of the app, without the calls
but lots of extra description The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds - a
nice slim volume full of helpful illustrations There is a growing number of
photographic "field" guides but none of these are great for ID. It's not
possible to show all the plumages of some species in just 3 or 4 selected
photos. Some of these volumes do have very good images, though.
I'm surprised the publishing houses are still rolling out new editions of these
bird guide books, given how much more useful the apps are.
Morcomb guide
On Mon, 30 Jun 2025 at 06:40, ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus <
> wrote:
> After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of
> 2026. Two quick questions:
>
> 1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones
> are Pizzey and Morecombe.
>
> 2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more
> than one, which is best?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Eric Jeffrey
> Virginia, USA.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR>
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:44:41 +1000
From: Russell Woodford <>
To: ERIC JEFFREY <>, "birding-aus (E-mail)"
<>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID:
<CAEUd7=7-mVzw=W7rFKJO90GQo7arsVa_7oEydCiRTi=zK0=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Hi Eric
I've only been to the daintree once, and I did a fantastic morning cruise with
Murray Hunt, of Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises. If I went back I would
certainly go with Murray again.
https://www.daintreerivertours.com.au
There are quite a few other operators but I don't know how good they are at
finding birds, and some of them are just focussed on crocodile spotting.
Russell Woodford
Birding-Aus Moderator
On Mon, 30 Jun 2025 at 06:40, ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus <
> wrote:
> After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of
> 2026. Two quick questions:
>
> 1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones
> are Pizzey and Morecombe.
>
> 2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more
> than one, which is best?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Eric Jeffrey
> Virginia, USA.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR>
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:04:10 -0400
From: ERIC JEFFREY <>
To: Russell Woodford <>
Cc: birding-aus <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID: <>
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:00:44 -0400
From: ERIC JEFFREY <>
To: Russell Woodford <>
Cc: birding-aus <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID: <>
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Message: 6
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:10:58 +1000
From: David Clark <>
To: ERIC JEFFREY <>
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID:
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Eric
I think that Russell has answered your questions very well.
It's nearly 16 years since I did the Daintree cruise and I'm not sure of the
name of the operator. However, he knew the river and its fauna very well and
was able to show us a pair of nesting Papuan Frogmouths, among lots of other
interesting creatures ... including just a fleeting glimpse of a Saltwater
Crocodile. We stayed at Kingfisher Lodge in Julatten before heading to the
Daintree and the then owners recommended that particular cruise.
Cheers
David
On Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 6:40 AM ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus <
> wrote:
> After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of
> 2026. Two quick questions:
>
> 1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones
> are Pizzey and Morecombe.
>
> 2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more
> than one, which is best?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Eric Jeffrey
> Virginia, USA.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR>
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
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------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:45:37 +0930
From: Tony Russell <>
To: ERIC JEFFREY <>
Cc: Russell Woodford <>, birding-aus
<>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID:
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
good stuff russ. tony.
On Mon, 30 Jun 2025 at 09:12, ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus <
> wrote:
> Thanks again Russell. I have the revised edition of the CSIRO guide
> and just ordered the Compact version. We have older editions of the others.
>
> All the best,
>
> Eric
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jun 29, 2025, at 6:39 PM, Russell Woodford <>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> Hi Eric
>
> There are three good birding apps (and a few free ones that range from
> very basic to very limited) Pizzey and Knight Birds of Australia -
> good info and maps, has calls for nearly all species, though the sound
> files have been quite heavily processed. App updated 4 weeks ago, so
> everything current.
> Morcombe & Stewart Guide to Birds of Australia - Pretty good coverage,
> much more natural sound files (recorded by Dave Stewart), but a little
> out of date re taxonomy, as there hasn't been an update for four
> years. Also, a few of the maps are famously wrong!
> David Stewart Bird Calls of Australia - the most comprehensive
> collection of bird calls for Australia. Birds are grouped by
> subspecies and region so it gives a more accurate set of calls for
> where you are. I tend to use this and Pizzey because I only ever used
> the Morcombe guide for the calls, but since the publication of the
> Stewart app I really don't need the Morcombe app for anything.
>
> If you're an eBirder, then definitely use the Explore feature in the
> app, which shows you the hotspots in the LGA you're in (and you can
> change the settings to show any area in the world). Great for seeing
> what's been seen in the last 3, 7, 30 days etc.
> The Merlin app, which is so good at identifying birds by call in
> Europe and North America, is in its infancy here in Australia. All the
> birds occurring commonly in Europe and NA are included, but to date
> there are only about 25 local species included. More are added every few
> months.
>
> There's also a handful of printed guides, some of them a bit big to be
> called field guides:
> Australian Bird Guide (Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers et al) published
> by CSIRO - by far the best book covering all Australian birds, but it
> won't fit in your back pocket!
> The other main ones are:
> Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Simpson & Day) Field Guide to
> the Birds of Australia (Pizzey and Knight) paper version of the app,
> without the calls but lots of extra description The Slater Field Guide
> to Australian Birds - a nice slim volume full of helpful illustrations
> There is a growing number of photographic "field" guides but none of
> these are great for ID. It's not possible to show all the plumages of
> some species in just 3 or 4 selected photos. Some of these volumes do
> have very good images, though.
> I'm surprised the publishing houses are still rolling out new editions
> of these bird guide books, given how much more useful the apps are.
>
>
>
> Morcomb guide
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 30 Jun 2025 at 06:40, ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus <
> > wrote:
>
>> After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of
>> 2026. Two quick questions:
>>
>> 1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones
>> are Pizzey and Morecombe.
>>
>> 2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more
>> than one, which is best?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Eric Jeffrey
>> Virginia, USA.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> <HR>
>> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
>> <BR>
>> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
>> <BR>
>> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
>> </HR>
>>
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR>
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:23:47 +1000
From: <>
To: "'David Clark'" <>
Cc: <>, "'Birding-Aus'" <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Back then it could have been the guy whose nickname was “Sauce”.
He had a special early morning Bird Cruise and yes he nearly always found the
Papuan Frogmouths.
I think however that Ian Worcester has retired.
Regards
Barry
From: Birding-Aus <> On Behalf Of David Clark
Sent: Monday, 30 June 2025 11:11 AM
To: ERIC JEFFREY <>
Cc:
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Eric
I think that Russell has answered your questions very well.
It's nearly 16 years since I did the Daintree cruise and I'm not sure of the
name of the operator. However, he knew the river and its fauna very well and
was able to show us a pair of nesting Papuan Frogmouths, among lots of other
interesting creatures ... including just a fleeting glimpse of a Saltwater
Crocodile. We stayed at Kingfisher Lodge in Julatten before heading to the
Daintree and the then owners recommended that particular cruise.
Cheers
David
On Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 6:40 AM ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus
< <> > wrote:
After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of 2026. Two
quick questions:
1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones are
Pizzey and Morecombe.
2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more than one,
which is best?
Thanks in advance.
Eric Jeffrey
Virginia, USA.
Sent from my iPhone
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR> <>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
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Message: 9
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:28:52 +1000
From: <>
To: <>
Cc: "'Birding Aus'" <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Hi Eric,
‘Sauce’ has retired but Alex has taken over his business, Daintree River
Wildwatch. Sauce was still doing some tours for Alex a couple of years back.
Both Alex (or Sauce) and Murray are very good. I did one trip with Murray and
the other with Sauce a couple of years back.
Greg Clancy
From: Birding-Aus <> On Behalf Of Barry
Lancaster via Birding-Aus
Sent: Monday, 30 June 2025 12:24 PM
To: 'David Clark' <>
Cc: 'Birding-Aus' <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Back then it could have been the guy whose nickname was “Sauce”.
He had a special early morning Bird Cruise and yes he nearly always found the
Papuan Frogmouths.
I think however that Ian Worcester has retired.
Regards
Barry
From: Birding-Aus <
<> > On Behalf Of David Clark
Sent: Monday, 30 June 2025 11:11 AM
To: ERIC JEFFREY < <> >
Cc: <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Eric
I think that Russell has answered your questions very well.
It's nearly 16 years since I did the Daintree cruise and I'm not sure of the
name of the operator. However, he knew the river and its fauna very well and
was able to show us a pair of nesting Papuan Frogmouths, among lots of other
interesting creatures ... including just a fleeting glimpse of a Saltwater
Crocodile. We stayed at Kingfisher Lodge in Julatten before heading to the
Daintree and the then owners recommended that particular cruise.
Cheers
David
On Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 6:40 AM ERIC JEFFREY via Birding-Aus
< <> > wrote:
After 31 years, we are planning another trip to Australia for fall of 2026. Two
quick questions:
1. What is the best birding app for Australia. It seems the main ones are
Pizzey and Morecombe.
2. Is the Daintree River cruise still recommended? If there is more than one,
which is best?
Thanks in advance.
Eric Jeffrey
Virginia, USA.
Sent from my iPhone
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR> <>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
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Message: 10
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:51:42 -0400
From: ERIC JEFFREY <>
To:
Cc: Birding Aus <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Two Questions
Message-ID: <>
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