This is quite a difficult thing to do because of three reasons:
1. How big is the area you define (is an area somewhere you can cover in a
day or a week).
2. Comparing areas you visit briefly to see specific species to somewhere
you have lived/visited regularly over a long period where you get an idea of
all the different species.
3. I haven't been to some of the great spots already listed (Werribbee) or
haven't visited as a fuller fledged birder (Broome).
Despite this I will throw my two cents in with the following locations that
I have some experience of:
1. Cairns/Atherton Tablelands to Mt. Molloy - An amazing diversity of
species in a relatively small area.
2. Wollongong (including the Minnamurra catchment) - From the woodlands
above the escarpment to the pelagics this probably has the greatest
diversity of species in a very small distance.
3. Weddin Mountains NP - west of the divide in NSW is vastly underated (see
below) and the number of birds in this relatively small remnant is amazing.
4. Albany - as an easterner seeing so many new species between Two Peoples
Bay and the Stirling Ranges was pretty great.
5. Karumba/Normanton - Not having been to Broome this is probably the best
mangrove birding I have done, and the areas to the south of town add a lot
of diversity.
Some close runners up would be:
Griffith - Within 2 hours of this town has an amazing variety of habitats
(mallee/woodland/wetlands) giving lots of variety. The place where I really
started learning what bird-watching is all about.
Tweed Valley - From the mountain rainforests to the coastal forests another
area with high diversity in small distances.
Iron Range - Just for the pure tick value and the experience of getting
there.
Dryandra Forest - An insight into what the WA wheat belt once was.
Gunlom Falls, Kakadu - Great swimming hole, great birding
Simpson Desert - I have only skirted both the western and eastern fringes,
but I truly love the arid country and the birds I have seen in these areas
make me keen to head back.
My bias is towards NSW (where I have lived most of my life) but hopefully
this gives an idea of the sort of places I like to bird watch.
Cheers,
Peter
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