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RFI Cape York

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Subject: RFI Cape York
From: "Tim Jones" <>
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:17:06 +0000
Dear All,

So far I have had 20 replies re Cape York birding in December. That's a wonderful response - and one which at the moment will prevent me thanking everyone individually, so I am sending another general email out. On balance, though, the general opinion seems to be 'don't risk it' although others say do go, but with a guide (and some guides have responded). Some emails suggest that even guides wouldn't go at the time I suggest (the 2 weeks immediately preceding Christmas). Others have asked exactly where I want to go on CY - which is a bit of a 'chicken and egg' question - of course I want to go where my target birds are, and part of my original question was where I should go to see them. Anyway, to help clarify that, these are my target birds and the ones marked with a * are the ones which I think really depend on a visit to CY or which I particularly aim to get on the trip (I realise I would have to spend a little time in the Cairns area as well).

Great-billed Heron*
Chestnut-backed Button-quail
Red-backed Button-quail
Palm Cockatoo*
Red-cheeked Parrot*
Eclectus Parrot*
Golden-shouldered Parrot*
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo*
Oriental Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Kingfisher*
Buff-breasted Paradise-kingfisher*
Grass Owl
Red-bellied Pitta*
Yellow-legged Flycatcher*
Northern Scrub-robin*
Black-winged Monarch*
Frilled Monarch*
White-eared Monarch
Tropical Scrubwren*
Fairy Warbler
White-throated Honeyeater*
Bar-breasted Honeyeater
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater*
White-streaked Honeyeater*
Pale White-eye(*)
Star Finch
Blue-faced Finch*
Black-throated Finch*
Black-backed Butcherbird*
Fawn-breasted Bowerbird*
Magnificent Riflebird*
Trumpet Manucode*

Some of these (particularly Rainbow Pitta) I think you could never see in Aus unless you did CY from December onwards, so some people must do it (in other words 'don't go' cannot possibly be the answer, you would need to make at least one trip in a lifetime in December - or later). At the same time, my marriage (not to mention my job) might come to an abrupt end if for some reason I didn't make it back for Christmas!!

Maybe I should 'break it up' and do one 'winter' trip, picking up some birds, then one in summer for the real migrants.

Anyway, if anyone wants to add to their comments in the light of the above, I would be most obliged to hear from you again. Similarly if anyone has any advice not already given.

Many thanks again to everyone who answered.

Cheers

Tim

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