A difficult question to answer, but that of course is the point.
Do you mean specific sites? Or a general area? If the latter, how
big can an area be? Dryandra State Forest I think would be fair
enough (rather than say Marri Road there), but perhaps the Kimberley
is too big??? Can you include Darwin, Fogg Dam and Kakadu as one
area? Again, I would think too big? Is Tasmania too
big? Probably. Perhaps the determining factor is an area that you
get to within a day's return, but you may spend a few days there and
it is still elligible.
The access is also a factor for me. It might have great birds, but
are they worth the effort to get there?
So here is my attempt. I am sure that if I did this each week for 52
weeks, I would probably have 52 different lists.
1. Broome (WA). I am West Australian and this is the best area in WA
for me. Something for everyone. Bush birds. Mangroves. Plains.
Lakes. Waders. Rarities. Different seasons. I have been there close
to 40 times for many reasons.
2. Julatten (Qld). A great base to be able to get to Mt Lewis,
Daintree River, Mt Carbine, Atherton Tableland.
3. Cheyne Beach (WA). Good in its own right for endemics. But a
great base to visit Albany, the mallee up towards Jerramungup,
Stirling Range, Porongurups.
4. Iron Range (Qld). Great variety of birds, many of which cannot be
found easily elsewhere. Access reasonable, given the variety to be seen.
5. Kununurra (WA). Great birds here, plus a base to visit Lake Argyle
and Wyndham. Access good except maybe wet season. Each season has
something special.
6. Kakadu (NT). Hard to choose between Kakadu or Darwin, but can't
include both as too big an overlap. The boat trip is an experience
not to missed, and turns it in Kakadu's favour. Based at Cooinda, it
is possible to get to Gunlom Falls and back, but it would be a long day.
7. Christmas Island. A very different form of birding which adds to
the highlight of the endemics, vagrants, etc.
8. Gluepot (SA). Perhaps access is more difficult than other sites,
but the mallee is a fantastic habitat, and Gluepot is the best I have
been to. Great birds.
9. Cue (WA). For me the best area of mulga, and a place I have
visited more than 10 times. I dare say that others would substitute
Alice Springs, but Cue is far easier for me to access. Fantastic
birds and a good range of habitats. It is a base to visit Lake Annean
near Meekatharra to the north, Walga Rock and the way there to the
west, Mt Magnet and Lake Austin to the south, and the Sandstone Road
to the east.
10. Eaglehawk Neck pelagic (Tas). I have to include a pelagic, and
for me this has been the best. Great number and variety of birds.
There are many others that would be worthy of inclusion.
a. Darwin (NT). But as I said an overlap with Kakadu. This would
include Fogg Dam, Holmes Jungle, Howard Springs, Palmerston. I did
get to Litchfield and back in a day, but this is pushing it.
b. Cairns (Qld). Including the Great Barrier Reef, but an overlap
with Julatten.
c. Werribee (Vic). But one day usually covers it, where the sites
above keep you busy for at least 3 days (except the pelagic).
d. Dryandra State Forest (WA). Fantastic place, but one day is usually enough.
e. Stirling Range (WA). A good base for the mallee, Porongurups, and
even Albany at a push. But either one day is enough, or the other
areas overlap with Cheyne Beach.
f. Shark Bay (WA). But it is a long way there. And a day or so is enough.
g. Carnarvon (WA). Great place and two days can easily be used up
looking around.
h. Brunie Island (Tas). A great place for endemics, and you could
easily spend two days here.
i. Cocos Islands. Again, a very different type of birding. But mainly
for vagrants.
j. Ashmore Reef. A fantastic trip, but doesn't really fit in the one
day return. And access if getting more and more expensive.
k. Mitchell Plateau (WA). A fantastic place, but access is difficult,
and one day return doesn't get you very far. But great birds.
l. Mt Isa (Qld). A great base, and many places to go north, south and
east (probably west as well?).
m. Lake McLarty (WA). But half a day is enough. Maybe make it
Mandurah which includes this, plus the Lake Preston area, Harvey Peel
Estuary, other lakes, Halls Head, etc.
n. Cape York (Qld). Bamaga as the base. But an overlap with the Iron
Range in terms of birds seen.
o. Lamington NP (Qld). Certainly enough to spend several days here.
p. Barren Grounds (NSW). But a day might be enough here.
q. Capertee Valley (NSW). This was excellent when someone showed me
around, but I found little when I passed through by myself. And
again one day is probably enough, although as a base I guess you
could get to the Blue Mountains and areas inland.
r. Deniliquin (NSW). A good base to visit areas within quite a large
area to range within a day's return. I got to Chiltern in Victoria
and back in a day. Special birds. Large range of habitats. Easily
spend several days in the area.
Look forward to other people's suggestions.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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