8 Day “Bowra Birding and Bird Photography Experience” with
Nature / Wildlife Photographer Michael Snedic and Birding Guide Barry Davies
8 days and 7 nights from July 26th to August 2nd 2012 FULLY BOOKED!
8 days and 7 nights from August 10th to August 17th 2012 NEW DATE
Little Egret
A video, showing a selection of images taken by participants
of the 2011 Bowra Birding and Bird Photography workshop
Michael Snedic, one of Australia’s most accomplished wildlife photographers and tutors, has teamed up with Barry Davies, a highly respected and experienced Birding Guide, to present an 8 day birding and bird photography workshop, ‘out west’. In this workshop, Barry’s immense birding experience will help participants find and identify numerous species of birds by studying their behavior, habits and habitat. Michael’s experience as a leading bird/wildlife photographer and tutor will also be utilized to help you improve your bird photography, including tuition on birds in flight, composition, lighting and correct exposure, focal points and much more. The majority of the trip will be spent at one of Australia’s birding hotspots, Bowra Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, Queensland, where there are lots of different habitats, and therefore birds, to locate and photograph. Below is some information on Bowra Sanctuary, courtesy of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy website:
Tawny FrogmouthLocation
Bowra is located near Cunnamulla in southern Queensland. It is in a high priority bioregion: the Mulga Bioregion has less than 5% reservation level.
Area
Bowra covers approximately 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres).
BrolgaEcosystems
Bowra protects 15 regional ecosystems, none of which occur on other AWC properties:
- six of these broad ecosystem types are listed as threatened.
- five of the ecosystems are not found in any national parks, while another seven are poorly protected in national parks.
The condition of Bowra is very good. There is a fine-scale mosaic of habitat types, with good structural complexity, thus supporting a diversity of wildlife.
Features of Bowra include:
Red-capped Robin
- Mulga communities, often mixed with Poplar Box and bloodwoods, dominating the low scarp and elevated ridges in the northern section of the property.
- The southern section of Bowra comprises mainly alluvial plains decorated by gidgee and Coolabah open woodlands. Low sand ridges rise marginally above the plains, hosting Cypress Pine and more bloodwood and Poplar Box.
- Majestic River Red Gums guard the length of Gumholes Creek, the property’s major watercourse. Permanent, deep waterholes are a feature of this creek. Bowra lies within the catchment of both the Warrego and Paroo Rivers, two of the most biologically significant rivers within the Murray-Darling basin.
- Bowra hosts numerous other wetlands ranging from Bluebush swamps to gilgais and other smaller swamps.
To see a complete list of birds found at Bowra Station, click here
Itinerary:
| Day 1
Thursday July 26th |
Brisbane to St George (510km).
7.30 am departure from arranged point. Travel by 4WD with occasional stops including the UQ campus and Apex dam at Gatton; lunch break at Lake Broadwater near Dalby. We will be going out for dinner at St George and we will be also staying overnight at St.George, on the Balonne River. (L) Accommodation: Pelican Park Caravan Park Cabins |
| Day 2
Friday July 27th |
St George to Cunnamulla (310 km).
7.00 am start with lunch stop at Cunnamulla. We will then move on to Bowra; a 40,000 hectare former grazing property just west of Cunnamulla. After settling in, Michael will introduce the art of bird photography beside the waterhole. Meanwhile, Barry will set up a bush hide on the property near another bird ‘hot spot’, which will be available for participants to use at anytime during the week (seats up to 4 people). Evening session: Audio-visual on identifying birds and bird calls with Barry. (B, L, D) Accommodation: Bowra shearers’ quarters. |
| Day 3
Saturday July 28th |
Bowra Sanctuary
Morning – Finding and identifying birds in the field, with Barry. Michael will then show you how to get the best photos. We will walk from our base and head to various spots around Bowra Sanctuary. Afternoon – Michael will present a session on how to get the best shots of birds in flight. This will be at the Wier in Cunnamulla, which has a wonderful array of birds to photograph. Evening – Audio-visual about bird photography with Michael (B, L, D) |
| Day 4
Sunday July 29th |
Bowra Sanctuary
Early morning- capturing the first light. Michael will be there for any advice needed to capture the myriad of birds that are found around the lagoon, less than 100metres from your base. Morning – Stony Mulga country, Bowra’s ultimate birding/photography challenge. Find and identify the most iconic birds, Hall’s Babbler and the Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush, as well as any other birds found. Afternoon – Getting in close, using bird hides and camouflage to get the best possible pictures. Theory and practice. Evening – Free time to relax and unwind (B, L, D) |
| Day 5
Monday July 30th |
Bowra
Morning – Visit some of Bowra’s waterholes and other habitats with Michael and Barry, for more birding and photographic opportunities. Afternoon – Free time to go and practice your bird photography. Alternatively, have a rest. Evening – Optional star trails photography – loads of fun! (B, L, D) |
| Day 6
Tuesday July 31st |
Bowra
Morning – Head out to different parts of Bowra Station with Barry, to search for different species we haven’t seen and photographed yet. Afternoon – Questions and Answers – the opportunity to ask more questions about bird photographic techniques (Michael) followed by a field session (Michael and Barry). Evening – A review of some of the participant’s best bird images of the week with Michael (B, L, D) |
| Day 7
Wednesday August 1st |
Bowra to Goondiwindi (300 km)
8.00 am start. We head east with a lunch stop at Bollon with various birding stops along the way. (B, L) Accommodation: Goondiwindi Tourist Park cabins. |
| Day 8
Thursday August 2nd |
Goondiwindi to Brisbane (420 km)
7.30 am start. We travel back to Brisbane via Inglewood and Warwick, where we will have lunch, visiting some bird watching areas including Coolmunda Dam and Durakai State Forest (where there were plenty of birds to photograph during our 2011 Bowra workshop) before crossing the Great Divide to head into Brisbane late afternoon. (B, L) Accommodation: Own arrangements. |
Pelican
What is included:
Travel in air-conditioned 4WD vehicles with driver/guide plus 4 passengers in each vehicle. Tour cost covers twin or share accommodation, which is budget style. The Bowra shearers’ quarters are quite basic with outside bathroom and toilet. Meals provided as part of the package are shown in the itinerary by B, L or D. Dinner on the way out and coming back home will be your responsibility and will be at places where cafés, restaurants or roadhouses are available. (NB – some changes to the itinerary may be necessary because of possible conditions prevailing at the time).
The weather:
The weather at night and early morning can be cold with temperatures around zero and the days will be mostly warm and sunny. Good hiking boots and long trousers and a hat are essential. Sunscreen cream is also recommended. Insect repellent is also advisable
Cost: AU$2400 per person
Inclusions:
Barking Owl
- All travel (we will be driving there and back in air-conditioned 4-wheel drive vehicles)
- Accommodation – Quite basic but clean and comfortable (combination of hotel, tourist park and shearers’ quarters at Bowra)
- All meals (except two, where indicated)
- Expert birding and photography tuition from Barry and Michael
- Various audio-visuals including review of images taken throughout the tour
Maximum 8 passengers (and 3 tag-a-longs).
To book this workshop or for more information on the birding component:
Please contact Barry on barry@gondwanaguides.com.au or phone +61 (0) 7 55333162
For more information on the bird photography component of this workshop:
Please contact Michael on info@michaelsnedic.com or phone 0408 941965
