Torres Strait - Boigu, Saibai, Darnley

Collared Imperial-Pigeon
Bird List Spotted Whistling-Duck Masked Booby Antarctic Prion White-faced Storm-Petrel Red-footed Booby Lesser Frigatebird Grey-headed Goshawk Gurney's Eagle Red-chested Button-quail Black-naped Tern Black Noddy Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Orange-fronted Fruit Dove Collared Imperial-Pigeon Eclectus Parrot Red-cheeked Parrot Fig-Parrot spp? Lorikeet ssp? Oriental Cuckoo Glossy Swiftlet Uniform Swiftlet Papuan Spine-tailed Swift Common Paradise-Kingfisher Rufous-bellied Kookaburra Collared Kingfisher Tawny-breasted Honeyeater Rufous-banded Honeyeater White-bellied Whistler Black-winged Monarch Satin Flycatcher Trumpet Manucode Streak-headed Mannikin Papuan Flowerpecker Pacific Swallow Pale White-eye Myna ssp? Singing Starling		Islands of the Northern Torres Strait - Boigu, Saibai & Darnley The three islands of Boigu, Saibai and Darnley all lie close to New Guinea in Australian territory. Their close proximity to New Guinea means these Islands are some of the most exciting birding locations in Australia. The islands are also amongst the remotest in Australia, access is difficult and there is very limited accommodation making visits for more than one day very difficult. Our tours recognise this and we reside aboard our vessel offshore for 8 days, using our 5m tender to get ashore each day. Beach Stone-curlew

These rarely visited islands contain some of Australia’s hardest to see birds and the best time to visit these islands is like elsewhere, early morning and late afternoon. Being moored close to shore allows us to be on the island and birding at dawn, returning to the boat for breakfast, lunch and evening meal.
Our tours are also held in Oct/Nov and Feb, peak time for birds moving south towards New Guinea and northern Australia.

Previously on these islands we have seen: Papuan Flowerpecker, Gurney’s Eagle, Collared Imperial Pigeon and Singing Starling.

Biogu interior

TOUR DATES 11th Nov to 18th Nov 2008 $3500 (FULL) WET SEASON Feb 09 3 places left $3500 Dates to be announced

Itinerary

We board the San Miguel early on day 1 from the Horn Island Jetty. After we familiarise ourselves with the boat we depart for Boigu Island keeping a look out along the way for terns, boobies and migrating swifts. About 6hrs later we’ll arrive at Boigu Island, anchor and go ashore. Spend the afternoon walking the village and ocean front before returning to the San Miguel for our evening meal.

San Miguel is air conditioned and all meals once on board are supplied. Alcohol can be purchased on both Horn Is and nearby Thursday Island. Mozzies are always present on all islands and you will need to take appropriate precautions. Oct/Nov is the end of the dry season and they will not be too bad but we will be visiting mangrove areas. Wet Season (Feb) – Mozzies are guarenteed. We highly recommend undertaking a series of Japanese Encephalitis vaccinations prior to coming along. Bring: Camera, Water bottle, insect repellant, sunscreen, binoculars, field guide, long sleeves and long pants. It will be hot!

Collared Imperial-Pigeon

Day 2. After a light breakfast we'll be on the island at dawn and begin to explore the island. We’ll explore the village, runway, mangrove areas and wetlands as well as return to the boat for meals during the day. Target birds: Papuan Flowerpecker and Singing Starling.

Day 3. Follow up on any sightings from yesterday, continue to explore the island and take the tender up the river that dissect the island to a camping area on the far side of the island. Depart for Saibai.

Singing Starling

Day 4. Up early and on the island at dawn to explore the village and coastal strip. Spend the afternoon exploring the wetlands, runway and explore deeper into the island before returning to the San Miguel for dinner. Target Bird: Collared Imperial Pigeon.

Day 5. A full day birding on Saibai. Visiting a remote beach on western end of the island and the creek where we have twice before seen Gurney’s Eagle.

Day 6. Travel to Darnley. A we head east we’ll again see lots of terns species before arriving on Darnley in time to see Pale White-eye.

Day 7. A full day to explore Darnley

Day 8. An early morning departure with a brief stop at Coconut Island before arriving late afternoon back at Horn Island.

Local Saibai children

Papuan Flowerpecker