Trekabout Photography Workshops

8 Day ‘Bowra Birding and Bird Photography Experience” with Nature/Wildlife Photographer Michael Snedic and Birding Guide Barry Davies
FIRST WORKSHOP BOOKED IN RECORD TIME!!
NEW 2012 WORKSHOP DATES: July 26th to August 2nd 2012

Michael Snedic 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” of Brisbane. In this workshop, Barry’s immense birding experience will help participants find and identify numerous species of birds by studying their behaviour, habits and habitat. Michael’s experience as a leading bird/wildlife photographer and tutor will also be utilised to help you improve your bird photography, including tuition on birds in flight, composition, correct exposure, focal points and much more. The majority of the trip will be spent at one of Queensland’s birding hotspots, Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, where there are lots of different habitats, and therefore birds, to locate and photograph. Below is some information on Bowra Station, courtesy of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy website:
Location:
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).

Ecosystems:
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.

• 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
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. Overnight at St.George on the Balonne River.
(L) Accommodation: Pelican Park Caravan Park Cabins

Day 2
St George to Cunnamulla (310 km).
7.00 am start. Again occasional stops for birding and photography 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.
Evening session: Identifying birds and bird calls with Barry.
(B, L, D) Accommodation: Bowra shearers’ quarters.



Day 3
Bowra
Morning – Finding and identifying birds in the field with Barry.
Afternoon – How to photograph birds in flight with Michael, followed by time to practice.
Evening – Audio-visual on bird photography with Michael
(B, L, D)

Day 4
Bowra
Early morning- capturing the first light.
Morning – Stony Mulga country, Bowra’s ultimate birding challenge. Find and identify the most iconic birds, Hall’s Babbler and the Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush and plan strategies for photographing them later in the week.
Afternoon – Getting in close, using bird hides and camouflage to get the best possible pictures. Theory and practice.
Evening – Dinner in Cunnamula with spotlighting on the journey to and from town.
(B, L)

Day 5
Bowra
Morning – Visit some of Bowra’s waterholes and other habitats for more photographic opportunities.
Afternoon – Your choice. Decide where you want to go or what you want to photograph and Barry and Michael will assist you, or have a rest.
Evening – Free time to relax and unwind
(B, L, D)

Day 6
Bowra
Morning – ‘The Stony Mulga Country photographic challenge’ – put your plan from Day 4 in to action and attempt to photograph the most allusive birds on Bowra.
Afternoon – Q and A – the opportunity to ask more questions about photographic techniques and birds followed by a field session.
Evening – A review of some of the participant’s best bird images of the week
(B, L, D)

Day 7
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
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 SF before crossing the Great Divide to head into Brisbane late afternoon.
(B, L) Accommodation: Own arrangements.

What is included:
Travel in air-conditioned 4WD vehicle/s 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, D. All other meals will be your responsibility and will be at places where cafés, restaurants or roadhouses are available. 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:

• 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)
• Most meals (except where indicated)
• Expert birding and photography tuition from Barry and Michael
• Various audio-visuals including review of bird images taken throughout the tour

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