Colorado - On Display - Prairie to Pinnacle 
April 9-18, 2016. Colorado is fortunate to host the amazing mating displays of many of the country’s Grouse and Prairie Chickens. These birds are often hard to find away from the display grounds (leks), and April is the peak time to observe these “dances” We’ll cover much of Colorado is traveling to the various leks, from Lesser and Greater Prairie Chickens on the grassland plains to Greater Sage-Grouse, Gunnison Sage-Grouse, and Sharp-tailed Grouse in the higher elevations. We’ll also hope to locate the elusive Dusky Grouse and White-tailed Ptarmigan. Along the way, we’ll encounter a wide range of species, and make every effort to enjoy the full range of Colorado birdlife. Register

Northwest Ohio (Maggie Marsh and Area)
May 15-18, 2016. The anticipation of the colors and songs of spring migration is something that every birder experiences. There is probably no better place to satisfy that feeling than the shores of Lake Erie in Northwest Ohio – recently voted the number one birding site in the U.S. We’ll visit during the “Biggest Week in American Birding”, when famous sites like Magee Marsh and Ottawa NWR are inundated by waves of songbirds on their way to northern breeding grounds. Register

St. Paul Island (Alaska Pre-Tour Extension)
June 7-10, 2016.
Alaskaaaaa! Denali, Nome, and the Kenai Peninsula
June 10-22, 2016. It is best to simply say that Alaska is the ultimate in North American birding. From the sheer number and diversity of species encountered, to the seductive Asian rarities that show up on a regular basis, it is hard to beat for sheer enjoyment. Top it off with spectacular scenery, wildflowers, and sought-after mammals and you have an adventure of a lifetime. Register
Barrow (Alaska Post-Tour Extension)
June 22-25, 2016.

Sky Island Jewels - The Birds of Southeastern Arizona
July 19-30, 2016. Southeastern Arizona is often considered the premier birding location in North America, with a regional checklist of over 475 species. We will traverse desert scrubland, riparian canyons, and forested mountain ridges in our quest for this region’s special birds. The amazing diversity is highlighted by 11 species of owls, nightjars, trogons, many species of flycatchers, grassland sparrows, and much more! Most notably, we will be there at a peak time for hummingbirds, with over 10 species possible. The “Sky Island” mountains of the Santa Catalinas, Santa Ritas, Huachucas, and Chiricahuas provide an incredible range of birding opportunities, and spectacular scenery and world-renowned places like Madera Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek, and Cave Creek Canyon will be the backdrop on this unforgettable excursion! Register

Snowcaps to Whitecaps - Exploring the Pacific Northwest
August 18-27, 2016. The Olympic Peninsula of Washington hosts an incredible mix of natural beauty and great birding. Late summer is the peak time to experience an array of regional residents, fall migrants, alpine specialties and pelagic wonders. Over 170 species are likely on this trip through diverse habitats like alpine meadows, rugged beaches, and temperate rain-forest. Along the way we’ll enjoy the other delights like marmots, seals, whales, butterflies and more! Itinerary and details to follow. Register

Fundy’s Rewards – The Birds, Whales, and Beauty of Grand Manan
September 11-17, 2016. Lying off the mainland of New Brunswick in the Bay of Fundy, Grand Manan Island is the perfect confluence of songbird migration, massing seabirds, and marine mammals. Our time will be spent enjoying the birdlife of varied habitats, sorting through an incredible diversity of warblers, vireos, and shorebirds on their way south, and birds of the boreal forest and maritimes like Boreal Chickadee, Great Cormorant and Black Guillemot. We’ll be in the shadows of raptors passing overhead, such as Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, and Northern Harrier. A highlight of the tour is sure to be our boat trip into the bay, where amazing pelagic birds and whales take advantage of its bounty – we’re likely to have great looks at shearwaters, storm-petrels, jaegers, kittiwakes, and phalaropes, as well as Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, and Northern Gannet - not to mention Finback and Humpback Whales, and the strong possibility of sighting the endangered and rarest Northern Right Whale. South Polar Skua and Thick-billed Murre are just a couple of the rarities we hope to encounter. So much to see in such a wonderful island setting!!! 

Combine this trip with our tour of Monhegan Island to experience the best that autumn has to offer! Register

Caught in Monhegan’s Trap - Monhegan Island, Maine
September 18-22, 2016. This picturesque and remote island, located 12 miles off the coast of Maine, will capture you with its spell of peaceful beauty and incredible birding. Regarded as one of the best migrant traps on the East Coast, Monhegan Island will offer up an incredible range of species, from numerous warblers and other songbirds seeking a temporary oasis, to transient raptors and seabirds. An astonishing list of rarities and vagrants are also possible, with sought-after species including Northern Gannet, Northern Fulmar, shearwaters, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Merlin, Western Kingbird, Philadelphia Vireo, 20+ species of warblers, Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Lark Sparrow, and more! Monhegan has it all! Register

A Birder’s Mecca - Fall Migration at Cape May, New Jersey
October 2-6, 2016. Let yourself be overwhelmed by one of the top birding locations in the country - at the peak of migration. An amazing diversity and abundance of birdlife will be enjoyed in this beautiful and historic coastal setting, such as warblers (over 20 species possible), flycatchers, thrushes, vireos, and sparrows. We will revel in the world famous raptor migration at the prime time for Merlins and Peregrine Falcons. This tour also includes a unique back bay boat trip for close-up study of herons, egrets, and shorebirds in the salt marsh, and a visit to a seawatch to witness seabird migration. Register

A Taste of the North Country - Amherst Island and the Ottawa Area, Ontario
February 2-5, 2017. This excursion will take us a step closer to the Arctic, as we look for northerly bird species on Amherst Island and Point Peninsula. These areas, situated where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River, are phenomenal staging and wintering areas for many irruptive species. Most notable are the owls, with 8 species possible, including Boreal Owl, Northern Hawk-Owl, and Great Gray Owl. We will also observe other winter raptors, with numerous Rough-legged Hawks and a chance at Northern Goshawk. We may also encounter other specialties in this pastoral setting, such as Northern Shrike, Gray Partridge, Gyrfalcon, Pine Grosbeak and winter finches. Register

The Wonders of South Texas - The Gulf Coast and Rio Grande Valley
March 23 - April 1, 2017. Experience an amazing blend of Mexican specialties, spring migration, and coastal treasures at one of the continent’s most popular birding destinations. We’ll be there at the peak time for diversity, when an overwhelming abundance of migrants mix with the many tropical species found nowhere else in the United States. Over 200 species are likely on this trip through diverse habitats like barrier beaches, tall-grass savannah, and native palm trees, with visits to the famous sites of Santa Ana NWR, Bentsen State Park, Aransas NWR and many more. From the endangered Whooping Crane and the largest raptor migration in the United States, to the likes of Plain Chachalaca, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Hook-billed Kite, Tropical Parula, Brown Jay, and White-collared Seedeater, it’s like entering another birding world. And to top it off, one or more incredible Mexican rarities show up almost every year. Register

A Coastal Gathering - Newburyport and Cape Ann, Massachusetts
January. Indulge yourself with sea ducks, alcids, and a variety of gull species on this weekend getaway to the New England coast. We will visit places like Plum Island (Parker River NWR), Salisbury Beach, Newburyport Harbor, Rockport, and Gloucester in searching for specialties like Northern Gannet, Harlequin Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common and King Eider, Black-headed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, white-winged gulls, Black Guillemot, Thick-billed Murre, Snowy Owl, Short-eared Owl, Purple Sandpiper, “Ipswich” Savannah Sparrow, and more! Harbor Seals are also present at this time of year.

Masters of the Air - Raptor Migration at Braddock Bay and Derby Hill, New York
April. Experience the majesty of migrating birds of prey at the premier spring hawkwatching site in Eastern North America! You will have the chance to view hundreds or even thousands of raptors, with over 15 species possible in a single day! This tour is timed to capture the spectacle of thousands of Broad-winged Hawks “kettling” past Braddock Bay, as well as the peak movements of Ospreys, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Golden Eagles, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, and more. Learn the dynamics of this amazing flight and the skills needed to identify the many species passing through. We will also look for roosting Northern Saw-whet Owls and Long-eared Owls in the area.

Feathered Jewels - Spring Migration at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario
May. Marvel at the beauty of countless songbirds at Canada’s incomparable birding hotspot. This tour is timed to capture the peak of warbler and other songbird migration, when the trees can be “dripping” with birds making their way north. Projecting southward into Lake Erie, this location is the first land the birds encounter after crossing the lake, and an incredible diversity can be found in this small area, with rarities showing up on a regular basis. Forty-two species of warblers have been recorded in the park alone! We will explore several different habitats in searching for a variety of birds, as well as visiting other migrant hotspots in this area.

Hooked on Shorebirds - Cape May, New Jersey and Bombay Hook, Delaware 
May. An amazing 30+ species of shorebirds are possible on this excursion to the Delaware Bayshore - the most important staging area for migrant shorebirds in eastern North America. We will visit a number of locations, including renowned Bombay Hook, in searching for southern specialties like American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and American Oystercatcher, as well as uncommon migrants like godwits, phalaropes, Ruff, and Curlew Sandpiper. Along the way, we will encounter birds of the marshes like rails, herons, egrets, gulls, terns, and sparrows, and also search for migrant songbirds and raptors. This area has hosted Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Reddish Egret, and North America's first record of Whiskered Tern!

The Maine Event - Birding the Coast from Bar Harbor to the Bay of Fundy
June. From the highest peak on the Atlantic seaboard to a remote island in the Bay of Fundy, immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind birding adventure. We will visit Machias Seal Island to observe hundreds of nesting Atlantic Puffins from just a few feet away, as well as other seabirds, such as Common Murres, Razorbills, Arctic Terns, and more!!! Scan the open waters of the ocean for shearwaters and petrels amidst feeding whales and seals on a whale watching cruise out of Bar Harbor. View the fabulous rocky Maine coast from the top of Cadillac Mt., after searching for nesting thrushes, vireos, and warblers in Acadia National Park. Enjoy a relaxing and scenic sunset dinner cruise to the Cranberry Isles in Great Harbor. Look for boreal species, marshbirds, and nesting warblers at Moosehorn NWR and beautiful West Quoddy Head - the easternmost point in the U.S.

The Peak of Boreal Birding - New York’s Adirondack Park
June. Spectacular mountaintop views, spruce-tamarac bogs, and boreal species are just some of the things that make the Adirondacks such a unique birding experience. We will visit a number of top birding locations and habitats in this wild and natural setting, in searching for specialties like Bicknell’s Thrush, Black-backed Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, and Spruce Grouse. We’ll also encounter a wide range of other species, including the likes of Common Raven, Barred Owl, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, many species of warblers, Pine Siskin, and Evening Grosbeak. 

In Plane View - Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, New York
August. Discover the wonders of shorebirds (over 30 species posssible), wading birds, migrating songbirds, and more in the shadows J.F.K. International Airport and New York City. This oasis, situated in New York Harbor, is a favorite site of birders and host to numerous rare and accidental sightings (Rufous-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Little Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper). We will also enjoy the large number of uncommon or southern species that regularly occur in this area, such as Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Tricolored Heron, Piping Plover, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, godwits, phalaropes, American Avocet, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Boat-tailed Grackle, and more! Visits to nearby hotspots on the shores of Long Island will add to the phenomenal diversity of species observed.

A Wave of Waterbirds - Waterfowl and Seabird Migration Workshop at Hamlin Beach, New York 
November. Every fall, over 300,000 loons, grebes, swans, geese, ducks, jaegers, gulls, and terns migrate along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Hamlin Beach State Park, designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy, is the premier location for observing this spectacle. This tour is timed to capture the peak of diversity, with over 20 species of ducks present. Peak movements of specialties like Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Brant, and scoters are possible, along with Red-throated Loons, Red-necked Grebes, jaegers, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Little Gulls, and much more. Learn identification techniques and the dynamics of the migration. Winter finches and other songbirds are also drawn to the habitat within the park. 

River of Gulls - Birding Niagara Falls and the River, New York and Ontario
December. The Niagara River is largely regarded as the premier location in North America for observing a diversity of gull species. Fourteen species have been seen in a single day during this season. We are likely to encounter over 10 of these, with Black-legged Kittiwake, Little Gull, California Gull, Thayer’s Gull and Sabine’s Gull distinct possibilities. We will also observe a number of waterfowl and seabirds species that associate with the river, and rare visitors like Harlequin Duck, Snowy Owl, and Bohemian Waxwing may also be present.

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For more information, call, email or write:

12398 Platten Road
Lyndonville, NY 14098
(716) 628-8226
BMEwald@LakeshoreNatureTours.com