Amherst Island, Ontario and Cape Vincent, New York
February 2-5, 2017

Get ready for some of the best birding that winter has to offer! You will feel a step closer to arctic birding on this three-day excursion, as we explore the area where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River. This pastoral setting plays host to a large concentration of wintering and staging birds, most notably irruptive raptor species. Owls will take center stage on this tour, with 8 species possible! Amherst Island has a long history of amazing numbers of owls, including Saw-whet Owls, Long-eared Owls, Snowy Owls and rarer species like Boreal Owl and Great Gray Owl. We will search for other winter birds of prey around Ottawa and on Wolfe Island, such as highly variable Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, Bald Eagles, Short-eared Owls, and Snowy Owls. We may even cross paths with a Gyrfalcon or Northern Hawk-Owl. The Gray Partridge, a local specialty, is a distinct possibility. We will also appreciate the many other wintering birds in the area. which may include a large number of waterfowl species, Northern Shrikes, uncommon winter finches (Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill, and Pine Grosbeak), Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, and much more!

Day One: Arrive at the hotel in Ottawa at any point during the day. We will meet for an introductory dinner and a chance to get acquainted and discuss the tour’s possibilities. Overnight – Ottawa, ON.

Day Two: We’ll get out early in our search for the area’s specialties, including any arctic owls that may be around and boreal birds like Black-backed Woodpecker and Bohemian Waxwing. Patches of open water sometimes harbor a stray Barrow’s Goldeneye, and we’ll also make an effort for the very localized and declining Gray Partridge. Agricultural areas often harbor a Snowy Owl and some local feeders can attract numbers of Common Redpolls (and the hope of a rare Hoary Redpoll), along with an attendant Merlin. As the afternoon wanes, we’ll head for Gananoque on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Overnight – Gananoque, ON.

Day Three: Our day will be spent birding the marvelous habitats of Amherst Island. A trek through the famous Owl Woods may turn up some roosting owls, with Northern Saw-whet, Long-eared, and Barred Owl most likely. The afternoon will find us traveling the pastoral roads of the island, scanning fields and woodlots for Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Harriers, and the occasional Northern Shrike. Snowy Owls may make an appearance, and we’ll hope for Short-eared Owls coursing and barking the day’s fading light. A return to Gananoque will conclude with a relaxing dinner and a review of our sightings. Overnight – Gananoque, ON.

Day Four: We’ll have an early breakfast before heading out to the extensive fields of Wolfe Island for more birding. We will concentrate on species we may have missed and the hawks and owls familiar to this landscape. Flocks of Snow Buntings sometimes form a “cloud” as they move from spot to spot in the fields. We’ll depart the island at noon, and return to the inn for lunch and the conclusion of the tour around 2:00 p.m.

Tour Details

This tour includes three nights of accommodations at a hotel and comfortable inn. Rooms are furnished with either one or two queen-size beds. All meals, from dinner on Day One to lunch on Day Four, are included, as well as the cost of the ferry passage to Amherst Island.

Also included are professional guide services for the duration of the tour. Brett M. Ewald will be the tour leader on this exciting excursion. As well as being an accomplished birder, naturalist, and biologist, Brett has been involved in a number of research projects studying birds of prey, and also possesses an intimate understanding of winter birding in the Northeast. He looks forward to sharing the wonders of Amherst Island and Cape Vincent with you!

Besides the remarkable birding, this mostly rural region is known for its picturesque landscapes and historic sites, not to mention the beauty of the St. Lawrence River.

Tour Pricing
Prices listed are per person, based on your level of occupancy.

• Double: $575.00 
  
• Single: $750.00
  

Terms and Conditions
Please fill out completely and sign the Extended Tours Registration Form and mail to Lakeshore Nature Tours, along with a $100.00 per person deposit. Make your check or money order payable to Lakeshore Nature Tours. Any balance due is required December 31, 2016. Confirmation and an informational packet, with finalized tour itinerary and details, will be sent upon guarantee of tour departure, based on adequate participation. A full refund of tour payments will be executed from Lakeshore Nature Tours for any cancellation resulting from inadequate participation. If the tour is full, a waiting list will be taken, and filled according to the date of registration. A $25 service fee will apply to a participant cancellation before December 31, 2016. Cancellations after December 31, 2016 will forfeit the entire $100.00 deposit. Transportation is the responsibility of the participant(s) throughout the course of the tour.