GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info

Transcription

1 Limosa GUIDED BIRDING & WILDLIFE TOURS SINCE 1985 Tour Info Canada Point Pelee, Algonquin & Niagara Falls It s not all wonderful warblers on this tour... the stunning Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is another North American migrant that takes some beating in the good-looking stakes! Chris Charlesworth 2014 Tuesday 6th - Saturday 17th May LEADER Chris Charlesworth as guide A 12-day, small group birdwatching tour to eastern Canada, focusing on some of the most spectacular spring bird migration anywhere in North America - at famous Point Pelee, on America s Great Lakes. Mix in some cracking northern birding amid the scenic boreal forests and lakes of beautiful Algonquin National Park, and a closing visit to awe-inspiring Niagara Falls, for one terrific tour. North America s premier migration hotspot in spring Famous Point Pelee and the shores of Lake Erie Masses of eastern North American migrants Trees can be dripping with a whole rainbow of colourful passerines Blackburnian, Golden-winged and Cerulean possible among up to 30 species of warbler 3 nights in beautiful Algonquin Provincial Park for boreal forest birds Spruce and Ruffed Grouse, Grey Jay, Black-backed Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak American Woodcock, Upland Sandpiper and Eastern Bluebird Concludes with an overnight stay at Niagara Falls (can also be good for migrants!) Small group tour, limited to a maximum of 8 participants plus guide Expertly led by Limosa s North America specialist, Canadian Chris Charlesworth LIMOSA, West End Farmhouse, Chapelfield, Stalham, Norfolk NR12 9EJ (UK) TEL: +44 (0) / 4 info@limosaholidays.co.uk WEB: limosaholidays.co.uk

2 Tour Overview Few places in the world can rival the excitement of birding at Point Pelee in spring. Situated on the north shore of Lake Erie, the most southerly of America s Great Lakes, this small forested spit of land jutting into the lake is a vital landfall for migrating passerines, raptors and waterbirds as they head north to their Canadian breeding grounds. Crowds of brilliantly-coloured warblers - comprising Blackburnian, Yellow, Magnolia, Bay-breasted, Canada and up to 25 other varieties - dart from tree to tree, wrens, thrushes and thrashers hide in piles of brush, and stunning Red-headed Woodpeckers swoop overhead. Heightened by the air of expectancy that greets each new dawn, Pelee s heady mix of song, colour and ceaseless activity is one of those truly unforgettable birding experiences that will forever linger in the memory. While the frequent abundance of easily seen birds has made Pelee arguably the most famous of migration hotspots in all North America, there are other outstanding sites beside the shores of Lake Erie. Our visits to Rondeau and Long Point, for example, can be just as rewarding during spring migration - with the bonus of having a broad range of nesting species, too. Sandhill Cranes stride across the marshes, Bald Eagles sail over from their lakeside eyrie, and the woodlands hold small populations of scarce breeding warblers such as Prothonotary, Hooded, Blue-winged, Golden-winged and Cerulean. With luck, we may also find a roosting Eastern Screech Owl or perhaps a migrant Whip-poor-will passing the daylight hours quietly on the ground. But all that is to come for our tour begins to the north, in scenic Algonquin Provincial Park. This 3000 square mile wilderness is prime habitat for boreal birds such as Grey Jay, Black-backed Woodpecker and Spruce Grouse. Although elusive, the latter can be so ridiculously tame it will practically stand on your toecaps! It s here we will listen for the low, chest-beating rumble of Ruffed Grouse and hope to witness the comical displays of American Woodcock. Algonquin is also a terrific place to look for mammals. Moose, American Beaver and even American Black Bear are possible. And as we journey on through grasslands to the south, the likes of Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink and Eastern Bluebird are among a range of localised birds we re unlikely to see elsewhere. Add a final overnight stay at a characterful old inn close to the roaring waters of mighty Niagara Falls and we think you ll find this springtime holiday to Canada is hard to beat. Limosa has been operating a wide-ranging programme of bird tours to North America since Since earning his Limosa wings a decade ago, Canadian guide Chris Charlesworth has led most of our tours across the pond. This will be Limosa s ninth visit to Point Pelee in May, and our sixth trip there with Chris as guide. Outline Itinerary Day 1: Days 2-3: Days 4-5: Days 6-9: Day 10: Day 11: Day 12: Fly London-Toronto. Algonquin (3 nts) Algonquin Provincial Park South via grasslands to Long Point, on the shores of Lake Erie. Simcoe (2 nts) Point Pelee and Rondeau Provincial Park. Leamington (4 nts) Point Pelee to Niagara Falls. Night Niagara Niagara. Evening flight Toronto-London Arrival in London 2 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

3 Tour Itinerary Days 1-3 FLY TORONTO, ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK Our holiday begins with a flight from London to Toronto. Afternoon arrival in Toronto, where Chris will be waiting to welcome us, ready for the drive north to Algonquin Provincial Park. Our accommodation is located just outside the west entrance to the park, by beautiful Oxtongue Lake. Algonquin is breathtakingly beautiful at any time of the year. With its extensive mixed conifer and deciduous forests, pristine lakes and serene bogs, the park is home to many forms of wildlife. Moose, American Beaver, Woodchuck, American Red Squirrel and Eastern Chipmunk are frequently around and, with luck we could also encounter the much more secretive American Black Bear, a River Otter or perhaps an American Marten. Immaculate Great Northern Divers (or Common Loons, as they re called on this side of the Pond ) drift through the morning mist on pine-fringed lakes, and the equally stunning Magnolia Warbler will also be at its very best, singing on territory. We will walk the woodland trails looking for boreal forest specialities such as White-winged and Common Crossbills, Evening Grosbeak, Black-backed Woodpecker and Grey Jay. It s here we will listen for the peculiar low rumble of the Ruffed Grouse as the solitary males perform their chest-beating display beneath the bushes. The slightly smaller Spruce Grouse also nests in Algonquin s forests. Once found, these handsome birds will often allow approach to within just a few feet, earning them the nickname of Fool s Hen. In the evening, we can try for American Woodcock; with their comical beeping display, they re surely amongst the strangest of all North America s night-birds! A sizeable Grey Wolf population also survives at Algonquin but the wilderness here is vast and we would have to be very fortunate to see one. Three nights Algonquin Days 4-5 SOUTHERN GRASSLANDS AND LONG POINT We make an early start from Oxtongue Lake today so as to allow time to visit some excellent remnant grasslands on our way south to the coast. Along the road, we will hope to bump in to a Wild Turkey or two, while our previous visits to the grasslands have produced Upland Sandpiper, Loggerhead Shrike, Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark, along with various sparrows. This is also a good area for Eastern Bluebirds, which breed in the many trackside nestboxes, and we are likely to see our only Ospreys, with several pairs nesting here beside one favoured stretch of road. With a bit of luck, we might possibly find the elusive Sedge Wren, too. After lunch we continue south and west to our next hotel, at Simcoe, which lies within a short drive of the finger-like projection that is Long Point Provincial Park, on the nearby shores of Lake Erie. Long Point is a major staging ground for migrating waterbirds and passerines. We should experience our first taste of spring warbler migration here, perhaps finding such gems as Cerulean, Prairie, Hooded and Goldenwinged Warblers, or the furtive Louisiana Waterthrush. In fact, the area itself hosts more than twenty-five species of nesting warblers! Other northbound migrants can be numerous too and we could find an array of vireos - Blue-headed, Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, Philadelphia and Warbling are all possible - whilst soft rustlings in the leaf litter may betray secretive Swainson s and Grey-cheeked Thrushes, a Veery or perhaps a creeping Ovenbird, with its distinctive orange crown-patch. After dusk, we have an opportunity to try for Whip-poor-wills and Eastern Screech Owl, which nest in nearby woodland. With its fine mix of woodland, scrub and wetlands, this area is particularly good for marshland birds and we have a chance of finding shy Least and American Bitterns, Virginia Rail and the whinnying Sora, with 3 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

4 its lime-yellow bill and legs. Northern Harriers patrol the swamps, which are also host to Sandhill Crane and we could well see the majestic Bald Eagle. Two nights Simcoe Days 6-9 RONDEAU PROVINCIAL PARK & POINT PELEE NATIONAL PARK We depart early for the drive west along the lake to Leamington, which will be our home for the next four nights. Our hotel is located within an easy drive of Point Pelee National Park and is the perfect base for a comprehensive look at the wider Pelee area during our stay. On our way from Simcoe to Leamington, we will take the opportunity to visit the promontory of land that makes up Rondeau Provincial Park. Protecting one of the largest and most beautiful tracts of Carolinean (eastern deciduous) forest left in Canada, it s the breeding stronghold for the country s few remaining Prothonotary Warblers, as well as being a good spot for Hooded Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch. The appealing Tufted Titmouse is another possibility, occurring here at the northern limit of its range. However, the real beauty of Rondeau is the feeling of solitude as it attracts far fewer birders than Pelee. A feeding station in the park is attractive to a range of typical North American backyard birds, including such treats as Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, American Goldfinch, Blackcapped Chickadee, Chipping Sparrow and, with luck, the diminutive Ruby-throated Hummingbird. On reaching Point Pelee, our daily plan for the area will depend on bird activity at the time. But a typical morning will consist of breakfast before sunrise and an early start into the park, where we board a tram to the southern point. From there we ll meander back along the trails to the visitor centre, searching for migrants along the way. Under ideal conditions, many of the birds will, quite literally, be walking about our feet as they feed up before continuing on their way! So great is the variety that we have good chances of seeing up to a hundred species in a day - among them some of North America s most stunning avian gems. If there has been a major fall, we will doubtless find the whole day slipping away as we continue to enjoy the spectacle. It s almost impossible to convey the amazing array of birds that can occur without producing a lengthy list. Just imagine the likes of dazzling Yellow, Chestnut-sided and fiery-faced Blackburnian Warblers in the canopy, flitting restlessly past more sedate Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and agitated parties of noisy Blue Jays. Animated Black-and-white Warblers compete for trunk-space with Red-breasted Nuthatches, while colourful Baltimore and Orchard Orioles move furtively through the foliage. On top of all this, there ll be a wealth of other beautiful and unfamiliar birds to enjoy, including Eastern Phoebe, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, American Robin and many more. Even on the quietest days, there is likely to be more than enough to keep us happy for the morning, before moving on to other habitats in the afternoon. Point Pelee has an extensive area of wetlands on its eastern side, with a series of well-marked trails and boardwalks to ensure that we have ample opportunity to explore them to the full. Wood Duck, Bluewinged Teal and a good variety of North American herons await. Wader passage at nearby Hillman Marsh can produce good numbers too, with chances to get to grips with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, as well as Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitcher and perhaps the odd surprise like a Stilt Sandpiper. Although we are in the heart of the continent, at Pelee we are effectively on a coastline and this presents the unusual opportunity to indulge in a spot of sea-watching! Red-breasted Mergansers and Doublecrested Cormorant can be numerous and we should have opportunities to compare Forster s and Common Terns. The possibility of seeing both Greater and Lesser Scaup adds to the coastal illusion... until a party of passing Turkey Vultures jolts us back to reality! Nights at Leamington. 4 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

5 Day 10 POINT PELEE TO NIAGARA FALLS We will endeavour to drag ourselves away from Pelee quite early today... unless there is a need to visit the Point or Hillman Marsh just one last time! On our way back east towards Niagara Falls, we may call in again at Rondeau for any species that we may have missed on our earlier visit, or just to see it again. We will aim to arrive at Niagara Falls early evening, where our charming old world accommodation is situated within a short walk (or easy drive) of this wonder of the natural world. By day, the grace and beauty of the Falls are punctuated by rainbows arching through the sunny skies, while at night a myriad coloured lights illuminate the cascading waters. Night Niagara Falls Days NIAGARA, RETURN TO TORONTO & LONDON On our last visit to Niagara, we made a chance stop for Carolina Wren... and encountered an unexpected fall of warblers in a park. There were many Magnolia, Palm, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green Warblers; Ovenbirds crept about on the ground; American Redstarts, Northern Parulas and Common Yellowthroats appeared too, as did the group s only Red-eyed Vireo and Bay-breasted Warbler for the trip, the latter a stunning male! Although we can t promise such a grand finale again, spring migration in eastern Canada is full of surprises - and Niagara s thundering waters are at least guaranteed to be there! Leaving Niagara, we return to Toronto in good time to catch our overnight flight home to London, arriving there on Day 12, where our tour concludes. Trip Information Group Size 8 participants & 1 leader What To Expect To make the most of the migration and enjoy this holiday to the full, be prepared for some early starts and late finishes (optional) on this tour. Birds: species Mammals: Up to 15 species Accommodation At Algonquin, we stay in comfortable well-equipped resort cottages set in woodland close by scenic Oxtongue Lake. Elsewhere, we use comfortable North American-style hotels of good general standard. All rooms are en suite. Meals All main meals are included in the tour price. Food is good, varied and plentiful. As is the norm in North America, evening meals will usually be taken at a local restaurant as most hotels lack in-house restaurant facilities. Continental-style hotel breakfasts will be taken where these are available. Lunches will usually be picnics. Walking The walking effort is easy. Short walks over easy terrain, often along boardwalks and wellmarked trails. Weather In the Great Lakes region of southern Canada, spring is generally brief but bright and mild, with an average of 7 hours of sun a day and temperatures typically in the range of 7-17C (45-63F). Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year, so be prepared for the possibility of some wet weather. 5 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

6 Flights We use the scheduled services of Air Canada, British Airways or similar, from London-Toronto return. Ground Transport By air-conditioned minibus or people-carrier. Photos Some good incidental photographic opportunities - warblers and other migrant passerines can be very close at times. Tour Cost 2014 (12 days): 2995 (inc flights from London) Land only cost: 2445 Deposit: 400 Single Supp: 460 Cost includes Scheduled flights London-Toronto return, all accommodation and main meals (including tips for restaurant service; 15-20% expected in N America), minibus transport, entry fees and permits at the parks, airport taxes, map, bird checklist and services of the leader/s. Cost excludes Insurance, drinks & other items of a personal nature. About Your Guides Chris Charlesworth Canadian-born Chris began birding at the age of ten, with a passion for birds that has remained with him and ultimately inspired him to guide birding tours. He lives at Kelowna in British Columbia and has travelled and birded widely across his Canada and the USA. In fact, he has now led most of Limosa s tours across the pond, including those to Arizona, California, Oregon, Texas, Ontario, the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver Island. Chris derives great pleasure from sharing his experience on tour and has developed quite a following among Limosa travellers. His knowledge of North America s birds and their calls is excellent; with a little coaxing, he may even be persuaded to demonstrate his repertoire of owl imitations on tour, said to be quite entertaining! Since earning his wings with Limosa in the early noughties, Chris has led almost all of our Canadian tours, including five of our previous trips to Point Pelee. Our 2014 Point Pelee, Algonquin & Niagara tour will be his sixth visit there for Limosa. What You Say "A really enjoyable trip. I was slightly worried beforehand that we were a small party. But in the end this worked to our advantage, with the spacious vehicle and undivided attention from Chris who was excellent at spotting and pointing out the birds. I shall get in touch soon to discuss further trips to North America with you... Geoffrey Field, Canada Pelee tour... Chris is really outstanding - an excellent leader in all respects... Maggie Hook, Canada Pelee tour 6 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

7 "The small group gave the participants even more attention - was an excellent arrangement... Hugh & Bruna Clark, Canada Pelee tour Limosa Loyalty Discount We are proud of the number of loyal customers who travel regularly with us. As our way of saying thank you, we offer a Frequent Travel Discount. Under the scheme, everyone who takes four trips with us is entitled to claim a 5% discount on their fifth trip *1. Alternatively, you can opt to save your discounts up and carry them forward to claim a 10% discount on your 10th trip. The choice is yours, but please remember to request your discount at time of booking! *1 Please note: This offer applies to the basic tour cost only and excludes certain commission-based trips, extras such as additional flights, private extensions and cancellations. Discounts cannot be given in lieu of tour deposits or off the cost of single room supplements. How to Book You can make a booking by one of three easy methods, but if you experience any problems, please feel free to contact the office. Be sure to read our Booking Conditions and General Information found at the back of our current brochure or on our website - Book Online: You can book swiftly and securely online via our website: Book by Post: Our brochures contain a Booking Form, but you can also download a copy from our website - Please complete both sides of the form, remembering to sign and date the section at the bottom of the second page. Send this to us, together with the appropriate Booking Deposit (see below). Telephone bookings: Telephone bookings will be accepted on a provisional basis to allow time for your Booking Form and deposit to reach us by mail. We will hold provisional reservations for up to 14 days pending receipt of booking form, after which time any unconfirmed space will be released. Payments Deposits: The amount of deposit per person is shown above. We accept payment by cheque (drawn on a UK bank in GB Pounds Sterling), by BACS or internet banking (please ask us for our bank details), and by debit card. We also accept most major credit cards (not AmEx). Final Balance: Full payment of the balance is due not later than 12 weeks prior to departure (occasionally longer in the case of some tours such as cruises or those involving rail travel). We will send you an invoice at about this time indicating the balance. We accept payment for final balances by cheque or debit card. Payment of the balance can also be by credit card with a 2% commission charge for the latter (see below). Please ask for our bank details if you prefer to transfer your payment direct to our bank account. Card Charges: Due to escalating credit card charges we are unable to absorb the cost of these. We will not charge for payment of the initial booking deposit (amount as indicated in the Tour Cost section, above), but will make a 2% commission charge on any balances or subsequent payments (e.g. interim flight deposits) paid by credit card. We do not charge commission on payments made by debit card or by cheque or direct to bank. 7 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

8 Late Bookings: In order for us to guarantee your airline seats, hotels etc., full payment is required at time of booking for all late bookings (i.e. bookings made within 12 weeks of departure). When to Book This is one of the most Frequently Asked Questions - the short answer is as early as possible! Accommodation and flights are much more easily secured well in advance and there is nothing more frustrating than to know that on paper space is still available on the tour but that hotels and/or flights are full. To encourage early booking therefore, we are pleased to offer an Early Booking Discount - see our current brochure or website for details. Our tours are limited to small group sizes, so they can fill up quickly - sometimes even before our new brochure comes out! It's not unusual to find trips are fully booked around four to six months in advance. Single rooms in particular can often be in short supply and among the first to go, so do try to plan well ahead if you definitely require one of these. Last-minute bookings: We inevitably receive a few unexpected late cancellations over the course of a season so it is always worth enquiring about vacancies on any tour - even for those departing in just a few weeks time! Other Things You Need To Know Passports & Visas All participants must be in possession of a valid passport. For UK passport holders, your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. Although no additional period of validity beyond this is required, when travelling anywhere overseas we always recommend that your passport has a minimum of 6 months left to run after your intended date of return home in case of unforeseen delay. VISA NOT REQUIRED by UK passport holders for this tour. Holders of non-uk passports should contact their nearest Canadian embassy or consulate to enquire whether or not they require a visa. If a visa is required, you will need to apply locally. If the embassy or consulate requires you to provide a letter confirming that you are booked on an all-inclusive tour, please contact our office and we will be happy to provide one. Good advice for travel to Canada is available at The World Travel Guide website - Health & Vaccinations Compulsory vaccinations: None. Recommended vaccinations: For travel everywhere (even within the UK) we recommend you check you are up-to-date with protection against tetanus, polio and hepatitis A. The above information, together with that contained within our Travel Information sheets (sent to everyone who books), outlines health requirements for this tour. Please note that these details are given for guidance only - and are only for certain diseases - and you must consult your doctor in good time prior to travel as to what immunisations (if any) are needed for your chosen holiday. 8 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

9 For full and up-to-date health information we urge everyone to consult The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website prior to booking any overseas holiday. NaTHNaC is funded by the UK Government s Health Protection Agency and provides health information for both health professionals and travellers, with information compiled by its own clinical and scientific team. You can search for your individual country requirements, which are updated regularly. Your Safety & Travel Advice An unavoidable aspect of travelling abroad nowadays is the threat it may pose to your safety and security. The UK s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) encourages British nationals to be better prepared for their overseas trips with a view to avoiding common travelling traumas, risks and dangers. In order for you to assess and protect against any risks in your chosen destination it is strongly recommended that you refer to the relevant FCO Travel Advice both prior to booking and regularly before you travel. It is standard Limosa policy for our office to send a copy of the relevant FCO Travel Advice about the tour to all participants along with their Final Letter (2-4 weeks prior to the trip). Further useful information on visas, health, etc., can be found at the World Travel Guide website: Know Before You Go - staying safe and healthy abroad - is a travel safety campaign run by the FCO, and another useful resource. Go to: Travel Insurance Good travel insurance is essential before setting off on any overseas trip. In common with all responsible tour operators, it is a condition of booking that all clients are fully and adequately insured before travelling overseas with us. Your travel insurance should cover against cancellation, curtailment, missed departure, delay, personal accident, death, loss of baggage and valuables (see note below), personal liability and legal expenses. Most importantly, your insurance must cover you fully in respect of medical care and repatriation should you become too ill to continue with the tour, including the cost of emergency evacuation by helicopter or air ambulance should this be necessary. Note that passenger liability insurance covering the transportation that we hire, particularly in Third World countries, may be inadequate; it is therefore important that your insurance cover includes sufficient provision for your dependents in the event of an accident. We recommend that you obtain travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your holiday to ensure you are protected right from the word go in the event of unexpected cancellation prior to departure due to accident or illness. You must inform your insurers of any pre-existing medical conditions (including those of persons not necessarily travelling but upon whom your holiday may depend) that may require treatment during a period of overseas travel or might cause you to cancel the trip. Once you have arranged your insurance, please be sure to send us the following essential details: name and contact details of your insurance provider, your policy number, expiry date and your insurers 24hr Emergency Assistance number. Important Things to Note! Be aware that Travel Insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover for valuable optical equipment, which is often best protected under your own household insurance policy. If in doubt ask your insurers for advice prior to travel. 9 Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see:

10 Most travel insurance policies limit the amount of cover, typically up to a maximum tour cost of 5000 per person. If the tour you are booking exceeds this amount, additional cover can usually be provided upon payment of additional premium. We recommend all travellers check their individual policy limit to ensure the full cost of their holiday is covered. Arranging Your Insurance: due to UK Government legislation, under Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulations, we are not allowed to offer or recommend travel related insurance to customers. Premiums can vary widely according to your age, needs, health, choice of destination and other factors, while many people nowadays have Annual Travel Insurance cover. For these reasons, we leave you free to shop around and pick your own policy, one best suited to your own individual needs. General Information Our website gives easy access to detailed tour itineraries (Tour Info Packs), trip reports, trip photos and the latest Limosa News. Special Diets & Other Requests We pass on all such requests to the airlines, hotels and other suppliers, and do our best to ensure (but of course cannot guarantee) that your needs will be met. Please be sure to tell us about these (in as much detail as possible) at the time of booking, to allow good time to make the necessary arrangements. Smoking Almost all of our clients prefer a smoke-free environment. For the enjoyment and comfort of all, we ask that smokers refrain from smoking in proximity to the group and respect our NO SMOKING policy in the vehicle, at meal times and when watching wildlife. Any Questions? If you have any questions at any time, you ll find our office staff friendly, efficient, approachable - and just a phone call away, eager to assist you in every way. Our office is open hrs Mon-Fri, and can also be reached by fax and . In the event we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answerphone (24 hrs) and our office will contact you as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our tours. We do hope that you will be able to join us - and we look forward to hearing from you again! CK Any questions? Please call: +44 (0) / Or see: