Saturday, January 14: Today, we will search for a variety of owl species at RN de Pointe-Yamachiche, as well as sites near Louiseville. We will search for Northern Saw-whet, Long-eared, Short-eared, Barred and Great Horned. We will also keep our eyes peeled for the rare Boreal Owl which could be migrating through/staging at this time! Many other bird species are likely to be enjoyed during this tour, including hawks, falcons, sparrows, finches and more!
Guarantees: With birds, there are never guarantees, I’m afraid. The good news is you’ll have a professional guide at the helm with many years of experience searching for and identifying birds. As always, I endeavour to make the most of each tour, and the philosophy I encourage is to “take whatever the day brings.” Each day in the field is a treat to savour!
What to pack/What to know: Please note that ice grippers/crampons are mandatory items to pack with you during winter tours. Please dress for the season, and be sure to take a look at the forecast for the region in which we will be birding a few days out from the tour. Please pack a cooler with the food and drink of your choice. Pack your optical and photographic equipment, as well as your field guides should you wish to consult them during the tour. Please also pack your spotting scope, if you have one.
Accommodations: There are a variety of accommodation options close to RN de Pointe-Yamachiche available. To the west, there are accommodations in Berthierville and Louiseville, and to the north, Yamachiche. To the east, there are options in Trois-Rivieres. Clients must choose their best option and must book their own accommodations.
eBird Checklists: I will take care of all of the checklists for the day, and share them with you when the tour is complete. Your eBird statistics will automatically update when you accept the checklist. If you are not an eBird user, that is perfectly fine; I will email the checklists when I arrive home. You’ll be able to browse through the sightings list without having to be an eBird user.
Washrooms: I will endeavour to schedule a washroom break every 90-120 min throughout the tour.
Activity rating: 2/5. We will be hiking approximately 4-5 kilometers over a span of 3 hours (slow hike, in search of owls) in the morning. We will spend the afternoon birding from our vehicles (roadside birding) in open countryside.
Meet-up time and location: 9:00 a.m. at RN de Pointe-Yamachiche. Parking typically takes place along Chemin Louis Gatineau, near the entrance to Pointe-Yamachiche.
Duration: 7 hours.
Cost: $140 per person (HST-included). I do not have a preference when it comes to payment type; I accept e-transfer, cash and cheque.
Register for this outing by using this sign-up form