Friday, February 24: Today, we will search for a variety of owl species at several locales in the west island of Montreal. 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.
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: 3-4/5. This tour is not suitable for clients who have difficulty hiking, or standing in place, for long periods of time. We will be on-foot throughout the day, with two scheduled breaks (snack/drink break and a 45min lunch break) during the day. If there’s fresh snow accumulation, the walk will be more challenging than if the snow is hard-packed. The total walk distance, will be 6-7 km over a 7 hour tour day.
Meet-up time and location: 9:00 a.m. along Chemin St Francois, in Dorval. This location is along the southwestern edge of Pierre Elliot Trudeau International airport.
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