Sunday, December 17: Today, we will birdwatch the famed Amherst Island in search of roosting owls in woodlands, Short-eared and Snowy Owls in open fields, and keep an eye out for hawks, falcons and eagles. Waterfowl, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks, sparrows, finches and more will likely also be encountered during the day.
Guarantees: With birds, there are never guarantees, but 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 will endeavour to make the most of each tour, and the philosophy I encourage is to “take whatever the day brings.” 🙂
What to pack/What to know: Please dress for the season and be sure to check on the weather conditions ahead of the tour. Wearing a thermal base layer is a helpful way to stay warm during winter tours, especially when birding near the water. Please pack ice grippers/crampons, in case we need them for the trails. Please pack your photographical and optical equipment of your choice; if you have a spotting scope, pack it, as well. Please pack a full lunch, which you can leave in your vehicle. I recommend packing liquids and snacks, as well. During winter tours, it’s a good idea to pack extra socks (in case your feet get damp/wet), extra gloves (in case you lose a glove), extra toque (in case you lose it), and hand and foot warmers (in case you’re prone to getting cold in those areas). Please note that a $10 ferry fee applies for this tour; the cost covers both ways. You pay for the ferry after boarding. They accept cash, credit and debit.
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 after the tour. You’ll be able to browse through the sightings list without having to be an eBird user.
Washrooms: I will schedule a washroom break every 90-120 minutes.
Activity rating: 2-3/5. We will be walking 6-8 km total during today’s tour.
Meet-up time and location: 9:00 – 9:10 a.m. at the Millhaven Ferry Terminal in order to get in line for the 9:30 a.m. ferry crossing over to Amherst Island. We will be taking the 5:00 p.m. return ferry back to the mainland, arriving back at Millhaven at approximately 5:20 p.m.
Duration: 8 hours.
Cost: $160 per person (HST-included). I accept payment via e-transfer to eontbird@gmail.com. I also accept mailed cheques sent to Eastern Ontario Birding, 751 Namur Street, Embrun Ontario, K0A 1W0.
Payment due date: Upon registration. Your registration is only secure once payment is received. Please be sure to review my Cancellation Policy ahead of signing up for this tour.
Register for this outing by using this sign-up form