Sunday, September 3 – Monday, September 4: This weekend we will be birding many of eastern Ontario’s premier birding sites: Presqu’ile Provincial Park, possibly some sites in Prince Edward County (pending recent reports), and birding sites in the Kingston area (Amherst Island–Martin Edwards Reserve, Marshlands Conservation Area, Lemoine Point C.A., Amherstview Sewage Lagoons, Invista Lagoons, and so on). By early September, an excellent variety of both shorebirds and warblers can be found at Presqu’ile Provincial Park. This is also a great time of year for seeing and hearing Olive-sided Flycatcher, a great variety of Empidonax flycatchers and Catharus thrushes, vireos, and sparrows as well as peak numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Get ready for a weekend full of birding tips, ID discussion and views of a tremendous variety of bird species.
Outing notes: Here are some ideas of what to pack and what to wear during this field outing. A field lunch, some snacks, plenty of water, electrolyte or Gatorade mix, sturdy footwear, insect repellent, lens cloth, lip balm, sunscreen and favoured field guides.
Itinerary: We will spend the day birding Presqu’ile Provincial Park on Sunday, September 3rd, starting our day at 9:30 AM. If the birding is really good, we could easily (and comfortably) spend the day there. There are a variety of habitats to bird while at Presqu’ile! If there’s reason to head elsewhere for birding, such as sites in Prince Edward County, I will explore that as an option. In my experience, birding early fall birding at Prince Edward Point NWA is hit-or-miss; sometimes the birds simply just move right on by! On Monday, September 4, we will spend the day birding a variety of sites in Kingston, getting in a nice mixture of landbirding, waterbirding, and shorebirding. For those meeting us for the Monday portion of the tour (and only Monday), we are meeting at the Millhaven Ferry Terminal just after 9 AM, to catch the 9:30 AM ferry over to Amherst Island. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the ferry arrives.
Lunch: On Sunday, September 3rd, we will enjoy a picnic lunch while birding at Presqu’ile. Please pack a lunch. On Monday, September 4th, we will enjoy a sit down lunch at a local establishment in Kingston.
Walking: We will be birding mostly by foot each day.
Driving: We will be driving to and from birding sites a few times a day. This tour features mostly birding by walking (vs. by car).
Meeting location: Meet at the front gate/registry at Presqu’ile Provincial Park at 9:30 AM on Sunday, September 3rd. Meeting location on Monday is the Millhaven Ferry Terminal, from 9:00-9:15 AM, to catch the 9:30 AM ferry over to Amherst Island. https://www.google.ca/search?q=millhaven+ferry&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=44182489,-76721768,1963&tbm=lcl&ved=0ahUKEwiGosmBvsrVAhUJ_4MKHfOwCAIQtgMIOA&tbs=lrf:!2m1!1e2!2m1!1e3!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:2&rldoc=1#rlfi=hd:;si:,44.19351398890118,-76.74139022827148;mv:!1m3!1d11742.812815180618!2d-76.72176889999999!3d44.18248905!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i509!2i394!4f13.1. Carpooling is available to and from Ottawa, and also to and from our birding sites throughout each day. Please be in touch!
Cost: $ 120.00 per person, plus the cost of food and accommodations. Single day options are also available. The cost per day is $ 70.00 per person.
Accommodations: Best Western Belleville, on the eve of Sunday, September 3rd. Check out is the following morning: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US.html. Please also keep in mind that it’s not mandatory to stay at the above-mentioned hotel. There are many motels/hotels in Belleville to choose from. Please let me know of your accommodation plans once they’re finalized, thank-you!
Method of payment: Cash or cheque the morning of the tour. If paying by cheque, please make the cheque out to ‘Jon Ruddy’
Duration: 9-9.5 hours of birding per day.
Register for this outing using the provided Sign-up form
Please note that this outing is capped at 10 participants
Spaces remaining: 2