Niagara Winter Excursion

Tour Description

This is a two day trip, with the first (January 18th) focusing on the Niagara Falls area in search of gulls, ducks and songbirds. On the second day we will bird our way along the shoreline of Lake Ontario from Niagara towards Hamilton, stopping at a variety of locations in search of waterfowl, owls and other winter species. On Saturday (Jan 18) we will begin at 8:30am at the Queenston Sand Docks in Niagara. We will start the day by going over introductions and the overview of the plan for the weekend. Once the whole group has arrived we will scan though the gulls feeding along the river, in hopes of picking out different gull species mixed in with the Bonaparte's, Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. We will spend the rest of the morning working our way to the upper falls area, stopping at several points to scan through the gulls below. We will spend time going over gull identification tips and ensuring everyone gets good views of the species we encounter. In the early afternoon we will spend a bit of time walking though the forested park at Dufferin Islands, where we have a chance of seeing songbirds such as Tufted Titmouse, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper. In the late afternoon we will make our way to Niagara-On-The-Lake, where we will watch the evening flyby of Bonaparte's Gulls heading out to roost on Lake Ontario. This is a good opportunity to pick out more uncommon species such as Little Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake. The meeting spot for the second day is TBD, but will be near Niagara-On-The-Lake. We will check again for interesting gulls around that area before heading on towards Hamilton. The trip will end around 3:00pm on Sunday (Jan 19). This hike is accessible for those with physical challenges; All of stops we visit can be walked on sidewalks and flat paths, though there may be ice in some areas so boots with grips are recommended. We will spend the day birding at a slow and relaxed pace, taking frequent stops along the way. Bathroom breaks will be spaced out every 90-120 minutes throughout the day. *Notes* - Paid parking is enforced at one of our stops, and will be the responsibility of the drivers to pay. -bring your own lunch, snacks, and water (keep hydrated!) -bring a warm jacket/parka and a hat. It can feel quite cold along the Niagara River so overdressing is always recommended. - We recommend bringing your scope if you own one, but if you don't we will have two along that you can use at any point!