Sunday, March 28, 2021
Today, we will enjoy a full day of birding in the Long Point region. Located on the shores of Lake Erie in Norfolk County, the Long Point region is well-known to be one of the premier birding areas in Ontario. The middle to the end of March is typically the peak time of year to enjoy spring migrant waterfowl in the Long Point area, an activity that is like a rite of passage for many Ontario birders. While the weather can be fickle at this time of year, there should be lots of ducks, geese, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes and more to seek out, along with many other spring migrants.
We will meet at 8:30 AM in the town of Port Rowan (see meet-up instructions at the bottom of this page). During the morning we will bird along the causeway leading to Long Point, seeking out waterfowl and other migrants in the Inner Bay as well as Big Creek National Wildlife Area. We may spend some time during the morning in the Old Cut area as well as Long Point Provincial Park. Following a lunch stop back in Port Rowan, we may investigate several Port Rowan birding hotspots (such as the Birds Canada property, and the Port Rowan lagoons). We will also spend time searching the fields in the area west of Port Rowan and along the lakeshore. With luck, we should encounter a nice diversity of dabbling ducks, Sandhill Cranes, geese (including, if we are lucky, Greater White-fronted, Cackling, Snow or Ross's Geese), and more. Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs may be found as well. The tour will wrap up around 4:30 PM.
While it will still be too early in the spring for a high diversity of landbirds, this tour will visit many areas and habitat types, and I expect that we will tally at least 60 bird species for the day, of which close to 20 species will be waterfowl. We should have ample opportunities to study waterfowl in their crisp spring plumages.
What to bring: Cold-weather clothing, optics, spotting scope (if you have one - I will have mine with us as well), lunch, snacks, water, face covering/hand sanitizer. Mid-March can have incredibly variable weather; best to have warm-weather clothing with you and dress in layers.
Washrooms/lunch: I will try to plan for a bathroom break every 90-120 minutes. You are welcome to use the great outdoors as well! At lunchtime, we will be stopping at Uncle's Country Coffee in Port Rowan. You can either bring your own lunch or purchase lunch here.
Meet up time and location: We will meet at 8:30 AM at the Esso Gas Station located at 160 Front Rd, Port Rowan. This is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Front Rd and Highway 59 (the Long Point causeway). The co-ordinates for the meet-up spot are 42.612986, -80.462693.
Vehicles/parking: Due to concerns from COVID-19, we will have to take our vehicles separately. We will be close to our vehicles for most of the day, and all locations where we will stop have free parking.
Duration: Full day of birding from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM.
Cost: The tour will cost $125 per person (inclusive). Maximum 6 people. Payment can be sent via e-transfer ([email protected]), or by cheque or cash in person at the start of the tour.
If interested, please send me an email: [email protected]
Today, we will enjoy a full day of birding in the Long Point region. Located on the shores of Lake Erie in Norfolk County, the Long Point region is well-known to be one of the premier birding areas in Ontario. The middle to the end of March is typically the peak time of year to enjoy spring migrant waterfowl in the Long Point area, an activity that is like a rite of passage for many Ontario birders. While the weather can be fickle at this time of year, there should be lots of ducks, geese, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes and more to seek out, along with many other spring migrants.
We will meet at 8:30 AM in the town of Port Rowan (see meet-up instructions at the bottom of this page). During the morning we will bird along the causeway leading to Long Point, seeking out waterfowl and other migrants in the Inner Bay as well as Big Creek National Wildlife Area. We may spend some time during the morning in the Old Cut area as well as Long Point Provincial Park. Following a lunch stop back in Port Rowan, we may investigate several Port Rowan birding hotspots (such as the Birds Canada property, and the Port Rowan lagoons). We will also spend time searching the fields in the area west of Port Rowan and along the lakeshore. With luck, we should encounter a nice diversity of dabbling ducks, Sandhill Cranes, geese (including, if we are lucky, Greater White-fronted, Cackling, Snow or Ross's Geese), and more. Horned Larks, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs may be found as well. The tour will wrap up around 4:30 PM.
While it will still be too early in the spring for a high diversity of landbirds, this tour will visit many areas and habitat types, and I expect that we will tally at least 60 bird species for the day, of which close to 20 species will be waterfowl. We should have ample opportunities to study waterfowl in their crisp spring plumages.
What to bring: Cold-weather clothing, optics, spotting scope (if you have one - I will have mine with us as well), lunch, snacks, water, face covering/hand sanitizer. Mid-March can have incredibly variable weather; best to have warm-weather clothing with you and dress in layers.
Washrooms/lunch: I will try to plan for a bathroom break every 90-120 minutes. You are welcome to use the great outdoors as well! At lunchtime, we will be stopping at Uncle's Country Coffee in Port Rowan. You can either bring your own lunch or purchase lunch here.
Meet up time and location: We will meet at 8:30 AM at the Esso Gas Station located at 160 Front Rd, Port Rowan. This is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Front Rd and Highway 59 (the Long Point causeway). The co-ordinates for the meet-up spot are 42.612986, -80.462693.
Vehicles/parking: Due to concerns from COVID-19, we will have to take our vehicles separately. We will be close to our vehicles for most of the day, and all locations where we will stop have free parking.
Duration: Full day of birding from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM.
Cost: The tour will cost $125 per person (inclusive). Maximum 6 people. Payment can be sent via e-transfer ([email protected]), or by cheque or cash in person at the start of the tour.
If interested, please send me an email: [email protected]