Cost:
All costs will be on a pay as we go basis, there is no payment to DVOC
or to the leaders.
The costs for this trip are transportation (gas, tolls, parking), lodging
and food. Since we are car pooling, transportation costs will be split
among people in the individual vehicles. Each room at the Hampton Inn
will be charged to the room occupants. You will work that out individually.
Meals are on your own. Most restaurants in the area are willing to do
separate checks
Meeting Place:
There are several options
1. Bert's van will be leaving from the Flourtown area at 5:45 am. We
can car caravan from that point.
2. Meet at the PA Turnpike Rest Area at Allentown at 6:45 am and we
will car caravan from there
3. Meet at the American Falls State Park parking area beside the American
Falls at 2:00pm.
The first two options are the best.
Transportation:
Participants are encouraged to arrange their own carpools and it is
suggested that you do that locally rather than in Niagara. (Seats in
Bert's van have already been spoken for.) We need to minimize the number
of vehicles we use when birding in Ontario. We will have two-way radios
to communicate between vehicles. While the ground will most likely be
snow covered, you can expect the roads to be in good driving condition.
The inhabitants of this region know how to deal with snow removal.
Documentation:
Since we will be leaving the US, entering Canada, and then reentering
the US it is important that we all have proper documentation. The preferred
documentation is a current passport. If you do not have that, an original
(not a copy) birth certificate will do.
Accommodations:
We will spend all three nights (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) at the
Hampton Inn Niagara Falls-North Of The Falls.
4357 River Road, Niagara Falls Ontario, ON CA L2E 2E8
Tel: 1-905-358-5555 Fax: 1-905-358-0140
We suggest the following
roommate combinations
Bert Filemyr and Karl Lukens
Art McMorrisand Colin Campbell
Martin Selzer
Barb McLaughlin and Alison Ellicott
Kate Sommerville and Arnella Trent (Arnella is leaving Sunday evening)
Butch Lishman withdrew
11/10/03
Meals:
The Hampton Inn has a continental breakfast available every morning.
Lunches will be on the road, usually at a Tim Horton's Restaurant. If
you have never experienced a Tim Horton's you will be pleasantly surprised.
We will be back at the hotel by dinner time. After getting cleaned up
we will be going out for dinner. There are several appropriate restaurants
in the area. Credit cards and American dollars are readily accepted
so it will not be necessary to exchange money for this trip.
Weather:
Please check the trip web site for current conditions and the projected
forecast.
Sunrise/Sunset:
Sunrise is at 7:32 am on December 5. We will probably depart the hotel
at 8:15 am each day
Sunset is at 4:40 pm on December 5 at Niagara Falls
Checklist
A checklist of the Birds of Ontario and New York will be provided to
all participants. Usually, we will go through our daily sightings during
or after the evening meal, for those that wish to keep theirs updated.
A complete list of all species seen on the trip will be posted on the
website.
Previous Trip
List
A list of species seen on the 2002 private trip is available
on the website. Please remember the primary focus of this trip is
gulls and waterfowl along the Niagara River.
What to bring:
Dress clothes are completely unnecessary. Travel as light as possible.
Available luggage space will depend on the vehicles we use and soft
duffel-type bags pack the best. However, be prepared for cold, windy
and damp conditions. We plan to spend a considerable amount of time
on Saturday and Sunday along the river and the falls scanning the flocks
of gulls and waterfowl. Plan to dress in layers including a water/wind-proof
outer layer and warm footwear. Be prepared for the ground to be snow
covered. The wind and dampness can make it seem much colder than the
ambient temperature.
What to expect:
During the late fall, the Niagara River and the Niagara Falls area hosts
one of the greatest concentration of waterfowl and gulls in North America.
The amount of birds can be staggering. Several years ago 14 species
of gulls were seen in the area in one day. While that is a record that
we can only dream of, last year we were able to see eleven species.
Optics:
Both leaders will both have scopes available but everyone is encouraged
to bring a scope if possible. We will be scanning through waterfowl
and roosting gulls.
Information will
be kept up to date on this website. Any important information will also
be communicated by e-mail.
General
Plan
Friday December
5
After traveling by carpool we will meet on the American side at Niagara
Falls State Park. After scanning for gulls and ducks we will cross
over into Canada and proceed to the dusk flyby at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Night at the Hampton
Inn Niagara Falls - North of the Falls
Saturday December
6
A full day on the Niagara River starting at the south end opposite
Buffalo. Working our way downstream we will stop many times and scan
for gulls and waterfowl. We will end the day at the dusk Flyby at
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Night at the Hampton
Inn Niagara Falls - North of the Falls
Sunday December
7
We will head away from the Niagara River and bird the Niagara Pennisula.
Stops at Hamilton and Brantford are possible. Our itinerary will depend
on recent reports and local information.
Night at the Hampton
Inn Niagara Falls - North of the Falls
Monday December
8
We will return to the Niagara River to check for any rarities we have
missed. About 12 noon we will head to Philadelphia arriving about
6:30 or 7:00 pm.
