Black-legged
Kittiwake photographed at Horseshoe Falls by Karl Lukens during Niagara
2006
New York State,
USA - Ontario Province, Canada
Updates
"From the Road" are posted here.... |
Post Trip
Information |
Concept: A shared expenses four day mid-week trip to the Niagara Falls area for gulls, waterfowl and rarities.
Dates: Monday December 10 to Thursday December 13
Participants: Bert Filemyr; Ann Scott, Connie Goldman, Karl Lukens
On this page: The Trip, Details, Previous Trips, Links
Contact Bert Filemyr for further information
|
Overview |
Details |
Night
in |
Straight
driving distance |
|
|
Day
1 Monday 12/10 |
Drive
to Niagara Falls |
Leave
Meadowbrook 6:00 am. Drove directly to Stoney Creek (near Hamilton Ontario)
to see the Northern Hawk-Owl. Ended the day at the "fly-by"
at Niagara-on-the-Lake. |
Niagara
Falls, Ontario Hampton Inn - North of the Falls |
435
miles (6.5 hours) |
| Day
2 Tuesday 12/11 |
Bird
the Niagara River (south to north), evening flyby |
Got
started about 8 am and headed to the mouth of the Niagara River. Birded
multiple stops along the river. Also birded away from the river occasionally
(feeders and The Legends of Niagara Golf Course). Lunch at a Tim Horton's.
Around the falls area early afternoon. During the afternoon we will work
our way downstream but steady rain ended our day about 4 pm |
Niagara
Falls, Ontario Hampton Inn - North of the Falls |
. |
|
Day
3 Wednesday 12/13 |
Birding
along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. |
An
early morning stop at the Sir Adam Beck overlook. Then we headed north,
past Niagara-on the-Lake and began hitting spots along the Lake Ontario
lakeshore. Primary location was a crabapple orchard along Walker's Lane
By mid-afternoon we were at LaSalle Park in Hamilton for study views of
swans and other waterfowl. A couple of other stops around the Hamilton
Harbor rounding out the day. |
Niagara
Falls, Ontario Hampton Inn - North of the Falls |
. |
|
Day
4 Thursday 12/14 |
Drive
home, stopping for birding in NY State |
After
an early check of the river we headed home. Back in Philadelphia around
7 pm.. |
Home
sweet home |
418
miles (6.5 hours). |
Timing
Monday Morning - Karl will spend Sunday night at Bert’s. Connie will arrive
at Bert’s by 6 am. Quick stop for coffee and then pick up Ann at he Lansdale
PA turnpike exit about 6:30 am - 6:45 am.
Thursday - We should
be back in the Philadelphia area by late afternoon / early evening. We will
call from the road as we know our timing.
Food
We will be taking the PA turnpike northbound. The first place for bathrooms/coffee
after picking up Ann is Hickory Run Service Plaza. If you want to have a full
"breakfast", plan on having it before you get in the van. We will
be stopping for coffee and bathroom breaks as appropriate.
Breakfasts will be at our lodging
This will be a trip
of simple lunches (probably Tim
Horton's). Feel free to bring lunch for the first day, but we will be stopping.
Dinners will be at appropriate restaurants.
Rooms
We have two rooms each night. We will be in the same location each night. Bert
and Karl in a double room. Connie and Ann in a double room. People will pay
for the rooms individually. It will not enter into shared expenses.
Location
There is Internet access but it might be hard wired rather than wireless. Bring
a cable if appropriate.
Documentation
- IMPORTANT
Bring your passport. You need this to enter Canada and then to reenter the US.
Gas,
Tolls, etc.
Since this is a “shared expenses trip” we will keep track of tolls,
gas, parking, etc. After the trip we will figure out each person’s share.
Weather
Contingency Plan
We are going.
Clothing
Dress warm, be prepared for dampness, we all know the drill.
On Monday, when we arrive
in the Niagara Falls area, we will be getting out of the van and starting birding
immediately. There will be time to change shoes, put on coats, etc. It will
not be possible to do a full change of clothes. Travel in clothes for birding.
Luggage
Since there is only four of us, the back seats will be out of the van. That
will give us plenty of room for luggage and scopes
Scopes
This is a scope intensive trip. Bring yours
Cocktail
Hours
Bert will bring Gin. Feel free to bring snacks.
Checklists
A checklist has been distributed and we will do the traditional evening compilation
each night. Lead person for each night: Monday – Karl, Tuesday –
Connie, Wednesday – Ann, Thursday - group effort in the van on the way
home.
Tunes
Feel free to bring cassettes, iPod or CDs for the ride. Bert will have his iPod.
Niagara Area Birding Websites
Gulling on the Niagara River
Ontario Field Ornithologists
Ontario Checklist
Ontario Birding
Birding on the dot Net - Recent Ontario Postings
Birding in New York - The Virtual Birder
Birding in Ontario - The Virtual Birder
Toronto/Niagara Bird Board
Central / Northern New York Birding Websites
Birding on the Dot Net - Recent Oneida Postings
Birding on the Dot Net - Recent Northern New York Postings
Birding on the Dot Net - Recent Cayuga Postings
Northern NY Birding - Yahoo Group
Montezuma NWR
Gull Identification Website
Bob Lewis's Gull Site
Shades of Gray
Niagara Area Websites
Niagara Falls, Ontario- Official Site
Discover Niagara
Niagara Falls State Park, New York
Facts about Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario Tourism
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Area Traffic
Niagara Area Road Map
New York State Thruway
Traveling to Canada (AAA Information)
Weather Information from The Weather Channel
Weather Information from The Weather Underground
Tim Horton's (The Wawa / Dunkin Donuts of the north)