Concept: A shared expenses four day mid-week trip to the Niagara Falls area for gulls, waterfowl and rarities.

Dates: Monday December 8 to Thursday December 11

Participants: Bert Filemyr, Ann Scott, Connie Goldman, Karl Lukens

On this page: The Trip, Details, Previous Trips, Links

Contact Bert Filemyr for further information

The Trip

Details

Timing
Monday Morning - Karl will spend Sunday evening at Bert's house. Connie will arrive by 6 am Monday morning and we will be on our way. We will pick up Ann in Lansdale between 6:30 and 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 is Hickory Run Service Plaza. We will be stopping for coffee and bathroom breaks as appropriate.
Tuesday - Thursday breakfasts will be at our lodging.
This will be a trip of simple lunches (probably Tim Horton's).
Dinners will be at appropriate restaurants.

Rooms
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
This is an unusual birding trip because luggage is not an issue. There will be plenty of room in the van on the way up and back. During the trip our luggage can stay in rooms - Yea!

Scopes
This is a scope intensive trip. Bring yours.

Cocktail Hours
Bert will bring Gin. Connie and Ann have volunteered to bring snacks.

Checklists
A checklist will be made up. Connie will do the first day, Karl the second, Ann the third.

Tunes
The van has an input for an iPod and has a CD player. It also has satellite radio so we should be able to find something we all like.

Previous Trips

Niagara 2007
Niagara 2006
Niagara 2005
Niagara 2003
Niagara 2002

Links

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 Websites

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

Traffic Websites

Niagara Area Traffic
Niagara Area Road Map
New York State Thruway
Traveling to Canada (AAA Information)

Weather Websites

Weather Information from The Weather Channel
Weather Information from The Weather Underground

Webcams

Horseshoe Falls
Niagara (Ontario) Traffic Cams

Miscellaneous

Tim Horton's (The Wawa / Dunkin Donuts of the north)