Niagara Falls 2009

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

Participants: Bert Filemyr, Karl Lukens, Vincent Nichnadowicz

Dates: Tuesday November 30 to Friday, December 3, 2010

Contact for more information:
Bert Filemyr ( )

Previous Trips:

Niagara 2009
Niagara 2008
Niagara 2007
Niagara 2006
Niagara 2005
Niagara 2003
Niagara 2002

Post Trip Reports

Species List
Pictures by Bert Filemyr
Bird Pictures by Bert Filemyr
Pictures by Karl Lukens
Trip Report by Bert Filemyr

Google Earth Files
If you have Google Earth (free download) on your computer you may find these files of interest. Unfortunately you cannot run them directly from the web. You need to right click on each file and choose "Save target as..." After you have saved the files to your computer, you can open them in Google Earth.

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Reports from the Road:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Pre-trip Information

A plan develops! We have two full days in the Niagara area. We will spend one day birding the length of the Niagara River. The other day will be spend along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and inland locations. If rarities are in the area we will be working them into the schedule.

Day	Major Event	Details	Night in	Straight driving distance
Day 1 Tuesday	Drive to Niagara Falls	Leave Meadowbrook 6:00 am. Possible Birding Locations: Route 81 NY Thruway LaSalle Park (NY) Bird Island Pier Jeager Rocks Niagara Parkway Legends on the Niagara Colf Course Chippewa Feeders Control Gates Dufferin Natural Area Sir Adam Beck Overlook	Niagara Falls, Ontario Hampton Inn - North of the Falls	435 miles (6.5 hours)
Day 2 Wednesday	Birding along the shoreline of Lake Ontario.	Sir Adam Beck Overlook Millen Street Access Bronte Harbor Bronte Creek Park Patterson Tract LaSalle Park (Ont.) Hamilton Lift Bridge Ginger's Feeder	Niagara Falls, Ontario Hampton Inn - North of the Falls	.
Day 3 Thursday	Bird the Niagara River (south to north), evening flyby	Sir Adam Beck Overlook Shakespeare Road Area Feeders Walker Road Area Queenston Docks Whirlpool Legends on the Niagara Golf Course Chippewa Feeders Falls Dufferin Natural Area Flyby	Niagara Falls, Ontario Hampton Inn - North of the Falls	.
Day 4 Friday	Drive home, stopping for birding in NY State	Dufferin Natural Area Whirlpool Sir Adam Beck Overlook East River Drive - Grand Island Batavia Wastewater Management Area Montezuma NWR	Home sweet home	418 miles (6.5 hours).

Details

Timing
Tuesday Morning - Karl will spend Monday evening at Bert's house. Vincent will be at Bert's by 6 am Tuesday morning.
Friday - We should be back in the Philadelphia area by late afternoon / early evening.

Food
We will be taking the PA turnpike northbound. The first place for bathrooms/coffee is Allentown Service Plaza (Hickory Run is closed). We will be stopping for coffee and bathroom breaks as appropriate.
Wednesday - Friday breakfasts will be at our lodging.
This will be a trip of simple lunches (probably Tim Horton's).
Dinners will be at appropriate restaurants.

Lodging
Location
Karl and Bert in one room. Vincent in another.
There is Internet access at the Inn
All lodging expenses are shared equally

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 Tuesday, when we arrive in the Niagara Falls area, we will be getting out of the van, getting our coats, gloves and hats on and starting birding immediately. 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 should not be 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 and Karl will bring gin and snacks.

Checklists
A checklist will be made up and distributed the first night. Karl will do the first and third day, Vincent the third day. On the fourth day we will do it jointly in the van.