Art Prints

Monday, November 21, 2011

Fall lingers on...


European Starling
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Tony Beck demonstrating his techniques
Tuesday Nov. 15:
Continuing with our series of “photo days”, we met at Fletcher Wildlife Garden, part of Ottawa’s Central Experimental Farm. We spent the entire morning in the garden area including the paths through the Arboretum, and besides Dow’s Lake. A perfect day - there was plenty of great weather, and endless photo opportunities. Everyone finished the session with good results. Check out some of the images here: Facebook GalleryAlthough our agenda was to capture photos and learning photography, we tallied a day-list of 32 species of birds:
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Robin
  5. American Tree Sparrow
  6. Black-capped Chickadee
  7. Blue Jay
  8. Cackling Goose
  9. Canada Goose        
  10. Cedar Waxwing
  11. Common Goldeneye
  12. Common Merganser
  13. Common Raven
  14. Common Redpoll
  15. Dark-eyed Junco
  16. Double-crested Cormorant
  17. Downy Woodpecker
  18. European Starling
  19. Great Black-backed Gull
  20. Hairy Woodpecker
  21. Hooded Merganser
  22. House Finch
  23. House Sparrow
  24. Lesser Scaup
  25. Mallard
  26. Northern Cardinal
  27. Peregrine Falcon
  28. Ring-billed Gull
  29. Rock Pigeon
  30. Song Sparrow
  31. White-breasted Nuthatch
  32. White-throated Sparrow
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Richmond Lagoons
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American Crow
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Thursday Nov. 17:
We began our morning at the Coliseum Theater Parking Lot, east of Bayshore. From here we went directly for nearby coniferous woodlands in search of northern birds. Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks were very common throughout the whole morning. Interestingly, we found 2 late Eastern Blue Birds at the Berry Side Road. At Richmond Lagoons we had two juvenile Brant and a Cackling Goose amongst many Canada and Snow Geese.
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Robin
  4. American Tree Sparrow
  5. Black-capped Chickadee
  6. Blue Jay
  7. Brant
  8. Cackling Goose
  9. Canada Goose        
  10. Common Merganser
  11. Common Raven
  12. Downy Woodpecker
  13. Eastern Bluebird
  14. European Starling
  15. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  16. Great Black-backed Gull
  17. Green-winged Teal
  18. Hairy Woodpecker
  19. Herring Gull
  20. Hooded Merganser
  21. Iceland Gull
  22. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  23. Lesser Scaup
  24. Mallard
  25. Northern Shrike
  26. Purple Finch
  27. Red-breasted Nuthatch
  28. Red-tailed Hawk
  29. Red-winged Blackbird
  30. Ring-billed Gull
  31. Ring-necked Duck
  32. Rough-legged Hawk
  33. Snow Goose
  34. Song Sparrow
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Dawn at Petrie Island
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Sunrise at Petrie Beach
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Snow Geese
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Saturday 19th Nov:
As autumn lingers on, we begin experiencing ever-changing weather conditions.
We started our excursion at Petrie Island with mild and comfortable temperatures.
Our goal this morning - find big flocks of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes. By the end of the morning, we found around 14,000 Snow Geese and about 60 Sandhill Cranes.
Other highlights were Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks in good numbers. We still expect more northern birds to arrive in the weeks ahead.
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. Blue Jay
  4. Cackling Goose
  5. Canada Goose        
  6. Common Merganser
  7. Common Raven
  8. Dark-eyed Junco
  9. European Starling
  10. Green-winged Teal
  11. Hairy Woodpecker
  12. Herring Gull
  13. Hooded Merganser
  14. House Sparrow
  15. Mallard
  16. Northern Harrier
  17. Red-tailed Hawk
  18. Ring-billed Gull
  19. Rock Pigeon
  20. Rough-legged Hawk
  21. Sandhill Crane
  22. Snow Bunting
  23. Snow Goose
  24. Wood Duck
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Two young Snow Geese among Canada Geese
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Dick Bell Park
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Sunday 20th Nov:
Our group started at Andrew Haydon Park this morning, hiking along the shoreline of the Ottawa River from Ottawa Beach to Dick Bell Park. Here we found 2 young Snow Geese, White-winged Scoter and several individual Cackling Geese amongst the Canada’s. Unfortunately, heavy rain forced us into an early coffee break. Abandoning the Fletcher Wildlife Gardens for open country, we headed south into the open fields near the village of Richmond.
Burnside Pit produced a big flock of Snow Geese including 3 Blue Morphs. Other highlights today were Great Blue Heron, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup.
  1. American Crow
  2. American Goldfinch
  3. Black-capped Chickadee
  4. Blue Jay
  5. Bufflehead
  6. Cackling Goose
  7. Canada Goose        
  8. Common Goldeneye
  9. Common Loon
  10. European Starling
  11. Great Black-backed Gull
  12. Great Blue Heron
  13. Greater Scaup
  14. Green-winged Teal
  15. Herring Gull
  16. House Sparrow
  17. Lesser Scaup
  18. Mallard
  19. Northern Cardinal
  20. Red-breasted Merganser
  21. Red-tailed Hawk
  22. Ring-billed Gull
  23. Rock Pigeon
  24. Snow Goose
  25. White-winged Scoter
  26. Wild Turkey
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Until next time...

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All excursions organized by Nina Stavlund & Tony Beck

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Fun coming from the North...


Male Black-backed Woodpecker, Photo Courtesy of Tony Beck
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Winter plumage Horned Grebe

Full day excursion Tues. Nov. 8 to Lake Dore and Algonquin Park:
Although the lake was reasonable productive with plenty of grebes, Common Loon and Bonaparte’s Gulls, diversity was relatively low. Birds became a bit more interesting as we got closer to Algonquin Park. We had an excellent afternoon birding along the Barron Canyon Road. 
Gray Jays were greeting us almost everywhere we stopped in the park. Also in the park were 5 Black-backed Woodpeckers. They were a lifer bird for many in the group.
Starting with 2 Common Redpolls just outside the park, we saw several more small flocks in the park, totaling about 120 birds. We had only one White-winged Crossbill flying overhead and along Hwy 26 southeast of the park, we saw a juvenile Northern Goshawk.
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Robin
  5. American Tree Sparrow
  6. Black-backed Woodpecker
  7. Black-capped Chickadee
  8. Blue Jay
  9. Bonaparte's Gull
  10. Brown Creeper
  11. Bufflehead
  12. Canada Goose        
  13. Common Goldeneye
  14. Common Loon
  15. Common Merganser
  16. Common Raven
  17. Common Redpoll
  18. Downy Woodpecker
  19. European Starling
  20. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  21. Gray Jay
  22. Great Blue Heron
  23. Hairy Woodpecker
  24. Herring Gull
  25. Horned Lark
  26. House Sparrow
  27. Lesser Scaup
  28. Mallard
  29. Northern Goshawk
  30. Northern Harrier
  31. Northern Shrike
  32. Red-breasted Nuthatch
  33. Red-necked Grebe
  34. Red-tailed Hawk
  35. Red-winged Blackbird
  36. Ring-billed Gull
  37. Rock Pigeon
  38. Rough-legged Hawk
  39. Sharp-shinned Hawk
  40. Snowbunting
  41. White-winged Crossbill
  42. Wild Turkey
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Black-backed Woodpecker
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Black-backed Woodpecker

Thursday Nov. 10th:
Our beautiful morning started at Andrew Haydon Park. Thousands of Geese were flying overhead. After checking out the park more closely, we went over to Shirley’s Bay and out on the dyke. While scanning the wetlands, an adult Bald Eagle flushed a huge flock of Canada Geese. It was a spectacular sight! After Shirley’s Bay, we went back to Andrew Haydon but with a Parasailor on the waters, there were no birds. Instead we ended the excursion at Britannia and Mud Lake. 
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Robin
  5. American Tree Sparrow
  6. American Wigeon
  7. Bald Eagle
  8. Belted Kingfisher
  9. Black Scoter
  10. Black-capped Chickadee
  11. Blue Jay
  12. Brant
  13. Bufflehead
  14. Cackling Goose
  15. Canada Goose        
  16. Common Goldeneye
  17. Common Loon
  18. Double-crested Cormorant
  19. Great Black-backed Gull
  20. Great Blue Heron
  21. Greater Scaup
  22. Green-winged Teal
  23. Herring Gull
  24. Hooded Merganser
  25. Horned Grebe
  26. House Sparrow
  27. Lesser Scaup
  28. Mallard
  29. Northern Cardinal
  30. Northern Shoveler
  31. Red-breasted Merganser
  32. Red-necked Grebe
  33. Red-winged Blackbird
  34. Ring-billed Gull
  35. Ring-necked Duck
  36. Rock Pigeon
  37. Ruffed Grouse
  38. Snow Bunting
  39. Song Sparrow
  40. White-breasted Nuthatch
  41. White-winged Scoter
  42. Wood Duck

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Red-tailed Hawk

Saturday Nov. 12:
Today we hoped to find something unusual, and indeed we did.
Cackling Geese are not unusual this time of year. But, we had 11 of them at Britannia Beach including a tight flock of 10. Going to Shirley’s Bay we witnessed something quite extraordinary. On a huge nest, visible high in the bare trees, two adult Bald Eagles, appeared to be bonding. It was fantastic to see!
Also, inside the forest at Shirley’s Bay we had a Ruffed Grouse.
We ended the excursion studying the gulls around Bunside Pit. We found 3 Lesser-backed and a first winter Iceland Gull amongst hundreds of Ring-billed, Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls. 
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Tree Sparrow
  5. Bald Eagle
  6. Black Scoter
  7. Black-capped Chickadee
  8. Blue Jay
  9. Bonaparte's Gull
  10. Bufflehead
  11. Cackling Goose
  12. Canada Goose        
  13. Common Goldeneye
  14. Common Loon
  15. Common Merganser
  16. Common Raven
  17. Dark-eyed Junco
  18. Downy Woodpecker
  19. European Starling
  20. Great Black-backed Gull
  21. Greater Scaup
  22. Herring Gull
  23. Hooded Merganser
  24. House Sparrow
  25. Iceland Gull
  26. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  27. Lesser Scaup
  28. Mallard
  29. Mourning Dove
  30. Northern Cardinal
  31. Red-tailed Hawk
  32. Red-winged Blackbird
  33. Ring-billed Gull
  34. Rock Pigeon
  35. Snow Bunting
  36. Snow Goose
  37. White-breasted Nuthatch
  38. White-throated Sparrow
  39. White-winged Scoter
  40. Wild Turkey
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Gray Jay
Sunday Nov. 13, Amherst:
We started  before dawn in the direction of Kingston and the world famous Amherst Island.
The weather did not act up as badly as predicted and the group was quite pleased with the mild temperature.
We were greeted by a beautiful male Red-bellied Woodpecker at the entrance of the Owl Woods.
The only cooperative owl we found was a Long-eared Owl hiding away deep in the needles of the Jack Pine. Fortunately it remained still for everyone to see. It was a lifer for several in the group.
The fields around the island revealed many diurnal raptors, like Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, and all color morphs of Rough-legged Hawk. Good number of Tundra Swan was accumulating on the north-east side of the island. 
  1. American Crow
  2. American Goldfinch
  3. American Robin
  4. American Tree Sparrow
  5. American Kestrel
  6. Black Scoter
  7. Black-capped Chickadee
  8. Blue Jay
  9. Bonaparte's Gull
  10. Brown Creeper
  11. Bufflehead
  12. Canada Goose        
  13. Common Goldeneye
  14. Common Loon
  15. Common Merganser
  16. Common Raven
  17. Downy Woodpecker
  18. European Starling
  19. Gadwall
  20. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  21. Great Black-backed Gull
  22. Great Blue Heron
  23. Greater Scaup
  24. Herring Gull
  25. Horned Lark
  26. House Finch
  27. House Sparrow
  28. Long-eared Owl
  29. Long-tailed Duck
  30. Mallard
  31. Mourning Dove
  32. Northern Cardinal
  33. Northern Harrier
  34. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  35. Red-breasted Merganser
  36. Red-tailed Hawk
  37. Red-winged Blackbird
  38. Ring-billed Gull
  39. Rock Pigeon
  40. Rough-legged Hawk
  41. Snow Bunting
  42. Tundra Swan
  43. White-breasted Nuthatch
  44. Wild Turkey
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The group studying the very cooperative Long-eared Owl.




Excursions organized by Nina Stavlund & Tony Beck as Always An Adventure

~ HAPPY BIRDING ! ~







Thursday, November 10, 2011

Recent Local & Overnight Excursions...


Snow Bunting @ Presqu'ile Provisional Park

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Casselman Lagoons
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Baird's Sandpiper
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Josh McCullough
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White-rumped Sandpiper, Photo Courtesy of Josh McCullough _DSC8767-1


Saturday 29th Oct:
We met at Petrie Island this morning under clear skies with a nippy wind.
From here we went driving through nearby fields, including by Giroux Ponds where we had a single Horned Lark. Passing by Milton Road, we had 21 Sandhill Cranes. At Casselman, we had White-rumped and Baird’s Sandpiper. Lastly to Embun, we had a couple of Snow Geese.
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Coot
  3. American Crow
  4. American Goldfinch
  5. American Pipit
  6. American Robin
  7. American Tree Sparrow
  8. Baird's Sandpiper
  9. Black-capped Chickadee
  10. Blue Jay
  11. Cackling Goose
  12. Canada Goose        
  13. Common Goldeneye
  14. Common Merganser
  15. Common Raven
  16. Dark-eyed Junco
  17. Double-crested Cormorant
  18. Dunlin
  19. European Starling
  20. Gadwall
  21. Great Black-backed Gull
  22. Great Blue Heron
  23. Greater Scaup
  24. Green-winged Teal
  25. Hairy Woodpecker
  26. Herring Gull
  27. Hooded Merganser
  28. Horned Lark
  29. House Sparrow
  30. Killdeer
  31. Lesser Scaup
  32. Lesser Yellowlegs
  33. Mallard
  34. Merlin
  35. Northern Harrier
  36. Northern Shoveler
  37. Pectoral Sandpiper
  38. Pileated Woodpecker
  39. Purple Finch
  40. Red-tailed Hawk
  41. Red-winged Blackbird
  42. Ring-billed Gull
  43. Rock Pigeon
  44. Rough-legged Hawk
  45. Ruddy Duck
  46. Sandhill Crane
  47. Semipalmated Sandpiper
  48. Snow Goose
  49. Turkey Vulture
  50. White-rumped Sandpiper
  51. White-winged Scoter
  52. Wild Turkey
  53. Wood Duck
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Black Duck, Photo Courtesy of Ron Allen
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Brant, Photo Courtesy of Ron Allen
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Scenery along the Dechenes Shoreline - Quebec
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European Starling
Sunday 30th Oct:
It was a pleasant overcast day with mild temperatures.
We started at Andrew Haydon Park where we had a small flock of Cackling Geese. We scouted around for the Razorbill that was seen in the area, finally watching it fly west over Deschenes Rapids.
Other highlights this day were Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoter and Pine Siskin.
  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Goldfinch
  4. American Robin
  5. American Tree Sparrow
  6. Black-capped Chickadee
  7. Black Scoter
  8. Brown Creeper
  9. Bufflehead
  10. Cackling Goose
  11. Canada Goose        
  12. Common Goldeneye
  13. Common Loon
  14. Common Raven
  15. Dark-eyed Junco
  16. Double-crested Cormorant
  17. Downy Woodpecker
  18. European Starling
  19. Great Black-backed Gull
  20. Great Blue Heron
  21. Greater Scaup
  22. Hairy Woodpecker
  23. Herring Gull
  24. Hooded Merganser
  25. Horned Grebe
  26. House Finch
  27. House Sparrow
  28. Lesser Scaup
  29. Long-tailed Duck
  30. Mallard
  31. Northern Cardinal
  32. Pine Siskin
  33. Razorbill
  34. Red-breasted Merganser
  35. Red-necked Grebe
  36. Ring-billed Gull
  37. Ring-necked Duck
  38. Rock Pigeon
  39. Snow Goose
  40. White-breasted Nuthatch
  41. White-winged Scoter
  42. Wood Duck
  43. Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Photo Courtesy of Josh McCullough
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Tuesday 1st Nov:
An enthusiastic group took off along the Gatineau Escarpments today. We had a most wonderful birding day with several raptor highlights including Golden Eagle, Northern Harrier, Northern Shrike, Red-tailed & Rough-legged Hawk. We also watched a Coopers Hawk chasing a flock of Eastern Blue Birds.
  1. American Crow
  2. American Goldfinch
  3. American Robin
  4. American Tree Sparrow
  5. Bald Eagle
  6. Black-capped Chickadee
  7. Blue Jay
  8. Brown Creeper
  9. Canada Goose        
  10. Common Raven
  11. Coopers Hawk
  12. Eastern Bluebird
  13. European Starling
  14. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  15. Golden Eagle
  16. Great Blue Heron
  17. Hairy Woodpecker
  18. Hooded Merganser
  19. Mourning Dove
  20. Northern Cardinal
  21. Northern Harrier
  22. Northern Shrike
  23. Pileated Woodpecker
  24. Purple Finch
  25. Red-breasted Merganser
  26. Red-tailed Hawk
  27. Red-winged Blackbird
  28. Ring-billed Gull
  29. Rock Pigeon
  30. Rough-legged Hawk
  31. Song Sparrow
  32. White-breasted Nuthatch
  33. Wild Turkey

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Petrie Island Sunrise, Photo Courtesy of Josh McCullough
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Fall, Photo Courtesy of Tony Beck
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Red Squirrel, Photo Courtesy of Jariya Rasaputra

Thursday 3rd Nov:
Petrie Island was quiet with nice weather and an increasing wind during the morning.
Sandhill Cranes were seen dancing from Smith Road. It was really spectacular to see and a first-timer for me.


  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Crow
  3. American Pipit
  4. American Robin
  5. American Tree Sparrow
  6. Black-capped Chickadee
  7. Blue Jay
  8. Brown Creeper
  9. Canada Goose        
  10. Common Merganser
  11. Common Raven
  12. Dark-eyed Junco
  13. Double-crested Cormorant
  14. European Starling
  15. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  16. Great Blue Heron
  17. Green-winged Teal
  18. Hairy Woodpecker
  19. Hooded Merganser
  20. House Finch
  21. House Sparrow
  22. Mallard
  23. Mourning Dove
  24. Northern Harrier
  25. Northern Shoveler
  26. Northern Shrike
  27. Red-tailed Hawk
  28. Red-winged Blackbird
  29. Ring-billed Gull
  30. Rock Pigeon
  31. Rough-legged Hawk
  32. Sandhill Crane
  33. Snow Bunting
  34. White-breasted Nuthatch
  35. Wood Duck

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White-winged Scoter, Photo Courtesy of Tony Beck
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Sunrise @ Presqu'ile Provisional Park
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Presqu'ile Provisional Park
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Presqu'ile Provisional Park
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Presqu'ile Provisional Park
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Prince Edward County
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Prince Edward Point Light House
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Barred Owl inside Presqu'ile Provisional Park

Overnight Excursion to Prince Edward County and Presqu’ile Provisional Park 5-6 Nov:

What a fantastic weekend!! Not only did we have awesome weather, but the birding was fabulous as well. The highlights this weekend were all 3 species of Swans seen together, Nina getting Eurasian Wigeon for life, a Black-legged Kittiwake flying over Owen Point, a single American Golden Plover, Peregrine Falcon, Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Barred Owl to mention a few…

65 species tallied on Saturday and 66 on Sunday. Total trip list of 91 species:

  1. American Black Duck
  2. American Coot
  3. American Crow
  4. American Golden Plover
  5. American Goldfinch
  6. American Robin
  7. American Tree Sparrow
  8. American Wigeon
  9. American Kestrel
  10. Barred Owl
  11. Belted Kingfisher
  12. Black Scoter
  13. Black-bellied Plover
  14. Black-capped Chickadee
  15. Black-legged Kittiwake
  16. Blue Jay
  17. Bonaparte's Gull
  18. Brown Creeper
  19. Bufflehead
  20. Canada Goose        
  21. Cedar Waxwing
  22. Common Goldeneye
  23. Common Grackle
  24. Common Loon
  25. Common Raven
  26. Dark-eyed Junco
  27. Double-crested Cormorant
  28. Downy Woodpecker
  29. Dunlin
  30. Eastern Bluebird
  31. Eurasian Wigeon
  32. European Starling
  33. Fox Sparrow
  34. Gadwall
  35. Golden Eagle
  36. Golden-crowned Kinglet
  37. Great Black-backed Gull
  38. Great Blue Heron
  39. Greater Scaup
  40. Green-winged Teal
  41. Hairy Woodpecker
  42. Herring Gull
  43. Hooded Merganser
  44. Horned Grebe
  45. Horned Lark
  46. House Finch
  47. House Sparrow
  48. Lesser Scaup
  49. Long-tailed Duck
  50. Mallard
  51. Merlin
  52. Mourning Dove
  53. Mute Swan
  54. Northern Cardinal
  55. Northern Flicker
  56. Northern Harrier
  57. Northern Pintail
  58. Northern Shoveler
  59. Northern Shrike
  60. Peregrine Falcon
  61. Pied-billed Grebe
  62. Pileated Woodpecker
  63. Pine Siskin
  64. Red Head (Duck)
  65. Red-bellied Woodpecker
  66. Red-breasted Merganser
  67. Red-breasted Nuthatch
  68. Red-tailed Hawk
  69. Red-winged Blackbird
  70. Ring-billed Gull
  71. Ring-necked Duck
  72. Rock Pigeon
  73. Rough-legged Hawk
  74. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
  75. Ruddy Turnstone
  76. Ruffed Grouse
  77. Rusty Blackbird
  78. Sanderling
  79. Semipalmated Plover
  80. Sharp-shinned Hawk
  81. Snowbunting
  82. Trumpeter Swan
  83. Tundra Swan
  84. Turkey Vulture
  85. White-breasted Nuthatch
  86. White-rumped Sandpiper
  87. White-throated Sparrow
  88. White-winged Scoter
  89. Wild Turkey
  90. Wood Duck
  91. Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Fall, Photo Courtesy of Tony Beck

All Excursions Organized by Nina Stavlund & Tony Beck 
Find us on Facebook: Always An Adventure 

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Photo & Birding Tour to Costa Rica ~ 2012


COSTA RICA MARCH 2012

Green Violetear Hummingbird 

Turquoise-browed Motmot

The tiny country of Costa Rica offers all the diversity of a neotropical paradise, all in a modern, healthy, safe and comfortable setting. Experience the lush beauty of mountain forests, open country, colourful gardens and coastal habitats. This itinerary is designed to provide the best photo opportunities of the country's most beautiful creatures, especially birds. From the Resplendent Quetzal in the highlands, the  Green Thorntail Hummingbird  of the Caribbean Slope, to the Scarlet Macaw on the Pacific coast, we hope to observe 300 species of birds (or more) by the end of the trip. Although we visit some of the most productive areas for birds, we'll also enjoy great food, spectacular scenery, and friendly people.

Emerald Toucanet
ITINERARY:
March 06: Arrive, picked up at airport and transfer to Hotel Bougainvillea for 1 Night
March 07: Transfer via Paraiso Quetzal to Savegre Mountain Lodge for 2 Nights
March 08: Full day in Savegre - 2nd Night there
March 09: Early AM at Savegre, transfer via Paramo to La Quinta for 3 Nights
March 10: Full day at La Selva OTS , 2nd Night at La Quinta
March 11: AM at Old Butterfly Garden, afternoon at local lodge, 3rd Night at La Quinta
March 12: AM visit to La Paz Waterfall Garden, transfer to Arenal Observatory Lodge for 2 Nights
March 13: Full day at and near lodge, 2nd Night at Arenal Observatory Lodge
March 14: Arenal Hanging Bridges in AM, transfer after lunch to Hacienda Solimar for 1 Night
March 15: AM at Solimar, transfer after lunch to Villa Lapas for 3 Nights
March 16: Full day in Carara National Park, 2nd Night at Villa Lapas
March 17: AM Boat ride on Rio Tarcoles, afternoon locally, 3rd Night at Villa Lapas
March 18: AM locally near Villa Lapas, transfer to Las Orquideas Inn for final Night
March 19: Transfer to San Jose Airport in time for Int'l departure

Arenal Volcano

GUIDING INCLUDED IN THE PRICE: 
Herman Venegas as your local Bird guide throughout the trip. 
Tony Beck as your Bird and Photography Guide. 
Nina Stavlund as your Photography Guide

TRANSPORT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE: 
Toyota Coaster with driver entire trip. Also includes airport transfers in and out and fuel

ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Mar 07: Entrance fee and lunch Paraiso Quetzal
Mar 08: Truck ride to trail head while at Savegre
Mar 10: Entrance fee for full day at La Selva OTS
Mar 11: Old Butterfly Garden
Mar 11: Entrance fee Selva Verde Lodge or El Gavilan Lodge
Mar 12: Entrance fee and lunch La Paz Waterfall Garden
Mar 14: Entrance fee Arenal Hanging Bridges
Mar 16: Entrance fee Carara NP
Mar 17: Boat ride on Rio Tarcoles


Resplendent Quetzal 

Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl
MEAL PLAN: 
All meals are included in the price from Breakfast March 07 thru Breakfast March 19

ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
Air Fare to/from San Jose, Costa Rica
Meals on March 6, and after breakfast on March 19
Tips to guide(s), chauffeur, hotel staff
alcoholic beverages, or additional refreshments (soda)
Laundry (or other extra hotel services)
Long Distance Phone Calls
Airport Exit Tax of $26 USD when departing Costa Rica
Anything not specifically mentioned as included in above itinerary

Make sure you have a valid passport before traveling to Costa Rica

If possible, try to pack light.
We should expect all types of weather including rain, cold and bright sun. Prepare accordingly

Essential equipment will be binoculars, and photography equipment
Bring your cameras and a good selection of lenses
You'll want everything from wide angle to telephoto (200mm minimum)
A macro (close focus lens) can also be useful
If possible, bring a spare camera, extra batteries and LOTS of memory cards
Additional support is good (tripod, monopod or gunstock)
You might also want an external flash for low light or fill

Silver Throated-Tanager


Electrical outlets are 120V (same as in North America).
Click Here for More Information: AC requirements in Costa Rica 

At least two of your guides will have telescopes

We expect to be doing some hiking on most days, and in a variety of terrain. Typically, the hiking will be relatively easy. However, it includes some hillside trails and steep inclines. We will always stay on trails or open areas. And, the pace will always be reasonably slow. Make sure you have good, comfortable hiking shoes. We might encounter some areas with mud or shallow water.

Although we will be spending a lot of time around bird feeding stations at our lodges, some days will be very long - getting up early (optional morning hikes before breakfast), out all day, with occasional owling at night (optional). Expect some long bus rides between accommodations.

Insects are rarely a problem. However, it's a good idea to bring insect repellent with deet. This can be especially effective against chiggers and mosquitoes.

Costa Rica is modern, extremely healthy and safe, especially for a tropical "third world" country. It is among the safest destinations for travelers in the world. Medical and personal safety issues are very rare in Costa Rica. However, if you feel you need to take medical precautions, visit the following site for more information. Click Here: Common Sense Travel 

Click Here for the Canadian Government's Travel Report for Costa Rica: CDN Costa Rica Travel Advisory  

Click Here to get an idea of what we'll photograph on this tour: 

Purple-throated Mountain-gem

Violet Sabrewing

Dusty Glass Frog 

Yellow-headed Caracara


Price per person based on double occupancy:
$3998 USF
Maximum 8 participants
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $395 USD

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION @ Always An Adventure