Plan to fly into the Philadelphia International Airport. We will arrange a shuttle van to the Inn at Nottingham in Chester County, PA, located approximately 40 miles west of the airport. If you prefer to drive to Nottingham, we'll supply directions. It is easily reached off of US 1. You may park your car there for the duration of the tour at no cost. If you can be in Nottingham by late afternoon, we will meet you for an early dinner, then plan for a couple hours of owling. We will have recently completed our local Christmas Bird Count and should know the locations of some reasonably accessible owls, possibly Northern Saw-whet, Barred, Long-eared, and Short-eared, in addition to the more common Great Horned and Eastern Screech-Owl. Overnight at the Inn at Nottingham.

We'll pack up the van and head south. Today's birding stops may include Bombay Hook NWR, Port Mahon, Rehobeth, and Ocean City Inlet. We're likely to find many puddle and bay ducks, a few shorebirds, and raptors including Bald Eagle and possibly a Rough-legged Hawk. A search through the blackbird flocks may produce Yellow-headed or Brewer's Blackbird. There is an occasional Snowy Owl near Bombay Hook and regular Harlequin Ducks, Common Eiders, Red-throated Loons, and Canvasbacks at Ocean City. Overnight in Pocomoke City, Maryland.

Our day's birding will begin at Chincoteague NWR to look for Marbled Godwit, American Oystercatcher and, with any luck, an American White Pelican. There is usually a nice variety of shorebirds, herons, egrets, and raptors along the causeway. We'll sort through all of the common waterfowl for uncommon species, perhaps a Eurasian Wigeon. Scanning the ocean is likely to produce Northern Gannet, Red-throated Loon, flocks of scoters and cormorants, and often a few Brown Pelicans. We'll finish the day along the Wildlife Drive where we may see a Peregrine Falcon or Merlin, a few new shorebirds, and flocks of Snow Geese that will hopefully contain a Ross's Goose. Sika Deer and Chincoteague Ponies are normally quite easy to see, while Delmarva Fox Squirrels can be more of a challenge. A second night in Pocomoke City.

The flats at Oyster and Willis Wharf are known for their shorebirds, especially Marbled Godwit and Whimbrel. We will strive to find Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Later in the day we'll visit Kiptopeke State Park and Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. The hedgerows at Kiptopeke hold a nice variety of sparrows, the marsh has Clapper and Virginia Rails, and falcons may fly overhead. A few of the unusual birds that we've found in this area on previous tours include Dickcissel, Lark Sparrow, Lapland Longspur, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Kingbird, and Virginia's first Vermilion Flycatcher. WOW! Overnight in Kiptopeke.

Pre-breakfast birding is likely to produce American Woodcock in our spotlight. Owls that we have previously called into view at Eastern Shore include Barn, Short-eared, Long-eared, Northern Saw-Whet, Eastern Screech, and Great Horned. The islands and nearby waters of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel will yield a number of new species. Expect Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Purple Sandpiper, and Red-throated Loon. We'll check carefully for King and Common Eiders and Harlequin Duck, all of which are annual here. Harbor Seals sometimes make an appearance, and even a Humpback Whale is possible. The cypress swamp at Seashore State Park may produce Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker, and Fort Story will have many Bonaparte's Gulls and perhaps Pine or Palm Warbler among the Yellow-rumps. In 1996 we found a Common Murre here, one of only several Virginia records. We'll drive back across the Chesapeake Bay as we return for our second night in Kiptopeke.

Our first stop as we head north will be Pocomoke Swamp for Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owl, Eastern Bluebird, and Fox Sparrow. Ocean Pines may have Redhead, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Ring-necked Duck. A nice variety of waterfowl can be found at Silver Lake in Rehobeth, and hopefully a Snowy Owl will make an appearance at Cape Henlopen. We'll return to Philadelphia for your late afternoon flights home. The tour will end at the Inn at Nottingham to retrieve your car, or you can spend New Year's Eve there if you wish.

Hooded Merganser will be among the many species of waterfowl that we can expect to see.

--Tom Amico

The Mid-Atlantic New Year's Tour will be led by John Puschock or Bob Schutsky. Both John and Bob have birded this area intensively for many years. We will be in touch with local hotlines and personal contacts to help us seek out rarities along the way.

$1295 per person based upon double occupancy. Single accommodations are available for an extra charge of $275. If you drive to Nottingham, we will reimburse the cost of the shuttle from the Philadelphia Airport.

Expert guide service, ALL meals, all entrance fees, lodging for all five nights of the tour, and ground transportation from Philadelphia, including the shuttle to and from Nottingham. ALL tips are also included in the tour fee, except for anything that you may wish to give to your tour leader.
Does not include the cost of your flights to Philadelphia, alcoholic beverages, and items of a personal nature.

A $300 deposit assures your reservation on the tour. The balance is due 20 October 2008. This tour is very popular. Make your end of the year plans now for some wonderful coastal birding.

We offer the services of our exclusive BIRD TREKS travel agent, Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 22 years of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail lori@baileytravel.com. By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.

With written notice more than 60 days prior to the first day of the tour,100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $75 service fee. With 30-60 days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice. You will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement for your spot on the tour. No partial refund can be given once a tour begins. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the following link to Access America or contact BIRD TREKS for information on obtaining this coverage.