CHURCHILL & SOUTHERN MANITOBA
Arctic Home of the ROSS'S GULL & BELUGA WHALES
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Dates:
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Thursday, 7 June through Sunday, 17 June 2007: 11 days and 10 nights.
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We'll visit:
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Churchill near 60 degrees north latitude, where Canada's vast
boreal forest slopes to the tundra and Hudson
Bay, the largest bay in the world. Churchill is only accessible by
air, boat, or train: no roads lead there! We'll travel by air.
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Oak Hammock Marsh and the open prairies and lakes
of southeastern Manitoba, with their summer wildflowers and
displaying songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl.
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Riding Mountain National Park, extensive boreal habitat
that contrasts greatly from the vast plains further, both in
vegetation and its birdlife.
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The open prairies of southwestern Manitoba with more
wildflowers and unique birdlife, plus Douglas Marsh,
home to Le Conte's and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows and the elusive
Yellow Rail.
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Churchill & Southeastern Manitoba
7-17 June 2007
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Agenda
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1
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We arrive at the Winnipeg, Manitoba airport in the afternoon, then fly
directly to Churchill. After a bit of local exploration, our
first few life birds, and perhaps an iceberg or two,
we'll settle into our lodge for four consecutive nights on the shores
of Hudson Bay.
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2-4
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Churchill has a unique combination of habitats. It is here that
stunted boreal forest meets the Arctic tundra and the shores of Hudson
Bay. This gives us the chance to view many shorebirds in
breeding plumage, some of them singing and displaying from the tops of
spruce trees! We should also see birds like Willow Ptarmigan,
Spruce Grouse, Parasitic Jaeger, American
Bittern, Harris's Sparrow, and Smith's Longspur on
their breeding grounds. Along the Churchill River and Hudson Bay
we'll witness the mass movement of high arctic species such as
Long-tailed Duck and Pacific and Red-throated
Loons in breeding plumage as we search for specialties including
Little, Sabine's, and Ross's Gulls. If the ice
conditions are correct, we are likely to see Beluga Whales and
perhaps Bearded Seals. As we explore the 100-mile road system
surrounding Churchill, we may find Caribou, Black-phase Red
Fox, and Ermine. One year we watched a Red Fox carry
a Hudsonian Godwit to its den of five pups! In 2006 we found an
immature Little Blue Heron, Churchill's second record. The
Arctic wildflower display will be beautiful.
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A displaying male Spruce Grouse presents quite a spectacle in the forests of Churchill.
--James C. Leupold
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5
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After one more morning of searching for Churchill specialties, we'll
return to the airport for our flight to Winnipeg. We'll spend the
remainder of the day at Oak Hammock Marsh, a great waterfowl refuge
just a few miles north of Winnipeg. Interesting birds found here on
previous tours include many Black Terns, Virginia Rail,
Sedge Wren, Least Bittern, American White
Pelican, Marbled Godwit, Short-eared Owl, and
Yellow-headed Blackbird.
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6-7
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We'll make every effort to find a Great Gary Owl at Riding Mountain.
--Randy Miller
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We'll head west from Winnipeg toward Riding Mountain National Park.
We'll have two full days to explore the boreal forests and lakes of
this beautiful area. Birds that we are likely to find include Gray
Jay, Boreal Chickadee, many warblers including
Connecticut and Mourning, Red and White-winged
Crossbills, and hopefully American Three-toed and
Black-backed Woodpeckers. One year we watched a female Black
Bear with two cubs, all of them feeding on dandelion flowers along
the edge of the road! After dinner we will go out in search of
Great Gray Owl and Short-eared Owl. Both nights near
Riding Mountain.
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8-9
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After breakfast we'll drive south toward Brandon. The vast Great
Plains ecosystem will spread out before us in contrast to the boreal
forest that we leave behind. Some of the area specialties that we'll
seek include Burrowing Owl, Sharp-tailed Grouse,
Sprague's Pipit, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and a nice
variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors.
We'll spend at least one evening at Douglas Marsh in search of Le
Conte's and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows and the elusive
Yellow Rail. Both nights in Brandon.
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10
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Our last full day will take us to the extreme southwestern corner of
the province to Whitewater Lake and Turtle Mountain. Whitewater is an
extensive saline lake fed by runoff from the mountain. This area will
increase our chances of finding Baird's Sparrow and Gray
Partridge. Other good birds that we may see include Burrowing
Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Orchard Oriole,
Upland Sandpiper, Ferruginous Hawk, Marsh and
Sedge Wrens, and possibly even Piping Plover. We'll
return to Brandon for a good dinner and our final night.
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11
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Today we are homeward bound. We'll depart Brandon for our drive
to Winnipeg and your mid-day flights home.
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"Thanks so much for a perfect vacation. My Manitoba birding
experience far exceeded my expectations."
Lou Anne Barriger--2003 Manitoba Tour
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"Once again we thoroughly enjoyed our tour. We'll always have
fond memories of the days that started off well and got even
better!"
Pat & Sherron Lynch--2003 Manitoba Tour
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Leader:
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BIRD TREKS
tour to CHURCHILL and SOUTHEASTERN MANITOBA will be
led by Bob Schutsky. Bob has led several previous tours to this
region and looks forward to exploring its many unique habitats with
you. There will be a second leader if there are more than 8
participants.
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The Lazy Bear Restaurant and
Lodge is our comfy home in
Churchill. Bob Schutsky
will be your tour leader.
--photo by Mary Brenner,
2006 tour participant
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Price:
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$2695 based upon double occupancy. This price could increase slightly
if the cost of the flight to Churchill goes up. Please register as
early as possible. Single accommodations are available for an extra
charge of $495.
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Includes:
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Roundtrip flight to Churchill and all ground transportation and
entrance fees within Manitoba. Also included are expert guide
service, ALL meals, and lodging for 10 nights. ALL tips
are included in the tour fee, except for anything that you may wish to
give to your tour leader(s).
Does not include the cost airfare to Winnipeg, alcoholic beverages and
items of a personal nature.
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Deposit:
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A $700 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance
is due 1 April 2007. Please send your deposit soon so that we
can secure the least expensive airfare to Winnipeg and reserve the
LIMITED AIR SPACE on the flight from Winnipeg to Churchill.
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Extra
Services:
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We offer the services of our exclusive
BIRD TREKS travel agent,
Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 21 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.
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Refund &
Cancellation
Policy:
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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.
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Robert M. Schutsky
216 Spring Lane
Peach Bottom, PA 17563
Phone: 717-548-3303
Fax: 717-548-3327
e-mail: info@birdtreks.com
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