GRAND MANAN, NEW BRUNSWICK ITINERARY

***GRAND MANAN, NEW BRUNSWICK***
**At the Mouth of the Bay of Fundy**
Dates:	Thursday, 20 September through Tuesday, 25 September 2007: 6 days & 5 nights.
We'll visit:	The Grand Manan Archipelago that consists of the 100 square-mile main island and 20 smaller islands. It is one of the finest migrant and vagrant traps in the Canadian Maritimes.
	We'll travel by van to all of the most scenic and best birding spots on the main island, including The Whistle, Swallow Tail, Castalia Marsh, Southwest Head Lighthouse, and the Grand Manan Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
	We'll travel by boat to Whitehead Island, plus sail into deep water for some fine pelagic birding and whale watching.

Target birds include a nice assortment of regular Atlantic Coast migrants and pelagics, plus some uncommon migrants and a few vagrants. A few rarities are to be expected. We will search for species such as . . .

Red-necked Grebe

Philadelphia Vireo

Sooty Shearwater

Warbling Vireo

Common Loon

Nashville Warbler

Northern Gannet

Orange-crowned Warbler

Great Cormorant

Blackpoll Warbler

American Bittern

Wilson's Warbler

Common Eider

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Northern Goshawk

Dickcissel

Peregrine Falcon

Clay-colored Sparrow

Black-legged Kittiwake

Lark Sparrow

Pomarine Jaeger

Lincoln's Sparrow

Black Guillemot

Swamp Sparrow

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Baltimore Oriole

Western Kingbird

Bobolink

Winter Wren

Rusty Blackbird

Boreal Chickadee

Purple Finch

Atlantic Puffins are likely offshore.

--Ron Simpson

GRAND MANAN NEW BRUNSWICK
20-25 September 2007

Day

Agenda

The tour begins in Bangor, Maine. We'll drive northeast just as the leaves are beginning to turn and spend the night at the Bluebird Motel in Machias, Maine. Expect a fine seafood dinner at Helen's on the shore of Machias Bay. We'll look for the Bald Eagle that often perches nearby.

We'll take the scenic drive to the ferry terminal at Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. Remember your passport. During the 90-minute crossing we'll look for pelagic species that may include Northern Gannet, Black Guillemot, Red-necked Phalarope, Parasitic and Pomarine Jaegers, and Black-legged Kittiwake. We should also see Harbor Seal, Harbor Porpoise, and possibly a Humpback or Finback Whale. All four nights will be at the Shorecrest Lodge on Grand Manan.

3-5

Humpback Whale is one of six or more different cetaceans that we may see.

--Bob Schutsky

Each day will be a new adventure as we explore the 100 square-mile main island and some of the smaller adjacent ones. Most songbirds are nocturnal migrants, so we will spend much of the day searching for overnight arrivals. The Whistle and Swallow Tail can be especially productive locations, particularly if a cold front and resultant northwest winds push migrants offshore. Southwest Head is a great spot to watch for migrant raptors, waterfowl, seabirds, and a few shorebirds. One year we found a Dickcissel at Southwest Head and a very rare RUFF at Castalia Marsh, along with Red Knot, Whimbrel, American Golden-Plover, and Red-necked Phalarope. Backyard feeders can be quite active and yield species such as Baltimore Oriole, Rusty Blackbird, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and an unusual sparrow or two. Long Eddy near the lighthouse is an area of intense tidal current and can host a myriad of feeding seabirds and perhaps a Sabine's or Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake. Two boat trips are planned: one to nearby Whitehead Island to look for Boreal Chickadee and Northern Goshawk, the other into deeper offshore waters in search of whales and more pelagic birds. Because we are staying at the same lodge each night and driving from there daily, we can easily drive you to the lodge at mid-day to pursue your own private agenda, such as a quiet stroll, a good book, and perhaps a nap.

We'll head to the dock for our return to Blacks Harbour. There should be plenty of time for some birding at Moosehorn NWR near Calais, Maine. Our final destination is Bangor, Maine for your afternoon flight home.

Our Grand Manan Tour may be combined with the 5-day tour to Monhegan Island, Maine from 26-30 September for ELEVEN incredible days of North Atlantic Maritime birding. See the separate Monhegan itinerary for details. Please join us!

Red-necked Grebe is a regular migrant on Grand Manan.

--Tom Amico

Leader:

The Grand Manan Migration Special will be led by Bob Schutsky, a veteran of 35 years of Atlantic Coast birding. Bob led our previous Grand Manan Tour and is anxious to return.

Price:

$1395 per person based upon double occupancy. Single accommodations are available for an extra charge of $295.

Includes:

Expert guide service, entrance fees, ALL meals, lodging for 5 nights, all boat and ferry rides, and ground transportation beginning and ending in Bangor. ALL tips are also included in the tour fee, except for anything that you may wish to give to your tour leader(s). The extra night between Grand Manan and Monhegan Island is FREE if you register for both tours.
Does not include the cost of airfare to and from Bangor, Maine. BIRD TREKS will, upon request, arrange this transportation for you. Also not included are the cost of alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature.

Deposit:

A $300 deposit will assure your spot on the tour. The balance is due 15 July 2007.

Extra
Services:

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.

Refund &
Cancellation
Policy:

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.

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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