NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS
30 August - 4 September 2007
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Day |
Agenda
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1
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We'll depart by van from Nottingham, PA** at 6:00 AM, with a tasty
breakfast as we head south. Our principal birding stop en route to the
Outer Banks will be the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and
Tunnel. This is a great time for migrant songbirds,
falcons, American Oystercatcher, Lesser Black-backed
Gull, and many additional species such as Nashville
Warbler, Seaside Sparrow, and Clay-colored Sparrow.
We were lucky enough to find an early Harlequin Duck one year.
ALL 5 NIGHTS will be in the same motel in Manteo on the Outer Banks.
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**
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If you are flying from out of town, I will ask you to arrive a day
early and spend the night at the pleasant Inn at Nottingham. The price
of that motel stay is NOT included in the tour fee. I will pick you
up there at 6 AM on 30 August to begin the tour.
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2
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Migrant Black Tern.
--Tom Amico
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Our first day on the Outer Banks will include birding at Cape
Hatteras, Pea Island, Oregon Inlet, Coquina Beach, and Bodie Island.
The Pea Island impoundments yield Marbled and Hudsonian
Godwits, along with American Avocet and many additional
shorebirds. Hedgerows and thickets are great for
sparrows, warblers, vireos, and other
songbirds. Herons, egrets, ibis,
pelicans, and terns are abundant at Oregon Inlet. We'll
save time late in the day to search for bitterns and
rails at Bodie Light, then get a good night's sleep for
tomorrow's pelagic trip.
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3
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We will spend the day at sea in the nearby waters of the Gulf Stream
with Brian Patteson. Some of the species that we may see include
Black-capped Petrel, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Sooty
and Bridled Terns, Cory's and Audubon's
Shearwaters, and Pomarine Jaeger. Whales,
dolphins, and sea turtles are likely, and unusual
species such as Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, Long-tailed
Jaeger, and South Polar Skua are well within reason. There
is always the chance for something VERY unusual, perhaps a
White-tailed Tropicbird, Herald Petrel, or
White-faced Storm-Petrel.
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4
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Our day will begin at Hatteras, famous for its gulls,
terns, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Nearby
hedgerows will yield more songbirds and perhaps a rarity such
as Lark Sparrow or Dickcissel. The ferry ride will
produce many aquatic species, then we'll explore Ocracoke Island's
vast thickets, salt marshes, and miles of beautiful beach. Although
rare in North Carolina, Shiny Cowbird, White-winged
Dove, and Eurasian Collared-Dove have all been found here.
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Piping Plover will be just one of many species of shorebirds that we will observe.
--Tom Amico
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5
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Bodie (pronounced 'body') Island has a great combination of edges and
hedgerows for songbirds, pinewoods for Brown-headed
Nuthatch and Pine Warbler, and lots of marsh and wetlands
for aquatic species. We'll spend more time at Pea Island and
Hatteras Point, especially at some of the known vagrant traps where we
might find Western Kingbird or Clay-colored Sparrow. Any
extra time is useful for scoping the vast flats at Oregon Inlet or
looking for migrant seabirds from Coquina Beach. We'll spend
our final night in Manteo on the Outer Banks.
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6
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An early departure will give us some birding time on the trip home,
perhaps at Kiptopeke, Chincoteague, or Bombay
Hook. We'll make a special effort to track down any unusual birds
that have been reported along the way. Our return to Nottingham will
be by about 8:00 PM.
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Leader:
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The Outer Banks Birding Extravaganza will be led by Bob
Schutsky who has birded coastal North Carolina dozens of times. The
birding and coastal scenery will be spectacular.
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Price:
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$1345 per person based upon double occupancy. Single accommodation is
available at an extra charge of $275.
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Includes:
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Expert guide service, lodging for five nights, ALL meals,
entrance fees and permits, pelagic trip and ferry rides, and ground
transportation from Nottingham, PA. ALL tips are also
included in the tour fee, except for anything that you may wish to
give to your tour leader(s).
Does not include the cost of airfare to and from Philadelphia.
BIRD TREKS
will, upon request, help you obtain the best airfare. Also not
included are the costs of alcoholic beverages, items of a personal
nature, and the motel night of 29 August at the Inn at Nottingham.
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Deposit:
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A $350 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance
is due 20 June 2007. EARLY RESERVATIONS ARE NECESSARY so that
we can secure your spot on the pelagic trip, which may fill 3-6 months
in advance.
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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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