Birdwatching North America with Birdingpaltours
If you are an independent bird watcher who does not care for large group tours then Birdingpaltours is for you.
Do you like to bird with a couple of friends or by yourself, then we have the perfect arrangement for you.
Our tours are flexible, safe and the use of a local guide lets you participate in the planning.
The local guide knows all the hotspots. No more driving around trying to find birds. They will be found for you.
Our tours invariably cost less than the larger organized tours and you get the most out of your trip because you are a member of a small group. Our experience has shown that in trying to organize your own tour you can end up with hidden and unexpected costs.
The Birdingpaltour Birdwatching Experience.
We are birders ourselves and we know what you want. We know that often your time is limited. So we’ll design a tour to fit your needs. We have done the research, we know the best places to go and the best time to go and best of all we’ll provide you with a local guide who knows where the best places are. We’ll also provide you with a self-drive rental car, accommodations and some meals. We’ll provide you with maps and entrance fees into parks. Our tours are flexible, they will fit in with your schedule, 3 or 4 or 6 days you decide. You will be safe as you will be accompanied by a local guide. Our group size limit is 4 people, so
you won’t miss a bird because you are at the end of a long line of birders on a single file trail.
Birdwatching in Alberta
Calgary is the main commercial centre for the province of Alberta, indeed for much of the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Calgary
is also ideally situated to give the visiting bird watcher a sample of many different habitats.
"Prairie Road"
The foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains are an easy drive from Calgary as are the Southern Badlands and the Prairie Pothole country. We have designed 2 short birding trips centered on Calgary. These trips are 4 to 5 days in length but can be shortened or lengthened depending on your needs. Both tours presume birding from May to October.
Birdingpaltours offers three birding tours in Alberta
4 day Calgary Kananaskis Experience
4 day The Calgary/Dinosaur Provincial Park Experience
3 day The Edmonton Experience
THE CALGARY KANANASKIS EXPERIENCE
Our first trip will take you west from Calgary through rolling prairies into the foothills of the Rockies. The scenery is fantastic and the wildlife incredible. Anything is possible while either driving or hiking. Black and Grizzly Bears can be
found. Red Fox and Coyotes are common as are Elk which in some places have become so tame as to be a nuisance. Big Horn Sheep
can be seen from the road way.
Tour I
THE CALGARY KANANASKIS EXPERIENCE
Day 1.
Inglewood Creek Bird Sanctuary.
You will spend part of your day here in this interesting natural area along the Bow River in Calgary. It has many walking trails and a small lake and the Bow River. Black-billed Magpies are common here. Look for Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Wood Duck, Mallards, Blue-winged Teal, Canvasbacks, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Cedar Waxwings, Western
Wood Peewee, American Robin, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Violet-Green Swallows, American Kestrels, California Gulls, Franklin`s Gulls, Red-tailed and Swainson`s Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow Warblers, Belted Kingfisher, Brewer’s Blackbird, Clay-coloured Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker and Spotted Sandpipers. After your introduction to Calgary birding you will drive westward towards Banff National Park. On a clear day the snow covered mountain tops of the Rockies will
be just visible on the horizon.
Lunch and overnight Canmore area.
"Harris's Sparrow"
Day 2 and 3.
Banff National Park and Kananaskis Area.
You will spend the next two days birding such areas as Bow River National Park, Lake Louise and Moraine lake Trail. During your trip you will be looking for the following birds among others, Gray and Stellar’s Jay, Mountain and Black-backed Chickadee, Common Raven, Varied Thrush, Violet Green Swallow, Fox Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend’s
Warbler, Pine Siskin, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Wilson’s Warbler, Hermit Thrush, White-winged Crossbill,
Golden Eagle, American Dipper, Barn Swallow, Western Tanager, Red-naped Sapsucker, Calliope and Rufous Hummingbird, Merlin, Osprey, Ring-necked Duck, Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, Swainson’s Hawk, Lazuli Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Dusky Flycatcher, Black-billed Magpie. Franklin’s Gull, Yellow-headed Blackbird and Western Grebe.
Breakfast, Lunch and overnight Canmore village area.
Day 4.
Sheep River Valley Area.
On your way back to Calgary you will visit this area it consists of gently rolling farmlands interspersed with clumps of aspen and seasonal ponds. It is well known for its spring raptor migration. It is a good introduction to prairie birding and the Sheep River Sanctuary will be very productive for common prairie species. It should be possible to turn up such species as Spotted Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Western Meadowlark, American Goldfinch, Horned Lark, Eastern Phoebe, Alder Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Say’s Phoebe, Common Nighthawk and Long-billed Curlew. There should be time in the afternoon to visit other interesting places in Calgary such as the Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Your tour ends this afternoon.
Breakfast and Lunch.
Please note:
The itinerary described in these notes is intended as an example only. In the event of weather changes, logistical arrangements, or other problems, Birdingpaltours may make changes to the published itinerary. Birdingpaltours reserves the right to make changes in guides, rental cars and accommodations.
4 Days tour price is: 2 pax C$600 per person. 4 pax C$370 per person.
Please contact us for the cost of a Single Supplement for this trip.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:Included:
Rental Car For 4 days, 3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 nights accommodation, Local guides and Entrance Fees
Excluded:
Gasoline and insurance for the car, Dinners, Alcoholic drinks, Phone calls of a personal nature, Costs incurred due to mechanical failure of the rental vehicle or other emergencies and Fines or tolls.
The Calgary/Dinosaur Provincial Park Experience
Calgary is the main commercial centre for the province of Alberta, indeed for much of the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Calgary
is also ideally situated to give the visiting bird watcher a sample of many different habitats. The foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains are an easy drive from Calgary as are the Southern Badlands and the Prairie Pothole country. We have designed 2 short birding trips centered on Calgary. These trips are 4 to 5 days in length but can be shortened or lengthened depending on your needs. Both tours presume birding from May to October.
On our Calgary/Dinosaur Provincial Park Experience you will spend your first day birding in Calgary and then make your way east along the Trans Canada Highway to Brooks, Alberta, your base for the next 2 days. You will then return to Calgary for some more birding in the city.
Tour II
The Calgary/Dinosaur Provincial Park Experience
Day 1.
Inglewood Creek Bird Sanctuary.
You will spend part of your day here in this interesting natural area along the Bow River in Calgary. It has many walking trails and a small lake and the Bow River. Black-billed Magpies are common here. Look for Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Wood Duck, Mallards, Blue-winged Teal, Canvasbacks, Eastern kingbird, Tree Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Cedar Waxwings, Western
Wood Peewee, American Robin, House Wren, Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, Violet-Green Swallows, American Kestrels, California Gulls, Franklin`s Gulls, Red-tailed and Swainson`s Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Brewer’s Blackbird, Clay-coloured Sparrow, Northern Flicker, Downey Woodpecker and Spotted Sandpipers.
After a pleasant stay in the Sanctuary you will head east to Brooks. During the last ice age the glaciers left a vast number of depressions across Alberta and Saskatchewan. These water filled sloughs, as they are known, are either permanent or fill in with snow melt in the spring and are home to thousands of waterfowl. The area is often known as the duck factory of North America.
You will stop at various lakes and sloughs. Among other birds you hope to turn up American Avocet, Wilson`s Phalaropes, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Cinnamon Teal, Red-necked Grebe, Western Grebe and American White Pelican.
Lunch and overnight Brooks area.
"Black-billed Magpie"
Day 2 and 3.
Brooks Area/Dinosaur Provincial Park.
You will spend the next two days in the Brooks area driving the back roads of this mixed farming area, and visiting Lake Newell. You will look for Lark Bunting, Clay-coloured Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur and McGown Longspurs. You will visit Dinosaur Provincial Park, part of the so-called "Badlands" and well–known for its dinosaur fossils. There is a fabulous display centre
and museum here as well.
There are 3 major habitat areas in the park, the upland prairie, the badlands and stretches of Plains Cottonwoods along the river. Each of these habitats is fast disappearing elsewhere and therefore is of great importance. Each type of habitat has its own unique birds. While in the park you will looking for Northern Pintail, American Widgeon, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Veery, Brown Thrasher, Sprague’s Pipit, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Spotted Towhee, Vesper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Savannah
Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Western Meadowlark, American Goldfinch, Horned Lark, Eastern Phoebe, Alder Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Say’s Phoebe, Common Nighthawk and Long-billed Curlew.
Breakfast, Lunch and overnight Brooks area.
Day 4.
Return to Calgary.
Today, after you check out Lake Stafford once more, you will make your way back to Calgary. You will want to check out some of the sloughs on your way back and perhaps do some more city birding in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Your tour ends this afternoon.
Please note:
The itinerary described in these notes is intended as an example only. In the event of weather changes, logistical arrangements, or other problems, Birdingpaltours may make changes to the published itinerary. Birdingpaltours reserves the right to make changes in guides, rental cars and accommodations.
4 Days tour price is: 2 People C$790 per person. 4 People C$570 per person.
Please ask for single supplement rates.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:
Rental Car For 4 days, 3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 nights accommodation, Local guides and Entrance Fees
Excluded:
Gasoline and insurance for the car, Dinners, Alcoholic drinks, Phone calls of a personal nature.
THE EDMONTON EXPERIENCE
Edmonton is the capital city of the most westerly of the three “Prairie Provinces”, Alberta. It grew up around the old fur trading post, Fort Edmonton on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. Situated in a typical prairie farmland area, it is a commercial and cultural hub of the region. The city has maintained a network of trails and natural areas along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River which are a boon to the visiting bird watcher. Many of the areas birds can be seen during the course of a day’s birding in the riparian habitat along the banks of the river. Downtown Edmonton has a large concentration of urban Peregrines and Merlins so keep an eye skyward at all times.
We have designed a slightly longer trip using Edmonton as a base, that will visit some of the natural areas near the city. Our trip will provide you with a good sampling of prairie birding. The lists of birds and information that we provide are examples only and generally reflect conditions that exist in the summer months, i.e. May to September.
Please note that as with all our trips we can extend the duration of your trip and visit other areas to meet your needs. Just
let us know what you would like.
Tour III
THE EDMONTON EXPERIENCE
Day 1.
The Banks of the North Saskatchewan River.
Today after meeting with your local guide you will spend a leisurely day birding around the city of Edmonton. This should
provide you with a good introduction to the more common local species.
Lunch and overnight B&B Edmonton area.
Day 2.
Elk Island National Park.
Today you will visit the famous Elk Island National Park. You will be looking for such species as American Robins, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, Western, Horned, Pied-billed and Eared Grebes. Among the ducks keep an eye out for Barrow’s Goldeneye, Surf Scoter and Hooded Merganser. There will be lots of Bonaparte’s and Ring-billed Gulls. It is also possible to
find Downey, Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker here. You should also look out for White-breasted Nuthatch, Orange – crowned Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Black-bellied and Semi-palmated Plover, Long-billed Dowitchers, Pectoral and Baird’s Sandpipers, American Pipit and Rough-legged Hawk among others.
Breakfast, Lunch and overnight B&B Edmonton area.
"Pileated Woodpecker"
Day 3.
Beaverhills Lake area.
Today will find you in the Beaverhills Lake Area looking for Black-bellied Plover, American Golden Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Avocet, Willet, Least Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Sandpiper, Western sandpiper, Bobolink, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Double-crested Cormorant among others.
Breakfast and Lunch.
Your trip ends today back in Edmonton.
Please note:
The itinerary described in these notes is intended as an example only. In the event of weather changes, logistical arrangements, or other problems, Birdingpaltours may make changes to the published itinerary. Birdingpaltours reserves the right to make changes in guides, rental cars and accommodations.
3 Days tour price is: 2 People C$790 per person. 4 People C$570 per person.
Please ask for single supplement rates.
Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.
Included:
Rental Car For 4 days, 3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 nights accommodation, Local guides and Entrance Fees
Excluded:
Gasoline and insurance for the car, Dinners, Alcoholic drinks, Phone calls of a personal nature.
Notes:
The above birding itineraries are based on what are essentially popular routes for birders. It can be shortened or extended.
All the date of itineraries include arrival and departure dates.
All trips are available year round, but prices may be adjusted around special holidays.
Minimum lead time 4 weeks.
To check availability for tours on short notice, fill out “Request for Quote” form with desirable dates.
Fitness:
Moderate but quite a bit of walking involved on mostly flat terrain.
Note: The lists of birds and information that we provide are examples only and generally reflect conditions that exist in the summer months, i.e. May to September.
Electronic map of Alberta
Guide books and CD’s recommended:
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, Knopf 2003
A Field Guide to Western Birds , Roger Tory petersen, Houghton, Miflin, Harcourt 1998
The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Dunn Editor, National Geographic Press
Find lowest prices here
Bird Recordings from Alberta
www.birdsounds.nl
Complete package tour including air and ground fares is available upon request:
Many of our destinations require multiple flight connections, and it is very important you are protected if complications arise. Our experienced travel consultants are well trained in booking complicated itineraries, not only to obtain the most economical pricing, but also to make sure you are protected, should delays or other complications occur.
For a quote please request it on the form below.
Note: To ascertain tour availability and best pricing, select a week for departure date. e.g. Sep 01 - 07
Need more information please email us.
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