BIRDING PROGRAM

2022 BIRDWATCHING EXCURSIONS

Relaxed, Fun, Exciting & Educational Excursions in the Greater Ottawa Area ~ From Beginner to Expert – Great For All Levels

We offer anything from an hour to full days and overnights. Normal half-day birding: $75.00 – Extended morning: $95.00 – Full day birding: $135.00 HST included
A morning outing normally lasts between 4-6 hours, extended morning 7-9 hrs and a full day birding is 9-12+ hrs depending on bird activity

Want a private outing? Contact us with your wishes and targets and we will create a customised outing for you.

FALL Birding Program

Wednesday Sep 28: Petrie Island & Local Fields – Ottawa East
Saturday Oct 1: Shorebirds & Wetlands – Ottawa West
Saturday Oct 8: Global BIG Day – Petrie Island & St. Lawrence Lowland Habitats – EXTENDED DAY
Saturday Oct 15: Wetlands & Open Country – Ottawa East
Wednesday Oct 19: Migration Along The Ottawa River – Ottawa West
Tuesday Oct 25: Shorebirds & Waterfowl – The Eastern Wetlands
Thursday Oct 27: Grandview Trails, Shirley’s Bay & the Ottawa River – Ottawa West
Saturday Oct 29: Westmeath #1 – Open Country – Cranes & Raptors – EXTENDED DAY
Tuesday Nov 1: Sandhill Cranes, Geese & Raptors – Ottawa East
Thursday Nov 3: Diving Ducks, Loons & Other Waterbirds – Ottawa West
Sunday Nov 6: Morris Island – Forest & Wetlands – Ottawa West
Wednesday Nov 9: Westmeath #2 – Open Country – Cranes & Raptors – EXTENDED DAY
Monday Nov 14: Coniferous Woodland Trails – Ottawa West
Saturday Nov 19: Eagles & Finches – Gatineau Escarpment
Tuesday Nov 22: Fall migration at Britannia Conservation Area – Ottawa West
Sunday Nov 27: Late Fall Migration – Lake Dore & Other Staging Areas West of Ottawa – FULL DAY

Wednesday Sep 28: Petrie Island & Local Fields – Ottawa East

Time: 7:30 am to noon-ish – meet at Petrie Island Causeway, beside Ozile’s Marina https://goo.gl/maps/ewFSCV91WabU6EZ88 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

Staging areas east of Ottawa are fairly consistent during migration. During September most of our local wetlands can produce large numbers of birds. We will check Petrie Island’s various habitats for a mix of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds, including the last of the warblers, flycatchers and swallows. We’ll then continue to Milton Road where we hope to see Sandhill Cranes and the first flocks of migrating geese. Other migrants we might find include the first arctic songbirds like American Pipit. The vast open fields around here have much potential for birding surprises, especially during migration. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Saturday Oct 1: Shorebirds & Wetlands – Ottawa West

Time: 7:30 am to noon – meet at Andrew Haydon Park West Parking Lot, off Carling Ave., and Acres Road – https://goo.gl/maps/vx4XAy6CcQ3Pqa9F9 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

Although the staging areas east of Ottawa are renowned for migrating sandpipers, there are excellent shorebird spots west of the city as well. Andrew Haydon Park, Richmond Conservation Area, and the Almonte Lagoons have had their fair share of rare birds. We’ll visit some of these, based on which ones are accessible and which ones are reporting good bird activity. No doubt, we’ll find other great birds like herons, bitterns, rails, waterfowl and songbirds. The beginning of October is fairly consistent for bird migration, and it’s an exciting time to be searching for birds, especially rare or unusual shorebirds. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Saturday Oct 8: Global BIG Day – Petrie Island & St. Lawrence Lowland Habitats – EXTENDED DAY

Time: 6:30 am to 2:30 PM – meet at Petrie Island Causeway, beside Ozile’s Marina https://goo.gl/maps/ewFSCV91WabU6EZ88 – $95.00 per pers HST incl.

Today is an International “Global Big Day” of Birding. To celebrate, and being a part of a world wide citizen science project, we plan an extended day exploring areas east of the city. We start fairly early at Petrie Island – a rich riparian-growth region with extensive wetlands that can reveal an abundance of wildlife. Here, we hope to see lingering herons, bitterns, waterfowl and several species of songbirds. Overhead we might see Osprey, Northern Harrier, Broad-winged Hawk or maybe even a Bald Eagle or Red-shouldered Hawk. In the woodlands there might be sparrows, kinglets, or some lingering warblers, vireos, thrushes and flycatchers. From here, we‘ll head into the open fields east of the city to explore grasslands, wetlands, lagoons and small isolated woodlots. If we’re lucky, we might see Sandhill Cranes or a large number of migrating shorebirds. We also hope to encounter large flocks of waterfowl using the fields as staging areas during their migration south. If we’re lucky, we might find Ross’s Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Geese, or something even more exotic. By the end of the day, we will reach habitats near the village of Alfred. Here we hope to encounter migrating raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl. We can expect a great variety of wildlife today. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Saturday Oct 15: Wetlands & Open Country – Ottawa East

Time: 7:30 am to noon-ish – meet at Petrie Island Causeway, beside Ozile’s Marina https://goo.gl/maps/ewFSCV91WabU6EZ88 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

As the fall progresses, so does the parade of migratory birds. In mid October, many geese, ducks, raptors and songbirds arrive in Eastern Ontario’s open fields. The local wetlands also provide suitable habitat for a variety of waterbirds. There is always a chance for good shorebirds, grebes, gulls and various waterfowl. Since this is a dynamic time, bird numbers can easily change overnight. Some migrants may have left while others arrive. Unusual birds that might be in our area during this time include Ross’s Goose, Lapland Longspur or Long-billed Dowitcher. Anything is possible in October. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Wednesday Oct 19: Migration Along The Ottawa River – Ottawa West

Time: 7:30 am to noon – meet at Andrew Haydon Park West Parking Lot, off Carling Ave., and Acres Road – https://goo.gl/maps/vx4XAy6CcQ3Pqa9F9 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

The Ottawa River continues with a flurry of bird activity. Bird numbers typically fluctuate as the day progresses. Like bobbing corks, small rafts of scaup, scoter and goldeneye rest on the river. In the vegetation lining the shores, migratory songbirds tease us with their skulking behaviour. Along sandy beaches and rocky shoreline, unusual shorebirds, like Red-necked Phalarope, blend into the background with their cryptic plumage. Many high arctic birds, including uncommon species like Red-throated Loon and Brant, begin to arrive from the breeding grounds up north. Overhead, on the water, or resting on shore, evidence of migration will surround us. Our strategy is to position ourselves at key locations to maximize our ability to thoroughly observe the river. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Tuesday Oct 25: Shorebirds & Waterfowl – The Eastern Wetlands

Time: 7:30 am to noon-ish – meet at Petrie Island Causeway, beside Ozile’s Marina https://goo.gl/maps/ewFSCV91WabU6EZ88 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

Anticipating rare shorebirds wandering from afar, we visit various wetlands and mudflats east of Ottawa. If conditions are good, hundreds of migrating shorebirds will land here to feed as they continue their journey toward habitats south of the equator. Joined with them on these food-rich waters are good numbers of ducks, including many drakes in their fresh breeding colours. Also present are migrant songbirds and maybe even a rare gull or grebe. Anything is possible in our wetlands at this time. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Thursday Oct 27: Grandview Trails, Shirley’s Bay & the Ottawa River – Ottawa West

Time 7:30 am to noon-ish – meet at Andrew Haydon Park West Parking Lot, off Carling Ave., and Acres Road – https://goo.gl/maps/vx4XAy6CcQ3Pqa9F9 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

The Ottawa River shoreline connected to Ottawa’s Greenbelt can be very productive, especially during mid October. We’ll start at Andrew Haydon Park checking the river as well as its riparian vegetation. On the water, we hope to see numbers of grebes, scoters, loons and other water birds. We’ll continue toward Shirley’s Bay making several short hikes along the way, including the excellent Grandview Drive trail network. This scrubby area can hide secretive migratory songbirds as well as the first of the over-wintering finches. There should also be a variety of sparrows passing through like Fox or White-crowned. We might also see raptors migrating overhead like Sharp-shinned Hawk or Red-shouldered Hawk. If we’re really lucky, we might find a number of angry chickadees and kinglets mobbing a roosting Saw-whet Owl. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Saturday Oct 29: Westmeath #1 – Open Country – Cranes & Raptors – EXTENDED DAY

Time 6:00 am to 3:00-ish pm – meet at the Carp Park-n-Ride – https://goo.gl/maps/JTHMpnqkS2m6GrZ26 – $95.00 per person HST incl

Habitats northwest of Ottawa have recently proven excellent staging areas for a variety of species, especially in fall. We plan to visit various wetlands and open country looking for flocks of Sandhill Crane and waterfowl. We should also find raptors like Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier and others. There’s a chance we may even find a Golden Eagle or Northern Goshawk. In some of the extensive wetlands, we might find lingering Common Gallinule, Virginia Rail. We’ll also check for American Coot, or any number of dabbling ducks like Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail or American Wigeon. The open fields of Westmeath have recently become a significant staging area for Sandhill Cranes. With luck, we might find hundreds of them. We’ll also check parts of the Ottawa River and Muskrat Lake for migratory waterbirds like loons and grebes. This is the time of year where almost anything can show up including a rare flycatcher or something equally as exciting. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 1: Sandhill Cranes, Geese & Raptors – Ottawa East

Time 7:30 am to noon-ish – meet at Petrie Island Causeway, beside Ozile’s Marina https://goo.gl/maps/ewFSCV91WabU6EZ88 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

By November, many of our local farm fields have been harvested and cut. This provides us with open views from the roadside where birds are easily observed as they forage through the crop stubble. Although some have already passed through, we should still witness much evidence of migration. After a quick check of the Ottawa River for diving ducks, we’ll drive through open country east of Ottawa looking for Sandhill Cranes, various geese and various hawks. There’s a chance we might also encounter Northern Shrike, Lapland Longspur or even Short-eared Owl. We’ll check all flocks of waterfowl for unusual species like Ross’s Goose or Greater White-fronted Goose. They’re out there. Finding them is just a matter of persistence and luck. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Thursday Nov 3: Diving Ducks, Loons & Other Waterbirds – Ottawa West

Time 7:30 am to noon – meet at Andrew Haydon Park West Parking Lot, off Carling Ave., and Acres Road – https://goo.gl/maps/vx4XAy6CcQ3Pqa9F9 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

Early November in Ottawa is always a good time to observe the hardiest of northern birds. Some just arriving from the Arctic, while many others are spending time loafing or feeding in the deep water along the Ottawa River. Birds like Surf Scoter, Red-throated Loon, Long-tailed Duck and Horned Grebe will likely be present somewhere along the river. We’ll also check the water’s edge for late shorebirds like Sanderling, Dunlin, White-rumped Sandpiper or, with luck, Purple Sandpiper or Red Phalarope. Depending where the birds are concentrated, we’ll consider checking places like Andrew Haydon Park, Moodie Drive Quarry Ponds, Grandview Drive, Shirley’s Bay or Constance Bay with hopes of observing much late-fall diversity. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Sunday Nov 6: Morris Island – Forest & Wetlands – Ottawa West

Time 7:30am to 3:00pm-ish – meet at the Carp Park-n-Ride – https://goo.gl/maps/JTHMpnqkS2m6GrZ26 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

Morris Island, west of Ottawa, near Fitzroy Harbour, is a diverse landscape of natural beauty. Here, we should encounter several species of migrating songbirds in the waning all colours. We’ll take a leisurely walk along the trail network of this large parcel of woodland, wetland and riparian habitats. While most of the long-distant migrants warblers and flycatchers) will be gone, we should find sparrows, kinglets and aterbirds. Depending on water levels, there could be numbers of shorebirds or waterfowl. Eagles and other raptors might also be present. With luck, we might be able to encourage birds like Barred Owl to come into view. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Wednesday Nov 9: Westmeath #2 – Open Country – Cranes & Raptors – EXTENDED DAY

Time 6 am to 3:00 pm – meet at the Carp Park-n-Ride – https://goo.gl/maps/JTHMpnqkS2m6GrZ26 – $95.00 per person HST incl.

By popular demand… We’re revisiting this area again this season. Habitats northwest of Ottawa have recently proven excellent staging areas for a variety of species, especially in fall. We plan to visit various wetlands and open country looking for flocks of Sandhill Crane and waterfowl. We should also find raptors like Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier and others. There’s a chance we may even find a Golden Eagle or Northern Goshawk. In some of the extensive wetlands, we might find lingering Common Gallinule or Virginia Rail. We’ll also check for American Coot, or any number of dabbling ducks like Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail or American Wigeon. The open fields of Westmeath have recently become a significant staging area for Sandhill Cranes. With luck, we might find hundreds of them. We’ll also check parts of the Ottawa River and Muskrat Lake for migratory waterbirds like loons and grebes. This is the time of year where almost anything can show up including a rare flycatcher or something equally as exciting. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Monday Nov 14: Coniferous Woodland Trails – Ottawa West

Time 7:30 am to noon – Meet at Andrew Haydon Park West Parking Lot, off Carling Ave., and Acres Road – https://goo.gl/maps/vx4XAy6CcQ3Pqa9F9 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

Today we’ll start by checking the Ottawa River for passing migrants. From there, we’ll then visit one of many coniferous woodland trails west of Ottawa. Besides the ever-present Black-capped Chickadees and nuthatches, we may see a Ruffed Grouse cross the trail. This is also a good time to start searching for the first over-wintering migrants seeking shelter and food in our local forests. White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, or even something more unusual could be present. Some years we get Boreal Chickadee, Boreal Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker or even Three-toed Woodpecker. Whatever is present, we’ll use various visual and auditory clues to help us find these elusive creatures. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Saturday Nov 19: Eagles & Finches – Gatineau Escarpment

Time 7:30 am to 12:30 pm The Information Kiosk (Gatineau Park Welcome Area), Promenade de la Gatineau (Gatineau Parkway), North of Tache Blvd. https://goo.gl/maps/Mwx238Wx8CS8jz7P6 – $75.00 per pers.

The rugged beauty of the Gatineau Escarpment provides us with the opportunity to see many interesting birds. At the edge of the Canadian Shield, northern finches, woodpeckers and raptors recognize habitats similar to their northern breeding grounds. With luck, we might find the first overwintering finches like redpolls, crossbills, Pine Siskin, Pine Grosbeak or Evening Grosbeak. Typically, they’re found here more easily than in Ottawa’s lowlands. We’ll look for raptors using the updrafts created by the escarpment. Throughout fall and winter Bald Eagles are found regularly while Golden Eagles require a bit of persistence and luck. We occasionally find Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Goshawk here as well. To maximize our chances of finding our target species, we’ll spend the morning exploring the many backroads networked through the hills and lowlands. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Tuesday Nov 22: Fall Migration at Britannia Conservation Area – Ottawa West

Time 7:30 am to noon – meet along Cassels Street, right beside Mud Lake – https://goo.gl/maps/FXHua5MQkLVBi2AX7 – $75.00 per pers HST incl.

Part of the Lac Deschênes Important Bird Area (IBA), Britannia is noted for its diversity of habitats and attractiveness to migrating birds. This is especially remarkable because of its proximity to the city – like an oasis in an urban desert. Early November can produce songbirds migrating through this productive staging area, sometimes including a few very late warblers. Hiking along the trails will likely reveal some mid-fall migrants like sparrows and kinglets. Mud Lake often attracts a variety of waterfowl including some drakes dressed in brilliant breeding plumage. The river, with its rapids and deeper areas, might reveal some uncommon species among the more common waterfowl and gulls. Contact us for registration to TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Sunday Nov 27: Late Fall Migration – Lake Dore & Other Staging Areas West of Ottawa – FULL DAY

Time 6 am to 7:00 pm – meet at the Carp Park-n-Ride – https://goo.gl/maps/JTHMpnqkS2m6GrZ26 – $135.00 per person HST incl.

Lake Dore is a large body of freshwater that has consistently produced unusual species of waterbirds, especially during autumn. The Lake provides a good food supply for surface-feeding birds like gulls, as well as diving birds like loons, grebes and ducks. Late fall can sometimes produce large numbers of these birds. The list of exciting rarities that have shown up here is fairly long including gems like Thick-billed Murre and Ivory Gull. We’ve even found Tundra Swans here on a few occasions. We’ll also check the fields near Cobden for staging Sandhill Cranes. If time permits, we’ll take a drive up to the Barron Canyon of Algonquin Park (Park Fee) where past trips have produced Golden Eagle, Black-backed Woodpecker, Canada Jay and Northern Goshawk. We hope to make several exciting discoveries on this full-day outing. Contact us for registration at TonysAlwaysAnAdventure@gmail.com

Field Trip Guidelines & Useful Info:

Poor weather conditions often produce the most interesting birds & wildlife. Therefore, trips will proceed rain or shine. Listen to weather forecasts and dress accordingly. Only the most severe weather conditions will postpone trips.
Note that customers of Always an Adventure Inc. are responsible for making their own arrangements for accommodation, transportation and payments for such arrangements is at their own expense.
Transportation will be by personal vehicle. Some carpooling might be possible. Contact us if you need a ride
Some hiking should be expected in areas with active trail networks. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
Participants should bring their own binoculars and refreshments. Please let us know if you need binoculars. High-quality VORTEX optics can be loaned.
All transportation cost, ferry cost, park fees, food, accommodation and refreshments are not included in the price.
During times of hot weather, insect repellent and water comes in handy.
The trip itinerary is subject to change depending on weather patterns, current local bird activity, scouting results or any unforeseen factors.
Please register by email
Payment is by e-Transfer. We can accept cash and cheques as well. Make cheque payable to “Always An Adventure Inc” and contact us for payment by PayPal.
Always An Adventure Inc. expects all participants to follow local Covid guidelines to all times
Always An Adventure Inc. is not to be held liable for any unforeseen circumstances that might arise during outings.
All participants of Always An Adventure Inc. must from 1st Jan 2022 sign a Release of Liability Form.
Always An Adventure Inc. is using eBird and participants will receive the day-list per e:mail at the end of the excursion.

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