Birding Program

2024 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.

March Birding Program

1. Thursday, March 7: Early Spring Arrivals on the Ottawa River - Ottawa West

2. Sat/Sun, March 9-10: OVERNIGHT to Algonquin Park

3. Thursday, March 14: Eagles & Finches – Eardley Escarpment

4. Saturday, March 16: The First Spring Arrivals - Ottawa East

5. Sunday, March 17: SOLD OUT! The First Spring Arrivals - Ottawa West

6. Tuesday, March 19: Waterfowl & Raptors - Early Spring Arrivals - Ottawa East

7. Thursday, March 21: The Urgency of Spring - Britannia Conservation Area

8. STAY TUNED...

9. ... FOR MORE LOCAL BIRDING EXCURSIONS TO BE ADDED....

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Thursday March 7: Early Spring Arrivals on the Ottawa River – Ottawa West

Time: 8 am to noon – Meet at Coliseum Theatre (Cineplex Cinema) – 3090 Carling Ave: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mGrETi6d4YYk2P2W9 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

By early March, the first birds of spring should be present in the Ottawa area. A few male Red-winged Blackbirds will almost certainly be on territory typically singing near frozen cattails. Small numbers of Ring-billed Gulls will be here, a few of them highly vocal and paired off with mates. Along the Ottawa River, we hope to see the ice breaking up. Gulls and waterfowl frequently congregate along the ice edge as they wait for spring to arrive. We often see Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup, American Wigeon or Long-tailed Duck. Although we’ve had several over-wintering American Robins, there should be some arriving and staking claim to territories with their familiar melodic phrases. The same is true for Song Sparrow. Even if migration is slow, we might encounter lingering winter birds like Bohemian or Cedar Waxwings. Contact us for questions and registration to [email protected]

Sat/Sun March 9-10: OVERNIGHT EXCURSION to Algonquin Park

Time: 6 am – Meet at Coliseum Theatre (Cineplex Cinema) – 3090 Carling Ave: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mGrETi6d4YYk2P2W9 – $260.00 per person HST incl.

Algonquin Park is famous for its extensive northern forest habitats. Its large stands of spruce and pine often attract a variety of finches and raptors. It also harbors several northern residents that are considered rare on the rest of the continent. While in the park, we’ll look for Spruce Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Gray Jays, Red Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak and Black-backed Woodpecker. With luck, we might encounter Boreal Chickadee, White-winged Crossbill, Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Golden Eagle, or American Goshawk. Besides the birds, we might come across some unusual mammals including North American Beaver, Moose, American Marten, Fisher, or Eastern (Red) Wolf. A mixture of frozen lakes, bogs, boreal and hardwood forests, this is Ontario’s most accessible northern wilderness. From our starting point in Ottawa, we head straight for the park, spending a few hours exploring the east side before we have lunch somewhere in the park. In late afternoon, we check into our accommodations (note: you have to book your own accommodation in Whitney) just outside the East Gate. We will have a relatively early dinner. If conditions warrant, we’ll head back into the park for dusk where we’ll listen for owls and maybe even wolves. The following morning, we go into the park immediately after breakfast. We will spend the entire day there, hiking some of the leisurely trails through northern forests. Depending on wildlife activity, we plan to leave around 3:00 or 4:00pm. We should be back in Ottawa before 8:00pm on March 10th. Registration is to [email protected]

Thursday March 14: Eagles & Finches – Eardley Escarpment

Time: 8 am to 12:30 pm – Meet at Bate Island, north side, Off the Champlain Bridge Island Park Drive: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dm9L4SPCC7KQEmN27 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

The rugged beauty of the Eardley 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. This winter, we’ve been finding flocks of Pine Siskin and Common Redpoll. Small numbers of Red Crossbill are also present, many already paired off with mates. With luck, we might find other finches like White-winged Crossbill, Hoary Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak, or Evening Grosbeak. Sometimes, they’re found more easily here than in Ottawa’s lowlands. We’ll also check for raptors using the updrafts created by the escarpment. Throughout 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 questions and registration to [email protected]

Saturday March 16: The First Spring Arrivals – Ottawa East

Time: 8 am to 12:30 pm – Meet at the OC Transpo Millennium Park-n-Ride off Trim Road, just south of Innes: https://goo.gl/maps/RszUKpkcyXFrDAdH6 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

By March we can expect longer days and the beginnings of a spring thaw. These conditions typically cause flooding in low-lying fields east of Ottawa. It also triggers many waterfowl, gulls, raptors, and songbirds to push northward. If conditions are ideal, we usually get a flurry of ducks, geese, blackbirds, and others arriving, sometimes in big numbers. American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds will be busy establishing territories. The backroads through the open fields will have a sprinkling of Horned Larks picking at gravel or food along roadsides. We’ll explore agricultural areas for raptors, Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspur, or anything unusual. If weather conditions bring warm temperatures, we might see a few early arrivals like Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Phoebe, or Sandhill Crane. This is the beginning of our favourite time of year. Registration is to [email protected]

Sunday March 17: SOLD OUT! The First Spring Arrivals – Ottawa West

Time: 8 am to noon – Meet at Coliseum Theatre (Cineplex Cinema) – 3090 Carling Ave: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mGrETi6d4YYk2P2W9 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

Registration is closed for this excursion ~ With hints of Spring in the air, many birds rush to the breeding grounds eager to establish territories and find mates. The first Ring-billed Gulls, Red-winged Blackbirds, and American Robins have already arrived. Various waterfowl will be migrating overhead or present where there’s open water. Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and possibly other early migrant birds may also be present. With Spring’s rejuvenation all around us, we should still search for the remaining over-wintering birds like Common Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, and Bohemian Waxwing. On the river, we should see newly arrived ducks and gulls, many sporting their brilliant breeding plumage. If time permits, we will explore agricultural areas for raptors and other open-country birds like Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, or Lapland Longspur.

Tuesday March 19: Waterfowl & Raptors – Early Spring Arrivals – Ottawa East

Time: 8 am to 12:30 pm – Meet at the OC Transpo Millennium Park-n-Ride off Trim Road, just south of Innes: https://goo.gl/maps/RszUKpkcyXFrDAdH6 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

Spring is in full swing with many birds already establishing their territories and courting mates. Some Common Ravens will already be on their nests, typically on grain silos. American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and possibly other early migrants should be present. Meanwhile, a few wintering birds might still be around like Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Siskin. With luck, we might find various raptors and early spring birds like Rough-legged Hawk, Eastern Meadowlark, Eastern Bluebird, or American Pipit. If time permits, we’ll visit open country around the Casselman area looking for Bald Eagles and Iceland Gull. Registration is to [email protected]

Thursday March 21: The Urgency of Spring – Britannia Conservation Area

Time: 8 am to noon – Meet along Cassels Street, outside the gate to the Britannia Filtration Plant, beside Mud Lake: https://goo.gl/maps/5EE2AWi3nAwafFpS8 – $75.00 per person HST incl.

Regardless of the day’s weather, the signs of Spring will surround us. The first new arrivals will likely already be on territory. We hope to hear birds singing from all corners of the conservation area. The persistent “conkaree” of male Red-winged Blackbirds resonate from the riparian scrub. Ring-billed Gulls, typically bonded pairs in courtship, cackle overhead, all dressed in their immaculate breeding plumage. Common Ravens will be paired off and probably already in a nest. Woodpeckers should be actively drumming to claim their territory. Newly arrived waterfowl like Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Wood Duck, and Hooded Merganser will likely be patrolling the nearby open waters. All around us, the frantic urgency of the breeding season should be in evidence. This is an exciting time, and we’ll look for any clues revealing the changing season. Registration is to [email protected]

More local excursion will be launced soon -Stay tuned…

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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 (make sure the gas tank is full). 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 and should be paid within 48hrs of the outing/session. Also accepted are PayPal, cheques & cash. Contact us for more info.
  • 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 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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