Birding Tours
Scheduled Birding Tours
Specializing in Scheduled and Private Half-day Birding tours in the Greater Bay of Quinte Area with local Birder Tom Wheatley. goldenwingbirding@outlook.com
* New tours added to my schedule often, bookmark this page, and check in regularly.
MARCH 2019
Saturday 16 March 2019: Presqu’ile Waterfowl Weekend
Eight eager participants came out for the QFN outing to Presquile despite high winds. We enjoyed a BBQ lunch at the lighthouse under sunny skies. We managed to see 43 species, twenty of them waterfowl, at both Presquile and the Barcoven area. Highlights included Canvasback, American coot and thousands of other Waterfowl.
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Saturday 30 March 2019: Waterfowl on the Bay of Quinte
On Saturday March 30th, four hearty birders braved the cold rain to search the Bay of Quinte and Barcoven area for migrating Waterfowl. Together we found 18 different species of waterfowl, including Green-winged teal, Northern Pintail, Gadwall and American Wigeon. An additional 18 bird species were seen by the group, including an immature Bald eagle, for a total of 36 species.
APRIL 2019
Saturday 13 April 2019: Early birds at the Frink
There was lots of activity at the bird feeders when we first arrived at the HR Frink Center, with many Juncos and a few Phoebe’s singing. Pied-billed grebes, Buffleheads, Ring-neck ducks and Wood ducks we’re seen at the Marsh, as well as newly arrived Swamp sparrows and Flickers. A muddy walk through the woods to the Sugar Shack and along the Moira river revealed Sapsuckers and Rusty blackbirds. Meadowlarks and Kestrels braved the winds at a nearby grassland, and a heronry hosted a Great horned owl nest with three owlets. The group photograghed both Tree swallows and Bluebirds inspecting nest boxes at a local golf course. We recorded 47 species during our 4.5 hour tour.
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Early birds at Napanee Alvar: Wednesday 24 April 2019
Early Grassland birds were recorded in good numbers today, including 32 Eastern Meadowlark , 3 Upland Sandpiper and two pairs of Loggerhead Shrike. Pied-billed Grebe, Virginia Rail and a first of the year Common Moorhen played hide-and-seek in Moscow Marsh. Ring-necked Duck, Blue-winged Teal and Wood Duck were counted among the lingering waterfowl at Camden lake.
MAY 2019
Springbrook Alvar: Saturday 11 May 2019
We began at the Tweed Sewage Lagoons with a few dabbling ducks and both Least and Solitary Sandpipers. The large Springbrook Alvar had some nice returning migrants including 4 Upland Sandpiper, 6 Grassland Sparrows, many Eastern Meadowlarks and a Blue-winged Warbler. Clay-Colored Sparrow and another Blue-winged Warbler were eventually found on nearby Twiddy road. We stopped in at the Madoc Sewage Lagoon for Common Moorhen, Virginia Rail and Marsh Wren, finally finishing at the Madoc Dump, and topping out at over 80 species for the day.
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Migration at the Point: Sunday 12 May 2019
Twelve birders joined me on Mother’s day in Traverse woods, where about a dozen warbler species showed well. Palm, Blackburnian and Black-throated Green joined many Northern Parula. Later, about 25 new birders walked with me to the Lighthouse after a light drizzle, and we saw Black-throated Blue and many Yellow warblers and heard a Northern Waterthrush. A number of old nests were inspected, and we watched Cliff swallows at their nests.
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Migration at the Point: Wednesday 15 May 2019
Ten experienced birders joined me for a full morning of birding at Prince Edward County’s Migration hotspot, Prince Edward point, during the Spring Birding Festival. Amid the constant activity, highlights included Golden-winged and Cerulean Warblers, Yellow-throated Vireo, Scarlet Tanager and in the Lake a few Surf Scoters.
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Beaver Meadow Marsh & South Shore Night Birds
Wednesday 29 May 2019
Join an evening tour of Prince Edward County’s most active Marsh, with highlights of Black Tern, Virginia Rail and Least Bittern. Arriving at the South Shore for dusk, we’ll listen for American Woodcock, Eastern Whip-poor-will and possibly Canada’s only Chuck-will’s-widow.
Where: Beaver Meadow Marsh in central Prince Edward County. The South Shore IBA.
Meet: 6:30 PM at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Area. Note that this is an Evening Tour. Beaver Meadow is located at #158 County Road 11. Take County Road 10 (Lake Street) south from Picton, then turn right onto County Road 11.
Pace: Moderate walking, with some muddy sections on a short trail. Some driving. Tour lasts about 3 hours.
Rates: $25 per birder. Maximum of 8 participants. Cash or cheque accepted on day of tour.
JUNE 2019
Target Birds in Lennox & Addington
Saturday 1 June 2019
Prairie Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Black Tern, Least Bittern and Loggerhead Shrike. Great opportunities to find Clay- colored, Grasshopper, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows. Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlark and perhaps a Cuckoo or two are on our list of target species this morning in central Lennox & Addington County. Please note: Photo opportunities are quite good. However, due to the sensitive nature of some Provincially threatened species, distance from species and the time spent at each site will be limited.
Where: Kaladar, Tamworth and the Napanee Alvar.
Meet: 8:30 am. Kaladar service station/ Subway restaurant. Corner of Hwy 7 and County Road 41.
Pace: Mostly country road birding, easy walking. Some driving. Tour lasts about 5 hours.
Rates: $40 per birder. Maximum group size of 8 participants. Cash or cheque accepted on day of tour.
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Into the Heart of Hastings
Wednesday 5 June 2019
For such a large and diverse County in Ontario, Hastings County sees relatively few birders. Participants on this tour will be among the birding vanguard into a vast and largely unsettled area of central Hastings. Yellow-throated Vireo, Broad-winged Hawk, breeding warblers and flycatchers.
Where: Lingham Lake Road north of Madoc.
Meet: 7:30 am at Tim Hortons in Madoc, corner of HWY 62 and HWY 7.
Pace: Some driving and easy walking. Tour lasts about 4.5 hours.
Rates: $40 per birder. Maximum of 8 participants. Cash or cheque accepted on day of tour.
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Menzel Provincial Park
Saturday 8 June 2019
This 2 km return hike makes it way through an alvar and fen to a shallow lake. Highlights here include Canada Warbler, White-throated Sparrow and Common Loon.
Where: Menzel Provincial Park west of Roblin, north of Hwy 401
Meet: 7:30 am at Carpool south of HWY 401 Exit #570 on Deseronto Rd
Pace: A moderate walk of 2.2 km return (4.4 km). Some driving. Tour lasts 4.5 hours.
Rates: $40 per birder. Maximum group size 8 participants. Cash or cheque accepted on day of tour.
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Napanee Alvar
Wednesday 12 June 2019
Grassland birds including Loggerhead Shrike and American Kestrel will be our target species in the unique Land in Between, then Wetland birds like Least Bittern and Black Tern are our quarry at Moscow Marsh and Camden Lake.
Where: Napanee Alvar , Moscow Marsh and Camden Lake
Meet: 7:30 am at Flying J north of HWY 401 exit #579, Napanee.
Pace: Easy walking and some driving. Tour lasts about 4.5 hours.
Rates: $40 per birder. Maximum group size 8 participants. Cash or cheque accepted on day of tour.
JULY 2019
Birds and Bees Festival at Stanners Vineyard
Saturday 27 July 2019 at 8:00 am
Join me at 8 am for a 1.5 hour birding hike along the Millennium Trail, then enjoy the festivities at the Vineyard.
Where: Stanners Vineyard in Hillier Prince Edward County
Meet: Stanners Vineyard at 8 am. From HWY 401 take the Wooler Road Exit 522 and travel south to Hwy 33 (Loyalist Pkwy). Follow Hwy 33 south past Consecon to Hillier. Turn left on Station Road. The vineyard is 1/2 km down the road on the right.
Pace: Easy walking. Tour lasts 1.5 hours.
Rates: $10 per birder. No Maximum group size.
AUGUST 2019
Morning at the Frink
Saturday 3 August 2019
We’ll visit the New Marsh Boardwalk , where normally shy Marsh birds tend to show quite well at this time of year. Virginia Rail, Sora and Least Bittern. Then a short hike to search for forest birds. Photo opportunities are quite good.
Where: H.R. Frink Conservation Area north of Belleville
Meet: 7:30 am. The Frink Centre is in Plainfield. Go 9 km north of the 401 on Hwy 37, then east on Thrasher Road for 2 km to 381 Thrasher Road.
Pace: Easy walking. Tour lasts about 4.5 hours.
Rates: $40 per birder. Maximum group size 8 participants.
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Private Birding Tours
If you would like to search for that special bird you’ve always wanted to see, or you cannot make a Scheduled Tour date, consider booking a half-day Private Birding Tour.
Rates: $40 for each Birder, with a minimum Group cost of $80.00
Contact for a booking: (343) 645-6345
“Easygoing Birding for Easygoing Birders”
Come and explore the Bay of Quinte region!
