Canadian Rockies
Birds and Mammals of Alberta
Saturday 14 – Thursday 26 June 2008 (13 days)
Join us as we enjoy a wide range of wildlife amidst some of the world’s most stunning scenery, and with a warm Canadian welcome!
© Pete Coe/Nature Portfolio
Bald Eagle
The province of Alberta is extremely varied in terms of landscape and habitat. This diversity results in a rich variety of wildlife for us to seek. The wide range of birds is further enhanced by the presence of both eastern and western species in different parts of the province. Many of the areas we visit are also great places to see some exciting mammals. Add to this a wealth of truly awesome scenery and you have the makings of a superb trip.
Our journey takes us from the prairies, through foothills covered with aspen woods and up into the montane forests of the Rocky Mountains, with the lakes, rivers and other wetlands that make the area so rich in wildlife.
Our journey takes us from the prairies, through foothills covered with aspen woods and up into the montane forests of the Rocky Mountains, with the lakes, rivers and other wetlands that make the area so rich in wildlife.
© Pete Coe/Nature Portfolio
Northern Flicker
Price: £ 2,495
Single supp. £ 325 per room
Deposit: £ 400 per person
The price is per person and includes scheduled return scheduled flights London - Calgary*, airport taxes, ground transportation, accommodation on a full-board basis, local taxes, tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks and other personal expenses.
*For an ex-international flight cost (starting and finishing in Calgary) please deduct £495 from the tour cost.
Leaders: Tim Earl and Don Otter
Itinerary
Day 1
We catch a scheduled flight from London to Calgary arriving in the afternoon. We may have some time to visit Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for an introduction to some common North American birds such as Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird and Yellow Warbler. Mammals to look out for include Muskrat, Mule Deer and Richardson’s Ground Squirrel.
Overnight Calgary
Days 2 – 3
After an optional early morning visit to Inglewood we drive to the town of Brooks, well to the east of Calgary, for a two night stay. We will visit a variety of sites close to the town looking for a mixture of eastern species like Blue Jay, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Common Grackle, and some prairie specialists such as Marbled Godwit, and McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. Mammals could include the unique Pronghorn Antelope and, if we are lucky, American Badger.
A full day will be spent at Dinosaur Provincial Park. Here amidst the bizarre but stunning ‘badlands’ landscape we look for a wealth of birdlife including Say’s Phoebe, Prairie Falcon and Spotted Towhee as well as the endearing Mountain Cottontail Rabbit. We also visit a fascinating display about the dinosaur fossils which give this place its name
Overnight Brooks
Days 4 – 6
Before leaving the prairies, we visit Kinbrook Island Provincial Park to look for a wide variety of wetland birds. We then drive towards the foothills of the Rockies, stopping at Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park for some lunchtime birding.
We now enjoy a three night stay at the rustic but friendly Highwood River Inn. Here amidst rolling aspen-covered hills we can hope to see birds including Mountain Bluebird, Lazuli Bunting and Rufous Hummingbird. Along fast flowing rivers we will search for species like Harlequin Duck, American Dipper and Spotted Sandpiper.
We will include a visit to the Sheep River Valley, home to a large population of Bighorn Sheep. Coyotes are another possibility. Birds commonly seen here include Ruffed Grouse and Townsend’s Solitaire.
Overnight Highwood River Inn
Days 7 – 9
We drive over the Highwood Pass and descend into Kananaskis Country stopping en route to look for birds and mammals in some spectacular surroundings. We then proceed north and west, crossing the provincial boundary into British Columbia and Yoho National Park. We spend three nights at Emerald Lake Lodge, in a setting as good as it sounds.
Here we will look for western bird species like Steller’s Jay and Western Tanager. We will also call in at the visitor centre at Field which features the Burgess Shale beds, one of the most important fossil sites in the world.
On one day we will drive north along the Icefields Parkway through awesome scenery. As well as looking for birds like Mountain Chickadee and Clarks Nutcracker, we could also see mammals ranging from Black Bears and Wapiti down to the small but noisy Pika.
Three nights Emerald Lake Lodge
Days 10 – 11
We head south, through Banff National Park. On the way, birdwatching in the Vermillion Lakes area could produce species such as Bald Eagle and Three-toed Woodpecker. We then return to Kananaskis Country which is a superb area for wildlife but with fewer tourists than the famous national parks to the north.
Here, based at a comfortable hotel we will spend our time looking for a variety of mammals and birds. This is a particularly good place to see Moose and Beaver, while birds might include Spruce Grouse, Calliope Hummingbird and Varied Thrush.
Two nights Kananaskis Village
Day 12
Sadly, we must drive back to Calgary, but there should be time for some birding en-route before we catch an overnight flight to London, arriving on Day 13.
Accommodation: Good hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite.
Transport: By minibus
Walking: Easy, up to three miles max over mainly easy terrain. May include occasional steeper or uneven sections. Lightweight walking boots advisable.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients
Day 1
We catch a scheduled flight from London to Calgary arriving in the afternoon. We may have some time to visit Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for an introduction to some common North American birds such as Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird and Yellow Warbler. Mammals to look out for include Muskrat, Mule Deer and Richardson’s Ground Squirrel.
Overnight Calgary
Days 2 – 3
After an optional early morning visit to Inglewood we drive to the town of Brooks, well to the east of Calgary, for a two night stay. We will visit a variety of sites close to the town looking for a mixture of eastern species like Blue Jay, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Common Grackle, and some prairie specialists such as Marbled Godwit, and McCown’s and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. Mammals could include the unique Pronghorn Antelope and, if we are lucky, American Badger.
A full day will be spent at Dinosaur Provincial Park. Here amidst the bizarre but stunning ‘badlands’ landscape we look for a wealth of birdlife including Say’s Phoebe, Prairie Falcon and Spotted Towhee as well as the endearing Mountain Cottontail Rabbit. We also visit a fascinating display about the dinosaur fossils which give this place its name
Overnight Brooks
Days 4 – 6
Before leaving the prairies, we visit Kinbrook Island Provincial Park to look for a wide variety of wetland birds. We then drive towards the foothills of the Rockies, stopping at Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park for some lunchtime birding.
We now enjoy a three night stay at the rustic but friendly Highwood River Inn. Here amidst rolling aspen-covered hills we can hope to see birds including Mountain Bluebird, Lazuli Bunting and Rufous Hummingbird. Along fast flowing rivers we will search for species like Harlequin Duck, American Dipper and Spotted Sandpiper.
We will include a visit to the Sheep River Valley, home to a large population of Bighorn Sheep. Coyotes are another possibility. Birds commonly seen here include Ruffed Grouse and Townsend’s Solitaire.
Overnight Highwood River Inn
Days 7 – 9
We drive over the Highwood Pass and descend into Kananaskis Country stopping en route to look for birds and mammals in some spectacular surroundings. We then proceed north and west, crossing the provincial boundary into British Columbia and Yoho National Park. We spend three nights at Emerald Lake Lodge, in a setting as good as it sounds.
Here we will look for western bird species like Steller’s Jay and Western Tanager. We will also call in at the visitor centre at Field which features the Burgess Shale beds, one of the most important fossil sites in the world.
On one day we will drive north along the Icefields Parkway through awesome scenery. As well as looking for birds like Mountain Chickadee and Clarks Nutcracker, we could also see mammals ranging from Black Bears and Wapiti down to the small but noisy Pika.
Three nights Emerald Lake Lodge
Days 10 – 11
We head south, through Banff National Park. On the way, birdwatching in the Vermillion Lakes area could produce species such as Bald Eagle and Three-toed Woodpecker. We then return to Kananaskis Country which is a superb area for wildlife but with fewer tourists than the famous national parks to the north.
Here, based at a comfortable hotel we will spend our time looking for a variety of mammals and birds. This is a particularly good place to see Moose and Beaver, while birds might include Spruce Grouse, Calliope Hummingbird and Varied Thrush.
Two nights Kananaskis Village
Day 12
Sadly, we must drive back to Calgary, but there should be time for some birding en-route before we catch an overnight flight to London, arriving on Day 13.
Accommodation: Good hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite.
Transport: By minibus
Walking: Easy, up to three miles max over mainly easy terrain. May include occasional steeper or uneven sections. Lightweight walking boots advisable.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients