Canadian Rockies
Birds and Mammals of Alberta
Saturday 13 – Thursday 25 June 2009 (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: £ 2,995
Single supp. £ 395 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.
Principal Leader: Don Otter
Itinerary
Day 1
We catch a scheduled flight from London to Calgary arriving in the evening.
Overnight Calgary
Days 2 - 3
On our first morning we visit Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for an introduction to some common North American birds such as Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, and Yellow Warbler. Mammals to look out for include Muskrat, Mule Deer and Richardson's Ground Squirrel.
We then 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, Eastern Kingbird 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. We will examine small pools on the prairies for waders such as Wilson's Phalarope and the beautiful American Avocet.
A full day will be spent at Dinosaur Provincial Park which is a World Heritage Site. Here, we drop down from the prairies into the bizarre but stunning Ôbadlands' landscape where 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 including White Pelican and Marsh Wren. We then drive towards the Rockies for a three night stay in 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 Ruffed Grouse, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire and Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds. Along fast flowing rivers we will search for species like Harlequin Duck, American Dipper and Spotted Sandpiper. Bighorn Sheep are commonly seen by the roadside and Grizzly Bears are another possibility
Overnight Kananaskis Village
Days 7 - 9
We now drive north to spend three nights in the heart of the Rockies in some very spectacular surroundings. On the way, birdwatching in the Vermillion Lakes area could produce species such as Bald Eagle and Three-toed Woodpecker.
Some of our time here will be spent along the Icefields Parkway which passes through truly awesome scenery. As well as a variety of birds including Mountain Chickadee and Clarks Nutcracker, this is a great area for seeing large mammals. Possibilities here include Black Bear, Coyote, Wapiti, Rocky Mountain Goat and the small but noisy Pika, a relative of rabbits and hares.
Overnight Canadian Rockies
Days 10 - 11
We head west, crossing the provincial boundary into British Columbia and Yoho National Park. We spend two nights at Emerald Lake Lodge, in a setting as good as it sounds. Here we will look for some spectacular birds including Steller's Jay and Pine Grosbeak. On our 2008 tour, an active Osprey nest was located right next to the lake. The forests are also a good place to hear the atmospheric, if simple song of the Varied Thrush. 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.
Overnight Emerald Lake Lodge
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: Moderate, 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 evening.
Overnight Calgary
Days 2 - 3
On our first morning we visit Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for an introduction to some common North American birds such as Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, and Yellow Warbler. Mammals to look out for include Muskrat, Mule Deer and Richardson's Ground Squirrel.
We then 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, Eastern Kingbird 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. We will examine small pools on the prairies for waders such as Wilson's Phalarope and the beautiful American Avocet.
A full day will be spent at Dinosaur Provincial Park which is a World Heritage Site. Here, we drop down from the prairies into the bizarre but stunning Ôbadlands' landscape where 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 including White Pelican and Marsh Wren. We then drive towards the Rockies for a three night stay in 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 Ruffed Grouse, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend's Solitaire and Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds. Along fast flowing rivers we will search for species like Harlequin Duck, American Dipper and Spotted Sandpiper. Bighorn Sheep are commonly seen by the roadside and Grizzly Bears are another possibility
Overnight Kananaskis Village
Days 7 - 9
We now drive north to spend three nights in the heart of the Rockies in some very spectacular surroundings. On the way, birdwatching in the Vermillion Lakes area could produce species such as Bald Eagle and Three-toed Woodpecker.
Some of our time here will be spent along the Icefields Parkway which passes through truly awesome scenery. As well as a variety of birds including Mountain Chickadee and Clarks Nutcracker, this is a great area for seeing large mammals. Possibilities here include Black Bear, Coyote, Wapiti, Rocky Mountain Goat and the small but noisy Pika, a relative of rabbits and hares.
Overnight Canadian Rockies
Days 10 - 11
We head west, crossing the provincial boundary into British Columbia and Yoho National Park. We spend two nights at Emerald Lake Lodge, in a setting as good as it sounds. Here we will look for some spectacular birds including Steller's Jay and Pine Grosbeak. On our 2008 tour, an active Osprey nest was located right next to the lake. The forests are also a good place to hear the atmospheric, if simple song of the Varied Thrush. 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.
Overnight Emerald Lake Lodge
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: Moderate, up to three miles max over mainly easy terrain. May include occasional steeper or uneven sections. Lightweight walking boots advisable.
Numbers: Max. 14 clients