• Nice mix of eastern and western counterpart species such as Blue and Steller’s jays, Blue-headed and Cassin’s vireos and Red-naped and Yellow-bellied sapsuckers
• 22 species of warbler including Connecticut, Mourning, Bay-breasted and Black-and-white
• Prairie species at Beaverhill Lake; Sprague’s Pipit, Gray Partridge and Ferruginous Hawk
• Scenic Northern Rocky Mountains
• Large mammals such as Moose, Grizzly Bear and Mountain Goat possible

Explore Canada's North with Avocet Tours, as we travel through the Peace River Country of British Columbia and Alberta.

Our route will begin in Edmonton, Alberta, where we will explore wetlands for prairie breeders like Marbled Godwit, Willet and American White Pelicans around Beaverhill Lake. We'll then spend time in the Peace River district of BC, the only part of the province that lies east of the Rocky Mountains. Warblers will be a main highlight since nearly 20 occur in this region, including Connecticut, Bay-breasted, Cape May, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green, Ovenbird, Mourning and MacGillivray's. Other tough to find birds like Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, LeConte's and Nelson's Sharp-tailed sparrow and Philadelphia Vireo are regular around Dawson Creek.

As we drive through the northern Rocky Mountains expect to see large mammals like Elk, Moose, Black Bear and White-tailed Deer. As we cross the spectacular Rockies we'll look for American Dipper, Steller's Jay, Townsend's Warbler and Golden Eagle. The final days of the tour will be spent around Prince George, the unofficial "capital" of northern BC. Western birds can be found here including Western Tanager, Rufous Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker and Vaux's Swift.

This trip will provide birder's with an almost overwhelming variety of both eastern and western species and well as an appreciation for how vast and wild the Canadian North really is.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Tuesday, June 30 – Travel day. Meet in Edmonton around dinner time. Night in Edmonton.

Day 2 – Wednesday, July 1 – Our first day of birding promises to be an exciting one. We will drive to Beaverhill Lake, near the farming town of Tofield, east of Edmonton, stopping enroute to look for Purple Martins. The lake itself attracts many birds but because of low water levels seeing them is challenging. Therefore we’ll explore small ponds and lakes for ducks, grebes and shorebirds. Expect a nice variety of waterfowl including Cinnamon and Blue-winged teal. Shorebirds are always unpredictable but we should find Willet, Marbled Godwit, Wilson’s Phalarope, Wilson’s Snipe, American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt. The dry prairie surrounding the lake is home to Sprague’s Pipits, Vesper Sparrows, Gray Partridge and Western Meadowlarks, while wet fields are full of colorful Le Conte’s Sparrows. Black Terns patrol waterways in small flocks and the pale “Richardson’s” Merlin is a regular site along roadways. As we head back to Edmonton in the afternoon we’ll stop at Hastings Lake to view a thriving colony of Double-crested Cormorants, California Gulls, Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons. We will again spend the night in Edmonton.

Day 3 – Thursday, July 2 – We will try to make an early departure today in order to complete the drive from Edmonton to Dawson Ck, BC, and include some birding stops. As we leave Edmonton we’ll stop at the west end of Big Lake to search for Common and Forster’s terns, American White Pelicans and Red-necked Grebes. We’ll then continue northeast to Whitecourt, making a traditional coffee stop at the local Tim Horton’s (a Canadian tradition). Just west of Whitecourt we’ll explore a side road good for Blue-headed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler, breeding Solitary Sandpipers and Boreal Chickadeees. We’ll then continue on into BC and check into the George Dawson Inn, in Dawson Creek.

Day 4 – Friday, July 3 –This morning we will bird the areas E. of Dawson Creek, such as Swan Lake. In the aspen parklands around the lake we will search for noisy Connecticut Warblers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Western Wood-Pewees, Eastern Phoebes, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Blue Jay, and Least Flycatcher, amongst many other species. Marshes along the edge of the lake hold Nelson’s Sharp-tailed, Swamp, Le Conte’s, Lincoln’s and Song sparrows, possible Yellow Rails, and nesting colonies of Black Terns. We’ll explore side roads for other warblers, including Black-and-white, Blackpoll, Northern Waterthrush, Yellow, Tennessee etc. White-throated and Fox sparrows are common in the area also. We will make an evening visit to McQueen’s Slough where wetland species, including Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens and Eared Grebes nest. There should be a fine selection of waterfowl at the slough. Night will be spent in Dawson Creek.

Day 5 – Saturday, July 4 –Today will be an exciting day of birding along the Brassey Creek Road, near Dawson Creek. The mixed forest should produce many great warblers like Black-throated Green, Canada, Magnolia, Am. Redstart, Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped and Mourning. The aspens are also good for Philadelphia Vireos. Boreal forest species, such as Boreal Chickadee, White-winged Crossbill and Am. Three-toed Woodpecker are certainly probable. With luck we’ll find Yellow-bellied Flycatchers in regenerating clear-cuts. Our chances of seeing a Moose are very good along Brassey Road! During the later afternoon we’ll drive N. to the city of Fort St. John, birding along the Peace River enroute where a cool, shady gully provides great birding. Western Tanagers, Canada Warblers, Pacific-slope Flycatchers and Swainson’s Thrushes are common. Calliope Hummingbirds frequent local feeders as well. Spend night in Fort St. John.

Day 6 – Sunday, July 5 –We’ll visit Beatton Provincial Park on the shores of Charlie Lake, for Bay-breasted and Cape May warblers in the morning. Although hard to find, these two species can often be found in the spruce trees here. Charlie Lake is good for mixed flocks of Bonaparte’s and Franklin’s gulls and flocks of White-winged Scoters and Barrow’s Goldeneye. We’ll then visit Boundary Lake where there is a nice assortment of breeding waterfowl, including White-winged Scoter, Trumpeter Swan, Canvasback, Bufflehead and American Wigeon. The woods surrounding the lake are great for Palm Warbler and Veery. Alder Flycatchers are very prominent here too and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows abound in the sedge meadows. We will make a trip to the Fort St. John sewage lagoons, where ducks and possible shorebirds will be found. Short-eared Owls are possible in the evening also. Spend night in Fort St. John.

Day 7 – Monday, July 6 –The day begins with the short drive from Fort St. John to Dawson Creek where we will attempt to find Upland Sandpipers. Then, we’ll follow Hwy 97, west through the northern Rocky Mountains, stopping at Bijoux Falls for American Dipper and Steller’s Jay. Mammals should be seen including Elk, Moose and perhaps either Black or Grizzly Bear. As we drive through the Pine Pass we will begin to encounter some western birds like MacGillivray’s and Townsend’s warbler and Western Tanager. Pine Grosbeaks are sometimes seen near the summit of the pass. A brief stop at Neilson Lake, north of Prince George should produce breeding Bonaparte’s Gulls, Red-necked Grebes, Ring-necked Ducks and an assortment of songbirds. Spend night in Prince George.

Day 8 – Tuesday, July 7 –Our explorations will take us west from Prince George to the Vanderhoof area where large lakes hold surprises like American White Pelican, Osprey, Black Tern, breeding Red-necked Grebes, Belted Kingfisher, Common Merganser and much more. Rufous Hummingbirds patronize feeders along the route as well. Much of the forest surrounding Vanderhoof has suffered greatly from the affects of the Mountain Pine Beetle and this has benefited the woodpeckers. Our chances are good for American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker and Red-breasted Sapsucker. Western forest birds should be quite prevalent and we’ll search for Cassin’s Vireo, Dusky and Hammond’s flycatchers and MacGillivray’s Warblers. Spend night in Prince George.

Day 9 – Wednesday, July 8 – After having explored areas west of Prince George the previous day we’ll head east this morning, exploring areas off the Yellowhead Highway. The morning will begin at the sewage ponds where shorebirds may include Least, Semipalmated and Western sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers and both yellowlegs. At Purden Lake Provincial Park the old-growth forest is home to Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Varied Thrush and Golden-crowned Kinglets. From Purden Park we’ll venture along the Bowron Road where Yellow-bellied Flycatchers can be heard and seen with some effort. Northern Pygmy-Owl is possible along this route and curious Magnolia Warblers in all their breeding finery are easily seen. Enroute back to Prince George we’ll pass by Eaglet Lake, a good spot for Black Swifts, especially on cloudy days. Once in Prince George we’ll head for Cottonwood Island Park, a great place for Vaux’s Swift. Night in Prince George.

Day 10 – Thursday, July 9 –Today we’ll drive back to Edmonton, a drive of about 8 hours. The scenery through Jasper National Park is fantastic and there is always the chance to see more mammals such as the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and the Mountain Goat. We may even add another bird or two to the trip list today. With luck and clear skies we will catch a view of Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Tour concludes this evening in Edmonton.