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Extension Trip, May 30 - June 2, 2010

While in Revelstoke for the AGM, you’ll have explored forests, wetlands and mountains, so join leader Chris Charlesworth on the AGM Extension for a trip east through the Rockies to the vast prairies of Alberta.

We’ll leave after lunch at the end of the AGM, and while on the way to the Bow Valley (Banff/Canmore), we’ll briefly stop in the Beaver Valley in Glacier National Park to look for Magnolia Warbler.  We’ll continue past Moraine Lake in Banff to look for Harlequin Ducks, as well as Boreal Chickadees and Gray Jays. 

The next day, early morning birding at Vermilion Lakes near Banff may include Common Loons and Red-necked Grebes among other waterfowl, and songbirds including Blackpoll Warblers.  As we make our way east, Bear Hill in the foothills is a good place for Cape May and Tennessee warblers, White-throated Sparrows, White-winged Crossbills and more.  We’ll carry on towards Drumheller watching for raptors including Swainson’s and Red-tailed hawks.  Perhaps we’ll see a herd of Pronghorn Antelope.  In the Drumheller area we’ll search the grasslands for the uncommon and local Baird’s Sparrow, and prairie potholes for breeding Marbled Godwits, Wilson’s Phalaropes and perhaps Black-necked Stilts.

The next morning near Drumheller, with luck we may find Piping Plovers at Handhills Lake, and nearby we should find Sprague’s Pipits, Brown Thrashers, Alder Flycatchers, Baltimore Orioles, Loggerhead Shrikes and perhaps Upland Sandpipers.  We’ll also explore Dinosaur Provincial Park, where riparian corridors are home to Yellow-breasted Chats, Brown Thrashers, Bullock’s Orioles, Spotted Towhees and other interesting species.  Lark Sparrow and perhaps Prairie Falcon are also possible in this beautiful and unique landscape.  Later on in the day we’ll turn west and make our way back to the Bow Valley.

The next morning, before we leave Banff, we’ll do a little birding at the Cave and Basin Trail, good for woodland species, and for water birds including Sora and Virginia rails.  We’ll arrive back in Revelstoke by lunch time.

Cost for the trip is $590 including 3-nights accommodation (double occupancy) and van transportation from Revelstoke after the AGM, and return to Revelstoke, Wednesday June 2.  Meals will not be included. 

Minimum number of participants to run the trip is 8, and the most that can be guaranteed space will be 10 (first come, first served), so book early.  If more bookings are received before April 1, then we may be able to arrange for a second van, but we cannot guarantee extra space will be available. 

A registration form is available in the next issue of the newsletter.