Point Pelee & Algonquin
This is a 12 day tour to witness one of the most spectacular wildlife events in North America, the annual Spring Migration of songbirds along the shores of Lake Eire. However our journey begins at one of the world's most famous landmarks, Niagara Falls. From there we'll head to Point Pelee, the most popular reserve along the lakes northern shore. Here we may encounter up to 30 species of colourful new world warblers, along with up to 20 species of waders, 6 Vireos, 8 Woodpeckers, 6 Thrushes and 12 Sparrows. The visible signs of migration can be spectacular, and in favourable conditions can involve several tens of thousands of birds, which change on a daily basis. Birds often give incredibly good views, allowing time to get familiarised with many birds that occur only as vagrants in the UK. To finish our tour we head north to Algonquin, a huge park home to a selection of birds impossible to find further south. It is also home to many of the regions mammals including Black Bear and Wolf.

Day 2
Next morning we'll have a walk down to the mighty Niagara River, to view the Horseshoe Falls. While doing so we'll start seeing a few of the commoner birds of the area, which should include Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Nashville, Yellow & Magnolia Warblers and Song Sparrow. After a typical American breakfast we'll make a start on the journey to Leamington, a small town just minutes from Point Pelee and our base for the next five nights. En route both Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures should be seen by the roadside. We should arrive around mid afternoon, giving us plenty of time for some birding close to the hotel. With birds such as Great Blue & Green Heron, Killdeer, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird and Red-winged Blackbird all possible.

Days 3-6
The next four days will be spent in and around Point Pelee National Park. The Park itself is a 10-kilometre sand spit with its southern point equal in latitude to that of Rome, and is one of Canada's smallest but most unusual national parks. The 20 square kilometre landscape boasts a unique blend of habitats with its beachfront, marshes and Carolinian forest supporting a complexity of wildlife. However it is the annual Spring Migration of Songbirds that draws people here from all over the world, with the many brightly coloured wood warblers high on everyone's wish list. These include Northern Parula, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black & White, Wilson's and both Black-throated Blue & Black-throated Green. We'll also keep a keen eye out for scarcer species such as Blue Winged, Golden Winged, Cerulean, Prairie, Yellow-throated, Kentucky, Mourning, Canada and Hooded.

But there's a lot more than just warblers to look for, Flycatchers include Olive-sided, Least and Alder. Vireo's include Red-eyed, White-eyed, Warbling, Philadelphia, Yellow-throated and Blue-headed. Thrush's include Veery, Swainson's, Grey-cheeked and Wood, while Sparrows may include Field, Clay-coloured, Lincoln's and Swamp. Add to that Sharp-shinned & Coopers Hawk, Black & Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Scarlet Tanager, Common Grackle and Orchard Oriole and you can see what makes this site so special. With luck we may even encounter a roosting Eastern Screech Owl, Common Nighthawk or Whip-poor Will.

We will also visit some of the nearby wetland habitats around Hillmans Marsh where waders, or “shorebirds” as there know locally should be plentiful and include Semipalmated Plover, Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Short-billed Dowitcher. With scarcer birds such as American Avocet, Willet, Stilt Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope also possible. While other birds here may include Pied-billed Grebe, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Bald Eagle, Virginia Rail, Sandhill Crane and Marsh Wren.

One day we'll drive to Rondeau Park, about an hour east of Pelee where we'll spend the day at this charming reserve. This is without doubt the best site locally for the beautiful Prothonotary Warbler, with a few pairs breeding annually. A feeding station here attracts a variety of species, including Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied and Red-headed Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Chipping, White-crowned & White-throated Sparrows, Northern Oriole, House Finch and American Goldfinch. Other birds here may include Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Brown Creeper, and Carolina & House Wrens.

One evening we may visit the nearby reserve of lake St Clair, where both American and Least Bittern occur, along with other wetland species such as American Black Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Redhead, Blue-winged Teal, Sora Rail, American Coot, Belted Kingfisher and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Great Horned Owl also often breeds in the area.

Day 7
After a final morning at the point, we'll have lunch and then depart Pelee, heading north as far as the town of Barrie where we'll stay for the night at a comfortable motel on the edge of town. Barrie is located within a short drive of some great birding locations, meaning after breakfast the next day we'll be ready for a host of new birds this area has to offer.

Day 8
Today we'll spend much of the day visiting a unique area known as the Carven Alders, which is home to many g rassland species such as American Kestrel , Upland Sandpiper, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Bluebird. It is also the best place for Loggerhead Shrike one of Ontario's rarest breeding birds. Other birds in the area are likely to include , Osprey , Goshawk, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Towhee and Savannah Sparrow . While a nearby wetland holds Sedge Wren, Sora Rail and American Bittern. Later we arrive at our next base, a charming motel just minutes from Algonquin Park.

Day 9 & 10
Full days birding in Algonquin, though the intensity of birds here is much less than that further south, it's the northern feel that makes this park such an important destination. The birdlife certainly reflects this with northern specialities such as Spruce & Ruffed Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Evening Grosbeak, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin all present. While other birds difficult to locate elsewhere include Hooded Merganser, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Raven and Dark-eyed Junco. One night we'll end the day with a late evening for displaying American Woodcock, where we also have a chance of Barred or Boreal Owl.

However its not just birds that bring us here, the park is famous for its mammals to with Moose, Beaver, Woodchuck, American Red Squirrel and Eastern Chipmunk frequently observed, while Otter, American Marten, and even Black Bear and Wolf are present, though in this vast wilderness it would take a great deal of luck to see one!

Day 11
After a final morning birding we head back to Toronto for our return flight home,

Day 12
Arrive back in the UK early morning, concluding the tour.