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Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival
Arrival in Winnipeg and check-in at our hotel. After dinner we meet in the lobby of the hotel and perhaps go birding for a couple of hours before retiring. Night in Winnipeg.

Day 2 - St. Ambroise Park and the Douglas Marsh
Early in the morning we head west from Winnipeg, birding on route to St. Ambroise Provincial Park on the south shore of Lake Manitoba. This is a very rich area for birds, and we have a chance of finding a large number of species, including Western, Red-necked and Eared Grebes, rails, American Avocet, Willet, Forster’s Tern, Marsh and Sedge Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Le Conte’s and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Astonishingly high numbers of local breeding species such as Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee and Least Flycatcher occur along the ridges. Piping Plovers nest on the beaches here, and we’ll look for this diminutive and highly localized species. We then head west to our location for the night, at Brandon.

After settling into our accommodations, and after supper, we head for the Douglas Marsh, famous in the past for its Yellow Rails. Recently, however, the marsh has become less reliable for this enigmatic bird. We will try to induce one to sing, although there will be other species here to note, such as Soras, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows and Sedge Wrens. Night in Brandon.

Day 3 - Brandon Hills and Pelican Lake
Today we drive south through the Brandon Hills, watching for Gray Partridge and Mountain Bluebirds, and stopping at a wildlife management area for Sharp-tailed Grouse, Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo and Indigo Bunting. We then head for the top end of Pelican Lake at Ninette, where we check the breeding population of Western Grebes for Clark's Grebe. White Pelicans are also here. The pastures should host Upland Sandpipers and Northern Harriers. We spend the night at Walkinshaw Place, a delightful spot close to the Turtle Mountains. Here American Redstarts, Mourning Warblers and Great Crested Flycatchers should be evident. Night at Walkinshaw Place.

Day 4 - Whitewater Lake and Prairie Birding
We first visit Whitewater Lake and other shallow lakes in the area, looking for migrant shorebirds and waterbirds not yet located. These lakes can teem with birds - grebes, shorebirds, waterfowl, terns, herons, with a patrolling Peregrine or two, and we should see a wide and diverse array of species today.

We then head for the southwest corner of the province, in search of mixed-grass prairie specialties such as Sprague’s Pipit, Vesper, Baird’s and Grasshopper Sparrows, and Chestnut-collared Longspur. Swainson’s Hawks are widespread, and Ferruginous Hawk is regularly seen in this area, and we watch the overhead powerlines for Loggerhead Shrikes. Sadly, Burrowing Owls have declined steeply in southwest Manitoba in recent years; if we hear of a pair that can be viewed at a distance, then we will visit the spot. Night at Walkinshaw Place.

Day 5 - Pothole Birding
We then drive north through the Oak Lake/Plum Marshes region and the Minnedosa Pothole country. This area consists of native rolling mixed-grass prairie dotted with shallow and very productive ponds and small lakes (“potholes”) and the area is home to at least 12 species of nesting waterfowl. Prairie shorebirds include Marbled Godwit, American Avocet and Wilson’s Phalarope, and the potholes should provide good opportunities to view grebes, rails, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and many other wetland species. We then head for Riding Mountain National Park, arriving in the late afternoon. Night at Riding Mountain National Park.

Days 6 and 7 - Riding Mountain National Park
On these two days we bird Riding Mountain National Park. This superb National Park rises out of the prairie to an elevation of 450 meters. The habitats here are rich and varied and the park has recorded over 260 species of birds. Warblers abound, and we will look for many of the so-called eastern species including Blackburnian, Mourning and Golden-winged. Western species include Western Wood-Pewee, boreal species include Spruce Grouse, Great Gray Owl, Gray Jay and both Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, and Connecticut Warbler is a park specialty. As always, we will be on the lookout for mammals such as Black Bear, Elk and Moose. Nights in Riding Mountain National Park.

Day 8 - Fly to Churchill
Today we leave Riding Mountain and head for the Winnipeg Airport to catch our flight to Churchill. Our day will be organized around the time of the flight to Churchill. After arriving, we settle into our hotel for the next three days. Night in Churchill.

Days 9 to 11 - Churchill
Our days will be organized around weather conditions and reports of target birds. One day we explore the Cape Merry area, where the Churchill River flows out into Hudson Bay. Groups of Pacific and Red-throated Loons and waterfowl should be present including such possible delights as Harlequin and even a King Eider or two. Jaegers hitch rides on ice-flows, and among the Parasitics may be a superb adult Long-tailed Jaeger. Along with the frenetic bird activity, we may have the opportunity to watch Beluga Whales riding the rising tide. At high water we check the Granary Ponds for roosting shorebirds, Snow Buntings and Longspurs. Shorebirds destined for the high arctic mix with newly arrived locally breeding species. We may revisit this spectacular area again in the afternoon, hoping to see a Sabine’s Gull or Ross’s Gull among the throngs of birds, and maybe an Arctic Hare among the ancient lichen encrusted rocks of the Cape.

We visit Akudlik Marsh, where Ross’s Gulls were first found nesting, and then head east along the road passing through both wet and dry tundra. Nesting shorebirds will be in full cry. Stilt Sandpipers hee-haw overhead, Whimbrel, Short-billed Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs will be in display flights, while other species such as Hudsonian Godwit and Dunlin abound. The Churchill dump may host an unusual gull or two, and Sandhill Cranes nest close by. We visit the Goose Creek Road area alongside the Churchill River. In a variety of habitats, we search for Three-toed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern Shrike, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, Fox and Harris’s Sparrows, and some of the commoner wood warblers such as Tennessee, Blackpoll and Orange-crowned. Along the river itself shorebirds can be numerous, and Little Gulls sometimes occur at the end of the road. We spend time here searching the river for Ross’s Gull, the most likely spot for them in recent years.
In the Twin Lakes area, we search for boreal and tundra species such as Rough-legged Hawk, Spruce Grouse, Smith’s Longspur and White-winged Crossbill. As usual, shorebirds are abundant, including breeding American Golden-Plovers. Willow Ptarmigan will be seen alongside the gravel road. There is always the chance of Northern Hawk Owl, which has nested in this area. Also we take a look around Town, providing an opportunity to purchase souvenirs and to visit the Eskimo Museum. Nights in Churchill.

Day 12 - Return to Winnipeg
We spend our last morning searching for species which we may have missed and then catch our return flight to Winnipeg, where our tour ends.

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What to Expect

Early mornings will be the usual start to the day in southern Manitoba to catch early morning activities, whilst at Churchill we start later as dawn is not that long after midnight! Because Churchill has a relatively small road network, breakfasts will be slotted in around bird activity and weather patterns. We usually are no more than an hour's drive from our Hotel. Polar Bears are unlikely to be encountered at Churchill during June, although we will always be on the look-out for one! Driving will be limited to short and moderate stretches, with a couple of long drives to reach southwestern Manitoba. Lunch will be variable in time and location depending on the day and the level of birding. Southern Manitoba is likely to be warm or even hot, with a possibility of rain. Churchill is much less predictable; weather can vary from a sweltering 25 degrees Celsius to around freezing during the day, with frequent night-time frosts. It may snow, and participants should layer their clothing as conditions can change quickly whilst we are in the field. Mosquitoes are equally unpredictable in the first half of June. We may encounter just a few, or rather a lot: there should not be the hordes which occur later in June and July. Participants should include bug repellant and perhaps a head-net in their luggage, just in case. Waterproof footwear is recommended, while an umbrella can come in useful.

Each evening, the list of birds and other wildlife will be reviewed, and plans for the next day will be discussed

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