Tico Tours TM
Dates: 22nd - 28th May 2006
Price: $TBA ; Single Supplement $TBA
28th - 31st May 2006 (Tour Extension)
Extension Price: TBA
Includes: Accommodations, all meals, private transportation, bilingual naturalist guide (specialized on birdwatching),and all entrance fees.
For 8 Participants (+ Leader, Local guides where required and Driver)
Leader: Mike Boatwright
Expect: 150+ species
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive Norfolk International Airport and transfer to hotel. Depending on
time of arrival, we should have time to look around the area for
Boat-tailed and Common Grackle,
Laughing, American Herring and
Ring-billed Gulls, Osprey,
Double-crested Cormorant, Brown Pelican,
Great Blue Heron and Snowy and
Great Egret.
Night: Hampton Inn-Norfolk Airport.
Day
2
– After a quick breakfast, we will pack the van and head towards the Great
Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The Great Dismal Swamp is located
in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. The refuge
consists of over 111,000 acres of forested wetlands. Lake Drummond, a
3,100 acre natural lake, is located in the heart of the swamp. Over two
hundred species of birds have been identified on the refuge since its
establishment; ninety-six of these species have been reported as nesting
on or near the refuge. Birding is best during spring migration from April
to June when the greatest diversity of species (particularly warblers)
occurs. Two southern species, the Swainson's Warbler and
Wayne's (Black-throated Green)
Warbler are not uncommon in the Great Dismal Swamp. Other
birds of interest are the Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded
Warbler, Great-crested Flycatcher,
Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
Wood Duck, Barred Owl, and Pileated
Woodpecker.
Following
a delightful morning in "the swamp", we will begin our journey westward
towards the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia. We will
make a brief detour to the Piney Grove Nature Preserve where we will look
for the rare and endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Other
birds we should encounter here include Summer Tanager,
Common Yellowthroat and Brown-headed Nuthatch.
Lunch will be at The Virginia Diner, a local landmark, where we will enjoy
some traditional home cooked Southern Cuisine.
We should arrive in Charlottesville, the city Thomas
Jefferson built and the home of the University of Virginia, in time to
drive to the top of Observatory Hill on the campus of the university. Here
with luck, we may encounter a large variety of migrants including
Black and White, Black-throated Blue,
Black-throated Green, Cape May,
Palm and Tennessee Warbler, Red-eyed
Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush and Blue-grey
Gnatcatcher. Afterwards, we will head for our hotel, check-in and
wash-up for dinner.
Night: Charlottesville
Day
3
– Arising well before daybreak, we will grab a quick breakfast and hit the
road again. Our destination this morning, some 2 hours south of
Charlottesville, is the famous "Warbler Road". Appropriately named, from
its intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway at an elevation of 3548 feet,
Warbler Road ends at the James River at an elevation of near 600 feet. The
altitude drop, a total of 2700 feet, covers 13 miles of old-growth
hardwood forests, hemlock-lined trout streams, open meadows and clearings
and pine stands. The variation of habitat and elevation make this site a
particularly attractive birding venue. It is possible to see over
twenty species of wood warblers along this road! At the higher
elevations, breeding Neotropical migrants include Canada,
Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue and
Blackburnian Warblers, as well as Veery,
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Ruffed Grouse.
Occasionally, Least Flycatcher and Black-billed
Cuckoo nest within these woodlands. Middle elevations can be very
productive for Cerulean and Worm-eating
Warblers. Hillside clearings can produce Kentucky
and Prairie Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat and
possibly Golden-winged Warbler and Blue-winged
Warblers. At lower elevations, we will look for Northern
Parula and Black-throated Green
Warbler. Spring migration is a spectacular season to search for
migrant passerines. In the spring, in addition to finding the plethora of
nesting songbirds hoping to establish territories, we may spy
Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Cape
May and Tennessee Warblers. In the
lowlands near the end of the road, we will enjoy a box lunch. Here, we
should find nesting Prothonotary Warbler and Louisiana
Waterthrush, as well as Warbling,
Yellow-throated, Blue-headed and
Red-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Baltimore
Oriole and American Goldfinch. Other wildlife
abounds in this remote area so we may see numerous White-tailed Deer, the
sly Red Fox, or a slithering Black Rat Snake crossing the road.
We
will spend the afternoon travelling northwest towards the Allegheny
Highlands, an area known as "Virginia’s Little Switzerland". With the
highest mean elevation of any county in Virginia, many sites offer habitat
for birds more typical of northern climates.
Our destination will be the gorgeous Highland Inn in the heart of this
beautiful high mountain valley. The Highland Inn was built in 1904 to
lodge tourists escaping from the summer heat of nearby cities. The grand
Victorian structure has been restored to preserve its charm while
providing necessary modern conveniences including 18 guest rooms with
private bath. Dinner and breakfast are served in the classic Victorian
dining room and the inn also has a
casual
tavern where we can unwind.
Day
4
– After another early breakfast, we will set out in search of some of the
speciality birds of this mountainous area. Our first destination will be
Paddy’s Knob. Located along the ridgeline that forms the West
Virginia/Virginia border, Paddy’s Knob Lookout peaks at an elevation of
4477 feet. Surrounded by mature hardwood forests with a lush sassafras
under-story, and blackberry-bush edges, this site is best known among
birders for housing unusual breeding species in Virginia, such as
Mourning Warbler, Least Flycatcher,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Black-billed
Cuckoo. Other breeding birds within these forests include
Dark-eyed Junco, Cedar Waxwing,
Veery, American Redstart, Black-throated
Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers. Ruffed
Grouse and Wild Turkey are numerous throughout. The
abundance of sassafras attracts many butterflies such as Spicebush
Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red Admiral, Great-spangled
Fritillary and Pipevine Swallowtail. Other wildlife encounters could
include Black Bear, Red Fox, and numerous White-tailed Deer.
From here, we will head for another unique area known as
Locust Springs. Locust Springs Recreation Area is tucked away in a corner
of Virginia so remote that we will have to enter West Virginia to reach
it. The 9,900 acre Laurel Fork Special Management Area surrounding Locust
Springs is part of the Potomac Highlands, and Laurel Fork itself feeds the
Potomac River. In this biological niche, one can find 25 species of flora
and fauna that exist nowhere else in the "Old Dominion" (Virginia’s
nickname). A short walk through oak, maple and spruce forest to the
“Beaver Ponds” should produce a number of breeding birds normally only
found at more northern latitudes. Here we should see and hear Hermit
Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Magnolia
Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Winter Wren, Purple Finch,
Blackburnian Warbler, Black-throated Green
Warbler, Least and Willow Flycatcher
and we will hope for rarities including Northern Goshawk,
Alder and Olive-sided Flycatchers,
Nashville Warbler and Mourning
Warbler. Following our hike to the “Beaver Ponds”, we will
enjoy a picnic lunch while listening to Black-throated Blue
and Black-throated Green Warblers, Red-eyed and
Blue-headed Vireo and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. A
few hours spent in this ethereal place will surely be one of the
highlights of this tour.
Our route from Locust Springs back to the Highland Inn will
take us along the Allegheny Road, which straddles the ridge here. Along
the way, we may encounter Ruffed Grouse, Wild
Turkey, Veery, Scarlet Tanager,
Canada, Kentucky, Hooded,
Worm-eating and Cerulean Warbler and
Least Flycatcher. As the road descends into the Blue Grass
Valley, we will look for Red-headed Woodpecker, Vesper
Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Common
Raven, Golden-winged Warbler, Black-billed
Cuckoo, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark,
Barn and Cliff Swallow, House
Wren, Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk.
From here we will head back to the Highland Inn to wash up for another
wonderful home cooked meal. Afterwards, we may assemble in the tavern for
libations and good conversation.
Night: Highland Inn, Monterey
Day
5
– Today we will arise a little bit later and enjoy a leisurely breakfast
before heading back into the Blue Grass Valley where we will look for any
birds we may have missed on the previous afternoon. We may also visit some
of the local Maple Syrup farms to see how this wonderful syrup is
produced. You may even buy some syrup or maple sugar candy to take along
or give to friends back home. We will have lunch at the High’s Restaurant
another local landmark known for it’s friendly hometown atmosphere and
delicious home baked pies. Side trips to several nearby areas will give us
an opportunity to see some of the more common and widespread bird species
including Green Heron, Prairie Warbler,
Field Sparrow, Northern Cardinal,
Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow,
American Crow, Rufous-sided Towhee,
Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped
Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse and Eastern
Bluebird.
Night: Highland Inn, Monterey
Day
6
– After an early breakfast, we will head back east leaving this beautiful
and unique area behind with many fond memories. Our journey today will
take us over the mountains and back down into the Shenandoah Valley. We
will make a few stops along the way to catch some migrants we may not have
yet encountered. Our route will take us back through Thomas Jefferson’s
beloved Charlottesville on our way east towards Richmond where we will
stop for lunch. After lunch, we will head southeast towards the southside
city of Emporia. The area just south of Emporia along the Virginia-North
Carolina border presents us with an opportunity to see several species of
birds that are at the northern edge of their breeding range. Here we
should have great looks at Mississippi Kite and will hope to
find such rarities as Swainson’s Warbler, Bachman’s
Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush and
Anhinga. More common and widespread species we should find
with ease include Downy and Red-bellied
Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Prothonotary Warbler, Hooded
Warbler, Pine and Prairie Warbler,
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Yellow Warbler,
Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-breasted Chat.
We will depart southside in the late afternoon and head back to the
Norfolk area.
Night: Hampton Inn, Norfolk Airport
Detailed
Itinerary:
Virginia's Eastern
Shore is a 70-mile long peninsula separating the Chesapeake Bay from the
Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Route
13, our major highway, extends from the Maryland line at the north to the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel at the southern tip, providing easy access to
some spectacular birding sites.
The Eastern Shore of Virginia is an area of rural landscapes,
expansive saltmarsh, pristine beaches, barrier islands, pine-oak
woodlands, and myrtle thickets.
This area boasts one of the greatest densities and diversities of
birdlife to be found anywhere on the US east coast. Over 400 species of birds have
been recorded here. This
region is recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, truly
one of the last large wetland habitats in the world.
Spring migration
on the Eastern Shore can be very rewarding depending on the weather
conditions. Most of the
Neotropical species migrate through the Mid-Atlantic States between
mid-April and late May.
Flocks of warblers and other Neotropical migrants can be especially
abundant in the pine and mixed pine-hardwood stands around the southern
tip of the peninsula where they stop to rest and feed. Virginia's Eastern
Shore creates a natural funnel focusing the migration, a phenomenon known
as “reverse migration”, of birds to the southernmost tip of the
Peninsula. The area provides
an excellent opportunity for birdwatchers to witness incredible numbers of
birds congregated as they work their way north.
Day 1: We will arise early and have a quick
breakfast before heading north across the Chesapeake Bay by way of the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT).
The CBBT is a four-lane 20-mile-long vehicular toll crossing of the
lower Chesapeake Bay. The
facility carries US 13, the main north-south highway on Virginia's Eastern
Shore, and provides the only direct link between Virginia's Eastern Shore
and south Hampton Roads, Virginia.
The crossing consists of a series of low-level trestles interrupted
by two approximately one-mile-long tunnels beneath the bay. The man-made islands, each
approximately 5.25 acres in size, are located at each end of the two
tunnels. There are also
high-level bridges over two other navigation channels. Finally, between North Channel and
Fisherman Inlet, the facility crosses at-grade over Fisherman Island, a
barrier island which includes the Fisherman Island National Wildlife
Refuge.
We should arrive at the southern tip of the shore just before first light. Here we will explore the Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge, Kiptopeke State Park, and several other areas known to be migrant traps. We will likely see Bobolink, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Blue Jay, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrush, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a variety of warblers and vireos, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Barn, Tree, Cliff, Northern Rough-winged and Bank Swallows. We should also encounter a nice variety of long-legged waders including Glossy and White Ibis, Tri-coloured, Little Blue and Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great and Snowy Egret. Clapper Rails and Seaside Sparrows will be heard calling from the marshes, and we may hear, and if we are lucky, see, Great Horned and Screech Owls.
After a delicious
lunch at Sting Ray’s (a local favourite of birders), we will head north
along a rural back road, which parallels the main highway. There are many good birding spots
along the way and rarities are often seen including Swallow-tailed Kite, White-winged Dove and Sandhill Crane. More common and widespread species
such as Eastern
Bluebird, Mourning
Dove, Fish
Crow, American
Kestrel and Eastern
Meadowlark will be seen as we drive along.
We will make a
short detour to the quaint seaside fishing village of Oyster where,
depending on tides, we will look for shorebirds on the exposed flats. Shorebirds often seen here include
Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Semi-palmated, Least and Western Sandpiper, Willet, and the uncommon
Marbled Godwit. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed
Sparrow and Seaside
Sparrow can often be seen in the marsh grass here and a variety of
gulls and terns should be encountered.
From here, we will
make our way back to the main road and continue our journey northward
along the Eastern Shore.
Several strategic stops along the way should produce some good
birds including uncommon migrants like Black-billed Cuckoo, Mourning Warbler and Philadelphia Vireo. Common species including Northern (Yellow-shafted)
Flicker, Brown
Thrasher, Laughing
Gull and Common
Grackle should also be seen.
Once we cross the
county line between Northampton and Accomack counties, we will pick up the
driving pace as we head for Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the
Assateague National Seashore.
We will turn east just south of the Maryland border and make our
way towards the expansive saltmarshes and tidal creeks between the
mainland and the island of Chincoteague. As we make our way across the
causeway leading to Chincoteague, we will pull off of the highway several
times to scan the marshes and flats.
Here we will hope to see
Tri-coloured and Little Blue Heron, Great and Snowy Egret, Clapper Rail, Boat-tailed Grackle, Peregrine Falcon, Forster’s and Royal Tern, American Oystercatcher, Black-necked Stilt, Short-billed Dowitcher,
Hudsonian Whimbrel, Greater Yellowlegs,
American Herring
Gull, Brown
Pelican, Double-crested
Cormorant, Red-winged
Blackbird, Marbled
Godwit and Northern
Harrier.
By now it will be
getting late so we will continue on to the island of Chincoteague and the
Refuge Motor Inn where we will spend the next two nights. The Refuge Inn is within walking
distance of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and only minutes
from the beaches of the Assateague Island National Seashore. Nestled in whispering
pines, the Inn offers comfortable rooms and suites with private decks,
balconies or patios, an indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, exercise
room, sun deck, and a guest laundry. In addition, they have bicycle
rentals, a gift shop and picnic areas.
Dinner will be at
one of the locally famous seafood restaurants where we will enjoy huge
portions of locally caught fresh seafood and other goodies. Afterwards, we may venture into
the refuge to listen for and hope to catch a glimpse of Chuck-will’s-widow.
Night: Refuge Inn,
Chincoteague
Day 2: We will once again arise early and
catch breakfast at another local favourite, Bill’s Restaurant. Then we will head to the
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge for a full morning of birding. This gem of a wildlife refuge has
been known worldwide for its introduced population of horses since it’s
founding in 1943. We will
gain access to one of the largest barrier islands and check the freshwater
impoundments, oceanfront and Chincoteague Bay. At this time of year, we hope to
find a variety of shorebirds including Short-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper and
possibly uncommon or rare birds like Wilson’s Phalarope and Ruff. The beaches should produce
Hudsonian Whimbrel, Willet, Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstone as well as
Brown Pelican, Black Skimmer, Least, Royal, Common and
possibly Sandwich
Terns, Great
Black-backed and Ring-billed Gulls and the
endangered Piping
Plover.
We will also hike the trails through the mixed pine-hardwood forest here where we will see a variety of Neotropical migrants and breeders as well as resident birds. Indigo Bunting, Yellow-breasted Chat, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Great-crested and Acadian Flycatcher and House Wren are all common nesters here.
The Refuge is
also home to the Chincoteague ponies made famous by Marguerite Henry's
“Misty of
Chincoteague”. We will have good looks at some of
these famous ponies as well as other wildlife including the endangered
Delmarva Fox Squirrel.
After lunch, we
will head back to the refuge where we will now be able to drive the 3-mile
wildlife loop. Here we hope
to encounter more shorebirds, waders, gulls and terns. Glossy Ibis should be
plentiful and White-faced Ibis is a rare but
regular spring visitor here.
Other notable birds to be looked for along the wildlife drive
include Gull-billed Tern, Cattle Egret and we can
always pray for repeat performances of such true rarities as
Little
Egret and
White-winged Black
Tern.
Dinner will again
be at one of the many fine seafood establishments in the town of
Chincoteague. After dinner we
will take a 45-minute drive south and west to the marshes at Saxis on the
bay side of the Eastern Shore.
With luck we should hear Black Rail (this is the only
area in the state where this tiny rail is known to regularly breed),
Virginia Rail, Clapper Rail, Least Bittern, Seaside Sparrow and Marsh Wren. From here, we will return to our
hotel for a much deserved good night’s rest.
Night: Refuge Inn, Chincoteague
Day
3: After breakfast,
we will again spend the morning birding the Chincoteague National Wildlife
Refuge and the Assateague National Seashore with hopes of seeing more
shorebirds and Neotropical migrants.
Before lunch, we will head back to the hotel, checkout, pack up and
head back west to the main highway.
Stops along the causeway will give us additional opportunities to
pick up birds we may have missed on the first afternoon
here.
We will turn south
on the main highway and work our way back down the shore. Our final destination today will
be the Sunset Motor Inn located directly across from the Eastern Shore
National Wildlife Refuge and just south of Kiptopeke State Park. We will again bird these areas in
the late afternoon before checking in to the hotel. We will pay careful attention to
wires in this area as rarities like Grey Kingbird and Mountain Bluebird have
been recorded here. Dinner will be at the hotel followed by another
restful evening.
Night: Sunset
Motor Inn
Day 4: We will arise very early and grab
breakfast at Sting Ray’s before heading south across the CBBT on our way
back to the Norfolk International airport for flight home. We may stop briefly on the
southern most man-made island to look for late lingering winter birds
including Purple
Sandpiper, Great
Cormorant and Surf
Scoter.
Suggested
Reading List:
Sibley DA, (2000).
National Audubon Society, The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A.Knopf,
NYC, New York.
Johnston DW, Compiler, (1997). A Birder's Guide to Virginia. American Birding Association, Colorado.
Wilds CP, (1992).
Finding Birds in the National Capital Area (Paperback, 2nd
Edition). Smithsonian Books,
Washington,D.C.
National Geographic Society (2002). National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America (Paperback, 4thEdition). National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.
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