TOM'S HOME PAGE ECUADOR Amazon East Jan/Feb 2011 SOUTH AFRICA Aug/Sept 2010
POINT PELEE MAY 2011 CANADIAN PRAIRIES JUNE 2011
A few photos from May 2010 - from top to bottom: Blackburnian Warbler male, Mayapple, American Painted Lady, Hooded Warbler male, Common Terns at the Tip
For the second year, Tom is working in partnership with the Comfort Inn in Leamington, Ontario. Guests of the Comfort Inn who participate in Tom's May 2011 hikes get discounts on both accommodations and Tom's hikes!
The Pelee peninsula is renowned as the best migration hotspot in inland North America. Tom takes great pleasure in bringing you the wonders of a Pelee spring birding adventure. Even as an experienced world birder and guide, birding the trails of Point Pelee in May still gets his blood going! Tom has had the joy of birding this magical place for 37 of the last 38 spring migrations. He was also lucky enough to work at the national park for over a decade, and this has added to a wealth of personal experience on many aspects of the parks natural and cultural history. In 1999, Tom authored the definitive "Birders Guide to Point Pelee and surrounding area". This book provides comprehensive information on the birds and birding sites of the region (available for purchase on this website).
The focus of these day trips will be Point Pelee National Park. However, depending upon where activity occurs, we may include other sites on the Pelee peninsula (ie. Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, the Onion Fields, Wheatley Harbour and Wheatley Provincial Park). Tom keeps connected to other local birders and guides to make sure the daily itinerary delivers the best experience possible for participants. For participants who book multiple days, we will attempt to vary the daily itinerary to showcase as many local sites as possible.
To ensure that every participant gets a high quality experience, the group size is limited to 6 participants each day. We will use a seven passenger minivan for transportation. This will allow all participants the opportunity to ask Tom questions.
The hikes are appropriate for birders of all levels from those who have never birded before to those with a casual interest to experienced birders with a target list. The focus of the hikes to give everyone repeated good views of spring songbirds. Even on wooded trails I nearly always bring a scope to ensure the best viewing possible. Binoculars are available for loan to those who need them.
The hikes are offered Sundays through Thursday from May 1 - 19th inclusive. The specific dates are May 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Hikes depart from the Comfort Inn at 6 am sharp and return each day by 5pm. Participants should meet in the lobby of the Comfort Inn at 5:55 am. Please note that there are no hikes on Friday and Saturday May 6, 7, 13 and 14.
You will note that I dont offer hikes every day. I will be happy to provide details on where to bird and what to do on those days between hikes. For example, nearby Rondeau Provincial Park which is about an hour drive away offers a slightly different experience and adds to the variety of your visit. In addition, there are fourteen different local wineries close by, if that is of interest.
The cost per person is $99 Canadian per day, which includes applicable taxes.
The above rate includes: guiding each day by Tom Hince; transportation in minivan with Tom; entrance fees to Point Pelee National Park, or Hillman Marsh Conservation Area or Wheatley Provincial Park if these sites are visited; box or picnic lunch; morning and afternoon coffee breaks; checklist of birds; and a 50 % discount on the purchase of Tom's book (A Birders Guide to Point Pelee). In addition, the Comfort Inn offers a special discounted rate on accommodations for clients booking Tom's hikes. Tom also offers evening programs in the Comfort Inn's meeting room (schedule to be announced). .
Accommodations and hikes must be booked and paid for separately.
To reserve accommodations, please contact the Comfort Inn in Leamington via www.choicehotels.ca and mention that you are booking one of Tom Hinces hikes. There is a special reservation code for on line reservations (LBIRD). If there is no space available on line, please try contacting the hotel directly by phone and mention that you are also booking a tour with Tom. This may help to get space reserved, or possibly to get you waitlisted.
To reserve hike space (first come, first served and strictly limited to 6 per day), please email Tom at peleetom@netcore.ca or call/leave a message at 586 839-7482.
The Comfort Inn is in Leamington and is about a ten minute drive from the park gates. On free days, you would need a vehicle to get to birding sites and Point Pelee due to the distance between birding sites.
The nearest airports to Leamington are Windsor (about 45 minutes from town, or an hour from the park and serviced by Air Canada) or London (about an hour and a half drive from Leamington and serviced by both Air Canada and Westjet). They both have car rental agencies. If flying from the US, you will likely find it easiest to fly into Detroit (DTW) which is about an hour and forty minutes drive from Leamington.
I'm sure I've forgotten some important details, so please don't hesitate to give me a call, or drop me an email (I read my email every few hours during the workday). You can contact me at (586) 839-7482 or peleetom@netcore.ca
TOM'S HOME PAGE ECUADOR Amazon East Jan/Feb 2011 SOUTH AFRICA Aug/Sept 2010
POINT PELEE MAY 2011 CANADIAN PRAIRIES JUNE 2011