Birding Adventures Paddy Cunningham 1653 Plunkett St. Hollywood, Florida 33020 birdpaddy@yahoo.com (954) 926-5458

Eastern Shore of Virginia
DelMarva Peninsula

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FALL MIGRATION GETAWAY
EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA-CHINCOTEQUE, CHESAPEAKE BAY
SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 2, 2011.

Flying into Norfolk, Virginia we will head to the Eastern Shore of Virginia to plunge into these excellent birding sites such as Chincoteague National Park, Assateague National Seashore, Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge and numerous other hot spots. Kiptopeke State Park will be a focus where we will search for migrating hawks, songbirds and shorebirds. Kiptopeke is a national Hawk Watch site and also has an excellent songbird banding station. On our last trip we saw numerous species of banded songbirds including Thrushes, Connecticut and Hooded Warblers that we held in our hands. It has all the birds and excitement of Cape May with one tenth of the people, plus delicious Maryland Crab cakes, southern hospitality and seafood. Staying at a Chesapeake Bay side resort enjoying great birds and southern charm.

TRIP INCLUDES

• 5 days of expert birding
• Instruction in advanced birding skills and expert guiding
• Van transportation to all sites
• 4 nights dbl. occup. at Sunset Beach Resort
• 4 breakfasts — 4 lunches
• COST-$795 not including airfare
• See below for a full description of a past trip.

SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY-9/28

Travel Day to Eastern Shore
Ft. Lauderdale Group fly into Norfolk
Evening arrival at Sunset Beach Resort (www.sunsetbeachresortva.com)

THURSDAY-9/29 - Kiptopeke State Park & Eastern Shore National W. R.

Breakfast (continental)
Kiptopeke State Park early morning fly-in bird banding station (www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/kip.shtml)
Butterfly Garden area for songbirds
Baywood Trail looking for woodpeckers and migrating species
Hawk Watch to search for migrating raptors (www.cvwo.org)
Lunch (provided) at Kiptopeke State Park
Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center & trail (http://www.gov/northeast/easternshore/)
Marsh trail to estuary overlook & observation deck
Walk to boat channel to search for Black Duck, Clapper Rails
Freshen up at Hotel-Dinner at Famous Stingrays

Kiptopeke Songbird Banding In the past 30 years, more than a quarter of a million birds have been banded at Kiptopeke State Park to increase our understanding of these migrants and their travels. This program begins at the Birding Staging Shelter and involves a short walk on a level grass trail.
Kiptopeke Hawk Observatory Raptors, such as eagles, hawks and falcons, migrate down the Eastern Shore in great numbers. Since 1977, more than 500,000 raptors have been recorded flying over Kiptopeke State Park.
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge Wise Point Hike Explore the peninsula's tip from the pine forest on the Refuge to the beach near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Wise Point is the area where many migrating neotropical species and monarch butterflies stop and refuel before crossing the Bay or flying to Central or South America

FRIDAY-10/1 Chincoteague N. P., Assateague N. Seashore

Breakfast-2 hour drive
Chincoteague National Park Visitor Center-introduction to park (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/chinco/)
Lighthouse Trail-songbirds
Woodland Trail-Brown-headed Nuthatch-Lunch (provided)
Swan Pool estuary for shorebirds, Black Tern, waterfowl, shorebirds
Assateague National Seashore-look for beach shorebirds, gulls, terns and any possible pelagics. (http://www.nps.gov/asis)
Chincoteague Wildlife Drive-waterfowl and shorebirds, Horses?
Dinner at a seafood restaurant (not included)
Late return to hotel

SATURDAY-10/2

Breakfast-Kiptopeke State Park early morning fly in-bird banding station
Osprey Harbor-Willis Wharf -Lunch at Willis Wharf
Cape Charles birding spots (CES 05)
Cape Charles Museum, fishing jetty, harbor, beach, and more
Eyre Hall-Flycatchers and songbirds
Happy Hour

Eyre Hall - Eyre Hall, a bayside tract of more than 600 acres on Cherrystone Creek, has impressive habitat diversity. You will see open fields, mature forests, freshwater marshes and ponds, tidal mud flats, open saltwater and beaches. Eyre Hall was built in 1760 by the five-times great-grandfather of the present owners on land he acquired in 1750.

Dinner at Stingrays (not included)

SUNDAY-10/2

Breakfast-Last bird banding trip to Kiptopeke and Butterfly Garden walk
Check out of hotel
Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel-gulls, pelagics, and migrants
Lunch-First Landing/Seashore State Park-migrants, shorebirds & more
Airport fly out

JOIN ME FOR A WONDERFUL GETAWAY TO SEE ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THE BIRDING WORLD.
      PADDY

DEPOSIT of $440 due by AUGUST 1st. FINAL PAYMENT DUE SEPTEMBER 15th.
5 people required for trip, max 10.
Please e-mail your confirmation of intention as soon as possible so that plane flights can be determined. Thanks!!

Payment made to Patricia Cunningham, 1653 Plunkett St., Hollywood, Fl. 33020, (954) 805-6810, birdpaddy@yahoo.com, www.birdadventure.com

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FALL MIGRATION GETAWAY
EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA, CHINCOTEQUE, CHESAPEAKE BAY
SEPTEMBER 23-28, 2009

6/1-/09 -- The Hawk Migration trip to Virginia I need to know pretty quickly so that we can go forward with cheaper plane reservations. I've added to the wonderful adventure, a boat tour to Cobb River and the backwaters and we will be participating in birding contest Kiptopeke Birding Challenge. It will include lots of good seafood and great birds. Flying into Norfolk, Virginia we will head to the Eastern Shore of Virginia to plunge into these excellent birding sites such as Chincoteague National Park, Assateague National Seashore, Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge and numerous other hot spots. Kiptopeke State Park will be a focus where we will search for migrating hawks, songbirds and shorebirds. Kiptopeke is a national Hawk Watch site and also has an excellent songbird banding station. On our last trip we saw numerous species of banded songbirds including Thrushes, Connecticut and Hooded Warblers that we held in our hands. We hope to go on a boat tour of Cobb Island and will participate in the Kiptopeke Birding Challenge Contest to benefit the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory. It has all the birds and excitement of Cape May with one tenth of the people, plus delicious Maryland Crab cakes, southern hospitality and seafood.  We will be staying in a Chesapeake Bay side resort enjoying early fall, searching for great birds and southern charm. TRIP INCLUDES *5 days of expert birding *Instruction in advanced birding skills and resources *Van transportation to all sites *5 nights dbl. occupancy in Sunset Beach Resort *5 breakfasts *4 lunches *Estuary Boat tour *Donation 3 environmental organizations COST-$880 not including airfare SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY-9/23 Travel Day to Eastern Shore Ft. Lauderdale Group fly into Norfolk Evening arrival at Sunset Beach Resort (www.sunsetbeachresortva.com) THURSDAY-9/24 Kiptopeke State Park & Eastern Shore National   Wildlife Refuge Breakfast (continental) Kiptopeke State Park early morning fly-in bird banding station    (www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/kip.shtml) Butterfly Garden area for songbirds Baywood Trail looking for woodpeckers and migrating species Hawk Watch to search for migrating raptors (www.cvwo.org) Lunch (provided) at Kiptopeke State Park Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center & trail    (http://www.gov/northeast/easternshore/) Marsh trail to estuary overlook & observation deck Walk to boat channel to search for Black Duck, Clapper Rails Freshen up at Hotel Dinner at Famous Stingrays Kiptopeke Songbird Banding In the past 30 years, more than a quarter of a million birds have been banded at Kiptopeke State Park to increase our understanding of these migrants and their travels. This program begins at the Birding Staging Shelter and involves a short walk on a level grass trail. Kiptopeke Hawk Observtory Raptors, such as eagles, hawks and falcons, migrate down the Eastern Shore in great numbers. Since 1977, more than 500,000 raptors have been recorded flying over Kiptopeke State Park. Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge Wise Point Hike Explore the peninsula’s tip from the pine forest on the Refuge to the beach near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Wise Point is the area where many migrating neotropical species and monarch butterflies stop and refuel before crossing the Bay or flying to Central or South America FRIDAY-9/25 Chincoteague National Park, Assateague National Seashore-schedule may vary based on tides Breakfast Chincoteague National Park Visitor Center-introduction to park (http://www.fws.gov/northeast/chinco/) Lighthouse Trail-songbirds Woodland Trail-Brown-headed Nuthatch Lunch (provided) Swan Pool estuary for shorebirds, Black Tern, waterfowl, shorebirds Assateague National Seashore-look for beach shorebirds, gulls, terns and any possible pelagics. (http://www.nps.gov/asis) Chincoteague Wildlife Drive-waterfowl and shorebirds, Horses? Dinner at a seafood restaurant (not included) Late return to hotel SATURDAY-9/26 Kiptopeke Challenge Birding Contest to benefit Coastal Virginia  WildlifeObservatory Trip to Brownsville Seaside Farm (CES 08) - Nature Conservancy headquarters for 3 hour count Lunch in Cape Charles restaurant (not included) Cape Charles birding spots (CES 05)    Cape Charles Museum, fishing jetty, harbor, beach, and more Eyre Hall-Flycatchers and songbirds Happy Hour Brownsville Farm Preserve Brownsville is the headquarters for The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve. This historic working farm of more than 1,000 acres offers a rich diversity of habitats for many species of birds and wildlife, ranging from wooded uplands to tidal marshlands. The Birding and Wildlife Trail, a roundtrip total of 2 miles, provides a memorable hike through coastal Virginia scenery. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages this natural area and welcomes passive recreation such as hiking, bird/wildlife watching, and photography. Species of birds and butterflies number in the dozens. Eyre Hall Eyre Hall, a bayside tract of more than 600 acres on Cherrystone Creek, has impressive habitat diversity. You will see open fields, mature forests, freshwater marshes and ponds, tidal mud flats, open saltwater and beaches. Eyre Hall was built in 1760 by the five-times great-grandfather of the present owners on land he acquired in 1750. Dinner at Stingrays (not included) SUNDAY-9/27 Breakfast Kiptopeke State Park early morning fly in-bird banding station Osprey Harbor Wachapreague Interpretative Marsh Lunch at Willis Wharf Cobb Island Boat tour-depends on tide Eastern Shore Adventures – Cobb Bay Bird Excursion Are you the adventurous type? Join Captain Buddy Vaughan for a boat tour of Cobb Bay and the surrounding marshes where you will be sure to see numerous shorebirds such as American oystercatchers, marbled godwits, whimbrels, various sandpipers, and many other species on their high-tide roosts. You also will get a glimpse of several nearby barrier island inlet beaches where you may encounter roosting flocks of royal and Caspian terns. If the birds are acting skittish, look up and you may see a peregrine falcon overhead. Be sure to bring a snack, a drink, sunscreen couple of layers of clothing in case the wind picks up. This trip leaves from Oyster harbor. MONDAY - 9/28 Breakfast Last bird banding trip to Kiptopeke and Butterfly Garden walk Check out of hotel Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel-gulls, pelagics, and migrants Lunch First Landing/Seashore State Park-migrants, shorebirds & more Airport fly out JOIN ME FOR A WONDERFUL GETAWAY TO SEE ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THE BIRDING WORLD.    PADDY DEPOSIT OF $440 DUE BY JULY 15th. FINAL PAYMENT DUE SEPTEMBER 1st. 8 people required for trip. Please e-mail your confirmation of intention as soon as possible so that plane flights can be secured.  Thanks!! Payment made out to Patricia Cunningham, 1653 Plunkett ST. Hollywood, Fl. 33020   (954) 805-6810,  birdpaddy@yahoo.com   www.birdadventure.com Kiptopeke State Park Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory

Virginia Group National Wildlife Refuge tower Paddy at bird tagging Bird Banding - the release - #1 Bird Banding - the release - #2 American Redstart Blue Winged Teal Clapper Rail in Tree Coopers Sharp-shinned hawk Magnolia Warbler Marbled Godwit