Just two hours east of Calgary, the dry-mixedgrass prairie, woodlots and badlands around Brooks combine to become one of the richest long-weekend birding destinations in the province. In just four days, this getaway takes us to the home to some Alberta's grassland specialty birds as well as migrant passerines and shorebirds passing over the prairies.
Tour Information
Dates: May 14-17, 2027
Starting/Ending City: Calgary, AB (YYC)
Cost: $1385 CAD
Single Supplement: $230 CAD
Guide/Participant ratio: 1:10
The price includes all accommodation from May 14-17, 2027, professional guiding services, park entrance fees, breakfast, field lunches, water and snacks, and ground transportation in a 15 passenger van. Does not include travel to/from Calgary, travel insurance, items of a personal nature, evening meals and GST. Space can be reserved with an initial deposit of $400 CAD
Dates: May 14-17, 2027
Starting/Ending City: Calgary, AB (YYC)
Cost: $1385 CAD
Single Supplement: $230 CAD
Guide/Participant ratio: 1:10
The price includes all accommodation from May 14-17, 2027, professional guiding services, park entrance fees, breakfast, field lunches, water and snacks, and ground transportation in a 15 passenger van. Does not include travel to/from Calgary, travel insurance, items of a personal nature, evening meals and GST. Space can be reserved with an initial deposit of $400 CAD
Itinerary
May 14: Depart Calgary
Our getaway begins at noon, departing from Calgary The drive east takes us to some very productive wetlands such as Weed Lake, Marsland Basin and Namaka Lake. Depending water levels, these locations can be excellent for shorebirds and will be a good introduction to the common waterbirds of southern Alberta. We'll check in to our accommodations in Brooks by late afternoon. After dinner, we will have an opportunity for some relaxed birding nearby where we can potentially find Black-necked Stilt, Sora and Caspian Tern.
May 15: Kinbrook Island Provincial Park and Kitsim Reservoir
We'll spend a morning at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, working the shoreline and campground woods on Lake Newell for migrant songbirds that may have dropped into the cottonwoods overnight. Species such as Swainson's Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler are possible. In the wetland surrounding the park, we'll look for American White-Pelicans, American bittern, Cinnamon teal and an assortment of grebes and waterfowl. From there we'll head to some locations that can sometimes host staging flocks of Red Knots and Black-bellied Plovers, examining them closer can often reveal Sanderlings or a Ruddy Turnstone.
May 14: Depart Calgary
Our getaway begins at noon, departing from Calgary The drive east takes us to some very productive wetlands such as Weed Lake, Marsland Basin and Namaka Lake. Depending water levels, these locations can be excellent for shorebirds and will be a good introduction to the common waterbirds of southern Alberta. We'll check in to our accommodations in Brooks by late afternoon. After dinner, we will have an opportunity for some relaxed birding nearby where we can potentially find Black-necked Stilt, Sora and Caspian Tern.
May 15: Kinbrook Island Provincial Park and Kitsim Reservoir
We'll spend a morning at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, working the shoreline and campground woods on Lake Newell for migrant songbirds that may have dropped into the cottonwoods overnight. Species such as Swainson's Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Orange-crowned Warbler are possible. In the wetland surrounding the park, we'll look for American White-Pelicans, American bittern, Cinnamon teal and an assortment of grebes and waterfowl. From there we'll head to some locations that can sometimes host staging flocks of Red Knots and Black-bellied Plovers, examining them closer can often reveal Sanderlings or a Ruddy Turnstone.