New York – Montauk Point – Winter

After breakfast we will return to JBWR, as it has much to offer. Some of the target birds there include Eurasian Wigeon, Brant, Northern Saw-whet Owl, and late shorebirds and herons. There is sometimes a Tufted Duck in the NYC area.

We’ll bird our way east on Long Island, looking for sea ducks, gulls, falcons, and bitterns. We’ll dine at the Shagwong Restaurant and spend the first of three nights in the village of Montauk.

Overnight: Montauk

After a hearty breakfast at Mr. John’s Pancake House, we’ll enjoy the maritime scenery, Harbor Seals, and thousands of ducks at famed Montauk Point. Migrant seabirds may include shearwaters, kittiwakes, and alcids. Parasitic Jaegers may be seen close to shore.

Montauk has a great reputation for western vagrants that may include sparrows, warblers, flycatchers, and unusual finds such as a Dickcissel or Lark Sparrow. Dinner at O’Murphy’s Pub, on-the-green in Montauk.

Overnight: Montauk

We have another full day at Montauk Point to search for King Eider among the numerous Common Eiders, Razorbill, Black-legged Kittiwake, and additional pelagic species. Songbirds may include Snow Bunting, Blue-headed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, or a flock of Red Crossbills.

The woods at the recycling center often have large numbers of Hermit Thrushes, one or two lingering warblers, and perhaps a Clay-colored Sparrow. We may find an unusual gull such as Little, Black-headed, or Iceland in Montauk Harbor. Hopefully there will be a rarity to chase.

Previously we have observed Northern Lapwing, Varied Thrush, Sandhill Crane, Pink-footed Goose, and Yellow-billed Loon on Long Island. These are very impressive finds from our previous early November tours.

Overnight: Montauk

As we drive west toward New York City, we’ll look for American Bittern along Dune Road at Shinnecock, rare gulls at Sagaponack Pond, and Snowy Owl at Jones Beach. Point Lookout is renowned for its Harlequin Ducks, an occasional Eared Grebe, Northern Gannet, and a nice flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls that has contained Little and Black-headed Gull.

Our next stop will be decided upon according to the local bird reports. We’ll spend our final night near Jamaica Bay, in the same motel that we used on the first night of the tour.

Overnight: near Jamaica Bay

We’ll have some of the morning to return to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge for more songbirds, waterfowl, and another opportunity for Northern Saw-whet Owl and crossbills. The possibilities there are almost endless. If time allows, we’ll visit nearby Fort Tilden, Breezy Point, or the Gateway National Recreation Area. These areas often hold late migrants and a vagrant or two, and provide good vantage points for scoping seabirds. We’ll then return to JFK for your afternoon flights home.

Yes! We have birding planned if time allows and everything is on schedule.

Check the weather for the destination as close to your departure date as possible, and dress accordingly for your comfort level. You can also review our What to Bring page for more information.

There are many items the will be useful to you while on a Bird Treks tour. We have put together our list of recommendations on the What to Bring page.

Our tours are all conducted in English, but we do have some experience working with client that don’t speak English well – Some English would be needed for safety reasons. In locations where another language is predominately spoken, a native guide may accompany the tour.

Yes, we will always try our best to help with anything at all! We’re here to serve you. However, it is usually easier if you book your flight through your own travel agent as we can’t always get the best deals from your particular country. But we will help whenever needed!

While Day 1 is usually a travel (arrival) day, and the last day of the tour is usually also a travel day (departure), many people do like to arrive early and/or leave late. We can indeed book extra nights before and after the trip, and we in fact recommend you let us book them, as it avoids confusion and allows us to book the accommodation that is most convenient for the tour.

NOTE: Most often it is the same hotel or lodge that you use on the first night of the tour, but in some instances, it could be an airport hotel or an accommodation establishment where the guide is staying.

No, we do not. We find that it is better for trip participants to purchase their own medical, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance through their own insurance provider in the country they reside in. We expect all tour participants to have comprehensive insurance, and we encourage everyone to send us a copy of their insurance documents.

For most tours, meals are included in the tour price. This may include a hotel-provided breakfast, or guide-provided box lunches. For dinners, we strive to find interesting and delicious local restaurants – this allows us to give back to the local economy, and find exciting new place to eat.