Road Scholar : Skagit River Delta: Raptors and Wintering Birds - Washington

Skagit River Delta: Raptors and Wintering Birds

Program Number:

14376RJ

Start and End Dates:


	1/28/2013 - 2/1/2013;

Duration:

4 nights

Location:

La Conner, Washington

Price starting at:

$967.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city

Program Type:

Birding; Natural History

Meals:

12; 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners

Meal Options:

Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian

Join an intimate exploration of North America’s premier raptor and wintering bird hotspots along the Pacific Flyway. Salmon runs on the Skagit River bring Bald Eagles by the hundreds and "five-falcon" days are possible this time of year including rare Gyr falcons. Expert guide leads daily field excursions.

Highlights

• Explore scenic coastal regions in search of ancient Murrelets, wintering Trumpeter and Tundra Swans and more.
• Experience a breathtaking, daylong birding excursion to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta and the Reifel Island Bird Sanctuary on British Columbia’s Fraser River.
• Visit the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for a special presentation.

Activity Particulars

Multiple short distance walks over varying terrain. Frequent getting in and out of 15-passenger vans. Daylong field trip across border to Reifel Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary requires passport (or participant can opt out of this one event).

Coordinated by Skagit Valley College.

La Conner

Nestled amid verdant cedar and fir forests on the shores of Swinomish Channel, historic La Conner, founded in the late 19th century, offers abundant natural beauty, historic architecture, and a charming array of shops, restaurants and galleries.

Accommodations
Deluxe inn with private bath and fireplace.

Meals and Lodgings
	LaConner Country Inn
		LaConner	4 nights

LaConner Country Inn
	Type:	Inn
	Description:	Located in charming LaConner, WA, this quaint Inn features cozy, but spacious rooms, each with gas fireplace; flat screen TV and DVD player; mini refrigerator and private bath.
	Contact info:	107 South Second Street LaConner, WA 98257 USA phone: 360-466-3101 web: www.laconnerlodging.com
	Room amenities:	Spacious rooms feature gas fireplace; flat screen TV and DVD player; mini refrigerator; quaint country-style furnishings,and private bath. In-room spa services available with a reservation.
	Facility amenities:	Nell Thorn Restaurant and Pub, known for its progressive cuisine, focusing on Northwest & European styles. is located on the property. The Inn offers high speed wireless internet and free parking.
	Smoking allowed:	No
	Additional nights prior:	Please call Call 1-888-466-4113 for rates and reservations.
	Check in time:	4:00 PM
	Additional nights after:	Please call Call 1-888-466-4113 for rates and reservations.
	Check out time:	11:00 AM

Travel Details
	Start of Program: Check in at hotel 4 PM. Orientation at 5 PM - followed by dinner. You will be staying at LaConner Country Inn that night.
	End of Program: Program concludes after lunch (approx 1pm). Late checkout may be arranged. You will be staying at LaConner Country Inn the night before.
	Required documents: The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. One program day is spent at Reifel Island Birding Sanctuary in Delta, BC Canada. Passports are required to participate in this day's events.
	Parking availability: Free parking available at Inn.

Transportation

	To Start of Program
	Location:	LaConner
	Nearest city or town:	LaConner
	Nearest highway:	I-5
	Nearest airport:	Sea Tac Airport, Seattle

	From End of Program
	Location:	LaConner
		(Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
	To LaConner, WA from Seattle	From Airport
	Service:	Commercial Van/Shuttle Bellair Airporter Shuttle phone: 866-235-5247 Advanced Reservations Required
	Per Person/One Way:	Senior fare approx $35/OW or $55/RT Prices are subject to change.
	Travel Time:	Approximately 2.5 hours from SeaTac airport to LaConner
		This service runs 7 days a week throughout the year except on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Select route from SeaTac Airport to FarmHouse Inn. The FarmHouse Inn shuttle stop is approximately 5-7 miles from the LaConner Country Inn. Local taxi service arrangement can be made once you arrive at the shuttle stop. Approximate cost for taxi is $20.
	FarmHouse Inn Shuttlebus Stop to LaConner Country Inn
	Service:	Taxi A Better Cab Co. phone: 360-755-9262
	Per Person/One Way:	$20 Prices are subject to change.
	Travel Time:	10 minutes
	Distance:	5-7 miles
		Upon arrival at the FarmHouse Inn shuttle bus stop, you may call cab service to arrange transport to the LaConner Country Inn, in LaConner. It is approximately 5-7 mile ride and approximate cost one-way is $20 and fare may be shared.

Driving Directions
	Bellingham	From Bellingham, travel south on Interstate 5 to exit 230 at Burlington, turn right at end of off-ramp and follow Hwy. 20 about 10 miles and turn left on La Conner Whitney Rd. Follow this road about 5 miles into La Conner. As you enter La Conner on Morris St. watch for the Country Inn to your left on South 2nd. From Vancouver: about 90 miles or 1 hour and 10 minutes (approximately)
	Seattle	From Seattle: travel north on Interstate 5 to exit 221 Conway, turn left at end of off-ramp and take first right (signs to Conway & La Conner). Follow the main road and signs to La Conner approx. 9 miles (road will become Best Rd.). After speed limit drops to 35 m.p.h., take a left on Chilberg Rd. This will bring you into La Conner. As you enter La Conner on Morris St. watch for the Country Inn to your left on South 2nd. From Seattle: about 60 miles, or 1 hour and 15 minutes (approximately).

Equipment Requirements: Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes if you have them.

The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Daily Schedule

Day 1:

Welcome and Orientation
(Monday, January 28)

Afternoon:	Check in at hotel 4 PM; Program Orientation at 5:00PM.
Dinner:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Evening:	Welcome and get acquainted program following dinner.

Accommodations:	LaConner Country Inn
Meals Included:	Dinner

Day 2:

Presentation on "Migratory Waterbirds and Raptors of the Skagit/Samish Deltas"/Birding in the Field/Museum of Northwest Art
(Tuesday, January 29)

Breakfast:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Morning:	Presentation on raptors and migratory waterbirds, and habitats of the Skagit/Samish River Deltas and surrounding Salish Sea region. Depart for birding in field.
Lunch:	Picnic lunch in the field.
Afternoon:	Continue birding field trip to a variety of habitats (with emphasis on birds in the Skagit Delta and Fir Island). Mid-afternoon return to the hotel; followed by walking field trip the the Museum of Northwest Art.
Dinner:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Evening:	"Winter Raptors" presentation and discussion.

Accommodations:	LaConner Country Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3:

Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve/ Birding in the Field: Deception Pass Gorge Area
(Wednesday, January 30)

Breakfast:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Morning:	Field trip to Padilla Bay National Estuarine Reserve unique research facility. Birding in field to follow program.
Lunch:	Picnic lunch in the field.
Afternoon:	Birding in field continued (with emphasis on birds in the N. Skagit Delta, Samish Delta, and Samish Island). Return to hotel in late afternoon.
Dinner:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Evening:	Evening Lecture: "Merlin's of the Northwest" .

Accommodations:	LaConner Country Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4:

Day-long excursion to Reifel Island Bird Sanctuary on British Columbia's Fraser River.
(Thursday, January 31)

Breakfast:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Morning:	The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary is situated on 850 acres of managed wetlands, natural marshes and low dikes in the heart of the Fraser River Estuary. For the millions of birds seeking feeding and resting areas during their annual migrations along the Pacific Coast, the Sanctuary is ideally located. Over 268 species have now been recorded at the Sanctuary. Your morning will feature a presentation from a Sanctuary docent, highlighting the importance of the Sanctuary; bird identification; wildlife needs and habitats; etc. Afterwards, enjoy birding at the Sanctuary.
Lunch:	Picnic lunch in the field.
Afternoon:	Afternoon birding continues at the Sanctuary. Special features of the Sanctuary include a two-storey observation tower and several "bird blinds" or "hides" along the trails. Mid-afternoon departure back to the US and the LaConner Country Inn. We will continue to look for birds on our return trip as we follow the beautiful Chuckanut Drive back to the LaConner area.
Dinner:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Evening:	Free evening to rest / relax by the fireplace in your room or explore LaConner.

Accommodations:	LaConner Country Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5:

Birding in nearby habitats/Farewell Luncheon/ Independent departures
(Friday, February 1)

Breakfast:	In Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm!
Morning:	More Birding in Field to new and desirable habitats (with emphasis on Deception Pass Gorge, and Fidalgo Island).
Lunch:	Farewell luncheon in Conference Dining Room featuring healthy & delicious home-style meals served buffet-style. Meals are prepared by our private caterer and proudly served with enthusiasm! Late checkouts available as necessary.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities
LaConner	General information For additional information, visit www.laconnerchamber.com

Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

A Birder's Guide to Washington

Author: Hal Opperman

Description: A Birder's Guide to Washington details hundreds of birding routes and sites in the state and adjacent areas in British Columbia, together with year-round access instructions and birding advice. Over 220 maps pinpoint the most productive destinations in the field and offer regional overviews to help with trip planning. An annotated checklist of 478 species recorded in the state through 2002 gives information about status and habitat associations, while the seasonal abundance/regional occurrence bar graphs will assist birders in locating regularly occurring species. Authoritative lists of Washington's mammals, herps, butterflies, and dragonflies are provided.

Birding Washington

Author: Rob and Natalie McNair-Huff

Description: As the first stop in the continental U.S. for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway, Washington offers a wide range of birding opportunities and species, from the typical fall migrations of ducks and geese to the convergence of millions of shore birds in Grays Harbor each spring.

Birds of the Pacific Northwest Coast

Author: Nancy Baron and John Acorn

Description: More than 200 species of common birds are grouped and color-coded for quick identification. Beautiful illustrations accompany the insightful text on behavior, seasonal occurrence and local range of species.

Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest

Author: Dennis Paulson

Description: A well-researched and superbly illustrated publication on the identification and general biology of shorebirds. The author has successfully developed a new model for guides to other groups of birds by skilfully blending technical and popular information with field and teaching experience. This guide will be extraordinarily useful to ornithologists, biologists, enforcement officials, environmentalists, and birdwatchers at all levels.

You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.

As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.

Specifically, this program includes:

4 nights accommodations
12 meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Expert-led lectures: 3
Expert-led lectures

Led by one or more of our world-class instructors, typically in a classroom setting, lectures come in the form of presentations, discussions or workshops and offer expert insight into your area of study.
Field trips: 8
Field trips

The world is your classroom, as you're on location with an instructor to pursue your educational theme firsthand.
Hands-on experiences: 1
Hands-on experiences

Learn by doing in these "hands-on" activities directed by an expert.

Plus these special experiences...

Scenic day-long birding excursion to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC Canada. Over 268 species have been recorded here.
Visit the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. After a guided exploration, enjoy afternoon birding along this estuary.
Ornithologist-guided birding in the field throughout the Skagit River deltas surrounding Mt. Vernon, Conway and picturesque Deception Pass areas.
Visit the Museum of Northwest Art. MoNA showcases Northwest artists. Enjoy major artists; new artists; and the Benaroya Glass Gallery displayed here

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:

Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.
An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.
Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.
The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, providing 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage.
Taxes

Highlights

Activity Particulars

Multiple short distance walks over varying terrain. Frequent getting in and out of 15-passenger vans. Daylong field trip across border to Reifel Island Migratory Bird Sanctuary requires passport (or participant can opt out of this one event).

Coordinated by Skagit Valley College.

La Conner

Nestled amid verdant cedar and fir forests on the shores of Swinomish Channel, historic La Conner, founded in the late 19th century, offers abundant natural beauty, historic architecture, and a charming array of shops, restaurants and galleries.

Meals and Lodgings

Travel Details

Travel Details

To LaConner, WA from Seattle

From Airport

Service:

Commercial Van/ShuttleBellair Airporter Shuttlephone: 866-235-5247Advanced Reservations Required

Per Person/One Way:

Senior fare approx $35/OW or $55/RTPrices are subject to change.

Travel Time:

Approximately 2.5 hours from SeaTac airport to LaConner

FarmHouse Inn Shuttlebus Stop to LaConner Country Inn

Service:

TaxiA Better Cab Co.phone: 360-755-9262

Per Person/One Way:

$20Prices are subject to change.

Travel Time:

10 minutes

Distance:

5-7 miles

Upon arrival at the FarmHouse Inn shuttle bus stop, you may call cab service to arrange transport to the LaConner Country Inn, in LaConner. It is approximately 5-7 mile ride and approximate cost one-way is $20 and fare may be shared.