Birding Tour Package

Meadow Lake Guest Ranch Photography
Birding on the Cariboo Trail

Contact us at meadowlakeguestranch@gmail.com for booking inquires.

Accommodation and transportation on the water is provided

Photo Credit: Amy Newman

Meet Your Guides: Richard Wright and Amy Newman

Richard Wright, currently the Recreational Director for Meadow Lake Ranch has long been one of B.C.’s leading outdoor writers and photographers. He has had a life in the arts and outdoors and ranching, from writing to film work for CBC.

For several years he was a Park Naturalist with BC Parks in Wells Gray Provincial Park, followed by a career with the Information and Education section of BC Fish and Wildlife Branch. He continued his guiding life while running a river outfitting company, running rivers from the Fraser and Thompson to the Tatshenshini and Nahanni.  He has published 23 books on history and the outdoors, Including Overlanders and Barkerville and the Cariboo Goldfields. He is now living at Meadow Lake Ranch where he indulges in his passion for photography and film making, while riding fences and checking cows.

Amy Newman has been a birding enthusiast and photographer for much of her life. Her passion for capturing images of birds grew over the years. Some of Amy’s favourite species include flycatchers, warblers, grebes and ibis.

Recently she has fallen in love with raptors and vultures, thanks to a recent trip to Spain with Richard, where they sat in a freezing blind for several hours photographing Eurasian black vultures tearing apart sheep carcasses! At any given time, she is likely to be seen creeping through the brush – or in her pontoon boat – with lens in hand, on the lookout for the latest feathery encounter on land or water. When not out in the field, Amy leads historical walking tours. She is well versed in taking care of her guests, and is genuinely interested in people. Along with Richard, she will bring all of her guiding skills and love of birding to this adventure!

The Ranch

Meadow Lake Ranch is an historic ranch, first carved out by the Pigeon family in the 1880s. Some of the early buildings still remain, augmented by luxurious log homes built in the last decades. It offers stunning views, peace and quiet, starry skies and an abundance of bird and mammal species.

One major point separating this experience from other tours is the local knowledge of your guides. Richard lives on the ranch as Caretaker and Recreation Director, while Amy is often here for her photography. When not out with his cameras he is checking fence, livestock and visitors, and scouting locations. Secondly, the lake and grassland photography is on private Meadow Lake Ranch’s deeded land and grazing leases, meaning we are not bothered by other visitors or cameras. We are private.

Our ratio of 2-4 means you will get lots of attention while the subjects experience low impact.

The Area

This birding and photography guided tour takes place in the grassland and lake country of B.C.’s interior plateau, on the eastern slope of the Marble Mountains just east of the spectacular Fraser River and some of B.C.’s largest ranches.

The Schedule

Being on location offers before-breakfast birding for early risers who wish to walk down to the lake shore or sit in the blind with a morning coffee.

The ranch is a Bortle Class 1 dark sky area, making it ideal for those may want to stay up late and do some night or astro photography. However, that could make the night very short.

Relax and enjoy

You are welcome to take a slower pace with less driving walking or boating. No chains to bind you are allowed. Sleep-in, nap, hang out, edit your images – you can adapt our schedule to yours as you wish.

The Ethos

While this experience is suitable for birders and photographers, the emphasis is on photography. There may be delays in moving to the next site, but with two guides we will be able to divide and conquer. While Richard has taught photography in the past, it was in pre-digital days. He and Amy will offer suggestions; however, this is not strictly an instructional tour. Our first tip is to bring lots of batteries, your charger and multiple cards or hard drives for uploading. That said, your hosts are there to assist you, not for our own photography. Our time is yours. Finally, the subjects come first. If we feel we are negatively impacting our subjects, for instance nesting waterfowl, we will withdraw and move elsewhere.

Adaptability

Our is route is adaptable if we have reports of subjects elsewhere or weather affects roads or other access.

Subjects

This is not a one species shoot. This is a birding tour on the Cariboo Trail, the route from the early Fraser River Gold Trail to the 1862 Cariboo Waggon Road, which followed the Hudson Bay Brigade. During the past decade Richard and Amy have become experts in locating original sections of the Cariboo Waggon Road, for instance. The area has spectacular scenery and much historic architecture. The ranch itself is centered around the old Pigeon Place, the Roadhouse that serviced travelers on the Cariboo Trail. It has been renovated and is one of the accommodations on the ranch.

Your Gear

· Digital or film SLR

· Wide angle lens (16-70mm)

· Mid-range lens (70-200mm is a great choice)

· Telephoto lens (400-800mm; we try to maximize viewing sites for 600mm)

· Flash (not encouraged but can be useful if not intrusive)

· Tripod, or two for high and low

· Polarizing filter (can be useful on the lakes)

· Cable or wireless shutter remote (if you are familiar with it)

· Pack or bag for carrying gear

· Neoprene socks and/or rubber boots.

· Spare batteries and memory cards

· Camo gear or wear

· Chargers

· Laptop

Clothing

We encourage the wearing of camouflage or subtle clothing. Camo is mandatory when on the boats or near the water. On the boats we encourage the wearing of neoprene socks. We will have a few for sale but do not rent or lend footwear. There may be biting insects. Bring head nets and your choice of spray.

Transportation

Flights are available:

· to Kamloops (2 hours from ranch)

· to Vancouver (5 hours from ranch)

· to Prince George (4.5 hours from ranch).

Rental vehicles are available at all three airports.

While car-pooling at the ranch and for side trips is encouraged, due to insurance and liability issues the tour leaders are not able to provide transportation. Participants will need to have their own vehicles.

Accommodation

Luxurious ranch accommodation is provided in large log homes in shared accommodation. We will do our best to accommodate any personal wishes. Single accommodation is available for an additional fee.

All accommodations have cell service and electricity.

Caveats

EV vehicles: 70 Mile and Clinton – no charging station on the ranch

Fuel up with gas in Clinton, if driving from the south, or 70 Mile, if driving from the North.

Emergency Services

· Paramedics and RCMP in Clinton

· Hospital in 100 Mile, one hour north

· Regional Hospital in Kamloops, two hours east via highway

There is an emergency helipad on the ranch. Guests will be asked to provide pertinent medical information in a sealed envelope, only to be opened in case of emergency. Similarly, emergency contacts will be required.

Tentative Schedule – dependent on weather and any wildfire alerts

Day 1 – Arrive in afternoon – short tour on arrival – evening talk

Day 2 – Meadow Lake Ranch area – using pontoon boats, blinds and walking

Day 3 – to Chasm for birds and bighorn sheep (possible) – Dinner in Clinton

Day 4 – Ranch area – Beaverdam Lake and backroads

Day 5 – to Gang Ranch and Fraser River at Churn Creek for dryland and grassland species and spectacular views of the Fraser River. Possible sheep sightings. 120 km return on good gravel roads.

Day 6 – Ranch and boats. Meadow Lake, Golden Pond and White Lake

Day 7 – Early morning birding – depart pre-lunch

View some of Richard’s work below

The Pond: The Peace of Wild Things. https://vimeo.com/919009219

Demo # 13 https://vimeo.com/709748723

Demo Roll #14 – WQP  https://vimeo.com/880025351

Wildlife Demo https://vimeo.com/379899574

Long Road to Cariboo – https://vimeo.com/726878846