We try to take a winter vacation every year and this one was to upstate New York for snowmobiling and birding.

We flew to Albany on Thursday night and woke to below zero temperatures. On our way to our destination, we stopped at Desantis Meat Market and Deli in Barneveld. This is a quality butcher shop, bakery, and deli where we picked up some awesome Italian style subs and cake donuts.   Yum!

Checked into the White Lakes Lodges in Forestport and was surprised to be upgraded to the master suite with two stories, full kitchen and living room with fireplace. Thanks to Greg for that. We rented snowmobiles on the property and took a tour of the Tug Hill plateau and Booneville area. We highly recommend this area for a snowmobiling vacation because the trails are expertly maintained and the businesses cater to the sport. An excellent way to try before you buy.

Saturday morning we headed out to bird near Lowville and find the Snowy Owl that has been posted on eBird by the wind  turbines. We looked at every pole along the road and all of the sudden we saw something on a pole in the distance. Success, we found our lifer Snowy Owl.

Our next stop was the Wild Center in Tupper lake for winter birds and snowshoeing which is not as easy as some people make it look! Then on to the Winter Carnival in Saranac Lake  where they build an ice sculpture every year. This year it was the Hotel Saranac and it was just beautiful.

Back at Old Forge for dinner at Tony Harper’s Pizza & Clam Shack which has good food and beer, and is fun snowmobile hangout. The next day we took the snowmobile trail through the woods to Old Forge. While eating lunch we read a local paper with an article about a local bird bander, Gary Lee and decided to look him up.

Sunday morning we drove through heavy snow on the way to Gary Lee’s place. We were lucky to follow a snowplow most of the way and saw more snowplows than cars on the road. Gary, a retired NYS forest ranger is very knowledgeable about wildlife and the Adirondacks. He is also an experienced birder who has a banding operation. Gary and his wife Karen welcomed us into their home where we saw Hoary Redpoll (life bird – for now because it may be lumped with the Common Redpoll), Common Redpoll (50), two species of woodpecker, and Black-capped Chickadees. We had great views through large picture windows where we stayed nice and warm. Thank you, Gary!

We decided to take Route 28 through treacherous conditions rather than the back roads. We stopped at Oscar’s Adirondack Smokehouse in Warrensburg to stock up on the best-smoked meats and cheeses anywhere. All good things must end and we caught an uneventful flight from Albany to Tampa.

2/5- 2/9 Weekend weather  Hi 26 Low -1 winds variable 10-20 mph Snowfall total +10 inches.

Next stop: Boat show and birds in Miami Beach

Trip : Total Species:   7   Year Birds:  7  Life Birds: 2

2015 : Year Birds: 102   Life Birds: 4

Here’s the list: 2015 Bird List