South Peel Naturalists' Club

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Field Trips

Trip Ratings and Guidelines

Destinations may include: a provincial park or conservation area, short stops at a number
of local city parks, roadside stops in rural areas to look for wintering birds or exploring a specific area such as the Niagara River or the Bruce Peninsula. Field trip leaders are members of the Club who volunteer their time and share their enthusiasm with field trip participants. This is a excellent time to ask questions and gain valuable experience in field identification.

Field Trips are scheduled on weekends throughout the year. Summer walks are scheduled in the evenings from May to August. Trips are rated as to difficulty of terrain and the duration of walking involved with each outing.

The cost of field trips (except Red Bay Weekend) is included in your membership fees.

Please contact us via e-mail for more information. (mail@spnc.ca)

Field Trips for 2009-10 Season

Warblers & Fall Migrants - Toronto Islands

September 12, 2009 - Saturday - 7:30 am
Leader: Joyce LeChasseur & Jim Watt
Meet at Cawthra
Rating: Easy, but a long walk - Level 4
Please note: Money for ferry & parking required

Migrating Hawks - High Park Hawk Hill

September 19, 2009 - Saturday - 10:00 am
Leader: Jim Watt & Don Barnett, Greater Toronto Raptor Watch
Meet at Cawthra
Rating: Easy, bring a lawn chair

Shell Park - Birds

September 27, 2009 - Sunday - 8:00 am
Leader: Gavin Edmondstone
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Level 2
Trip will end around noon - no lunch

Hendrie Valley - Royal Botanical Gardens

October 18, 2009, Sunday - 9:00 am
Leader: Audrey Oswald
Meet at Bronte or Hendrie Valley parking lot off Plains Rd at 9:30 am
Rating: Moderate Level 3
Trip will end at 1:00 - no lunch

Birds: Fall Round-up

November 1, 2009 - Sunday - 8:00 am
Leader: Mark Cranford
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Level 3

Gulls & Wintering Birds - Niagara River

December 6, 2009 - Sunday - 8:00 am
Leader: Jim Watt
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Vehicles - Level 1

Christmas Bird Count - 46th Annual

December 19, 2009 - Saturday
Co-ordinator: Mark Cranford
See NEWSLETTER for further details
or call Mark at 905 279-9576

Mid-Winter Waterfowl Inventory

January 10, 2010 - Sunday - 8:00 am
See NEWSLETTER for further details
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Easy - Level 1

Owl Prowl

January 24, 2010 - Sunday
Leader: Albert Kuhnigk
See NEWSLETTER for further details
Registered SPNC Members only
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
To register call Jim Watt at 905 842-9721
If no answer call Mark Cranford at 905 279-9576

Hawks and Owls - Fisherville area

February 6, 2010 - Saturday - 8:00 am
Leader: Mark Cranford
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Vehicles - Level 1

Tundra Swans & Waterfowl - Long Point

March 13, 2010 - Saturday - 8:00 am
Leader: Joyce LeChasseur
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Vehicles - Level 1

Hawks & Migrants - Beamer Conservation Area - Grimsby

April 17, 2010 - Saturday - 8:00 am
Leader: Jim Watt
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Easy - bring lawn chairs

Crawford Lake

April 25, 2010 - Sunday - 9:00 am
Leader: Audrey Oswald
Meet at Bronte at 9:00 am
Half day trip
ADMISSION FEE IN EFFECT

Birding Oakville / Burlington

May 8, 2010 - Saturday - 8:00 am
Leader: Donna Sheppard
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Easy - Level 3
Trip will end at 1:00 pm

Warblers & Wildflowers - Oakville

May 15, 2010 - Saturday - 8:00 am
Leader: Donna Sheppard
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Moderate - Level 3
Trip will end at 1:00 pm

Red Bay Weekend - Bruce Peninsula - Birds and Botany, Friends and Food

May 28 to 30, 2010 - Friday evening to Sunday after lunch
Leaders: To be announced
See Newsletter for further details

Birding at Colonel Sam Park

May 29, 2010 - Saturday - 7:30 am
Leader: Sheldon McGregor & Jim Watt
Meet at Cawthra - Note the early start time
Rating: easy - Level 3
Trip will end before noon

Birds - Carden Alvar

June 5, 2010 - Saturday - 7:00 am
Leader: Jim Watt
Meet at Cawthra - Note the early start time
Rating: Moderate - Level 3

Currie Tract in Campbellville

June 12, 2010 - Saturday - 7:30 am
Leader: Jim Watt
Meet at Bronte
Rating: Easy - Level 3
Trip will end at approximately 11:00 am

Beverley Swamp, Flamborough - Introduction to Butterflies and Birds

July 3, 2010 - Saturday - 8:30 am
Leader: John Lamey
Meet at parking lot on west side of Bronte Rd, just south of QEW
If conditions are right, 30 butterfly species are possible.
Photography is possible. Hat and insect repellent recommended.
Binoculars useful but not necessary.

Rock Point Provincial Park & area - Shorebirds and Fall Migrants

August 14, 2010 - Saturday - 7:30 am
Leader: Mark Cranford
Meet at Cawthra
Rating: Level 2
PARK ADMISSION FEE IN EFFECT

Please see Club Newsletter for additional field trips scheduled throughout the year.

Meeting Places

Field trips start at one of the following meeting places and car-pooling is encouraged:

Cawthra Arena parking lot, east side of Cawthra Road at Arbor Road, south of the QEW in Mississauga
Bronte Road - Pooled parking lot, now on the west side of Bronte Road
just south of the QEW in Oakville

Please pay attention to the meeting times as they vary.

Trip Ratings

Field trips are rated to assist in the decision of whether to participate or not.

Vehicles - Use of car is extensive. Walking on streets or well defined paths
Easy - Walking on well defined trails with gentle inclines
Moderate - Trails with medium inclines and some rough spots or obstacles. Hiking boots recommended
Difficult - Rough trails or terrain with steep inclines and natural obstacles (rocks or tree roots). Hiking boots highly recommended

Walking Time

Level 1: Very limited - one hour
Level 2: Two to three hours
Level 3: Three to four hours
Level 4: Four hours plus

Trip Guidelines

Trips leave sharply at the designated time. Please be at the departure point before the time specified and with a full gas tank.
Beginners are encouraged to participate on field trips.
Be prepared for hazards such as rough terrain, cold, heat, rain, insects, wind, thorns, etc.
Carry personal identification, emergency contact information and inform leader of any special medical conditions.
On the highway, stay close to the car in front to avoid losing contact with the group.
Please do not go ahead of the leader. When on a field trip, remember that the leader is the leader. Field trips are meant for people to come together to share an appreciation for nature. Many naturalists also like to go afield alone. These two activities, unfortunately, cannot be carried out at the same time.
Respect the judgement of the leader regarding the appropriateness of photography.
Keep your distance when following on foot to avoid injury from low branches.
Leave habitat undisturbed.
You may leave a field trip whenever you wish but please inform the leader.