WBFN OUTINGS
WBFN Winter Tree Identification Field Trip in The Northumberland Forest Photo© Sherry Tomkins
Walks and field trips are held throughout the year. Local activities are a good way for members to enjoy our area’s natural heritage, share their experience and learn through observation.
Outings 2012
JANUARY
● Sunday, January 22, 2012 - Winter Bird and Soup Hike in the Northumberland Forest.
Meet at the new Non-motorized parking area off County Rd. 45 (opposite Woodland Rd.) at 9 a.m. We will search the forest trails and roadsides for winter birds and end about noon at the home of Barry King, 12162 Dunbar Rd., for soup and a studio tour! Please bring a large mug for your soup.
Contact Roger at 905-885-9615 or ekrf@eagle.ca to let him know if you are coming. We don’t want to run out of soup!
Leaders: Roger Frost and Elizabeth Kellogg.
Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo© Bruce Parker.
FEBRUARY
● Sunday, February 19, 2012 – Bird Chase Trip.
Meet at Cty. Rd. 28 commuter parking lot in Port Hope, off Phillips Rd., opposite Arby’s at 8 a.m. We will chase the rarest bird(s) reported within a 2 hour drive of Port Hope.
Leader: Roger Frost
Long-eared Owl. Photo© Bruce Parker.
MARCH
● Saturday, March 31, 2012 - Durham Shore Waterfowl Outing.
Meet at County Rd. 45 & Hwy. 401 commuter parking lot at 8 a.m. or at the Oshawa pier at 9 a.m.
Directions to Oshawa pier: Take 401 to Harmony Road Exit and head south on Farewell Street. Keep going south past the turn to Oshawa Second Marsh (Colonel Sam/Wentworth). Turn right (west) on Harbour Road and proceed to the T junction at Simcoe Street. Turn left (south) on Simcoe and proceed south past the park and Robinson house and follow the road as it curves left. Turn right immediately into the parking lot where we will meet at 9:00 a.m.
Leader: Richard Pope
Trumpeter Swan. Photo© Bruce Parker.
APRIL
● Sunday, April 15, 2012, 2:00 pm. - Outing To The Laurie Lawson Outdoor Education Centre on Telephone Road.
The hike will look for the first signs of spring flowers and life in the vernal pools. Please note that the paths are now suitable for a wide range of mobility. Directions: Laurie Lawson Outdoor Education Centre is on the north side of Telephone Rd., approximately 1.5 km west of Burnham St. and east of Theatre Rd. There is a small parking lot, but some cars will have to park along Telephone Rd.
Leader: Mark Rupke.
Round-lobed Hepatica. Photo© Bruce Parker.
WBFN Outings 2011
November 2011 Outing - A.K. Sculthorpe Woodland Marsh section of the Waterfront Trail in Port Hope
On Sunday morning, November 6, 23 people gathered for a leisurely walk along the A.K. Sculthorpe Woodland Marsh section of the Waterfront Trail in Port Hope. The weather was really beautiful, although the waves on the lake made viewing the ducks there rather challenging. Through a spotting scope, observers could pick out Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, White-winged Scoter and a single Surf Scoter. In the marsh itself were Mallards, American Black Ducks, and a female Northern Shoveler. Land birds were very scarce, consisting mostly of Black-capped Chickadees, but also including one Red-winged Blackbird, one American Goldfinch and one Brown Creeper. No one seemed to mind that we didn’t see many birds. It was just a lovely day to be outside.
....... Elizabeth Kellogg
Along the boardwalk at the A.K. Sculthorpe Woodland Marsh.
Checking out waterfowl on the Port Hope Trail.
October 2011 Outing - The Nature Conservancy Property, Harwood
It was a cool, rainy, windy morning, but a hardy group of WBFN members and members of Hazel Bird's family joined Mark Stabb and Hugh Bennett of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) for a walk on the 290 acre property on Robson Road, led by Todd Farrell NCC Conservation Biologist.
The NCC is currently fundaising to secure this property in Hamilton Township, with an extended deadline of December 2011.
See the feature below for more details. Donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada by cheque, credit card or transfer of shares.
Contact:
Mark Stabb
Central Ontario Program Manager Nature Conservancy of Canada
18 Second Avenue Uxbridge, ON L9P 1J9
(905) 862-2642
www.natureconservancy.ca
September 2011 Outing - The Alderville Black Oak Savanna
Under an overcast sky, WBFN members joined Janine McLeod, Natural Heritage Coordinator, for a 2 hour walk through the globally rare savanna habitat.
WBFN members toured the Alderville Black Oak Savanna. Photo© Louise Schmidt.
Alderville Black Oak Savanna. Photo© Louise Schmidt.