Next Outings

 Saturday, November 08 at 10 AM

Whitby: Hall’s Road – Lynde Shores Conservation Area Nature Walk

Leader: Kristen Osborne

Meet at the south (Hawk Watch) parking lot on Hall’s Road in Whitby. (Take Victoria Street in Whitby to get to Hall’s Road.) Parking can be in short supply so consider carpooling.

Our plan is to check the nesting boxes that DRFN has installed to identify nesting information. This may also be your first chance to see fall/winter arrivals like Junco and American Tree Sparrow. If the winds are right, we may see lake migrant hawks from the hawkwatch platform

Difficulty: Light walking. If you plan to walk into the fields to check with Kristen, be prepared for more walking challenges like mud, dense vegetation and the possibility of ticks.

Bring appropriate clothing and footwear based on the weather forecast.

Sunday, November 30 at 10 AM

Niagara Gulls

This is a preliminary date that may change. Details have yet to be confirmed.

Leader: Kristen Osborne/Don Docherty

If you plan to attend, please register using the on-line booking form. This will provide contact information to organizers and identify those interested in ridesharing from the usual pick-up locations at Oshawa and Pickering GO parking lots. In the event of bad weather, registrants will be informed about any date change.

Niagara Falls is a common destination for gulls in late fall and winter. A variety of interesting birds have been seen in the past including Lesser Black-backed, Slaty-backed, and California Gulls; Black-legged Kittiwake; Brant; Purple Sandpiper; Red Phalarope, Canvasback; Common and Red-throated Loons; Tundra Swan, etc. What will this year’s surprise be?

Meet at Dufferin Islands in Niagara Falls (6345 Dufferin Isle Rd, Niagara Falls, ON L0S 1A0.) Parking now costs $8/hour and we should be there for up to 3 hours. The Niagara Festival of Lights starts on November 16 so normal access to Burning Springs Hill Road from McLeod may be closed and you may have to access via the Parkway… Basically, take the 401, 427 and QEW to Niagara Falls. Exit at McLeod Road (49) then turn left on Burning Springs Hill Road. Drive until you reach the parking spots just south of the Niagara Parkway. Your GPS, Google Maps, etc. may have you take a different route so check a map so that you’re comfortable with the route you take. The drive to Niagara Falls should take approximately 2 hours.

Difficulty: It can be very cold, wet and/or snowy beside the Niagara River. (It can also be warm and dry…) Dress to stay warm and dry. Wear layers of clothing for flexibility. Casual walking on sidewalks will be required.

Bring water and a lunch or prepare to dine at Tim’s in Chippawa.

Sunday, December 21

Durham Christmas Bird Count.

This is a preliminary date that may change.

Contact Tyler Hoar to participate

Check for weather forecast and dress accordingly. Bring appropriate clothing (and back-ups) based on the weather forecast. Portions of the area may be slick, muddy, frozen, etc. depending on the weather so bring appropriate footwear.

If you plan to stay home, you can participate by reporting on activity at your feeder(s). Check your email for a reporting sheet and instructions.