On a crisp spring evening, eight nature enthusiasts from the Orillia Naturalists Club gathered for our last Sights & Sounds outing to the East Coulson Swamp, a pristine nature reserve protected by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Although the air was cool and the sky blue, we were eager to explore this unique wetland ecosystem…
Tag: naturalists
Sights & Sounds #2: A Refreshing Evening Stroll at George Langman Sanctuary
The Orillia Naturalists’ Club embarked on a tranquil journey through George Langman Sanctuary, greeted by a cooler breeze at 7 degrees Celsius. Despite a day of rain, fortune smiled upon us as we ventured around the sanctuary without a single drop falling from the sky. Our senses were treated to a plethora of natural wonders,…
Recap: Migration Birding at Point Pelee with Jeremy Bensette
We had over 50 people attend our virtual meeting with guest speaker Jeremy Bensette. HIGHLIGHTS: Perfect geography for migration since the landscape reaches into Lake Erie; Many migratory birds prefer to follow coastlines; Great Lakes make a southward “funnel” shape; Southernmost point in mainland Canada; 20 square kilometres of protected naturalist habitat. A mix of…
Christmas Bird Count Summary 2023
Warm weather with barely any snow and a wide open lake made for an enjoyable count, but definitely different. Teams were able to stay out longer because of the weather but there were also birds missing from the count. Overall 11,220 individual birds counted (slightly lower than last year). There were 68 species, which is a…
Outing: Cowan Trail
Eight people gathered for an outing to the Cowan trail on May 12. This 1.9-km loop trail near Severn, Ontario is generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 28 min to complete. Matchedash Bay is the largest marsh situated on Georgian Bay and is listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The…
Sights & Sounds #2 Outing
Location: Ramara Trail Date: April 19th Well I can just say that this week’s walk was a huge difference from last week’s. This week it was about 4 degrees C compared to last weeks 25 degrees. All 11 stalwart walkers were bundled up against the cold as we walked down the Ramara Trail. Despite the…
Recap: Coldwater River to Matchedash Bay Outing
Five people joined together on an absolutely beautiful Friday morning to paddle the Coldwater River and Matchedash Bay area. Species: Two racoons in the middle of the marsh Mink Midland Painted Turtle (~35) Sandhill Cranes Great Blue Heron Osprey Canada Geese Leopard Frog Northern Shoveller Muskrat Red-winged BlackBirds Blue-winged Teal Turkey Vultures Double-crested Cormorants Black-capped…