Wednesday, June 7: Today, I am happy to provide a hybridized tour at a beautiful and species’ rich provincial park! I anticipate a nice suite of central Frontenac bird species throughout the tour, and we’ll be sure to check for uncommon and rare birds to the area. On the lichen front, I can say from personal experience that very few natural areas within an hour’s drive of Ottawa-Gatineau can match Silver Lake Provincial Park. The park is very rich in lichen diversity, and hosts a nice stock of rarities…even Species at Risk (Endangered in Canada)! Silver Lake P.P. is also relatively small, allowing for careful and thorough study of a relatively small area (compared to, say, Algonquin P.P.). Start up your iNaturalist app, get your macro lenses ready/smartphones ready for some lichen photography. Clients will be shown charismatic and beautiful rarities such as Cupped Fringe (Heterodermia hypoleuca), Orange-tinted Fringe (Heterodermia obscurata) and Pale-bellied Frost (Physconia subpallida) as well as a wide array of various crustose, foliose and fruticose lichens.
Guarantees: With birds, there are never guarantees, I’m afraid. With lichen, thankfully, they don’t fly! I am happy to be able to guarantee you a wide array of lichen sightings. As always, I endeavour to make the most of each tour, and the philosophy I encourage is to “take whatever the day brings.” Each day in the field is a treat to savour!
What to pack/What to know: Please dress for the season, and be sure to take a look at the forecast for the region in which we will be birding a few days out from the tour. Please pack a cooler with the food and drink of your choice. Pack your optical and photographic equipment, as well as your field guides should you wish to consult them during the tour. Please also pack your spotting scope, if you have one. Clients will also be able to view through my spotting scope and study shorebirds during this tour. Please note that an Ontario Parks pass is required for this tour. Clients take care of their own bookings in this regard.
eBird Checklists: I will take care of all of the checklists for the day, and share them with you when the tour is complete. Your eBird statistics will automatically update when you accept the checklist. If you are not an eBird user, that is perfectly fine; I will email the checklists when I arrive home. You’ll be able to browse through the sightings list without having to be an eBird user.
Washrooms: Outhouses and a single washroom/shower station are at our disposal throughout the tour. I will schedule a washroom break every 90-120 min.
Activity rating: 2/5. We will be walking between 4 and 5 kilometers over a span of 4 hours.
Meet-up time and location: 9:30 a.m. at Silver Lake Provincial Park, beach/day use parking area.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours.
Cost: $75 per person (HST-included). I do not have a preference when it comes to payment type; I accept e-transfer, cash and cheque.
Register for this outing by using this sign-up form