Wednesday, July 19: Today, we will be exploring Murphys Point Provincial Park, and hiking along a collection of lovely trails. We will be exploring an array of different habitats, including mature mixed woods, lowlands, old field sites, scrubland and swampland, We will search for birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, arachnids, vascular plants, lichen, mosses and whatever else catches our eye! For those who use iNaturalist, I will discuss how to take Research Grade documentation photos which will allow researchers to confirm (or deny) an observation with a high level of certainty. My specialties/areas of knowledge are birds and lichens, but I have knowledge about a little bit of this, and a little bit of that when it comes to other aspects of the Natural World; we will explore and learn alongside one another as we seek out the joys of Nature together.
What to pack/What to know: Please dress for the season and be sure to check on the weather conditions ahead of the tour. As this will be an exploratory tour, you can pack your field guides to plants, trees, insects, birds, reptiles & amphibians, fungi, lichen, etc, and we will consult the guidebooks after the tour. I will also pack my guidebooks! I recommend packing water and snacks in a backpack, and bringing it with you for the the hike. We will enjoy a tailgate field lunch during the tour, so please pack a cooler, which you can leave in your vehicle. If it’s sunny for the hike, I recommend wearing a hat in order to protect from the heat of the radiating sunlight. I also recommend using insect repellent, sunscreen, and wearing long pants. Please note that an Ontario Parks Daily Vehicle Permit (DVP) is required for this tour. You must register using Ontario Parks’ online registration form.
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: I will schedule a washroom break (outhouse or main washroom facility) every 90-120 min.
Activity rating: 2-3/5. We will be hiking approximately 6-7 km over the course of the day. Most of the terrain will be level, with some inclines and declines here and there.
Meet-up time and location: Murphys Point Provincial Park at 8:30 a.m. at TBD exact location.
Duration: 6.5 – 7 hours.
Cost: $140 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