Gull Island Birding

Gull Island is one of Presqu’ile’s two offshore islands. In summer, it is a bustling nesting site for colonial birds like herons, egrets, cormorants, gulls, and terns. Once breeding activities draw to a close in August, other birds move in to this unusual treeless landscape of limestone bluffs and rocky shorelines. After wading the short crossing from Owen Point, we will look for shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl on or at the edge of the water. On land, we’ll keep an eye out for pipits, sparrows, and other birds that favour the barren nature of the habitat.

Dates:

Date: September 20 2020

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Meet: Park Store Parking Lot, Presqu’ile Prov. Park

Effort: 2

Cost: $45.00/person (HST included)

Leader: Doug McRae

Notes: Chest waders or shoes and clothes that can get wet, to wade in the water from Owens point to Gull island are needed.

General field trip information

Field trips have various effort levels. Please check the specific trip information for effort ranking.

Physical Requirements:

See individual field trip descriptions for difficulty levels according to the following rankings:

1 – Largely flat terrain mostly on established trails, maybe with some moderate slopes; distances up to three kilometres.

2 – Generally flat terrain mostly on established trails with moderate slopes; distances up to five kilometres.

3 – Moderate to steep slopes for some long stretches mainly on established trails; distances up to five kilometres.

Weather:

Nature does not stop in the rain and neither do we. All our trips run rain or shine. If severe weather is predicted, we will notify you if we need to reschedule.

Safety:

Southern Ontario is one of the safest places in the world for outdoor exploration; however, ticks that carry Lyme Disease are present throughout southern Ontario. Biting insects are mostly present in late spring and early summer. Bring your own bug repellent and wear appropriate clothing. Long pants with socks over the cuffs and insect repellent are effective measures to deter ticks. Lighter-coloured clothing seems to attract insects less. Long sleeve pants and shirts and insect repellent help mitigate their affects. Poison Ivy is common in some habitats. Wear long pants and socks to prevent accidentally brushing against plants if particularly sensitive to the plant.

Gear:

Wear sturdy walking shoes and dress according to weather conditions, bearing in mind it’s frequently cooler by the lakeshore in spring. Individual field trip descriptions will include any additional specific recommendations.

Food:

Bring water and any food you may need during the trip.

Transportation:

In most cases, we will travel on foot from the meeting place. If transportation is required during the trip, it will be by personal vehicles.

Equipment:

Bring your binoculars, camera, and spotting scope. If anyone needs binoculars, We have a small number of binoculars available for rent at $10.00/day. We welcome photography, even though our outings are not photography-focused (unless otherwise noted).

Exclusions:

Transportation and related costs, food and drinks, park fees, accommodations