Shuswap Naturalist
Club Outings
The Outings Committee
organizes field trips for the spring and fall months. Generally the
trips are in the
Shuswap / Okanagan area, and reflect the diverse interests of our group
in flora, fauna and other areas of ecological interest.
A diifficulty rating (DR)
of 1, 2 or 3 is assigned to outings, reflecting terrain, length and elevation
gain..
Regular Club Outings
Thursday May 4th
– Solvang Jespersen’s Farm near South Broadview Elementary. Join
leader Cathy Meakes at 8:30 and bring rubber boots if you have them.
Expect to see several species of sparrows, other landbirds, and waterfowl on
the pond. The outing is on private land with the owner’s permission. The farm
is located at 362 35th Street NE. The easiest way there is to turn
off 30th St. NE at Gathering Place Church and follow 2nd
Ave NE to the end. Turn left and go to the last driveway just before entrance
to Evergreen Mobile Home Park. Cathy will meet you there. DR-1.
Thursday May 11th
Swan Lake Trail and Allan Brooks Nature Centre Area. Meet
leader Cathy Meakes at the Junglemania parking lot in Salmon Arm at 7:30
a.m. where we will arrange carpooling to Vernon. Well-known Vernon area
naturalist Jack van Dyke will meet us at Swan Lake. Our focus will be on birds
but we also will look forward to the early season grasslands wildflower show!
This will be an all-day trip, so bring a pack lunch and water. Enroute washroom
breaks will be organized. There is a new portable washroom facility at the Swan
Lake parking lot! After hiking at Swan Lake, we will move to the Allan Brooks
Nature Centre and nearby grasslands to look for hawks, eagles, and other grasslands
birds. Expect to be back in Salmon Arm in the late afternoon. DR-2
Thursday May 18th
Coyote Park. Meet leaders Barb and Ken Raynor at
one of the best places in Salmon Arm to see and hear Nashville Warblers and
many other songbirds and spring flowers. Meet at 8:30 at the main parking lot
alongside Lakeshore Dr. Some moderately steep hills. DR-2
Thursday May 25th Birding
Hotspots in Revelstoke. Meet leaders Marcia and John Woods at 07:30
at the Junglemania in Salmon Arm to organize carpooling for this all-day trip.
We plan to visit one of BC’s best known backyard birding hotspots in Revelstoke
and then the highly productive Columbia River floodplain. Songbirds will be in
full voice and you can expect to see and hear many American Redstarts! Bring a
pack lunch and water for the day; We will never be too far from a washroom!
Expect to be back in Salmon Arm in the late afternoon. DR-2
Thursday June 1st Mallory Ridge Birding and Botany. Meet at the Junglemania
Parking lot in Salmon Arm at 07:30 to organize carpooling for this 4-5 hour
trip. We will rendezvous with trip leader Eleanor Marshall at the end of
Mallory Road for a 3-4 hour walk in in a variety of habitats on the
little-known, but fascinating, Mallory Ridge. Because we will be walking with
permission across some private land, this trip is restricted to club members
only. DR-2/3.
Thursday
June 15th Birding and Wildflowers at Skimikin Lake.
Meet leader Doug Mongerson at 8:30 in the parking lot outside the main entrance
to Skimikin Lake Recreation Area. From there Doug will lead you on several
trails and other hotspots for birds and flowers. Three-toed Woodpeckers are
regularly seen here and Common Loons nest on the lake. DR-2.
Bird-watching
for Families at the Salmon Arm Wharf DR-1
This series
of five outings will all start at 08:30 at the Nature House and feature
introducing bird-watching and seeing Western Grebes, American White Pelicans,
Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, Bald Eagles and of course, turtles! In addition to
the named leaders, any SNC member is welcome help. Please bring a spotting
scope if you have one. The hikes will be about 1 ½ hours in length. Molly
Cooperman will be our main contact for the NatureKids and will be advertising
in the community. We also will be advertising in local media. If available, a
SABNES summer student will co-lead each event. All hikes start and end at the
Nature House.
Sunday May 14th – Leader Cathy Meakes
Sunday May 28th
– Leader Patricia Perkins
Sunday June 11th – Leader
Doug Mongerson
Sunday June 25th
– Leader John and Marcia Woods
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