Vancouver Naturalist_March 2012.pdf - Nature Vancouver

Nature Vancouver Field Trip Schedule
Duration: Approx. 7 hours. Distance: 17km. Difficulty Rating: D7.
Elevation reached on the hike depends on the participants and how
far up the trail they would like to go. The leader, Maggie, can also
do a lower level Mount Gardner hike.
Join Nellie Bacou on the scenic hiking trail around Killarney Lake
or hike the Mid Island Trail leading to Grafton Lake and onto
Bowen Bay. The latter is located on the other side of the Island and
requires us to take a bus. Please have bus change with you. Elevation
Gain for Killarney Lake: minimal. Difficulty Rating: B4. Elevation
Gain for Mid Island Trail: minimal. Difficulty Rating: B5.
Dress for changes in the weather, bring raingear, wear sturdy
hiking boots as trails may be slippery at this time of the year
and bring lunch and plenty of water. Meet at the Horseshoe Bay
Ferry Terminal at 8:30 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. sailing. Check with
BC Ferries at www.bcferries.bc.ca for updated sailing times.
For the Express Bus #257 to Horseshoe Bay check Translink at
www.translink.ca. Unforeseeable weather conditions and ferry
cancellations: we can reschedule for Sunday, April 29th. Contact
Nellie Bacou at nellieba@telus.net or 604-221-1620.
Saturday, April 28
Birding
Iona Regional Park
Join John Chandler for a half-day birding trip to Iona Regional Park
in Richmond. We will be looking for arriving shorebirds and early
migrants. We’ll start by exploring the inner ponds and then work
our way through the outer ponds and along the river. If you are
interested, you can walk the South Jetty after the field trip. Dress
for chilly and/or wet weather. Meet John in the parking lot by the
washrooms at 8:30 a.m. Contact John at john@alandaletraining.
com or 604-274-4117.
Saturday, May 5
Birding Series
Spring Birding at Iona Island #3
This is the third trip of six in the series-Follow the Changing
Seasons at Iona Regional Park. We will look for Golden Plovers
and warblers and should see many swallow species. Meet by the
parking lot at the west end of Ferguson Road at 8:00 a.m. If you
are taking public transportation and wish to arrange a ride from
Bridgeport Canada Line station, please phone the Leader, Colin
Clark at 604-274-5379. The trip will last about 3 hours. Wear
suitable clothing and boots (some trails are narrow and muddy).
Bring binoculars and/or scope.
Saturday, May 5
Ornamental Tree Walk in Kitsilano
Spring is a great time to see the ornamental trees in the Kitsilano
area. We will walk the route as seen in the Kits Tree Map (www.
kitstreemap.com/kitstreemap.pdf). Please take a moment to look
at the map before joining us. It is about a 3 hour walk depending
on how often we stop to look at trees. We will only be doing half
of the tree walk today, ending our walk at the Naam Restaurant
(vegetarian) on 4th Ave for lunch. The remaining tree walk will
be scheduled in the fall season. Wear appropriate footwear. Bring
rain gear, water and a snack. Meet outside the Maritime Museum
at 9:00 a.m. Paid parking available at the Museum of Vancouver
and Kits Beach. Difficulty rating: A3. Contact Nellie Bacou at
nellieba@telus.net or 604-221-1620.
Sunday, May 6
Hike
Hayward Lake
A spring hike around Hayward Lake in Mission. Pack lunch, water
and raingear and wear good boots. This is a moderately easy but
long hike of 17 km with some short, steep sections. Wet or muddy
trail sections are possible. Meet at Franklin and Penticton at 8:00
a.m., or at the lower parking lot of Hayward Lake Recreation
Area, on the west side of the lake off Dewdney Trunk Road at
9:30 a.m. See www.bchydro.com/community/recreation_areas/
hayward_lake.html for directions. Difficulty rating: C6. Contact
Daphne Nagorsen at dnagorsen@yahoo.com or 778-230-8007.
Friday, May 18
Backpacking Trip
May long weekend backpacking trip
Bill Kinkaid will lead a backpacking trip on the Victoria Day long
weekend. The intended destination will be the Lower Stein Valley,
accessed from the Lytton ferry. This hike is dependent on water
levels, as the trail is subject to washouts on the Stein River, and
the ferry shuts down when the Fraser River is in high water. If this
trail is not accessible, there will be another option elsewhere in the
region. Our plan will be to drive up and hike in to a base camp on
Saturday, have Sunday to explore, and then hike out and drive home
on Monday. We will carpool but each participant is expected to be
self-sufficient with their own equipment and supplies. Contact Bill
at billkinkaid@gmail.com for more details.
Saturday, May 19
Birding Series
Spring Birding at Iona Island #4
This is the fourth trip of six in the series-Follow the Changing
Seasons at Iona. We will look for shorebirds, warblers and raptors.
Meet by the parking lot at the west end of Ferguson Road at 8:00
a.m. If you are taking public transportation and wish to arrange a
ride from Bridgeport Canada Line station, please phone the Leader,
Colin Clark at 604-274-5379. The trip will last about 3 hours. Wear
suitable clothing and boots (some trails are narrow and muddy).
Bring binoculars and/or scope.
Saturday, May 26
Birding
Colony Farm Regional Park
This morning’s half-day birding field trip is at Colony Farm
Regional Park in Coquitlam. Our target species will be Colony
Farm’s feature bird the Lazuli Bunting. Other species expected
include Western Kingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon and American
Bittern. Meet the leader, Larry Cowan, in the parking area at the
east-end of Colony Farm Rd. at 08:30. Contact: lawrencecowan@
shaw.ca or 604-465-1402.
Vancouver Naturalist March 2012 15