Field Trips

Trips are listed below. For a printable version including map information please click on the PDF icon to the right.

Point Pelee National Park

A morning hike to the The Tip and/or along some of the many park trails.

Leaders: Ron Tozer, Sarah Rupert, Pete Read, Dave Milsom, Bruce DiLabio and Paul Pratt.

Details: Enter Point Pelee National Park (PPNP) at Main Gate - entry fee will be payable. Meet at PPNP Visitor Centre parking lot. Plan to arrive a few minutes early, as the trip leaders will divide up the participants into smaller groups and go to different locations throughout the Park. Trip ends at 11:30 a.m.

Site Description: Point Pelee is renowned as a migrant hotspot and by mid‐October there is always the chance of something really interesting. There is a train to The Tip, and the trails are easy walking throughout the Park. For more information on Point Pelee National Park, visit their site.

Point Pelee Birding Area

A morning of driving and short hikes to visit some of the local hotspots outside the Park.

Leaders: Steve Pike, and others if necessary.

Details: Meet at the Roma Club parking lot. Depending on numbers, the leaders may want to split the participants into smaller groups, and encourage car pooling, so plan to arrive at least a few minutes early. Trip ends at 11:30 a.m.

Site Description: There are always plenty of birds outside the Park as well. Whether it’s shorebirds or raptors in the Onion Fields; gulls, waterfowl and shorebirds at Hillman Marsh; gulls and other waterbirds at Wheatley Harbour; or passerines in any small patch of woods along the way; this trip is sure to turn up some interesting sightings.

Holiday Beach Conservation Area

A day trip to Holiday Beach where you’ll be hosted by the Essex County Field Naturalists.

Leaders: Todd Pepper, with Phil Roberts demonstrating banding at Holiday Beach.

Details: Meet at the Roma Club parking lot. Depending on numbers, the leaders may want to split the participants into smaller groups, and encourage car pooling, so plan to arrive at least a few minutes early. Route to be determined by trip leaders; driving time is in the order of one hour each way. Trip ends by 2:00 p.m. or thereabouts, to allow time for participants to return to Leamington for the evening festivities.

Site Description: This Conservation Area offers a long sandy beach on the Lake Erie shoreline, plus many other amenities including large shady picnic areas, trails and a three storey observation tower. This trip should be good for late migrating raptors and there may be other interesting birds on the beach or in the wooded areas. For more information on Holiday Beach Conservation Area visit their website

St. Clair National Wildlife Area

A day trip to St. Clair National Wildlife Area.

Leaders: Brett Groves (additional leaders will be added if necessary).

Details: Meet at the Roma Club parking lot. Depending on numbers, the leaders may want to split the participants into smaller groups, and encourage car pooling, so plan to arrive at least a few minutes early. Route to be determined by trip leaders; driving time is in the order of one hour each way. Trip ends by 2:00 p.m. or thereabouts, to allow time for participants to return to Leamington for the evening festivities.

Site Description: The St. Clair National Wildlife Area is a nature reserve located on eastern Lake St. Clair, west of Chatham. The cattail marshes and small ponds along the lake shore here are an important stopover location for migrating waterfowl, including large numbers of Tundra Swans. The marshes also provide habitat in the summer for species that can include Yellow‐headed Blackbird, King Rail, Black Tern and Least Bittern. This area also provides habitat for several turtle species including the eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle and Blanding’s Turtle. This site has been recognized as a Wetland of International Significance under the Ramsar Convention.

Bring your own, or enjoy one of the Leamington area restaurants.

Point Pelee Birding Area

An afternoon of driving and short hikes to visit some of the local hotspots outside the Park.

Leader: Ron Tozer and Steve Pike.

Details: Meet at the Roma Club parking lot. Depending on numbers, the leaders may want to split the participants into smaller groups, and encourage car pooling, so plan to arrive at least a few minutes early. Trip ends at 3:00 p.m. or thereabouts, to allow time for participants to return to Leamington for the evening festivities.

Site Description: See above.