Explore the rare pannes ecosystem at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, as well as wet cedar woods, dunes, wetland, and fen habitats. We will encounter flashy fall wildflowers such as Sphinx's Ladies Tresses, Obedient Plant, Fen Grass-of-Parnassus, Closed Bottle and Greater Fringed Gentians, as well we may encounter more inconspicuous plants such as Bushy Aster, Slim-spike Three-awn Grass, Low Nutrush, Common Arrowgrass, and Slender Spikerush. Trails are generally flat, with no large rocks, but occasional fallen trees or roots. We will try to stay on the trails and roads as much as possible, as we will be walking through sensitive habitats. We will meet by *9 am at the Beach 2 parking lot in Presqu'ile Provincial Park, there are vault toilets at Beach 2, and flush toilets at the Owen Point parking lot, but no potable water refill stations along our route.
What to bring: Shoes you can get wet (although it depends entirely on the type of year), insect repellent/bug clothing, tick-proof clothes, binoculars (optional, there will be migrating birds).
Leader description: I am a young professional ecologist whose first love was birds, and now whose love for the natural world extends to all corners of it. I became seriously interested in botany after taking an intro to botany university field course in 2019. Now, it is an important part of who I am and guides my work life. I'm excited to share about the fascinating biology of a place so close to my heart, connect with other naturalists, and learn from others who are interested in nature either professionally or for pleasure. - Baxter Naday