Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

2013 Summer Series of Birding - Trip #4 - Saturday, August 10

Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013
Time: 8 AM - Half-day, predominantly walking trip
Location: Parking lot of the park at Montee St-Robert and Rang Lotbiniere in St-Lazare.


Contact Info: Sheldon Harvey,  e-mail  450-462-1459, or on the morning of the outing
514-637-2141 

St. Lazare Sandpits, and surrounding areas. This is a favourite spot of BPQ member Mark Dennis who has seen many great birds at this location in the past. We will meet at the park on Montee St-Robert just slightly right of Rang Lotbiniere. Here are the details:

DIRECTIONS: From Autoroute 40, after you cross the Ile aux Tourtes Bridge, take
Highway 30 (formerly Highway 540) direction-Toronto, and then take Exit 2 (Highway 340-Boul. de la Cite des Jeunes-St. Lazare). Turn left on highway 340. Travel several kilometers, past a flashing yellow light and traffic lights. Continue a kilometre or so, and then veer off right onto a smaller road, Rang Lotbiniere (Highway 340 bears left at this fork). At the end of Rang Lotbiniere, turn right on Montée St-Robert, and then right into the parking lot of a park which is facing the sand pits.

NOTE: If coming from Highway 20, you can exit to Highway 30 (formerly Highway 540), then take the exit for Boul. de la Cite des Jeunes, and follow the rest of the route indicated above.

If you have a GPS, simply enter City- St. Lazare, then intersection St. Robert and Lotbiniere and follow the route.

ITINERARY: We will observe the sandpits from above on Montee St-Robert, then walk through the sandpits area, and walk the gravel road alongside the pits leading to the Base de Plein Air Les Forestiers where we can explore wooded areas for songbirds.
Note: There is an "admission fee" box at the entrance to the sand pits. Be prepared to drop a few bucks in for access to the site.

Here is a link to to a page on the Sand Pits from "Birding Montreal" which includes a description, photos and an interactive map.
http://www.sparroworks.ca/Site_pages/stLsandpits2.html

The forecast, at least at this point, for Saturday looks great...sunny and 22 degrees. See you all on Saturday. - Sheldon