Summer Series 2012 - Field Trip #4 - Saturday, July 21

As we like to do during the summer series from time to time, this week we are heading out to a brand new location for us. We will head to the Maison du Marais – Ecological Marsh trails, operated by La Société d’aménagement de la baie Lavallière inc., in Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, QC

This site has its own webpage: http://www.sablmaisondumarais.org/francais/

There is a welcome centre, and a 1.3 km. trail, with several observation posts along the way, that crosses through 21 square kilometers of marshland at the southwestern corner of Lac St-Pierre and Lavalliere Bay.

A recent outing by some Quebec birders to this location produced a Glossy Ibis, Black-billed Cuckoo, American Bittern, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Virginia Rail, Black and Caspian Terns, Bonaparte’s Gull, Egrets, and some early migrating sandpipers.

As I said, BPQ has not been to this location, as least as far as I know over the past 10 years or so, so it should be an interesting outing. Here are the details.

Date: Saturday, July 21
Time: 7 am – Half-day, perhaps a little longer

Meeting and Departure point: Zeller’s parking lot, Place Portobello on Taschereau Blvd., in Brossard, QC. (Taschereau Blvd. exit off of Champlain Bridge; turn right on Taschereau Blvd. and take first right into parking lot in front of Zeller’s store).

We will depart from the meeting point at 7 am, driving in convoy to the site. It is approximately a 75-minute drive from the Zeller’s to the destination. Here is a link to a Google Map showing the route from Brossard to the destination which is located at 3742, chemin du Chenal-du-Moine, Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, (Québec) J3P 5N3

Note: There is a token $1 fee requested at the welcome centre to visit the site.

Carpooling from the Zeller’s parking should be considered to cut down on the number of vehicles, if possible. We can easily return to the departure site at the end of the outing to pick up cars left there in the morning. If you have two-way walkie-talkie radios, please bring them along (channel 11) so that we can stay in touch in the convoy on the road.

Please feel free to bring along your lunch as there is a spot for lunch at the welcome centre at the site.

If you have any questions, please contact me at by e-mail, or 450-462-1459. On Saturday morning, call 514-637-2141

We look forward to exploring this new territory on Saturday. It looks like an excellent weather day as well. See you then - Sheldon