Bird Protection Quebec "Field Trip"

2013 Summer Series of Birding - Trip #6

This Saturday August 17 at 8 AM we will be returning to the spot where the very first Summer Series of Birding trip was held back in June 2004. We'll visit Parc de la Frayere in Boucherville on the South Shore. This is a Ducks Unlimited site, with an excellent variety of birds and habitats. We have not been back to this site for a summer trip since July 3, 2010.

LOCATION: Parc de la Frayere, boul. Marie-Victorin, Boucherville, (FREE PARKING)
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 2013
TIME: 8 AM - Half day trip

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: The site is a little less than 30 minutes from the South Shore side of the Champlain Bridge. From Montreal, take the Champlain Bridge, to the first exit off the bridge. Follow Highway 20/Highway 132 EAST, heading towards Varennes/Longueuil). Continue east on Highway 20/132. Note that Highways 20 and 132 split at exit for Quebec City & Hippolyte-Lafontaine Tunnel. Stay to the left at this exit, continuing east on Highway 132. Continue past the exits for de Montarville, de Montbrun
and chemin du General Vanier. The next traffic lights will be at Boul. de la Marine/Boul. Lionel Boulet (Highway 229). Turn left at the traffic lights on to Boul. de la Marine, heading north towards the waterfront. Continue north, cross the railway tracks and turn left at the traffic lights at the corner of boul. Marie Victorin.
Continue on boul. Marie Victorin, past the hydro pylons. You will see an entrance road into the parking lot for the Parc de la Frayere on your right.

NOTE that depending on your starting point, HIGHWAY 132 East can be accessed from any of the bridges to the South Shore (Mercier, Champlain, Victoria, Jacques Cartier, or the Lafontaine Tunnel, and even the new Highway 30 bridge at Vaudreuil-Dorion.) Once on Highway 132 east, route instructions above apply.

SITE DESCRIPTION: There are five distinct habitats at this one location, all easily accessible on foot: open water, shoreline, a marsh, open farm fields, and wooded trails with small streams and ponds. There are paths and trails throughout the site, as well as two observation platforms on the marsh.

Washroom facilities and picnic tables available on-site. Insect repellent is recommended for the wooded area. Spotting scopes will be very helpful, particularly on the waterfront and marsh.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at e-mail - phone 450-462-1459. On Saturday morning you may reach me on the BPQ cellphone at 514-637-2141. Sheldon