By Howard Williams

Twenty-three individual field excursions including 21 pop-ups and two other activities, one organised by Ontario Federation of ornithologists and the other, by the Canada South Land Trust Event at the Kraus property.


The 21 pop-ups were attended by an average of 10 members, ranging from a minimum of 5, to a maximum of 25. Generally, we were blessed by good weather an incidence promoted by one of the regularly-attending members. Only one event was cancelled (La Salle Conservation Lands) and this will be held early next year.
Pop-ups early and late in the year focused mostly on birds, both resident and migratory. In Spring and Summer, plants, especially wildflowers and shrubs were eagerly sought and their identification discussed.


Not included in the pop-ups for 2022 are the Christmas Bird Counts in Essex County, they will be described in a later issue.
Highlights from the pop-ups this year include visits to plants at Ruscom Shores and Kopegaron conservation area, and a green Heron at Bryerswood Optimist Camp.

Swallowtail, Common Boneset and Blue Vervain.
American germander, Swamp Rose Mallow and Tall Ironweed
Pair of Northern Flicker, Black and White Warbler at Kopegaron, Green Heron at Bryerswood.

Attendees at these pop-ups generally agree that they are useful in guiding people to new places, or at new times of year and have attracted new members to the club.