The Heritage of Uplands Park – a panel presentation (Tuesday, April 16, 2013)

Here is the poster announcing the April 16th panel on The Heritage of Uplands Park (Windsor Park Pavilion. 7:00PM. Tuesday, April 16th, 2013.) This event is co-hosted by the Friends of Uplands Park and Oak Bay Heritage. The poster was prepared courtesy of Oak Bay Heritage.

Heritage of Uplands Park_April16_2013_Poster_PDF

Signs of Spring in Uplands Park – Sunday, March 24-2013

The Friends of Uplands Park Birding Group was in the Park for a couple of hours this AM (Sunday March 24, 2013). A Bird list will be forthcoming. In the meantime, here are some signs of spring.

Birders Walk

Golden-crowned sparrow

Spotted towhees

Shooting Stars

Fawn Lily Looking up

Fawn Lily

Friends of Uplands Park – 2012 Annual Report

The Friends of Uplands Park is pleased to present our 2012 Annual Report, documenting the major activities and accomplishments during the time period March 2012 – March 2013. The PDF is attached to this posting. The 2012 Annual Report was submitted to Oak Bay Council on March 21, 2013, and accompanies our application for a grant for the forthcoming year.

Thank you to the members of our Steering Committee and to our membership. The activities of the Friends of Uplands Park is a reflection of the participation and support of our membership.

FOUP 2012 Annual Report_REVISED3-KM-ML_March23-2013

Friends of Uplands Park 2013 Nature Walk Series

You are invited to join us for our new Friends of Uplands Park 2013 Nature Walks. Explore Uplands Park, rain or shine, with volunteer naturalists from Friends of Uplands Park. Rocky paths may be wet so wear suitable shoes/boots. There are washrooms. No dogs please. Meet at the Uplands Park sign on Beach Drive (across from the parking lot at the entrance to Cattle Point). Free & Drop-In. No need to register.

Blooming Fawn Lilies – Sunday April 28. 1 to 3 pm
Uplands Park springs awake in March with lovely Indian Plum blossoms, Satin flowers and Fawn Lilies. Emily Carr’s Easter Lilies follow soon after and the trails in Uplands Park are delightful as puddles recede and blooms of other wildflowers appear. The rocky outcrops are alive with green moss, and the Nootka rose and Garry oaks start to swell their buds. Bring your camera and a smile to greet the spring.

The Sea of Camas – Sunday May 12. 1 to 3 pm
The Garry Oak Meadow of Uplands Park becomes a sea of blue Camas flowers that sparkles with Western buttercup. Camas bulbs are a traditional First Nations food staple and the Camas meadows in Uplands Park are a legacy of their heritage. Learn about the different types of Camas, the other wildflowers, the challenges of preservation and what we can do to help this endangered ecosystem.

Vernal Pools NOT Mud Puddles – Sunday May 26. 1 to 3 pm
Uplands Park “mud puddles” are actually vernal pools in the endangered Garry Oak Ecosystem. Many of the 31 rare plant species in Uplands Park are associated with wetland vernal pool ecology. Come discover these pools, learn how they are formed and discuss how you can protect them.

Tidal Pools and Sea Birds – Sunday June 9. 10:30 to 1 pm
Low tide at Cattle Point offers an opportunity to view a diverse ecology in tidal pools and sub tidal crevices. Learn how to tread softly on the rocks to find anemones, crabs, and to watch the birds interact with this foreshore ecological niche. Bring binoculars and wear water shoes/boots.

Birding with Geoffrey and Friends of Uplands Park Sun. March 24 at 8:00 a.m.

From the Newell’s:

This Sunday, March 24 Geoffrey Newell will once again be leading the bird walk for the Friends of Uplands Park. Please meet at 8:00 a.m. in the large parking lot out at the end of Cattle Point. We will begin by viewing ocean birds, then go inland to search for birds there as well. Springtime bird song identification can be very elevating! We hope to see you there!

Here is the bird list for our last trip to Cattle Point and inland into the park. Thank you for accompanying us. It was a great pleasure to be with such pleasant and enthousiastic company. Mark down on your calendars 8:00 a.m. Cattle Point, Sunday, March 24, 2013. Hope to see you there!

Victoria–Cattle Point, Capital, CA-BC
Feb 17, 2013 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 kilometer(s)
Comments: sunny, calm, high tide
37 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 4
American Wigeon 13
Mallard 8
Harlequin Duck 7
Surf Scoter 8
Bufflehead 8
Hooded Merganser 8
Common Merganser 1
Pelagic Cormorant 4
Bald Eagle 4
Black Oystercatcher 8
Black Turnstone 6
Mew Gull 5
Thayer’s Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 30
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 5
Pigeon Guillemot 6
Anna’s Hummingbird 13
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 2
Northwestern Crow 20
Common Raven 2
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 20
Red-breasted Nuthatch 6
Brown Creeper 4
Pacific Wren 7
Bewick’s Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
American Robin 50
European Starling 2
Spotted Towhee 13
Song Sparrow 17
Dark-eyed Junco 10
Purple Finch 5
House Finch 15
Pine Siskin 7
American Goldfinch 10
House Sparrow 8
View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13206208
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)