Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details:
NEW DATE and ALTERNATE MEETING TIME
What: Birds Of Prey Soaring Show - Wye Marsh
When: Sunday October 18, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM for Marsh or 12:30 PM for Birds of Prey Show only
Where: Wye Marsh - Meet in Parking Lot (10:00 AM) or picnic area (12:30 PM)
Cost: Entrance fee = $10.00/person
Bring: camera gear, lunch/snacks/drinks

UPDATED
A second meet time for those who only want to come for the Bird of Prey Show added, 12:30 PM at the picnic area next to the parking lot

Rescheduled as promised. October 18th may be a little late, but there should still be some fall colours on the trees this weekend.

Go to the Wye Marsh to visit the site and to enjoy the Bird of Prey show held every Sunday at 1:00 PM. The Wye Marsh is a 3,000-acre wildlife area located in Midland, Ontario next to Sainte Marie among the Hurons (same entrance off HWY 12). There are a number of trails at the site that explore the wet lands and there are some small animals in the visitor centre. Wye Marsh is an important site for the Trumpeter Swan Re-Introduction Program.

I went last fall for The Bird of Prey show and it was pretty good although only an hour. There were a number of birds. There were owls, hawks and a vulture. It was a mix of native and imported birds. All the birds were flown and available for photography on perches. The handlers were photographer friendly and invited me to photograph their birds as they were setting up.

Itinerary:
We will meet in the parking lot at 10:00 AM and explore the trails.
If you don't want to arrive for the early start you can join for the Birds Of Prey Show by meeting us at the picnic area near the parking lot at 12:30 PM
Lunch around noon (bring lunch - picnic facilities are available)
Bird of Prey show at 1:00 PM
Head for home or continue to shoot after 2:00 PM (the site is open until 5:00 PM - trails close at 4:00 PM)

If you need a ride or can offer a ride put it in your post and make the necessary arrangements.

Directions:
Coming from Toronto, follow Hwy. 400 North to Hwy. 93, North to Hwy. 12 and the Midland area. Travel east on Hwy. 12, for 5 km. The entrance to Wye Marsh is across from the Martyrs' Shrine Church.
(note: Although most GPS and the directions on the web site say to use 93, I plan to go up 400 all the way to 12 and across to the marsh)

More information here:
http://www.wyemarsh.com/index.html

Bird of Prey Show info here:
http://www.wyemarsh.com/birds-of-prey.html

Down loadable/printable trail map here:
http://www.wyemarsh.com/about_trail.html

One of my very first SLR shots 6 years ago was an owl. Love it!
But you say that there are hawks in this place? Count me in big time! I will go nuts!

Owls and vultures and hawks oh my. The show I went to last fall had two owls (one was the super cool Barn Owl), two hawks and the Turkey Vulture. All the birds were flown so you can get both perch and flying images. The birds do wear jesses which will show in the pictures.

I do not know what birds are being shown this year (or this day).

Daryl

any one going from downtown ? or how can i get there by public transport ?

forgot to mention .. gas expenses will be contributed too ..

i'm a "maybe" for now but def. will try my best to go to this one.
just purchased my new Sigma 55-200mm so this place will be good to try that.

I am interested, but need a ride. It would be great if somebody could pick me up from the downtown Toronto. Of course, I am willing to share expenses such as gas and parking.

Extra post. Not sure how that happened.

Daryl

A number of people interested in this event are also doing the meteor night event on the 15th at the Torrance Barrens. With that shoot going to the wee hours and the Wye shoot being a morning start this may be too much.

Would it make sense to reschedule this to August 23rd?

Daryl

I think it would make sense to re schedule for Aug 23.

Actually, Aug. 23 would work better for me since I am busy on the 16th.

Well two for change and none to stay put. So I am going to reschedule this to August 23rd and let the meteor night owls get some sleep and not try a 24 hour event and then fall asleep on the way home and wipe out some family on the highway. Or something like that.

New date Saturday August 23, 2009. Everything else remains the same.

Daryl

Sounds good Daryl!

I thought I would give this a little bump to remind everyone about this outing now that it is only a week and a half away.

Daryl

I haven't been to an outing for some time now. This sounds like a great trip. I did some photography there a couple of years ago. It was terrific.

There is also a great place for eats after the photography. It's called the "Dock Lunch" in Penetanguishene, on the water front. You can check it out here www.shopmidland.com/docklunch

I will be bringing a guest as well.

See you there.

Terry.

Only a few days to Sunday so how about a reminder bump. The weather looks iffy, but the event is still a go right now.

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pag ... ric_e.html

Check back Saturday evening to see if this is canceled.:(
If there are some who would rather miss the 10:00 AM meet up, feel free to come for the bird show alone. Join us around noon for lunch in the picnic area near the parking lot and then the Birds of Prey at 1:00 PM.

Hey, you guys on the maybe list ready to jump to the committed list yet?:D

Daryl

I am only concerned about the weather.
Any suggestions for the picnic? BBQ maybe?

Lunch can be what ever you want to bring or make, but I was not thinking of anything organized such as a BBQ. Just a quick lunch at the picnic tables. More shooting time.

Environment Canada is currently forecasting sun and cloud with 30% chance of showers in Midland for Sunday. Or 70% chance of no rain. Worth a chance. Still a go right now.

Daryl

Can't make this outing after all. I have to work this Sunday.

Hope you have a great trip.

See you next time.

Terry.

Environment Canada reports for Midland for Sunday says 40% chance of showers in the morning. Weather Network says 40% chance of showers in the morning and in the afternoon with thunderstorms. Cloudy all day.

Not great. It's a long way to go and be rained out. And it not like we can judge the situation just before we leave unlike shooting local. Sure it could be like today here in TO and be OK until mid afternoon. But I don't want to gamble with your time and effort.

At this point I am going to cancel. Sorry folks.

I don't want to drive 2 hours and have others drive 2 hours only to have to turn around. This is primarily an outdoor event and there is not a lot of shelter other than the visitor centre at the marsh.

I will not be able to reschedule this to a new date in the next few weeks. I will see if an early October visit will work, fall colours and raptors could be cool.

Daryl

I was looking forward to birds with wet-heads. If anyone wants an alternative, there is Buskerfest here in Port Credit on the Lakeshore. The harbour is also great and if it rains there is usually an awesome rainbow over the pier and sailboats.

Looking forward to attend this event soon too. I am looking forward to take some nice shots of those birds.
Early October with fall colours sounds good too.

I have rescheduled the event for mid October. I was thinking of Thanksgiving weekend, but my experience with the last long weekend trip I organized has suggested people are not keen on long weekend out-of-town events. I went up this weekend last year and the fall colours were pretty nice in this area.

Daryl

Thought a reminder post might be timely.

Daryl

Sounds like fun! But... alas, I most likely will be working. If things change I'd love to go!

I would love to go at this event....but alas I need a ride and will contribute to the gas...

Thanks.

A bump to remind. This is Ad Hoc is next Sunday.

Daryl

UPDATE

The posting has been updated. Some may be interested in the Bird of Prey Show but not the early start at the marsh. For you there is now the registration option of coming for the show only.

If you don't want to arrive for the early start you can join for the Birds Of Prey Show by meeting the TPMG members who came early to see the marsh at the picnic area near the parking lot at 12:30 PM.

Daryl

Is anyone heading there from downtown Toronto that I could grab a ride with?
Thanks,
Bruce

The weather looks good for the Sunday in Midland. It will be cool so dress accordingly (-4 low, 8 high). Remember we will be eating our lunch on site so bring food and drinks. There may be a snack bar in the visitor centre, but I am not completely sure.

Daryl