by Andrew Bryant, 28 June 2018. After our traditional pit-stop at Nancy’s Bakery, nine of us boarded the Misty Isles in Lund for a cruise up Desolation Sound. Ably skippered by Jonas and deck-handled by Karie, we travelled north on the lee side of the Copeland Islands.  We mostly ignored the impressive big-money homes at … Continue reading Desolation Sound

by Nancy Pezel, 9 June 2018. After enjoying coffees and conversations on the ferry trip to Comox, our group of 12 members met Pat Trask at the Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontological Centre for a tour and up-close look at some of the fossils and dinosaur reproductions Pat showcased during his presentation. Many of these … Continue reading Courtenay Museum and Trent River Fossil Hunt

by Winnie Ferrier, 2 June 2018. On Saturday twelve of us carpooled to Lund to begin an awesome adventure.   We were greeted by Skipper Mike Moore, and then shuttled by zodiac to the Misty Isles, already moored in Finn Bay. There we were welcomed aboard by Jonas who is skipper-in-training, and Karie, their crew member.  … Continue reading Mitlenatch Island trip

by Cindy Dalcourt, 18 May 2018. Arriving early in Lund, most of us treated ourselves at Nancy’s Bakery before boarding the Misty Isles. Enjoying the bright sunshine and calm water we were off to a good start, made even better when an Orca passed us by shortly after leaving the harbour.  On the way to … Continue reading Hernando Reef trip

by Nancy Pezel, 12 May 2018. The weather was perfect for our group of 12 members to enjoy a lovely walk searching for spring wildflowers. David Bedry led the group down the Browne Creek Trail to Dinner Rock Bluffs and the campground. Along the sunnier edges of the forest we saw Pacific dogwood and Saskatoon … Continue reading Spring Wildflowers

by Andrew Bryant, 28 April 2018. Pierre Geoffray and I led a cosy group of 7 members to learn more about “birding by ear” at Wildwood Bluffs…and this year we had our work cut out for us! It was, in a word, QUIET. We began by walking along the newly-widened roads along the recently-sold “Block … Continue reading Birding by Ear – Part VIII

by Nancy Pezel, 21 April 2018. Tom Koleszar and Barbara Sherriff led an enthusiastic group of 26 members on a trip to learn about the geology of the local area. Along with some great views at our first stop, Tom gave us a brief history of glaciation in the area.  We learned that a kilometre … Continue reading Geology of the Dodd Lake – Horseshoe Lake area

by Lu Wuthrich, 24 Mar 2018.  Eleven Naturalists headed up Jervis Inlet to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls.  It was an amazing spring day and the views of the snowcapped peaks, multiple waterfalls and granite cliffs were pretty spectacular. We meandered up the coast on the Sunshine Coast Tours boat looking at all the falls … Continue reading Princess Louisa Inlet & Chatterbox Falls

by Cindy Dalcourt, 7 Jan 2018. On a rainy Sunday morning just before daylight, 20 naturalists gathered at the Saltery Bay marina to meet captains Bryce of Sunshine Coast Tours and John Dafoe, Coastwise Guide. Dividing into two boats we made the half hour trip down Jervis Inlet while both captains shared their vast knowledge … Continue reading Skookumchuk – by boat!

by Laurette Hamoline, 24 Nov 2017.  Twelve members of the Malaspina Naturalist’s Club enjoyed another pleasant outing with Duane Sept, our speaker from the previous evening. We explored a short part of the Sunshine Coast Fairview Bay Trail from the parking lot to Harbour Point. Along the way we saw several species of fungi including … Continue reading Sunshine Coast Trail

by Michael Stewart, 19 Nov 2017.  Jason Addy, local resident, adventurer and naturalist, took us on  a wonderful walking tour of Stillwater Bluffs – an area he knows very well – because it’s his backyard! Jason explained the logging company history of the area – amongst other things, he’s a member of the group seeking promotion, protection and … Continue reading A day at Stillwater Bluffs

by Nancy Pezel, 14 Oct 2017.  It was a damp morning but that didn’t deter the eleven hardy members that met at Squirrel Crossing to learn about mushrooms. At the picnic spot across the bridge, Izi Loveluck gave us an informative talk on the basics of wild mushroom identification, a useful handout about mushrooms and … Continue reading Mushroom hunt

by David Bedry, 30 Sept 2017.  About a dozen people met at Lang Creek to see the returning salmon and learn about the Lang Creek egg collection facility run by the Powell River Salmon Society.  With only two paid staff the PRESS relies on alot of volunteer help, especially at this time of year. With … Continue reading Lang Creek Hatchery

by Tom Koleszar, 12 August 2017. Twenty members of the Malaspina Naturalist Club recently enjoyed an alpine adventure, travelling by helicopter to an area near Skwim Lake.  While some were able to fly in directly from the airport, most of us flew from a staging area near Freda Lake.  Pilot Ben made sure all the … Continue reading Alpine Adventure – by helicopter!

by Marg Reckenberg, 29 June 2017. What a warm, sunny, calm day as the twelve of us set out for Mitlenatch Island aboard the Misty Isles with Captain Mike Moore and assistant Amy.  We left Lund Harbor at 10 am after a quick stop at Nancy’s Bakery.  Then we were on our way, for the … Continue reading A Mitlenatch day-trip

by Nancy Pezel, 24 June 2017. Walter Kubany and his wife Sally led an enthusiastic group of 14 naturalists on a hunt for saprophytes along the trails of Valentine Mountain on this beautiful summer day. We learned that many of these plants live on dead and decaying vegetation, but some like the Indian-pipes and Groundcones … Continue reading In search of saprophytes

by Rose Marie Williams, 8 June 2017. After filling up with coffee and cinnamon buns from Nancy’s bakery in Lund, our skipper, Mike welcomes 12 of us aboard his schooner, Misty Isles.   We leave the harbor and turn north, through Thulin Passage.  All stretch their memories to match  names to faces.  Not easy for some, … Continue reading Bute Inlet Epic

by David Bedry, 27 May 2017. Ten of us were blessed with a cloudless sky as we toured the amazing Rhododendron garden that David Smith has carved out of his property off Crowther Road, on the way to Okeover Inlet. David’s is a year round labor of love as he plants not only rhododendrons from … Continue reading Rhododendron gardens

by Tom Koleszar, 23 May 2017. Twelve of us boarded the Misty Isles at Lund for a 2 day trip with Captain Mike Moore and naturalist leader George Sirk.  We sailed south around Savary Island and Mystery Reef, finding hundreds of Pacific Loons and Common Murres, along with many other sea birds. From Savary we continued … Continue reading Return to Mitlenatch and Twin Islands

by Pierre Geoffray, 16 May 2017. Fifteen of us met at the Italian Hall for “Birding by Ear”.  The weather decided to give us a break and we enjoyed the dry and cloudy spell (the best we can wish for this year!) as we toured the Wildwood Bluffs. Right around the Italian Hall, we had some … Continue reading Birding by Ear – Part VII !

by Andrew Bryant, 30 April 2017. Some of the Purple Martin nest boxes at the Myrtle Rocks colony suffered a bit at the hands of winter storms – and needed some attention. After an aborted attempt on a dangerously gusty and rainy Saturday, Sunday saw fair skies. David Bedry, John Treen, Bill Whyard and myself … Continue reading The “it’s not a field trip” Purple Martin field-trip

by Joan Treen, 19 April 2017. The morning was spent at the Texada Museum, which was quite a surprise for most of us who did not know it existed.  It’s an amazing place, housing information about the development of mining on the island and the pioneers who settled there, many of whose descendants remain to this … Continue reading Texada Gold Rush

by Nancy Pezel, 25 February 2017. A small but enthusiastic group of our members spent a couple of hours enjoying a walk along some of the trails off McLeod Road. There the group learned how to identify western yew and western hemlock, how to differentiate between alder and cherry, that true firs have needles with … Continue reading Winter Twigs and Greens

by Heather Harbord, 14 January 2017. Eight members joined Clyde at 8am on Saturday for the Tiny Brown Birds trip.  After carpooling from town, we drove to the Lang Creek Hatchery, crossed the road and walked among the prime TBB habitat. At the start, Clyde explained how carefully and quietly we should move to avoid … Continue reading Tiny Brown Birds

by Cindy Dalcourt, 5 November 2016. While rushing to catch a ferry to the peninsula, have you ever noticed the sign for the Iris Griffith Centre and wondered what is was? Well, this Saturday 17 of us found out.   After carpooling to Saltery Bay and walking on the ferry, we were picked up by Lee-Ann Ennis … Continue reading Iris Griffith Centre

by Heather Harbord, 29 September 2016. Nine out of ten members enjoyed our trip up Princess Louisa Inlet.  The tenth was too sick to come, and the only person on the waiting list was also unable to fill in.  Bryce Christy’s boat, the B-Line, was very comfortable.  Everyone could be inside in the well-heated cabin. John … Continue reading Princess Louisa Inlet

by Heather Harbord, 21 October 2016. Seven members dripped their way around the forest with Rick Page, the previous night’s speaker.  We started out near the former Artaban Centre and walked through to the pole line and back along McFall Creek, which was in full flood. Rick pointed out various examples of foliage which had been … Continue reading Oh deer me

by Barbara Sherriff, 16 September 2016. Sixteen members of the Malaspina Naturalists joined Frank Ritcey (Wildsafe BC coordinator) and Hugh Marshall (forester) for an interesting and educational walk along the Millennium Trails at the rear of the Recreation Complex. Things we learnt included: Bear bells attract bears rather than repel them (a.k.a. dinner bells) Whistles can … Continue reading A Walk in the woods with Frank Ritcey and Hugh Marshall

  by Michael Stewart, 15 September 2016. Mike, skipper of Misty Isles, his wife Samantha, guest historian Judith Williams, and six naturalists departed Lund Harbour, thrilled to hear that there were  Humpbacks just outside the harbour.  We were able to watch the 2 humpbacks  and have  this extra  unplanned “event”  for the beginning of our 2 … Continue reading Rock Art with Judith Williams

  by Caroline Brown, 29 Aug 2016. Pictographs, a “brand new” petroglyph, exotic geology, whales, dolphins, stories of gin and tonic sailors, mistresses, tall and not-so-tall tales were some of the highlights for twelve of the Malaspina Naturalists as we headed to East Thurlow Island aboard the Misty Isles – for three whole days! For most … Continue reading East Thurlow Island