Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 14, 2011 18:35:43 GMT -5
Cape St. Mary’s is generally shrouded in thick wet fog year round. The fog was so thick when we reached the parking lot we could not see the Interpretive Center less than 100 feet away. We eventually found our way, and like any amazing adventure, it always starts with a cautionary note. The warnings are real. The staff spends most of their time carrying out victims of sprained ankles and broken legs.
Photo 1 – Don’t Do Anything Stupid
The bedrock is Late Proterozoic (570 to 1000 million years old) sandstone, conglomerate and shale. The landscape has been highly glaciated and the area is littered with rock rubble deposited on the surface as the ice sheets melted.
Photo 2 – Glacial Deposits
Laura and I had never seen a bird colony before, except on Planet Earth documentaries. Let’s just say you will both hear and smell the colony long before you reach it. The ammonia was strong enough to water your eyes and make your nose run at times. Our fear was this is all we would see.
Photo 3 – Bird Watchers Shrouded in Fog
After talking to some real bird watchers we took a few pictures of our own. We were a little embarrassed by our “point and shoot “ camera technology when compared to their tripod mounted telescopes. When it comes to nature photography, size matters! Fortunately, I’m a rock hound.
Photo 4 – Top of the World
The Northern Gannet is a big bird about 3 feet long with a 6 foot wingspan and a weight of 5 to 8 pounds. They are impressive to watch gliding on the thermals.
Photo 5 – Gliding on the Thermals
Northern Gannets breed on inaccessible rocky islands and cliff faces. Bird Rock is actually an island just a few hundred feed off shore.
Photo 6 – Bird Rock
Northern Gannets feed by diving into the ocean, scooping fish near the surface, then returning to their nest. The fish they are after are capelin, which also attract humpback, fin and pilot whales, but that’s a future post.
Photo 7 – Capelin Breath
Northern Gannets are also impressive when they hover over their crowded colony and drop vertically to their nesting site. I’d have trouble finding my way home under these conditions. There is a pair in the next photo doing their characteristic beak taps affirming their bond.
Photo 8 – Honey, I’m Home
Photo 9 – Northern Gannet Colony
In addition to Northern Gannets, there are smaller colonies of Razorbills and Common Murre, or Common Guillemot and Kittiwake.
Photo 10 - Razorbill and Common Murre
Although the colony is often called a nesting site, there are no nests. The birds must precariously balance their precious egg on a small depression, or crack in the rock, then protect it from the elements.
Photo 11 – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Photo 12 – Razorbill and Kittiwakes
Photo 1 – Don’t Do Anything Stupid
The bedrock is Late Proterozoic (570 to 1000 million years old) sandstone, conglomerate and shale. The landscape has been highly glaciated and the area is littered with rock rubble deposited on the surface as the ice sheets melted.
Photo 2 – Glacial Deposits
Laura and I had never seen a bird colony before, except on Planet Earth documentaries. Let’s just say you will both hear and smell the colony long before you reach it. The ammonia was strong enough to water your eyes and make your nose run at times. Our fear was this is all we would see.
Photo 3 – Bird Watchers Shrouded in Fog
After talking to some real bird watchers we took a few pictures of our own. We were a little embarrassed by our “point and shoot “ camera technology when compared to their tripod mounted telescopes. When it comes to nature photography, size matters! Fortunately, I’m a rock hound.
Photo 4 – Top of the World
The Northern Gannet is a big bird about 3 feet long with a 6 foot wingspan and a weight of 5 to 8 pounds. They are impressive to watch gliding on the thermals.
Photo 5 – Gliding on the Thermals
Northern Gannets breed on inaccessible rocky islands and cliff faces. Bird Rock is actually an island just a few hundred feed off shore.
Photo 6 – Bird Rock
Northern Gannets feed by diving into the ocean, scooping fish near the surface, then returning to their nest. The fish they are after are capelin, which also attract humpback, fin and pilot whales, but that’s a future post.
Photo 7 – Capelin Breath
Northern Gannets are also impressive when they hover over their crowded colony and drop vertically to their nesting site. I’d have trouble finding my way home under these conditions. There is a pair in the next photo doing their characteristic beak taps affirming their bond.
Photo 8 – Honey, I’m Home
Photo 9 – Northern Gannet Colony
In addition to Northern Gannets, there are smaller colonies of Razorbills and Common Murre, or Common Guillemot and Kittiwake.
Photo 10 - Razorbill and Common Murre
Although the colony is often called a nesting site, there are no nests. The birds must precariously balance their precious egg on a small depression, or crack in the rock, then protect it from the elements.
Photo 11 – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Photo 12 – Razorbill and Kittiwakes
