HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CATHIE!!! RELAX (AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO).
NEWFOUNDLAND – ST. MARY’S ECOLOGICAL RESERVE.
Day 46 – It rained last night, but this morning there was enough sun & not too many clouds for us to go to St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve. It’s only about 15 minutes from where we’re parking the RV, yet as we approached the end of the narrow road at the cliff over the Ocean, we saw there was plenty of fog out there. Luckily, it didn’t interfere with the birdwatching & kept its distance.
It was 54 degrees and a little windy when we got to the Reserve around 10:30 a.m. Rob took off on the trail to see the birds; I stayed behind with my book because I knew my knee couldn’t take the 2 + miles round trip hike. When I got tired of reading, I walked to the Visitor’s Centre and toured the displays, shopped for sweatshirts, and read their literature, but I waited to see the film until Rob was done at the Bird Rock. The woman at the desk of the Centre was giving visitors a tour of the facilities & I heard her telling them that they had a Red Fox and her three cubs living outside under the deck, and that they usually came out to play & could be viewed from inside the Centre. I watched for the foxes but did not see them.
Rob came to the Visitor’s Centre when he was through with birding. He showed me his pictures. Truly amazing that you can get that close! Rob said the trail was hilly & rocky but generally well maintained. We each got a sweatshirt, toured the facility, and I told him about the foxes. He’d already heard about them and had seen one baby fox but the pictures didn’t turn out. (We will try again next time we go to the Reserve. I can wait with a camera for the foxes while he goes out to see all the birds again.) We watched the film which was good; it was part of a series of films on Canadian Parks.
We went back to the RV and had a late lunch. The wind picked up and blew away some of the clouds. Rob decided he wanted to go back to the Reserve, and I wanted to try to get some Fox pictures at the Visitor’s Centre, so back we went. It was more windy than when we were there earlier and foggier off shore. Rob headed back out to the Bird Rock and I walked around a little, ending up again at the Visitor’s Centre. People were talking about seeing the Foxes earlier, so I parked myself out on the deck with the camera and waited. Little did I know that Rob had gotten a few great shots of one of the baby foxes on his way out to the Rock. People kept coming and going, looking for sightings of the foxes, but the foxes did not appear. I was disappointed, but then when Rob got back and I found out he’d gotten pictures, it was great. Grin. Meanwhile, I’d gotten pictures of other things around the Visitor’s Centre and at one point, a Bald Eagle had flown to the Rock in pursuit of dinner and had scared a bunch of the birds into flight. So I got to see them, too. Ready to see some birds, some scenery, and a baby fox?
Click any picture below to see an overall slideshow showing Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve.
Bird Rock, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets on the cliffs, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Visitor Center, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Visitor Center, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Visitor Center, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Common Murre egg, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Here’s a few videos of Bird Rock and some Gannets nesting.
Clcik any picture in each section below to see a slideshow.
Northern Gannets on the ground
Hi rent nesting area, Northern Gannets, Bird Rock, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Very affordable nesting area, Northern Gannets, Bird Rock, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
The low rent nesting area, Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Bird Rock, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Bird Rock, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Hi Dear! Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Lovebirds. Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Honey, I’m home! Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Trading off on the nest, Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
northern Gannets in flight
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet with nesting material, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannets with nesting material, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Northern Gannet with seaweed for nesting material, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
black-legged kittiwakes
Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Back off! Black-Legged Kittiwakes competing for nesting territory, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes competing for nesting material, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwakes competing for nesting material, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Back off! Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake arguing over nesting territory, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake delivering nesting material, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake flying around with a feather in its mouth, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
razorbills
Razorbill, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Razorbill, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Razorbill, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Razorbill, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Razorbill, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
common murres
Common Murres, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Common Murres, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Common Murres, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
That tickles! Common Murres, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Common Murres, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Common Murres, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Common Murre, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
bald eagles
Young Bald Eagle, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Young Bald Eagle, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Black-Legged Kittiwake harassing a young Bald Eagle, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Young Bald Eagle descending on the Northern Gannet rookery, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Young Bald Eagle, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
other critters
Young Red Fox, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Young Red Fox, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Savannah Sparrow, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Savannah Sparrow, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Savannah Sparrow, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
Savannah Sparrow, Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, St. Bride’s, NF
I met a lady at the Centre, named Ellie, who sat out there with me the whole time I was out on the deck. She, too, was waiting to see the foxes. She was from British Columbia, on vacation, trying to see all of Newfoundland in just two weeks. She had not realized what a large island it was, and said she would definitely come back again to see more. We’re so glad that we have the time to see this wonderful place.
It was 5:30 by the time Rob came back, and we were both hungry. We drove to Branch to the other restaurant recommended to us for Fish & Chips, The Loft. They were excellent there, also. I guess that’s what happens when the fish is ultra fresh when it’s cooked. After dinner we took the side road to Lance Point. It turned out to be a lovely, very small community nestled between huge, towering boulders in a calm cove. The scenery was breathtaking. We got back to the RV about 7:30 & fed the hungry girls. As I write this, Rob is weeding thru the hundreds of bird pictures he took today. Hard work, but someone has to do it.
Great pictures!
Great pictures!
Thanks Mark! A truly remarkable experience!
Great shots! Looks like an amazing place with thousands of birds you don’t see on the west coast. We like the Northern Gannets and Razorbills and of course the Red Fox!