When my husband and I recently cycled on the Gulf Shore Parkway at the National Park on Prince Edward Island, we stopped at Orby Head. From this location along the north shore of the island, you can see the east and west coast on a clear day. And a gorgeous day it was!
The sandstone shoreline is visible east and west, its redness mostly hidden in the October morning shadows. Looking east, you can see a faint flat line just above the sea. There aren’t any mountains here.
Looking west, the hole in the cliff is nearby, without the bird this time, featured in my last post.
Off in the distance, the lighthouse at Cape Tryon sits above the cliffs just west of a huge colony of cormorants.
The headland at Orby has eroded mightily over the years and is now a favourite perch for some of the greats, like we see today.
A Great Black-backed Gull and Great Cormorants are sunning themselves in the heat on this ideal location. The gull looks at home among his great friends.
I always enjoy watching cormorants, such unusual pre-historic looking birds. We have many Double-crested Cormorants in the harbour at Summerside. They congregate near the Indian Head Lighthouse during the day and their flight path takes them over our house as they head home for the night. These birds are fantastic swimmers and fly in a loose v somewhat like geese, without the honking. They spread their wings to dry since they have less naturally protective oils than other seabirds.
At Orby, many Great Cormorants were standing on the headland, like this juvenile at the back.
I have never seen this many Great Cormorants together so I was thrilled with this sight. Look at those feet and that face!
Below, closer to the water, others were preening as they stood facing into the westerly breeze. Two birds were fanning their wings having been swimming.
While the setting was impressive as always, the real thrill of Orby Head on this beautiful autumn day was the Great view.
28 comments:
Wow! Such wonderful photos of a very interesting bird, and the blue sky overhead is so brilliant and beautiful! Thank you for sharing these with me. :-)
Great pictures Marie. Glad that bicycles are working out so well.
These are some gorgeous photos, the views are amazing!
Your beautiful photographs make me want to visit Orby Head too! Wishing you peace and joy.
What a spectacularly beautiful day and view. Thank you so much for sharing the beauty and the wonder.
Wonderful shots, Marie!
Beautiful photoes!
Such beautiful photos, Marie! The views are fantastic, you can see for miles.
Amazing sights to be sure.
Those views are wonderful...and I love the Cormorants...I seldom see them in real life so they hold a fascination for me.
Yes, the view is great.
There are cormorants down by Lake Ontario but I don't recall seeing them when we lived near Lake Huron. It doesn't mean that they weren't there, however.
Seeing cormorants here is special. they are not very common here.
Lovely pictures, thank you. I see black backed cormorants pretty often since we have a lot of shallow waterways, great for fishing. Fishermen don't like cormorants, because they fish so expertly the humans don't have a chance.
What a beautiful day to be out and enjoying such beauty! I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the beach, and the interesting cormorants, they are really a unique looking bird! Sounds like you are really enjoying your new bike :)
That's certainly an attractive and spectacular stretch of shoreline. Our Cormorants are mostly an inland species that hang about fishing lakes, making themselves very unpopular as they catch a good deal more than the fishermen - and don't throw any back!
Percé Rock is a big tourist attraction in Gaspé, QC. Perhaps you have your own Percé in the making there on PEI.
You are really enjoying your cycle rides and I am enjoying virtually tagging along. I would love to see some sea birds but not sure when we will ever get to see the sea again. Keep well and stay safe, Diane
Wonderful photos--such dramatic scenery. Interesting to see so many birds too! I wish I knew more about them.
Such wonderful views. You are so very lucky to have access to them.
A great view indeed Marie 💛 The cormorants are a wonderful sight en masse like this, this is a popular spot!
Hello,
Beautiful views of the coastline and water! I love the Cormorants too, they found a nice place to perch. Lovely series! Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!
What a sensationally clear, calm day.
such a pretty coastline, the water is so calm and a beautiful shade of blue!!
this looks to be a popular spot for the cormorants, they certainly have a great view of the water!!
Gorgeous!!!! You took great pictures!
you give me an urge to travel, Marie. Would love to be there in person to see this sight. Thanks for taking me on your journey.
I enjoyed this photo essay so much. Beautiful images that create a feeling, an emotion in me. Thank you for sharing the birds, the coastline, the water and the entire grove with me.
Stunning scenery! Love the shots of all the birds.
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