After a colder, wetter July than usual, our weather has turned hot and humid for the last two weeks. My husband and I have kept our biking to a minimum, unless we know there is a strong breeze. Our one ride this past week was in Cavendish, along the coastline of the Gulf Shore Parkway West, which we visited numerous times last fall and this past spring. Sometimes we were the only people in the area.
Visitors explore the park now, with lots of cyclers and hikers on the trails and along the parkway. It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the places we love so much.
The breeze off the water was a perfect balance for the heat, and the waves breaking along the shoreline almost made the wind visible.
While Cavendish Beach was busy, other areas along the parkway were almost empty, making it a great area to explore.
Gulls are interesting this time of year. While we spoke with another couple on Rad E-bikes, I was distracted by the sounds of several gulls which appeared to challenge a Bald Eagle circling over an area the gulls were protecting. They flew at the eagle and made their best threatening sounds until the eagle flew off.
Further along the Parkway, at Orby Head, it looked like there weren’t any birds on the point until I walked to the far end of the Head. Below was a flock of Great Cormorants.
I had never seen never so many of these cormorants together. The orange on their beaks resembles a chin strap.
At the end of the Parkway, at the beach at North Rustico, a flock of gulls enjoyed the beach.
Across the parkway in a small pond, members of the flock dropped in to play. Here, the Black-backed Gulls, mature and immature, dabbled, splashed and did wing displays. We enjoyed seeing their fun on the water on a hot summer day.
We had lunch at Cavendish Grove again, one of our favourite picnic areas. The trees provided shade and nature’s fan through the trees was perfect. It was quiet except for the birds chatting as they went about their day.
A hot day along the northern coastline of Prince Edward Island is perfect!
36 comments:
It does look perfect! I love the feeling of that first photo especially.
It certainly does look perfect, you can't beat a walk along the coast... Well unless it's in beautiful countryside. Super shots of the birds Marie ✨
Ahhh...deep breath.
What A Wonderful Location For That Picnic Table - So Cool - Loads Of Birds Taking Flight - Choppy Water For Sure - Be Well And Stay Warm
Cheers
it really is so pretty there, i adore your picnic spot, it may just be perfect!!
Wonderful views.
Hello,
I love the views of the coast and beaches. It is nice to hear and see the gulls, the Cormorants are great birds too. Your picnic spot looks nice in the shade. Take care, have a great day!
Picnicking at Cavendish sounds wonderful. Love the bird photos.
Thank you so much for sharing this delightful outing.
What a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch!
The picture with those ways looks perfect.
Beautiful. I am guessing the cormorants head south in the fall??
Tabor, the cormorants do indeed head south in the autumn.
Your photos look so inviting...I can almost feel the breeze. It is so hot here today.
The breeze would make things feel cooler but I'll bet it was hard pedaling if you went against the wind.
That's a spectacular coast!
What a treat to see an eagle. I just don't find them in our area. Gulls really can be aggressive. I'm surprised though that they would go after an eagle. Great photos..
I suppose on your bikes, you still do more pedaling than assisted cycling or whatever you call it? I ask because I thought about it for a moment, but I think it would still be too much pedaling for me. :(
I haven't been to the beach since all this covid started. I probably wouldn't try it this time of year with the heat but after Labor Day I may try.
Never heard of Great Cormorants.
Coffee is on and stay safe
There always seems to be something going on along the coast. We've had very few days this summer that have sent me running for the shade.
Wonderful day by the beach!I almost can feel the salty wind blowing :)))
The Cormorant also very beautiful :)))Wish you a great day!
Thanks for this very inviting look at a section of the Island, Marie. We used to see Great Black-backed Gulls on the Great Lakes with a degree of regularity but in recent years they have become rare.
Thank you for my wonderful visit!
Anvilcloud,
We use the pedal-assist mode on our bikes but we pedal always. The bikes weigh almost 30 kilograms and I find it quite hard to move without the pedal-assist, though my husband could manage. You can vary the pedal-assist to provide some to little resistance. We like some resistance so the ride is a workout.
We have seen seniors around town riding E-bikes they don’t pedal. We will continue to pedal ours as long as we can.
It might help if you could try out an E-bike to know if you could ride one without pain.
how nice that after colder July you are enjoying warm days dear Marie
your description is always so perfect to make me feel there :)
such a grace of nature that breeze is preventing you from heat ,the water is truly tranquil and enchanting !
eagle gulls fight sounds intriguing .
trees are are always generous to offer shade of their kindness indeed :)
good to hear that life on the island has started to get it's colors back :)
more blessings to you and loved ones!
A perfect day! So many birds! The photos of them are wonderful!
Wonderful day by the beach
Beautiful views!
Hi Marie, Another wonderful post. Your closing sentence is perfect. There are just too many great photos here to pick a favorite. Thank you for sharing your excellent photography.
Beautiful oceanside photos on a sunny day
Oh my gosh Marie... how fortunate you were to not just see that flock of Great Cormorants, but to be able to take that amazing picture so we could see it too. I've never seen so many together (even in a picture). lucky you
Delightful...What a wonderful way to spend the day.
We sure could use some of that wet weather you had..our drought is really awful.
I'm going to have to go out in our yard and take a few photos of our Gum tree beginning to turn to Fall colors already.
That's hard to believe. Two nights of cooler temperatures has started the process.
Sue
What a great area ... beautiful, the red of the coast, the blue of the sea and the green of the beautiful farmland. Yes it is a perfect place.
And it's so nice to be able to watch birds. Thank you for your beautiful photos and greetings to you in Canada. Viola
What gorgeous photos! Prince Edward Island is a place I’ve always wanted to go, but never quite made it there. Perhaps it is in my future.
There is always something new to see and photograph. Beautiful island.
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