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Wednesday 8 June 2022

Return to Clark’s Pond

We vowed to return to Clark’s Pond to see the Bald Eagles again during the Gaspereau run. The birds know where and when to gather for a Gaspereau buffet. This time we met with Helen and Frank, Australians visiting family on the island. Helen is a fellow blogger I had met on-line two years previously.


We started in Cavendish Grove, our favourite place on the island and made our way towards Clark’s Pond. Along the way now, wildflowers line the trail, the most appropriately named, Forget-Me-Nots, always catch my eye. 





The centres of the tiny blooms are white or yellow and tiny pink flowers are the last to open. 


It was a beautiful sunny day but the wind was high which usually means fewer birds. While there were some of the large raptors in the area,





they weren’t in the numbers we had seen the previous week. The younger birds have yet to achieve the unique feather pattern of the mature Bald Eagle.





We walked to the beach through the campgrounds down to where the stream enters the Gulf. 





Here the Gaspereau make their way from the Gulf of St. Lawrence into the pond, a short journey through the sand dunes. 





The sea was rough and the sound of the rolling waves filled the senses. The air was fresh and cool. We could see birds on the far side of the stream as they floated just above the beach.





Several juvenile birds rested atop the trees around the pond, including one which exhibited spiky feathers in the breeze. 





It stayed there the entire time we lingered.


The remains of a tree, against the sea and sky, shows how such beauty can be devastating.




Back at the Grove, the leaves have burst forth for those few warm sun-lit weeks again and the apple trees are in bloom. 





We had a picnic with our friends and enjoyed every minute in nature’s garden. 


Perfect.



29 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Love the forget-me-nots and that awesome windswept tree!

Helen said...

We most certainly enjoyed every minute in nature's garden and the blossoming of a blogging friendship.

DJan said...

So beautiful! I see juvenile eagles around here fairly often. It's a wonderful place to live and visit as well. Thanks for the great pictures!

Anvilcloud said...

Of course, my eye is attracted by that gnarly tree. I would have to erase the sun later, however. 😀

Unknown said...

I'm Sue of photowannabe
https://allredmop.blogspot.com
I know my comment is going to come out as UNKNOWN
Hubby and I are still trying to fix this mess.
Oh Marie, those forget me nots are delightful. I love them.
How wonderful to see your blog friends again and enjoy Nature at its finest.
Love the apple tree blossoms.
Sue

Sandi said...

Beautiful, especially the flowers. 💙

Elephant's Child said...

what a wonderful series. I loved it all - though the forget-me-nots caused a pang. I had them in my garden (though I have never seen a pink one). Himself loathes them (because of their 'sticky seeds') and demanded we eradicate them...

Bill said...

Lovely flowers and photos. Glad you had a nice visit with your blogger friends.

margi said...

So beautiful! Nice photo of a bird!

Rose said...

I love those forget-me-not flowers, too. I could almost feel being there.

Red said...

You have a great variety of interesting things to see.

MARY G said...

So where is a good bird groomer when they need one. Love your dune pic, and the forget-me-nots and, and ...
love the post. Lots to see and think about.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Marie,
The color of the forgot me nots is exquisite and I love the white apple blossoms. It is always fascinating to me to see eagles since I very seldom see them in the wild and your photos give me a "birds -eye" view.

Debbie said...

the forget me nots are stunning, what a beautiful shade of blue? are they truly that blue?

i am so glad you returned, and that your visit was rewarded. i'm glad too that you were able to have a picnic!!

At Home In New Zealand said...

Beautiful photos :) xx

Liz Hinds said...

Love the spiky hair! There are lots of similarities in our coastlines except you have the snow and the bald eagles!

Debbie said...

such pretty images...thanks for answering my question!!

sustainablemum said...

What a wonderful place for a walk, thank you for sharing it with us all too.

Lorrie said...

The photo of the wide open beach made me want to be right there. Such a gorgeous spot. The raptors are so lovely to watch soaring in the sky.

Pam said...

Love those blue blooms....beautiful. I keep thinking that I want to take my camera and go for a ride but....with the price of gas, I am trying to stay at home and not go. However, I think I might start taking a walk and take my camera along....sounds like a plan, but its usually a plan that never comes through...lol

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

Those forget me knots are so lovely! I haven’t seen them in a long time. I’m really enjoying your eagle photos.

Catarina said...

A perfect day!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Your beautiful photos capture the wind well.

Glenda Beall said...

What a nice day and I love your photos, especially the bare tree. Makes me feel like spring.

William Kendall said...

Excellent photos!

HWIT BLOGG said...

A perfect day and beautiful pictures! Just lovely...
Titti

peppylady (Dora) said...

How exiting to spend time with fellow blogger.
Coffee is on and stay safe

John's Island said...

It is neat to know that your favorite place on the Island is Cavendish Grove. Your photo of Forget-Me-Nots is just wonderful. I was immediately curious about Gaspereau … can you eat them? I did a Google search and found this: “On the South Shore of Nova Scotia they smoke gaspereau, or as they call them down there, kiacks. I have eaten them that way and they are delicious, as long as you have all day Sunday to take out the bones.” :-) You have really neat photos in this post and the one that strikes me the most … the solo tree against the sea and sky. Wow, I can almost feel like I’m there. Thanks for sharing Return to Clark’s Pond!

Marie Smith said...

John,

I had never heard of Gaspereau until we came to PEI. I recently asked a friend here about them. He said they are used for bait but older people eat them, smoked mainly as you mentioned. They are a type of herring so there are lots of bones!