The grips of winter on the island have loosened and snow and ice are gone. One day this past week, my husband and I woke to a sunny day and a forecast of 9 degrees Celsius. After days of rain, it was a perfect day for an excursion to Cavendish, our first for the year.
We love the area of the National Park on Prince Edward Island, the trails, beaches, dunes and ponds. The park has been a source of immense enjoyment over the years and we look forward to spring as it heralds months of enjoyment in the park and elsewhere on the island.
Our first visit left us feeling sad however. Over the last few years, the erosion in the park has been dramatic along the coastline. Orby Head, where one could look east and west along the shoreline from the centre of the island, is gone. The shoreline above the cliffs is undermined so much the area isn’t accessible any more. We always watched the cormorants who hung out at Orby and this is one of my last photos of them.
At the look-out in Cavendish, damage to the boardwalk from Fiona is being removed and the area returned to nature while a new boardwalk and look-out are under construction.
The area which had tables where we had picnics, even in winter, is no longer accessible since it is undermined too.
Elsewhere, as we walked along the trail by Clark’s Pond,
it is shocking to see how many more trees have come down this winter.
Here, Bald Eagles, gorge on the fish in Clark’s Pond which migrate from the sea up-river to spawn. The eagles will have to compete for a place to rest atop a tree as they allow their food to settle before heading back to their nesting areas.
This young Bald Eagle,
between 2 and 3 years old was a bit early for the smelt run which is beginning now. This one looks like it has been through a rough time resulting in mangled tail feathers. You can see in the photo that snow was falling in Cavendish despite the sunny day in Summerside. We hope to get more photos of the Eagles this coming week.
Meanwhile, the western portion of the island will experience the total solar eclipse today. We hope to find an uncrowded beach location later to view the eclipse using our solar glasses.
Also, another natural phenomenon which is on-going these days is iceberg season off the coast of Newfoundland. Most bergs are broken pieces of glaciers from western Greenland and a small percentage are from Canada’s Arctic. They travel through the Labrador Sea south along the coast of Labrador and eventually off Newfoundland in the North Atlantic.
I always enjoy seeing the incredible photos and videos of the icebergs which are posted on the Facebook page, Newfoundland and Labrador Iceberg Reports. If you put that name in Facebook Search on top of the Facebook Page, the site will come up. You can browse or add it to your feed.
Despite the changes to the park, nature has a lot to offer us this week. We hope to enjoy it to the fullest.
43 comments:
Some big changes there. Coastal erosion is very real. The eclipse is partial here, but I think there will be something to see.
That's some pretty dramatic and unfortunate change.
Yes, change is inevitable and sometimes difficult to endure. I will miss seeing those cormorant pictures you always shared. Hope you get a good view of the eclipse. Here, we have such a small amount of coverage that I will probably not even notice when it happens.
Oh my, so many changes to that area. Sad but Nature is strong and will come back , though it will be different.
The young eagle really does look bedraggled. Hard times for the young.
I'm looking forward to seeing more photos of the majestic eagles.
Sue
In spite of the coastal erosion you have some gorgeous pictures. I so enjoy seeing your eagles. They are such a special sight to those of us who live in my part of the world. We are hoping to see the solar eclipse this afternoon. Looks like we may get to see it because the rain and clouds seem to have moved out. Have a great day.
That is so sad about all the erosion...hard to believe how fast it can happen.
How sad that such big changes are happening so quickly, Marie.
I'm sorry to hear the damage has been so bad. We've got great memories of our visit there, though it's 30 years ago now. I'll look up that Facebook page. I remember seeing an iceberg or two on our trip to Newfoundland.
It's sad about the changes but I guess nature is always changing around us, sometimes more dramatically than others.
I've never experienced a total eclipse - that I recall - but I'm sure it will be exciting.
Some very sad changes. I look forward to seeing more of the park (and the eagles) as the weather continues to warm. I am also very glad you could get out.
We are quite a bit too far west to see much of the eclipse. The coastal erosion is everywhere. The little settlement on the Washington coast where I vacationed in with my young sons to has completly disappeared including the highway up to where it was. the world remakes itself.
yes marie...even with the damage, i know you will be happy to be out, and with nature even if it needs refurbishing!! i hope it does not take too much longer!!
Did you get to see the eclipse and find a good spot? I saw it from our house. Was fun. Very cool thing.
Even when nature changes, I feel the same way, she still has so much to offer. Here's to enjoying it all.
Marie, I appreciate you sharing your photos and knowledge here. I have learned so much about your part of the world. Nature really is a beautiful force. Have a cozy evening, my friend.
The changes are disheartening.
One regret I have from my time at Wakeham Bay Que is not getting out to Hudson strait to see icebergs.
It is so sad to see the erosion of PEI. Hope you got to see the eclipse. There was supposed to be a very partial view here, but we had clouds all day, so nothing was visible.
Marie, First of all, I want to thank you for your comment on my April 6th post … Gateway – 1903. It fascinated me to read about the history of train engineers in your father’s family. Now, your post today beautifully captures the essence of transition from winter to spring on PEI. Your fascination with the iceberg season off the coast of Newfoundland reminds us of the ever-present wonders of nature. Thanks for the info about the Facebook page, I did submit a request to follow the page. John
As much as we sometimes want things to stay the same, they always change. But in nature, it is so gradual, you hardly notice. Unless something significant happens, then the change is immediate and viewed a devastating by humans. But to the rest of nature, it is barely noticed, it just "is".
I still cannot believe Teapot is gone
Hello,
It is sad to see the damage from the storm, the erosion and downed trees.
But on the bright side it feels good to get outdoors on the warmer days, feeling the sunshine. Great capture of the Eagle. I will check out the icebergs on the facebook page. We only had a partial view of the eclipse here, it was nice to see the total eclipse photos on the TV and internet. Take care, enjoy your day!
Nature can be brutal. I wonder what will become of this beautiful world of ours, as nature shifts.
Enjoy your Eagle viewing! Looking forward to more of your wonderful photos & stories.
It must be saddening to see old favourite haunts being reclaimed by the sea.
Lots of changes everywhere. We are all changing along with Nature. Let's enjoy every single day to the fullest as you say.
Will check that site now. Thanks!!
It is so sad to hear that the hurricane has done so much damage to your beautiful island.
The eagles are such an fascinating bird. I've recently been following a pair in California on FB. Sadly their eggs did not hatch this year.
I did pull of the site for the icebergs. It has strengthened my determination to visit Newfoundland at some point. The loss of ice is, sadly, another sure sign of climate change.
Looking a North Atlantic makes me feel cold.
What a beautiful area and photos. Trees are down as your photo shows but nature has a strong will to return to life, thank goodness. Fires in my area of California were brutal but lots of green growth now.
Marie, My request to join Newfoundland and Labrador Iceberg Reports has been approved, and, wow, I've already seen some amazing pictures and videos. Thanks so much for the heads-up on this! John
It is sad when there is a lot of erosion. I always enjoy seeing your photos of the bald eagles since I never see any in the wild here.
Sad to hear about the changes at Cavendish. We took the girls there when they were Green Gables age and it was so, so beautiful.
Well, it still will be, only different.
And yes, a lot of trees down. We just had an April snow dump that ripped limbs off our maples and dumped them everywhere. JG is out sadly chopping and picking up.
But, they will grow back. We had a huge ice storm in '98 and while you can still see the differences, the bush is healing and thriving.
It's sad that you no longer find your usual place because the sea has opened up the land.
Thanks for your tip on the pictures of the icebergs from Greenland passing along the coast of Labrador to the southeast coast of Newfoundland in late spring. It's spectacular. It's unimaginable.
I hope you had luck with the solar eclipse.
Thank you for your contribution. Extremely interesting.
Hug
Hello Marie :=)
Your photos of the Cormorants and eagle are great. Nature will renew the damage done by the erosion it will be different, but trees will grew again and other paths will be made. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy a fine day.
So sad about the erosion. Looking forward to pictures of the eclipse!
Love the shot of the Eagle in the snow - its really atmospheric.
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
You really have to wonder what will be left of that coastline after a couple more good storms. People who built too close to the shore must live in daily dread.
NO snow...nice. Be a great place for a walk. I have no clue why my blog is showing you that way, but you must be the only one it is doing it too.
Coastal erosion here is saddening in some places where homes have slid in to the sea, I can't imagine the heart ache it would cause
Gracious, that young eagle looks like he was in quite a fight.
Great pictures. Thanks for the tip for Facebook. I'll give the icebergs a look.
Happy Spring!
Thanks, Marie, for a dramatic series of photos about how bad erosion can be for the shoreline. Also unfortunate that all the trees were blown down. I'm glad that the weather improved so that you could get out for an adventure.
It is disheartening to see the effects of erosion and also all the trees that have been blown down. Thanks for taking us along on your outing, Marie.
It seems like Fiona really was devastating to your area. It's crazy how different the same beach can look in just a few years, especially if there's a storm. I'm looking forward to more pictures of the eagle.
sad about the erosion. Hope you enjoyed the eclipse!
i feel happy when spring comes to your part of land because all the beauty it will be offering to you and you share it with us ,such a lovely feeling to experience
sorry that park center has been damaged by erosion ,nature has her own ways to progress ,we should hope that she will be treating us kindly in many other ways hopefully!
i too found eagle a bit rusty ,struggle for survival is never less for any of the creatures living here on planet earth .still i loved seeing him .
birds on rock look very pleasant too.
sending lots of love and best wishes !
That picture of the eagle in the snow is really wonderful! I’m not a birder, per se, but I do love bird pictures.
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