The look of late summer

It was cooler this past week, without much humidity and its layer of discomfort. We have walked the boardwalk, picked berries and been with the kids on several adventures we always do before school starts every year.

There have been a few windy days, wind enough to turn Bedeque Bay into what resembles chocolate milk. The rough seas from high wind stir up the red sand in the bay and voila, chocolate milk!

On a calm day, we spotted a Great Blue Heron among the bulrushes in the salt marsh. I am fascinated by these birds and I suspect it is the same one which frequents this area as it often visits the same spot.

The bird was far enough away for it to feel safe. At one point it looked to be trying to mimic the bulrushes. 

Then it looked my way.

It stretched its neck as if to get a better look. 

I smile every time I see these last two photos.

We also saw some of the migrant birds last week including, a Black-bellied Plover, 

Semipalmated Plovers 

and a Solitary Sandpiper.

My husband and I always enjoy berry picking, a common activity of childhood in Newfoundland. This past week, we made several attempts to pick high bush blueberries with our daughter and the three children. Finally, after a few days of rain cancellations and ripening delays, we headed out. 

The last of the berries were available and I enjoyed the time with the other four, one of whom, ate more than she added to the containers. My husband entertained the golden grand-dog, Daisy, while we picked.

Time at Cavendish Grove this time of year involves a picnic and squishing apples which are past eating. 

Then we played fetch with Daisy until we were spent though she still was eager to fetch.

Also every year, the grandchildren have their photos taken hanging from a specific tree branch in the grove. With the traditional activities checked for this year, they are ready for school.

While summer has been lovely, we look forward to this month which heralds autumn and all its beauty. 

A ride along the boardwalk

It’s eighteen kilometres down and back from home to the boardwalk on bike. The ride on the Confederation Trail through part of Summerside crosses several roads before you arrive by the bay. Once there, we rode a section of the boardwalk we rarely walk. One area in particular is a favourite of Canada Geese, though ducks, crows and gulls always frequent the area. The geese have recently returned to the bay after nesting and moulting over the summer.

We had a leisurely ride along the boardwalk and stopped in various locations to take photos as we normally do when we walk there. We also stopped to talk to a friend, so an hour later when I took the same photo on our way home, the tide had receded. 

We walked to our perch on the rocks along the beach near the gazebo but there weren’t any birds among the seaweeds. However, from the gazebo itself, we could see the resident Great Blue Heron, American Black Ducks and a Solitary Sandpiper. They posed nicely together.

The sandpiper looked to be admiring its reflection.

Nearby, a Greater Yellowlegs waded in the water where ripples distorted its reflection. 

The heron looked like a contortionist as it twisted itself in a knot preening.

On the railing, three Blue Jays didn’t mind the humans nearby as they availed of the seeds left by a fellow traveler.

As we rode home, two Osprey called from their nest above the boardwalk. We wondered if one of these birds was the one we photographed in the tree last week. They will be headed south soon.

Two Ring-billed Gulls enjoyed the pond by the new industrial park.

The trail through the city is well maintained. We look forward to riding there when the leaves turn colour in a few weeks.

 

A rainy day experience

We walked between the raindrops. It was misty periodically, then cleared briefly and repeated. Thunder showers were forecasted but we’d decided to go in the misty rain, so as not to miss our walk for the day.

In the marsh, Solitary 

and Least Sandpipers 

were busy feeding, oblivious to the rain and enthusiasts who stopped at the gazebo. From there we went down to the beach. A flock of shorebirds flew by as we settled on the rocks where we watch the beach. However, activity over the bay soon caught our attention! 

A Bald Eagle was fishing, though it didn’t catch anything. Then it flew to a tree just ahead of us. 

The young bird perched above the boardwalk and was visible from the beach. We watched from that location for a few minutes, then walked to the area in hope of seeing it up close. The Eagle hadn’t moved.

Before long, a Blue Jay perched in the same tree and in typical Jay fashion, alerted other animals in the area about the visitor.

The Jays provide the alarm system for the animals when a predator is nearby.

As we watched the eagle, eyes fixed high in the tree, people walking along alerted us to a Red Fox on the trail. 

We had caught a glimpse of one early this summer and watched every day for one. Now here it was. 

It caught a squirrel among the trees and even ate a peanut left for the other animals. It didn’t stay around long when walkers approached. They spoke to us about the fox and watched with interest as a bird swooped in on the eagle. It looked like a young gull but it was an Osprey which the woman identified.

The two were Americans from Philadelphia, a long way from home. It was their last day visiting the island. We spoke about birds and they described Osprey swooping Eagles in Chesapeake Bay just as we had seen here. They were both originally from New York and Philadelphia was home now, near children and grandchildren. People have so much in common when we take the time to stop and listen. They enjoyed the peace and quiet of the island during their stay.

Eventually we continued our walk, turning around a bit earlier than usual. On the way back, the eagle was still in the same spot. 

No sign of the fox however.

We arrived home as the heavens opened, glad to have chanced the rain to see the animals and meet other travellers, especially Eagles fans…