Along the way in August

It feels like it’s been hot and humid forever…weeks anyway. We may have some relief from the humidity later this week. We live in hope!

The golden grand-dog, Daisy, has returned for an extended visit this time and we are challenged to help her use some of her surplus energy every day, despite the heat. One solution has been the beach at Mont Carmel, in the Acadian region of Prince Edward Island, or as the French say, Île-du-Prince-Édouard, IPE.

The Acadian colours are red, white and blue, like the French flag but with the addition of the gold star on the blue.

Along the shoreline, cottages and an area for travel trailers mean there may be a few people on the beach. At various times we saw a kayaker, a paddle boarder, a few swimmers, people fishing for bass and a man in a sailing dinghy.

The sun appeared to highlight the dinghy as it headed out from the shore. 

Before long, it was sailing parallel to the shore. Then it went over. We watched with apprehension for 30 seconds or so,

but then the sailor appeared, stood in the water beside the dinghy, preparing to set it upright and board it. Before long he was sailing again.

I tried to photograph a gull near the dinghy then turned to photograph the dinghy again. The photo below is the result, an accidental capture I assure you. The bird is close to the mast but not on it. I couldn’t have staged it better.

Meanwhile, while we were watching the dinghy, my husband has Daisy chasing a ball from a Chuck-it stick. It makes the ball go farther and is easier on our old arms. She never tires of chasing that ball.

Nearby, gulls hang out along the stretch of beach and move around to various spots as the beach goers happen by. 

At the eastern point on the beach, one can see the Confederation Bridge in the far distance, over 80 kilometres away by road.

Near one cottage, a bird house behind the Marram grass catches the eye 

as do the colourful whirligigs at the base of some flag poles near another.

A stream empties into the Northumberland Strait and the bridge along the road near the beach is looking its age.

By the parking lot, someone reminded everyone to “Smile.” However, we never need such a reminder along this beach.

Finally this week, Cabbage White butterflies are everywhere now and numerous. On our way to the beach, they were noticeable along both sides of the road, flitting about as we drove by. They love the Marram Grass along the beach too.

Yesterday morning, we took Daisy for a walk along the Confederation Trail, when there was a breeze and it was overcast. We parked beside a potato field which had a muddy entrance which attracted the Cabbage Whites. While we see these butterflies everywhere, we have never seen them congregated as they were yesterday. The photo shows one group of several and dozens were flying around too.

Nature always shares something interesting.

Out and about

We have been out and about this past week, to Bedeque and the Borden Carleton area with Chelton in between. In addition, we have continued along the boardwalk. Out and about has been lovely!

We walked Chelton Beach in the late morning on a day when it was hot and humid. The beach wasn’t crowded as it usually is mid summer.

I had the opportunity to try out the 125X optical zoom on my camera. 

The strip of land at the end of the peninsula in the photo is Seacow Head and there, a lighthouse shines brightly over the Northumberland Strait. Zooming in, I was pleased with this photo.

We continued along the coast towards the Confederation Bridge at Borden Carleton and stopped nearby at Noonan’s Shore. The highlight of this area was the number of butterflies along the shoreline, Cabbage Whites and Sulphurs. We were never able to photograph a Sulphur to identify the species.

Walking the shoreline, hundreds of butterflies flitted around us. The 19 second video will give you an idea of the number there. You can hear the sea lapping the shore and see the autumn look of the vegetation as well.

My husband took the best photo of the Cabbage Whites

and it shows the club-like structure at the end of the antennae and its compound eye on the side of the head.

We continued on to Borden Carleton where we stopped at the Rail and Marine Park, beside the Confederation Bridge, a park we haven’t visited in some time. A caboose in the park provides a perfect backdrop for a lobster boat as it heads to the fishing grounds.

Looking westward from under the bridge, the end of the peninsula is barely visible and the Seacow Head lighthouse certainly isn’t. 

A photo required the digital zoom on the camera. You can see a white SUV and three people at Seacow Head. When my granddaughter saw my new camera, she commented I’d be able to photograph a bird on the moon. She may be right.

Of course I captured birds that day, Semi-palmated Plovers and Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpipers, Sanderlings and Gulls. My favourite shot was this Great Yellowlegs, a beauty well hidden in the salt marsh.

In other news:

We are watching the progress of hurricane Lee as it churns its way slowly northward in the Atlantic. To say Prince Edward Islanders are suffering from PTSD from tropical storm Fiona last September, is an understatement. Clean-up from that storm is still ongoing. Our daughter is still waiting to have her roof reshingled. The island lost over 30% of its trees and over 10 meters or almost 100 feet of shoreline in some areas. This island is returning to the sea at an alarming rate.

What does Lee have in store for us? Even the thought is frightening!

To the Appalachian Trail

Look up! 

 

The back road to the woodland trails of Dromore in eastern Prince Edward Island was lined with tall trees. My husband and I were headed to the island part of the International Appalachian Trail, IAT. The road was rough and we decided to walk rather than take the car. It allowed us also to walk through a natural wonder before we even arrived at the trail.

 

Part of the road was lined with a stand of tall pines, such an unusual sight. 

 

The opposite side of the road had deciduous trees. Someone worked at planting these pines.

Listen!

The woods were alive.

We stopped often to listen in nature's aviary and to look. Our untrained eyes could not discern many birds in the tall trees. However, not even the flies, tormenting as they were, could detract from the sights and sounds of that road.

The old road was lined with dandelion and cabbage white butterflies fed on the yellow beauties. 

 

As we walked, the whites rose from their feeding, so on occasion, dozens of the little butterflies fluttered around us.

 

The road was a butterfly conservatory as well as an aviary.

On the Birding Loop of the IAT, we focused on natural features we had never seen before. This Shining Club moss was an unusual one, more like a small shrub. 

 

Painted Trilliums were scattered over the forest floor, a pretty distraction on the trail.

 

Lung lichen looks like a bunch of leaves stuck to a tree trunk until you notice these "leaves" don't have any veins. 

 

The holes at the base of tree trunks were intriguing. 

 

We were not brave enough to look inside any of them however.

 

 Who would want to disturb a skunk?

 

We walked back to the car at a fast pace to go to the beach for lunch. However, this walk was one of our favourite nature walks ever.