Thursday, August 6, 2015

Argentia, Newfoundland

I visited Argentia July 10 – 14.  One main reason for coming to this side of the Avalon Peninsula was to visit Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, which is about 1.5 hours south of Argentia.  I ended up visiting the reserve twice. 

Cape St. Mary’s is known for having very accessible and large seabird colonies.  During breeding season they have 24,000 Northern Gannets, 20,000 Black_legged Kittiwakes and 20,000 Common Murre.   What makes it so great is these birds can all be seen from a very short distance on the cliffs and a sea stack known as Bird Rock. 

The view of the bird covered cliffs on the 1 km walk to the viewing area.  It’s impossible to tell from this distance, but most of the white on the grey rocks are birds.

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Someone looking at the top of Bird Rock, covered with Gannets--

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Gannets are known for their courtship and their interactions.  They seem to be very loving to their mates, but can be very aggressive toward others. 

nl_argentia_cape_st_marys_affectionateThe next 2 pictures are of the same couple.  Note in the first picture the loving nature.nl_argentia_cape_st_marys_2_gannets_niceIn a second things change.  I don’t know what the poor bird below them did, but the “loving” couple did not like it!  nl_argentia_cape_st_marys_2_gannets_naughty

Another couple (in the middle of the 2 photos below).  I took several pictures of their loving actions toward each other and then they saw me! 

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Due to the lines in their faces, it looks like they are angry at me for watching them! 

I tried to catch some good pictures of the Gannets in flight, but it was not easy.  They are close to pelican size, with a wing span up to 6 feet. 

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Trying to land can be difficult on the crowded rock.nl_argentia_cape_st_marys__where_too_land

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