Mid-vacation update
June 21st, 2009
We explored some woods in Forillon National Park yesterday. Lots of exotic
bird songs, but very hard to spot any of the singers (save for a lifer
Boreal
Chickadee, briefly seen but conclusively identified.) Plus, we forgot the
bug spray, which resulted in a premature end to our expedition.
Today we drove partway up Mont Ste-Anne, located right behind the B&B, then
hiked the few kilometers the rest of the way to the top. It was an awesome
hike: beautiful scenery, stratospheric lookouts, some interesting birds (
Magnolia
Warbler,
Black-Throated
Green Warbler, a heard-but-not-seen
Swainson's
Thrush), and a cool refreshing mist swirling everywhere, hugging us,
revealing scenery and then hiding it a moment later.
By the time we got back down to Percé the clouds and fog had departed,
and sea birds were beginning to cluster around the pier. I went down and took
ten spabillion pictures of my beloved, magnificent Northern Gannets, as well
as a few of cormorants, razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes. As soon as
weather permits we're going to visit the breeding colonies on Bonaventure
Island. (The gannets' eggs haven't hatched yet, I'm told, but they're due
soon.) Another day will be devoted to whale-watching, and still another to
more exploration of Forillon National Park.