Visit to Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick - Part 3

 13 May, 2022

Baker Shore B&B - French River - Thunder Cove Beach - Cabot Beach Provincial Park - Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park - Victoria - Baker Shore B&B

     Breakfast was its normal splendid affair.

     Apart from the quality of the food, aren't you impressed with the presentation of it all? I know I am.

     Darrell made sure that we went out each morning, well fortified for the day.

     The red soil of Prince Edward Island, emblematic of the province, was never far from view.

     French River is a picturesque area where fishing is the dominant activity, seemingly romantic, quaint to the tourist, but hard, gruelling work I have no doubt.

     It is apparent that some on the Island are doing well!

     The consensus among the people that we talked to was that the lobster fishery is where the money is!

     We passed an area where a large group of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) had congregated in an estuary. Well over twenty birds were present, but quite spread out, and distant.

     A lone bird perched in a tree provided a better picture.

     I doubt that we drove more than fifteen minutes anywhere on Prince Edward Island without evidence of the importance of lobsters.

     It is not unusual for tourists to purchase lobster traps to take home as a souvenir, but I would wager that many languish in a garage or shed when people are at a loss what to do with them. It seemed like a good idea at the time!

     We visited Bonshaw Hills Provincial Park, a truly lovely spot. It provided us with a great walk and a good variety of birds - not all photogenic, however.

     A Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) sang not far from where we parked our car.

     The picnic tables were both sturdy and attractive and made us wish almost that we had brought a lunch, except that we were still full to the brim from breakfast at Baker Shore.

     This American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) evidently had a favourite spot to shell and eat nuts. 

     The residue of many feasts was visible.

     There is nothing quite as lovely to my eye, in a wet spot in a woodland, as a blaze of Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris), flowers that take me back to the most distant memories of my childhood.

     A pond, or lake, or marsh, or bog or other form of wetland was never far away.

     As birders, our eyes are seldom directed downwards, and many is the time I have tripped on shallow roots.

     The density of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius) on PEI was as great as, or greater than, anywhere else I can remember.

     It is a very attractive bird and we were enchanted each time we saw one.

     Coming upon an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is like meeting up with an old friend.

     Methuselah's Beard Lichen (Usnea longissima) is ubiquitous. This is an organism I was not formerly familiar with. Several warblers were seen foraging in it, and I would venture that it is also used as nest lining by some species.

       I believe that the following image is of Rough Goose Neck Moss (Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus), although I am getting to the very outer limits of my knowledge when I start dealing with mosses and lichens.

     An American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) is much easier to identify!

     Along the way we saw the nest of a Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) with a bird either incubating eggs or sheltering young.

     It was infrequently that we saw Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis).

     What would a day out on PEI be without another lighthouse to close out the afternoon?

     When we arrived back home at Baker Shore we found that the piece of chocolate cake in the fridge had cloned itself and now there were two.

     We are being spoiled!

14 May, 2022

Baker Shore B&B - Confederation Trail - Rotary Friendship Park - Gardens of Hope - Bubbling Springs Trail - Cove Head Lighthouse - Baker Shore B&B

     The day started, as it did every day at Baker Shore B&B, with a fabulous breakfast. As always Darrell and Lynne outdid themselves. And today you see the stars of the show. (I don't mean me!).

     Look at the breakfast Darrell served us today.

     This was as close to perfection as it gets. Sublimely poached eggs were nestled atop warm biscuits, with a Cordon Bleu grade Hollandaise sauce to accompany them. An extra biscuit was there begging to be eaten with Lynne's extraordinary preserves, and as much hot coffee as we cared to drink.

     There was a side dish of Lynne and Darrell to provide entertaining company and wait on us like visiting royalty. 

     Did I mention that this is an establishment of stratospheric superiority?

     Well fueled for the day we set off to explore a few kilometres of the Confederation Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail which goes coast to coast. We have walked sections of it in Ontario and British Columbia, and it seemed only fitting to set our feet on it on PEI.

     If I am not mistaken this is a Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), commonly seen throughout our stay on PEI.

     There were ample wetlands alongside the trail with swallows swooping for insects.

     Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) was very common.

     A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) left its perch high in a tree and flew across the fields.

     After walking a couple of kilometres along the Confederation Trail we retraced our footsteps and decided to visit the Rotary Friendship Park recommended by Lynne.

     It was a very pleasant area, with mixed habitat and standing water.

     At times there seemed to be a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) on every suitable perch.

     In southern Ontario, Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) is far and away the most common duck, but on PEI we saw it infrequently. Here are two males keeping company.

     Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is one of the worst of the multitude of invasive plants that we have introduced, wittingly or unwittingly, into North America.

     It will grow just about anywhere, tolerating a wide range of conditions, including poor soil and drought. Once established it is very difficult to eradicate, and takes over entire plant communities, out-competing native species. I hope that the custodians of this woodland are formulating plans to eliminate this pest.

     Having seen a couple of male Mallards, we were delighted to discover a pair.

     Lynne texted us to suggest that if we were anywhere near New Glasgow, we should consider visiting the Gardens of Hope, a beautiful spot, with enchanting floral displays.

     Designed to provide a cathartic refuge for those suffering from serious illnesses, it is an oasis of calm.

     It seemed to me that it was suffering from serious neglect, but Miriam thought that perhaps they had not yet begun work for the year.

     The tulips were splendid.

     And so were the daffodils.

     A Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) would never fail to comfort me.

     These violets were exquisite.

     We saw only two other people at the gardens while we were there, but we hope that the gardens will be able to fulfill their promise of hope.

     Hope, is sometimes all that we have left.

     A Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is occupied only by the moment, neither hope nor despair being part of its life.

     I wonder how the Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) came to be so universally despised?

     It is, in fact, a beautiful flower and is capable of bringing a smile to my face.

     We decided to pay a return visit to Cavendish Grove, where we found Rick and Marie again. It's a small world when you run into people you know while on vacation!

     Our next destination was the Bubbling Springs Trail in Prince Edward Island National Park, a location recommended by Marie. It turned out to be very birdy, and an enjoyable walk.

     Sometimes, children provide the best art.

     A well-constructed viewing platform enabled great views over the wetland.

     Several Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) furnished great entertainment.

     The following sign explains how the trail came by its name.

     It was easy (and fascinating) to witness the water bubbling up, but I am not sure if these pictures really enable you to see it.

     We followed the path.

     White-throated (Zonotrichia albicollis) and White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) were very common, as were several species of warbler, but good pictures were hard to come by.

     Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens), a plant that favours moist, sandy habitats and acidic soils was at home on this trail.

     Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) thrives in the same habitat and was equally prevalent.

     When we left the Bubbling Springs Trail we paid a visit to the Cove Head Lighthouse.

     We were very happy to see that a determined effort is being made to protect the breeding areas of the endangered Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus).

     As we had done a couple of nights earlier, we picked up wraps to take back to Baker Shore and enjoyed them on the front veranda with a glass of wine. We made a couple of decaf coffees to take back to the room where the Spoiler-in-chief, Lynne, had left slices of delicious chocolate chip cake for us.

     Another great day was coming to an end on PEI - but still no hummingbird!