birds, scenery, churches

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve protects the cliffs where 50,000 seabirds nest each year, particularly the Northern Gannet. Many of the smaller birds have already raised their young & left, but the Gannets, with a wingspan of 6', were still in residence.   

A visit starts at the Interpretation Centre near the lighthouse. An interesting panel showed how the birds arrange themselves in tiers along the cliff with each tier inhabited by just one species. And it was cool to see a Gannet close up. 

   

   

The scenery on the walk out to the cliffs was a bonus. 

   


...and then, the birds...

      



The scenery along the route to & from the reserve was lovely, but there were few places to pull off to take phots. 

Back in the town of Placentia, there are several cute churches. I particularly like the 2 cannons in the church graveyard. 


The Point Verde Lighthouse must be the ugliest one ever.





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