New England
Seabirds
News
Seabirds
Other Sea
Animals
Where To
Find Seabirds
Pelagic
Trips
Reports
Breeding
Colonies
Conservation
Mail Box
Links
Wandering
Birder
References
| Breeding Colonies | Cape St. Mary | Comments | Site Map |
Cape St. Mary |
 Gannets Kittiwakes Murres Map of Avalon Peninsula |
Location
Cape St. Mary is located at the southwest tip of Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. This area has been protected as an Ecological Reserve since 1983. An Interpretive Center was built in 1995 and naturalists are available from May to October.
Readers of Roger's Tory Peterson's famous book Wild America are familiar with this area. At the time Roger and James Fisher visited they had to hike some 17 miles to the cape from the town of St. Bride. Fortunately today there is a paved road from St. Bride ( 5 KM ) and a gravel road out to the lighthouse, interpretive center and the parking lot.
What Can You See
Northern Gannets (5,400 pairs)
Black-legged Kittiwakes ( 10,000 pairs)
Common Murres (10,000 pairs)
Razorbills ( 100 pairs)
Thick-billed Murre ( 1,000 pairs )
Black Guillemot ( 20 pairs)
Great Cormorant,
Northern Fulmar
.
On the grassy uplands you can see Horned Larks and American Pipit. The road out to the interpretive center is narrow, but by arriving early in the morning I was able to bird my way along the road slowly seeing: Short-eared owl, Blackpoll , Yellow-rumped, Yellow warblers, Pine Grosbeak, Tree Sparrows, Ravens.
When To Go
June - August is the best time, but the reserve is open May - October.
Where To Stay
| Atlantica Inn and Restaurant St. Bride's, Placentia Bay Newfoundland A0B 2Z0 Route 100 709 337 2860 709 337 2861 Cliffhouse at Red Point (in Branch). The owner (a Biologist) also works at Cape St. Mary's. Their number is 338-2055. |
Fitzgerald Pond Campground (Not really very close.) |
| Murres Both Common and Thick-billed Murres nest on the cliffs at Cape St. Mary. Ask the naturalist to point you in the direction of the Thick-billed. This is the southernmost colony of Thick-billed Murres. Notice in the picture below that any ledge that is too narrow for Gannets can be occupied by the Murres that lay their eggs directly on the rock ledge without building a nest.
|
|
 |
The Murre's egg is oval with a pointed end. Eggs are laid on the cliffs without being protected by a nest. The shape makes the egg roll in a circle which helps to prevent losing the egg over the cliff. This one was apparently lost to the Ravens and I found this empty shell in the grass at the top of the cliff. Notice the light blue color with the irregular brown spots. I didn't remove it ( strictly against the rules). Murres of both species line the cliffs. |
Cape St. Mary and the Witless Bay
Ecological Reserve are located on the Avalon Peninsula of eastern
Newfoundland.
This map shows the location of Witless
Bay on the eastern coast of the Avalon Peninsula and Cape St. Mary on the south
western point.
|
|