Bird Watching

There are many places in Shelter Cove which are excellent for 'bird watching,' but none are as convenient as your own Cliff House oceanfront deck.

Birds congregate on the rock formations in the ocean, near the cliff, and on the promontory which we call ....  ' The Whale's Tail.' .

Usually, the gang consists of Sea Gulls, Cormorants, and, sometimes, the (red-billed) Black Oyster Catcher.

In November,  2006 ... for the first time in our 5 year experience ... the Pelicans have dominated the rocks and the Whale's Tail.  No other birds have been present while the hordes of Pelicans have been roosting and fishing from these spots.

Pelicans are usually found on the rocks near the tide pools, at the base of the Lighthouse.  Many of them are also usually found downcoast, at Bear Harbor.

Well, now, in May 2007 ... the Pelicans have left the rocks and there is a pair of Sea Gulls sitting on the nest where their newborn will happen, soon, we hope.  This is the same rock where the Black Oyster Catcher family hatched their new baby, more than two years ago.  All other birds stay away from this "nursery" during the long hatching process.

The popular nesting rock is the (in the picture above) one on the right.  Instead of a horde of birds, it will have only one family (or two) who are in the parenting processs

NEWS ... On June 24, the Western Seagull pair have three new babies!  They are tending them and the book says it will be another month before they can fly ... so we watch them feed, etc.

UPDATE: Two of the three chicks have perished ... gone for good.  Meanwhile the one remaining is growing daily, and will be trying its wings before long.

Interesting note:  The Black Oystercatcher pair have returned, and are inspecting their "nesting ground" which is currently in use by the Gulls.  No fighting or other disturbance, both pairs are obviously OK with the other parents looking for this years nesting spot.  The Oyster Catchers have 3 new chicks ... and the Gulls finally leave the rock.

We cannot promise what you will see when you come to visit, but bring your binoculars so you can enjoy the bird watching, whatever it is during your stay.

                              The Whale's Tail