Join Me For a Paddle

 

Summer has finally arrived in Cape Breton!

It's even almost a little too toasty,

especially for being right on the ocean.
 

 

But the calm, albeit very cold, water

was perfect for the first paddle of the year.

 

 

Here we go!

 

~

 

A Belted Kingfisher protects its territory

from human invasion with his screaming rattle

and imposing presence.

 

 

Let's zoom in on him a little.

 

 

The Kingfisher "nest in burrows that they dig into soft earthen banks,

usually adjacent to or directly over water."

 

 

His nest was tucked in here, about a foot below

the treeline in the center of the picture.

Sorry you can't actually see the little hole.

 

 

The same spot from further away. 

Isn't it beautiful?

 

~

 

 

Common Terns were our next encounter.

You can see this rock is well used!

 



They let me glide quite closely

 

 

before they felt a little threatened by my presence

 

 

and flew off to a nearby rock.

 

 

~

 

My paddling companion brought along his fishing pole

 

 

and wasn't disappointed!

 

Meanwhile, this little butterfly, perhaps the size of a nickel,

pauses for a rest before continuing on his journey.

He was a surprise!

 

~

 

 

Through the mist that developed over the water

from the heat of the day,

 

 

this sailboat has a rather spectral appearance.

In the immediate foreground are a couple of

cormorants drying their wings,

 

 

while nearby, and proabably

 the highlight of the day, were these massive gray seals.

Although a distance away, their moans and groans,

snorts and chortles,

could be heard all along the shoreline.

They appear to be laying on top of the water,

but the tide was receding

and they were on the tippity tops of the rocks.

They do not let you get very close,

so it isn't even worth the effort.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed your paddle.

I could go on and on,

but after almost 4 miles of paddling in the hot sun,

I'm a little weary.

 

Calgon, take me away!!