Cape Sable Journal

I joined the stampede to Cape Sable on August 15, Cape Sable Day, the annual fundraising gala for the Cape Sable Light. A 6AM departure from Portuguese Cove allowed me to board one of the first boats to the cape. The tide was high so most of the shore birds were roosting. I had no luck finding my target species, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

This place has changed. They have built a dock at the end of the fish plant's breakwater and also a relocatable floating dock at the cape. One no longer needs rubber boots to board the boats although as in my case trudging through the mud flats resulted in wet feet anyway. Groomed trails, that is mowed, now crisscross the cape although the constant running back and forth of an all-terrain vehicle was no asset to shore bird photography.

I followed the groomed trail, much like a cross country ski trail, to "The Forest", a small grove of trees and flowers protected from the sheep by a white picket fence.

There were a number of Savannah Sparrows at "The Forest" but only one warbler, an American Redstart.

American Redstart

American Redstart

The Forest did allow for some interesting photos of the Cape Sable Light, from an unsual vantage.

The Forest and the Cape Sable Light

Cape Sable Light

IMG00594

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs

Savannah Sparrow at the Big Rock by The Forest

Savannah Sparrow

Roosting Shore Birds Roused by Local Activity

Shorebirds

The Forest

The Forest