I arrived at Cape St. Mary's early in the morning and to my surprise there were several motor homes parked at the visitor centre. I didn't know this was allowed. Next time!

The fog monster was prowling but I managed some photos as it moved in and out from the ocean to the shore. These bluffs are the third largest Northern Gannet rookery in North America. The bird is more properly known as the Great Northern Gannet.

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve is an ecological reserve located near Cape St. Mary's on the Cape Shore, on the southwestern Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland.

It is home to one of North America's largest seabird colonies. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador estimates that the site is home to 30,000 northern gannets,^[2] 20,000 black-legged kittiwakes, 20,000 common murres, and 2,000 thick-billed murres, as well as dozens or hundreds of razorbill, and black guillemot breeding pairs.^[3] The ocean waters off the reserve also provides winter habitat for harlequin ducks, common eiders, scoters, and long-tailed ducks. The reserve has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.^[4]

In addition to the numerous birds, humpback whales may be viewed from the heights during the annual capelin run.

The area protected by the reserve also includes sub-Arctic tundra, a mainly treeless plateau bordering the ocean.

Facilities include an interpretive centre, parking and washrooms. A footpath from the centre leads to a viewing location a few hundred metres from "Bird Rock", a large sea stack with several thousand nesting gannets. Other nesting locations can also be viewed from shore.

A lighthouse is also located near the interpretive centre.^[5] As is true for many parts of Newfoundland, fog can be encountered at any time of day. Care should be taken near cliff edges.

Inside the interpretive centre, visitors will also find The Rookery Nature Store, operated by the Friends of Cape St. Mary's.

Cape St. Mary's

Northern Gannet

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Common Murre

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Black-legged Kittiwake

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