16 Jul Gannets, gannets, gannets—St. Peter’s Bay Division

Back in April, when most of the ground was still deep in snow, and migrating birds had to concentrate their foraging on the few open patches, an enormous swarm of dark-eyed juncos stormed through Boularderie Island. Driving between Kempt Head and Ross Ferry, I estimate I saw more than 1,000 in separate flocks of 20-50.

A similar nature spectacular unfolded this week along harbours and inlets where northern gannets gathered in great numbers to feed on schooling mackerel, and perhaps the smaller fish the mackerel themselves were chasing.

Marty MacDougall captured the spectacle and posted it to YouTube:

Because gannets spend most of their lives at sea, or in hard-to-reach cliffside nesting colonies, we don’t encounter them that often. When we do, from a distance, non-birders may overlook them as “just another gull.” In fact, they are among our most beautiful birds.

H/T: Laurie M-T