Last winter, we walked from Presqu'Ile Park's High Bluff campground across the ice to Gull Island. The only way to walk there was to wait for the ice to form. The water was always far too swift and too deep. If you've ever camped at that end of the park in the summer, you will remember hearing the sound of birds living on Gull Island. According to a natural heritage leader at Presqu'Ile, Gull and High Bluff islands host the most diverse colony of birds on the Great Lakes with one quarter million birds out there in breeding season. No wonder you can hear them from the mainland!
We knew that Lake Ontario's water levels have been reduced and that we might now be able to walk across! Ted had heard that ocean going vessels had to carry lighter loads so they could navigate near Montreal More water for Montreal, less for Lake Ontario.
We would possibly be able to walk to both islands!
Some sections of the islands are harsh places to live. Only the most tenacious survive.
High Bluff Island was once farmed. Turkeys were farmed there until 1916, according to local folks. Yesterday, there was very little sign of habitation as we walked a nice path around the island that's been mown in the long grasses.
I imagine there might be monarch butterflies there in the summer. Milkweeds were busy releasing their seeds if ever a gust of wind blew by.
We walked clockwise around High Bluff. There are a few mature oaks here and there.
Some, more dead than alive.
The most westerly shore of High Bluff is much like the westerly shores of Prince Edward County. Lots of limestone to be seen. The picture below is a bit deceptive. There is quite a cliff in some places.
Ruth is looking out to the lake. What could she be thinking?
wondering why she ever agreed to walk all that way in rubber boots
wishing she could jump in
looking for her house somewhere up in those hills
When faced with battering winds, you do what needs to be done to stay alive.
On the north end of High Bluff, there is a structure which our photographer hiking buddy calls the bird condo. We weren't sure which birds nested on the condo, but there were many sturdy nests there.
According to that same natural heritage leader, Ring-billed and Herring gulls arrive in February to nab the best spots! Double-crested Cormorants and Caspian Terns arrive in April. Common Terns don't arrive until late April and by then, there is no room at the inn for them. Their species is in decline. Life sucks sometimes, doesn't it? I had no idea life was so complicated on those islands. Even complicated for humans: the islands are off-limits between March 10 and September 10 so the birds can have the islands to themselves.
Hard to tell, because the colours are similar, but these are two ground nests. We also came to the realization that we were walking on decades of decomposed bird poop. Absolutely nothing grew there. Just a little too much nitrogen. Nice and spongy to walk on though.
Condo with a view.
Long shadows were cast as we walked back to the mainland.
Foreshadows.
Friendship is the shadow of the evening,
which increases with the setting sun of life.
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