MALCOLM BLUFF & CAPE CROKER
We were up at 5 am to have a quick cold breakfast. We boiled some water and made a cup of coffee with Bill's new individual filter. At 6:15 we drove over to meet Colin and Hilda and the rest of our group for the day at the Visitor Centre. We were close enough to hike over by the shoreline trail, but we needed a car for our tour.
Our assistant leader was Fred Jasvac and we would meet Alfred Raab later at Malcolm Bluff. It was very foggy as we set off in convoy, but we knew it would burn off. Our first stop was at the dock at Colpoy’s Bay where we hoped to see Long-tailed Ducks. However, the fog was too thick to see anything. On the dock there were thousands of black flying insects, which, fortunately did not bite.
Next, we met up with our leader, Alfred Raab, and went on a hike to the Malcolm Bluff. He led us on a short trail through the woods to link up with the Bruce Trail at the bluff. An Ovenbird was singing very close by and Alfred patiently tried to wait it out to get a glimpse. Alas, it was not to be. A distant Scarlet Tanager played peekaboo. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was much more cooperative. Wildflowers were in full bloom, including a white trillium with several layers of petals. Warblers were heard, and some seen, including Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue and American Redstart. But photo opportunities were limited.
Fred warned us a number of times about straying too close to the 40m cliff edge, but there were a couple of lookouts. It was still so foggy that we could barely see Georgian Bay below – too bad. But we did get a view of two Black Bear cubs up a tree.
Our next stop was at Crooked Toe Road in Neyaashiinigmiing territory on the Cape Croker peninsula where we just drove past 3 Sandhill Cranes without stopping! We birded up and down the road, then crossed the style onto the Bruce Trail. A highlight was a brief sighting of a Blue-winged Warbler. We heard a Golden-winged, but it would not come out. We were able to photograph a few Eastern Kingbirds.
We went to the Cape Croker Campground for lunch and an ice cream.
After lunch, we made a stop along Purple Valley Road where we saw a Savannah Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe and a distant Eastern Meadowlark and Brewer’s Blackbird.
Then we headed for the Lake Huron side of the Bruce Peninsula and Red Bay Road. We found another Brewer’s Blackbird, a Great Egret and a Belted Kingfisher.
It was time to wrap up the trip, but Fred offered to guide us to Sauble Beach to see the Piping Plovers. What a great break for us! Not only was one on the nest, but the mate was wandering the shoreline right at our feet.
Back at our campsite, we got great looks at our Eastern Towhee before cooking up our simple supper. Then we headed back to the Visitor Centre to listen to Mike Rutz’s interesting talk on Algonquin Park.
After our return, the Eastern Whippoorwill sang briefly again.
