On August 12th, Bridgette and I had the opportunity to see Grindstone Island Nature Preserve by fishing boat. This trip was organized by the Nature Trust and approximately 50 people took part in the event. We climbed aboard a boat at the Alma Wharf late morning and headed out past Cape Enrage and just past Mary's Point into Shepody Bay. The trip took about an hour and a half each way. We couldn't venture onto the island this time of year because it might disrupt the bird populations during their nesting season, which runs from May to August. However, the trip still provided a close up view as the boat circled the island. Apparently the tides also had us pressed for time as we only got to complete one loop before heading back. Seeing the island this close did offer a good sense of the scale and key features of the island. We managed to spot a number of shorebirds and birds of prey, but I wasn't quick enough to capture any in detail. I know some others were able to capture beautiful photos of eagles and other birds that we can hopefully see posted on the NTNB website in the future.
Although I did view several scenes from the boat that I would enjoy painting, this is a site that I would like to visit again. The island is attainable by sea kayak, and I wouldn't mind paddling to the island during a season that does not disrupt the nesting birds. It would also be interesting to see the island up close in lower tide.
When we arrived back in Alma, David Christie, a NTNB steward and a well-known naturalist, spoke to us briefly about the bird species on the island. Also, Betty Weston, the daughter of the island's last lighthouse keeper, offered some stories about what it was like to live on the island. It was certainly a great way to spend such a gorgeous day! Thanks NTNB!
When we arrived back in Alma, David Christie, a NTNB steward and a well-known naturalist, spoke to us briefly about the bird species on the island. Also, Betty Weston, the daughter of the island's last lighthouse keeper, offered some stories about what it was like to live on the island. It was certainly a great way to spend such a gorgeous day! Thanks NTNB!