Time and distance are for a return trip - if you're not a photographer. If you are, you might find yourself spending a long time sitting on the rocks, photographing the hundreds of nesting, diving and feedings Northern Gannets.
Cape St. Mary's is an ecological reserve at the southern tip of the west portion of the Avalon Peninsula. This is one of the more easily accessible reserves in the province. As such, it can get quite a few visitors, but the location keeps some away. The fact that you have to hike 1.5km to get to the nesting site may keep some away as well. So if you're up to it (very easy hike in good weather), this is an excellent opportunity to see these amazing birds. and if you catch them at feeding time, their diving for fish is a wonder to behold.
Of course, the gannets aren't the only things worth looking at. Some of the geology above the nesting sites is very different and worth a look. This is a part of the province known as The Barrens (for good reason). As well as the gannets, there are also murres, razorbills, kittiwakes, guillemots, cormorants and, if you're real luccky, whales in the bay.
Directions:
The trail starts at the information centre. The road in is 5km east of St. Bride's on Rt. 100. The access road is 13km long.
Instructions:
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