It was Wednesday, day two of our botanical excursions to Scatarie Island, NS. And we got a bonus, as the day began. Professor Bruce offered to drop us off on little Hay Island, nearby. Of course we said, "Yes!" We had plans, this day, to visit a few coves by boat on the south coast of Scatarie, but that could wait for an hour, so we could 'make Hay while the sun shines.'
Hay is an untreed island, but lush with the expected foliage - well fertilized by the birds who nest there, as well as the seals. There were beautiful shorebirds around the rocky beaches, and on top just a few sparrows. The five of us spread out and surveyed this seldom-visited spot (by humans).
A rugged, barren place like this can be so picturesque, and I could have spent half the day there. But we had more of Scatarie to see, so we took just an hour to explore and take photos and enjoy this secluded place. The weather was great: just a bit overcast after the morning fog.
I mentioned seals. We had been seeing many in these waters, and on the shores of Hay were bones and decaying bodies. Here are three in one spot (below). Prof Bruce mentioned (frequent scuba diver in these waters that he is) that these gray seals which are so curious when we are in a boat on on shore, disappear if you enter the water yourself. They don't come near enough to be seen if you take a swim. Sea lions (which we don't have around here) on the other hand, he said, will come right up to you in the water.
As I rounded the island, quickly, I came upon a cormorant nesting colony on the beach in one spot. All the birds were grown and out on the water, staying clear of me. The bleached beach smelled as these places always do. Unforgettable!
Of course, the five of us from the NS Wild Flora Society were taking a good look at the plants - rather weedy plants - on this island. Like on others that are nesting colonies for pelagic birds, certain flora thrive, and others are killed off by the guano. (I'm reminded of Bear Island, which I would visit annually, in the Annapolis Basin.) Pictured below are marsh cinquefoil, jewelweed, fireweed, yellow rattle and bindweed (morning glory).
We bid farewell to Hay Island, and set off for parts of much larger Scatarie. The sky was getting more blue; the wind was picking up a bit from the south. More on that in my next post. Goodbye Hay! I might never set foot on you again.
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