Île aux marins, Le Grand Colombier, St. Pierre

12 July 2012.

In the morning: meet the presenters, make sure the wet weather gear fits (get smaller gumboots), learn how to get in and out of Zodiac dinghies from the ship, at a dock and on a wet landing (rocks or beach), learn our way around the ship.

A small section of the flag locker on the bridge.
The French flag is missing because it is being flown on the
foremast, we are in France.

Then life boat drill. Some of us climbed into the lifeboat. This was very slow and difficult for the larger, less mobile passengers when wearing a life jacket, as the entrance was small and had handles and things in the way. (Scary - the slowness).

Starboard lifeboat.

View from inside the lifeboat, showing obstructions

We were a bit delayed getting in to St. Pierre because of the "Sixth 350 mile yacht race, Halifax to St. Pierre."

St. Pierre and yacht race.

The Customs arrive on the pilot boat.
Four of the photos in this post were taken by Kyle (on right),
who has a bigger telephoto lens than anyone else. 

 First stop in St Pierre for me was Île aux Marins. We arrived at the dock in four Zodiacs while four more cruised around the auk colonies first. There's an impressive museum. Only summer residents now, some from France. The schools are now all on the main island, St. Pierre. A Merlin was spotted chasing a Swift.

Sea urchin far inland on Île aux Marins. Probably brought by a seagull.

Then for a Zodiac cruise around Le Grand-Colombier, an island that's the nesting site for auks of all kinds: Atlantic puffins that nest in deep burrows, thousands of Common murres standing shoulder to shoulder, and a few Razorbills and Thick-billed murres. All expert divers. The chicks leave the nest before they can fly, and migrate afloat accompanied by the moulting males, who also cannot fly. We also saw Black-legged kittiwakes, Black guillemots, and Harbour and Grey seals. The sea was very choppy and with the strong wind we got quite wet - or was it the driver? But that's why we have the wetskins.

Jacques Sirois, Zodiac driver and birder.

Puffins on the grass at the mouths of their burrows, and Common murres on the rock.

Puffin (Kylefoto).

Still from slideshow

Still from slideshow

Still from slideshow

Still from slideshow

Murres, still from slideshow

Still from slideshow

Seals on the rocks, murres, puffins and razorbills in the air.

The large church on Île aux Marins is in the distance

This is Kyle's photo of the inside of the church on Île aux Marins.

Then in to St. Pierre to walk around the town, see all the French cars, and spend Euros in the expensive shops.  The young people here have their university education in France or Québec paid for by the French government, as well as airfares and living allowance.