Just a quick post today about the latest new residents of Signal Hill. Around the beginning of May a returning pair of Bald Eagles made a nest on the cliffs just off the Cuckold's Cove trail between Signal Hill and Quidi Vidi. Eagles aren't that exotic to some people ('Merica!) but I got very excited and hiked up to see them. Walking down from the Signal Hill side (the easiest direction to do it in), I asked my friend Tijana (who had previously seen them) where exactly the eagles were. As we started our descent the answer became apparent; where the crowds of people with zoom lenses were huddled.
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| One of the eagles in its nest, May 10th. |
There location was also demarcated by "Bald Eagle breeding area" signs, and yellow triangular signs warning people not to go near the cliff. An excellent move on behalf of St Johns in my opinion, as common sense isn't as common as we would all like to think. The nest is a fair way out as expected, really testing the x35 optical zoom on my camera, so getting any closer than the trail is dangerous, stupid and nigh on impossible.
Devoted ornithologists have since become a near permanent feature in one particular spot on the trail, and in the last week it broke on social media and various blogs that two chicks had emerged from the nest. Cue another impromptu hike through this beautiful town. I was worried, walking up this time from the Quidi Vidi side, that I wouldn't be able to see it as it was a foggy day out to sea, despite the sunshine in Downtown. Thankfully my effort wasn't in vain, and the fluffy eaglets were plainly visible.
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| Nest and proud mother on sentry duty. |
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| Two grey fluffy blobs. |
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| It'll always be cool to see an Eagle. |
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