Cap Tourmente, Québec

November, dark and damp, is upon us. This picture from Cap Tourmente helps me hang on to the warm colours and temperatures of October.

Two times annually (and more) Paulette and I drive an hour downriver (NE compass bearing) to this Federal natural wildlife area where we commune with the snow geese ( Chen caerulescens atlantica ).

Their fall migration begins in September after breeding on Baffin Island and passes directly over Cap Tourmente where they feed (primarily on the rhizomes, or roots, of bulrushes) for three weeks in October before continuing south to their winter range along the Atlantic seaboard of the southern USA. The photo below shows a small sample of the 40,000 geese in the area on October 17.

A myriad of ducks, great blue herons and peregrine falcons feed in-and-about this small marsh (Marais de la Petite-Ferme) shown above.

Canon 7D with 70-200mm lens, focal length: 109 mm, ISO 640, 1/200sec (a little slow for hand holding a non-stabilized lens), f / 5.6. Taken at 4:30 pm

See my May 14th post for spring migration pictures.

Fascinating Snow Geese

Snow Geese are endlessly fascinating. At high tide they move en masse to the fields adjacent to the St. Lawrence. Numbers swell as small groups of two or three glide overhead. Suddenly, they burst into the air, swirling in unison only to land in the next open area. When you watch long enough you begin to sense this explosive moment. I think a critical mass is reached and the geese erupt to release the pressure. I'd like to hear other explanations of this behaviour please.

I love spring time when each tree shows it individual shade of greenery. On April 12, during our last visit, grays and brown dominated a cool landscape.

Canon 7D, 70-200 f/4L lens adjusted to 110 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000s, ISO 400, focus set on Auto-Servo (continuous focus for following moving objects)

Park rangers estimated 42000 snow geese present on May 11. Below, you can see some of them feeding offshore along the tidal flats.

Snow Geese

Cap-Tourmente National Wildlife Area is an amazing site for observing snow geese migration. The reserve officially opens its gates next week however this didn't stop the geese nor their admirers from enjoying this tidal marsh along the St-Lawrence. Thousands of geese put on an energetic show; vertical take-offs, gregarious honking, swirling overhead and full-flap landings. Paulette and I come here every year drawn by their beauty, grace and nomadic drive and leave serene and at peace.

See more pictures of this seasonal spectacle on flickr.

Canon 7D with 70-200 f/4L zoom, shutter speed priority, AI servo AF, 1/1000s+, ISO 200