On a breezy day (August 20, 2024), I went to Belmont
Provincial Park with the Wood Duck 12 kayak. I thought that with a SW wind, it
would be sheltered a bit on the east side of Lot 16. But the wind was more
southerly, so both sides of the Belmont point had a strong breeze.
 |
| Belmont track, WD12 kayak (4 km) |
When I started, I went to the west side of the point to
check out the conditions. It was fun, but I wasn’t going too far in that
direction. I went ashore for a few red cliff photos. Returning to the east
side, I paddled 1 km and went ashore for a walk. I walked on shore across the
large wetland as far as the salt-water pond/inlet. On Google Earth, there
appear to be three or four round depressions in the wetland (probably artificial,
DUC?). The salt-water inlet has a narrow entrance to Malpeque Bay. The entrance
is wide enough that a kayak could paddle in at high tides. The pond inlet is
500m x 250m in size.
|
 | | Belmont marshes, east side |
|
 | East marshes with large inlet/creek
in the background |
|
Next time, I would want to paddle all the way to McLaurins
Cove and check out the sand spit and the three salt-water ponds/inlets. See below for a 2025 outing from Miscouche Wharf.
|
 | | Mouth of east inlet/creek |
|
 | | Least Sandpiper (vulnerable in PEI) |
|
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September 9, 2025 outing from Miscouche Wharf
 |
| Miscouche to Gull Point, SW17 kayak |
On a very calm September day (Sep 9, 2025), I set out from the Miscouche Wharf to explore the Belmont east shore, north of Mary Fraser Island. On the way out, I made no shore stops until I got to Gull Point. I was surprised at how much the McLaurins' sand spit extends into Malpeque Bay. The sand spit is definitely a bird gathering spot. I posted the following to iNaturalist – Caspian Tern, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper (large flock), Northern Pintail, and Hudsonian Godwit (not IDed yet).
 |
| McLaurins' sand spit |
 |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (iNat, not IDed yet) |
After a walk and a break at Gull Point, I started the paddle back. On the return paddle, I made a shore stop at the large marsh just below McLaurins Cove. It must be a really low wetland; it’s about the only piece of shore land not converted to farming. I did look for the new Seaside Dragonlets, but none were found. I also made a short stop at Fraser Island before arriving back at Miscouche Wharf. It was another great outing and day on this part of Malpeque Bay!
