Road's End North Rock

The North Rock at Road's End was the first site at Road's End where we noticed nesting activity, or possible nesting activity. That was in 2005. In 2006, the North Rock apparently fledged 3 chicks as 3 appeared with an adult near the rock. The North Rock is far north of any easily accessible viewing site so until the last couple of years all observations were made from the cove beach or from atop The Thumb, both a considerable distance away. No nesting activity was observed again until 2009 when their first nest apparently failed and they renested with a young chick seen on 8/7. In 2010 one chick was seen but apparently never fledged. 2011 they nested but apparently nest failed.

In 2012, I discovered a way to get closer to the nest rock and look down on it. Saw 2 eggs and later one chick but it did not seem to fledge. In 2013 they laid 3 eggs, do not know if they hatched. In 2014 1 chick probably fledged. Below photos are from 2014. The young chick was led to a pool of water, watched a parent bathe, then walked in, drank, and bathed.

North Nest Rock

Parent bill visible from probable nest/chick hiding spot

Tall rock seen above with pool of water behind

Both adults coming out from behind rock

Adult in water, other adult on shore with chick between them in the water

chick in water

chick bathing

cropped photo of chick

The next 3 years were disappointing. In 2015, they laid one egg but it disappeared. In 2016 they did not nest. In 2017 they laid 2 eggs where we could see them from The Thumb so I didn't have to hike to the north lookout point. But eventually the eggs were, apparently, abandoned, maybe because of being uncovered too long when an eagle sat on the cliff nearby and stared at them. The BLOY stayed off the nest so long as the eagle was there.

In 2018 they lost their first nest but renested and produced probably two chicks, although I could only catch one in a photo.

chick at right side of photo and across the boulder from adult

A summary of North Rock BLOY nests:

2005 possible nest
2006 3 chicks, fledging unknown
2007 not noted
2008 not noted
2009 not noted
2010 one chick, believed lost
2011 eggs, outcome unknown
2012 1 chick, fledging unknown
2013 3 eggs, may have hatched, chicks probably lost
2014 1 chick, probably fledged
2015 1 egg, lost
2016 no nest
2017 2 eggs, did not hatch
2018 1 chick seen, probable second
2019 no birds seen on the rock, no nest