Post by kestrel on Jul 10, 2022 17:13:30 GMT -8
My parents and I spent my last 3 days with them on the Avalon Peninsula, which is where Newfoundland's best birding is. On June 29, we went on an incredible boat tour with Gatherall's. The captain of the boat, upon learning that I was hoping for (my lifer) Thick-billed murre, went out of his way to ensure that I was able to see one . In addition to a ton of seabirds, everyone onboard was treated to a pod of curious Humpback whales that came very close to the vessel and stayed awhile.
The next day, my dad and I went on a long drive around the peninsula. Our first stop was the massive seabird colony at Cape St. Mary's, which I can't recommend enough for anyone visiting the region in summer. For those who've never been there, you can see Northern gannets, Black-legged kittiwakes, and Razorbills only a stone's throw from a piece of land that sticks out from the cliffs. My target bird here was Great cormorant, which I got while on my way back to the vehicle.
Northern gannets by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Black-legged kittiwakes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Razorbills by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
After pulling ourselves away from this spectacle, we kept driving for a several more hours. At a small cove called Drook Cove, we watched a feeding frenzy of gannets, kittiwakes, and seals. Probably after a school of capelin, which is a smelt-like fish. My main target in this area was Willow ptarmigan. We finally found a male-female pair after driving for quite awhile, just before the lighthouse at Cape Race .
My last lifer of the trip was this Black-headed gull at Virginia Lake, in St. John's, on Canada Day:
Black-headed gull by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Later on, I discovered that that was the last day it was seen there.
I was definitely sad to have to leave this amazing place to go home. Anyway, here's the trip report (Nova Scotia included):
ebird.org/tripreport/50304
The next day, my dad and I went on a long drive around the peninsula. Our first stop was the massive seabird colony at Cape St. Mary's, which I can't recommend enough for anyone visiting the region in summer. For those who've never been there, you can see Northern gannets, Black-legged kittiwakes, and Razorbills only a stone's throw from a piece of land that sticks out from the cliffs. My target bird here was Great cormorant, which I got while on my way back to the vehicle.
Northern gannets by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Black-legged kittiwakes by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Razorbills by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
After pulling ourselves away from this spectacle, we kept driving for a several more hours. At a small cove called Drook Cove, we watched a feeding frenzy of gannets, kittiwakes, and seals. Probably after a school of capelin, which is a smelt-like fish. My main target in this area was Willow ptarmigan. We finally found a male-female pair after driving for quite awhile, just before the lighthouse at Cape Race .
My last lifer of the trip was this Black-headed gull at Virginia Lake, in St. John's, on Canada Day:
Black-headed gull by Joel Schmidt, on Flickr
Later on, I discovered that that was the last day it was seen there.
I was definitely sad to have to leave this amazing place to go home. Anyway, here's the trip report (Nova Scotia included):
ebird.org/tripreport/50304