Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Birding Areas => Topic started by: Photoman on February 21, 2008, 06:32:19 PM

Title: NewFoundland
Post by: Photoman on February 21, 2008, 06:32:19 PM

Greetings to all :D

        I will be spending 10 days in St.John's, NewFoundland in July. Would anyone know any birding spots or places to photogragh within the area or the southern part of the island? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

Clemens
Mr"X" 8)

Good birding to all

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Post by: moratorian on February 21, 2008, 06:54:25 PM

You definitely need to go to the St. Mary's Ecological Reserve in the southern part of the Avalon Peninsula. Large colonies of gannets, Kittiwakes, Murres etc.

Mike

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Post by: Pat Hodgson on February 22, 2008, 02:35:27 PM

Yes, exactly, Cape St. Mary's is the must see spot.  Can be fog-bound so listen to the weather reports.  Boat tours out of Bay Bulls just south of St. John's also allow good opportunities for handheld photography of seabirds.  Much better than Cape St. Mary's for puffins, for example.

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Post by: Brian Bailey on February 24, 2008, 09:24:19 PM

I would second the recommendation of Bay Bulls.  I was in Newfoundland two years ago and couldn't sell the rest of my family on devoting a whole day to Cape St. Mary's, but they were quite happy to go whale watching in Bay Bulls.  Some (most?) of the whale watching tours from Bay Bulls visit the seabird colonies at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.  You should be able to get great looks at Puffins, Murres, Razorbills, and Kittiwakes.

I caught this one flying by the boat:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2360/2256659298_6bc7d4d547.jpg)

I would have loved to visit Cape St. Mary's, but sometimes you have to compromise when traveling with non-birders.

Also, keep in mind that you can see lots of interesting things even if you aren't in a recognized birding hotspot.  I was surprised to get my best view of nesting Puffins at the Cape Bonavista lighthouse.

BB

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Post by: Photoman on February 26, 2008, 06:29:12 PM

Greetings :D

        Thanks Pat, Mike and Brian for your feedback. Went to the Outdoor Adventure Show on the weekend and spoke to people at the Newfoundland booth. I got a map and circled the spots that all of you recommended. Thank you.

Clemens

Good birding to all

P.S.....Great picture of the puffin Brian.

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Post by: Dr. John on February 27, 2008, 08:27:58 PM

Just want to further agree about the above choices. Witless Bay boat tours are great for both whales and seabirds. You'll see tons of nesting puffins, kittiwakes, murres, and gulls. On the water, we also saw some shearwaters. Cape St. Mary's is awesome for the gannet colony and we saw a bunch of other meadow birds walking out to the colony.

The whole drive around the Avalon penninsula is magnificent and worth doing.

-John

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Post by: Photoman on March 05, 2008, 09:32:12 PM

Greetings :D

      Thanks for your feedback John, I'm looking forward to drive the Avalon Penninsula as you mentioned. Hope I can see all the great areas that are there. Thanks again.

Clemens 8)