Newfoundland

[byrons]

A few pictures from Newfoundland.  Some of these birds can be found in Ontario, but nevertheless I thought I'd share.   Many of the pics come from a trip to Cape Saint Mary's last spring.  

Caspian Tern; Norris Point, Gross Morne National Park


Caspian Tern by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Savannah Sparrow, Norris Point, Gross Morne National Park


Savannah Sparrow by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Great Cormorant;  Long Pond, St. John's


Great Cormorant, Long Pond, NL by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Northern Gannets, Cape Saint Mary's, NL


Coming in for a landing by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Black Legged Kittiwakes, Cape Saint Mary's, NL


Black Legged Kittiwakes by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Northern Gannet (Immature), Cape Saint Mary's, NL


Second year Northern Gannet by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Northern Gannets, Nest building, Cape Saint Mary's, NL


gannet nest building by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Northern Gannets Pair Bonding, Cape Saint Mary's, NL


gannet nest building4 by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

Common Murres, Cape Saint Mary's, NL


Common Murres by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

[steven rose]

Byron your gannet shots of the nest building are great. They inspire me to go one day  

[byrons]

Thanks Steven,  I really appreciate it.  

The fabulous thing about Cape Saint Mary's is that you can't possibly get a bad shot.  There is a cliff top trail that leads to about 20 feet from a separate rock column that is one of the main nesting sites.  It's simply stunning.  In addition, there is great birding all along the Irish Loop, and with any luck you might encounter a caribou or two.   And then you can end the day at a good pub in St. John's.  

Here is one more of the pair building their nest:


gannet nest building2 by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

You really are about 20 feet away from this:  


Nesting Gannets by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

The smell is very intense!  

These shots gives you a sense of the density of the colony:

 
Northern Gannet by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr


Gannet Colony by ByronSheldrick, on Flickr

[farmer]

I have yet to see any of these. Thanks for sharing!

[rcflier]

Outstanding !!  What time of year ( month etc ) was this?  

tnx, bob

[byrons]

Thanks Bob,

These were taken May 21st ... if you go a bit later in the season, of course, there are the chicks.  It's nice seeing the adults returning with food.  

Along the cliff tops you frequently see bald eagles as well.  They tend to hang around high on the cliffs, waiting for injured birds.  

Byron

[mr.sharp-photo]

when we went, the wind and fog was insane. so no pictures. but the gannets would fly 5 or so feet over your head to go to the nesting area.

surprised you didn't get any puffin shots. murrhs and puffins are my favourite.

and we saw a bald eagle on our irish loop (Spout) hike. but otherwise, in some areas, there weren't a lot of birds (like, in Gross Morne. there was nothing. mind you, we were there in October hahaaha)

[egret]

absolutely beautiful!

now I want to go back to Nfld again

guess u did not go on a tour, did you
but I do know they have many

Egret

[Dr. John]

Cape St. Mary's is amazing. Both times we were in Newfoundland, we went and spent a wonderful day there.

[byrons]

I didn't go on a tour, but just birded largely on my own.  Being in Newfoundland inspired me to finally break into trying my hand at photography.  So I bought my gear in early March (finally put a tax refund to good use)  Sadly, I didn't get out to Bay Bulls (which is home to a fabulous puffin colony) again in time to get puffin shots.  I'm hoping to spend this summer in NL again, so I'll be posting the puffins then.   I'm also hoping to have a bigger/better lens for the trip.  

Thanks for the feedback ... it's much appreciated.  

Byron