Newfoundland birding

[Molebird]

Am planning a trip to Newfoundland soon and wondered if there is anyone who could offer some advise on good birding sites, hiking or generally good spots to visit (?)

Much appreciated.

[newfoundlander61]

Here is a list of the must see locations:

(1) Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

(2) Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve

These sites are not too far from ST. John's to drive.

[Molebird]

Many thanks Paul.  Who better to answer this question than a Newfoundlander.

Will report on sightings upon return.

[Pat Hodgson]

Where you may go depends quite a bit on how soon is soon, in terms of when you are going.  I'm not sure when the seabirds start nesting but perhaps not right away?  Cape St. Mary's is a great spot but pay attention to the weather report for southern Avalon as it can get quite fogged in.  Witless Bay is mostly a boat tour destination, but those tours are only running when tourists are there - probably not until June.  There are a few spots (e.g. St. Michael's) to view from shore with a scope but these are distant views.  Some of the better spots around St. John's are the various ponds, i.e. lakes.  Tufted duck are usually there.  Cape Spear is a beautiful spot and a possible spot to see seabirds from shore, but that depends on the weather.  The road to Cape Race is good birding destination but I've heard it can be impassible in the spring.  Parks with forested bits around the suburbs of St. John's can produce boreal species.  The sewer outflow in the harbour (eastern end, north side, but not as far east as neighbourhod called The Battery, you're in the right place if you are in a parking lot with a Terry Fox Mile 0 marker) is a gull-watching spot - it supposedly is getting diverted to a treatment plant sometime, not sure if that has happened already.  Cape St. Francis (the point of land on the NE part of the Avalon) is a good place not to far out of town to go for a bit of a hike.  Eurasian birds sometimes turn up in Nfld, ducks on ponds, shorebirds in the fields around Goulds, other things possible esp. on coast south of St. John's.  Their local discussion and sightings are at nf.birds https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!forum/nf.birds and rarities are usually posted promptly.  Good luck!

[Dr. John]

A few additional notes:

Cape St. Mary's is a great place, not only for the gannets, but also for kittiwakes. Look also for American pipits on the walk to the gannets. Eat at The Gannet's Nest, which is just at the turnoff to the road to Cape St. Mary's.

In Witless Bay, you can also charter private zodiac tours. Elaine's B&B at very least did this. That way you can decide which places to visit and home in on the birds as much as you want. Lots of puffins, razorbills, etc.

Look for bald eagles anywhere along the coast. We saw them at Cape St. Mary's, in Conception Bay, at Twillingate.

Gros Morne is fabulous for hiking in general, for interesting flora, and for gray jays and boreal chickadees.

[Molebird]

Can't wait to go now.  Thank you Pat and Dr. John.

Eva

[mr.sharp-photo]

worth the money for bay bulls/witless bay. puffin mania!!

we saw nothing in Gros Morne (but it was october)

spotted a bald eagle during our irish loop hike and another out at Witless Bay.