2010 Newfoundland MBWeek
[Note: Those on the waiting list for 2010 have been confirmed for 2011; the dates and itinerary of the 2011 MBWeek have not yet been determined. Because of the long waiting list, NO ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS for 2011 are being taken at this time.]
NEWFOUNDLAND MBWEEK SUMMARY / JULY 5 - 18, 2010
(Also see the PHOTO GALLERIES from this and other Newfoundland trips following the summary)
Though this tour is typically billed as a way to escape the summer heat, we didn't quite accomplish that. The 90-plus-degree heat & humidity on our first morning in Maine was pretty overwhelming, although it didn't get in the way of our close studies of both Saltmarsh and Nelson's sparrows in Scarborough Marsh, along with some Glossy Ibis, and Roseate Terns at nearby Pine Point. Even at the northern-most point of our trip at Gros Morne, though 80 degrees doesn't sound that much, the heat certainly added to the difficulty of our extremely grueling – but successful – Rock Ptarmigan hike.
Otherwise, despite some rain and high winds, the weather was mostly OK, and the birding was even better. In all, no fewer than 151 species were recorded, a better-than expected total considering that the 2003 and 2004 MBWs averaged a modest 121. (Note that I included that Cory's Shearwater distantly seen from the Argentia ferry, an unidentified jaeger, a few heard-only species, some Norma-only birds, and credible single-observer sightings of Caspian Tern and Olive-sided Flycatcher.)
While we could have done without the fog at Cape St Mary's, Holyrood, Cape Pine, and Cape Race, I really don't think we missed any species as a result. And there were three long driving days, but I think our stops were timed well enough to even make them reasonably pleasant.
Especially satisfying were our two ferry crossings. Despite half the Argentia passage being at night and some temporary fog at dawn, there were still lots of fulmars, shearwaters, and storm-petrels. I'm still amazed at all those Manx Shearwaters, I see no reason why that one shearwater wasn't a Cory's, and a few of us were quick enough to spot a bonus Red Phalarope! Even the shorter and often birdless Port-aux-Basques ferry was a success, with a nice view of a Wilson's Storm-Petrel crossing the bow and some Leach's for those who had missed those on the Argentia passage.
There was also a long list of other highlights: Common Eiders, Willow Ptarmigans at Cape Pine (to nicely complement the "Rockers" at Gros Morne), spectacular Northern Gannets, Great Cormorants, an unexpected Northern Goshawk, Black-headed Gulls of all ages at Stephensville Crossing (plus a bonus Lesser Black-backed), Arctic Terns, the countless puffins plus other alcids and kittiwakes at Cape St Mary's and Witless Bay....even that frustratingly shy Bicknell's Thrush which vocalized forever close-at-hand has to be considered a highlight.
And don't forget the caribou, moose, dolphins, whales, scenery, and all the rest! Thanks indeed for coming and being a part of the first of what I hope are many more Newfoundland MBWs. - Kim
Itinerary
July 5. Most arrive in time for dinner at Anjon's Restaurant south of the Howard Johnson's; night in South Portland.
July 6. Hot & humid (but successful) morning at Scarborough Marsh and Pine Point; drive to Calais via lunch/sightseeing in Freeport; night in Calais.
July 7. All-day drive to North Sydney, with stops at a St John visitors centre, shopping in Sussex, lunch at the Nova Scotia welcome centre, and dinner at the Lobster (Lobstre?) Galley; evening/overnight ferry to Argentia.
July 8. Mostly fog-free morning on the Argentia ferry; mostly foggy afternoon at Cape St Mary's, with a brief stop at Pt Verde; night in Placentia.
July 9. Argentia visitors centre woodlands, the Colinet Line, St Mary's/Pt LaHaye/Gaskiers area, Holyrood Pond & Bay (in the fog), the caribou barrens, Cape Pine (still foggy), and rainy/windy night in Trepassey.
July 10. Trepassey harbour, Biscay Bay, Portugal Cove South/Cape Race Rd (still foggy), Cappahayden (high winds but clear), Renews, Ferryland, Bay Bulls, and post-dinner option to Signal Hill; night in St John's.
July 11. Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi L, Cape Spear, Witless Bay boat trip with the O'Brien's; noisy night in St John's.
July 12. All-day drive to Gros Morne National Park, with stops in Terra Nova, Cobbs Rotary Park in Gander, and shopping in Deer Lake; night in Rocky Harbour.
July 13. All-day Death March for most on Gros Morne for a picnic lunch (& Rock Ptarmigan); night in Rocky Harbour.
July 14. Lobster Cove & vicinity, Norris Point, Gros Morne visitors centre, Stephensville Crossing, and rainy night in Port-aux-Basques.
July 15. Morning ferry to North Sydney, lunch & birding at Pt Aconi, and afternoon drive to Cheticamp for the night.
July 16. Drive to Cape North with stops for guillemots and cormorants, mid-day search for Bicknell's Thrush, afternoon return with stops on the Bog Trail and the visitors centre; night in Cheticamp.
July 17. Morning drive to Antigonish via Cheticamp Back Rd, Cheticamp Island Rd, and Joe's Scarecrows-R-Us wayside; afternoon return drive to Maine and night in Calais.
July 18. Brief birding at the Calais cemetery and return to Portland for afternoon flights home.
Bird List
- ME = seen/heard in Maine (evening of July 5 - morning of July 7, evening of July 17 - morning of July 18)
- NS = seen/heard in Nova Scotia (last half of ferry July 15 - morning of July 17)
- Nfld = seen/heard in Newfoundland (July 8 - first half of ferry July 15)
- no additional species seen/heard during drives through New Brunswick/Nova Scotia (July 7 & 17)
- boldfaced species = "non-Minnesota" birds, those casual/accidental/absent in Minn.
Canada Goose NS,Nfld
American Wigeon Nfld
American Black Duck ME,NS,Nfld
Mallard Nfld
Northern Pintail Nfld
Ring-necked Duck NS,Nfld
scaup, sp. Nfld
Common Eider ME,NS (Pine Point, Pt Aconi; females/young/imm males)
Surf Scoter Nfld (Gaskiers & Biscay bays)
White-winged Scoter Nfld (Gaskiers & Biscay bays)
Black Scoter Nfld (Biscay Bay)
Common Goldeneye Nfld
Common Merganser NS,Nfld
Red-breasted Merganser Nfld
Willow Ptarmigan Nfld (again at Cape Pine!)
Rock Ptarmigan Nfld (just a walk in the park: total of 4!)
Common Loon ME,Nfld
Northern Fulmar Nfld (also Witless Bay & the P-A-B ferry)
Cory's Shearwater Nfld (well, I think so! – mostly leader-only from the ferry)
Greater Shearwater Nfld (only from the Argentia ferry)
Sooty Shearwater NS,Nfld (also from the P-A-B ferry)
Manx Shearwater Nfld (unprecedented numbers! – also Witless Bay & the P-A-B ferry)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel Nfld (closely crossing the bow from the P-A-B ferry!)
Leach's Storm-Petrel Nfld (also from the P-A-B ferry)
Northern Gannet NS,Nfld (still impressive at Cape St Mary's, despite the fog)
Double-crested Cormorant ME,NS,Nfld
Great Cormorant NS (Pt Aconi & Cape Breton Highlands)
Great Blue Heron ME,NS
Great Egret ME
Snowy Egret ME
Little Blue Heron ME (uncommon & local at Scarborough Marsh)
Glossy Ibis ME (Scarborough)
Turkey Vulture ME
Osprey ME,NS,Nfld (lots of nests)
Bald Eagle ME,NS,Nfld
Northern Harrier NS,Nfld
Northern Goshawk Nfld (a quiet & close adult on a pole at Argentia!)
Broad-winged Hawk ME,NS
Red-tailed Hawk NS
American Kestrel ME
Merlin NS,Nfld
Piping Plover Nfld (Stephensville Crossing)
Killdeer Nfld
Spotted Sandpiper NS,Nfld
Greater Yellowlegs Nfld
Willet ME,NS,Nfld
Whimbrel Nfld (flying by the ferry; also heard at Cape St Mary's)
Wilson's Snipe NS
Red Phalarope Nfld (seen briefly by a few from the ferry)
Black-legged Kittiwake NS,Nfld (lots of them, babies included)
Bonaparte's Gull Nfld
Black-headed Gull Nfld (Stephensville Crossing, juveniles included!)
Ring-billed Gull ME,NS,Nfld
Herring Gull ME,NS,Nfld
Lesser Black-backed Gull Nfld (unexpected at Stephensville Crossing)
Great Black-backed Gull ME,NS,Nfld
Least Tern ME (Scarborough Marsh)
Caspian Tern Nfld (briefly – by Leslie, I think – at Biscay Bay)
Roseate Tern ME (pretty good views in flight at Pine Point)
Common Tern ME,NS,Nfld
Arctic Tern Nfld (especially at Holyrood, Renews & Ferryland)
jaeger, sp. Nfld (leader-only from the ferry; probably a Pomarine)
Common Murre Nfld (especially on the cliffs at Cape St Mary's & Witless Bay)
Thick-billed Murre Nfld (almost lost in the fog at Cape St Mary's!)
Razorbill Nfld (especially Cape St Mary's & Witless Bay)
Black Guillemot NS,Nfld (best on the Witless Bay boat trip)
Atlantic Puffin Nfld (especially close at Witless Bay!)
Rock Pigeon ME,NS,Nfld
Mourning Dove ME,NS,Nfld
Black-billed Cuckoo ME (Norma-only at Calais)
Chimney Swift ME
Ruby-throated Hummingbird NS
Belted Kingfisher NS,Nfld
Downy Woodpecker ME,NS
Hairy Woodpecker ME,NS
Northern Flicker ME,NS,Nfld
Pileated Woodpecker ME
Olive-sided Flycatcher Nfld (heard-only by Vija at Rocky Harbour)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Nfld (mostly heard-only)
Alder Flycatcher NS (Norma-only)
Eastern Phoebe ME
Eastern Kingbird ME,Nfld
Blue-headed Vireo Nfld
Red-eyed Vireo ME,NS
Gray Jay NS,Nfld
Blue Jay ME,NS
American Crow ME,NS,Nfld
Common Raven ME,NS,Nfld
Horned Lark Nfld
Tree Swallow ME,NS,Nfld
Bank Swallow NS
Barn Swallow ME,NS
Black-capped Chickadee ME,NS,Nfld
Boreal Chickadee NS,Nfld (much easier to see here than in Minn)
Red-breasted Nuthatch ME,NS
Brown Creeper ME
House Wren ME
Golden-crowned Kinglet NS,Nfld (mostly heard-only)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet NS,Nfld
Veery ME (mostly heard-only)
Bicknell's Thrush NS (only brief views, but repeatedly heard well at close range)
Swainson's Thrush NS,Nfld
Hermit Thrush NS,Nfld
American Robin ME,NS,Nfld
Gray Catbird ME,NS
Northern Mockingbird ME (Pine Point)
Brown Thrasher ME
European Starling ME,NS,Nfld
American Pipit Nfld
Cedar Waxwing ME,NS
Tennessee Warbler Nfld (mostly heard-only)
Northern Parula ME (Calais cemetery)
Yellow Warbler ME,NS,Nfld
Chestnut-sided Warbler NS
Magnolia Warbler NS,Nfld
Yellow-rumped Warbler NS,Nfld
Black-throated Green Warbler ME,Nfld
Blackburnian Warbler Nfld
Pine Warbler ME (Calais cemetery)
Blackpoll Warbler NS,Nfld
Black-and-white Warbler NS,Nfld
American Redstart NS,Nfld
Ovenbird ME (heard-only)
Northern Waterthrush Nfld
Mourning Warbler NS (during the Bicknell's search)
Common Yellowthroat ME,NS
Wilson's Warbler Nfld
Chipping Sparrow ME,Nfld
Savannah Sparrow ME,NS,Nfld
Nelson's Sparrow ME (despite the heat & humidity at Scarborough)
Saltmarsh Sparrow ME (good comparison with Nelson's at Scarborough)
Fox Sparrow NS,Nfld
Song Sparrow ME,NS,Nfld
Lincoln's Sparrow NS,Nfld
Swamp Sparrow NS,Nfld
White-throated Sparrow ME,NS,Nfld
Dark-eyed Junco NS,Nfld
Northern Cardinal ME
Bobolink ME (heard-only)
Red-winged Blackbird ME,NS
Common Grackle ME,NS,Nfld
Brown-headed Cowbird ME
Baltimore Oriole ME
Pine Grosbeak Nfld (surprisingly elusive)
Purple Finch NS,Nfld
House Finch ME
White-winged Crossbill Nfld (Cataracts wayside on the Colinet Line)
Pine Siskin NS,Nfld
American Goldfinch ME,NS,Nfld
Evening Grosbeak NS (a surprise at the Cape Breton Highlands visitors centre)
House Sparrow ME,NS,Nfld
Also Seen:
Humpback Whale
Minke Whale
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin
Harbor (or Harbour) Porpoise
Harbor/Harbour Seal
Eastern Chipmunk
Red Squirrel
Snowshoe Hare
Red Fox
White-tailed Deer
Caribou
Moose
Green Frog (heard-only)
2010 PHOTO GALLERY
Atlantic Puffins (Vija Kelly)
PHOTO GALLERY FROM PREVIOUS TOURS
Gros Morne summit
Rock Ptarmigan
Razorbill
Atlantic Puffin
