Saturday 30 June – Day 2

The day started rather early with dry weather (it didn’t last). Getting up early is expected for birding people, having to also have cases packed and ready is another kettle of fish altogether. Anyway a double cod fish cake with two eggs, molasses baked beans and toast both got us started and explained the high average weight of most natives we have so far come across. A busy day …

So, first port of call after a long drive (long because half the journey was on unpaved roads which are not as well graded as the tourist people would have you believe) to High Falls on the Humber River where we watched large salmon trying and occasionally succeeding to leap up the falls having managed to get past the wall of fishermen with big rods just down stream. That was rather a spectacular thing to see. On the way there we had a major rain storm with lightening and n the way out we had the same again with added hail stones but while there and wandering the forest trail to the river all was dry and pleasant.

Then into Gros Morne National Park – a spectacular gem that is high on our list of must visit again places. Best to google the place if you want to know about the geography etc but essentially two arms of a glaciated valley with hi mountains to the east and high tableland to the west … the latter being the really interesting part as it is one of only three places on the planet where the earth’s magma has been exposed – very high mineral content making it almost plant free. Superb mountain and sea views everywhere and fascinating plants including Harebells, stunted Ash trees, Sundew and Pitcher plants. The sun came put too and despite high winds the day turned out a lot nicer than anticipated.

Then to Norris Point where a guided tour of a marine laboratory fascinated us (delightful young lady biology student who happily waved angry crabs in our faces while discoursing on the marine ecology of the region). Had we been there in the morning there was a Minke whale mother and calf feeding just off the dock.

Extremely well appointed cabins in Rocky Harbour for the next two nights and traditional Newfie cuisine in the bar/resto over the road to round off the day.

Some birds of the day included – White throated Sparrow, Wilson’s Snipe, Common Grackles, American Robins, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Hermit Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Common Raven, Arctic Terns.

Another early start tomorrow.

Sorry – no photos today, wifi signal decidedly dodgy.