The wildlife of the Avalon Peninsula

A 65km uphill haul had us out of the Avalon today, but it won't be forgotten.

During the last week, we've witnessed the start of migration, one of the most amazing spectacles in the natural world. Millions upon millions of birds arrive in the Northern Hemisphere after a 'winter' holiday in the tropics, or beyond. It was the Yellow-rumped Warblers that made us realise this was happening. Every kilometre or so as we pedalled along, there would inevitably be a small black, yellow and white bird, singing his heart out from the top of a spruce or alder. It can only be a matter of days before the masses of later arrivals are brought by southern winds.

A Hooded Seal at Portugal Cove South!

From the capital, St. John's, we ventured south up (see previous post if this doesn't make sense) the Irish Loop, or as better known to birders, the Southern Avalon Loop. We planned this to perfectly time the blowing in of rare birds. And we got all so close. A European Golden Plover was seen in the community of Fermeuse, the day before we arrived there. But no-one saw it again. However all was not lost. We couldn't complain about our consolation prize, a Hooded Seal resting on a beach in Portugal Cove South! These seals only live around the arctic, so to see one here was an unbelievably unexpected treat, and was only our third mammal.

One of my favourite areas so far was the southern shore of the Avalon. Here it is so barren that you're pushed to find a tree on the landscape. This is the home of some very special animals. We were apparently very lucky to see two small herds of Caribou (Reindeer) from the road. This particular herd has been steadily going downhill due to a parasite known as brain worm, which infests the Caribou leading to severe illness or death. It is thought that brain worm came to Newfoundland in 1908, when 300 reindeer were introduced from Norway to provide Newfoundlanders with a food supply.

Very distant Caribou we saw from the road in the Southern Avalon.

Our campsite in Salmoniers on May 8th.

Lying awake in our tent as the sun rises and sets has already proven to be a great way of listening for birds. We've heard Northern Saw-whet Owls at three of our campsites, and they'd have to be one of the cutest birds in the world. Just take a look at this picture our friend Jared took of a young saw-whet. The only 'downside' is being kept awake by winnowing (a strange noise made by Wilson's Snipe during the male's courtship display), which we hear everywhere!

Each day brings new birds. Today it was six Ring-necked Ducks in a small pond beside the Trans-Canada Highway. We're up to 54 birds now. It will be case of slow and steady wins this race I think...

A handsome and obliging Ruffed Grouse.

New Birds:

19. Blue Jay

20. Northern Pintail

21. Northern Gannet

22. Black-legged Kittiwake

23. Northern Flicker

24. American Black Duck

25. Wilson's Snipe

26. Fox Sparrow

27. American Goldfinch

28. Sharp-shinned Hawk

29. Boreal Chickadee

30. Osprey

31. Canada Goose

32. Bald Eagle

33. Ruffed Grouse

34. Greater Yellowlegs

35. Common Loon

36. Northern Saw-whet Owl

37. Double-crested Cormorant

38. Purple Finch

39. Common Eider

40. Song Sparrow

41. Wood Duck

42. Mourning Dove

43. Common Grackle

44. Northern Harrier

45. Horned Lark

46. Long-tailed Duck

47. Pine Grosbeak

48. Black-capped Chickadee

49. Savannah Sparrow

50. White-winged Scoter

51. Belted Kingfisher

52. Yellow-rumped Warbler

53. Red-breasted Nuthatch

54. Ring-necked Duck

New Mammals:

1. Red Squirrel (Introduced to Newfoundland)

2. Meadow Vole

3. Hooded Seal

4. Caribou