2008 Tour Narrative
In Brief: On this year’s Newfoundland trip we found ten species of gulls, including two atlantis Yellow-legged Gulls, two birds showing characters of Thayer’s Gull, and an adult Iceland Gull of the nominate Greenland race among many hundreds of “Kumlien’s” Iceland Gulls. There was a huge invasion of winter finches this year, and they were everywhere. We recorded all normally occurring species, and in addition had two Hoary Redpolls. White-winged Crossbills were particularly abundant being present in the thousands. Many hundreds of Bohemian Waxwings were also present. We had a decent showing of alcids with numerous Dovekies and two Razorbills. Rarities at feeders included a Pine Warbler, a male Brown-headed Cowbird (casual at any time in Newfoundland), and both Baltimore and Bullock’s Orioles; the Bullock’s Oriole was a first for Newfoundland.
In Detail: For some, our tour really started on the afternoon of January 13, when we quickly checked the harbor area and Quidi Vidi Lake. There on the harbor dock were hundreds of “Kumlien’s” Iceland Gulls, and with them was a bird that fit the known characters of adult Thayer’s Gull perfectly. Among the thousands of gulls on the ice at Quidi Vidi Lake was a single adult Slaty-backed Gull, one of two wintering there this year; we saw this bird only that afternoon.
By evening our group was complete, and the following morning we ventured out towards Cape Spear, the easternmost point of North America excluding Greenland. On the way we found a cooperative group of Bohemian Waxwings feeding on berries, one of the many groups that we were to see on the tour. We also had White-winged Crossbills here and nearly everywhere there were spruces. Nearby an adult Northern Goshawk flew across the road. Farther out at Blackhead, we had good scope studies of two Dovekies, and also had a Black Scoter and a lovely male Red-breasted Merganser, along with numerous Great Cormorants and Black Guillemots.
At Cape Spear we tried to stay warm while studying hundreds of Common Eiders (borealis subspecies) and several dozen Purple Sandpipers. On our way back we stopped at the harbor dock, where several dozen Black-headed Gulls were in residence. Among the hundreds of “Kumlien’s” Iceland Gulls was a smaller and paler adult bird with a whiter head, smaller bill, and staring pale eye. This individual showed all of the characters of the nominate glaucoides subspecies of Iceland Gull from Greenland, a very rare visitor to North America.
Later at Quidi Vidi Lake we counted some 15 Tufted Ducks and a single Bufflehead among the Greater and Lesser Scaup. Quidi Vidi Lake is best known to birders for its wintering gulls, and we weren’t disappointed. Among the several thousand “Kumlien’s” Iceland, Herring, Great Black-backed, and Glaucous Gulls, we found five Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Also in the parking lot among a few Ring-billed Gulls was a single Mew Gull of the nominate canus subspecies, the “Common Gull” from Europe. This individual had become well established here this winter, and was by now a familiar and well-fed friend. Around a small pool surrounded by ice where the gulls were bathing, a bird showing characters of a juvenile Thayer’s Gull appeared and remained to be well photographed. It was present the next day as well.
Late in the day we were rewarded with the arrival of the adult Yellow-legged Gull, that “rare shade of gray” that Bruce Mactavish always speaks of. With its darker mantle and glaring white head, along with a somewhat larger bill and large red gonydial spot, it stood out among the other Herring Gulls. This bird showed the characters of the atlantis subspecies rather than the slightly larger and paler-mantled nominate michahellis subspecies known primarily from the Mediterranean. The St. John’s area is by far the best place to see this species in North America, and one or two have been present here in recent years, but of course are not easy to locate on any given day. All in all not bad for our first day.
As is so typical of Newfoundland, the weather had changed the next morning, bringing snow, rain, and sleet along with strong winds. We stayed in the area and checked a few feeders, where we got to see numerous finches, including several Evening Grosbeaks among numerous Pine Siskins and Purple Finches of the nominate eastern race. Two standout rarities were an immature male Pine Warbler, one of two present this winter, a species that doesn’t even breed in Newfoundland. The other was an immature male Bullock’s Oriole from far to the west. This bird appeared in December and established a first record for Newfoundland. It was quite cooperative, apparently having taken a liking to the fresh grapes that had been hung near the feeder.
The next day was raw with very strong winds. On this day and on a subsequent day we tried to find the Black-backed Woodpecker at the Fluviarium, but were unsuccessful. Nearby at the university pond we studied several Eurasian Wigeon. I believed that an odd gull was likely a 2nd-year hybrid involving Lesser Black-backed, but we learned later that Bruce had identified this bird as a 2nd-year Yellow-legged Gull, again of the atlantis subspecies; at least that was the consensus from experts on the Azores.
With deteriorating weather we drove north to Middle Cove, stopping to enjoy the many hundreds of White-winged Crossbills, which couldn’t have given us better views. We enjoyed tea and coffee at a private home, where we were treated to views of a Boreal Chickadee visiting the feeder. A Fox Sparrow also appeared late in the day. Although numerous in the summer, that species is rare in the winter, and was one of two that we saw on the tour, both of the “red” northern group.
The following day we checked another feeder, where we had numerous Evening Grosbeaks that gave point-blank views. A female Red Crossbill was also notable. At another feeder we had an immature male Baltimore Oriole. Later we got nice studies of a half dozen Pine Grosbeaks on the way to Maddox Cove. Finally, at Quidi Vidi Lake the adult Yellow-legged Gull was again in attendance.
We saved the best weather for our last day, and the weather was truly beautiful. We headed to the southern Avalon Peninsula and were most fortunate to have Bruce Mactavish join us, one of the premier field ornithologists in North America. We could say that a stakeout male Brown-headed Cowbird at Renews, a casual species to Newfoundland, was our best bird, but I doubt if any of us would agree.
Our first birding spot was at Ferryland, where we found a flock of redpolls. Among the Commons we found two Hoary Redpolls that allowed good studies. Farther south at Portugal Cove South we had excellent studies of two Red-throated Loons and a Horned Grebe, as well as many Dovekies, several Common Murres, and two Razorbills. At another private home we enjoyed a large flock of Snow Buntings while a dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk flew overhead. Just north of that site we were fortunate to see a herd of “Woodland” Caribou cross the road. This is a threatened subspecies, and it was the first time I had seen them in Newfoundland.
Later we continued to Cape Race, the location where the first news of the foundering of the Titanic was received. The afternoon sun created a most picturesque scene, and here we saw an adult Black-legged Kittiwake, and then, closer to dusk, a Peregrine Falcon flew over and a Short-eared Owl arose to hunt over the tundra landscape. Bruce joined us for a final dinner at the Battery Hotel.
In summary, despite the weather, which is always problematic in mid-winter, we had a fine variety of gulls, including the highly sought after Yellow-legged Gull, as well as the largest number of winter finches I’ve ever seen—anywhere. The many hundreds of Bohemian Waxwings and a scattering of rarities at feeders were certainly enjoyed, as were all of the alcids, including point-blank views of Dovekie and decent views of Razorbill.
Jon Dunn
Updated: March 2008