Razorbils, Bluefirds

Recent photos, the Razorbills from Provincetown Harbour, and the Bluebird from the back yard!

Razorbills in Provincetown! Dec.

Friday I left at 6:00 AM to drive to Provincetown in hopes of seeing reported Razorbills, and voila! they were at the piers right in the center of the harbor.  I have seen them only twice before, both in northern Scotland, and unfortunately, not in Newfoundland (too late in the season), but here they were in MA.

Here are a few pictures I took, and a loon as well. 

Latest Bird Photos

These were taken at Parker River Bird Preserve, near Newburyort.  I didn't expect to see too much, but the marshes were covered with ducks! Mostly Pintails, Widgeons, and Black.  A few Snow geese, and a spectacular Marsh Hawk, which I didn't capture. Anyway, enjoy.

Skerwink Trail, Newfoundland

Newfoundland has a profound ability to care for it's hiking trails. From boardwalks over marshes, boardwalks with steel mesh in icy areas, stone steps, and even suspension bridges, all are designet to make the hike as accessable as possible.
One of the truly great hikes is the Skerwink Trail in East Trinity. (Skerwink is the Newfoundland name for a Kittiwake), A 5.7 K hike, it is a trail of magnificent ocean views, grand headlands, and everything that makes a good walk spectacular. 
My advice is to go clockwise around the circle, and the western side has a really steep set of steps, and I am not sure I would have made it around the circle doing those steps first.
The other interesting thing is, you hike in Newfoundland, and it is possible, even on a very popular trail like the Skerwink, to have the trail to yourself.  We saw perhaps four other people, and they seemed to be in a hurry to break the record for the time hiked.  Which is a pity because there are so many vistas that are worth tarrying for. 

The other thing is, most people who heard we were traveling to NF said we would have days on end of fog and rain.  And that wasn't the case, we had sunny, and warm, weather for most of our three weeks.  Perhaps that was because of the hurricane destroying Vermont at the time.  At any rate, hear are some pictures from that hike.

Other birds. wild life from Newfoundland

Quite apart from the gannets, it was a great trip for birding overall, altho we were there pretty much after the season.  A few more photos from the trip. Included are a black-legged kittiwake, an adolescent bald eagle, a nest-building gannet, a spider caught on the Spurwink Trail in East Trinity, one of the great hikes, a Newfoundland bee or two, etc, and my moose and caribou.  And pitcher plants everywhere in Gros Morne at the Tablelands.

Cape Mary Preserve, Newfoundland

The highlight of the Newfoundland trip was seeing the Gannet colony.  10,000 magnificent birds, nesting, fishing, squabbling.  Thank god I had that great 400mm Lens from Canon, that brings such details to the cropped shots.  Here are a few examples.

Newfoundland

Our trip to Newfoundland was everything we hoped it would be.  I am going to try to add a day or two at a time during the next several weeks. and especially add the photos.
So here goes.
August 18th.  4:00 AM up to drive straight through to Fredericton and one of our favorite B&B's, "Sunset on the River" with Judy and Tom Spink, he forverly of the RCMP.  Beautiful house, beuatuful gardens,  great hosts.

"Sunset by the River B&B

August 19th. 

Susan and wildflowers

Off to Port Hawksbury, with a beautiful stop along the way to watch a Norther Harrier, and injoy the 

view
August 20
On our way to Sydney Mines.  I go up early birdwatching, and came upon a young eagle, being harrassed by crows.  the resulting picture:

the Gagnon House, Sydney Mines, NS

August 20,  arrive in North Sydney and Heritage Home Bed and Breakfast, spectacular old historical home overlooking the bay.  Hostess Juana Moreland.   Beautiful. 
August 21, Sunday, and one of the important event in our trip, going to church at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, my grandfather having been a minister here in 1918. 
I had written the church asking if I could come in and record myself in the church, and it workd out that I was invited to play in the service, preludes (Bach cello suite, adagio, and Sheep may Safely graze, then Handel's Wh'ere you walk for offertory, and Closer walk with Thee, with jazz improv.
A part of this I will alway remember is talking to Don Crouse, the organist (Casavant organ, by the way) about must months before, and I suggested that I had just done Bach-Gounod's "Ave Maria"
at my own church and would that work?  Long pause on the phone, and then; "Well, you know, we did have a reformation!"  Obviously a little too catholic for Presbyterian tastes in Canada.
Mr. Crouse was wonderful, and we worked together like the two pros we were.  I include a video of the "Closer Walk", but I forgot to focus the camera, and it is horribly out of focus, but at least the music comes thru.

Heritage Home B&B

It would appear that my video will not load,  I'll work on it.
The view of the sanctuary, a picture of A.Douglas Wauchope at the church, St. Andrews, and finally members of the congregation whose parents had known "A.D." and in the case the woman in the black floral blouse, 93 years of age, remembered that "A.D." had married her parents. that's Don Crouse second from left. 
It was a wonderful and emotional experience and the members of St. Andrews made Susan and I feel as if we had given them a special gift. 
All this and we havn't reached Newfoundland yet.
More tomorrow.

New Photos

Just a few new photos, mostly with my 100mm Macro. 

Birds and Flowers

Slowly but surely I am getting better at the birds.  the wren was on the front porch (he's built a nest in one of the hanging flower baskets), and the hummer was at a friend's feeder.  the lilys are all in the back yard around the deck.  thank you, Lord.