The Bullbird

When I heard that the Newfoundland Breeding Bird Atlas needed surveys completed in remote areas and was willing to share the costs, my first thought was Belle Isle—a now uninhabited island at the northern end of the Strait of Belle Isle, between Labrador and Newfoundland. (Note: Belle Isle should not be confused with Bell Island, located in Conception Bay, near St. John’s.) Belle Isle has a storied past, often tragic, especially for the lighthouse keepers and their families, many of whom hailed from my hometown (Forteau, Labrador). Belle Isle lies about 24 km off the coast of Labrador and 32 km north of Newfoundland. It is 17 km long and 6 km wide, with rugged terrain and steep cliffs forming nearly its entire coastline. Access is notoriously difficult, with the only port located at the northeast tip—passable only in calm seas. The island features a coastal barren landscape, crisscrossed by ridges, wetlands, and snowmelt-fed ponds and streams. Remarkably, Belle Isle boasts 524 ponds wi...

Last week was back to the grind—seven days of work and responsibilities. Despite the busy schedule, I managed to add two new species to my list. One afternoon, on my way to the car, I heard an Evening Grosbeak calling from about half a kilometre away. Perched high above the surrounding trees, its distinct call was unmistakable. The next day, I came across a Red-breasted Nuthatch, casually tagging along with a mixed flock of White-winged Crossbills and Golden-crowned Kinglets. After the work week, I finally had a few days to target some species here in Labrador, the “Big Land.” My top priority? The elusive Turkey Vulture still being reported in Charlottetown. Although I was off on Monday, I decided to make the journey on Tuesday to optimize my chances. Purple Sandpipers Late last week, I also heard about a Snowy Owl near Grassy Point, one of my favourite places for a sea watch. With the help of the coastal trail system, I decided to turn this into a hike—a 10-kilometre trek to L’Anse au...

Following is a summary of historical records of European Golden-Plovers (EUGP) in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, including five major Spring flights to our shores, and a discussion regarding associated weather conditions. EUGP is a species that breeds in Iceland, Northern Europe and Northwestern Siberia. There also appears to be a very small population breeding in Eastern Greenland.  Distribution of the European Golden-Plover  Copyright: Lynx Edicions/BirdLife International Every Spring anticipation is in the air. Instead of enjoying the return of mild temperatures and sunny days, like the rest of Canada, birders on the rock are looking for gloomy winds arriving from the East that bring fog, mist and a magical golden sparkle.  What Spring dreams are made of  Regularly, despite not breeding in North America, this species is found in our province. In fact, between the years 2000 and 2024, the species has been recorded 20 out of 25 years in th...

A Big Year is a marathon, but the first week is a sprint. This critical time demands swift action to focus on any rarities lingering from the previous year, so they don’t end up on the regrets list come December. My journey began with an ambitious week of birding across Newfoundland and Labrador. Thursday - Jan 2nd: The spotlight was on the capital region. My first stop: hoping to see a Yellow-breasted Chat and an Orange-crowned Warbler at a known feeder. Sadly, it seems the chat didn’t survive New Year’s Day, but I successfully ticked the warbler. Next, it was off to find gulls. Adult Common Gull (on the left) A fleeting glimpse of a Bonaparte’s Gull in Kelligrews was followed by stops in Goulds for a Common Gull (European) and a Ring-billed Gull. Goulds also delivered an unexpected bonus—a Lesser Black-backed Gull! From there, I moved to Virginia Lake for an American Coot and Quidi Vidi Lake for a Baltimore Oriole and a Yellow-throated Warbler, all three showing beautifully. This par...

The first day of the 2025 Big Year is in the books, and it was everything I’d hoped for—a mix of exciting finds, great company, and even better coffee. I kicked off the day with my favourite birding breakfast: a bacon and egg McGriddle, two hash browns, and a steaming cup of coffee from McDonald’s. With a full stomach and plenty of anticipation, I hit the road with none other than Bruce Mactavish, a legend in Newfoundland birding. It was an honour to have him along for my first day. The Birds: • My first bird of the year? An American Crow. Not exactly thrilling, but hey, you have to start somewhere! • Our first rarity target was at St. Mary’s, where a Marsh Wren had been spotted. It didn’t take long to find—it perched briefly on a branch at the base of a willow tree. I scrambled to get my camera ready, but by the time I aimed, it had ducked under a branch, trying to stay hidden. The result wasn’t quite what I hoped for, but as I like to remind myself: any photo of a rarity is a good ph...