Snapshot #83: Newfoundland Birding Sites, Part 2

Posted by: Allison Helps Cats on: August 12, 2016

• In: Teasers
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Saturday Snapshot invites bloggers to share photos. For our most recent vacation, my husband and I visited various birding sites in Newfoundland. So far, I’ve shared photos from Cape St. Mary’s, one of seven seabird ecological reserves protected by provincial legislation. This week’s post will feature Witless Bay. Comprised of four small islands, this reserve is home to millions of seabirds that come to shore in the summer to nest and raise their young.

Whales supposedly swim in the area too, especially humpback and minkes. We didn’t see many whales, but we did see a large variety of birds. Newfoundland Tourism advises that the reserve is best seen from a tour boat. This is how Andy, my sister, and I spent one of our mornings together on the Avalon Peninsula.

Not far into our tour, we saw puffin on the water. Then just as when we visited Cape St. Mary’s, when we reached the four islands, we saw cliffs blanketed with birds as far as the eye could see. They provided us with a great viewing pleasure.

Of course, once again, picking what to focus on proved a challenge. Moreover, because of being on a boat, managing to take clear photos was also a task. I tried to capture shots of each type of bird, especially of ones in flight.

For anyone who has the opportunity, we highly recommend the O’Briens boat tour, which leaves from Bay Bulls. From the moment the boat launched, we enjoyed the experience. Our guide had a light personality and made everyone feel at ease. He’s also a member of the Irish Descendants and sometimes led passengers in stirring songs. And when the boat tour ended, we ate traditional Newfoundland cuisine at The Sailor’s Gallery Restaurant, where reservations can be made and souvenirs bought.

Tags: Allison's Book Bag, Newfoundland, Saturday Snapshot meme, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve