RED-NECKED STINT!! I was late hearing about this MEGA due to lack of cell and internet service for a few days, but was able to make a short detour on our family trip and score this beautiful bird. It was especially nice to share the sighting with my family and several birding friends I don't get to see often enough. What a stunner!! A first provincial record and very rare visitor to eastern North America :)
Video shot using my phone and trusty Kowa TSN-883 scope.
#BirdTheRock #ABArare #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #ExploreNL #NatureRocks #KowaOptics #Kowascoping Destination St. John's American Birding Association
Curlew Sandpiper, Renews NL, June 11 2023
Double BOOM!! After a sometimes frustrating morning birding in the rain and fog, my knees nearly gave out when I turned my scope on a curious looking shorebird this afternoon. This breeding plumaged CURLEW SANDPIPER was foraging on "tern island" in Renews - a complete surprise and a long-awaited addition to my Newfoundland and American Birding Association list!! I missed the last one back in 2006 and have been waiting ever since :) While we only ever saw it distantly, the scope views of this stunning bird were totally satisfying. What a bird!! (For those unfamiliar, this is a Eurasian species and rare visitor to this side of the Atlantic.) **Video shot at long distance using my phone and Kowa TSN-883 scope.
#BirdTheRock #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #ExploreNL #KowaOptics #ABArare Destination St. John's Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
A Black-tailed Godwit forages in a field @ St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
Bohemian Waxwing
Bohemian Waxwings have been all over the place in St. John's recently - not in large flocks as they often are, but small groups or individuals searching for the few remaining berries in this cold cold weather. This was one of several we saw at Bowring Park this weekend. Video shot using my phone and Kowa TSN-883 scope.
#BirdTheRock #ExploreNL #BirdsNL #NatureRocks #KowaOptics Destination St. John's
Willow Ptarmgan, Jan 20 2023
Getting out ahead of the storm yesterday, a visiting birder and I were able to spot this beautiful Willow Ptarmigan on the (then) snow-free tundra. What a treat - and a lifer for them! Video shot using my phone and Kowa TSN-883 scope.
#BirdTheRock #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #ExploreNL #NatureRocks #KowaOptics #WillowPtarmigan Destination St. John's Kowa Sporting Optics
Graylag Goose!! Dec 6 2022
#WildGooseChase This #ABArare Graylag Goose was a long-awaited bird for Newfoundland. While there are two previous records from offshore vessels, this was the first bonafide wild vagrant for the island itself and an exciting addition.
While the origins of Graylag Goose are always suspect in North America (since they commonly kept as domestics), there is no doubt about the wildness of this individual after careful observation by several experienced birders. Its physical appearance, strong flight, very alert and wary behaviour, etc all work to make this a bonafide vagrant - likely from Iceland or the expanding population in Greenland.
Video shot using my phone and Kowa TSN-883 scope. The bird was actually quite far away, yet still very nervous about any passing cars or movement at that distance.
#BirdTheRock #ExploreNL #BirdsNL Destination St. John's Newfoundland Labrador Tourism
Northern Goshawks are amazing whenever/wherever you manage to spot them -- but especially when you find one tending a nest! Our Eagle-Eye Tours group got a sneak peak into the lives of this adult and two nestlings in central Newfoundland this past summer - a real treat. Northern Goshawks are kings of the forest :)
FTR: We observed this nest from a safe and respectful distance using spotting scopes, and this video was taken using my phone and trusty Kowa Sporting Optics TSN-883 scope. The birds were nesting in a public park and used to the nearby presence of people.
#BirdTheRock #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #NatureRocks #ExploreNL Destination St. John's Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
Leach's Storm-petrels in Holyrood, Sept 11 2022
Thousands of Leach's Storm-petrels were concentrated in Holyrood this morning, as northeasterly gales from Hurricane Earl drove them in the bay. It was phenomenal to watch them battle the winds and dance over the waves - many of them very close. More photos & videos to come :)
#BirdTheRock #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #ExploreNL #NatureRocks #KowaOptics #NLwx Destination St. John's American Birding Association
Shearwaters 😃
Some spectacular shearwater feeding off the beach at Portugal Cove South (NL) today. This video (shot using my phone and Kowa TSN-883 scope) was just a few of the many thousands of birds loafing, feeding and flying around at the edge of the fog.
#BirdTheRock #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #ExploreNL #NatureRocks #KowaOptics #Kowascoping #Seabirds
Razorbill !!
This show-off Razorbill at Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve was one of many highlights on my tour this week. Check out the inside of that bill! Video shot using my phone and Kowa TSN-883 scope.
#BirdTheRock #ExploreNL #KowaOptics #BirdsNL #BirdingNL #Kowascoping Destination St. John's Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism
Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus)
Common Eider at Cape Spear
A family walk in this coll but beautiful day. Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Boreal Chickadee, Fox Sparrow, Blue Jays ...
A quick family walk at Long Pond to enjoy the fresh air and feed some birds. Happy Easter!!
BTW - very close looks at Boreal Chickadee around 9:00 mark ;)
Quidi Vidi Lake
Last official stop of the day - Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John's for a bunch of new species like Tufted Duck, Euro Wigeon and Common Gull. Don't mind the rain ;)
Champions of the Flyway
#COTF20 #SteppeUpForEagles #ExploreNL #KowaOptics #TeamCanuck
