As usual the day started early, but we were quickly delayed when our key to the Chance Cove Provincial Park gate wouldn't work. I elected to make the 6km trek to the beach, and let the rest of my group check other more accessible areas. I'm happy I made the decision to do the walk because it was a rare day with no wind in the area, making it easy to hear the birds.
Right away I had a couple of male Pine Grosbeaks:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5umfLoIm8gcIPRh1TxBx8zvkNX4N0Pj2ENKZ0pVSxmIh8fyYgbVBspZ10Bhx-LcXv-f2ECVTIfieEn0MVMR_uC7pWDGQ2hyAHVF6phmdLpvOrvQO0gSPLNtrYcvtq3Wot847hfq9zV-8/s640/IMG_2563.jpg)
Later down the road were Gray Jays:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTH_5MGJlRjkZKIGcUERUyHC7JxsvaK2CNMVKaqTxjScf3ETfDc3TRarSMf4dhYAWBX854lHGHwuDNFjlZlKZ3qAa0uAPXoaG7UmZoPPurqp5ebD3RCnJbBCa7SCIPK_Whqp5D6Nr1iP4/s640/IMG_2569.jpg)
A Black-backed Woodpecker was also along the road giving me a nice list of boreal species.
A view of the road that I hiked to get to Chance Cove:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLfAlDEbGOLIDIx46Gdc_1CAyDJwT2lwDHIFG2LdMCko7EC8T5B9J0gMqV7ZlnY2nkMxn1hkOFL6xSuN-GKkFgX6viGJ3UCxk_RchBUFhYxOnRPZOFemzRxZvpxJoKP7zDVQg494ouXA/s640/IMG_2564.jpg)
Some highlights from the cove itself include 5 Bufflehead (previous high for the count was 4), and a female Mallard (a new species for the count, believe it or not!) Here's the list of all the species seen here.
The Cape Race lighthouse was visible from the cove:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEvgQ4SE8ZCibPY-tNjKYyRJmIPQz3QJNS58jeqID-ISS_x5nbbt0MCU3-58OihnLOGVuNwbRRqGyrEjnGZ3wNiRymXtmw2B5oSzpd8EDFO1LYoXlxEZOjPhfHfMfNvT7gN7z3E2jMy4/s640/IMG_2582.jpg)
On my return walk I found a Shrike and a Hairy Woodpecker, both species I had never seen in Newfoundland before. I have more embarrassing ones that I still haven't seen...
Back at Portugal Cove South there were a few neat birds kicking around.
A Red-throated Loon wasn't too far offshore:
Dovekies were plentiful:
And a single Purple Sandpiper allowed a close approach:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnqFdE40HRJpO58tUPUV8mkH6T06FKCf2Wq_oO4quXzPipHxJzchUi_SCAe-bIMcIowXTTZXuJ4eFcesoowF2gS8JZCew_Edto1DLFin-Fu3tpdAsZv86TKI9oHpXTxmdw9lQsNvoHjE/s640/IMG_2611.jpg)
A short clip of some of the birds: