Free days to bird will be numbered for me for the remainder of the Autumn season, so when I learned yesterday that I didn't have to be at the hospital today I quickly made the decision to be on the Cape Shore of the Avalon by sunrise.
The focus was shorebirds and warblers. With almost two hours of warbling behind my by 8:15 with very few individuals (<30) seen, I pulled into the gravel pit just North of Branch without high hopes. I was surprised to note many warblers flitting about before I could stop the car. For whatever reason I immediately thought about Blue-winged Warblers. Sure enough one popped out almost immediately!
The dusky cap connecting with the nape confirms that this bird is a first year - not surprising!
This was my first Blue-winged Warbler for Newfoundland. Now just waiting for one with golden wings!
My first ever photograph of a Spotted Sandpiper - I noticed this hole in my photo albums when trying to compare juvenile Spotted Sandpipers with the Common Sandpiper of Europe. There are very subtle differences between the two species. It's probably crazy of me to wish for one here especially considering the few records in Iceland and Azores islands...
A family of Foxes was nice. Mom kept her distance as the two pups cautiously approached me with curiosity.
One of many thousands of Northern Gannets at the Cape St. Mary's breeding site:
The juveniles are coming along and are beginning to stretch their wings.
Atlantis Fritillary - a common species of butterfly in open country:
Magnolia Warbler - in the fall this species of warbler is very difficult to age. The adults and juveniles look very similar. Except for very dull first year birds they shouldn't be aged in the fall.
