Abandoned Church - Gander Bay

This old church seems to have been neglected for some time as evidenced by the pronounced crook in its steeple.

Change Island Fishing Room

In 1867, a fisherman by the name of Joseph Elliot was sitting in St. James Church on Change Island pondering the New Testament story of the miraculous catch of fish and conceived the idea of the Newfoundland cod trap....so the story goes! That same cod trap was used with some modification by Newfoundland fishermen until the cod fishery closed in the mid-1990's.

Long Point Lighthouse - Twillingate

This lighthouse is unique among Canadian lighthouse designs - the all red tower rises from a square base and then angles inward towards the upper lip which forms twenty four facets. The lantern also, with its triangular glass panels, repeats this geometrical complexity. The light keeper's house is a fine example of 19th century Newfoundland - Irish architecture and is connected to the light tower by a covered walkway which extends to the fog alarm building. In spring this light station is a ready observation deck for the march of icebergs calved from Greenland's glaciers.

Ship Wreck at Fredrickton

I have finally identified this derelict ship beached near the old wharf in Fredrickton, Newfoundland.

On January 9,1960, the Ahern Trader ran aground during a winter storm after off loading a load of hay for a local business in Gander Bay. After leaving the Wharf in Fredrickton ,the captain in spite of dropping the anchor was unable to keep the ship off the rocks. The crew were able to abandon ship with the help of local fishermen and further attempts to free the ship were unsuccessful.

Dan Greene's Stable - Tilting

In Tilting, the purpose of an outbuilding could change depending on circumstances : a fish and carpentry store could later be used as a stable. Dan Greene's shed was used for wood storage as well as a stable.

Fishing Premises - Joe Batts Arm

The origin of the name Joe Batt's Arm is shrouded in mistery but local legend has it that this outport is named for a deserter of Captain James Cook's crew who jumped ship while it was anchored here in 1736.

Church - Our Lady of the Snows - Fogo

This historic Roman Catholic church in Fogo was built in 1887. To the left one can see the oldest one room school in Newfoundland ( 1888 ). Both buildings look much as they did a century ago. The schoolhouse still has its old texts and desks, a potbelly stove, an old style organ and other period furnishings.

Keefe's Stage - Tilting

The most prominent out buildings in Tilting are the fishing rooms. Fishing premises with their stores, stages and flakes were an important part of the fisherman's property. Allan Keefe's stage, built in 1943 is probably the most identifiable and most photographed fishing stage in Newfoundland. Because of its support on a large flat surfaced rock, it needed very little wood for the foundation. Over time, the west wall has acquired a pronounced slope among other deformities.

SS Gorch Fock - St. John's Harbour

The Gorch Fock is a tall ship of the German Navy (Deutsche Marine). The ship is named in honor of the German writer Johann Kinau who wrote under the pseudonym "Gorch Fock". The ship and crew have been entertaining visitors to St. John's harbour for the past 3 days.

The Gorch Fock has been in continuous service as a school ship for the German Navy since 1958. More than 11,000 cadets have been trained on the Gorch Fock in that time.

In 1987/88, she sailed around the world, with stops on five continents. Lasting 336 days, this was her second longest cruise, topped only by a training cruise in 1996/97 from Kiel to Bangkok and back that lasted 343 days.

- Wikipedia

Making Fish

"The sculpture, Making Fish , celebrates Newfoundland women and their role in the cod fishery in the late 1800s. The sculpture is a larger-than-life depiction of two outport women bending over to pick up a heavy pallet of dried salt cod."

Suzanne Woolridge, The Arts Report

Wild Iris at Cape Pine (Iris Vericolor )

This graceful sword-leaved plant with its showy boldly veined flowers is found throughout Newfoundland. The iris is most ostentatious in moist meadows and stream banks that are wet early in the spring but often dry later in the summer.

In for the Day

Fishing boats tied up at the wharf in Quidi Vidi harbour after a day on the water.

Woodland Caribou on Trepassey Barrens

Several years ago the the southern Avalon Peninsula supported one of the largest Woodland Caribou herds on the island. Alas, today, the herd, once numbering 5000 strong, has been reduced to a few hundred animals because of parasites and coyote predation. Yesterday, I was able to approach a small group of twenty of these magnificent creatures. Caribou are naturally curious animals with a keen sense of hearing and smell but their vision is poor. As you slowly and carefully get closer, they will move off. Younger caribou will often approach you. These caribou stayed about a kilometer from the road but I was able to find myself in the middle of the herd enjoying and photographing these beautiful animals.

"High and Dry" Ancient Whale Bone

This bleached whale skull at Cape Ray probably weighs a couple of hundred pounds. It did not easily find a perch on this weathered rock.

Fish Stage Near Rose Blanche

"A fishing stage is a wooden vernacular building, typical of the rough traditional buildings associated with the cod fishery in Newfoundland, Canada. Stages are located at the water's edge or "landwash", and consist of an elevated platform on the shore with working tables and sheds at which fish are landed and processed for salting and drying. Traditionally, they are painted with a red ochre paint, though colours other than red are sometimes seen."

- Wikipedia

Old Capstan Near Rose Blanche

A rusting capstan from another era lends perfect contrast to the young spring ferns.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse - Detail

This light tower is the last remaining granite structure of its type in Canada.

Rose Blanche Lighthouse

The Rose Blanche Lighthouse was built in 1871 from a nearby granite quarry and operated from 1873 to the 1940s. The original light was a 4th order dioptric lit from sunset to sunrise at a height of 95 feet above sea level. It could be seen for 13 miles in clear weather. The building fell into ruins but, in 1988, the citizens of the surrounding communities began restoration and the the lighthouse was returned to its former glory in 1999.

White Giant

It takes a minimum of 3000 years to produce an iceberg and 3 years to journey to Newfoundland. The berg will melt within a matter of months if not weeks after passing south of St. John's. This white giant is drifting to its destiny off Cape Spear.

Ice Sculpture off Cape Spear

85 % of all the ice bergs that appear off Newfoundland's coast originate from the glaciers of Greenland. These icebergs are the fastest moving bergs in the world at 0.7 km/h.

Iceberg Radiation Fog

Radiation fog streaming from this iceberg is caused by the warm moist air over the berg being cooled to its saturation point or "dew point".

Bergy Bit - Cuckold's Cove

The International Ice Patrol defines a Bergy Bit as an iceberg 1-4 meters high and 5-14 meters long, weighing 0.1 megatons. This grounded iceberg, the size of a small bungalow, was photographed in Cuckold's Cove.

Pinnacle Ice Berg - Freshwater Bay

No two ice bergs are the same but they can be catregorized by descriptions of shape and size, such as tabular, blocky, wedge and pinnacle. This is a pinnacle iceberg near St. John's Harbour. When the middle melts out, it becomes known as a dry dock, resembling the docks for repairing ships.

Ice Berg Off Cuckold's Cove

The silence of the early morning air is shattered by a loud bang, followed by an eerie cracking sound that reverberates across the bay. That huge tabular ice berg off Cuckold's Cove has split into two uneven wedges. This spectacle plays out in the spring and early summer off Newfoundland's coasts. About 400 - 800 icebergs survive the trip from Greenland to Newfoundland each year. The 1800 nautical mile trip can take up to three years.

The Narrows - St. John's Harbour

St. John's Harbour on Mother's Day.

Butterfly at Bowring Park

Inspired by a group of images taken by Karen whose photography I admire, I ventured to the Bowring Park greenhouse to capture the butterflies brought to St. John's from the Deer Lake Insectarium. Apparently , the entire population of St. John's ( 150,000) had the same idea and we were packed like sardines in a hot tropical environment. I snapped a few shots and fled !

Identification of this beautiful creature would be much appreciated.

Land' s End - Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

I have just returned from a 23 day vacation in South America and Pacific Mexico and hope to resume posting my Newfoundland images soon. Meanwhile, here is a photo of El Arco, a magnificent natural rock formation at Land’s End in Cabos San Lucas, Mexico at the tip of the Baja California peninsula. Cape Spear on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland has also been called Land's End and has the same rugged beauty.

Working Lighthouse - Cape Spear

Here is a stylistic winter view of the present operational lighthouse at Cape Spear.

Lonely Sentinel - Cape Spear lighthouse

Cape Spear lighthouse once guarded the most easterly point of North America. Now it stands as a lonely reminder of our maritime heritage on a cold and windswept bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Sunday Blue Jay

A Blue Jay, fat with peanuts, brightens an otherwise drab day in my winter garden.

Winter Tulips

"The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here.
Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed in."

Tulips - Sylvia Plath

Cannons at Queen's Battery

On Signal Hill, the last battle of the Seven Years War was fought. Ruins of old forts with their ancient cannon can still be seen.

Tied Up at the Wharf

Today I wandered around the Boat Basin on the south side of St. John's Harbour and was attracted by the vibrant "patriotic colors" of the Covenant II.

Queen's Battery Barracks - Signal Hill

Signal Hill rises above the entrance to St. John's harbour and because of its strategic location it was a natural site for a signal station and fortifications protecting the harbour and the city. On the lower slopes of the hill, one can visit the the restored Queen's Battery Barracks, a remnant of the Napoleonic period.

Greater Scaup

The Greater Scaup is a diving duck that enjoys lakes, bays and ponds. It is often seen on salt water in large rafts often composed of thousands of birds. It is a particulary hardy bird capable of withstanding severe cold and rough weather in winter. This duck appears right at home on Quidi Vidi Lake.

To view a similar species - the Tufted Duck - click "here"

After the Storm

A violent blizzard hit the Avalon Peninsula yesterday accompanied by 110 kilometre an hour winds. All over the city, roads and cars were buried. The storm dumped 40 - 50 centimeters of snow, with drifts reaching the tops of garages and sheds. My driveway received 3 feet of snow plus the snow from the snow plow.

I ventured out early with my snowblower and later my good neighbor, Dave tackled the drifts in his driveway with his vintage Honda snowblower.

American Coot - Quidi Vidi Lake

The coot is a slaty duck-like bird that prefers fresh water but is sometimes found on salt water inlets and bays. It is a casual visitor to Newfoundland. This particular bird has found friends amongst the myriad other waterfowl at the western end of Quidi Vidi lake.

The expression "silly as a coot" probably originated from the peculiar appearance of the coot with its dark head, white bill and clumsy movements. When swimming it moves its head back and forth like a chicken.

Snow Squall on Quidi Vidi Lake

Visibility was poor for about twenty minutes and suddenly I stood at the very edge of the squall with the sun streaming through the distant trees.

The Rower - Dressed for the Cold

The Rower, Morgan Mac Donald's cast bronze scupture on the shores of Quidi Vidi, sports a hat to shield him from winter's frigid breath.

To see the entire sculpture, click "here"

Evening Over Quidi Vidi

Today I walked around Quidi Vidi Lake and experienced what Newfoundlanders call "weather". One minute the sun shines and another minute I am engulfed in a snow squall. The lake is frozen now but at the inflow of Rennies River the waters are open and gives refuge to hundreds of black ducks, mallards, tufted ducks, pintails, gulls and teal. Quidi Vidi Lake, of course, is the site of the Royal St. John's Regatta in summer - an event that has been held since at least 1826.

Sliding on Saturday

"Gliding, sliding, slipping, tripping

If ice skating's too exhilarating
Try sliding, it's quite exciting."

Northern Pintail in Winter

This slender white-breasted duck normally flys south for the winter but the plentiful food supply in Bowring Park has tempted several pairs to over-winter along with its neighbours - numerous black ducks and mallards.

Caribou Memorial in Winter - Bowring Park

The stately bronze Caribou, a tribute to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment stands fast against bitter winds of winter amid the snows of Bowring Park. The Woodland Caribou is the symbol of the Regiment. This breed of caribou lives a solitary life in the forest, unlike the barren-land herds that roam our province.

The Walker

Today, the sun warmed mid winter in Bowring Park to a balmy -4 degrees Celsius thus luring me out of my cosy warm home. It began to snow just as I arrived at the park and I was able to photograph Margaret as she crossed the bridge .

A & W on a Thursday Afternoon

I dropped into the A&W today for a large Coke and a Chicken Grill. I try to eat healthy but I can't seem to let go of that Coke Classic at 390 calories. I am what is considered a patron of this establishment with it's very friendly staff and of course the daily newspapers. I photographed this image as I left my vehicle in mid-afternoon.

To see another version of this photo click "here"

Northern Flicker

The Flicker is the largest woodpecker in Newfoundland and is certainly my favorite visitor to the feeder. It is often quite noisy and commonly perches on a high dead tree druming for insects. This cautious bird will fly away as soon as I step into the garden but I had no problem taking his protrait from the kitchen window.

Rising Tide Theatre

Throughout the summer Rising Tide Theatre's summer company of over 40 theatre professionals produce the "Summer in the Bight" Festival in Historic Trinity. This festival consists of a series of evening and dinner theatre performances that celebrate Newfoundland's rich culture and heritage. The performances are presented in the Rising Tide Arts Centre, a replica of a 17th century fish store.

Iris - Waiting for Spring

In Greece, Iris has two meanings: that of the goddess Iris and that of “rainbow.” The Greeks say that the goddess Iris leads the souls of women to Heaven over a rainbow bridge."

The Iris is such a beautiful symbol of life and spring awakening that I thought that this image in the depths of winter would renew our hopes of an early spring.