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.

Newfoundland Dory

The dory was once a common sight around the harbors and coves of Newfoundland. These two man fishing boats were used to fish cod through the 1860's and into the 1960's. The Newfoundland version was a small 15 foot flat-bottomed boat with flaring sides and a sharp bow and stern. This provided a very stable floating platform and its design allowed easy stacking on the deck of a schooner.

Simeon Lowell who came from England to Massachusetts invented the dory in 1793. The name itself probably originated from a Nova Scotia redfish known as the "John Dory Fish". Some Newfoundland fishermen still build this "little Lady of the North Atlantic.

A Snow Plow at Avondale

The Newfoundland Railway is long gone but scattered along the old track bed, communities still strive to conserve derelict railway stations, railcars, and locomotives. This veteran snowplow from the 1950s can be seen at the Avondale Station. The plow is unpowered and would be pushed through the snow by the locomotive.

Still Life

I photographed this colorful display of cut paper by simply turning on my flash. Although not a Newfoundland theme, the colors remind me of a Newfoundland autumn during the colorless months of winter.

Safe Harbour

Quiddi Vidi offers a safe refuge from troubled seas.

The Big One That Never Got Away

During the summer of 2000, I entered a fishing derby sponsored by a local marine supplier and won second prize with this 32 pound codfish caught off Bread and Cheese Islands in Placentia Bay. As we strained on the line, my brother Mike thought that we had hooked into an airplane engine dumped by the Americans when they closed their base in Argentia. All hands helped to land this trophy fish.

Miner - Bell Island Mural

Bell Island, an island in Conception Bay, was once a thriving mining community; today, the mines are now gone but you can visit giant murals that commemorate the islands proud mining heritage.

Twin Brooks

I come from haunts of coot and hern,
I make a sudden sally,
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.

    By thirty hills I hurry down,
    Or slip between the ridges,
    By twenty thorps, a little town,
    And half a hundred bridges.

    Till last by (Lester's) farm I flow
    To join the brimming river,
    For men may come and men may go,
    But I go on for ever.

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Remembrance Day - Nov. 11, 2006

The grave of Private J. Hancock of the Newfoundland Regiment, in Y-Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel, France. Pte. Hancock was killed in action on the 1st day of the the Battle of the Somme July 1, 1916. He was 18 years old.

On July 1,1916, the Newfoundland Regiment advanced alone into a hail of machine gun fire and suffered a 90 percent casualty rate including every officer - one of the highest casualty rates in the entire British Army that day.

The Lake

" A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. The fluviatile trees next the shore are the slender eyelashes which fringe it, and the wooded hills around are its overhanging brows".

from Walden - Henry David Thoreau

Fall Colors in Bowring Park

This beautiful park was established in 1911 with a donation of 200 acres to the city of St. John's by the Bowring merchant family. The park has many scenic walking trails along the Waterford River, a swimming pool, tennis courts, picnic areas, and a lawn bowling field. There are several bronze statues including Peter Pan (a replica of the statue in Kensington Gardens in London) and "The Fighting Newfoundlander", a monument commemorating Newfoundland's soldiers.

Ruffed Grouse in the Botanical Gardens

While walking through Memorial University's Botanical Gardens today, this grouse began drumming in the shadows of the forest floor.

At Torbay Beach

A photographic moment spans fractions of a second. As painters of light we distill our subject from all the world before us. Thus, we create our art.

Torbay Beach Painting

On Sunday afternoon I drove to Torbay but after several pictures I still remained uninspired. I then used a slow shutter speed and set the camera on enhanced mode for one last chance of capturing the seascape. The resulting image showed colors from an artist's canvas and I was pleasantly surprised.

Tangled Bollard

A bollard is a short wooden, iron or stone post used on a quayside for mooring ships. The term may be related to bole, meaning the lower trunk of a tree. Bollards are rarely totally cyclindrical, but typically have a larger diameter near the top to discourage mooring warps (docklines) from coming loose.
- exerpt from Wikipedia

This example, with its confusing mass of rope lines, is shaped like a set of horns - an oversized deck cleat.

The War at Our Doorstep

With the outbreak of World War II, St. John's Harbour became an important staging point for convoys and warships crossing the Atlantic to Great Britain. In December 1942, the Canadian government installed two artillery guns below the Fort Amherst Lighthouse at the entrance to the harbour. In 1943, German submarines mined the waters ouside the well protected harbour resulting in the loss of an American freighter and a British ore carrier .

Today, the battery is in ruins but it remains a reminder of how the war touched the residents of St. John's from 1939 to 1945.

A Kind of Blue - Yellow Day

Frayed blue braids embrace a yellow mooring rail.

Mural in Pouch Cove on a Friday Afternoon

The Slipway

Yesterday, "Tyler and Lucas" presented a photogenic scene on the the slipway in Pouch Cove.

On Middle Cove Beach

Silently, I walk amid the grey dark stones, the sound of wind-lashed waves carrying me to faraway places. I am free at last from the tumult of today.

Green Point

Jagged rocks are washed by the churning sea below the cliffs of Green Point.

Green Point Lighthouse

The Green Point lighthouse is located on a windswept point near the village of Hibb's Cove, Conception Bay. From the community, a rough gravel road leads 1 1/2 miles to the lighthouse. The light tower, built in 1883, is a round cast iron structure with red and white horizontal stripes. Today, its fixed white light remains an active aid to navigation.

In the autumn months, the treeless barrens surrounding this lonely outpost abound in cranberries ripe for picking - just in time for Thanksgiving Day !

Crab Pots for Sale

A crab pot is a round rope- knitted cage with a funnel opening and a well in the middle to hold scraps of bait fish. The crab find their way easily in, but they can't get out. The pots are thrown over the side of the boat and are tied to long ropes attached to floats. These colorful pots are still awaiting their new owner in Port de Grave.

The Lighthouse Keeper - Cape Race

"No circumstance whatever will excuse any lightkeeper for failing to exhibit the lights in his charge at the prescribed time, or for neglecting to keep them burning with the greatest possible brilliancy."

Rules and Instructions for Light Keepers, 1905

Cape Race Panorama

The rocky ledge runs far into the sea.
And on the outer point some miles away,
The Lighthouse lifts its massive masonry,
A piller of fire by night, of cloud by day.

Henry Longfellow - The Lighthouse

High and Dry

This landlocked boat symbolizes the dream of most expatriot Newfoundlanders - to return again to their beloved island and perhaps never to leave again.

Heart's Content Lighthouse

The Heart's Content Light was established in 1901 at the northern entrance of the community harbour. The 3o foot tower is a round cast iron structure painted in a red and white candy cane pattern. The lightkeeper's house and other station buildings have long ago been demolished. Nearby, in the community of Heart' Content,the first Trans-Atlantic cable was landed on July 27th, 1866. A museum, commemorating the role of the town in transatlantic communication brings many visitors in the town.