Silver and Gold on the Eastern Edge

Silver and gold can sometimes be found on the ocean's floor. 

You just need to know where and when to go.

Storm Surge Wave at Cape Spear

A storm surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system, typically, tropical cyclones and strong extratropical cyclones . Storm surges are caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface. The wind causes the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea level.

Cape Spear is the most easterly point in North America. Here, the ocean is always turbulent but on occasion the sea can look calm. But beware - rogue waves are common here. At least eight people have been washed out to sea while walking on the rocks.   The landscape here is breathtaking and if you abide by the warning signs and stay behind the fence, you will be able to return another day !

Green Bay Fishing Rooms

Old fishing rooms stand in the evening sun somewhere in Green Bay.

Black Capped Chickadee

Who has not heard the cheery, welcoming sound of the Black Capped Chickadee as he performs his acrobatic twists and turns while looking for insects on branches and twigs. He frequently hangs uoside down, determined to find all manner of insect and egg in barky crevices. Para atricapillus barletti  is its scientific name. This friendly bird is named for the renowned Arctic explorer and Newfoundlander - Captain Rupert A Bartlett.

Photographed on the lower Rennie`s Mill Trail in autumn.

Humpback Whale Study

The scientific name of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) means long-winged New Englander. During the summer the waters off Newfoundland host huge numbers of humpbacks and some of the deep bays have humpbacks that remain during the winter to pursue herring and other marine creatures. The "long wings" of the humpback are its pectoral fins — the longest in the world — which can measure over 12 feet in length. Humpbacks are large baleen whales measuring up to 50 feet and were a favorite of whalers in the 19th and 29th century due to their slow swimming speed that made them an easy target. This whale was considered an endangered species by some countries in the 1970's and the the cessation of whaling has resulted in the recovery in numbers of this remarkable mammal. 

Here is a closeup view of the humpback's blowhole. The whales come to feed on caplin and krill in Witless Bay in summer. I was fortunate to be able to photograph this denizen of the deep from the comfort of a Zodiac.

Rocky Shore Near Bonavista

The coastline near Bonavista is marked with treacherous rocky shoals and sea stacks  that extend out into the deep surf. Here puffins look out from their peat burrows and eagles soar on windswept wings  becoming part of this wild and primal landscape.  Beneath my feet is  is a sheer cliff plunging down from the grassy meadow above. I feel at  peace in such a  beautiful place, I would love to have spent more time here.

Emelia Earhart Statue, Harbour Grace

On May 20, 1932 at 7:20 p.m., with a thermos bottle of Rose Archibald’s soup and a can of tomato juice, Amelia Earhart in her Lockheed Vega began her bid to be the first woman pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. She intended to fly to Paris to emulate Charles Lindbergh's solo flight but after flying 14 hours, 56 minutes contending with strong northerly winds, icy conditions and mechanical problems, Earhart was forced to land in a cow pasture at Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 

A statue in her honor is located in Harbour Grace on the site of the Spirit of Harbour Grace, which has no connection with the aircraft of that historical flight.

Common Goldeneye

Common Goldeneyes are found on streams and wooded ponds throughout Newfoundland but in winter the birds flock to the coast where it is common to see them feeding off shore. While on the coast they feed on small molluscs which are obtained by diving in deep water or dabbling in the shallows. They are known locally as Pie Ducks because of the large amount of white in their plumage. Goldeneyes are very difficult to approach but with patience and concealment, using your vehicle as a blind, it is possible to lure them within camera range.

American Widgeon - Male

 

The male American Widgeon is a handsome duck that is frequently called "Baldpate" because of its creamy white crown. I was able to photograph this dabbler, at Nevilles Pond in the company of black ducks and mallards - the only duck that seemed to keep an eye on me !

American Widgeon at Kent's Pond

 The American Widgeon is often found feeding with diving ducks such as the scaup, who are adept at rooting up vegetation from deep in the water. A bit of a bully,  this duck will snatch the greens from the diving ducks as they surface. The widgeon is more wary than most ducks, and flies into  the air without much notice at the first sign of imagined danger.

Cormorant Drying Wings

I saw a little cormorant
Upon a rock, and grinned.
Her outstretched wings were soaking wet,
And drying in the wind.

I called to her, “You live
A very inefficient way.
Why, I reckon you’ll be standing
On that rock for half the day.”

The cormorant replied, saying,
“Stop a while and think.
I never need to take them off,
And wash them in the sink.

“I never have to spin them dry
Or hang them on the line,
So tell me which procedure
Is the simpler, yours or mine?”

- Stephen Whiteside

ptarmigan

Carrion Crow

A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. At last, he saw the water begin to rise, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.

"Little by little does the trick." - Aesop

Ferryland Light

Red Saltbox #2

Red Saltbox Near Tor's Cove

Cabot Tower

Cabot Tower was built in 1897 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of Newfoundland, and Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. It is located on top of Signal Hill overlooking the city of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic wireless message at a position near the tower, the letter "S" in Morse Code sent from Poldhu, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Cabot Tower is now the centre of Signal Hill National Historic Park, Canada's second largest historic park, with walking trails, and an interpretation centre. Hikers that venture on the hill will be rewarded with spectacular views of the city, the harbour, and the ocean. - Wikapedia

Celtic Shadows

The old Protestant Graveyard in St. Johns yields a pleasant mix of gothic beauty and tranquility.

"The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?" Edgar Allan Poe

Banana Boat

"As I stood on the wharf in Trinity harbour, the sun peeked out from behind the cloud cover and shone brilliantly on the yellow boat, the surrounding water sparkled with light".

Chestnut

Number 4 Mine - Bell island

Ore Car and Mural - Bell Island

At the end of June 1966, they closed the mine on Bell Island. It was a hard blow to the 10,000 residents of this island in Conception Bay on Newfoundland's east coast.

"Bell Island must not be allowed to die, and we'll fight to see that it dosen't. If the federal government lets us sit here and rot, we'd be within our rights to tear down the Union jack and put up the skull and crossbones, or even the hammer and sickle." - The Bell island Reporter 1966.

Dancing With Light

Ghost Trees On Bell Island

Maelstrom at Doctor's Cove

I was quite mesmerized by this swirling mass of water while perched on a wet sloping rock in the early morning hours at Doctor's Cove. A slow shutter speed and an unsteady tripod and photographer resulted in some softening of the rocky shore. Even so, this is what my eye could see albeit in greater detail.

Sunrise in Ferryland

Eastern Chipmunk in Bowring Park

Quidi Vidi Boat

Drama at Doctor's Cove

Lost Boulder

Doctor's Cove Plume

Holy Trinity Church - Trinity

This little church in Trinity , Newfoundland was built in 1835, giving it the distinction of being the oldest wooden church in North America.

King's Cove Lighthouse

Trinity Saltbox

Daybreak at Fort Amherst

Bollard and Rope

Cataract Falls - The View from the Bottom

The Colinet River drops into a deep gorge, forming a spectacular waterfall known locally as ‘The Cataracts’ and is listed by the provincial government's parks division as one of 6 "Natural and Scenic Attractions". A series of trails and steep steps lead from the bridge over the gorge, down the steep sides, to the base of the waterfall.

The Cataracts

This picturesque falls never fails to show the casual visitor its beauty from many vantage points.

Snowy Owl

The Snowy owl is an uncommon winter resident to Newfoundland but sometimes occurs in considerable numbers when lemmings ,their favourite food source becomes scarce in the northern tundra. This arctic owl begins to arrive in the province in September and some are reported to stay as late as April or May. It is very wary and perches upon a high point of land,rock,tree or building in order to survey its surroundings in all directions, thus detecting the approach of prey or enemies.

Newfoundland Red Fox

Red foxes are excellent hunters, preying on birds, rabbits and other small mammals. Foxes, both red and the less common silver fox, are spotted frequently during treks into the Newfoundland back country.

Through the Looking Glass

A Geometrical Perspective

Saltbox

Welcome - the door is always open - if you can reach it !

In Newfoundland, this door is called a mother-in-law door because that is the door that she was supposed to use if you didn't like her !

Bonavista Lighthouse at Sunrise

Sunset Through a Fog Bank - Cape St. Mary's

As the fog lifted I only had minutes to capture this image before it again closed in, Interestingly, the sun shining through this bank of cloud appears as a layered sun dog. The only foreground interest on this otherwise desolate barrens is the range fence.

Photographers On The Edge

Two photographers from "away" are oblivious to the danger of a rogue wave as they are entranced by the angry sea at Cape Spear.

Break of Day

Waiting

We tie our little skiff along a fringe of wooded shore, protected by a steady - safe and sound.

Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl must turn it's head to look around because it cannot move it's large yellow eyes from side to side.