Terra Nova, NL - 05 Sep 2018

We awoke to clear skies and a cool breeze. Breakfast consisted of coffee, muffins with orange marmelade, berry jelly, and out of this world blueberry french toast.

We then geared up and drove 1.5 hours north to Terra Nova National Park. The Visitor Center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after Labor Day, so we explored on our own. We hiked tke 1km Heritage Trail around the Visitor Center and took a few photos. I found a baby Hermit Thrush sitting next to the building and spent some time digiscoping it.

We would see several Greater Yellowlegs, a Great Black-backed Gull, and a Belted Kingfisher. Otherwise the lake and stream was quiet.

We then drove up to Blue Hill Overlook to spend some time relaxing. While Robin sketched I walked around pishing for Boreal Chickadees. Again, they would not show, but I attracted more Hermit Thrush juveniles, a Black-throated Green Warbler, a flock of Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, several Dark-eyed Juncos and Ruby- and Golden-crowned Kinglets. On the way out a Spruce Grouse flushed from the road ahead of us.

NL--Terra Nova NP--Visitor's Center, Bonavista/Trinity-Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, CA
Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:     Visitor Center closed; Sunny, cool.
13 species

Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis)  1
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)  1
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  2
Common Raven (Corvus corax)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)  2
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)  3
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  3
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  6
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158259653

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We drove back to Port Rexton and stopped by the Port Rexton Brewery. The Fireside Amber Ale was excellent, as was the blueberry grilled cheese that Darlene made for us. Robin and she hit it off, and after we left a tip she gave us a basket curried french fries that were to die for.

Dinner was a trip to Bonavista and the Bonavista Social Club. Sounds fancy, but its a small roadside restaurant that serves oven-fired pizza. We sat on the porch and enjoyed stunning views of the coast, roasted carmelized onion and ham pizza, and partridgeberry bread pudding. Then it was a drive back to Port Rexton to call it a day. No moose were seen. The entrance to Terra Nova had a sign showing the number of car-moose accidents; 7 in 2017 and 8 in 2018 so far.

Tomorrow we drive back to St John’s, spend the evening at the Hampton Inn, then fly home Friday to see our Buffy.