Jared Clarke on the conclusion of his Winter Newfoundland tour

There were smiles across the board this week as we had a fabulous dose of winter birding in the easternmost reaches of North America – Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. Perhaps the biggest highlight came on the very first morning, as we soaked in great views of a very rare Common Snipe at Ferryland – just the third record for the province and all of eastern North America - and we were able to compare this amazing bird with its North American cousin, a Wilson’s Snipe, hanging out just meters away!

Other highlights included finding Dovekie, a "lifer" for everyone in the group, at several locations, some of them providing great views as they bobbed around in the surf right along shore.

Dovekie - Bruce Mactavish

Purple Sandpipers were discovered resting and feeding among the wave-beaten rocks of Cape Spear National Historic Site;

Purple Sandpipers - Bruce Mactavish

a King Eider made an appearance in the rough waters of Bear Cove along the Irish Loop and a family of Gray Jays popped in to check us out along the forested roadsides. Dozens of Tufted Ducks were spotted around the various city ponds as a record number have been spending the winter here.

Tufted Duck

Other European waterfowl included as many as five Eurasian Wigeon and three Eurasian (Common) Teal illustrating how St. John's is the best location on the continent to see these species in winter.

Gulls are an integral part of the winter scenery in and around St. John', and they did not disappoint. A total of ten species were found during the week, including thousands of Herring, Great Black-backed and Iceland Gulls, several hundred Glaucous Gulls, four dozen Black-headed Gulls,a handful of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and three European Mew (Common) Gulls. The array was mind-boggling and everyone learned a lot about these often under-appreciated birds!

Black-headed Gull

Finally we should say too that winter in St John's and the surrounding countryside is extremely beautiful.

The Battery, St John's

It was indeed an excellent week spent with great birds and great people!