We drove across Nova Scotia eastward and headed north to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. We stayed at Cheticamp for three days going into the park to wildlife watch. Just outside the campground one morning, we saw this Red Fox carrying baby birds back to the den. The two kits were very excited to see breakfast coming and chased each other for the feast.
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| Time to go back and get second breakfast |
Ty walked from the campground to a high hill along the coast, and by reaching out over the cliff was able to find these Razorbills on the steep rocks beneath. He also found Great Cormorants and Black Guillemots.
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| Great Cormorant, note neck pattern |
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| Black Guillemot |
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| French Lake on the Cabot Trail |
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| Skyline trail through high bog |
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| Pitcher Plant is just coming up |
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| Ruffed Grouse |
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| Boreal Chickadee |
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| Ruby Crowned Kinglets were abundant and singing profusely |
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| Young Bull Moose checking out fresh grass along the road |
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| Bicknell's Thrush, a rare find in the Krummholz |
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| Pine Grosbeak female |
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| Snowshoe Hare getting his Spring coat |
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| White-throated Sparrow |
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| Cow moose also enjoying the fresh grass |
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| Saskatoon Blossoms - Service Berry |
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| The rugged Cabot Trail coastline on Cape Breton |
After 2 days of ferry cancellations because of rough seas we were able to travel to Newfoundland. These ships are huge and it is amazing how many Semi-trailers, Campers, buses and cars it can carry. They are 250 meters long and have 10 rows of vehicles on two levels.
We spent most of the 6 hour ride on deck watching for sea birds. We had the N. Gannets in big numbers (pictured below), all three scoter species, N. Fulmer, Manx Shearwater, Red Phalaropes, and a life bird, the Dovekie. Most were impossible to get photos of because of the motion of the ship and the birds flying fast and usually too far out. We also spotted 2 whales.
We arrived in Newfoundland a few hours before sunset, new time change too as it is one half hour between the Atlantic and Greenland Time Zones. We found a very nice campground in the Codroy River Valley, full of birds and wildlife and we spent two days there.
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| Beaver lodge with two beaver to the right |
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| Someone caught me up at sunrise, better head in for my nap |
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| Mourning Warbler |
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| Red-breasted Nuthatch - trapeze artist |
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| Hairy Woodpecker |
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| Blackpoll Warbler |
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| Black-backed Woodpecker |
We had a very nice day with the temps in the 60's and drove to the Gros Morne National Park to look for Caribou. Things were not looking great as we searched the plains along the rugged coastline. Then nearing St. Paul, we see 5 white spots sleeping in the brush. I guess they wanted their photo taken as they all got up and sauntered toward us.
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| Am I close enough for my photo yet? |
Next morning we woke up to snow coming down. After working hard to get our slides in, we decided to drive south and east to try to get out of the storm. Didn't work, it snowed all day and we ended up with 4 inches of very wet, slushy snow. Getting dangerous to drive we headed into Springdale and a city park to spend the cold night
(O degrees C). Today, we drove on toward the Avalon Peninsula and found a campground near the Trinity Bay.
Finally bare ground and warmer temperatures sunny and near 45 but feels nicer. We thank God for safe travels and for the wonderful scenery and wildlife He has created.
Love & Prayers, Ty & Ida Baumann
