Newfoundland

August 2024

A summer vacation in Newfoundland means long walks along the beach hunting for cool rocks and fossils, many geological lessons at Visitor centers which felt like checkpoints in a video game, and hours spent on the water hunting for seabirds, including my personal favourite: the Atlantic puffin.

Atlantic puffin standing outside a burrow in Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

We landed in the St. John's airport and immediately started driving to the western end of the island for our stay near Gros Morne National Park. We stopped for a hike along the water in Terra Nova National Park, and popped into several coastal towns for treats and coffee. Our first day in Gros Morne included a hunt through the Tablelands for the Provincial flower: the beautiful pitcher plant.

Next up was the Green Gardens trail, which despite being across the highway from the Tablelands, felt like an entirely different world. A lush forest trail led directly to the water with herds of sheep scattered along the way.

Waterfall in Western Brooke Pond, a glacier carved fjord

We made our way back to St. John's, stopping in the town of Dildo for a meal and a beer at the local brewery. The colourful houses of jellybean row passed by as we toured the sites, including Signal Hill, Cape Spear Lighthouse, and Petty Harbour.

We were fortunate to embark on two birdwatching journeys near the end of our stay; by car to Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve and by boat to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.

Bird Rock: a breeding colony of Northern gannets in Cape St. Mary's

Lines of common murres at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve

We managed to check off several seabirds on our life lists during our visit to Witless Bay, what we weren't expecting was a surprise visit from a Mola Mola on our way back to shore.