For the Birds

I've always considered myself a landscape photographer first.

Don't get me wrong, I've photographed wildlife for years, and I certainly won't pass up an opportunity to spend time with puffins, foxes, whales, or moose. But for me, the landscape has always been the foundation. Even when there's wildlife in the frame, I'm usually trying to tell a story about where that animal lives just as much as the animal itself.

That hasn't changed.

But after our first For the Birds tour with Newfoundland Photo Tours, I have to admit something.

I'm becoming a birder.

Not the kind who can identify every distant silhouette against the sky, at least not yet. But the kind who gets genuinely excited about finding a species they've never seen before. The kind who notices movement along the shoreline that I probably would have walked past a year ago. The kind who comes home and immediately starts reading about the birds I've met and looking forward to the next ones.

One of the biggest reasons for that is our good friend, Sheldon Anthony.

Having Sheldon join us on this tour was an absolute privilege. His knowledge of Newfoundland's birdlife is remarkable, but what impressed me most was how generously he shared it. Every stop became an opportunity to learn something new, whether it was pointing out a species I would have overlooked, explaining the subtle differences between similar birds, or sharing stories that gave us a greater appreciation for what we were seeing.

I came away from the week with a camera full of photographs, but I also came away with a much deeper understanding of the incredible birdlife that calls Newfoundland home. I'm grateful to Sheldon for his patience, his enthusiasm, and for making all of us better observers.

Of course, there was one bird that needs no introduction.

For the fourth straight year, I had the privilege of spending time with the Steller's Sea Eagle. Every encounter with this remarkable bird feels like a gift. Native to far eastern Russia, she has somehow found her way across the globe and made Newfoundland home, becoming one of the rarest birds ever to visit North America.

This year she never left her favourite perch while we visited, but somehow that hardly mattered. Watching her quietly survey the landscape, occasionally fixing us with one of those unmistakable judgmental stares, was more than enough. It's one of those experiences that never seems to lose its magic, no matter how many times you're fortunate enough to witness it.

Then there are the puffins.

I don't think I'll ever grow tired of photographing Atlantic Puffins. Every visit reveals something new, whether it's a perfect landing, a bill full of capelin, or simply the way they seem to own every cliff they stand on. They remain one of Newfoundland's great ambassadors, and every time I photograph them I understand a little more why so many people travel here just to spend an hour in their company.

 

Cape St. Mary's was, as always, unforgettable.

Standing above thousands upon thousands of seabirds wheeling around Bird Rock is one of those experiences that photographs can never fully capture. Northern Gannets, Common Murres, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Black Guillemots... everywhere you looked there was life. It's one of the greatest seabird colonies in North America, and no matter how many times I visit, I still find myself standing there in quiet amazement.

The Bonavista Peninsula offered its own rewards.

One of the things I love about that part of Newfoundland is the incredible variety of habitats packed into such a relatively small area. Rocky shorelines, sheltered coves, ponds, coastal barrens, sandy beaches... each stop offered something different, and with it came another opportunity to discover a species I hadn't seen before.

One of the unexpected joys of the week was adding several new birds to my own life list.

There's something special about seeing a species for the very first time. Every lifer comes with a memory attached to it, and I suspect I'll remember exactly where many of these first encounters took place for years to come.

One bird, however, completely stole the show.

The Ruddy Turnstone.

This was my first time seeing one, and I was immediately taken with them. There's just something about their bold patterning, their attitude, and the way they move along the shoreline that grabbed my attention. They seemed to have far more personality than their size would suggest.

It's funny how that happens. You go looking for one bird, and another unexpectedly becomes the one you can't stop thinking about. By the end of the tour, the Ruddy Turnstone had quietly worked its way into my personal top ten favourite birds. I certainly wasn't expecting that.

As much as this blog is about birds, though, it really isn't about birds.

It's about sharing time outdoors with people who are just as excited to be there as you are.

It's about celebrating someone's very first puffin.

photo credit Sheldon Anthony

It's about the excitement of adding another bird to a life list.

photo credit Sheldon Anthony

It's about sharing a quiet moment aboard a boat, watching one of the rarest birds ever to visit North America from a respectful distance, and realizing that sometimes the best wildlife encounters don't require the subject to do anything at all.

It's about learning from someone like Sheldon, whose passion and knowledge make every stop richer than the last.

It's about the conversations over supper, the laughter between locations, and the shared excitement every time someone spotted something new.

The birds gave us countless memories.

Newfoundland gave us incredible places to find them.

But as is so often the case, the best part of the week was the people I was fortunate enough to share it with.

To Sheldon, thank you for sharing your knowledge so generously and reminding me that there is always more to learn.

To our guests, thank you for your enthusiasm, your curiosity, and for making our very first For the Birds tour such a memorable one.

I may always be a landscape photographer at heart.

But I have a feeling the birds are going to keep calling me back.

Newfoundland Photo Tours