The calm before the storm Newfoundland style

People talk about the weather wherever you are. Although when you're up here in Newfoundland, driving past 10 foot piles of snow everywhere, and then everyone you see says 'we're in for a winter storm tomorrow' it is probably worth taking note. And so with tomorrow (Tuesday) potentially a white out, we made the most of today's calm (though dull) conditions.

American Herring Gulls St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

With things back to normal after the weekend, there were loads more gulls about at Quidi Vidi Lake today - mainly due to the landfill at the top of the hill back in full swing. Among the hordes of American Herring and Kumlien's Gulls, there was a large increase in the number of Glaucous Gulls; probably in excess of 20 birds, with the great majority being big white juveniles.

juvenile Glaucous Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

An interesting bird was this Iceland/Kumlien's Gull - the lack of any pigmentation in its primaries, no tail band and an extensively pink based bill would suggest nominate glaucoides but can a bleached kumlieni actually be ruled out? Suffice to say, if this was in Britain there'd be nobody mooted it as a Kumlien's Gull...

juvenile Iceland/Kumlien's Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

With a bit of snow overnight, the gulls today performed nicely on the white background. Here's a selection of the usual suspects...

juvenile Kumlien's Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

2nd-winter Kumlien's Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

1st-winter American Herring Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

adult Kumlien's Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

2nd-winter American Herring Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

adult Ring-billed Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

adult Common Gull Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

It wasn't just about the gulls. Quidi Vidi, like all of St. John's parks where there is freshwater, provide a haven for wildfowl and there were a couple of Eurasian Wigeons, ten or so American Wigeons, three Goosanders (Common Mergansers), a dozen Tufted Ducks and loads of Black Ducks, Mallards and hybrids.

drake American Wigeon Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017

Slim pickings on the passerine front understandably, with a single Red-winged Blackbird still living through the freeze along with those hard fellows, Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos.

Dark-eyed Junco Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John's, Newfoundland 13th February 2017