Just visiting
The memory of hurricane Michael is practically erased from our minds. After it ripped through the southeastern United States there was a chance it would come close enough to Newfoundland to cause problems. But no such luck! The storm passed south of us somewhere just over the horizon. The Avalon Peninsula got nothing out of it but its ocean swells. It was a disappointment for the birdwatchers who had good reason to suspect a load of southern birds were being carried along within the eye of Michael. It departed the United States at bird rich Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, before galloping across the open ocean toward the Grand Banks.
Five days after the passing of Michael laughing gulls began appearing on the south eastern corner of the Avalon Peninsula. This was pretty good proof birds had indeed been carried along in that storm. Laughing gulls are an abundant bird around Cape Hatteras where the hurricane passed. First it was one that Cliff Doran photographed in Trepassey. Then Dave Brown saw two more at Cripple Cove near Cape Race. Then it was Cliff again who was entertained by four laughing gulls feeding on earthworms in the rain flooded grounds around Cape Race lighthouse. Yvonne Dunne photographed one in Renews and two more turned up at Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John’s.
The thinking is that these were laughing gulls flung out of Michael as it weakened over the mid-atlantic Ocean. They were now making their way back to where they came from. Using their internal compass they knew which way to go. These few laughing gulls stumbled upon Newfoundland on their way home. It was only a teaser. Seeing the laughing gulls is a treat but it only peaked the imagination thinking what else might have been inside that storm that went by so close to the Avalon Peninsula. To the birder it felt like being bypassed by Santa Claus at Christmas. We had to make due with a few gifts that had fallen off the sleigh in the rush.
The picture with this week’s column is one of the Quidi Vidi Lake birds. It must have been from an urban area as it was accustomed to taking bread handouts. The other Quidi Vidi Lake laughing gull was more interested in seeking out earthworms while walking around on the wet lawns after a rain. Both these laughing gulls have a hairrising tale to tell if they could talk. They have a long way to go yet. I give both of these birds high odds of making it home after their visit to St. John’s.
Autumn happenings
Dogberries are scarce on the Avalon Peninsula at least. The few berries are being gobbled up by robins and small flocks of cedar waxwings. It is a great fuel for these birds on their way south. There will not be much in the way of berries left to entice any of these birds to stay into this winter season.
Bird feeders are a little slow as expected during mid fall. There is still plenty of seed in the woods to keep the birds content. Blue jays of course are the exception. Last week I had two plumbers in my kitchen describing the work they had completed in the wall when there was a sharp rat-tat tat tat on the window. Both the plumbers turned around and looked at me. Oh, I said, that was just the blue jay outside. I threw a handful of peanuts on the back deck and immediately several blue jays swooped in. They were amazed. I know some of you are smiling knowing exactly what I mean. I do not know when blue jays learned to tap on windows demanding peanuts, but it is becoming a widespread practice. Blue jays have a different motive than most birds during the fall season. They are stashing food in the ground for the winter ahead. Instinct has not been overtaken by the fact that in recent decades bird feeders are available all winter for them.
A couple of northern shrikes have been seen on the Avalon Peninsula in the last week. It has been a few years since there has been a good number of these coming south ahead of the winter.
They are a little smaller than a blue jay. They are gray and white with a dark mask through the eye. They look like a songbird, and they are a songbird, but they feed like a hawk. They eat the flesh of mice and small birds. Not pleasant but still an exciting bird to see because they are scarce even in the best of times. It is something to watch for when out on your next autumn outing.
I do not know when blue jays learned to tap on windows demanding peanuts, but it is becoming a widespread practice.