Thursday 10 August 2017

Amid The Hagdowns

Shearwaters are abundant in Newfoundland waters June - October.  They are attracted close to shore during the capelin spawning season that happens during a four week period in summer sometime between late June and mid August.  Shearwater watching is guaranteed spectacular for a period of time on the Avalon Peninsula. The exact location changes from year to year but the birders seek out these locations. The magnitude of the event which also involves many humpback whales and the local breeding puffins, murres, kittiwakes and gannets is nothing short of awe inspiring every year.

Shearwaters are well known to the  fisherman. They are often included in folk songs but are never called shearwater. Hagdown and baulk are the two most regularly used Newfoundland names.

The hagdowns are sometimes close enough to shore to be caught up in the breaking waves. It is common to hear their baby duck quack notes from land.  While it is fantastic to see so many, so well from land with binos, scope and camera there is nothing like getting among the hagdowns and met them eye to eye. 

Getting in a boat among the shearwaters rafts is actually something I had never done. The long time dream was nothing monumental to achieve but it came as a opportunity I could not refuse this month on 3 August.  Ian Jones was taking his spiffy, fiberglass, seaworthy, open 18 foot, very fast boat out for a look.   He was starting at Renews just a short distance north of a known shearwater feeding concentration off Cappahayden . I knew I was guaranteed intimate action.

I charged up two camera batteries and cleared off two 64 Gig memory cards. I was ready.  The lighting was going to be good = high overcast and light winds .

It was Mohammad (from Egypt), Cliff Doran from Cape Race/Trepassey and I with Ian Jones in his boat.  We spent 7 hours in the boat. Over half the time was exploratory looking for seabirds all the way south to Cape Race but thankfully we chose to spend a good bit of time among the 5000 plus shearwaters on the water near shore off Bear Cove and Cappahayden.  I would have been content to spend the entire day with the engine off floating among the shearwaters. The birds you see by the thousands every year become new acquaintances when you can met them eye to eye. I ate up the seconds within the hours soaking in the eye to eye shearwater contacts while snapping off photos seemingly aimlessly in every direction.  

I'll may never get through the 2700 photos taken but here is a sampling.  


Shearwaters resting on the water after a night of feeding on capelin. Cappahayden shows up in the background.

Great and Sooty Shearwaters were numerous on the water.

Sooty Shearwater outnumbered Great Shearwater 4:1.

Enjoyed trying for better Sooty Shearwater flight shots. But because there was little wind the shearwaters were not flying much.  

The camera was more amenable to focusing on the more patterned Great Shearwaters



This Great Shearwater was still in heavy wing moult.






A flock of Sooty Shearwaters lifts off the water.

A leucistic Sooty Shearwater was cooperative in having its condition photographed.  It seemed content among its own kind.




Manx (above)

A small handful of Manx Shearwaters were encountered. 

Manx (below)


A couple of sub-adult Parasitic Jaegers checked out the boat.

It was good trip being in a boat amid the seabirds.  The birds were relaxed and going about their business uninhibited .  Very Relaxed !




6 comments:

  1. Incredible photos of incredible birds Bruce

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'M NOW FULFILL FINANCIALLY BECAUSE OF THE LOAN I GOT FROM UPSTOXFUNDING INC.{ upstoxfunding@yahoo.com }

      I would like to bring this to the notice of the public about how i came in contact with Upstoxfunding INC after i lost my job and being denied loan by my bank and other financial institution due to my credit score. I could not pay my children's fees. I was behind on bills, about to be thrown out of the house due to my inability to pay my rent, It was during this period my kids were taken from me by foster care. Then i set out to seek for funds online where i lost $3,670 that i borrowed from friends which i was rip off by two online loan companies. Until i read about: ( upstoxfunding@yahoo.com ) somewhere on the internet, Still wasn't convince because of what i have been through until a relative of mine who is a clergy also told me about the ongoing loan scheme of Upstox funding at a very low interest rate of 2% and lovely repayment terms without penalty for default of payment. I have no choiIce than to also contact them which i did through text (302) 273-5794That day was the best and greatest day of my life which can never be forgotten when i receive a credit alert of $124,000Usd loan amount i applied for. I utilized the loan effectively to pay up my debts and to start up a business and today i and my kids are so happy and fulfill. You can as well contact them through email: upstoxfunding@yahoo.com OR call or text their helpline: (302) 273-5794. Why am i doing this? I am doing this to save as many that are in need of a loan not to be victim of scams on the internet. Thanks and God bless you all, I'm Wendy Ryan from Arizona, United States.

      Delete
    2. EDWARD JONES FINANCE IS THE BEST PLACE TO GET A LOAN {Jonesloanfinance@yahoo.com},
      God bless you sir, I will not stop telling the world about your kindness in my life, I am a single mum with kids to look after. My name is Emily Thomas and I am from Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL . A couple of weeks ago My friend visited me and along our discussion she told me about EDWARD JONES FINANCE, that they can help me out of my financial situation, I never believed cause I have spend so much money on different loan lenders who did nothing other than running away with my money. I have been in a financial mess for the pass 7 months now, She advised I give it a try so I mailed him and explain all about my financial situation to him, he therefore took me through the loan process and gave me a loan of $390,000.00 at a very low interest rate of 2% and today I am a proud business owner and can now take good care of my kids, If you must contact any firm to get any amount of loan you need with a low interest rate of 2% and better repayment schedule, please contact EDWARD JONES FINANCE email:- {Jonesloanfinance@yahoo.com} OR Text +1(307) 217-5388

      Delete
  2. HOW I BECAME A VICTOR AFTER SO MANY FAILED ATTEMPT OF GETTING A LOAN.

    I feel so blessed and fulfilled. I've been reluctant in applying for a loan i heard about online because everything seems too good to be true, but i was convinced & shocked when my friend at my place of work got a loan from Progresive Loan INC. & we both confirmed it and i also went ahead to apply, today am a proud owner of my company and making money for my family and a happy mom. Well i'm Annie Joe by name from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. As a single mom with three kids it was hard to get a job that could take care of me and my kids and I had so much bills to pay and to make it worst I had bad credit so i couldn't obtain a loan from any bank. I had an ideal to start a business as an hair stylist but had no capital to start, Tried all type of banks but didn't work out until I was referred by my co-worker to a godsent lender advertising to give a loan at 2% interest rate. I sent them a mail using their official email address (progresiveloan@yahoo.com) and I got a reply immediately and my loan was approved, and I was directed to the Bank site where I withdrawed my loan directly to my account. To cut the story short am proud of my hair stylist company and promise to testify to the world how my life was transformed.. If you are in need of any kind of loan, i advise you contact Progresive Loan INC and be financially lifted Email: progresiveloan@yahoo.com OR Call/Text +1(603) 786-7565



    ReplyDelete
  3. When It Comes To Personal Loans * Business Loans etc., Contact Us Today Via E-mail: SuiteCapitals@gmail.com ( SuiteCapitals@post.com ) It’s Imperative To Work With The Right Company. We Help You Get The Best Rate For Your Business Loan Regardless Of Your Credit!!! If You Are Looking For A Personal Loans * Business Loans etc., You Have Come To The Right Place. Contact Us Today For More Information Through Via E-mail: SuiteCapitals@gmail.com ( SuiteCapitals@post.com )

    Do You Need A Loan To Consolidate Your Debt At 1.0%? Or A Personal Loans * Business Loans etc. Interested Parties Should Contact Us For More Information Through Via E-mail: SuiteCapitals@gmail.com ( SuiteCapitals@post.com )

    We Offers Financial Consulting To Client, Companies Seeking Debt / Loan Financing And Seeking For Working Capital To Start A New Business Or To Expand Existing Business. Interested Parties Should Contact Us For More Information Through Via E-mail: SuiteCapitals@gmail.com ( SuiteCapitals@post.com )

    Kindly write us back with the loan information;
    - Complete Name:
    - Loan amount needed:
    - Loan Duration:
    - Purpose of loan:
    - City / Country:
    - Telephone:
    - How Did You Hear About Us:

    Do You Need A Loan To Consolidate Your Debt At 1.0%? Or A Personal Loans * Business Loans etc. Interested Parties Should Contact Us For More Information Through Via E-mail: SuiteCapitals@gmail.com ( SuiteCapitals@post.com )

    We Offers Financial Consulting To Client, Companies Seeking Debt / Loan Financing And Seeking For Working Capital To Start A New Business Or To Expand Existing Business. Interested Parties Should Contact Us For More Information Through Via E-mail: SuiteCapitals@gmail.com ( SuiteCapitals@post.com )

    ReplyDelete
  4. investing in oil and gas has and is still making a lot of people " very RICH". Investors in oil and gas are getting rich daily. All you need is a secured and certified strategy that will keep your invested capital safe by opting out with no withdrawer crunch. A considerable number of investors worldwide have seen gains of 75,063%, personally I have made over 600%. For example I started investing with $1,000 and I made $3,000, $3,500- $5,000 weekly. Last year at the start of the year, I increased my invested capital to $10,000 and I made approximately $105,000 before the end of year. I've never seen profit opportunities like this before in any market even when other traders complain of losses. Now for the doubters, not only is it possible, it's actually happening right now. All you need is a good and secured strategy, a good investment platform, Appetite and market conditions. Incase you are interested in venturing into investing or perhaps you are trading and has been losing, feel free to contact total company at E-mail: total.company@aol.com or Instagram IG: @total_company , I will
    be sure to guide and assist you.    

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.