I just got back from 4 days in Newfoundland's most scenic area, the Codroy Valley. It is located in the SW corner of the island, about 30 minutes from Port-Aux-Basques (the port where the ferry from NS arrives). The area is quite pastoral for Newfoundland. The Long range Mountains are in the background with the Codroy River in the foreground. The river delta is now an ecological reserve...a great haven for waterfowl.
Here's a zoom in on one of the 'hanging' valleys
Considering it is a zone 4, I was amazed to find a Wisteria there!
A close-up of it's flowers
My serach for yellow lady's-slippers paid off but it was foggy and misty that day. Made for nice photography.
A panoramic shot of the Long range Mountains with the fog wisping over the tops
The main reason for going there were these birds. They are both egrets/herons. The dark one is a Western Reef Heron from Africa....the first canadian record and probably the first North American Record. The white one is a Little Egret, also from Africa and Europe. There are several records for that one along the east coast, including 3 previous records for Newfoundland. How two African birds made it to Newfoundland AND found each other is a complete mystery.
Todd, your photos of the trip to Codroy Valley are beautiful. What a fascinating phenomenon those African birds are!
What a beautiful place. It's wonderful that it's preserved. Your photographs are excellent as usual Todd. Thank you for sharing them.
Todd those are great shots. Do you know why it's called a hanging valley? Nature is really fascinating, when you think of those 2 birds 1/2 a world away and yet together. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, thanks for sharing Todd. I'm sure I speak for a lot of us when I say, we sure enjoy your threads, especially when you come back from a trip with these great pictures.
Really beautiful pictures - would sure love to visit Newfieland some day - worked with a gal from NF in one of my first jobs in Bramalea, ON. Her accent fascinated me - is that regional in NF - hope u don't mind my asking, I've wondered about that for years. :)
I also have a wisteria growing in z4b. I grew it from seed last summer and was thrilled to see it come back this year. It's about 1.5 ft. tall now. It's on the south side of the house so it is probably a z5 there or close to that at least.
Newfoundland accents are quite regional..generally people from St. John's have the least accent while those from more isolated communities have the strongest accent....comes from our Irish background.
thanks! interesting...didn't know there were a lot of Irish in NF. Learn something new everyday!
Loved looking at all the pictures.....the scenery and the birds from Africa however really captured my attention.
...the main reason going there was the birds... did u know those two foreigners were there before hand?
We knew the birds were there. the Little Egret was reported some weeks ago. The reef heron was misidentified as a little blue heron so we didn't take it as seriously until we saw a pic taken by a local and lo and behold, it was not a little blue heron at all! The birding community burned rubber driving the 10 hours it takes to reach the Codroy from St. John's!
Todd:
Wonderful pics. Flowers and birds - my two favourite things.
