Despite the perfect November weather (bright, cool & calm!), birding was pretty slow this morning. I birded scenic Cape Spear and checked wandering flocks of juncos & chickadees in Blackhead and the Waterford Valley without finding anything of note. A Lincoln’s Sparrow and two Brown Creepers were my lacklustre highlights.

Cape Spear – the easternmost point in North America.

Swinging by Quidi Vidi on my way home, I noticed the Pied-billed Grebe that has been there this week was hanging out pretty close to shore. It was my first chance to “really” photograph this species (record photos don’t count!), so I enjoyed the few moments I had with this little guy.

Pied-billed Grebe is an uncommon species in Newfoundland – mostly occurring during fall & early winter (although a pair has bred regularly at a single location in the Codroy Valley for a number of years). I often see one or two a year, but they have always been skittish or hanging out in poor locations for photography. This one was a real treat.