Photos © Bruce Mactavish.
I found the Quidi Vidi Lake Redwing this morning (3/9/2008). It was with a flock
of robins that started out at about 8 and grew to 20. They were
feeding on the ground beneath a dogberry grove beside the gravel
walkway on the south side of the lake, just before you get to the
first boardwalk (if you were walking eastward.) The recent thaws have exposed
dogberries that blew to the ground early in the winter. The robins and
Redwing were eating these. The Redwing was singing!! A whisper song.
Not opening its bill but you could see the throat moving and the tail
vibrating. The song was like a cross between a starling and a catbird
that ran on and on. There are probably many berries exposed in Signal Hill area as well,
but for now the south side of QV Lake would be a good place to look
for a Redwing!
Annual in recent winters, this is the first March record for Newfoundland and was probably a survivor from fall.
-- Bruce Mactavish