Newfoundland – butterflies in the fog and a surprise bird
Despite Newfoundland’s reputation as a foggy, cool maritime province, this rugged island offers surprising delights for nature enthusiasts. During a week-long July expedition to the Avalon Peninsula, persistent rain and fog couldn’t dampen the excitement of discovering the region’s remarkable wildlife. When fleeting moments of sunshine broke through the mist, hardy butterflies emerged—including the prized Short-tailed Swallowtail, a maritime Canadian endemic that thrives on rocky headlands even in chilly 15-degree temperatures. But the ultimate surprise came in the form of a legendary vagrant: a Stellar’s Sea Eagle, thousands of miles from its Siberian home, sharing river valley territory with nesting Bald Eagles in one of nature’s most extraordinary cross-continental encounters.
