Whales and Birds
Whales at Battle Island
The collision of the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream just off the coast of Labrador contains enormous amounts of plankton and as such it is a popular summer feeding range for several species of baleen whales. There are documented sightings of 17 species of whales in the Labrador Sea six of which can been seen in the St. Lewis Inlet and seas near Battle Island.
Humpbacks can be seen from June through to and including September near Battle Harbour. Minkes and Seis are frequently sighted with occasional visits by Fin and Beluga whales. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PxpnpjF07I for an example of sightings from land on Battle Island in July 2009.
The pods of Killer or Orca whales that visit Battle Harbour each season are of particular interest to many visitors including a group of researchers who return to Battle Harbour early each September as part of Wildland Tours' "Northern Whale Study" http://www.wildlands.com/tour_and_booking_information/tour_6.html
The White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) is also a type of whale and is most often seen in the waters around Newfoundland and Labrador.
Guided boat tours offered for whale watching purposes from Battle Harbour comply with the voluntary Code of Conduct (http://www.hnl.ca/codeofconduct.pdf) developed for whale-watching tour operators by Memorial University of Newfoundland and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador.
Visitors interested in helping expand the scientific knowledge about whales seen throughout Newfoundland and Labrador can contribute whale sighting information to the Atlantic Whales project. See http://www.atlanticwhales.com/submit/index.htm
Humpbacks can be seen from June through to and including September near Battle Harbour. Minkes and Seis are frequently sighted with occasional visits by Fin and Beluga whales. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PxpnpjF07I for an example of sightings from land on Battle Island in July 2009.
The pods of Killer or Orca whales that visit Battle Harbour each season are of particular interest to many visitors including a group of researchers who return to Battle Harbour early each September as part of Wildland Tours' "Northern Whale Study" http://www.wildlands.com/tour_and_booking_information/tour_6.html
The White-beaked Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) is also a type of whale and is most often seen in the waters around Newfoundland and Labrador.
Guided boat tours offered for whale watching purposes from Battle Harbour comply with the voluntary Code of Conduct (http://www.hnl.ca/codeofconduct.pdf) developed for whale-watching tour operators by Memorial University of Newfoundland and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador.
Visitors interested in helping expand the scientific knowledge about whales seen throughout Newfoundland and Labrador can contribute whale sighting information to the Atlantic Whales project. See http://www.atlanticwhales.com/submit/index.htm
Birds
Sea and shore birds are abundant in Battle Harbour and environs. Partial listings of birds that are known to be either breeders, migrants or transit visitors to Battle Island and its environs follow. A more detailed checklist is being developed and will available for downloading from this page in the Summer of 2006 some of which can be found on the checklist http://www.nhs.nf.ca/cbc_etc/checklist.htm for "Insular Newfoundland and Coastal Waters" produced by the Newfoundland and Labrador Natural History Society.
Descriptions of some of the sea birds found in the Battle Harbour area can also be found on this page by clicking on any of the species names underlined.
Breeders
American Pipit Harlequin Ducks
American Robin Herring Gull
Arctic Tern Horned Lark
Black Guillemot Old Squaw Ducks
Black legged Kittiwake Rough-legged Hawk
Common Eider Duck Savannah Sparrow
Common Raven Spotted Sandpiper
Great Black-backed Gull White Crowned Sparrow
Non-breeders, Migrants, and Transient Birds
Greater Yellowlegs Razorbill
Atlantic Puffin Red Breasted Merganser
Common Goldeneye Surf Scoter
Common Murre Thick-billed Murre
Northern Gannet Whimbrel
Pine Siskin White-winged Scoter
Pomarine Jaeger Yellow Warbler
Common Eider ducks (Somateria mollissima)
In June "clouds" of these ducks are typically seen flying at daybreaks over Battle Island in June on route to nesting sites throughout St. Lewis Inlet and more northern points. These ducks are a considered to be a local culinary delight and their feathers are famous for 'eider-down' -- a superior insulating material.
Old Squaw Ducks (Clangula hyemalis)
These spend diving ducks are frequently found in locations popular with Eider and Harlequin ducks. Their distinctive cries have been likened to those made by a pack of yelping dogs and accompany their speedy acrobatics in groups that quickly rise and descend from the coves and harbours near Battle Island. In search of mussels, shrimp, and small crab these ducks can dive to depths exceeding than 30 meters.
Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus)
This duck is named after the masked characters in Italian comedy that wear oddly painted costumes. Hunting for these ducks has been banned since 1990 and the eastern Canadian population, which includes those found in Labrador, listed as "endangered" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). A good site for additional information on this species is "Hinterland Who's Who" (http://www.ffdp.ca/hww2.asp?cid=7&id=47). Boat tours operated from Battle Harbour are conducted with great sensitivity to the status of these birds.
White-Winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
These keen-sighted ducks fly low over the water in an uneven loose formation with frequent flashes of the male's large white-wing patch given them a common name of "White winged divers". Late August and early September are the best months to see these birds from Battle Harbour's boat tours.
Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Typically found in the same areas as White-Winged Scoters, the shaggy, black head crest, white neck ring and rusty chest band make this a striking bird. They can be distinguished from other white winged ducks in flight by their long necks.
Descriptions of some of the sea birds found in the Battle Harbour area can also be found on this page by clicking on any of the species names underlined.
Breeders
American Pipit Harlequin Ducks
American Robin Herring Gull
Arctic Tern Horned Lark
Black Guillemot Old Squaw Ducks
Black legged Kittiwake Rough-legged Hawk
Common Eider Duck Savannah Sparrow
Common Raven Spotted Sandpiper
Great Black-backed Gull White Crowned Sparrow
Non-breeders, Migrants, and Transient Birds
Greater Yellowlegs Razorbill
Atlantic Puffin Red Breasted Merganser
Common Goldeneye Surf Scoter
Common Murre Thick-billed Murre
Northern Gannet Whimbrel
Pine Siskin White-winged Scoter
Pomarine Jaeger Yellow Warbler
Common Eider ducks (Somateria mollissima)
In June "clouds" of these ducks are typically seen flying at daybreaks over Battle Island in June on route to nesting sites throughout St. Lewis Inlet and more northern points. These ducks are a considered to be a local culinary delight and their feathers are famous for 'eider-down' -- a superior insulating material.
Old Squaw Ducks (Clangula hyemalis)
These spend diving ducks are frequently found in locations popular with Eider and Harlequin ducks. Their distinctive cries have been likened to those made by a pack of yelping dogs and accompany their speedy acrobatics in groups that quickly rise and descend from the coves and harbours near Battle Island. In search of mussels, shrimp, and small crab these ducks can dive to depths exceeding than 30 meters.
Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus)
This duck is named after the masked characters in Italian comedy that wear oddly painted costumes. Hunting for these ducks has been banned since 1990 and the eastern Canadian population, which includes those found in Labrador, listed as "endangered" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). A good site for additional information on this species is "Hinterland Who's Who" (http://www.ffdp.ca/hww2.asp?cid=7&id=47). Boat tours operated from Battle Harbour are conducted with great sensitivity to the status of these birds.
White-Winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
These keen-sighted ducks fly low over the water in an uneven loose formation with frequent flashes of the male's large white-wing patch given them a common name of "White winged divers". Late August and early September are the best months to see these birds from Battle Harbour's boat tours.
Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Typically found in the same areas as White-Winged Scoters, the shaggy, black head crest, white neck ring and rusty chest band make this a striking bird. They can be distinguished from other white winged ducks in flight by their long necks.
