but they are not easily impressed
by mid September the number of puffins is down from high season but there are still a few left
we have a short trail to hike
incoming!!!
not now
this is why we are here, we want to see some puffins
approaching the bird Island, the black and white specks are the puffins
Elliston's early name was Bird Island Cove, a name given by 17th century fishermen that frequented the area. The name refers to two
bird infested islands just offshore.
Early settlement occured at the end of the 18th century, presumably by
runaway Irish fishing servants from Bonavista.
In the next centuries Elliston florished, all based on cod fishing and seal hunting.
Decline
set in after 1950 and the Cod Moratorium of 1992 gave the final blow.
Today Elliston is known for its root cellars and puffins.
Root cellars were used as a cool and frost free storage for potatoes, carrots and salted fish and meat.
But the
Puffin
Viewing Site is the main attraction here. A short walk brings you close to an island that the local puffins call home. From
a few dozen meters you can watch these peculiar birds do their thing.
Puffins are not easily disturbed, not by human voyeurs
nor by noisy seagulls they share the island with.
We visited the root cellars and the puffins in September 2017.
one of Elliston's root cellars
a peek inside the cellar, it is empty
the sideviews are pretty nice too
time to head back to the car
a seagull scowls at the poor little guys