THE ARCTIC FOX.
Day 61 – The low temperature last night was 37 degrees. When we got up this morning, it was 40 and raining lightly, still foggy. Since it’s raining, we plan to stay at the RV until we leave for an early dinner. Bang Belly is closed Tuesday & Wednesday, and we’re leaving the Island Thursday morning. This will be our last chance to try them for dinner this trip.
This morning when I was making the bed, I saw movement at the shore. The windows were fogged up. I wiped the window and looked closer. It was the Arctic Fox. I hollered out to Rob, he grabbed his camera, and rushed outside in the rain. The Fox looked at Rob and slowly moved away, up into the rocks in front of the RV. It looked different from our sighting yesterday, with its fluffy coat that was now matted with the moisture from the rain. We figure it must live around here. We’re curious if there’s a den with young foxes. It’s about the right time of year for babies.
About the Arctic Fox: “The arctic fox is native to Labrador and occasionally arrives on th, te Island via pack ice in Winter and Spring. Arctic foxes prefer barren lands, where snow is hard and shallow, as well as around the tops of ponds or river banks. They are found throughout the northern barren lands of the world. Their range in Canada extends from the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, south to the Southern limit of the barren grounds. In winter, the arctic fox has a thick white coat. In May, they shed to a two-tone brown fur. Some arctic foxes have a heavy, pale bluish-gray coat in summer. Two months before the end of winter, the arctic foxes start to pair up for mating. The gestation period is between 51 and 57 days. The mating pair stay together throughout the pregnancy and the raising of their young. An average litter of 11 pups is born in late May/early June.” taken from the internet, Newfoundland & Labrador: Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
When the fog rolls out, the bigger iceberg is still visible farther out from the cove. It hasn’t moved much, but a smaller one has moved back into the cove and is visible from our windows. We removed the screens from the windows so we could better watch the birds diving into the water. And if the whales come again, we’ll be ready! When Rob saw something he wanted to photograph, he just opened the window, stuck the camera lens out, and began shooting. This kept the camera, and Rob, dry. Between staring out the windows and cooking a large batch of Spanish Rice with Tomatoes & Shrimp, we kept happily busy today watching for whales and everything else to show up in the cove.
We had reservations for dinner at 5 p.m. Bang Belly is only about a mile from the RV, very convenient! We had one of the best meals we’ve ever had. We both ordered from the special Prix Fixe menu. To all of our Foodie Friends – we hope you’re not hungry when reading this: Course #1 began with each of us getting Corn & Cod Chowder served in a large shot glass with a homemade dinner roll for dipping, and we both also received a Split Pea Fritter served over shredded candied beets. Course #2, we each chose different items; I got the Caesar Salad and Rob got Smoked Cod in lemon oil and fresh dill served with hand-cut seasoned potato chips. The main course was a choice between 3 items; we each picked the same thing – the Fresh Cod baked with a crispy, crumbly crust, served over an herbed cream sauce with roasted carrots, turnips, beets, & baby potatoes, Dessert was a choice between 3 items; I got the Lemon Meringue Cup (a healthy serving of lemon custard with sliced shortbread, meringue, and artistically-designed little sugar crisps sticking out of the lemon custard), and Rob got the Cheesecake with Berry Compote (a round, thick graham cracker cookie, topped with amazing cheesecake, topped with a mixture of blueberries & partridgeberries). Just when we thought it was over, we were presented with the bill along with each of us getting a Chocolate Macaroon Ball sitting on partridgeberry jam. OMG. This is a remote island off of Newfoundland. The restaurant is small and casual; people wear tee shirts. It’s NOT fancy. Amazing! Bang Belly is it’s name, of all things. You never know what you’re going to find!
We returned to the RV and while I caught up the blog from dinner, Rob returned to his seat by the screenless window. He saw a couple of seals at the mouth of the cove. I was nearby and was privy to several Oooo’s and Wow’s and other excited mutterings as the Northern Gannets returned to feed on the Herring in the cove. Many of them were diving straight down into the water at the same time, and at the same location. Razorbills were also floating in the cove. Then he shouted, “A Whale!” and got me on my feet. The Minke Whale had surfaced right beside the iceberg, which had floated to directly across from the RV. He did not get a picture of the Whale, and I didn’t see it, but we continued to watch for it to come back our way. It was headed for Back Cove, next to this cove, and there’s only one way out. We watched & we watched. We assumed it had to come back out this way.
We waited until dark and didn’t see the Whale, but tomorrow is another day. We can’t wait to see what happens!