Codroy Valley

The Codroy is an anomaly in Newfoundland: a broad fertile valley of dairy farms and hardwood under the Long Range Mountains, where most of the island is bog and spruce. The Grand Codroy estuary is the province's only Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance, with more than one hundred and fifty bird species recorded and the largest concentration of waterfowl in Newfoundland. The valley is also known for the Wreckhouse winds, where air spilling off the mountains accelerates to speeds that have blown railway cars off the track; a local man, Lauchie MacDougall, was employed for years to warn the railway when the wind was up.

The landscape

• The Ramsar estuary - the province's only internationally designated wetland.
• The farming valley - dairy and hardwood in a land of bog and spruce.
• The Wreckhouse winds - gusts strong enough to overturn vehicles.
• The Long Range Mountains - the northern end of the Appalachians above the valley.

When to go

May to September for birds, with spring and autumn migration the peaks. The Wreckhouse winds are worst in winter but occur year-round and close the highway to high-sided vehicles.

Good to know

Wreckhouse wind warnings close the Trans-Canada to trucks and trailers regularly, sometimes for hours. The valley is agricultural and quiet with few services. Birding needs binoculars and patience.

Nearby

Port aux Basques lies south; Gros Morne is north.