Steller's Sea Eagle photo by Al Caughey in Newfoundland
Nova Scotia & Newfoundland
Seabirds, Culture & Amazing Food
June 25-July 8, 2025
14 days 8 participants, 6 openings From $4,900
Trip Highlghts
Visit the stunning Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve.
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See humpback whales very close while on shore.
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Observe hundreds of thousands of seabirds.
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Eat amazing, fresh seafood.
This incredible reserve teems with a massive colony of Northern Gannets and numerous other seabirds. These birds make their nests on cliffs, providing unparalleled opportunities for photography.
The steep shore drop-offs at Witless Bay allow humpback whales to feed on sardine-like capelin very close to shore. You might even catch a whiff of a whale's "blow."
Bay Bulls boasts the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in North America. Gull Island is home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds, nesting virtually on top of each other. You're also likely to spot whales feeding in these prolific waters.
You'll have the chance to savor seafood from freshly harvested fish, clams, and more.
Great Shearwater photo by tour participant David Ewer
Northern Gannet photo by tour participant Mo Henning
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
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Brief Itinerary
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June 25: Your flight must arrive in Halifax by tonight.
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June 26: Drive the Nova Scotia coastline, making our way to Sherbrooke.
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June 27: An early morning beckons, as we head to Waternish Road to see what warblers are flitting about. On a busy day, 20 different warbler species are possible.
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June 28: We depart Sherbrooke for Antigonish Landing, where Nelson's Sparrows are common. This area can also provide rarities like Black-headed Gull. We'll also bird Pomquet Beach, hoping to spot a nesting Piping Plover.
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After lunch, we'll arrive in Chetticamp in Cape Breton and adjacent to the national park.
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June 29: We'll spend the day exploring Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Moose are a common sight, and with luck, we'll add a Bicknell's Thrush to our list. Jack Pine Trail is a beautiful hike through the park's forest and gives a brief look at the ocean.
Newfoundland
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June 30: After a leisurely start to the day, we'll head over to Port Morien. This picturesque point is also excellent for birding. At around 4:00, we'll board our ferry which will take us over 400 miles to Newfoundland.
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July 1: Canada Day! Our ferry lands at about 10 in the morning. Our driver will take us north to Bonavista. We hope to spot Atlantic Puffin here. Overnight in Bonavista
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July 2: Early morning birding for seabirds from the port side of the ferry. You arrive in Newfoundland around 10 a.m. and drive to Bonavista to look for seabirds. Overnight in Bonavista
July 3: An early wake-up greatly enhances the chances of seeing puffins from shore, as close as 10 yards away. The highlight of the day is the boat trip we'll take out of Trinity. Whales are a common sight here, but our target is one of the largest of all raptors, the Steller's Sea Eagle. Overnight in St. Bride's
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July 4: This morning you'll transfer to Cape St. Mary's, home to North America's second-largest Northern Gannet colony. The spectacular rocks also provide nesting habitat for many species of seabirds. Overnight in St. Bride's.
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July 5: We depart St. Brides with picnic lunches. About two hours later we'll arrive at St. Vincent's Beach, where humpback whales feed very close to shore. This is a "must-see" spectacle, even for the seasoned whale-watcher. Our stop this afternoon will be the quaint town of Trepassey. Overnight in St. John's.
July 6Ñ This morning we'll head out to Witless Bay Reserve. The scenery in this area is jaw-dropping, and birds like Atlantic Puffin, Great and Sooty Shearwater, and an occasional Jaegert occasionally zip by. After lunch, we'll arrive in Bay Bulls for a boat trip out to Gull Island, the largest breeding colony of Atlantic Puffins in North America. Overnight in St. John's
July 7: Today is our last full day in Newfoundland. We'll visit local ponds which sometimes yield rarities like Pink-footed Goose, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, and many more. You'll also stand on the northeasternmost point of the North American continent. The Memorial Univeristy botanical garden is another great stop, both for birds and wonderful plantings. Overnight in St. John's.
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July 8: You'll be transported to the airport for your flight home!
Atlantic puffin photo by tour participant Frank Toller