Bird⋅The⋅Rock will be offering a series of small group tours from May-August 2023. Join us on any of the dates below for great birding trips to Newfoundland’s beautiful boreal forests and spectacular seabird colonies! Tours are leisurely paced and generally do not require long or difficult hikes, however weather appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended.
- Expected group sizes are 4-8 people. All tours start and end in St. John’s and run ~7:30am-5:00pm. Picnic style lunch included.
Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
This tour begins with a morning birding in a variety of songbird habitats, searching out gems such as Boreal Chickadee, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and numerous species of warbler – among many others. In the afternoon, we take a boat tour of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve which is home to more than 4 million seabirds – including North America’s largest Atlantic Puffin colony, thousands of Common Murre, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Razorbill. And of course, we may also encounter whales. ($250 +HST; Tour includes transportation, boat tour and picnic style lunch.)
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
This tour is a day-trip to visit the majestic Northern Gannet colony at Cape St. Mary’s, where 30,000 of these beautiful birds nest atop a towering sea stack and nearby cliffs. We will also enjoy the thousands of other seabirds at this site, including Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Murre and the world’s southernmost breeding Thick-billed Murre. We will look for Horned Lark, American Pipit and other songbirds on the beautiful sub-arctic tundra, as well as other wildlife and unique wildflowers. Willow Ptarmigan, raptors and possibly Woodland Caribou may be spotted along the way. Several short stops will be made during our drive to stretch our legs and look for boreal songbirds. ($205 + HST; Tour includes transportation and picnic style lunch.)
Birding on the Edge (of Avalon)
This two-day tour explores one of Newfoundland’s most rare and special places – the sub-arctic barrens of the southeast Avalon Peninsula. We will search for tundra birds such as Willow Ptarmigan, Horned Lark and migrating Whimbrel. Seabirds such as Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot and Razorbill can be found nesting along the rugged coast and towering cliffs. Sheltered patches of forest and tuckamore are home to hardy songbirds such as Boreal Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Gray Jays. And with any luck we may spot some of the world’s southernmost Woodland Caribou, Moose or frolicking Whales! We’ll enjoy a guided hike to the ancient fossils of Mistaken Point (Canada’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site), and visit two of the island’s most iconic lighthouses including Cape Race which played a prominent role in the final hours of the Titanic tragedy. ($575 + HST; Tour includes transportation, Entry fee @ Mistaken Point, two picnic-style lunches, breakfast and one night accommodations in beautiful Trepassey. Single room supplement: $50) Read more here.
* The tours above can be combined for a comprehensive 4-day tour of the Avalon Peninsula when dates allow.
Avalon Birding Blitz
This three-day tour combines the highlights of those above in a shortened timeframe:
Day 1: A boat tour of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, combined with birding in several forest and coastal locations. Overnight in Trepassey (included in price).
Day 2: Birding in a variety of forest, coastal and tundra habitats combined with a guided hike to see the fossils of Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight at The WILDS Resort (included in price).
Day 3: A visit to Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve before ending our tour back in St. John’s.
$875 + HST; Tour includes transportation, boat tour, guided hike at Mistaken Point, three picnic-style lunches, two nights accommodation and breakfast in beautiful Trepassey & The WILDS. Single room supplement: $100
* We will be offering this tour on two sets of dates this summer: May 31 – June 2 & August 2-4.
SCHEDULE (SUMMER 2023)
- Other dates, itineraries and private bookings may be available on request
Thursday May 25: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Friday May 26: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Saturday May 27 – Sunday May 28: Birding on the Edge
Wednesday May 31 – Friday June 2: Avalon Birding Blitz
Sunday June 4: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Monday June 5: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Thursday June 8: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Friday June 9: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Saturday June 10 – Sunday June 11: Birding on the Edge
* Please note that we are currently booked for a charter tour June 14 – 25 and unavailable during this time *
Wednesday June 28: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Thursday June 29: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Friday June 30: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Saturday July 1: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Monday July3 – Tuesday July 4: Birding on the Edge
Wednesday July 5: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Thursday July 6: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Saturday July 8: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Sunday July 9: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
* Please note that we are currently booked for a charter tour July 11 – 14 and unavailable during this time *
Monday July 17: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Tuesday July 18: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Wednesday July 19 – Thursday July 20: Birding on the Edge
Saturday July 22: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Sunday July 23: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Monday July 24: Seabirds and Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
Tuesday July 25: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Wednesday July 26 – Friday July 28: Avalon Birding Blitz
* Schedule for early August TBD — Please contact us below for inquiries about this time period *
Contact Bird⋅The⋅Rock for more information or to book your tour now.
Bird⋅The⋅Rock 