Bird⋅The⋅Rock will be offering a series of small group tours from May-August 2024. 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
2024 SCHEDULE
May 22 (Wednesday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
May 23 (Thursday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
May 28 (Tuesday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
May 29 (Wednesday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
May 30-31 (Thursday-Friday) Birding on the Edge
June 2-8 American Birding Association – Birding Camp
June 10 (Monday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
June 11 (Tuesday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
June 12-13 (Wednesday-Thursday) Birding on the Edge
June 14 (Friday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
June 15 (Saturday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
June 16-18 Private Tour: Travel Media Association of Canada
June 19 (Wednesday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
June 20 (Thursday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
June 21-22 (Friday-Saturday) Birding on the Edge
June 25 – July 5 Grand Newfoundland (Eagle-Eye Tours)
July 8 (Monday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
July 9 (Tuesday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
July 11-12 (Thursday-Friday) Birding on the Edge
July 13 (Saturday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
July 14 (Sunday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
July 15-21 Newfoundland Adventure (Wildland Tours)
July 22 (Monday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
July 23 (Tuesday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
July 24-25 (Wednesday-Thursday) Birding on the Edge
July 27 (Saturday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
July 28 (Sunday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
July 29 (Monday) Seabirds & Songbirds of the Northeast Avalon
July 30 (Tuesday) Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Contact Bird⋅The⋅Rock for more information or to book your tour now.
