Birding in Southeast Canada

If you would like to post, you'll need to register. Note that if you have a BCG store account, you'll need a new, separate account here (we keep the two sites separate for security purposes).

mrt

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Marketplace
Just wondering if anyone has had experience and suggestions for a birding trip to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and southern Labrador during June. Guides, insights, and places to visit would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a couple from a recent trip to Klamath County, Oregon and Butte Valley, California. Great birding for birds of prey and waterfowl this time of year,
Marty
mrtk.smugmug.com

A successful Kestrel
DSC_4257-Edit-Edit-2.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

A Wilson's Snipe
DSC_3569-Edit-Edit.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


A Bobcat
DSC_4449-Edit.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Gorgeous shots. Not sure about birding per se, but from pure geography perspective I'd be choosing Labrador :) I haven't shot there but been, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve (south east of St. John's) is home to great numbers of nesting sea birds.
 
Gorgeous shots. Not sure about birding per se, but from pure geography perspective I'd be choosing Labrador :) I haven't shot there but been, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve (south east of St. John's) is home to great numbers of nesting sea birds.
Thanks very much ssheipel. Cape St Mary’s is on our list. We have about three weeks to travel and shoot.
 
Just wondering if anyone has had experience and suggestions for a birding trip to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and southern Labrador during June. Guides, insights, and places to visit would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a couple from a recent trip to Klamath County, Oregon and Butte Valley, California. Great birding for birds of prey and waterfowl this time of year,
Marty
mrtk.smugmug.com

A successful Kestrel
View attachment 50119
A Wilson's Snipe
View attachment 50120

A Bobcat
View attachment 50121
Awesome set!👍👍🤣 In regards to New Foundland, you can’t miss Cape St. Mary’s. There is a large colony of nesting sea birds . Several species including northern gannets. See below: These were taken in the 1980’s with film.
6DC88703-9525-4D96-9B95-9781ADADB808.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
D1DE559D-95C2-4E2F-9E14-0E62D5743B04.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
9E9BC698-984A-4D1D-B772-F0B5C130C924.jpeg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Hi Marty,
you can’t go wrong in the Canadian Maritimes for birds. I’m especially partial to Atlantic puffins, Razorbills, Common murres and Arctic terns, all of which abound in the Maritime provinces. One great location is Donelda’s Bird Island, in Nova Scotia, where you can catch a scheduled tour to photograph puffins and other birds. Machias Seal Island is another great location off the coast of New Brunswick, where you can go by boat and spend four hours in blinds photographing puffins, murres, razorbills, and others just feet away. There are other good locations - just Google your target species. Here’s an article you might enjoy: https://www.canadiantraveller.com/Newfoundland_Where_to_Find_Puffins

Birds aside, the maritimes are wonderfully picturesque - many great coastal sites and charming fishing villages. Peggy’s Cove is especially photogenic. If you like history, be sure to visit L’anse Aux Meadows - the only documented Norse (Viking) settlement in North America, dating to 1000 A.D!

Best of luck!
 
Last edited:
I found Newfoundland quite productive for birding and scenics. Check out the galleries HERE - especially the galleries on Puffins and St. Mary's Ecological Reserve. St Mary's is a long ways out.....try to allow plenty of time there. The whale shots were taken from a cliff on the shore on the same day trip to St. Mary's.
 
Awesome set!👍👍🤣 In regards to New Foundland, you can’t miss Cape St. Mary’s. There is a large colony of nesting sea birds . Several species including northern gannets. See below: These were taken in the 1980’s with film.
Thanks Ralph, and thanks for sending those pictures from the 80s. Cape St. Mary's is high on the list.
 
Hi Marty,
you can’t go wrong in the Canadian Maritimes for birds. I’m especially partial to Atlantic puffins, Razorbills, Common murres and Arctic terns, all of which abound in the Maritime provinces. One great location is Donelda’s Bird Island, in Nova Scotia, where you can catch a scheduled tour to photograph puffins and other birds. Machias Seal Island is another great location off the coast of New Brunswick, where you can go by boat and spend four hours in blinds photographing puffins, murres, razorbills, and others just feet away. There are other good locations - just Google your target species. Here’s an article you might enjoy: https://www.canadiantraveller.com/Newfoundland_Where_to_Find_Puffins

Birds aside, the maritimes are wonderfully picturesque - many great coastal sites and charming fishing villages. Peggy’s Cove is especially photogenic. If you like history, be sure to visit L’anse Aux Meadows - the only documented Norse (Viking) settlement in North America, dating to 1000 A.D!

Best of luck!
Thanks so much for all those details Abinoone. My wife and I did visit Peggy's Cove and L’anse Aux Meadows a bunch of years ago before serious birding days. We have been doing a bunch of research and appreciate your thoughts.
 
I found Newfoundland quite productive for birding and scenics. Check out the galleries HERE - especially the galleries on Puffins and St. Mary's Ecological Reserve. St Mary's is a long ways out.....try to allow plenty of time there. The whale shots were taken from a cliff on the shore on the same day trip to St. Mary's.
Thanks for sharing your galleries Karen.The fisheye views in church were notable.
 
My wife and I spent June-July-Aug 2018 RVing around in NL. I wasn't a photo trip, but I always have my eyes open for photo ops. If you are looking for Puffins up close and personal be sure to go to Elliston a small town east of Bonavista. They have a city park for viewing puffins. Be sure and take a decoy with you, also Cape St. Marys is interesting. I made several trips there, the big problem was the weather...lots of fog, and/or large crowds of people. Just a note, when I suggested to my wife she take some warm clothes she joked and said it's summer why would I want to take winter clothes. In late June it was snowing at St. Anthony's. I had my long underwear..There are many quant fishing villages around the coast line.

Puffins 2018-06-29 1407.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Puffins 2018-06-29 1899.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Cape St Marys  2018-07-20 051.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.


Puffins 2018-06-29 1101.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Last edited:
Yes, the puffins will be on an island off shore. They are very curious, and will fly over to interact with the decoys. I almost forgot back in 2004 we went to Gaspe near Forillon National Park. I can't remember the name of the sanctuary, but we went by boat and were able to walk around without any restrictions. I just a have a few scanned in images as it was back in the slide film days. It wasn't a photo trip, we just stumbled across it while RVing around. I'm sure someone knows the name/location..
Puffins 2018-06-29 593.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Gaspe 2004_015.jpg
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
 
Trying to be tactful toward those that employ decoys for photo ops.
Birding and photography ethics is complex. Audubon, the American birding association, Sibley, and any number of blogs offer guidelines and contain numerous discussions on decoys and birdcall playback to attract birds. It doesn’t seem that there are many hard and fast rules other than putting the bird’s welfare in that particular circumstance first, be it time of year or location. It sounds as if you are opposed to decoys in any situation. Do you feel the same about playback of calls? I would appreciate hearing your reasoning. I’ve never used decoys, but I have used birdcalls upon infrequent and selective occasions. Here’s sibleys thoughts on playback. https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/04/the-proper-use-of-playback-in-birding/
 
I know I'm shameless. I put out bird feeder, then place a perch 20 ft away. Add a background using fabric either hanging from a clothes line type arrangement, or fasten to 60 x 40 foam board. Photograph BIF's as the fly back and forth. I also set up hummingbird feeders, and a series of 6 flashes set at 1/32 output + backgrounds and flash those little suckers.. What I really enjoy is my blue bird houses. Starting a few days before the young fledge the parents are frantically flying in and feeding the young. I know the flight path, and frequency. I'm able to set up a background/tripod, and bag chair. I have had seasons where there were three broods. I wouldn't admit this to just anyone but I have been know to use one of these..... on a boom arm fastened to a light stand under the flight path to the bird house.


Living next to Smokey Mountain NP i could tell you about the Bears. Not now though maybe another time.

Mike
 
@mrt, yes, the ethics issue is very complex and personal. The ethic issues concerning photography have been hashed out ad nauseam, even recently in this forum as I recall.

Thanks for asking my perspective on the matter. Personally, I have no need or desire to employ calls or decoys in my photography. I rather like Brad Hill’s (Natural Art Images) succinct treatise on the subject.

Growing up on a small farm, I became immersed in the outdoors and with hunting, fishing et cetera at a tender age. I always abided by “Fair Chase” rules. In my late teens i learned to resist peer pressure and the attendant bragging rights concerning bagging the most or biggest game. Yes, I used rattling and grunting on Whitetails and calls and decoys on turkeys. It was not a guarantee with either. I observed both become call shy and turkeys weary of decoys. The immersion in the “hunt” and field craft soon eclipsed the desire to fill a tag. To me, photography is in the same realm.

Ultimately, the fundamental ethical difference between hunting and photography use of said devices is to put meat on the table. Now a days, I have no compelling reason to “do whatever it takes“ to put game on a plate or a photograph on a card.
 
I’ve never used them, but whats the issue with decoys?🤔
Depends I guess, Ralph. Many would view them as similar to baiting and calling. Clearly, they are employed in order to influence/change a subjects behavior and possibly put them at risk. I wouldn’t want to be a turkey poult following mom into a field toward a decoy with the RedHawks around here! At least with baiting they hopefully get a free meal!
 
Back
Top