Main Info
Birding Nature Reserves on Newfoundland’s Southwest Coast
For 2021, this tour is a self-drive guided tour (your guide will be in a separate car).
Tour Dates:
2021 tour dates are flexible and can be booked for any date between January 1 and December 31.
2022 scheduled tours are every Saturday January through December, advance booking is required.
This one-day guided birding tour takes you on a journey through two nature reserves managed for conservation by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. We’ll visit a reserve with an old growth forest and uncover its natural and historical significance; then we’ll explore the magnificent Grand Codroy Estuary Nature Reserve, an Important Bird Area (IBA) and RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance. The Grand Codroy Estuary is the only designated RAMSAR wetland in the province.
Tour Starts / Ends | Stephenville, NL |
Departure time | 6:00 AM |
Return time | 6:00 PM |
2022 Tour Includes |
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What you might see on this tour |
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Nature Conservancy of Canada Nature Reserves – Tour Fact Sheet | |
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Seasons Offered | Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
Tour Dates | 2021 Flexible: 2022 Scheduled Tours: |
When to visit |
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Birds we may see | Canada Goose, Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal, Greater Scaup, Surf Scoter, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Boreal Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbill, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Northern Waterthrush, Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, gulls, raptors, woodpeckers, swallows |
Other possible sightings | Moose, Woodland Caribou, Red Fox, Black Bear, Newfoundland Pine Martin, Seal, Snowshoe Hare, Pink Lady’s Slipper, Yellow Lady’s Slipper (blooms in spring), Purple Pitcher Plan (NL provincial flower), rare plants. |
Bird-viewing habitats | Boreal forest, old growth forest, estuary wetlands, hay fields, riparian areas. |
Climate / Weather (average temperatures) |
Visit our Getting Here page for more information about our climate. |
Maximum group size | 4 to 8 (plus your guide) |
Tour pace & walking | Comfortable pace, easy walking over flat terrain |
Ease of birding | Easy to moderate, with some rare sighting opportunities |
Rare visitors to the area |
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Photographic opportunities | Excellent for birds and scenery |
Not included 2021 | Pick up and drop off service, transportation during the tour. For 2021, this is a self-drive guided tour (your guide will be in a separate car). Contact us for assistance. |
What to bring | Visit our Getting Here page for information on what to bring. |
Cellular reception | Yes, however there are patches of dead zones in some areas |
Additional remarks | The Nature Conservancy of Canada manages a number of reserves in Southwestern NL including the Grand Codroy Estuary Nature Reserve, which is a collection of properties totaling 262 hectares bordering the Grand Codroy River and Estuary. A well-maintained trail accessible from the Codroy Valley Wetland Interpretation Centre provides access to one piece of this nature reserve. |