NOVA SCOTIA
Shorebird & Seabird Spectacle!
August 10 - 18, 2027
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The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Fundy, and the Northumberland Strait. The mosaic of habitats here include the Bay of Fundy Cliffs, home to the world’s highest tides, exposed fossils, and dramatic red-rock canyons; the Acadian Forest with its mix of northern and southern tree species; the wind-sculpted, granite Coastal Barrens with stunted trees and hardy alpine-like vegetation against the backdrop of sweeping ocean views; and the salt marshes and tidal rivers that serve as nurseries for birds, fish, and invertebrates.

We've designed this tour to visit Nova Scotia in August, during the peak shorebird concentration, prime pelagic seabird time, and a time when coastal habitats are buzzing with migrants staging for fall. The massive shorebird migration along the Bay of Fundy hosts tens of thousands of sandpipers and plovers that gather to feed before flying nonstop to South America. This is one of the great natural spectacles of eastern North America - where mudflats exposed at low tide create perfect feeding conditions for Semipalmated, White-rumped, and Stilt Sandpipers, as well as Whimbrel and Godwits and others. August pelagic trips often produce shearwaters, puffins, kittiwakes, jaegers, phalaropes, and storm petrels with whale sightings as a bonus. Brier Island, where we stage for the pelagic trip, is consistently ranked as Nova Scotia’s top birding hotspot with 293+ recorded species.
The combination of warm weather, the stunning landscapes of the coast, wildlife, and long daylight hours in Nova Scotia creates one of the richest nature- travel experiences anywhere in Atlantic Canada.
Join us to experience the wonders of Nova Scotia!
ITINERARY - subject to change based on wildlife & weather
Day 1: Arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Today we will arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Airport code: YHZ) where we will begin the tour with dinner near our hotel, and go over the plan for the following days.
Day 2: Hartlen Point - Peggy’s Cove - White Sand Resort
We will begin with birding at Hartlen Point just outside of Halifax, here we will get an introduction to the birdlife of North America’s Atlantic coast. Species like Northern Harrier, White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Common Eider, and as well as passerines such as Lincoln's and Savannah Sparrow, maybe an early Dicksissel, and several species of warbler can be seen migrating through here. After lunch, we’ll begin our drive north to the Annapolis Valley. Our destination for the evening is the charming town of Wolfville, nestled near the shores of the Minas Basin.
Day 3: Birding The Guzzle and Wolfville area
This morning’s birding will be dictated by the tides, as we plan our visit to “The Guzzle” around high tide to experience one of Nova Scotia’s great natural spectacles. At The Guzzle, a narrow channel on nearby Long Island, we’ll witness flocks of Semipalmated Sandpipers gathering by the tens of thousands. These birds stop here to rest and feed during their southbound migration creating an awe-inspiring display as they swirl and shift in tight formation. The combination of sheer numbers and the movement of the flocks makes this a highlight of the tour. After soaking in this spectacle, we’ll spend the next few hours of the day looking for migrant passerines before making the 3-hour drive to Brier Island. We will spend the next two nights at a quaint lodge with views of the shoreline.

Day 4: Brier Island Whale Watching & Pelagic
A whale-watching and seabird pelagic trip from Brier Island is a highlight of any visit to Brier Island. These nutrient-rich waters attract Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, Minke Whales and White-sided Dolphins.
As the boat cruises offshore, we'll scan for pelagic species like Great, Sooty, Manx, and sometimes Cory’s Shearwaters, Red-necked Phalaropes, Kittiwakes, Puffins, and Wilson’s and Leach’s Storm-Petrels gliding over the waves. South Polar Skuas and Parasitic Jaegers search for their next opportunistic meal, and Fulmar, Murres and Razorbills are possibilities.
Day 5: Brier Island to Yarmouth
This morning, we’ll spend a few hours this morning birding on Brier Island, taking in the coastal habitats and searching for migrants and seabirds. The island’s quiet roads and windswept headlands offer excellent opportunities for lingering warblers, flycatchers, and ocean views. After a walk and some relaxed birding, we’ll take the ferry back to the mainland. From
there, we’ll begin our drive along the south shore of Nova Scotia to Yarmouth.
Day 6: Cape Sable Island and Baccaro Point
We will spend the day today birding on Cape Sable Island and Barracco Point. Cape Sable Island is one of the only locations in Canada to host a breeding population of American Oystercatchers. We will also be on the lookout here for more migrant shorebirds such as Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, and the sandy colored Piping Plover are also found here. We will also look for larger waders such as Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits. This island is also a hotspot for southern rarities, in past years species such as Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret have appeared here. The surrounding mixed woodlands and fields can hold migrant warblers, flycatchers, and the occasional rarity. Night in
Yarmouth.

Day 7: Cape Forchu
Today we will bird around Cape Forchu, one of the best locations for migrant songbirds in Nova Scotia, we will keep our eyes peeled for Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, and Black-throated Blue Warblers in the trees. Flycatchers possible here include Yellow-bellied, Olive-sided as migrants, while Least and Alder Flycatchers may still be lingering here from the breeding season, possibly with fledglings. From the lighthouse, we will conduct a sea watch and hope to see Great Shearwaters and Northern Gannets gracefully streaming past. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Halifax for the final evening of the tour.
Day 8: Depart Halifax
Plan on departing from Halifax (YHZ) today.
Leaders: Gavin McKinnon, Gina Nichol & Steve Bird.
