Birding Boat Tours Bruce Peninsula Boat Tours
Offshore Birding Excursion for Experienced Birders
Let your binoculars lead you, and we will safely facilitate your birding by boat experience.
The Bruce Peninsula is on a major North American bird migration corridor, known as the ‘Huron Fringe’. It is a must visit for birders.
We facilitate your on-water birding excursion to see nesting sites and rookeries offshore in the Fishing Islands of Lake Huron. A number of other species pass through this area. This opportunity is for experienced birders who are able to independently identify species they may encounter along with the typical heron, gull and egret found on these sites. Our operator/guides know the route and locations and can lead the way, but will not be providing birding expertise, on this particular excursion.
The area where we tour by boat includes coastal wetlands, island and mainland shoreline and nesting sites on the rocky reefs and shoals of the islands, in May and June. Some birds may remain on the nest into the first week or two of July, but there are many less birds on the nests by then.
The Huron Fringe Birding Festival which takes place at McGregor Point, just 45 km south of our departure location takes place in our region every May/June, is enjoyed by many. The 2017 festival bird count tallied 181 species. The Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory is located at Cabot Head on the Bruce Peninsula, just 60 km north. This station in North Bruce has a significant fall migration monitoring program. A total of 133 species of birds were detected in standard count area over the monitoring season.
Time: 7:00 AM (May and June)
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults (16-64) – $49.50*, Seniors (65+) – $47.50*, Youth (6-15) – $39.50*
* plus HST
Oliphant Departure
PUBLIC TOURS
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Birding the Islands by Boat with Doug Pedwell
Join group leader Doug Pedwell to discover the birds of the Fishing Islands off the west coast of the Bruce Peninsula.
Since retiring from teaching, Doug has been able to indulge his lifelong passions of of birding and photography. He can often be found scanning the shoreline of Lake Huron and the Fishing Islands in search of the birds that pass through this beautiful part of the Bruce Peninsula and nest here in the spring. A member of the Bruce Birding Club, the Saugeen Shores Camera Club, past-president of the Friends of MacGregor Point Park and past Co-Chair of the Huron Fringe Birding Festival, you will enjoy having Doug share his skill and local knowledge aboard our vessel.
During this 2.0 hour tour we will visit a heron rookery while navigating through the islands. Passengers will remain onboard, and the entire tour is conducted from the boat.
Time: 7:00 a.m.
DATES REMAINING:
Rescheduled: Tuesday, July 2, 2019 (Poor Weather Date: Thursday, July 4, 2019)
Duration: 2 hours
Cost: Adults (16-64) – $64.50*, Seniors (65+) – $62.50*, Youth (6-15) – $44.50*
* PWD – Poor Weather Date
* + HST
Oliphant Departure
Book It*PWD/”Poor weather dates” have been assigned in case the weather becomes unsuitable for safe sailing the day of your scheduled tour. The “poor weather date” will be provided as an alternative and will run if a minimum of 4 passengers remain registered. A full refund will be provided to registered participants if the the weather is poor and they are unable to come on the poor weather date, or if the the minimum passengers is not met for the alternate date.
Bird Photography in the Fishing Islands
Come Aboard and We’ll Indulge Your Bird Photography Passion!
Come get that special shot you have been waiting for. This is a 2.0 hour photo-centric tour in the Fishing Islands of Lake Huron which are on a migratory bird route. We will visit to an off-shore heron rookery, as wave and wind conditions permit. Nesting sites are active in May and June, with the chicks visible from mid-late May, on. This tour is for photographers who are not looking for a session led by another photographer, but rather, an opportunity to more independently explore the photographic opportunities there are here. Our regular guides will safely transport you within our touring area and provide opportunities for you to photograph the birds that pass through and nest around the islands.
Private tours and group tours are available on Islander I which has a capacity of 6 people. If you have a larger group, please contact us to see if our 12-passenger boat might be available. If you book on a group birding photography tour, other photographers may join you. If you want the solitude, please book a private tour.
If our schedule does not suit your party’s needs, please contact us, and tell us what dates you are looking for.
Oliphant Departure
PUBLIC TOUR
Book itPRIVATE TOUR
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Bird & Nature Photography Tour with Doug Pedwell
Join group leader Doug Pedwell on a Bird & Nature Photography Tour of The Fishing Islands off the west coast of the Bruce Peninsula.
Since retiring from teaching, Doug has been able to indulge his lifelong passions of of photography and birding, in particular. He can often be found scanning the shoreline of Lake Huron and the Fishing Islands in search of the birds that pass through this beautiful part of the Bruce Peninsula and nest here in the spring. A member of the Bruce Birding Club, the Saugeen Shores Camera Club, past-president of the Friends of MacGregor Point Park and past Co-Chair of the Huron Fringe Birding Festival, you will enjoy having Doug share his photography skills and local knowledge of nature, aboard our vessel.
During this 2.0 hour tour we will offshore nesting sites and travel through coastal wetlands, and around the beautiful Fishing Islands of Lake Huron. Passengers will remain onboard, and the entire tour is conducted from the boat.
Time: 7:00 a.m.
Sat. June 8, 2019 ~ Poor Weather Date (PWD) – Sun. June 9, 2019 – Duration: 2 hours – CANCELLED (Please call if you have interest in this event.)
Cost: Adults (16-64) – $64.50*, Seniors (65+) – $62.50*, Youth (6-15) – $44.50*
* plus HST
Oliphant Departure
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Birding the Sauble for Experienced Birders
COMING SOON! Stay tuned for Birding Tours in the Sauble River in Autumn 2019
The Sauble River is a hotspot for waterfowl. Call us if you would be like to come behind the scenes with us, as we plan this new excursion.