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
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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.