Note: As wildlife (and weather) are unpredictable, changes in times and locations may occur, even at last minute. A final itinerary will be distributed at orientation.

Afternoon: ARRIVALS AND INTRODUCTIONS: Independent arrivals and transfers to the program hotel after 2:00 pm. Please note that rooms are not generally available until mid to late afternoon. You will meet for introductions, a review of the program and site orientation.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Evening: PRESENTATION: Seabirds and the Marine Ecology of Newfoundland and Labrador. A local expert will discuss "Seabirds and the Marine Ecology of Newfoundland and Labrador", followed by a video presentation "People of the Sea". You will learn about the diversity of North Atlantic seabirds and the Low Arctic Ocean conditions along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador that makeup the natural surroundings of their habitat. The icy coastal waters that wash the Newfoundland coasts are the lowest penetration of Arctic waters in the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, Newfoundland is the southern limit for icebergs and many Arctic seabirds. The cold productive waters provide an excellent environment for many species of marine fishes and mammals. We will explore the interrelationships between seabirds and their ocean based environment as well as assess current information about the North Atlantic, its key fishes and climate change. The remainder of the evening is free to continue exploring St. John's on your own or rest at the hotel.

Lodging: Quality Hotel Harbourview

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: Quidi Vidi: 4 kms/2.5 miles Signal Hill: 2 kms/1.26 miles - steep in places

Breakfast: Early Morning Bird Walk: An optional early bird (6:00 a.m.) walk around the Signal Hill trails will be offered, followed by breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: EXCURSION: Quidi Vidi Lake. Hike around Quidi Vidi Lake, once known for being a historic fishing village. The village itself is a little sheltered corner of the east coast, with a glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean from inside the gut. It was used after World War II for the construction of the United States’ Air Force Base. Nowadays, however, the village is a quiet community, where you can walk from one end to the other in five minutes flat. (4 kms/2.5 miles)

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Signal Hill. You will have the opportunity to explore Signal Hill as you discover the many gulls, ducks and environs. Signal Hill has long been used for observation and communication. Here, signalmen surveyed the ocean for ships headed into St. John's harbor, years before the advent of ship-to-shore radio. From signal masts high atop the Hill, flags conveyed information on approaching vessels to military and mercantile interests in St. John's. Merchants then had plenty of time to prepare their docks for incoming vessels. (2 kms/1.26 miles, steep in places)

Lunch: Lunch in the Café of The Rooms (the provincial museum) with a magnificent panoramic view of St. John's and its harbor. Soaring into the skyline of historic St. John's, The Rooms combines twenty-first century technology with a striking visual reference to our past. Its unique design mirrors the "fishing rooms" where families came together to process their catch.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: The Rooms. Examine the bird, wildlife and archaeological exhibits at The Rooms that reflect life in Newfoundland and Labrador from the 1700s to present day. See the only Great Auk skeleton in Newfoundland (one of only two in Canada) and get a good feel for what you are about to experience in the great outdoors.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to enjoy local fare or join the Group Leader (at a local restaurant).

Evening: You may remain with your Group Leader to continue exploring local sites or take the opportunity to head off on your own to discover St. John's, NL.

Lodging: Quality Hotel Harbourview

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Seabird Population Trends/Witless Bay Ecological Reserve/Ferryland Picnic/Colony of Avalon/Cape Spear

Note: Witless Bay: Boarding and disembarking boat Ferryland: Short walk on hilly terrain. Cape Spear: 3.5 kms/2.2 miles rated moderate.

Breakfast: Optional Early Morning Bird Walk: Enjoy a bird walk (6:00 am) around Kents Pond, followed by a buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserve. At Witless Bay (named after the temperament of the sea), embark on an exploration by boat for up close and personal wildlife experiences. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve near St. John`s comprises three islands: Great, Gull and Green. This reserve contains the largest Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) colony in North America. Green Island contains North America`s second largest colony of common murres. A visit to the reserve is a breathtaking encounter with a variety of seabird species. It has the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in North America and the second largest Leach Storm Petrel colony in the world!

Morning: LECTURE: Seabird Population Trends. En route to Witless Bay, your guide will provide a presentation on seabird population trends in the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. Years of study in the Reserve have provided insights into the complex relationship between the birds of the reserve, the smelt-like capelin that constitute a the principal food source for most of those birds, and the humpback whales that come here to feed in the rich coastal waters. Hear about threats to the continued well-being of the birds on the islands, and the changing dynamics within the food web.

Lunch: We will indulge in a traditional gourmet picnic lunch in Ferryland, site of Lord Baltimore's first North American colony. Walk out to the historic Ferryland Lighthouse for a one-of-a-kind picnic lunch. From the rolling hilltop, find a spot to lay your Newfoundland tartan blanket and relax while being served a gourmet lunch. Enjoy homemade seasonal favorites, fresh squeezed lemonade served in Mason jars and a private performance by local fiddlers. Ferryland has a fairly deep bay, so frequently you can see whales breeching and blowing right from your cozy spot on the shore (weather pending).

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Colony of Avalon. This afternoon we will visit the Colony of Avalon, located in Ferryland. You’ll have the opportunity to walk on a 17th century street, see a 17th century herb garden and explore the remains of everyday life in one of the earliest European colonies in North America. The colony was founded by George Calvert, later Lord Baltimore, in 1621. The Ferryland settlement was "forgotten", and its remains lay undisturbed for centuries. The site is now being excavated. Constructed of stone, the buildings have left substantial remains. Archaeologists have uncovered over a million artifacts to date – gold rings, Portuguese ceramics and other unusual objects as well as a smithy, a stone-walled well and a sea-flushed privy.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Cape Spear. Follow the Cape Spear Path south from the lighthouse over coastal barrens with impressive views of the rugged shoreline; Cape Spear is renowned for its spectacular sea birding - on any given day you can expect to see Gannets and a variety of Alcids. On your hike, be on the look-out for Rough-legged Hawks, Willow Ptarmigan, Horned Larks, American Pipits and the labradorius subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow, owing to its geographic position the Cape is often frequented by vagrant birds from afar. Along the coast Black Guillemots, sea ducks, Bald Eagles and whales are commonly seen. (3.5 kms/2.2 miles. Moderate)

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Quality Hotel Harbourview

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Salmonier Nature Park. We walk through Salmonier Nature Park where birds of prey, caribou, moose, foxes, otters can be seen in natural enclosures. The role of the park is to help visitors gain an understanding and appreciation for wildlife and the natural community it inhabits. This role is based on the premise that it’s difficult to appreciate that which you don’t know. In order to help people gain this understanding and appreciation, Salmonier Nature Park provides visitors with a unique opportunity to view Newfoundland and Labrador wildlife face to face. However, the mission of the park extends beyond wildlife as it is traditionally thought of and includes the plants, insect life and landscapes of our Province. Birding along the boardwalks can be rewarding - expect Newfoundland Canada Jays, Boreal Chickadees, listen for boreal owls and woodpeckers.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Rocky River Fishway. The Rocky River is the Avalon Peninsula’s largest salmon stream. The provincial anglers’ association has constructed a fish ladder to ease the upstream migration of the river’s Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) population past the waterfalls near Colinet. The deep pool and swift-flowing falls are surrounded by a network of wooded trails with viewing platforms, allowing not only for woodland birding but also the possibility of seeing bald eagles or ospreys fishing from the trees along the shore. We end the day on the shore of Placentia Bay in the fishing community of St. Brides.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant where we will dine on fresh fish or other local fare.

Evening: LECTURE: Birds of Cape St. Mary's. A presentation on the birds of Cape St. Mary's will prepare us for tomorrow's adventure. Cape St. Mary’s is another Ecological Reserve on the southern Avalon Peninsula. It has a spectacular population of nesting Gannets plus a variety of other species including eagles, nesting predatory ravens, Cliff-herring gull, Great Black-backed gull, Ring-billed gull, Northern Fulmar and the Caspian tern - listed as a vulnerable species in Canada.

Lodging: Bird Island Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Optional Early Morning Bird Walk: Enjoy a bird walk (6:00 am) around St. Brides followed by breakfast at the motel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Cape St. Mary's. It’s off to Cape St. Mary where the fog horns wail and hagdowns (shearwaters) sail. Ecologically, the Eastern Hyper-oceanic Barrens ecoregion has immense value for its bird life. Seabird breeding colonies occur in remote islands and on Cape St. Mary’s. Cape St. Mary’s is another Ecological Reserve on the southern Avalon Peninsula; it has a spectacular population of nesting Gannets plus a variety of other species. Located about 200 kms/126 miles southwest of St. John's, Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve also known as "the Cape" is one of Newfoundland and Labrador's major seabird colonies. During the breeding season, it is home to 24,000 Northern gannet, 20,000 Black-legged kittiwake, 20,000 Common murre, and 2,000 Thick-billed murre. In addition, more than 100 pairs of Razorbill, more than 60 pairs of Black guillemot, plus Double-crested and Great cormorant, and Northern fulmar nest there. What makes it so spectacular, however, is that all these birds can be seen from land, as close as 10 metres/32 feet away. Most of the Northern gannets, for example, make their nests on "Bird Rock"—a 100-metre/328 feet-tall stack of sandstone that is separated from the viewing area by a chasm only a few metres wide. The gannets' courtship, nesting, and feeding behaviors, interactions, and delicate flying maneuvers over the crowded sea stack are endlessly fascinating and easily observed from the natural, cliff-top viewing area. Great photo ops at the most stunning and accessible colony of Northern Gannets; there will also be murres, Razorbills, kittiwakes, eagles and cliff-nesting predatory ravens. On the barrens, Rough legged hawk, Snowy owl, Savannah sparrow, and American pipit are all characteristic. In forested areas, Blackpoll warbler, Dark-eyed junco, and Northern waterthrush can be found. Willow ptarmigan and Yellow and Wilson’s warblers are some of the species that inhabit the region’s shrub habitat.

Lunch: Lunch at Cape St. Mary's.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Hike to Brierly Cove. We will set out on a short 1 km/.63 mile hike through a forested valley to the site of the former settlement at Brierly Cove, a fishing settlement in Placentia and St. Mary’s district.

Dinner: Dinner at the Gannet's Nest.

Evening: Following dinner, a local storyteller will spin some terrific yarns.

Lodging: Bird Island Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Castle Hill: Short trails 1 km/.63 miles or less.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Castle Hill. From St. Brides we proceed north through the valleys and tiny villages of the Cape Shore along the eastern edge of Placentia Bay. We scan the bay and search out forest birds atop the Castle Hill – site of the fort that protected the former French capital. Today, the remains of France's 17th-century fortress at Castle Hill are all that is left of the French presence here. Events in Europe sealed Plaisance's (Placentia's) fate when the British gained sovereignty over Newfoundland by the Treaty of Utrecht, leaving France with fishing rights to the northeast and west coasts. The French colonists and soldiers moved on to build the Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. Castle Hill was fortified by the British for a brief period during the Seven Years' War, but Placentia was overshadowed by St. John's. Short trails 1 km/.63 miles or less.

Lunch: Lunch at Philip's Cafe in the lowlands of Placentia at the entrance to the harbor.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Bellevue Beach Provincial Park. The Osprey capital of Newfoundland, Bellevue is a small community located in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was founded in 1864 as Tickle Harbour, but the name was changed to Bellevue on December 11, 1896. It is a nature lover's paradise with whales, birds, fish and more. Keep your eyes open for nesting terns and gulls, Bald Eagles, Spotted Sandpipers, plovers and yellowlegs. From Bellevue, we head on to Port Union on the Bonavista Peninsula. The adjacent headlands are terrific sites for birds and for sightings of icebergs and whales.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Seaport Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Spillars Cove: 3 - 5 kms/1.8 - 3.1 miles

Breakfast: Optional Early Morning Bird Walk: Enjoy a bird walk (6:00 am) around the area followed by breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Maberly Puffins. After breakfast it’s on to Maberly for an up close and personal view of the Puffins. Here we will get the best views and photo opportunities for this species in Newfoundland. Birders are often given the opportunity to view them up close.

Morning: EXCURSION: Elliston. You will then be welcomed in Elliston, a town a small community located on the North eastern tip of the Bonavista peninsula. Elliston was once a busy fishing settlement but now is a quiet tourist destination. The town contains many attractions including the beautiful beach at Sandy Cove, camping facilities at Elliston municipal park, puffin sites and of course many examples of traditional Newfoundland root cellars.

Lunch: Lunch in Spillars Cove.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Spillars Cove. The cliffs and sea stacks along Spillars Cove provide nesting sites for Puffins, Guillemots and gulls. Then we head out to Cape Bonavista, renowned for its garnering of wayward European vagrants (e.g. Lapwings and Greater Golden Plovers from Europe). At Cape Bonavista one can stand close to the lighthouse and have a clear view of hundreds of birds going about their business. The business, of course, is cruising over the North Atlantic, diving and returning with lunch. It is amazing to behold, even on the foggy wet days which seem to come frequently to the Cape. Look for Killdeer, plovers and Whimbrels.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to enjoy local fare or join the Group Leader (at a local restaurant in Trinity).

Evening: You may remain with your Group Leader to continue exploring local sites or take the opportunity to head off on your own to discover Trinity before returning to the hotel.

Lodging: Seaport Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Terra Nova National Park: 7 km/4.41 miles

Breakfast: Early Morning Bird Walk: 6:00 am bird walk around the area followed by breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Terra Nova National Park. After breakfast we head to Terra Nova National Park where we will take a 7 km/4.41 mile hike to Buckley Cove, where you can look for the rare Greater yellow legs feeding along the Barachois and enjoy the view of Mount Stamford. You can also explore the birding opportunities for Forest warblers, thrushes, grouse and marten.

Lunch: Lunch at Buckley Cove in Terra Nova National Park.

Afternoon: This afternoon, return to St. John's.

Dinner: Farewell dinner in St. John's.

Evening: Continue exploring St. John's on your own or enjoy a restful evening at the hotel in anticipation of your morning departure after breakfast.

Lodging: Quality Hotel Harbourview

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel is at 7:30 am.

Morning: Independent departures after breakfast. Check-out is 11:00 a.m.

Lodging: Quality Hotel Harbourview

Meals Included: Breakfast