Bird Watching on Newfoundland’s Scenic Coast

Birdwatching in Newfoundland is a fantastic experience. Newfoundland is widely known as a nesting and feeding area for several species of sea birds, and terrestrial birds as well. In the spring and summer capelin move inshore to feed and lay their eggs on beaches. This mass movement of fish drives the entire ecosystem, triggering migrations of whales, other larger species of fish, and birds. The capelin spawning period is similar to an inshore all-you-can-eat buffet. An abundant and readily available food source close by is essential for a successful nesting colony. Often nesting in mixed colonies, these birds time the hatching of their eggs with the arrival of the capelin.

Puffins

Birdwatching in Newfoundland offers incredible opportunities to see puffins up close. These “clowns of the sea” are a favorite among visitors, known for their vibrant beaks and playful personalities.. A member of the Alcid family, puffins are skilled divers, appearing to fly under water though walking on land makes them look a little clumsy. Atlantic puffins have several nesting colonies on islands in Bonavista and Trinity Bays. Puffins nest in burrows — doing this on the mainland would make them more vulnerable to predators like rodents taking their eggs and chicks. By nesting on islands, the risk of ground-based predators is no longer a factor. However, they must watch for predation from other larger seabirds, like black back gulls. Elliston and Cape Bonavista provide views of colonies from shore, but viewing them from the boat and accessing colonies that are less impacted by humans is a real treat.

So many birds!

In Trinity Bight, Green Island, provides views of mixed nesting colonies including arctic and common terns, guillemots, black back gulls, herring gulls, kittiwakes, and Leach’s storm petrels. Later in the summer, as these birds are starting to move off of the colonies, manx, sooty and greater shearwaters arrive by the hundreds to feed. Hearing the pitter-patter of their feet as they take off from the water is a real treat!

Bald Eagles

The number of bald eagles in Trinity Bight should not be missed. With an estimated 50 nesting pairs and all of the juveniles that go along with that nesting, there is always the opportunity to see a bald eagle. These birds also make their nests on the shores close to capelin spawning beaches but are usually more interested in hunting the larger fish that come in to feed on the capelin. Feeding on capelin as they spawn on the beach does happen occasionally as there is no hunting involved, the fish just come to them. There is nothing like rounding a headland and seeing a flock of birds on a beach feeding on capelin only to discover that they are all bald eagles! Watching eagle chicks hatch out and grow up over the course of a season is a favourite part of each day’s trips for our crew.

Steller’s Sea Eagle

In recent years, birdwatching in Newfoundland has offered a truly unique opportunity — there has been a Steller’s Sea Eagle hanging out around the capelin spawning beaches of Trinity. Native to Russia and Asia, it arrived on our shores in 2022, after being tracked up the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada. Aside from a few in captivity, this is the only bird of its kind in North America! The bird, who has been named Stella, has been hanging around with bald eagles in Trinity Bight for three seasons now. Characterized by the huge yellow beak and white leading edge of its wings, this bird makes the rather large bald eagles look tiny. Steller’s eagles stand 4 feet tall and have an 8 foot wingspan, while bald eagles stand 3 feet tall and have a 6 foot wingspan. Due to the size difference, this bird also outweighs bald eagles. In the first two years this bird returnedvto the mainland in the winter, but last year seems to have overwintered on Newfoundland’s west coast. This winter had sightings in Terra Nova National Park around Christmas ,but there have been no other confirmed sightings since. The Steller’s sea eagle is often sighted with bald eagles though there is no evidence of it mating or nesting yet. We hope that in the coming years it will find a mate. Bald/Steller’s hybrids are found in other parts of the world. Will this bird come back for another season in Trinity Bight? It’s anyone’s guess! Check out the group Steller’s Sea Eagle in Canada for Steller’s Sea Eagle sightings, photos, and art in and related to Canada!

Whether it’s whales, birds, icebergs, geology or a little bit of everything that you’re after, we’ve got you covered. Book your tour today with Sea of Whales Adventures!