Newfoundland is a dream for wildlife photography! With its rugged landscapes, abundant and accessible wildlife, and breathtaking coastal vistas, Newfoundland invites you to explore and capture nature’s rawest and most captivating moments. From the colorful and clownish spectacle of Atlantic puffins nesting and socializing to the majestic flight of Northern gannets and other seabirds, Newfoundland offers extraordinary opportunities to photograph abundant wildlife in stunning landscapes and in close proximity. In addition to birds, we often spend time with foxes and enjoy a trip offshore to photograph whales. This adventure promises unforgettable moments and breathtaking wildlife photography, making it a must for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike!
Experience two of the largest nesting bird colonies on the Atlantic coast!
For the nature lover, there is something profound about being in the midst of thousands of birds as they engage in courtship and nesting activities and work to beat the clock before the season runs out. Our journey commences on the northern cliffs of the island, where you’ll find thousands of the colorful Atlantic Puffins nesting on a rocky outcropping just offshore. This location offers the closest views of puffins from land in North America, allowing us to photograph them as they guard their burrows, race in with nesting materials, fish for their young, and socialize high on the cliffs. You can expect these charming birds to fly within just feet of you or waddle along the cliff’s edge. At every turn, you’ll have opportunities to create stunning photographs of birds in flight, coming in for a landing and comically coming close.
Our next destination is the iconic Bird Rock, a world-renowned rocky outcropping where over 30,000 Northern Gannets gather each year to engage in courtship and build their nests. While the gannets may be most famous here, get ready to also encounter 20,000 Black-legged Kittewakes, and 20,000 Common Murres, in addition to Razorbills and other great wildlife.
As we arrive at Bird Rock, prepare your senses for a delightful spectacle: the sights, sounds, and even the aromas of the bustling colony! Watch as male gannets soar above the colony, carrying nesting materials in their bills to present to their mates below. You’ll be entranced by the vibrant activity of these striking birds, as well as Black-legged Kittiwakes with their young, murres, razorbills and more, all nesting along the dramatic cliffs.
Whale and Puffin Photography at Sea
As our tour wraps up, we’ll make our way to Witless Bay, home to the world’s largest population of Humpback Whales that return annually to feast on capelin and krill. Weather permitting, we will embark on a boat ride to capture incredible photos of these majestic whales and take a cruise around Bird Island to photography Puffins as they forage at sea, fly from the water and return to their nests. This is a unique opportunity to photograph not only engaging marine life but also to witness the remarkable interaction between these creatures and their stunning coastal environment.
It’s not all birds and whales – there are Foxes, Moose and other wildlife too!
While it’s never a given, we are often lucky in getting to spend time with foxes that live along the seashore. Knowing where to find them over the years has allowed us to spend time, especially with kits, as they play while waiting for mom or dad to return home with food. In addition to this, throughout our travels we are always scanning the habitat – don’t be surprised if you see moose, caribou, ptarmigan, arctic hares and other wildlife against the breathtaking backdrop of Newfoundland’s tundra. At the end of the trip, we will also show you some iconic locations in St.John’s like Signal Hill and Jelly Bean row.
Our trip is timed for maximum wildlife activity.
We timed this trip for when Capelin, a critical fish for seabirds and whales, is “running.” Find the food and you will find the wildlife. This intersection between capelin spawning, birds nesting and whales migrating is a dance of life that plays out in the seas before us. This time of year, the seas are filled and it’s a place of plenty.
Strategically located, comfortable lodging
Each location that we are staying at is one that we have stayed at year after year. They are in close proximity to the locations where we will photograph, enabling us to take advantage of the light and have options in our photographic creativity.
Join Us for an Unforgettable Experience
Join us on this inspiring tour as we visit age-old nesting colonies where these incredible birds thrive. Unleash your creativity, document their distinctive behaviors, and craft stunning images that showcase nature’s untamed beauty. This adventure promises unforgettable memories and awe-inspiring photographs—an essential journey for wildlife lovers and visual storytellers alike!
Two photography instructors
Our tour is designed for photographers of all skill levels. You’ll have two instructors, Steve and Nicole, by your side throughout, to advise as you capture images of a lifetime.
*Non-Photographer spots are available for this trip at a slight discount. This is a great trip for a photographer to share with a spouse/friend who enjoys nature and having a great adventure. We actually have a number of non-photographers who love nature join our trips because we are not only fun to travel with but also spend time with wildlife, watching and enjoying the behaviors and activity.
Prepare for Newfoundland’s Unique Weather
A note about the weather: Newfoundland’s climate is known for its variability, and certain shooting locations may experience fog around 60-70% of the time. While we will be strategically located for optimal photography throughout the trip, the weather can impact our ability to take photos. We’ve built in extra time at each location to adapt, but as with all nature photography, please remember that there are no guarantees.
Transportation
You will be responsible for reserving and paying for your own transportation, but rental cars are available right at St. John’s airport. We are also happy to help coordinate car sharing amongst travelers. The drives that we will be doing are all very straightforward on flat easy roads.
Fitness Level: Moderate. At each of our locations, there is walking involved. The walk to the puffin colony is not far but it does require walking up and over some rocks. The walk is just under ½ mile each way. The walk to the gannet colony is approximately a mile each way. It is relatively flat and there are a few benches along the way for resting but towards the end, there are rocks that you will need to walk over. You need to have good balance for the rocky areas and be able to carry your gear for that distance.
