How To Experience 500,000 Colorful Puffins in Newfoundland
This is How To Experience 500,000 Colorful Puffins in Newfoundland. Puffins are adorable little birds and quite shy, like any other wild animal. So you won’t see them everywhere in Newfoundland.
To see these birds, you have to be in the correct place at the perfect time if you want to watch these colourful birds. Luckily, there are several places in Newfoundland where puffins can be found and even more when they appear during the spring migration.
Plan ahead by booking tickets several months out. Book your ticket here.
If you want to experience the magic of seeing hundreds of colourful puffins flying through the air, start planning your trip immediately. So, if you’re planning a trip to Newfoundland and want to see some puffins, this guide will help you plan the perfect itinerary.
Puffins are timid birds, so expect to see only a few at once. Also, their nesting grounds are very difficult to access due to the rocky and hilly terrain. This means that if you’re not careful or have physical limitations, it might be hard for you to get around without assistance from someone else. However, some of the sighting grounds are easily accessible. We recommend you keep your distance puffins are wild birds and should not be petted.
Puffins are seabirds that live on cliffs and small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. You will most likely see Atlantic puffins with black-and-white colouring and orange beaks. The Atlantic puffin has a white face with some black on it. They have short wings; their body is covered with white and black feathers, and they have a large orange beak with black tips. Puffins are very social birds and live in colonies.
If you’re a bird lover, experiencing the sight of 500,000 colourful puffins in Newfoundland is an absolute must. Here are tips to make the most of your visit:
There are several places where you can see puffins in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Timing is everything: The best time to see puffins in Newfoundland is from mid-May to mid-August, when they come to the coast to breed.
Book a boat tour: Since puffins breed on cliffs and small islands off the coast, the best way to see them is by taking a boat tour. Several tour operators offer guided tours that bring you to the best spots to see these beautiful birds feeding and nesting.
Getting Around Newfoundland and Labrador
Booking a Rental car is the easiest way to get around Newfoundland and Labrador. The province is vast and remote, and public transportation can be limited. A car rental lets you explore at your own pace and visit off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Choose the right location: While there are several locations along the coast where you can see puffins, some of the best include Elliston, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, and Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve.
Bring binoculars: Even though puffins will be relatively close to you, bringing binoculars can help you get a better look at their unique features and distinct colours.
While getting as close to the puffins as possible is tempting, it’s important to remember that they are still wild animals. So keep a safe distance and avoid disturbing their natural habitat.
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By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to experiencing the unforgettable sight of 500,000 colourful puffins in Newfoundland.
Elliston Puffin Viewing Site: This nesting ground is located on the Bonavista peninsula in Eastern Region. It is one of the most accessible puffin colonies in the province, making it a popular destination for bird lovers. At this puffin site in Elliston, you can get up close to see these birds while respecting their privacy. It’s a popular spot because it’s the only colony on the island that allows visitors to get very close to the birds. The view from this site is spectacular, and you can see puffins flying in and out of their burrows carved into the cliff face.
Address: Maberly Road, Elliston, NL
Witless Bay Ecological Reserve: The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is found in Bay Bulls, Witless Bay, on the Irish Loop. If you drive the Irish Loop road trip, add this ecological reserve to your itinerary. It’s a popular spot for bird, iceberg, and whale watching. The best bird-watching time is during spring and summer migrations when more birds are around. Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is home to one of Newfoundland largest bird colonies annually.
Address: Witless Bay, offshore Route 10, Witless Bay, NL
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve: The Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is located on the shore of Saint Bride’s. It’s the best place to see seabirds in Newfoundland. The best time to visit the reserve is during spring and summer when there are more birds around. You view birds such as gannets and many others at this ecological reserve.
Address: Saint Bride’s, NL
The first thing to know about seeing puffins is that it’s all about timing. Puffins are not always easy to see, but they tend to be best seen in the spring when they return from their winter migration. The best places to see puffins are on some of Newfoundland’s offshore islands and along its coastlines, where cliffs or rocky outcrops provide nesting sites for these birds.
If you want a chance to see one of these colourful birds up close, you should plan your trip for early May through mid-June, as this is when most puffins will have returned from their winter migration and set up nests in various locations around Newfoundland’s coastline or offshore islands like Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. However, if this time frame doesn’t work for you, don’t worry -there are still plenty more opportunities throughout July and August.
Puffins typically spend their summers at sea and return to land when they’re ready to breed. There’s even a colony in Elliston, Bonavista, at Elliston Puffin Viewing, where you can watch thousands of these colourful birds mate and raise their young.
Bonavista Peninsula is a hidden gem that you absolutely must visit. This charming town is full of history, beauty, and endless activities that will make for an unforgettable vacation. However, one of the main reasons to visit Bonavista is its breathtaking scenery. This town has everything from the rugged coastline to the rolling hills and winding trails.
Elliston is a small community on the Bonavista Peninsula. It’s quiet, peaceful and very scenic. The town has rocky cliffs and small coves making up most of its shoreline. It’s only about a 3 hr 20-minute drive from St. John’s, but it feels like another world.
Elliston is a great place to spend the day, especially if you have kids. There are several places along Elliston’s main road where you can pull over and get out of your car to take photos. The puffins are easy to spot. They’re bright black-and-white and have orange and black beaks, so they stand out against the grey cliffs. It’s amazing how close they’ll let you get to them! You can even see their nests and eggs up close.
Another great place to see puffins is at Witless Bay Ecological Reserve on the Avalon Peninsula. The puffins are so colourful and dramatic. They’re very interesting birds to watch as they fly around, dive into the water and feed their young ones. The colony is massive. Thousands of them are on this tiny island off of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve.
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve: You might think it’s a bit of a drive from St. John’s, but it’s only about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from St John’s. You’ll pass through many small fishing villages along the way, and before you know it, you’ll be at North Harbour – a quiet, peaceful village that feels like another world.
It’s quiet, peaceful and very scenic, with rocky cliffs and small coves making up most of its shoreline. It’s also a good place to see Northern Gannet. Keep your eyes peeled for those colourful little birds that live on the island cliffs. If you’re lucky enough to catch sight of them during their breeding season, you’ll be happy.
Puffin-watching tours run seasonally. You can maximize your chances of spotting these adorable creatures in large numbers at any given time during their nesting cycle or migration periods—plan ahead by booking tickets several months out. Book your ticket here.
Newfoundland is a great place to start if you’re looking for adventure. It has beautiful scenery, interesting history, and plenty of things to do. If you want to see puffins in Newfoundland, June and July is the best time of year for viewing them.
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