Autumn Grand Manan

Great Shearwater © Barry Zimmer

Incredible seabirding, marine mammals, and a picturesque New Brunswick island. Also good for landbird migrants and shorebirds.

Located in the Bay of Fundy (off the coasts of Maine and New Brunswick), the picturesque island of Grand Manan makes an ideal base for experiencing the phenomenon of fall migration on the northeast coast.

This area stands out from other migration hot spots because of the ready availability of exciting pelagic birding. Fundy’s famous tides wash through submarine canyons, promoting cold-water upwellings and consistently producing some of the best seabirding and whale-watching in North America.

We will have a full day at sea with excellent chances of finding Manx (very uncommon), Great, and Sooty shearwaters; Wilson’s and Leach’s storm-petrels; Atlantic Puffin; Razorbill; Black-legged Kittiwake; Northern Gannet; jaegers; phalaropes; and other surprises. Although both are rare, we have had increasing success in locating skuas in recent years, with both South Polar and Great (accidental) at least possible. Some years, though, the show is stolen by the whales. Humpback, Finback, and Minke are all regular. There is even a slim chance of seeing the rare North Atlantic Right Whale, whose world population totals just above 300 individuals. Once expected on this trip, this species has become increasingly rare in recent years.

We’ll check the forests and hedgerows of Grand Manan for a good variety of migrant songbirds (more than 20 species of warblers are possible), and scan the rocky shoreline for Great Cormorant, Common Eider, and Black Guillemot. This is also peak shorebird migration with more than 15 species possible. A special effort will be made to locate Nelson's Sparrows at Castalia Marsh. Even the sporadic White-winged Crossbill and the elusive Boreal Chickadee are possibilities.

Good accommodations and food; easy terrain; minimal walking; one boat trip plus two ferry rides; generally cool to mild climate.

Humpback Whale © Dina Perry