Belugas, Bears & Birds

• Explore the readily-accessible tundra in and around Churchill – a world-renowned hotspot for viewing and photographing arctic birds and mammals.
• Traverse the diverse and productive prairies, aspen parkland, and wetlands of southern Manitoba, and the boreal and mixed forest and wetlands of Riding Mountain National Park.
• Relatively easy and productive bird and mammal viewing and photographic opportunities

Tour Overview

Manitoba has become one of the premier locations on the continent for seeing and photographing iconic northern birds and mammals. This tour will take you to many of Manitoba’s premier wildlife-viewing sites and to an incredible diversity of habitats including the rich prairies, wetlands, aspen parklands and boreal forests of southern Manitoba and finally to the taiga/tundra and arctic environment of Churchill.

Our first destination is the boreal and mixed forests in and around Riding Mountain National Park.  This boreal island is superb for a variety of warblers and numerous other boreal and parkland birds including some highly sought after species like Spruce Grouse, Great Gray Owl, Connecticut and Golden-winged Warbler, plus Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpecker.  The park is also particularly productive for mammals including Black Bear, Elk, Moose and Beaver.  Lynx have been seen with some frequency, and maybe even a Wolf, Cougar, Pine Martin or Fisher.

Swinging to the extreme southwest corner of the province we traverse the mixed-grass prairies, home to Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Sprague’s Pipit, Baird’s Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Longspur and a host of other southwest grassland specialties.  Mule Deer, White-tailed Jack Rabbit, Red Fox and Coyote may be found here as well.

Next we fly north to Churchill, a world-renowned hotspot for birding and mammal viewing and photography opportunities.  We will be taking two organized boat trips to observe the hundreds of beluga whales that gather in the waters of the Churchill River and Hudson Bay.  Although polar bears are just coming off the last of the ice in Hudson Bay, in most years there should be a few around in spots that are visible from the boats or as we drive around exploring the arctic tundra.  Other arctic wildlife that we might encounter include Red and Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Ringed and Harbour Seals, and Barren Ground Caribou.

This is also prime time for arctic breeding birds.  Pacific and Red-throated Loons, Common Eider, scoters, as well as numerous shorebirds are in superb breeding plumages.  We will also search for Willow Ptarmigan, and various arctic passerines including highly sought after northern specialties like Gray-cheeked Thrush, Harris’s Sparrow and Smith’s Longspur.