The Avalon Tour - July 2011

The North Atlantic, or Boreal coast, extends from the northern tip of Newfoundland to Cape Cod. Owing to its transitional location between Earth's temperate and arctic realms as well as a complex geologic history, the natural history of the Boreal coast is distinguished from the rest of the Atlantic seaboard as being one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America. 

In 2005, naturalist, Stu Randall, and I spent nearly two months touring and photographing the natural history of the Atlantic Provinces and Canadian Maritimes. (See the feature article about our trip in the Spring 2010 issue of Nature Photographer magazine.) We encountered an incredible range of subjects from rugged, austere seacoasts and colorful working harbors to icebergs, caribou, gannets, puffins, and a beautiful sandy beach where one can photograph breaching whales from the comfort of a picnic blanket! The Atlantic coast of Canada is a truly exotic location teeming with extraordinary subarctic subjects located within driving distance of New England.

In one region, in particular, known as the Avalon Peninsula on the eastern coast of Newfoundland, we found a remarkable concentration of wildlife and scenery. Here, in an area about two thirds the size of Vermont, caribou roam over treeless tundra, tens of thousands of nesting northern gannets huddle atop a dizzying sea stack at Cape St. Mary's within feet of one's tripod, and humpback whales gather to feed on capelin and can be seen breaching from a park bench! There are also puffins, breathtaking seascapes, ice bergs, fjords, and, of course, the people who, with an accent that smacks of an Irish brogue, made us feel as though we were in Ireland and not just merely a few hundred miles north of my Vermont home. Honestly, this tour was one of the most productive and rewarding tours I have ever made.

Stu and I returned to the Avalon in 2007 with a group of eager nature photographers.    We hope you'll consider joining us on another Avalon Tour in 2011 to share in this superb nature photography adventure. We guarantee you some of the most exciting nature photography on Earth. Here's the itinerary:

Itineray

DAY 1
Arrive in St. John’s, Newfoundland.  Become acquainted over dinner. 
Overnight at the Airport Plaza Hotel.  Tel: 709 753 3500

DAY 2
Travel to Bonavista, Nfld.  Photograph ice bergs and sea stacks at Dungeon. 
Overnight at the Hotel Bonavista. Tel: 709-468-1900

DAY 3
Return to Dungeon for morning views of the cliffs and sea stacks.  After lunch, photograph Atlantic Puffins. 
Overnight at the Hotel Bonavista.

DAY 4
Early breakfast then travel to Terra Nova National Park.  We’ll spend the morning here photographing fjords, icebergs, beachcombing (keep an eye out for lion’s mane jellyfish), and generally exploring the park.  (Icebergs are commonly seen here during early summer but their appearance has decreased recently owing, very likely, to global warming.)  In the afternoon, we’ll begin our trip to the Avalon peninsula via Savage for more ice bergs and a brief stop at the colorful and historic village of Trinity.
Overnight at St. Jude Hotel in Clarenville.  Tel: 800-563-7800

DAY 5
Travel to Cape St. Mary’s.  Photograph northern gannet rookery until sunset. 
Overnight at the Capeway Motel.  Tel: 709-227-5717

DAY 6
Early morning moose & caribou safari.  Then full day at Cape St. Mary’s photographing northern gannets.  
Overnight at the Capeway Motel. 

DAY 7
Early morning moose & caribou safari.   Photograph fishing village scenes at St. Bride’s.  Then return to northern gannet rookery in the afternoon. 
Overnight at the Capeway Motel. 

DAY 8
After early morning moose & caribou safari, we travel to Trepassy.   Observe Humpback whales from St. Vincent beach in the afternoon along the way. 
Overnight at the Trepassy Motel.  Tel: 709-438-2934.

DAY 9
Early morning caribou safari.  Morning trip to Chance Cove for birds and capelin.  Afternoon at St. Vincent’s beach for whales and birds. 
Overnight at the Trepassy Motel.

DAY 10
Free day.   Explore the Trepassy area on your own.   Sit on a park bench by the shore at St. Vincent’s beach and watch humpback whales, prowl for caribou and moose, photograph coastal scenics at Cape Race, or become acquainted with the local culture.
Overnight at the Trepassy Motel.

DAY 11
Travel to Witless Bay.  Photograph coastal scenics enroute at Ferryland. 
Overnight at Ocean Adventure Tours at Witless Bay.  Tel: 709-334-2245.

DAYS 12-13
We will spend two days at Witless Bay with a total of eight hours at sea photographing humpback whales.  Bring your sea sickness medication! 
Overnight at Ocean Adventure Tours.

DAY 14
Return to St. John’s. Farewell dinner.
Overnight at the Airport Plaza Hotel.

DAY 15
Depart for home.

Important Notes

You must provide your own local transportation. If you wish, Sojourns in Nature will provide participant lists and emails to enable car pooling.

Price includes: lodging (double occupancy), sea transportation, guide services, fees, and photographic instruction.

Price excludes:meals, local transportation (We car caravan from location to location; each driver is equipped with a map and a long-range radio to maintain communication with the guide.), gratuities, or items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, snacks, or alcohol.

Though meals are on your own, I always make a point of finding a pleasant yet affordable eatery for us to dine as a group where we can share our passion for nature and photography.

All departures by boat are dependent on weather and tides and are subject to change and cancellation.

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