Puffin & Whale Watching

Atlantic Puffins

The Atlantic Puffin is the provincial bird of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is home to the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in North America, with over 260,000 pairs—more than half a million puffins!

Although often mistaken for penguins, Atlantic Puffins are actually seabirds in the Auk family. They spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land each spring and summer to breed. During mating season, their brightly colored beaks are a striking feature. The orange colour fades to grey in the winter months.

Puffins mate for life, spending the spring and summer together while nesting before they head out to sea solo for the fall and winter.

Each spring and summer, the four islands that make up the reserve serve as a nesting ground for around four million seabirds. The islands host several species, including the world’s second-largest colony of Leach’s Storm-Petrels (620,000 pairs) – though petrels in particular are hard to spot during the day – along with Common Murres, Razorbill Auks, Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Great Black-backed Gulls, Black Guillemots, Northern Fulmars, Thick-billed Murres, and Herring Gulls.

The best time to view Atlantic Puffins and other seabirds is from May to early September.

Whales

Newfoundland and Labrador offers some of the best whale watching opportunities in the world. The largest population of feeding humpback whales migrates to our waters every summer in pursuit of massive schools of a small fish called capelin.

During peak season, you can witness a spectacular display as humpback whales frolic, breach, and slap their pectoral fins right before your eyes. These magnificent creatures can grow over 70 feet long and weigh up to 65 tons! Other species you might encounter include Fin, Orca, and Minke Whales, as well as dolphins and porpoises. These incredible animals captivate visitors of all ages with their playful behaviour.

We recommend July as the prime month for whale watching.