What To Do

Whale & Seabird Excursions

There’s nothing quite like the sensation of seeing a spout of water spraying out of the ocean, the flash of sunlight on a mighty fin, and the exhilaration of observing a sea mammal feeding, swimming, and breeching the waves. Whale watching is a very popular pastime for visitors to our region, and after you’ve been out for one trip, you want to go again and again.

As an added bonus, birding enthusiasts can expect to see a variety of shore and seabirds while out on a whale watching expedition. Bring your birding books and binoculars and start scanning the shorelines for the host of birds that inhabit our region. Some 450 bird species are residents or visitors to our region each year, and there’s always the chance of encountering a real rarity, like a pelican or an endangered species, like a Piping Plover. See the Birding Guide for more information.

Along the South Shore you’ll want to explore Cape Sable Island, connected to the mainland by a causeway, and visit two Important Bird Areas on the Island at Daniels Head and The Hawk. Other great birding sites in the South Shore region are found at Port Joli, Western Head, Port Clyde, Jordan Falls and of course at Kejimkujik National Park Seaside.

Sheffield Mills, in Kings County is home to the largest over wintering population of Bald Eagles in North America, the area celebrates every year with the Sheffield Mills Eagle Watch. Head to the mudflats near Wolfville, Grand Pre, and Kingsport to check out the shorebirds, or stroll the dykelands for a variety of meadow birds and birds of prey.

One of the most popular places to go birding is Digby Neck, and the two small islands, Brier and Long Island. Both are great places to spot arriving migratory birds, as well as rare visitors.