Cape Breton Island, like many coastal regions in Nova Scotia, harbours an extensive variety of shorebirds. The winter months offer bird watchers a unique opportunity to record rare or unusual bird species in the province and observe and study seasonal differences in plumage.

Bethsheila Kent of WALKING the WILDSIDE Nature Tours in Baddeck can help you easily locate a wide variety of species that "over-winter" along the picturesque shores of Cape Breton Island. Depending on your enthusiasm, she offers half or full day tours to any number of protected harbours and bays that shelter everything from yellow-throated loons to large rafts of various scoters. 

Give Beth a call at: 902 295 1749 or email her at: floydo@ns.sympatico.ca to arrange a very reasonably priced tour. You may even see a ruddy turnstone, a fascinating shorebird considered rare on the island in winter. A turnstone was spotted on the Cape as recently as January 6th, 2001.

The Nova Scotia Bird Society offers field trips for its members and their guests. If you would like information on the society and their birding adventures just CLICK HERE. 

Gary Hartlen in Liverpool, Queens County offers bird watching tours of Cape Sable Island (one of the best birding destinations in the province) where recently a mute swan passed through. You can contact Northern Diver Adventure Birding through Gary at 902 354 7250. Mr. Hartlen provides lunch and, if desired, a van that accommodates four people. Tours are usually from dawn to dusk and are arranged according to client interest. Warm, layered clothing is strongly recommended.