Expect to see bald eagles and other raptors on the southern cliffs from mid-August through November.
Ducks and geese by the thousands inhabit the Anchorage Beach area, where a wet-heath bird sanctuary is speckled with ponds that attract may other species, including great blue herons. Seabirds and waterfowl nest at the Castalia Marsh on the island’s eastern side. Bird-Watching on Grand Manan Islandīirds of almost 350 species flutter everywhere in season, and each species has a place on this rock in the sea. 900 pairs of nesting Atlantic puffins reside on nearby Machias Seal Island. Whales in pursuit of herring schools swim in on incoming currents, cavorting in the tempestuous seas-the right, finback, humpback, and minke whales are at their most numerous when the plankton blooms, mid-July through September. Offshore, every species of marine life known to the Bay of Fundy congregates in the bay’s nutrient-rich mouth. Dulse, a nutritious purple seaweed rich in iodine and iron, washes in at Dark Harbour on the western coast, and islanders dry and package the briny snack for worldwide consumption. Amethyst and agate are mixed with pebbles on the beaches at Whale Cove, Red Point, and White Head Island offshore. Windswept spruce, fir, and birch shade the woodland pockets. White, pink, and purple lupines and dusty pink wild roses nod with the summer breezes. Illuminating the sea lanes and warning ships off the island’s shoals since 1860, Swallowtail and its surrounding grassy headland provide a wonderful introduction to the island.Īpart from the surging tide, Grand Manan is blissfully peaceful. The most photogenic of the island’s four lighthouses is Swallowtail Lighthouse, which can be seen atop North Head as you approach the island by ferry. Near the island, shipwrecks litter the seafloor and pay homage to the tide’s merciless power. Pity the centuries of ships that have been caught in the currents during malevolent storms. 2,700) gets the brunt of the mighty Fundy high tide.
"Not just New Brunswickers, but Grand Mananers," said Ingersoll.
But word has gotten out and the locals are going. Ingersoll said last year was a bit of a struggle to fill tours, simply because many New Brunswickers don't know the island exists. "You get to listen to people say, 'Wow, I never knew this was here,' or 'Why did I wait so long?'" said Ingersoll. It's been special for Ingersoll, who in his 27 years of taking people to the remote island has never catered exclusively to New Brunswickers. (Shane Fowler/CBC News)īirders from outside the province snap up the majority of tickets immediately after they go on sale each winter.īut with travel restrictions in place because of the pandemic, New Brunswickers suddenly found themselves able to enjoy a world-class seabird tour. He says travel restrictions in place because of the pandemic allowed more New Brunswickers to experience the island because birders from Ontario and the U.S. For 27 years, Durlan Ingersoll has been guiding visitors to Machias Seal Island to see the Atlantic puffins.