Day Tours to view and photograph Yellow-billed Loon in Saskatchewan

Private Tours: most dates late June – early July 2026
Special Public Tours: June 24, 27, July 1, 2026

Self-Drive Guided Birding Tour out of Saskatoon, Canada

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Yellow-billed Loon Tour Description

• A rare Yellow-billed Loon in breeding plumage was observed and photographed on a small Saskatchewan Lake on June 19, 2026. The lake is approximately a 2-hour drive from Saskatoon. The exact location will be given only to registered guests.
• Join our experienced local birding guide for a 6 to 8 hour Yellow-billed Loon Quest Tour. There is no guarantee that the bird will be present on the date of the tour. We do not have a local contact.
• Public Tours will depart Saskatoon at 1 pm to allow participants to fly to Saskatoon in the morning.
  in the late morning and explore the lake in search of the location where the Yellow-billed Loon might be feeding and then return to Saskatoon. We will also make stops to look for other birds of interest.
• Private Tours may depart at any requested time after 7 am.
• The tour departure location near the Saskatoon airport will be given to registered guests.
• Hotel recommendations will be given to registered guests.
• Participants must travel in their personal or rented vehicle.
• Other possible birds to be seen during this trip may include Red-necked and Eared Grebes, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis, Gray Partridge, Black-billed Magpie and many duck species.
• Both novice and experienced bird watchers are welcome.
• A loaner pair of binoculars may be available if requested. The leader will bring a spotting scope to allow you to view birds under high magnification.
• Your guide volunteers his time so that all funds support the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity.  The person paying for the tour will receive a tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee.
• If you are interested, submit the registration form today. Payment instructions will be sent to you.

2 OPTIONS

Option A: Private 1-day Yellow-billed Loon Quest Tour for your party of 1 – 4 persons

• Private Escorted Birding Tour from Saskatoon to search for the rare Yellow-billed Loon.
• Duration: Your choice of 5 – 8 hours
• You select a start time and end time
• Ideal for bird photographers. We will stop as long as you wish to photograph this Yellow-billed Loon, if present.
• Available on the day of your choice.

Option B: Public Yellow-billed Loon Quest Tours

• Tour Dates: June 24, June 27, July 1, 2026.
• 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Join a small convoy of birders for a 6-hour birding adventure. No guarantees of finding this special bird.
• This option has the lowest cost.

What to Wear

Dress for the weather.

Transportation

Participants on these tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. Round trip distance from Saskatoon is about 400 km.

RVs and vehicles pulling trailers are permitted on a private tour but not on public tours. Our tour may be suitable for owners of full electric vehicles with sufficient range.

Tour Fees

The following fees apply to any group of 1 – 4 persons travelling in a single vehicle.  It is your total fee. There are no per person fees. No additional taxes.

Private Yellow-billed Loon Quest Tour Fee: CAD $690 (about US$485,  £365) for a party of 1 – 3 persons plus leader. Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services and use of spotting scope. The person paying for the tour will receive a tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee. Clients drive their own personal or rented vehicle.  Meals, transportation, accommodation and other costs are NOT included. NO REFUNDS.

Public Yellow-billed Loon Quest Tour Fee: CAD $390 (about US $275,  £210) for a party of 1 – 4 persons. Taxes included.
Fee includes guiding services. Meals and accommodation and transportation are NOT included.
You will be part of a car convoy with no more than 6 vehicles. NO REFUNDS.

TAX RECEIPT: A tax receipt for 50% of the tour fee will be issued to the person paying for the tour.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds less a $50 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 60 days before date of tour.
No refunds if cancellation notice received less than 60 days before date of tour unless another client takes your place.

Tour Reservations

RESERVATIONS: Please complete and submit the following form or email us your full name(s), mailing address, email address and requested tour dates.

E-mail: birdtours@sasktel.net
Phone: 306-652-5975

Full payment due at time of booking. Payment instruction will be emailed to you after registration form is received.

My Name *

First

Last

Names of additional persons travelling in my vehicle during tour

My Email *

My Cell Phone *

If you don’t have a cell phone, give your landline number.

My Mailing Address *

Mailing address needed for tax receipt.

I (We) would like to register for the following tour(s): *

• Private Yellow-billed Loon Quest Birding and Bird Photography Tour ($690)
• Public June 24, 2026 Yellow-billed Loon Quest Birding Tour ($390)
• Public June 27, 2026 Yellow-billed Loon Quest Birding Tour ($390)
• Public July 1, 2026 Yellow-billed Loon Quest Birding Tour ($390)
• I have space to transport leader during tour from Saskatoon and back.

Select all that apply. We will email payment instructions to you. NO REFUNDS.

I prefer the following date and times for the private tour(s):

Alternative dates for the private tour(s) could be:

BINOCULARS

• If available, I would like to borrow a pair of binoculars during tour.

Smoking Restrictions *

• At least 1 member of my party is a smoker.
• All members of my party are non-smokers.

Smoking is allowed only inside your own personal vehicle. No smoking is permitted during meals, anywhere in shared accommodations or outside during birding stops or hikes.

Comment or Message

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If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.