Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour – 6 great hours with fascinating woodland and water birds

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Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour

Private Tours

Private Tours: Mid-May to July.

Suggested Time: 8 AM – 2 PM with optional tour extensions.

For a quote, email your proposed date to birdtours [at] sasktel [dot] net

Public Group Tours

Group Tours:

  • Thursday, June 20, 2024
    8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Monday, July 29, 2024
    8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Tour begins in Saskatoon but can meet participants at Warman, Osler, Hague or Rosthern.

Self-Drive Guided Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Canada to Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest

PUBLIC WASHROOMS: Located at gas stations of several towns that we pass during tour.

Where to find Wetland and Forest Birds near Saskatoon, Canada?

Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour Description

We will drive about 1 hour north of Saskatoon on highway 11 to reach Duck Lake town.  Here we will drive the roads through the fields south of the town in search of Bobolinks, Western Meadowlarks, Le Conte’s, Nelson’s, Song, Savannah and Clay-colored Sparrows and Sedge Wrens.

Along the margins of Duck Lake, we will watch for American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Common Yellowthroats and listen for Soras. We will use a spotting scope to view ducks and grebes out on the lake. We should find Eared and Pied-billed Grebes, Canada Geese,  Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler and Northern Pintail.

A stop near Duck Lake’s sewage lagoons may yield several diving ducks including Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup plus American Coot, Eastern Kingbird and Common Grackle and Franklin’s Gulls. Stops at other nearby ponds may yield Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Marbled Godwit, Ring-necked Ducks and Bufflehead.

Later we will make roadside stops in the Nisbet Forest north of Duck Lake where we will look and listen for Broad-winged Hawk Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Lark Sparrow, Eastern Phoebe, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Veery, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Yellow-rumped Warbler and possibly Black-throated Green Warblers. Stops by forest lakes might produce a Common Loon or Trumpeter Swan. We will return to Saskatoon via highway 11.

Join us for this leisurely driving tour.  Great for a family outing.

During this Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest birding tour, your leader will identify the birds and set up a spotting scope allowing you to get the best view of the birds.

Both novice and experienced bird watchers are welcome.

A loaner pair of binoculars may be available if requested.

Optional Extensions to Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Tour

Option 1: 2-hour tour extension to Fort Carlton Provincial Historic Park. If desired, we can add a visit to this historic Hudson Bay Trading Post situated on the North Saskatchewan River. We will go birding in this park and visit the fort. Park entry fee required. Additional fee $190.

Option 2: 2-hour tour extension to Gillies Lake. If requested, we can add a 2-hour diversion to Gillies Lake via the Wingard Ferry over the North Saskatchewan River. Black-necked Stilts and other waterbirds sometimes occur at this lake. We will return to Saskatoon via highway 12. Additional fee $190.

Transportation

Participants on these tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs and vehicles pulling trailers are permitted on private tours. This tour may be suitable for owners of full electric vehicles if the vehicle is charged up in Prince Albert and maybe also in Saskatoon from where the estimated return distance is about 250 km.

Carpooling

If you would like to share the costs of a tour with other interested birders, then complete the Carpooling Section of the Registration Request Form below or email the tour name, your name, phone number and email address to birdtours@sasktel.net

Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour Fee

Private Tour Fee: CAD $590 (about US $435, £350) for family groups of 1 to 5 persons on the day of your choice. Fee covers expert guiding services during this 6-hour tour. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included. Taxes included.
SAVE $100. If you provide transportation for the leader in your personal or rented vehicle, you can reduce the tour fee by $100.

Optional Private Tour Extension 1 Fee: $190 for additional 2-hour tour extension including visit to Fort Carlton Provincial Historic Park.

Optional Private Tour Extension 2 Fee: $190 for additional 2-hour tour extension including visit to Gillies Lake via Wingard Ferry.

Public  Group Tour Fee: CAD $490 (about US $360, £290) per vehicle for parties of 1 to 5 persons. Fee covers expert guiding services during this 6-hour tour. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included. Taxes included.
SAVE $100. If you provide transportation for the leader in your personal or rented vehicle, you can reduce the tour fee by $100.

TAX RECEIPT: A tax receipt for 50% of the total tour fee will be issued to the person paying for the tour provided payment is made by e-transfer to LSWR@sasktel.net.

Tax Receipts

 

 

 

 

 

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds less a $50 administration fee will be given if cancellation notice received 14 days before date of tour.
No refunds if cancellation notice received less than 14 days before date of tour unless another client takes your place.

RESERVATIONS for Duck Lake & Nisbet Forest Birding Tour

RESERVATIONS: Send 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.

Use landline if you don’t have a cell phone.
Full mailing address needed for tax receipt.
Select desired choice(s).
Smoking is allowed only inside your own personal vehicle. No smoking is permitted outside during birding stops or hikes.

Please email birdtours@sasktel.net if you do not hear back from us within 24 hours.

Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour
Sedge Wren

Can I bring my pet dog on this tour?

Dogs are permitted on private tours providing they are kept on a leash.

Duck Lake Tour Guide

Tour Guide: Stan Shadick. Click for more information about your tour guide.

What to Bring

Suggested items to Bring:

  • Clothes suitable for the weather (rain coat, hat, walking shoes, etc.)
  • Water bottle
  • Binoculars and camera or spotting scope (optional)
  • Ensure your vehicle has a full gas tank

History

Duck Lake was the site of the first battle of the Northwest Rebellion on March 26, 1885.  This battle was considered an important victory for the Métis, who were grieved by uncertainty over land rights in the wake of Canadian expansion and encroaching settlement.

Covid Safety Policy on Birding Tours

  1. Your tour leader is fully vaccinated.
  2. Clients must normally drive themselves in their own personal or rented vehicle. The leader will usually drive in a separate vehicle. We will use cell phones to communicate between each other during the tour.
  3. This policy may change when public health orders change or when Covid case numbers decrease.
  4. Please contact us before booking tour if you have any special requests with regard to this policy. In certain cases, if requested, leader may be willing to ride in client’s vehicle or drive client’s vehicle.

Other Tours

This Duck Lake Birding Tour may be taken in conjunction with any of the following summer birding tours.

Other Tours and Workshops: Click here to see a complete list of our upcoming tours and workshops.

Multiple Tours Discount

Can’t decide which tour to take?

Check out our multiple tours discount described here.

Monthly Newsletter

Learn about special offers and new tours.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly electronic Newsletter from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours.

Gift Certificates Available Now

This Duck Lake and Nisbet Forest Birding Tour makes an excellent birthday gift, anniversary gift, graduation gift, Mother’s Day gift, Father’s Day gift, retirement gift or special gift for a birder, birdwatcher or anyone interested in nature.

GIFT CERTIFICATES: Click here for information about purchasing a gift certificate for this tour or any of our other tours.

Proceeds support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity.