Porter Lake Birding Tour – 3 great hours with water birds ♿

Porter Lake Birding Tour

Private Tours

Private Tours: Daily – April to early September
Morning Tours: 9 AM – 12 Noon
Afternoon Tours: 2 PM – 5 PM

Public Group Tours

Porter Lake Group Birdwatching Tours:

  • Wed. May 15, 2024 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
  • Thu. June 27, 2024 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
  • Tue. July 16, 2024 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
  • Mon. August 12, 2024 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

CLICK HERE for information about our Blackstrap Lake Tours.

Self-Drive Birding Tour

Estimated Return Driving Distance: 70 km

Where can I see Water Birds near Saskatoon, Canada?

Porter Lake Birding Tour Description

Situated 30 minutes from Saskatoon on the edge of the Strawberry Hills, Porter Lake Important Bird Area attracts over 120 bird species over the course of the year. Colonies of Black-crowned Night Herons, Double-crested Cormorants and Bank Swallows have nested here in recent years.

Join us for a 3-hour leisurely driving tour.  Great for a family outing. Both novice and experienced bird watchers are welcome.

During this Porter Lake Birding Tour, your leader will identify the birds and set up a spotting scope allowing you to get the best view of the birds. A loaner pair of binoculars may be available if requested.

This tour is ideal for low-mobility clients because they may remain in their vehicle during this driving tour.

Porter Lake Birding through the Seasons

April: Porter Lake attracts numerous ducks in splendid breeding plumage.

May: In addition to the herons, ducks and cormorants, American Avocets and other shorebirds may be seen on the shore of Porter Lake.

June: Watch for baby ducks, shorebirds and other water birds.

July – September: The lake abounds with migrating ducks and shorebirds from the arctic.

Some of the birds regularly attracted to this lake include 15 duck species plus 5 species of grebes (Horned, Eared, Pied-billed, Red–necked and Western), White Pelican, American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper,  Wilson’s Phalarope, Franklin’s Gull, Black Tern, Tree, Bank and Barn Swallows, Eastern Kingbird, Clay-colored, Vesper, Savannah, Nelson’s and Song Sparrows, Western Meadowlark and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Migrating shorebirds seen often during May, July or August include Ruddy Turnstone,  Sanderling, Black-bellied Plover,  yellowlegs,  plus Baird’s Least, White-rumped (May), Pectoral, Semipalmated and Solitary Sandpipers. Other special migrants include Ross’s Goose, Tundra Swan, Bonaparte’s Gull (fall) and Lapland Longspur (May).

Transportation

Participants on these tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs and vehicles pulling trailers are permitted on private tours but are not recommended.

Owners of full electric vehicles should have sufficient range for this tour if they charge up at Saskatoon. Several Saskatoon hotels have charging stations.

Carpooling

If you would like to share the costs of a group 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

Porter Lake Birding Tour Fee

Private Escorted Porter Lake Birding Tour Fee: CAD $190 (about US $140, £120 ) per vehicle for a party of 1 to 4 persons on the day of your choice. Fee covers expert guiding services during the 3-hour tour. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included. Taxes included.
SAVE $40 if you can transport leader during tour from Saskatoon and back.

Public Porter Lake Group Birding Tour Fee: CAD $140 (about US $100, £80 ) per vehicle with a party of 1 to 4 persons on the day of your choice. Fee covers expert guiding services during the 3-hour tour. Meals, transportation and accommodation are NOT included. Taxes included.
SAVE $40 if you can transport leader during tour from Saskatoon and back.

TAX RECEIPT: A tax receipt for 50% of the 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.

Porter Lake Birding Tour Reservation

RESERVATIONS: Send us your full name(s), mailing address, email address and requested tour dates.

E-mail: birdtours@sasktel.net
Phone: 306-652-5975
Text: 306-281-2215

Use landline if you don’t have a cell phone.
Mailing address needed for tax receipt.
Check all that apply.
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.

Black-crowned Night Heron at Porter Lake Birding Tour
Black-crowned Night Heron
by Nick Saunders
Watch for avocet during Chaplin Shorebirds Tour
American Avocet
by Nick Saunders

Testimonial

“We really appreciated your [Porter Lake Birding} tour last Wednesday; [Our young grandson] loved it!! He also told us he learned a lot.  I believe you have inspired him to continue his passion of birding.  Thanks again for the wonderful guiding!” DD August 6, 2021

Can I bring my pet dog on this tour?

Dogs are permitted on private tours provided they are kept on a leash. Dogs should not be let out of the car at birding stops.

Covid Safety Policy on 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

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

Gift Certificates Available Now

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

Other Birding and Bird Photography Tours

This Porter 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.

Proceeds support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation charity.

Monthly Newsletter

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