Canada – SW Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12 – 23, 2025

Email: birdtours [at] sasktel.net
Phone: 306 [then] 652 [then] 5975

See prairie, wetland and woodland birds of SW
Saskatchewan during the peak of the breeding season.

SW Saskatchewan Birding Tour
June 12 – 23, 2025

Visit the Best Southwestern Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots

• Great Sand Hills
• Cypress Hills
• Govenlock Sage Flats
• Old Man on His Back Nature Conservancy Preserve
• Jones’s Peak
• Pine Cree Coulee Regional Park
• Grasslands National Park
• Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park
• Chaplin / Reed Lake Shorebird Hotspot
• Palliser Regional Park
• Douglas Provincial Park
• Blackstrap Reservoir
• Pike Lake Provincial Park

Guiding Fee
CAD $5980 per person
USD $4180 per person
UK £3220 per person

Join our Spring Birding Tour to Saskatchewan, Canada during the peak of the nesting season when bird song abounds. Saskatchewan is located near the centre of North America where several bird migration flyways meet. Consequently, this bird-rich province of Canada is home to nesting birds from both eastern and western North America.

Saskatchewan is well known as the duck factory of North America because most species of waterfowl nest in our abundant wetlands.  Many shorebirds, pelicans, rails and grebes also nest in our lakes and sloughs. We will visit many hotspots for water birds including Last Mountain Lake and Redberry Lake Bird Sanctuaries plus Chaplin and Reed Lakes Important Bird Areas.

Stretching across half of the province, the boreal forest is home to many eastern warblers, woodpeckers, flycatchers and forest hawks. We will explore these forest birds at Saskatchewan’s Duck Mountain Provincial Park and in the Nisbet Forest.

The great expanses of arid prairie grasslands attract many special ground-nesting birds. We will observe unique prairie birds at Grasslands National Park, Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Old Man on His Back Plateau as well as Saskatchewan’s Great Sand Hills and many other pastures.

We will observe many sub-alpine birds in the east, centre and west blocks of the Cypress Hills. We will also explore riparian habitats along the South Saskatchewan River valley and the Souris River valley.

If you don’t have time for the full Canada Saskatchewan Birding Tour, ask us about joining us for parts of this fantastic tour.

Special Birds of Interest

During this Canada – SW Saskatchewan Birding Tour, we expect to observe over 150 species.

A few special birds include

• Ruddy Duck
• Sharp-tailed Grouse
• Gray Partridge
• Western Grebe
• Clark’s Grebe
• American White Pelican
• White-faced Ibis
• Golden Eagle
• Broad-winged Hawk
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk
• Prairie Falcon
• Black-necked Stilit
• American Avocet
• Willet
• Marbled Godwit
• Long-billed Curlew
• Upland Sandpiper
• Wilson’s Phalarope
• Franklin’s Gull
• California Gull
• Forster’s Tern
• Burrowing Owl
• Red-naped Sapsucker
• Western Wood-Pewee
• Alder Flycatcher
• Western Flycatcher
• Dusky Flycatcher
• Say’s Phoebe
• Great Crested Flycatcher
• Western Kingbird
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Black-billed Magpie
• Violet-Green Swallow
• Mountain Bluebird
• Sprague’s Pipit
• MacGillivray’s Warbler
• Yellow-breasted Chat
• Western Tanager
• Spotted Towhee
• Lark Sparrow
• Baird’s Sparrow
• Brewer’s Sparrow
• Le Conte’s Sparrow
• Nelson’s Sparrow
• Chestnut-collared Longspur
• Thick-billed Longspur
• Western Meadowlark
• Yellow-headed Blackbird
• Bobolink

CLICK HERE for a complete Saskatchewan checklist.

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Plan to arrive in Saskatoon, Canada today.

Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by these airlines: Air Canada, Westjet, Flair, Porter and their numerous partners including United and Delta.

Overnight: ParkTown Hotel, Saskatoon
Supper on your own. Many restaurants in downtown Saskatoon.

7:00 pm Optional short get together at the Saskatoon Weir parking lot. We will watch pelicans on the river and discuss plans for tomorrow morning’s  SW Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour.

8:45 am Check out of hotel after breakfast.

Some of our planned birding stops include the following sites.

• Pack your own Lunch to eat at Kindersley Regional Park – wetland birds and songbirds
• South Saskatchewan River Valley downstream of Leader – Yellow-breasted Chat and Long-billed Curlew
• 4 pm Check in to hotel in Leader. Campers may wish to stay in town campground.
• Late Afternoon and Evening Visit to the Great Sandhills – Lark Sparrow, Western Kingbird, Common Nighthawk plus possible Long-billed Curlew, Prairie Falcon, Loggerhead Shrike
• Pack your own Supper to eat at the Sandhills
• Optional late night drive to listen for Common Poorwill,
• Overnight at a Leader hotel.

• Breakfast at Leader cafe
• Morning birding at South Saskatchewan River near Estuary
• Pack your lunch to eat on the road.
• Mason Lake birding
• Supper at Maple Creek restaurant
• Evening birding at Junction Reservoir
• Overnight at a Maple Creek hotel for first of 2 nights.
  Campers may wish to stay in center block or town campground.

7:30 AM Breakfast on your own in a Maple Creek restaurant.

9 AM Tour departs Maple Creek about 9 am.
Today we will hike several easy trails within the centre block of Cypress Hills provincial park.

We plan the following activities.

• Hike Highlands Nature Trail in morning
• Eat lunch at park restaurant
• Hike Valley of the Windfalls Nature Trail
• Visit to Park Nature Interpretive Centre
• Hike Whispering Pines Nature Trail
• Supper in park resort’s dining room
• Evening drive to scenic Look-out Point and Bald Butte
• Optional late night drive from 10:30 pm – 11:30 pm to look and listen for Common Poorwill.

Overnight at Maple Creek Motel for second of 2 nights.

We plan to spend the day birding in the best hotspots in the scenic west block of Cypress Hills.
Some sites (*) may be inaccessible if roads are very muddy.

• Breakfast in Maple Creek on your own
• Depart Maple Creek at 9 am
• Birding at Cypress Hills Switchbacks – Dusky Flycatcher, Western Wood Pewee and chance for Black-headed Grosbeak
• Fort Walsh Historic Park hiking trails – Violet-Green Swallow and possible Say’s Phoebe and Western Tanager
• Bring your packed lunch to eat in the park.
• Visit Cordilleran Flycatcher subspecies nesting site *
• Visit Conglomerate Cliffs in Cypress Hills *
• Watch birds at Cypress Lake Recreation Site *
• Supper at Consul restaurant
• Overnight at a motel in Consul SK.
  Campers may stay at Cypress Lake recreation site.
• Optional evening drive near Consul.

We plan to drive around the pastures south of Cypress Hills making stops to watch and listen for grassland birds. Some planned stops include:

• Govenlock area – Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspurs and chance for a Golden Eagle
• Old Man on His Back Nature Conservancy of Canada grasslands – Bison and chance for a Burrowing Owl or Prairie Falcon
• Supper at Eastend Restaurant
• Overnight accommodation at Eastend motel.
  Campers may stay at a town campground.
• Jones’ Peak Lookout visit in evening – Rock Wren, Mountain Bluebirds and Violet-Green Swallows
• Optional late evening drive to listen for poorwills and possible Eastern Screech Owl.

8 AM Breakfast at Jack’s Cafe in Eastend.

Today we will spend the morning near Eastend and then drive to Grasslands National Park.

• Eastend Riverbank Park
• Eastend Reservoir
• Pine Cree Coulee Regional Park
• Shaunavon wetlands – American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt
• Pack a lunch to eat on the road
• Val Marie Reservoir Bird Sanctuary
• Check in to overnight accommodation in Val Marie for first of 2 nights
• Evening visit to Prairie Dog colony to look for Burrowing Owls.

7:30 AM Breakfast at hotel

We plan to bird in Grasslands Park for much of the day.  Some planned stops include:

• Val Marie town
• Top Dogtown trail
• Frenchman River Valley
• Larson Interpretive Trail
• Little Breed Creek Prairie Dog town
• North Gillespie Road (if dry)
• Rosefield Ecotour route

Overnight at motel for second of 2 nights

7:30 am Breakfast in hotel

• We will spend most of the morning in Grasslands National Park.
• Lunch in Mankota restaurant.
• Lat Afternoon visit to Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park

Overnight at Swift Current motel

We plan to spend much of the day visiting Lake Francis, Reed Lake and Chaplin Lake in search of prairie shorebirds and other water birds.

In the evening, we will search for Yellow-breasted Chats in Palliser Regional Park.

Overnight at Mainstay Inn in Palliser Regional Park on Lake Diefenbaker.

In the morning, we will explore for songbirds in Douglas Provincial Park.

In the afternoon, we will explore water birds at Blackstrap Reservoir.

Overnight in Saskatoon hotel
Campers may stay at Gordie Howe campground or Pike Lake Park.

In the morning, we will explore the nature trails and wetlands at Pike Lake Provincial Park.

In the afternoon, we will visit the creek trail at Beaver Creek Conservation Area.

Overnight in Saskatoon hotel
Campers may stay at Gordie Howe campground or Pike Lake Park.

9:00 AM After breakfast, we go birding along the Meewawin Valley trails through some of Saskatoon’s riverbank parks.

Tour ends at Noon.

You may then fly home in the afternoon.

TOUR GUIDE: Your guide has many years of experience finding and observing birds throughout Saskatchewan. For over 30 years, Stan Shadick has been a birding guide for nature tours around Saskatchewan and other parts of the country that have been organized by Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation, Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours, Nature Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division.

Stan is past president of Nature Saskatchewan as well as past president and current field trip chairman for the Saskatoon Nature Society. He is a co-editor of the reference publication “Birds of the Saskatoon Area” and contributed significantly to the recently published “Birds of Saskatchewan”.

Stan has volunteered as a regional coordinator for the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas project and helps with their bird identification workshops. He regularly contributes sightings to e-bird and currently holds the e-bird record for the most bird species seen in Saskatchewan.

Stan volunteers his time leading Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours so that all proceeds benefit the work of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

SW Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour Fees

Guiding Fee: CAD $5980 per person (about USD $4180; UK £3210) due at time of booking.

Car Rental: You need to rent your own vehicle from the Saskatoon airport. A discount off the guiding fee may be available if you agree to transport the leader from Saskatoon and back at no cost to him in a non-smoking vehicle.

Accommodation: You need to book your own accommodation. A list of motel dates and phone numbers will be sent to registered guests. If you prefer, the leader will book your accommodation using your credit card.

Meals: you need to pay for your own meals.

Park Entry Fees: You need to pay for your own park entry fees.

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

Tour Reservations

RESERVATIONS for Canada Saskatchewan Spring Birding Tour: June 12 – 29, 2025.

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

Payment instructions will be emailed to you after you complete and submit the form below.

All fees support Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation.

My Name *

First

Last

Names of additional persons travelling in my vehicle during tour

My Email *

My Cell Phone *

If you do not have a cell phone, enter your land line.

My Mailing Address *

Complete Mailing Address needed for tax receipt.

I (We) would like to register for the following 2025 tour *

• June 12 – 22 Canada Southwest Saskatchewan June Birding Tour
• June 29 – July 18 Canada Saskatchewan Summer Birding Tour

Check ALL that apply.

Leader Transportation

• I can provide transportation for the leader in my vehicle at no cost to him.

Carpooling *

• I (We) have space in our vehicle to transport 1 participant willing to share transportation costs.
• I (We) have space in our vehicle to transport 2 participants willing to share transportation costs.
• I (We) prefer to ride in another person’s vehicle and will share transportation costs.
• I (We) cannot drive and need to ride in another person’s vehicle and will share transportation costs.
• I (We) do NOT wish to carpool.

Accommodation *

• I (We) wish to be sent a list of tour hotel options and will book my (our) own accommodation.
• I (We) request that the tour leader book my (our) accommodation using my credit card information.
• I (We) wish to camp during the tour.

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

Submit

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

Gift Certificates Available Now

This Weir Birding and Walking tour makes an excellent Christmas gift, birthday gift, anniversary gift, graduation 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.

Tour Guide

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

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you invest in travel medical insurance to cover emergency medical expenses during your tour.
We also recommend Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance.

Travel insurance with trip cancellation and interruption benefits can reimburse you for non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs (up to the amount of your plan limits) should your participation in the trip be canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. According to our cancellation policies, your payment to us will become non-refundable if you cancel your participation after the deadlines outlined in our policies.

In general, Trip Cancellation insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if you are unable to join the tour. Trip Interruption reimburses you for the unused portion of your tour if you have to leave part-way through a tour and it also covers some additional unexpected expenses incurred during your travel (e.g. additional hotel of flight costs due to weather delays or other delays that are not covered by your airline).

Other Tours

• Beaver Creek Birding and Hiking Tour
• Canada Saskatchewan Summer Birding Tour
• Chaplin Shorebird Tour
• Chappell Marsh Birding and Hiking Tour
• Chief Whitecap Park Birding and Hiking Tour
• Dancing Grouse Photography Tour
• Donna Birkmaier and Hyde Parks Birding and Walking Tour
• Eagle Creek and Hills Birding Tour
• Goose Lake Birding and Bird Photography Tour
• Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour
• Pike Lake Birding Tour
• Porter Lake Birding Tour
• Prairie Lakes Birding Tour
• Prairie Grasslands Birding Tour
• Souris River Birding Tour
• Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour – 6 hours
• Whooping Crane Tour

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.

TOP QUALITY BINOCULAR OFFER

Do you want a better pair of binoculars for birdwatching?

Great for viewing distant birds with shaky hands.

CLICK HERE for information about the
Kite Optics 16X42 Image Stabilized Binoculars

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