The Yosemite Valley in Northern California by Nigel Wheatley, one of many beautiful places in North America to look for birds and other wildlife.
NORTH AMERICA
Lists such as this one are of course highly subjective but the destinations linked and listed below are the ones we believe are the best in North America. They have been chosen very carefully and for a multitude of reasons, but mainly based on personal experience of some of them and on dreams of visiting the rest, dreams resulting from what we have heard, read or seen.
Top destinations that didn't quite make it include Ontario (including Algonquin Provincial Park and Point Pelee), Platte River (Nebraska), Arizona and Cape May (New Jersey). If there are any other destinations you think should be on the list below then please Email us.
For each destination there is a very brief summary. For more details click on the destination name.
For more information click on Top 100 Birds, Top 100 Other Wildlife and Top 50 Other Natural Wonders.
Destinations
Arctic
Polar Bear, Walrus, Narwhal, Bowhead Whale, Beluga, Musk Ox and birds such as Snowy Owl, ‘white’ Gyr Falcon and Ivory Gull, all amongst the beautiful
ice floes and icebergs of northern Canada and western Greenland make this A Top Ten Destination in the world. All are possible
on cruises or some on and around Baffin Island, between June and October (most cruises run in August).
Alaska
‘Bubble-feeding’ Humpback Whales, Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon, ‘Kodiak’ Bear, Black Bear, Killer Whale, Beluga, Moose, Sea Otter and birds such
as Bald Eagle, Hawk and Snowy Owls, and Harlequin Duck, as well as glaciers and one of the greatest concentrations of large mammals (over a million
fur seals) and nesting seabirds in the world (on the Pribilof Islands). All possible between June and mid-September (June for birds, July-August for
Humpback Whales, July and the first half of September for Grizzly and ‘Kodiak’ Bears).
Southeastern Alaska
A chance to see Humpback Whales bubble-net feeding, Grizzly and Black Bears fishing and a few birds including Bald Eagle, Harlequin Duck and Varied
Thrush, amongst the fjords and forested, snowy mountains on the wild west coast of northwest America. Humpback Whale numbers usually peak in July-August,
and Grizzly and Black Bears usually fish at this time, mainly in July.
Western Canada
Grizzly Bears fishing for salmon, Black Bear, ‘Spirit’ Bear, Sea Otter, the greatest concentration of Killer Whales in the world and birds such as
Bald Eagle make this A Top Ten Destination in the world. The best time to see bears fishing is between mid-August and
mid-October (book well in advance, especially if planning to visit late in the season when bear numbers usually peak). The number of Killer Whales
usually peaks in July-August.
Alberta
Black and, possibly, Grizzly Bears, American Bison, Moose, Elk, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat and Pronghorn, as well as birds such as Bald Eagle,
Harlequin Duck, Varied Thrush, Mountain Bluebird and Clark’s Nutcracker, in prairie potholes and grasslands, and the forested, snowy mountains of the
Rockies, some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the world. The best time to see it all is June.
Manitoba
In October-November the greatest concentration of Polar Bears in the world, a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights and a few birds including Grey
Jay, Arctic Redpoll, and, possibly, Snowy Owl and Gyr Falcon, with more birds possible in the Winnipeg area, especially waterbirds, and in Riding
Mountain National Park, a few hours by road from there, where Moose, Elk and even Black Bear and Great Grey Owl are possible.
Newfoundland
The largest northern summer numbers of Humpback Whales in the world, at one of the best places in the world to watch them from land, with whales
sometimes very close inshore if their main prey the Capelin are running. Also a chance of Moose and Caribou, spectacular seabird colonies with Puffins,
and other birds such as Bald Eagle and Blue Jay. Humpback Whale numbers usually peak from late June to early August, but seabird numbers usually begin
to fall by late July so the first two weeks of July are probably the peak time to visit.
Eastern Canada
Fin, Northern Right and a chance of Humpback Whales in large numbers, and birds such as Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Great Shearwater, Bald Eagle, migrating
Semi-palmated Sandpipers in tens of thousands and a wide variety of migrating warblers, as well as the chance of Blue Whale and Beluga if Saguenay
Marine Park/St. Lawrence River is included in the itinerary. All possible in August and September.
Massachusetts
Large numbers of Humpback Whales and a chance of other whales, seabirds such as Great Shearwater and Wilson's Storm Petrel, and other birds including
Piping Plover. Whales are usually present from April to October with peak numbers in August, which is also a good time for shorebirds.
Wyoming
Wolf, Grizzly and Black Bears, Bison, Moose and birds such as Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Harlequin Duck and Mountain Bluebird in the mountains of the
Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks, with the latter also hosting the largest and most diverse collection of geothermal phenomena in the world,
including the world’s most famous geyser; Old Faithful. The greatest diversity of wildlife is most likely to be seen in June but the chances of seeing
wolves are higher during the winter, when there are also far less tourists.
Colorado
Seven species of grouse, Elk, Bighorn Sheep and Pronghorn, and birds such as Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Mountain Bluebird, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Pinyon
Jay and Mountain Plover, all in some of the most spectacular scenery in North America. April is the peak month for lekking grouse.
Northern California
The tallest trees in the world (Coast Redwoods), the largest trees in the world (Giant Sequoias) and one of the oldest trees in the world (Bristlecone
Pine), as well as Humpback Whale and a chance of Blue Whale, Northern Elephant Seal, Sea Otter, seabirds including Black-footed Albatross, and other
birds such as the reintroduced California Condor, in places like the Yosemite Valley, one of the most spectacular sights on Earth. The greatest variety
of wildlife is most likely to be seen between mid-August and mid-September, but male elephant seals are most likely to be seen between mid-December and
mid-March.
Texas
One of the best places in the world to see bird migration in action thanks to the thousands of hawks, shorebirds and small birds, especially colourful
warblers, which move through during the northern spring. Also a good place for many other birds, from resident Elf Owls to wintering Whooping Cranes,
and one of the best places in the world to see millions of bats leaving their roosts. Timing is tricky because the Whooping Cranes usually leave by
late March-early April which is when the hawk migration usually peaks, but the greatest variety of shorebirds and warblers usually occurs after
mid-April and into early May. Mexican Free-tailed Bats are present from March to September although the numbers present usually peak in July-August.
Florida
West Indian Manatee, large numbers of confiding waterbirds and other birds such as Bald Eagle, Magnificent Frigatebird, Sandhill Crane, Swallow-tailed
and Snail Kites, Short-tailed Hawk and the endemic Florida Scrub Jay. April is arguably the best time to visit, especially the second half of the month
since this is the peak time for passage migrant birds including warblers.
Bahamas
One of the best places in the world to swim with dolphins, as well as sharks and Sting Rays. Birds include American Flamingo, White-tailed Tropicbird,
Magnificent Frigatebird and three endemics (a woodstar, a swallow and a yellowthroat), as well as Kirtland's Warbler (in winter), Cuban Parrot, Great
Lizard Cuckoo and Western Spindalis, all in some fine island settings. The peak time for dolphins is May to August. It is possible to see most of the
birds at this time although the best time is arguably late March-early April when wintering Kirtland’s Warblers are usually still present and the first
Bahama Swallows have usually returned for the northern summer.
