Gatherall's Puffin Whale Watch

08/20/2025

Send this to a friend to see which species they are! Are you a puffin, humpback, minke, gannet, murre, or sunfish?

Tell us which one you are in the comments below!! 👇

These are just a few of the species we see in Newfoundland during our season. Stay tuned for pt.2!

08/16/2025

As the peak whale season begins to wind down, we are thankful to look back on some absolutely incredible sightings we’ve had throughout the season!

Take a look for yourself and tell us which is your favourite👇

08/09/2025

Yesterday morning our guests were lucky to experience and learn about puffin patrol firsthand! They got to watch a puffin chick release done by 🐧

07/29/2025

Did you know, the Atlantic Puffin is Newfoundland & Labrador’s provincial bird? Not hard to see why.

Just 25 minutes south of St. John’s, you can take a tour with us to see the largest puffin colony in North America, 2nd largest in the whole world! A must do for anyone visiting Newfoundland & Labrador this summer🐧

🇨🇦

07/27/2025

Puffin Patrol is coming up fast! 🥳
August 1st marks the first night of this fantastic community initiative to help little wayward pufflings get a second chance of heading to sea.
Head on over to the registration site to take part this August!

REGISTRATION TO VOLUNTEER IS NOW OPEN!

https://buytickets.at/cpawsnl/1729255

A few reminders for all volunteers:
* Local residents from Bay Bulls, Witless Bay, Mobile, Tors Cove, Burnt Cove, St. Michael's and Bauline DO NOT NEED TO REGISTER.
* Once registered, please fill out your waivers before your patrol date! Waiver links will be shared with the registration confirmation and on the event page.
* If the day you would like to patrol is full, you can sign up to be on the wait list through the ticket form. You will be alerted if a spot opens up, and will have 24 hours to register before the spot is passed down to the next person on the waitlist. Please consider alternate dates if possible!
* Volunteers must bring their own reflective safety vest, gloves and a flashlight to each patrol. We will provide the crates and nets.

* If you have any other questions or concerns about registration, please email [email protected]

07/06/2025

This week we are honouring one of the most beloved members of the Gatherall’s family, our sweet Teddy.

It has been a very sad time for our family, crew, and for everyone who had the joy of meeting Teddy over the years. He wasn’t just a dog. He was our greeter, our mascot, and a true friend to all.

During the summer, you’d often find him down by the gift shop, welcoming guests with a big happy smile and a wagging tail. He was always there to send us off as the boat left the dock, and waiting patiently for our return. Teddy made an impact on people from all around the world, and brought so much joy to this place.

Everyone on staff has lost not just a coworker, but also a family member. We already miss him more than words can say. It won’t be the same without him, but we’ll carry his spirit with us every day.

We love you, Teddy💙🕊️

06/26/2025

It’s a humpback! It’s a dolphin! No, it’s BOTH🐋🐬

Some more great humpback and dolphin sightings on this morning’s 10:30am tour!!

01/29/2025

❓Did you know❓
Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea, returning to land each May to breed. The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is home to North America’s largest colony, with hundreds of thousands of puffins nesting on its islands each summer! These seabirds dig burrows into grassy slopes to lay a single egg, and both parents take turns caring for their chick—called a "puffling"—until it fledges and heads out to sea. The best time of year to experience this is from May to early September!

But puffins aren’t the only seabirds calling the reserve home! Many other species such as common murres, black guillemots, razorbilled auks, black-legged kittiwakes, Leach’s storm petrels, northern fulmars, and even northern gannets can be found on the reserve. On foggy days, greater and sooty shearwaters can often be seen gliding along the ocean’s surface.

At Gatherall’s, we do more than just show you these incredible birds—we help you truly understand them. Our tours offer an educational experience, with multiple guides equipped with wireless microphones to ensure you can always hear their insights. They’re available to answer your questions, offer assistance, and even chat one-on-one throughout the trip. Whether you’re curious about puffin behavior, migration patterns, or conservation efforts, our crew is happy to share their knowledge!

We want to hear from you!🫵🏻Have you visited the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve with us? What was your favourite thing to see?

Share your experiences or photos of these incredible seabirds in the comments below!