Osprey Photo Workshops and Tours

Newfoundland Tours 2026
2026-07-09 19:00 - 2026-07-17 18:00 (America/New_York) | SD
Puffins billing
Overview:
Two tours (9-17 July & 20-28 July 2026)
At the eastern edge of North America where the sun rises first, you will find the island of Newfoundland Canada with a dramatic coastline, rugged cliffs, sea stacks, natural harbors plus sweeping barren and boreal forests. The waters are rich with food for millions of seabirds, fish, and whales. Millions of puffins, murres, and gannets nest on its cliffs, island, and sea stacks.
Newfoundland is one of my favorite places to photograph. My first and second visits were in 2004 with a photo tour in 2005. In 2023 I returned again and have not been able to get the location out of my mind. There are so many subjects to photograph, both landscapes and wildlife. I love being able to explore areas without the crowds that are found in many popular destinations, including in U.S. national parks. So in 2024 I organized and led two photo tours on the Avalon & Bonavista Peninsulas. They were so successful and productive, I decided to repeat them in 2026, just shifting the dates a bit for better chances of photographing whale activity.
Cape Spear fog rising.
As last summer, we will travel in a Chevy Suburban or similar vehicle. The number of participants is limited to 3 in each session so people will be comfortable while traveling and also due to the limited accommodations near where we will be photographing. Each person will have their own bedroom with a private bath in all but one remote location near St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve where we will spend two nights. To spend adequate time in each location, as in 2025 I limited the tour areas to ones with the greatest photo potential and limited travel time between sites- the Avalon and Bonavista Peninsula. I reserved accommodations in St. John’s, St. Brides (near dramatic cliffs with the largest gannet colony in North America) and the town of Bonavista. Each tour is scheduled for July, the best time for close encounters with whales and nesting seabirds. As I do with each. program, I will arrive before the first tour group and scout locations observing current conditions and the best opportunities for photography.

Avalon Peninsula
You will fly into St. John’s airport in Newfoundland and take a hotel shuttle to the Holiday Inn Express, Airport. From there we will branch out to other locations.. The itineraries cover the same territory but in slightly different order to be able to schedule the boat charter in Bonavista. On the first day of your tour, we will meet for an orientation when you will meet your fellow travelers and I will review travel plans.
St. John’s
St. John’s has a past stretching back centuries. Founded in 1497 by Italian explorer John Cabot, it is one of North America’s oldest European settlements. In older areas of the city, the narrow angular streets reflect a time when travel was by primarily by horse and carriages. The city has colorful architecture (the jelly bean and victorian style houses), well-preserved historic buildings, and unique communities such as Quidi Vidi. From St. John’s harbor, we will board a boat to photograph the shoreline and whales.
St. John’s Harbor with fog rolling in.
Signal Hill
Signal Hill was an integral part of the defense systems of St. John’s, protecting the harbor from the 1660s to the Second World War. On a lower level there is a visitor center. From its parking area, there is a road that climbs to the summit. From both levels, you can photograph panoramic views of the city, harbor, and Ft Amherst and the lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor. At the top of Signal Hill is a stone structure, Cabot Tower, erected to commemorate John Cabot’s historic voyage to the coast of North America in 1497. This was the earliest exploration of North America since the Norse landed at Vinland in the 11th century. It is also where the first transatlantic wireless signal was sent by Guglielmo Marconi.

Battery Hill
For protection, overlooking the harbor are several former batteries, i.e. gun emplacements for the defense of St. John’s. Although the guns emplacements are gone, there is a community called Battery Hill. Here colorful historic homes cling to cliffs above the harbor.
Houses clinging to the cliffs on Battery Hill.
Quidi Vidi
Quidi Vidi is a historic community in St. John’s. Its houses and piers are nestled along the shoreline of a narrow inlet where fishing/crabbing boats are tied up.
Quidi Vidi Harbor
Cape Spear
Cape Spear is a wind-blown headland at the most easterly point in North America. On it stands two lighthouses. Whales are often seen off-shore along the rocky coast. One of the lighthouses with the keeper’s house at the base is operational. The other lighthouse is the oldest in Newfoundland. Afterwards photographing here we will stop at the quaint town of Petty Harbor.
Cape Spear lower lighthouse from cliff
Witless Bay
On the Avalon Peninsula about an hour from our hotel in St John’s is Bay Bulls and Witless Bay Ecological Preserve where hundreds of thousands seabirds nest and raise their young on four islands. Located here is the largest colony of Atlantic puffins that exist in North America. The surrounding waters at times are frequented by Humpback, Killer and Minke whales plus other marine life. If conditions are favorable for photography, we will board one of the tour boats to explore this remarkable biodiverse area.
Atlantic Puffin carrying nesting material
Cape St. Mary’s
On the tip of the other side of the Avalon peninsula is the small community of St. Brides which is a short distance from St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve. After a brief stop at the visitor center, we will follow the footpath across a subarctic treeless plateau. It leads to a viewing location a few hundred meters from “Bird Rock”, a large sea stack with several thousand nesting gannets. The nearby cliff walls are also covered by nesting birds. We will be able to photograph the seabirds carrying nest materials, flying, courting, fighting over territory, and caring for young. As you follow the path towards Bird Rock, there are places to photograph the walls of the beautiful high cliffs where other seabirds nest including kittiwakes, murres, and guillemots.

St Brides
Nearby our hotel at St. Brides is a harbor where a number of fishing boats used by waterman to seasonally catch lobster and snow crabs.. It is an excellent place to photograph the workboats, gear, and fishermen.
St Brides Harbor in fog
Bonavista
Another area to be explored is Bonavista Peninsula several hours from St. John’s and St. Brides. On the way to the tip of the peninsula we will stop at the historic town of Trinity. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was a migratory and permanent fishing station. In later centuries the town became a major center of trade on the Notth East coast of Newfoundland. Today many structures of historic significance have been preserved. If road conditions permit, we will visit Fort Point Lighthouse.
Bonavista Lighthouse
In the town of Bonavista I have booked rooms at the Ellis B&B. I have rented the whole house with 4 bedrooms and with a view of the harbor and water. Incredible breakfasts are included. From here we can drive a short distance to check out Dungeon Provincial Park where from a grassy bluff you can see a massive crater created by the collapse of two sea arches eaten out by crashing waves. Also nearby is Spiller’s Cove where numerous sea stacks rise from the sea. This site includes the geological wonder, named the Chimney, a prominent unusual narrow and tall sea stack. We will also explore the area around the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse.
Atlantic Puffin collecting feather for burrow
Puffins
A short distance from our lodging in Bonavista, we will visit a puffin colony at Elliston where you can photograph the tiny birds from land. The majority nest on an off-shore rock a short distance from the cliff where we can photograph. Besides the bird activity on the rock, often puffins fly over to the mainland where you will be standing. At times, these handsomely marked birds casually hop past photographers, sometimes too close to photograph.
Also, while based in Bonavista, weather permitting, we will board our privately chartered boat (Seas the Day Tours) for exploration of Bonavista Bay hoping to photograph humpback whales when they first arrive in the area following one of their favorite foods, capelin.
Humpback Whale diving in front of Bonavista Lighthouse
The itinerary for each tour follows. The itineraries are subject to change depending on what I find on the scouting trip, weather, safety, desires of the group.
Itinerary
ON = Overnight
First July TOUR
9 Jul: Arrival at St. John’s and orientation meeting (ON St. John’s Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
10-11 Jul: Explore St. John’s, Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi, Cape Spear, Petty Harbor, 2 boat trips to photograph seabirds and whales. (ON Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
12 Jul: Drive to St Brides to photograph Northern Gannets & St. Brides Harbor (ON Capeway Inn)
13 Jul: Photography of Gannets, St. Brides harbor and surroundings (ON St. Brides, Capeway Inn)
14 Jul: Drive to the town of Bonavista stopping at the town of Trinity (ON Ellis B&B)
15-16 Bonavista: Explore Bonavista area. (ON Ellis B&B).
Photograph puffins, Bonavista lighthouse, Dungeon Provincial Park, and Spillers Cove. Chartered boat trip to photograph whales & puffins at sea (sea conditions permitting).
17 Jul: Drive to St John’s with possible stop at local fishing village (ON St John’s Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
18 Jul: Depart for home.
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Gannet face
Photographing gannets at St. Mary’s

2nd JULY TOUR
20 Jul: Arrive at St John’s & orientation meeting. (ON St John’s Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
21 Jul: Boat trip from Bay Bulls. Drive to St. Brides for Gannets at St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve and St. Brides Harbor. (ON: Capeway Inn)
22 Jul: Photography of gannets at St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve and St. Brides Harbor. (ON: St Brides, Capeway Inn)
23 Jul: Drive to the town of Bonavista, with a stop at Trinity on the way (ON Ellis B&B)
24-25 Jul: Bonavista area (ON Ellis B&B)
Photograph puffins, Bonavista lighthouse, Dungeon Provincial Park, and Spillers Cove. Chartered boat trip to photograph whales & puffins at sea (sea conditions permitting).
26Jul: Drive to St. John’s. Possible stop at local fishing village. (ON St. John’s Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
27 Jul: Explore St. John’s, Cape Spear, with O’Briens Boat trip to Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. (ON St. John’s Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
28 Jul: Boat trip from St. John’s harbor to photograph whales and the shoreline including Battery Hill. Visits to Signal Hill, Quidi Vidi, etc. (ON St. John’s Holiday Inn Express, Airport)
29 Jul: Depart for home
Puffins fighting
Limited to 3 people in each tour. Spaces fill rapidly.
Price
$500.00/ person deposit to reserve your spot. (If you cancel, a $250 fee will be deducted & the remaining funds will be returned.) The small number of people per tour forces me to adopt these terms.)
Total Cost: $5475/ person single accommodations. Total Cost: $5075/ person for double accommodations.
Price includes ground transportation for the entire tour while in Newfoundland, Canada, single accommodations, park fees, & 2 boat excursions. Personal items and food are not included.
4 % merchant fee for payment via credit card. Advise send check or use Zelle through your bank to mine. Address for my business account is isacilotto@aol.com

Cancellation Policy
Due to the small size of each tour limited to only 3 people and fund already committed, the following applies:
Deposit $500 to hold your sport (cancellation fee $250 fee)
FOR SINGLE ACCOMMODATIONS
First payment $2487.50 Because of the limited number of participants (3/tour) & money already outlaid, after this point, all payments already outlaid are forfeited. (The only exception is if I can fill your spot. Then you will receive a full refund) For tour 1, the payment is due on 9 Jan for tour 2, the payment is due 20 Jan.
Full payment is due at 120 days from start of tour (i.e. the remaining $2487.50). All payments are non-refundable unless I can fill your slot. For tour 1, the payment is due on 9 Mar. For tour 2, the payment is due 20 Mar. (The only exception is if I can fill your spot. Then you will receive a full refund)
FOR DOUBLE ACCOMMODATIONS the above schedule applies except your initial and final payment will be $ 2287.50
Notifications of cancellation must be in writing.
Medical circumstances or emergencies do not constitute grounds for exception to the cancellation policy nor does weather. Therefore, trip cancellation and interruption insurance is HIGHLY recommended. Travelers Insurance Company and others provide such policies at a reasonable rate. In the unlikely event that the trip is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, your money will be refunded in full, with the exception of expenses you personally incurred while preparing for the trip.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Photo Workshop, Fall 2026
2026-11-20 07:00 - 2026-11-22 14:00 | Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, VA, 8231 Beach Road P.O. Box 62 23336-0062, Chincoteague, VA, VA, 23336-0062, United States
Chincoteague NWR Photo Workshop Fall 2026
With Irene Hinke-Sacilotto
21-22 Nov 2026
Price: $ TBA

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located on the southern Virginia end of the barrier island of Assateague. The refuge attracts large numbers of waterfowl, herons, ibis, ospreys, shorebirds, warblers, and other migrants. It is also the home to wild horses, deer, raccoon, fox squirrels, and other animals. Used to being protected, the wildlife is unusually tolerant of humans and presents visitors with great photo opportunities. The ocean, dunes, shells, harbor, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets offer workshop participants a variety of subjects with which to work. The program includes tips on locating and approaching wildlife, capturing in-flight shots of birds, equipment selection, composition, lighting, and exposure.
Last year participants had the opportunity to photograph brant, godwits, Dunlin and other shorebirds plus wild horses feeding on the shoreline. The pontoon boat offers a very stable platform for photography.
Special feature – Saturday afternoon pontoon boat trip along Assateague’s/Chincoteague’s shoreline with the hope of photographing wild horses, wading birds, porpoise and other wildlife. Last year participants had the opportunity to photograph brant, godwits, dunlin and other shorebirds plus wild horses feeding on the shoreline. The pontoon boat design to navigate in shallow waters and typically offers a relatively stable platform for photography. Note: For safety reasons, the trip is weather dependent.
Because of the small class size (8), this Chincoteague Photo Workshop is the perfect blend of one-on-one assistance in the field, an instructional PowerPoint presentation, and image critiques.
Class participant photographing sunrise.
Photographed from the beach at sunrise

Friday

7:00 PM-8:15 PM (orientation)

Saturday

Dawn – 9:30 AM (photography @ Chincoteague, Assateague Island, and surroundings)
9:30 AM – 11:30 PM (image editing and lunch break)
11:30 – 1:00 PM (discussion/critique of workshop images)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Boat trip followed by the exploring the Wildlife Loop & sunset.

Sunday

Sunrise to 10:00 AM (photography @ Chincoteague, Assateague Island, and surroundings)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (image editing and lunch break)
12:00 – 2:00 PM (discussion/critique of workshop images)

Orientation, meetings, & critiques will be held at the Hilton Spark Motel (Previously the Best Western), Chincoteague Island, VA.)

Sunrise over Black Duck Marsh.
Great Blue Heron feeding on shoreline of marsh

Description:
This Chincoteague Photo Workshop is designed for those with a basic knowledge of the operation of a 35 mm SLR digital or mirrorless camera with an interest in nature photography. Workshop emphasis is on improving photographic skills and optimize the use of your camera. Class includes an orientation PowerPoint program followed by photography sessions on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island, and in the town of Chincoteague. Included is a critique/review of images from the weekend. Topics covered: 1) equipment selection and operation, 2) composition, creativity and perspective, 3) metering and exposure, 4) lighting, 5) basic image manipulation and 6) locating, approaching and photographing wildlife.
White Ibis feeding at sunset.
Based on my findings from scouting the area prior to the workshop, the following will be discussed at the orientation meeting on Friday evening: departure times, destinations, current field conditions, potential subjects, equipment needed, safety, field ethics, and other logistical details including ride sharing. Prior to dawn on Saturday, we will depart for the wildlife refuge to photograph sunrise and take advantage of the soft, warm early morning light. Because wildlife is protected on the refuge, animals are abundant and unusually tolerant of humans to the pleasure of most photographers. Situated on the Atlantic Flyway, Chincoteague is a resting and refueling spot for migrating birds. Potential photo subjects include sand dunes, shells, ocean wave, fishing boats, fisherman, the lighthouse, and wildlife including sika elk and whitetail deer, fox, otters, raccoons, ponies, herons, rails, geese, ducks, shorebirds, hawks, and other resident and migratory species.

Bald Eagle flying overhead..
The orientation and discussion sessions for the Chincoteague Photo Workshop in November 2025 will be held at the Hilton Sparks Motel (previously the Best Western) in Chincoteague on Maddox Blvd just outside of the wildlife refuge. Contact the hotel for availability of rooms at (800) 553-6117 or (757) 336-6557. Mention you are part of the photo workshop led by Irene Hinke-Sacilotto and a discount rate may be available. Also, accommodatons can be found at other nearby hotels in the town of Chincoteague. For a listing of accommodations, go to www.chincoteaguechamber.com

White Ibis silhouettes @ sunset.

Cost/Person: TBA
Deposit: 50% of the cost of the workshop. Final payment is due 30 days before start of photo workshop.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. Complete the form and send it with your check. Mail to Irene Sacilotto, 542 C Riviera Dr, Joppa, MD 21085. Payment can also be transferred by Zelle. Credit cards (Visa & Master Cards) are accepted but incur a 2 % admin fee.
NOTE: The pontoon boat trip included in price of workshop. Students are responsible for their own accommodations, food, transportation, and park/refuge fees. Although transportation during the workshop is not be included in the price, ride sharing will be encouraged. The number of participants is limited to 8. Note: My attention is focused on participants so I do not photograph during the workshop.

Orientation, meetings, & critiques will be held at the Hilton Sparks, Chincoteague Island, VA.

Wild Horse splashing water as it walked towards the shoreline.
Cancellation Policy
Notifications of cancellation must be in writing.
The following charges apply per person at the time I receive your written notification of cancellation:

Cancel up to 121 days prior to the start of the workshop – full refund.
120 to 61 days prior to the start of the workshop, a $35 administrative fee is charged.
60 to 46 days prior to the start of the workshop, 50% of workshop cost is charged.
45 days or less prior to the start of the workshop – NO REFUND

Medical circumstances or emergencies do not constitute grounds for exception to the cancellation policy nor does weather. Therefore, trip cancellation, interruption & medical insurance is HIGHLY recommended. Travelers Insurance Company and others provide such policies at a reasonable rate. In the unlikely event that the trip is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, your money will be refunded in full, with the exception of expenses you personally incurred while preparing for the trip.
Great Blue Heron fishing just after sunrise.
