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22 TRAVEL PLANNER Birding Best time to go: May and June More than 250 species of arctic birds and ducks nest or pass over the Churchill River estuary on the coast of Hudson Bay on their annual spring migration. Guided land tours from operators such as the Churchill Northern Studies Centre allow birders to catch glimpses of red-throated loons, arctic terns, eiders, sanderlings, plovers, long-tailed jaegers, snow geese and gulls. The most elusive on the list is the rare Ross's gull. Depending on conditions, a boat tour on the water is a more adventurous way to look for birds while dodging artful ice floes. Summer is prime time for photographing other northern wildlife against the blooming tundra, such as arctic fox, arctic hare, ptarmigan and hungry grey jays that drop in to say hello after you've had a thrilling sled dog ride through the forest. If you're lucky, you may catch a lone caribou or two strolling the tundra outside of Churchill. Belugas Best time to go: July and August In summer, Churchill boasts up-close viewing of a white mammal—and it's not the one you're thinking of. Every July and August, the western edge of Hudson Bay is home to 60,000 beluga whales. Nearly 5,000 of those whales make their way into the Churchill and other northern river estuaries to feed, mate and calve. Guests can view them on a boat tour, kayak excursion, stand-up paddleboard or glide above them on a floating aqua mat. These friendly and curious creatures will turn their heads and sing a welcome song. C H U RC H I L L C H U RC H I L L P H OTO : MARTI N G R EGU S C H U RC H I L L C H U RC H I L L

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