Ultimate Guide to Birding near Regina for a Wild Saskatchewan Getaway
Are you looking for a Saskatchewan getaway that blends exploring its wild places, urban centers and at slow pace? Then this is your guide! Saskatchewan always surprises me, especially when it comes to its incredible bird watching opportunities. On a recent trip, I got to explore some amazing places to visit near Regina and in the city. It was a creative mix of urban birding, which is great for those looking to stay in the city, but still get to see some Prairie bird species. And rural gems that made me feel like I was a world away from the city, while only a short drive away but teeming with wildlife.
I spent 5 days exploring in and around city and am sharing some of the best places for birding near Regina, like Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. In addition, I’m sharing a few cool spots right in the city for bird watching, like Wascana Lake. This guide will also help you plan your birding getaway to Regina, as I’m passing on my tips for where I stayed and ate during my trip. Plus, if you need some help, I’ve got the ideal tour company, Wild View Tours, to help guide you through birding in Southern Saskatchewan.
Responsible Birding Tips
A quick note about how to bird responsibly to reduce your impact on them. These are especially relevant during breeding season, but should always be observed.
- Keep your distance – use binoculars or a long lens to see better
- Reduce noise – to avoid disrupting them
- Refrain from using recorded bird songs – to avoid stressing them out
- Leave your dog at home – to avoid from having them disrupt nesting or breeding sites
Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Tourism Saskatchewan and Wild View Tours, but as always, all opinions expressed are my own. This post also contains affiliate links, by booking with these links I receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Best Places for Birding near Regina
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
An hour northwest of the city is Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. I think it offers the best bird watching near Regina and honestly, one of the most special places I’ve visited in Saskatchewan!
The park is noted for over 240 bird species, thanks to being home to a wide array of habitats, from marsh to grasslands and forests to lake. Because of that diversity, I think it’s one of the best places for birding in Canada!
There are over 30 km of trails in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. We did most of our birding around the boardwalk and hiked the Nicolle Flats Trail, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail.
At the start of the boardwalk is a gazebo, which offers a beautiful vista of the marsh. But the forest and shrub area to the left of it was alive with bird activity every time we visited. In this area I spotted a number of warblers; black and white, Tennessee, and yellow warblers, including a fledgling being fed.
I absolutely love a boardwalk and this one was buzzing with birds. I have never seen so many marsh wrens and so close. Usually, I spot one as it perches at the top of a reed before it darts back down. But here, there were dozens hanging out along the rail and hopping along the path.
The boardwalk is also where I saw a lifer! A Virginia rail, just strutted along the path before flying off into the reeds. Plus, an American bittern also graced us with its presence.
A must-visit area of the park is the dam road. There is a number of areas to pull over and park safely off the road. Here, I spotted a wealth of waterfowl and shorebirds like redheads, spotted sandpipers, yellowlegs, pied-billed and Western grebes, as well as black terns.
But the coolest part of the dam road is the flock of Franklin’s gulls that rest on it. Each of our cars slowly drove along and they all took off in flight like the welcoming committee.
Other bird species in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park that I spotted: Baltimore orioles, kingbirds, gray catbirds, various sparrows, Eastern phoebes, eagles, red-tailed hawk, harrier, American white pelicans, hairy woodpecker, and vireos.
Where to Stay in Buffalo Pound
The best place to stay in the park, and arguably one of the best in Saskatchewan, is the Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge. Home to 5 tipi-inspired cabins, it’s located right in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park.
Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge is owned and operated by a local Métis family. Inside each cabin features a plush queen-sized bed, day bed with a pull out and a private full bathroom. They sleep 4 comfortably. Right out front, you’ll find your own private outdoor kitchen, with fridge, sink, a barbeque and fire pit. And the best part, each has lake views!
For those travelling with a dog or with mobility issues, the Eco Lodge has a pet friendly cabin and one that’s accessible. For a full tour of my cabin and outdoor kitchen, check out my Instagram reel about Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge.
Dawn, co-owner of the Eco Lodge, encourage visitors to use the smudging and Bannock kits that are in each cabin. And the amenities are bountiful! Available are canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to use on the lake. Plus, you can also take advantage of mountain bikes and hit the parks epic trails. All for free with your stay.
During our stay, we enjoyed breakfast and dinner in our outdoor kitchen. But there’s also a place to eat in the park, the Trailhead Cafe. A short drive from the cabins, the cafe has a menu that has a variety of options, including personal pizzas and sandwiches.
Chaplin Lake
One of the most unique places for bird watching near Regina is Chaplin Lake! This area blew me away, with its unusual landscape and diversity of bird species.
Located off the Trans-Canada Highway, between Moose Jaw and Swift Current, the Chaplin Plain Landscape Area is made of three lakes that include Chaplin, Reed and Old Wives Lake. It’s one of the most important places for migratory birds in North America.
It’s also the second largest saline lake in Canada. Yes, salt water! At it’s deepest, its 3 feet deep and reportedly 7 times saltier than the ocean. Many of the birds come to feed on the brine shrimp in the lake, also known locally as sea monkeys.
The area sees over 100,000 birds every year. And over half of the world’s sanderlings population stop here on their migration to the Canadian Arctic. If you’re keen to see shorebirds near Regina, Chaplin is home to over 30 species.
It’s a great spot to see American avocets, Wilson’s phalaropes, sandpipers, and so many more. During my visit I spotted, white-faced ibis, lesser yellowlegs, American avocets, American wigeon, and a number of willets in the lake and nearby ponds. Plus, we watched an adorable piping plover feed and scurry along the salty shoreline.
This area is special for another reason too. The privately managed native grasslands that surround Chaplin are some of the largest remaining tracts in southern Saskatchewan. We learned of the critical role that these land owners play in helping to conserve habitat for species at risk like the burrowing owls, loggerhead shrikes, and Baird’s sparrows.
Other species I spotted along the backroads, in the grasslands, and in the sky included: Baird’s sparrows, horned lark, upland sandpiper, gray partridge, Western meadowlark, Eastern and Western kingbirds. In addition, I saw a number of hawks like the Swainson’s and ferruginous as well as a merlin. And my first sighting of a Peregrine falcon!
Insider Tip: Two must visit stops in Chaplin are The Salt Shack for tasty goodies and the Chaplin Nature Centre. The Nature Centre, open seasonally, is a great spot to learn about the area, its birdlife and grab a fun souvenir.
Happy Valley Park
If you’re looking for free bird watching near Regina, Happy Valley Park in Moose Jaw is a great little gem. This park on the edge of downtown, in a residential neighbourhood was bustling with birds, especially in the evening.
We wandered in after dinner and the park was alive with birds. No one else came or went through the park the entire time we were there.
Happy Valley is a small park, but offers a diversity of habitats that attract a variety of species. There’s towering mature trees, pockets of shrubs, and then open grasslands.
Jenn, out tour guide from Wild View Tours, told us that it’s an ideal stopover spot for migrating birds in the spring and fall, like warblers and other songbirds.
During our visit, I spotted a merlin perched at the top of bare tree. Below it was a quiet hairy woodpecker. In the bushes near the train tracks was a male American goldfinch. But the biggest highlight was watching a family of Cooper’s hawks, two juveniles and a mom. I think we watched, a photographed them for nearly an hour. All from a distance, while remaining quiet so as not to disturb them.
Wakamow Valley
On the edge of downtown Moose Jaw sits the sprawling Wakamow Valley. This urban greenspace spans over 200 hectares along the Moose Jaw River, and is home to over 20 km of trails.
It’s made up of a number of interconnected parks, and during my visit we explored Connor Park. The Wakamow Valley is home to nearly 200 species of birds.
We hiked a scenic winding trail through the park, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail. Along with various birds, we spotted wildflowers, butterflies, and scenic views of the river.
Along the trail in Connor Park, I spotted a number of flycatchers, yellow warblers, a house wren and a number of sparrows. But the possibilities are great to see so much, especially considering the varying habitats, from woodland to river.
Address: Laurel Road, Moose Jaw (map)
Where to Stay in Moose Jaw
I stayed at Temple Garden Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw. If you’re looking for great places to stay in Moose Jaw, this place ticks so many boxes. The hotel has renovated rooms that are spacious. Plus, if you need to relax after a day of exploring and birding, this hotel features a thermal spa. Tapped into nearby geothermal springs, you can enjoy saunas, a cold plunge and the two pools, one indoors and one outside.
It’s located right downtown, within walking distance to restaurants and shops. We ate at the nearby Grant Hall Hotel. I highly recommend starting at with a cocktail in their Burrowing Owl Lounge – it’s fun to stay on theme when you’re on a birding getaway. They also have mocktails. Afterward, enjoy dinner at their steakhouse.
Best Bird Watching in Regina
Birding doesn’t always have to be out in some remote park. You can bird in your own backyard or nearby. So, if you’re looking for some more accessible places to go birding in Regina, try this urban parks.
Wascana Park
If you’re looking to go birding in Regina, Wascana Park is an ideal spot to start. Right in the heart of the city, Wascana Park covers over 900 hectares and surrounds a lake.
The park is a fun spot to spend the day in Regina, as it’s home to a number of the city’s landmarks as well as the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and Science Centre. Plus, families with little kids will love the Candy Cane playground. The Canada goose slide even had me watching to play!
Thanks to the park’s diverse landscape, that combines forest, dense shrubs and water, over 276 bird species have been spotted here. You’ll find a mix of waterfowl, song birds and raptors.
We parked at the Candy Cane parking lot (which is free) and walked the trail around the lake that’s across the street. The trail gets into dense foliage as well as open areas, with a few lookout points.
In the park, along the trail, I spotted: yellow warblers, cedar waxwings, an Alder Flycatcher, eastern warbling vireo, an American goldfinch, and eastern kingbird just in the bushes along. Once we got closer to the lake, I spotted 10 American white pelicans eating in a group, cormorants, lesser yellowlegs, a killdeer, a baby coot, and a pair of canvasback.
I even spotted a female mallard resting on a tree near the shore with her ducklings tucked underneath her. It was such a sweet moment, especially when one popped out to say hi!
Address: 501 Wascana Drive, Regina (map)
Boreal Island
A birding hotspot in Regina that really blew me away by the diverse and sheer volume of bird species is Boreal Island. Part of A.E. Wilson Park, there have been 215 bird species spotted in the park.
A.E. Wilson Park spans roughly 120 acres along Wascana Creek. The park has a mix of ecosystems, from woodland to wetlands. So, it’s no surprise that over 200 species of bird have been seen in the park.
The park features a 3.5 km loop trail that weaves through the different landscapes and offers diverse birding opportunities. I was with a group on a birding tour with Wild View Tours and we did roughly half the trail but still saw dozens of birds.
In the trees, I spotted: woodpeckers, including a flicker, cedar waxwings, various sparrows, like the song sparrow, as well as flycatchers like Eastern kingbirds and Eastern phoebes. Within the marsh and water, I saw a number of cormorants, ring-billed gulls, wrens, and more.
I also loved seeing all of the jackrabbits hanging out in the shade of the trees in the parking lot.
Address: A.E Wilson parking lot off of Dorothy Street (map)
McKell Conservation Area
If you want the scenic Prairie landscape right in the city, then plan a visit to McKell Conservation Area. This nearly 70-hectare park made me feel like I was strolling the grasslands far away from the city. Except for when I turned a certain way and saw the row of homes in the distance.
McKell is home to 4 km of protected wetland and prairie habitat. Along the trails you’ll find benches to sit and soak it all in.
It provides habitat for nesting birds in the short grass and reeds, so be sure to stick to the trails. Depending on the time of year, you can see a wide array of species, like bobolinks, warblers, and waterfowl.
During my mid-morning summer visit, I spotted a merlin perched on a hay bale. It doesn’t get more iconic Saskatchewan than that! Other species I observed included: barn swallows near the bridge, mallards with the ducklings, red-winged blackbirds, and clay-coloured sparrows. I even caught my first sighting of a sedge wren that was most likely nesting in the grass.
Address: 12001, Wascana Circle, Regina (map)
Lakeridge Park North
When it comes to urban bird watching locations in Regina it doesn’t get more so than at Lakeridge Park North. This small park is in a lovely neighbourhood in the northwest of the city.
Surrounded by homes, this tranquil park provides the perfect urban oasis for songbirds and waterfowl. With a large pond at it’s centre, the park also has stately trees, shrubs along the shore, and a small forest section. Ideal to provide a home for a variety of species.
As I walked along the trail, near the pond, I was blown away by all the activity. Among the Canada geese and mallards, I spotted a number of American coots and juveniles. These were my first sightings of juvenile coots, and they were so cute in their awkward teenage fluff.
In the water were more coots, a ruddy duck and a few red-necked grebes. All to prove you don’t need to get outside the city to go birding.
Address: 5560 Leibel Crescent, Regina (map)
Where to Stay in Regina
I stayed at the Hotel Saskatchewan and think it’s the perfect place to stay in the city. This Regina landmark, built in 1927, has all the class and charm of the roaring 20’s. But all of the modern amenities for a comfortable stay.
The location is perfect, we ate at a number of nearby restaurants, like Crave Kitchen and Rosemary & Rye. It also has a number of dining options, including a café and bar. Their breakfast offerings include both a large hot buffet or made to order menu.
Rooms are modern, with pillow-top mattresses and marble bathrooms. I enjoyed a room at the front of the hotel that had a beautiful view of Victoria Park, right across from the hotel.
How Best to Enjoy Birding in Southern Saskatchewan
Whether you’re an avid birder or beginner, the best way to see birds in Saskatchewan is on one of the Wild View Tours.
Owned and operated by Jenn Smith Nelson, a local with a passion for all exploring wild places with regenerative tourism in mind. She’s built a career of her passion over the last couple of decades and is an award-winning travel writer and photographer. Now, she wants to help other people experience the wilds of Saskatchewan.
She runs a wide range of tours, from half day to multi-day retreats. The best part is that she’s a local who has spent her whole life birding and exploring Saskatchewan, so she knows all the best places, and when to go.
Jenn is also about community, and partners with a variety of people to ensure her tours are well rounded and give back to the other local small businesses. For instance, on our tour she partnered with the owners of Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge, a Metis owned business, as well as the owner of Chaplin Nature Centre.
But the best part about Wild View Tours is that they go beyond birding. Each tour offers a unique experience that weaves together bird watching, learning about the ecosystem, and connecting the nature.
Check out the list of upcoming Wild View Tours
Start Planning Your Birding Getaway
So, whether you love the outdoors and are looking for a unique getaway or have a passion for birds, Saskatchewan is a gem of destination that is full of wonderful surprises. Connect with the beauty of the prairies, learn about what makes this province special – from its birds to its endangered grasslands and the people that are stewarding it all, and I promise you you’ll have a memorable trip.
Looking for more Saskatchewan Adventures?
5 Best Places for Birding near Saskatoon
Hidden Gems & Unique Things to do in Saskatoon
PIN IMAGE FOR LATER REFERENCE!
