Use of spotting scope will greatly enhance birding efforts made here; especially when trying to locate species that are further out in the harbor. 

Birders wishing to visit this location should consider arriving early in the morning, or during the winter months, when crowds are not as prevalent or overwhelming. Early arrivals also have the best chances of finding parking close to the pier. 

Visitors should plan on having to pay for parking (in the summer months) when using the large parking lot at the end of the pier. 

MacMillan Wharf is likely among the list of the most unique birding destinations in the Eastern United States! Provincetown's location out in the Atlantic Ocean presents visitors with the opportunity to encounter an extensive list of seafaring species that can show up at any point in the year. Birding at the wharf is especially enjoyable during the winter months when Common Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, Loons, Scoters, & Red-breasted Mergansers are seen directly below the piers and beside the boat docks. Alcids & Grebes also make appearances from time to time and can be seen out among the flocks of other more expected species. Gulls & Terns congregate on the docks & breakwater rocks as well; close examination of these flocks may reveal irregular species. Scanning the sandy shorelines that extend beyond the pier will likely reveal shorebirds and dabbling ducks. 

Located forty miles out to sea at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is one of the world’s natural deep-water harbors, a refuge for boats of all sizes, large and deep enough to welcome cruise ships. Provincetown has always taken its life from the sea, but it is the harbor that has defined history (Pilgrims First Landing,1620), Portuguese fishing heritage, and its reputation as a world-class tourist destination.

MacMillan Pier is Provincetown’s major transportation hub: ferries from Boston bring tens of thousands of people here seasonally, and excursions of all types depart daily to explore the Harbor, the National Seashore, and Stellwagen National Marine Sanctuary.

A historic fishing port, Provincetown is situated at the tip of Cape Cod in an area of spectacular natural beauty, surrounded by miles of dunes and beaches. Provincetown has a diverse and singular history. The Pilgrims first landed in Provincetown in 1620 and signed the Mayflower Compact, a declaration of self-determination and radical thought that characterizes the history and people of Provincetown, even today. Provincetown has been home to sailors, pirates, anglers, painters, and authors for centuries. In the nineteenth century, Provincetown, with the largest and safest natural harbor on the New England coast, was one of the greatest and busiest seaports in the country. The rich texture of cultural and social influences has produced a sense of place that is uniquely Provincetown. For over a century, these special qualities have attracted artists, tourists, and bohemians who have then blended with the local population and produced a unique community character. Provincetown is truly like nowhere else. MacMillan Pier is a short walk to all that the Town has to offer, such as retail shops, museums, restaurants, theaters, and art galleries.