Bird Watching Tours - Bird Treks

Tours & Destinations

Expired tour dates at the top of this schedule will be updated as soon as possible. The dates are likely to be close to what is listed, simply one year later. Check back for recent updates.

. . . . . 2013 TOUR SCHEDULE . . . . .

NEW! AMAZON CRUISE

Tropical Experience of a Lifetime!

Every aspect of this cruise is designed to enable our guests to observe the wonders of the Amazon Basin and to sample the vibrant culture that thrives in this remote corner of the Earth. Small group size helps to make your experience a memorable one. Four departures monthly throughout 2013. Contact Bird Treks for exact dates, availability, and additional information. Generally there are two Expedition Cruises per month. There are also two Compact Cruises monthly, shorter cruises at a lower price.
Compact Cruise (4 nights), 2013 cost:
      Green Category Cabins $1,750 per person, double occupancy
      Yellow Category Cabins $1,950 per person, double occupancy
Expedition Cruise (7 nights), 2013 cost:
      Green Category Cabins $3,250 per person, double occupancy
      Yellow Category Cabins $3,600 per person, double occupancy
All cruises begin and end in Manaus, Brazil.
Click on AMAZON to see the complete tour itinerary. These comfortable, exciting, Amazon River cruises are conducted in conjunction with Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel.

SPAIN: MADRID TO BARCELONA

FROM THE HIGH PYRENEES TO THE EBRO DELTA

12 April 2013 - 24 April 2013, 13 days & 12 nights

Spain is the most visited European country for the observation of birds due to its geographical location in relation to the migratory routes between Europe and Africa, and because it embraces almost all of the habitats of the Western Palearctic. This mosaic of habitats in a relatively good state of conservation provides shelter to a great number and variety of species: raptors, alpine birds, steppe species, aquatic birds, and an unsurpassed representation of typical Mediterranean species. Special attention is given to the Spanish specialties such as Spanish Imperial Eagle, Lammergeier, Dupont's Lark, Wallcreeper, and Moustached Warbler, with the added opportunity to see a good number of mammals, reptiles, and butterflies. To complement the tour we will visit historic monuments and cultural sites, such as The House of Goya, El Castillo de Loarre, El Monasterio de San Juan de la Pena, the medieval village of Trujillo, and the Moorish village of Alquezar. This tour is designed especially for birders who wish to see a maximum number of bird species in Europe, combined with some of Spain's rich culture, all in the most spectacular and interesting areas of this enchanting part of the world. The tour begins in Madrid and ends in Barcelona, and will be led by Steve West, an expert on the birds of Spain. Bob Schutsky will assist Steve should a second leader be required. The price could vary according to the financial situation in Spain at the start of the tour.

Price: $3895.00 from Madrid, Spain

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTH FLORIDA, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK,

DRY TORTUGAS & THE FLORIDA KEYS

20 April 2013 - 28 April 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

South Florida is the only truly tropical region in all of mainland United States. It has mangroves, manatees, bromeliads, and crocodiles. But most of all it has birds, many of them found nowhere else in the country. Near Miami we'll look for Red-whiskered Bulbul, Monk Parakeet, and Spot-breasted Oriole. Okeechobee is a great area for Sandhill Crane, Crested Caracara, Short-tailed Hawk, and Florida Scrub-Jay. After searching for Brown-headed Nuthatch and Bachman's Sparrow in the Piney Woods, we'll look for Anhinga, Roseate Spoonbill, and Snowy Plover on the Gulf Coast. Big Cypress and the Everglades are famous for Limpkin, Swallow-tailed Kite, Snail Kite, Gray Kingbird, and White-crowned Pigeon. We may even see Greater Flamingo and Shiny Cowbird, as we have in the past. Our last major destination is the Florida Keys to look for Magnificent Frigatebird, Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo, Burrowing Owl, and Antillean Nighthawk. We'll also search for Common Ground-Dove, Painted Bunting, and a host of migrant warblers. Our day on Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas will be nothing short of spectacular, from the Sooty Tern and Brown Noddy breeding colony, to the host of migrant warblers, buntings, and other songbirds. And a West Indian vagrant, perhaps a Key West Quail-Dove or La Sagra's Flycatcher, can always be around the next bend in the trail. Bob Schutsky and/or John Puschock are the scheduled tour leaders.

Price: $2985.00 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY on the EDWARDS PLATEAU

Home of two VERY RARE SONGBIRDS!

24 April 2013 - 28 April 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

Two little birds make this trip an exciting adventure: Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. Both can be found at Lost Maples State Park and Kerr Wildlife Management Area, along with Green Kingfisher and the scenic beauty that this area has to offer. Then we include four nights at Neal's/Buchanan Lodges, where we have previously watched nesting Black-capped Vireos through our spotting scope and from our porch! One of our evenings will be occupied with a visit to the Frio Bat Cave, a nursery roost for 10-12 million Mexican Freetail Bats. They put on quite a late day show. Add a few Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Canyon Wrens, Zone-tailed Hawks, Dickcissels, and a Painted Bunting or two, all in beautiful habitats and full breeding plumage, and we have an incredible five days on the Edwards Plateau, with lots of birding and very little driving. The scheduled tour leader is Bob Schutsky. Please inquire about a $150 discount for combining Texas Hill Country with the Big Bend Tour, described below.

Price: $1875.00 from San Antonio

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS

The only place in the US to see COLIMA WARBLER

29 April 2013 - 7 May 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

Big Bend is the only location in the United States where Colima Warbler can be found. We'll be there at prime time to make the hike into the Chisos Mountains to search for this rare and local species. We are also likely to see Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Elf Owl, Gray Hawk, Crissal Thrasher, Hooded Oriole, and Varied Bunting. Places that we'll visit within Big Bend include Rio Grande Village, Hot Springs, Panther Junction, Sam Nail Ranch, and of course Boot Spring for the Colima Warbler and lots of additional great birding. The Davis Mountains may yield Montezuma Quail, Common Black-Hawk, and many additional birds. The drive to Alpine is almost certain to produce Pronghorns. The El Paso region has desert scrub birds including Greater Roadrunner, Verdin, and Burrowing Owl, while Lake Balmorhea adds shorebirds, waterfowl, and long-legged waders to the list. Bobcat, Javelina, Armadillo, and Jackrabbits can all be reasonably expected, and even a Mountain Lion is well within the realm of possibility. The scheduled tour leader is Bob Schutsky. There is a $150 discount if you combine this tour with the Texas Hill Country Tour that immediately precedes it.

Price: $3085.00 from El Paso, Texas

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

Long Island, Montauk Point & Jamaica Bay, New York

Seabirds, Songbird Migrants & Quiet Parts of Long Island

2 May 2013 - 6 May 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

The South Shore of Long Island, from Jamaica Bay to Montauk, is rich in bird life and scenic habitat. Lots of scanning and scoping at Montauk Point and other coastal areas may produce all three scoters, Northern Gannets, Common and Red-throated Loons, plus give us excellent opportunities for additional seabirds. There may be a few unusual gulls and terns in the area. Shorebirds will be present in good numbers. There is a good chance of finding either a Ruff or Curlew Sandpiper, and hopefully Piping Plovers. Migrant and breeding songbirds will be common in the woodlands, hedgerows, and marshes. On our way to and from Montauk we will visit many additional locations such as Jamaica Bay, Shinnecock Inlet, Point Lookout, Jones Beach, and Sagaponnick Pond. Here we may add some leftover ducks, American Bittern, and Clapper Rail. We anticipate many habitat changes from Hurricane Sandy, so we will explore as we go. We stay in Montauk for three nights, with great dinners at the Shagwong and O'Murphy's Pub. Our final night is on the west end of the island, near Jamaica Bay. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader.

Price: $1545.00 from Newark, New Jersey or Lancaster, PA

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

for Trogons, Hummingbirds, Owls & Northbound Migrants

4 May 2013 - 13 May 2013, 10 days & 9 nights

We will spend ten glorious days amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in North America. We go from Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon to Portal Peak Lodge in Cave Creek Canyon, with visits to California Gulch, Patagonia, Ramsey Canyon, Rustler Park, and the San Pedro River Valley. Local specialties include Elegant Trogon, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Mexican Chickadee, Tropical Kingbird, Olive and Red-faced Warblers, and Gray Hawk. May is an excellent time for nightjars and owls; we will try to find as many as possible including the elusive Flammulated Owl and, the smallest owl in the world, Elf Owl. Migrant warblers are likely to include Hermit and MacGillivray's, while Lazuli Bunting and a variety of shorebirds can also be expected. We have an incredibly good record of finding Montezuma Quail and Five-striped Sparrow, and hopefully the Buff-collared Nightjars will return to California Gulch--they have been fairly reliable for the past several years. Ten to twelve species of hummingbirds are likely now that White-eared has become regular in the Huachucas. And the Twin Lakes at Willcox will round out our tour with a fine variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, and other aquatic species. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader.

Price: $2795.00 from Tucson, Arizona

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: THE TWO-ISLAND NATION NEAR THE COAST OF VENEZUELA

ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE & SEA TURTLES!

10 May 2013 - 19 May 2013, 10 days & 9 nights

Anyone who has heard of Asa Wright Lodge knows what a fantastic tour this will be. We'll spend six nights there and three nights on Tobago, Trinidad's sister island. Our stay in Trinidad will include a hike to see the unique and highly local Oilbird, the chance for 10-12 species of hummingbirds at Yerreté, and a late day boat ride to Caroni Swamp for the roosting flight of Scarlet Ibis and other long-legged waders. Birding from the veranda is nothing short of spectacular. You will not believe the variety of species that can be seen from one comfortable location, including Channel-billed Toucan and Tufted Coquette. And, as a special treat, we will spend an evening at a secluded beach, searching for Leatherback Sea Turtles laying their eggs! It is a truly incredible experience. One of the highlights during our Tobago stay will be our visit to Little Tobago Island to see Red-billed Tropicbird, Red-footed and Brown Boobies, and Blue-crowned Motmot. The glass bottom boat sails from the dock directly in front of our motel, the Blue Waters Inn. You can also enjoy some great snorkeling. Please register early to reserve your spot. Bob Schutsky will be your leader, along with local experts on both islands.

Price: $4175.00 from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

FOR WHISKERED AUKLET & ASIAN STRAYS!

12 May 2013 - 19 May 2013, 7 days & 7 nights

Located in the Aleutian Islands 1200 miles southwest of Anchorage and only 400 miles east of Attu is Adak, a 280-square mile island. It is the westernmost outpost in the Aleutians in the entire ABA area that is accessible by commercial flights. Until very recently, Adak was the site of a naval base, and access was restricted. The Navy has left the island, opening it to birders and leaving behind an infrastructure and modern facilities not found at other western Alaska birding hotspots. We'll stay in comfortable houses that formerly were housing for naval officers when the base was active. The houses are all furnished, well-equipped, and comfortable. We'll travel in vans or trucks for some of the most comfortable birding that you can experience in the Aleutians. Birding coverage of Adak has been sparse through the years due to the former restricted access, so its birding potential is still largely unknown. But based upon recent reports from other islands in the Bering Sea region and our own Adak trips, we know that Adak gets its share of Asian vagrants. A great bird that we certainly hope to see is Whiskered Auklet, a species that you cannot see at Gambell or St. Paul. There's a chance for a view from shore, along with other alcids, Laysan Albatross, Short-tailed Shearwater, and other seabirds. But we make every attempt, and have never failed, to arrange a boat trip to look for these species. We can't make any predictions about what vagrants we'll see, though we'll have an excellent chance for Wood Sandpiper and maybe Lesser Sand-Plover, Gray-tailed Tattler, Olive-backed Pipit, Siberian Rubythroat, Hawfinch, and additional Asian species. Past spring tours also yielded Eyebrowed Thrush, Long-billed Murrelet, Greenshank, Brambling, and Eastern Yellow Wagtail. Some of the regular birds that we expect to find include Red-faced Cormorant, "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Gyrfalcon, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Oystercatcher, Rock Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger, Glaucous-winged Gull, Aleutian Tern, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled, Kittlitz's, and Ancient Murrelets, Parakeet Auklet, Horned and Tufted Puffins, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, Pacific Wren, and the Aleutian races of Song Sparrow and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. The Adak birding adventures will be led by John Puschock and/or Bob Schutsky.

Price: $3795.00 from Adak, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

FOR WHISKERED AUKLET & ASIAN STRAYS!

19 May 2013 - 26 May 2013, 7 days & 7 nights

Price: $3795.00 from Adak, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

DELAWARE BAY OF NEW JERSEY & DELAWARE

CAPE MAY POINT & BOMBAY HOOK NWR

20 May 2013 - 25 May 2013, 6 days & 5 nights

Cape May Point State Park, Forsythe (Brigantine) NWR, Bombay Hook NWR, Cape Henlopen State Park, and many great locations along both sides of the Delaware Bay--we will visit all of these locations and several more on this pre-Memorial Weekend Holiday Tour. The focus will be the Delaware Bay, where Horseshoe Crabs return each spring to lay their eggs. Just as reliably, thousands of shorebirds and other aquatic species stop during their northbound migration to feed on the bountiful food supply. Expect Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and many additional species. We'll also look for migrant and breeding songbirds at Higbee Beach that may include Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Blue Grosbeak, and Yellow-breasted Chat. We've even included a crossing on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to search for a few pelagic species, perhaps Wilson's Storm-Petrel and Parasitic Jaeger. This will be a great tour with many excellent birds in south Jersey and Delaware, and a few rarities almost to be expected. Bob Schutsky is your scheduled leader.

Price: $1975.00 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ATTU, ALASKA

We’re Going Back!!

26 May 2013 - 9 June 2013, 15 days & 14 nights

Attu! A legendary place that needs little introduction to birders. Closer to Russia than mainland Alaska and located in the Eastern Hemisphere, it's been the site of many first North American records. The island has been seldom visited by birders since the last Attour trip in 2000. We will travel to Attu aboard the M/V Pukuk, a 72-foot boat custom built for Alaska charter cruises, giving us ample opportunity for pelagic birding. We should see almost all of Alaska's alcid species including Whiskered Auklet. Short-tailed Albatross is very likely, while Red-legged Kittiwake and Mottled Petrel are possible. The tour begins from Adak Island, Alaska.

A fuel surcharge will be added to the price of the tour. The amount is dependent on the price of fuel and the number of participants. Expect a surcharge of about $500 to $900.

Price: $7650.00 from Adak Island, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ST. PAUL ISLAND, ALASKA

RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, SEA BIRD NESTING CLIFFS & ASIAN STRAYS

1 June 2013 - 5 June 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

St. Paul, one of the Pribilof Islands, is THE place to see Red-legged Kittiwake, an endemic of the Bering Sea region that breeds at only four locations in the world. Nesting alcids such as Parakeet, Crested, and Least Auklets, Horned and Tufted Puffins, plus Red-faced Cormorant and Northern Fulmar are another major attraction. We'll get close looks at them on their nesting cliffs, sometimes from only a few feet away. Additional interesting breeders include Rock Sandpiper (Pribilof subspecies), Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Snow Bunting, and perhaps McKay's Bunting, another Bering Sea endemic. We'll be on the island for five days to increase our chances of encountering Asian strays. Recent early June sightings include Bewick's Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Lesser Sand-Plover, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Red-necked Stint, Black-headed and Slaty-backed Gulls, east Asian race of Common Tern, Common Cuckoo, Snowy Owl, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit, Eyebrowed Thrush, and Gray-streaked and Dark-sided Flycatcher Flycatchers. Also, Arctic Foxes are common and Northern Fur Seals will be present. Bob Schutsky is your scheduled leader. The approximate tour fee is $3695.

Price: $3695.00 from Anchorage, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

Churchill & Southern Manitoba

Ross’s Gull, Great Gray Owl & many Boreal Birds

6 June 2013 - 16 June 2013, 11 days & 10 nights

Churchill lies on the western shore of Hudson Bay in northern Manitoba, strategically situated in the transition zone between boreal forest and extensive tundra habitat. It is perhaps best known to birders as the most reliable locale to find the exceedingly rare Ross's Gull. Even though it no longer nests there, we have a good track record for finding this beautiful bird. Fifteen species of shorebirds nest in the area and they are extremely tame and approachable, a delight for birders and photographers. You can count on close views of Red-necked Phalarope, Hudsonian Godwit, and American Golden-Plover, among many others. Additional birds that we are likely to see include Smith's Longspur, Harris's Sparrow, Common and Hoary Redpolls, Pine Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Little Gull, Parasitic Jaeger, Spruce Grouse, and Willow Ptarmigan. Arctic Hare is likely, as are Beluga Whales near the mouth of the Churchill River. In southern Manitoba we visit a variety of habitats at places such as Riding Mountain National Park, Oak Hammock Marsh, and Douglas Marsh. These areas will complement the birds of Churchill nicely, adding species such as Le Conte's Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Partridge, Connecticut Warbler, Great Gray Owl, and Sprague's Pipit. We'll hope to witness the mating ritual of the Western Grebe, and we'll make every attempt for a peek at the elusive, diminutive Yellow Rail. This tour will be led by Bob Schutsky.

Price: $3795.00 from Churchill, Manitoba

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ALASKA'S KENAI PENINSULA & THE DENALI HIGHWAY

BIRDS, MAMMALS & FANTASTIC SCENERY

7 June 2013 - 15 June 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

This adventure will take you from the tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park to the taiga and alpine tundra of the Denali Highway. Starting in Anchorage, we bird our way to Seward, looking for Trumpeter Swan, Barrow's Goldeneye, Spruce Grouse, American Three-toed Woodpecker, American Dipper, and White-winged Crossbill, plus Dall's Sheep and Beluga. We'll take an offshore boat trip from Seward for Alaskan specialties such as Red-faced Cormorant, Kittlitz's Murrelet, and Horned and Tufted Puffins, along with other pelagics and alcids. Sea Otter, Orca, and additional marine mammals are commonly seen from the boat. After more exploration of the Kenai Peninsula, the next stop will be the Denali Highway where some of the targets include Willow Ptarmigan, Long-tailed Jaeger, Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls, Bohemian Waxwing, and Lapland and Smith's Longspurs. We should also see some of the mammals for which Alaska is famous, species such as Moose and Mountain Goat, and perhaps even Brown Bear. And the scenery is simply fantastic. Dan Heathcote is the scheduled tour leader. The price is approximate, but should be very close.

Price: $4695.00 from Anchorage, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ALEUTIAN PELAGIC TRIP

BEGINS & ENDS ON ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

9 June 2013 - 12 June 2013, 4 days & 3 nights

This pelagic trip targets three of North America's most-wanted pelagic species: Whiskered Auklet, Short-tailed Albatross, and Mottled Petrel. Other birds that are very likely include Laysan (usually in big numbers) and Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed Shearwater, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Red-faced Cormorant, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common and Thick-billed Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Cassin's, Parakeet, Least, and Crested Auklets, and Horned and Tufted Puffin. Both Marbled and Kittlitz's Murrelet can be seen fairly easily at Adak after the trip. This trip is an excellent opportunity for photographing some of these hard-to-get species, and we'll be making a special effort to get you close to Whiskered Auklets.
We will be on board the M/V Puk-uk, a 72-foot vessel custom-built for Alaska charters. The Puk-uk has an advanced electronic stabilization system, high railings around the deck plus a large number of other safety features, four staterooms, two heads (bathrooms) with showers, a washer and dryer, and a galley with a full-time cook. John Puschock, owner of Zugunruhe Birding Tours, and Jess Findlay of Jess Findlay Photography will be trip leaders. This trip is limited 10 participants.

Price: $2450.00 from Adak, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NEW! CANAAN VALLEY NWR, WEST VIRGINIA

Appalachian Breeding Birds

22 June 2013 - 26 June 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

Canaan Valley, at an altitude of 3200 feet, is 14 miles long and 3 miles wide, and the highest valley of its size east of the Rocky Mountains. Climate and habitats are typical of areas much further north, and the plants and animals are unusual for this latitude. Many Valley species are at or near the southernmost edge of their range. Drained by the Blackwater River and its tributaries, Canaan Valley contains the largest freshwater wetland area in West Virginia and the central and southern Appalachians. Canaan Valley NWR is located in Tucker County, West Virginia. The refuge was established in 1994 to preserve the unique wetlands and uplands of this high elevation, moist valley. Currently, the refuge consists of 15,245 acres. An additional 10,214 acres are within its acquisition boundary. Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers great opportunities to view more than 200 bird species, many of them beautiful breeding species. The trail and road system provides views to a variety of habitats including wetlands, grasslands, shrub lands, and forests. Click on the 'Itinerary' for a list of species that we hope to see. This tour will be led by a highly qualified Bird Treks leader.

Price: $1865.00 from Dulles Airport, Washington

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

GASPÉ PENINSULA OF QUEBEC

Thousands of Northern Gannets & a nice Variety of Whales

4 July 2013 - 11 July 2013, 8 days and 7 nights

Bonaventure Island is the nesting site of more than 100,000 seabirds, including 50,000 pairs of Northern Gannets, plus Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Murres, and Razorbills. Our visit is timed for the hatching of the gannet eggs, which adds anticipation and excitement to the spectacle. During our full day there we may also see Finback, Humpback, and Minke Whales. We'll search mainland forests for boreal nesters: Evening Grosbeak, Black-backed Woodpecker, Spruce Grouse, and Boreal Chickadee to name a few. The York River marshes may hold American Bittern, Sora, American Woodcock, and Wilson's Snipe. Additional localities could yield Harlequin Duck, Sooty Shearwater, Northern Goshawk, Pine Grosbeak, and White-winged Crossbill. Mammals that we will search for include Moose, Caribou, Black Bear, and Gray Seal. Our last two nights will be in the Chic-Choc Mountains, the northeastern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains. The food is great and the scenery simply breathtaking. This tour is co-sponsored by Bird Treks and Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) EcoTravel. We have worked together to give you the best possible itinerary and logistics. Bob Schutsky, owner of Bird Treks, will be the primary tour leader. CAS EcoTravel will provide the second highly qualified leader should the number of participants require it. Please join Bob, Bird Treks, and Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel in this wonderful adventure into New Brunswick and Quebec!

Price: $3075.00 from Moncton, New Brunswick

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHEAST ARIZONA

Hummingbirds, Trogons, Mexican Strays & Scenic Wonders

24 July 2013 - 4 August 2013, 12 days & 11 nights

We will spend twelve glorious days amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in all of North America. We go from Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon to Portal Peak Lodge in Cave Creek Canyon, with visits to California Gulch, Patagonia, Ramsey Canyon, Rustler Park, and the San Pedro Riparian Area. Local specialties include Elegant Trogon, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Mexican Chickadee, Tropical Kingbird, Red-faced Warbler, and Botteri's Sparrow. Late July gives us excellent opportunities for rare hummingbirds, singing sparrows, and Mexican strays. A few of the rarities found on our recent tours include Aztec Thrush, Rufous-capped Warbler, Flame-colored Tanager, Yellow Grosbeak, Berylline Hummingbird, Plain-capped Starthroat, Buff-collared Nightjar, Elegant Tern, Purple Gallinule, Western Gull, Reddish Egret, Brown Pelican, and Roseate Spoonbill--WOW! TWELVE species of hummingbirds are likely; we have found 14 species on many of our July tours. Southeast Arizona can be quite warm in early July, but by late in the month there are afternoon showers that cool temperatures to a comfortable level. If it is hot in the desert and flatlands, we head for the canyons and mountains where daytime highs are in the 80s, nights are deliciously cool, and the birding is nothing short of spectacular! This 12-day tour gives us plenty of time to explore a few new areas, search for Virginia's Warbler and Mountain Chickadee, and chase down a rarity or two. And, we can search for even more good birds on the five-day extension. There is a $150 discount if you register for both this tour and the extension. Bob Schutsky is your scheduled tour leader.

Price: $2895.00 from Tucson, Arizona

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

COSTA RICA

A Superb Week at Rancho Naturalista Lodge, & Beyond

27 July 2013 - 4 August 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

Rancho Naturalista is considered to be one of the finest birding lodges in Central America. With comfortable well-kept rooms, peaceful forest surroundings, excellent meals, an extensive trail system, banana and hummingbird feeders for the birds, bird bathing pools, and an area bird list of more than 400 species, you can see why it is a favorite destination for birders from around the world! It is located at an elevation of 3000 feet on the Caribbean slope, allowing for mild temperatures in the day and perfect sleeping conditions at night. Its location also lends itself to birding day trips into the adjacent lowlands, middle elevations, and highlands, thus providing an even greater diversity of habitats and birds. We will have ample time to explore all of these areas from our comfortable base at Rancho Naturalista. Here is a sample of your first morning at the lodge: We begin with early morning birding from the famous balcony. Here we will enjoy our morning coffee or tea along with an amazing variety of birds at the feeders. Groups of Gray-headed Chachalacas, Groove-billed Anis, Collared Aracaris, Brown Jays, Passerini's, Palm, and Blue-gray Tanagers, Black-headed and Buff-throated Saltators, and impressive Montezuma Oropendolas will provide quite a show. Other likely possibilities include Blue-crowned Motmot, Lineated, Black-cheeked, and Hoffmann's Woodpeckers, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Mistletoe Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Golden-hooded and White-lined Tanagers, Black-striped and Orange-billed Sparrows, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, and Chestnut-headed Oropendola. Hummingbird feeders just a few feet away will be buzzing with Green Thorntail, the stunning White-necked Jacobin, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green-breasted Mango, Brown Violetear, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds. Watch the vervain hedges for Stripe-throated Hermit, the unique Black-crested Coquette, and the dazzling little Snowcap! The surrounding trees may yield Keel-billed Toucan, Brown-hooded and White-crowned Parrots, and both Masked and Black-crowned Tityras. This is all BEFORE our 7 AM breakfast, when we'll leave the veranda and walk some trails to look for many new species. Steven Easley will expertly lead this tour. We are happy to be able to keep the price the same as in 2011--no increase in THREE years!

Price: $2355.00 from San Jose, Costa Rica

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

Mato Grosso, Brazil

The Pantanal, Cristalino Lodge, & Chapada Dos Guimaraes

31 July 2013 - 16 August 2013, 17 days & 16 nights

With its largely undisturbed tropical forests, abundance of rivers and wetlands, tremendous diversity of flora and fauna, and outstanding birding and wildlife viewing, Mato Grosso is a unique natural destination. We'll enjoy one of nature's greatest spectacles as we explore a 500-mile long, north-south transect and travel through some of the richest habitats on Earth, where more than 200 species of mammals and almost 750 species of birds make their homes. Our journey begins in the Pantanal, the world's largest freshwater wetland. In addition to avian treats such as Hyacinth Macaw, Toco Toucan, Mato Grosso Antbird, and Plumbeous and Buff-necked Ibis, we'll have excellent opportunities to see Helmeted Manakin, Rusty-fronted Tody-flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Guan, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Green-backed Becard, and hundreds of other birds. We will also encounter some superb mammals, with possibilities for Giant River Otter, Capybara, Marsh Deer, Crab-eating Fox, South American Coati, several primates, and maybe even a Jaguar. From the Pantanal, we travel to the southern Amazon and one of the greatest biological shows on Earth. More than 570 species of birds have been recorded near the Cristalino Jungle Lodge. We'll look for Curl-crested Aracari, Spangled Cotinga, Harpy Eagle, White-browed Hawk, Blue-cheeked and Brown Jacamars, Rufous-necked Puffbird, Manu Antbird, Natterer's Slaty Antshrike, range-restricted species such as Bare-eyed Antbird and Kawall's Parrot, and countless others. Mammals at Cristalino include White-whiskered Spider Monkey, White-nosed Bearded Saki Monkey, Brazilian Tapir, Neotropical River Otter, Azara's Agouti, and Southern Tamandua. We'll travel the river, enjoy a great variety of trails and microhabitats, and marvel at the tropical world from atop the canopy tower. Finally we'll visit Chapada dos Guimaraes, a national park known for its dramatic sandstone escarpments, waterfalls, and unique cerrado habitat. Here we'll look for Blue-winged and Red-shouldered Macaws, Collared Crescent-chest, Blue Finch, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Cliff Flycatcher, Curl-crested Jay, White-eared Puffbird, Rufous-sided Pygmy-tyrant, White-rumped Tanager, Chapada Flycatcher, and many others, while enjoying great scenery and habitat diversity. Throughout the trip, we'll enjoy the comforts of some of Brazil's best nature lodges - Hotel Fazenda Santa Tereza, Pousada Piuval, Pousada Penhasco, and the incomparable Cristalino Jungle Lodge. This tour will be led by naturalist and bird guide Mark Pretti. In the past few years, Mark has had the good fortune to spend many months in Mato Grosso exploring its diverse habitats, learning about its amazing biodiversity, and guiding dozens of nature enthusiasts. He can't wait to return to this spectacular location and share its wonders with you. $5400.00 was the 2012 price from Cuiaba, Mato Grosso.

Price: 2013 price to be announced.It is estimated to be about $5400.00.

Price: $5400.00 from Cuiaba, Mato Grosso

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NORTHERN COSTA RICA

Poas & Arenal Volcanoes, La Paz Waterfall Garden & the Cano Negro Boat Ride

4 August 2013 - 12 August 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

This is a fabulous birding journey through the most scenic and bird-rich areas of Northern Costa Rica. We will begin in the highland forests surrounding Poas Volcano National Park, with views of the crater of this dormant volcano. We will then continue to La Paz Waterfall Garden with its busy hummingbird and banana feeders. Our next stop will be for two nights in the pristine cloud forest setting at the lovely Bosque de Paz Lodge. Here we will be entertained by the hummingbird, fruit, and corn meal feeders, as well as mixed flocks of cloud forest species. From here we continue to the best Caribbean wetland in Costa Rica, Lake Caño Negro National Park, staying at the very comfortable Caño Negro Natural Lodge. Birds are seemingly everywhere and the boat ride on Lake Caño Negro is one of the highlights of any tropical birding tour. Caño Negro is also an excellent area for nocturnal birds, including many species of impressive owls and both Great and Common Potoos. We will finish the tour with two nights in the most scenic area in all of Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano. Our home base will be the exquisite Arenal Observatory Lodge located safely near this active volcano, offering amazing views of the volcano's fireworks at night. The entire area is enveloped by beautiful Caribbean foothill rainforest. While here we will enjoy the hummingbirds in the gardens, tanagers and oropendolas at the feeders, the many trails leading into the rainforest, and the Arenal Hanging Bridges, with its suspension bridges through the canopy. Our final night will be near the airport at the Orquideas Inn with its gardens and good food. Whether it is an impressive bird list, comfortable lodging, or stunning scenery you are looking for, this tour has them all. Steven Easley will be your leader. Combine this tour with the Rancho Naturalista Tour that immediately precedes it, and save $200 on the total of the two tour fees. We are happy to be able to keep the tour fee the same as in 2011--THREE years with no price increase!

Price: $2355.00 from San Jose, Costa Rica

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHEAST ARIZONA EXTENSION

More Good Locations & Great Birds

4 August 2013 - 8 August 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

During the course of our normal 12-day tour that immediately precedes this extension, we often hear about rare birds that we simply do not have time to pursue. This five-day post-tour extension is designed to do just that, go after the rarities. Next in line after the rarities are any unusual species that we missed on the 12-day tour. We may have had trouble with Montezuma Quail, Green Kingfisher, or one of the more elusive warblers or sparrows. And finally, there are some species that are just a bit outside of the normal geographic area included in the 12-day. Species such as Le Conte’s Thrasher, Ruddy Ground-Dove, and Common Black-Hawk come to mind. If all else fails, we can always bird some really good areas (there are many), and find our own good Southeast Arizona birds. There is a $150 discount if you register for both the 12-day tour and the extension. Bob Schutsky is your scheduled tour leader.

Price: $1395.00 from Tucson, AZ

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

WASHINGTON'S PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Mount Rainier, Dungeness Spit & a Great Pelagic Trip

6 August 2013 - 15 August 2013, 10 days & 9 nights

This exciting tour of the Puget Sound region includes an incredible diversity of birds, wildlife, habitats, experiences, and scenic wonders. We'll spend three nights at each of our three major locations. On Mount Rainier, the highest point in Washington, we will look for White-tailed Ptarmigan, Sooty Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, and American Dipper. Lower habitats are good for MacGillivray's Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Varied Thrush. On our day at sea with Westport Pelagics we should see literally thousands of pelagic birds including Black-footed Albatross, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Rhinoceros Auklet, Long-tailed Jaeger, and Pink-footed Shearwater. One of our past tours produced a Red-legged Kittiwake, an incredible rarity anywhere outside of Alaska. Tokeland is a good spot to look for Bar-tailed Godwit, while Ocean Shores may yield Pacific Golden-Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and several species of loon. We'll look for Mountain Quail near Belfair State Park, then spend time at Hurricane Ridge for Townsend's Solitaire and a nice variety of raptors. Dungeness Spit is great for aquatic species: in past years we've found Yellow-billed Loon and Horned Puffin among scores of more common species. We are likely to find dozens of Harlequin Ducks at Ediz Hook, plus Black Oystercatchers, Marbled Murrelets, and a Peregrine Falcon or two. Either John Puschock or Bob Schutsky will lead this tour.

Price: $3195.00 from Seattle, Washington

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NEW! NOVA SCOTIA--CAPE BRETON

Shorebird Madness

8 August 2013 - 16 August 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

From the spectacular tides of the Bay of Fundy, to the rolling farmlands, to the heath-lands of Cape Breton, there is no better highlights tour! Search for the rare Right Whale in the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, and Moose along the flower covered roadsides. The tremendous number of shorebirds at this time of year is legendary, known for their incredible aerial ballet and their flying skills as they elude the pursuit of Merlin and Peregrine Falcon. Boreal species that we may see include Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Spruce Grouse. Some nights are at Canada's four star lodges including The Pines, Keltic Lodge, and Liscombe Lodge. Cape Breton delights travelers with its high cliffs overlooking the Northern Atlantic and its quaint fishing villages, considered by some the most scenic vistas on the planet. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell Museum to learn about the life of this fascinating man. The scheduled leader is Andrew Griswold, director of Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel.

Price: $3998.00 from Halifax, Nova Scotia

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS

Coastal Migrants & a Superb Pelagic Trip

14 August 2013 - 19 August 2013, 6 days & 5 nights

Early autumn on the Outer Banks: the weather is mild and the diversity of birds is phenomenal. A full day pelagic trip to the Gulf Stream is likely to produce Black-capped Petrel, Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Sooty and Bridled Terns, several species of shearwaters and jaegers, and often a rarity or two. Woodlands, thickets, marshes, mudflats, and sandy beaches retain many resident species and hold migrants for extended periods. Areas that we will visit include Pea Island NWR, Oregon Inlet, Coquina Beach, Hatteras Point, and Bodie Island. We'll take the ferry across Hatteras Inlet and spend a day on Ocracoke Island. Some of the more unusual species that we may encounter include American Bittern, White Ibis, Merlin, King Rail, Piping Plover, American Avocet, and Marbled Godwit. One year we found a Roseate Spoonbill at Pea Island; another year there was a Long-billed Curlew. Among the many songbirds may be Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Towhee, a variety of warblers and perhaps a Lark Sparrow or Dickcissel. Bob Schutsky will be your leader.

Price: $2095.00 from Norfolk, Virginia

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Sky Lark & the San Juan Islands

15 August 2013 - 19 August 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

We have separated this part of the tour from the mainland Washington segment to allow time to explore Vancouver Island and the San Juan Islands. Our first destination is Vancouver Island to search for the highly localized Sky Lark. Barbara Begg keeps a vigilant eye on these birds and she may assist us in our quest. We will spend time at Cattle Point, the Seawall, and other coastal locations looking for songbirds, seabirds, and shorebirds. Likely species are Anna's Hummingbird, California Quail, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, and Bushtit. During our ferry ride through the San Juan Islands we'll see pelagic species including Marbled Murrelet and Harbor Porpoise. We'll go ashore on some of the islands to explore their varied birdlife and spend time watching for Orcas at one of the best locations in all of Puget Sound. We'll search for Mountain Quail near Belfair State Park before ending our tour in Seattle. The scheduled leader is Bob Schutsky or John Puschock.

Price: $1895.00 from Seattle, Washington

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHEAST PERU

The Andes, Machu Picchu & Amazonia

3 September 2013 - 22 September 2013, 20 days & 19 nights

With more than 1700 species of birds and 100+ endemics, Peru is arguably the most biologically diverse country on the planet. Combine this with snow-capped Andean peaks, spectacular Inca ruins at Machu Picchu, extensive cloud forest and, of course, the Amazon Rainforest, and you have an unforgettable adventure. After our flight from Lima to Cuzco, we'll take the train along the Urubamba River to one of the world's archeological wonders, a World Heritage Site. Torrent Duck, White-tipped Swift, White-capped Dipper, and the endemic Inca Wren will vie for our attention with the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The high mountains at Abra Malaga will add more specialties from the region, including a chance for Andean Condor at Ajcanacu Pass. Then begins the descent into the Amazon Basin. With several nights each at Cock-of-the-Rock and Amazonia Lodges, this will be a first class expedition. In addition to the large numbers of tanagers, hummingbirds, and furnarids for which these forests are famous, we'll search for such specialties as Golden-plumed Parakeet, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, the beautiful Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and Cerulean-capped Manakin. A highlight of any birding trip to the Andes is the strange courtship display of the Andean Cock-of-the-rock on their lek. Then we descend into the heart of Amazonia. Five full days at Manu Wildlife Center in the largest tract of rainforest in the world will provide an entirely different set of avian wonders. In addition to highly localized prizes like Manu Antbird and Rufous-fronted Antthrush, we may find Agami Heron, Buckley's Forest-Falcon, three species of potoo, Peruvian Recurvebill, Flammulated Bamboo-Tyrant, and many others among the 600+ species recorded from this site. We'll visit the Blanquillo Macaw Lick, where hundreds of macaws and parrots visit daily. We'll also go to a large mammal lick with hopes of seeing tapirs, peccaries, guans, and currasows or, if we're extremely lucky, a Jaguar. A combination of boat, van, and plane will return us to Lima for our flights home. An expert Manu Expeditions guide will lead the tour. The tour price is approximate but should be very close.

Price: $5995.00 from Lima, Peru

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

COMPLETE CALIFORNIA

From the Mountains to the Ocean to the Desert

6 September 2013 - 19 September 2013, 14 days & 13 nights

California conjures up visions of sun-baked landscapes, scenic mountain vistas, the blue Pacific, and expansive deserts. The birds are no less spectacular, with everything from Black-footed Albatross to Lawrence's Goldfinch. We'll start in the San Francisco Bay area and journey to Bodega Bay for a day of shorebirds and migrants. Some of the specialties of this rich area include Surfbird, Black Turnstone, Wandering Tattler, and Black Oystercatcher. Our passerine searches will yield views of Townsend's Warbler, California Towhee, Wrentit, and Cassin's Vireo. Our first pelagic destination is the Cordell Bank where we will search for Black-footed Albatross, Buller's and Pink-footed Shearwaters, Cassin's Auklet, Long-tailed, Pomarine, and Parasitic Jaegers, South Polar Skua, Sabine's Gull, and Arctic Tern. Blue and Humpback Whales are a distinct possibility. Next are the Sierras to look for Swainson's Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, and Yellow-billed Magpie. Sooty Grouse, Mountain Quail, Great Gray Owl, Black-backed and White-headed Woodpeckers, Williamson's and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Pine Grosbeak, and Hermit Warbler are just a few of the species that we will seek in Yosemite National Park. Mono Lake may yield Greater Sage-Grouse, Sage Thrasher, Sage Sparrow, Gray Flycatcher, American Dipper, Pinyon Jay, Lewis's Woodpecker, and Mountain Bluebird. We will look for Greater Roadrunner, Lawrence's Goldfinch, and California Thrasher in the arid lands near Monterey. Our next adventure will be the SECOND pelagic trip of the tour, a trip into world-famous Monterey Bay that is bisected by a huge submarine canyon twice the size of the Grand Canyon. We will cruise the bay and the adjacent offshore waters in search of shearwaters and Ashy and Black Storm-Petrels. We will hope for a rarity such as Xantus's Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, or Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, then cruise the coastline for Marbled Murrelet. Our continued journey south will put us in California Condor country and we will spend time looking for this spectacular species brought back from the brink of extinction. Our targets near Los Angeles will be California Gnatcatcher, Allen's Hummingbird, and Black-vented Shearwater. We'll take a boat trip to Santa Cruz Island for the endemic Island Scrub-Jay and the Santa Cruz Island races of Bewick's Wren, Allen's Hummingbird, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Xantus's Murrelet and Black-vented Shearwater are possible on the boat trip to the island. Turning our sights inland, we'll search the deserts for Le Conte's Thrasher. The tour begins in San Jose and concludes in Los Angeles, or if you care to continue to the Salton Sea, there is a $150 discount for going on both tours. See the separate itinerary for full details about the extension. Jason Horn is the scheduled leader.

Price: $4495.00 from San Jose, California

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

Alcids, Asian Strays & Best Time for Marsh Sandpiper

8 September 2013 - 15 September 2013, 8 days & 7 nights

Located in the Aleutian Islands 1200 miles southwest of Anchorage and only 400 miles east of Attu is Adak, a 280-square mile island. It is the westernmost outpost in all of North America that is accessible by commercial jet airline. Until recently, Adak was the site of a naval base and access was restricted. Now the Navy has left the island, opening it to birders and leaving behind an infrastructure and modern facilities not found at other western Alaska birding hotspots. We'll stay in comfortable houses that formerly were housing for naval officers when the base was active. They are all well equipped and furnished. We'll travel in vans for some of the most comfortable birding that you can experience in the Aleutians. Our recent fall tours to Adak have yielded some incredible birds: FOUR Marsh Sandpipers, a flock of at least 23 Fork-tailed Swifts, Eurasian Kestrel, Little, Red-necked, and Temminck’s Stints, Gray Wagtail, Oriental Greenfinch, Garganey and Baikal Teal, several Lesser Sand-Plovers, a Common Tern of the east Asian race (a potential split), multiple Gray-tailed Tattlers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, several Common Snipe, Eyebrowed Thrush, Brambling, Siberian Rubythroat, several Olive-backed Pipits, and Gray-streaked Flycatcher. Some of the regular species that we expect to see include Red-faced Cormorant, "Eurasian" Green-winged Teal, Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Gyrfalcon, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Oystercatcher, Rock Sandpiper, Parasitic Jaeger, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Ancient Murrelets, Horned and Tufted Puffins, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, and the Aleutian races of Pacific Wren, Song Sparrow, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. John Puschock will lead these exciting tours. The tour fee remains unchanged from 2011.

Price: $3495.00 from Adak, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

Alcids, Asian Strays & Best Time for Marsh Sandpiper

15 September 2013 - 22 September 2013, 8 days & 7 nights

Price: $3495.00 from Adak, Alaska

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

GRAND MANAN, NEW BRUNSWICK

Migrants, Vagrants, Seabirds & Whales

18 September 2013 - 22 September 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

Grand Manan lies at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, a 90-minute ferry ride from mainland New Brunswick. It is a migrant and vagrant trap, similar to Monhegan Island that is described below. However, Grand Manan is much larger than Monhegan, so instead of walking the entire time, we will drive to various locations around the island for our daily outings. We'll search for warblers, sparrows, wrens, and thrushes, a fine selection of eastern North American migrants. Among these we'll watch for the occasional western, southern, or even Eurasian vagrants, like the Ruff and Dickcissel we found in 2003 and the Black Skimmer in 2010. On at least one day we'll go by boat on a pelagic birding trip into the rich offshore waters. Here we are likely to find seabirds and cetaceans, possibly in very large numbers. Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Pomarine Jaeger, and Manx, Greater, and Sooty Shearwaters can all be expected, and many additional species including Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Northern Fulmar, and Great or South Polar Skua are possible. As many as seven species of cetaceans inhabit these waters in autumn, including the extremely rare Northern Right Whale. You can take just this tour or continue on to Monhegan Island, Maine, described below. Go on both the Grand Manan and Monhegan Tours, and the room and meals on the day between the two tours are FREE! Bob Schutsky is the scheduled tour leader.

Price: $1975.00 from Bangor, Maine

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CALIFORNIA EXTENSION

Bolsa Chica & the Salton Sea

19 September 2013 - 24 September 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

After searching the San Diego area for some coastal specialties, we'll head inland to the Salton Sea to look for Yellow-footed Gull, along with Wilson's Phalaropes, thousands of Red-necked Phalaropes, and myriad other migrating shorebirds. Black-chinned Hummingbird, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Black-throated Sparrow, and Abert's Towhee frequent the brush around the southern edge of the sea and we will make early morning efforts to see these species. Blue-footed Booby was found at the Sea in late summer of 2006 and 2007. There is a discount if you combine the extension with the preceding Complete California Tour. The scheduled leader is Jason Horn.

Price: $1895.00 from Los Angeles, California

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

MONHEGAN ISLAND, MAINE

One of the Best Vagrant & Migrant Traps on the East Coast

23 September 2013 - 27 September 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

Monhegan is a small, picturesque island of 1.5 square-miles that lies ten miles off the coast of central Maine. It is a prime stopover for southbound migrants and vagrants blown offshore, especially with the passage of a high-pressure system and the ensuing northwest winds. It can be expected to produce an excellent sampling of eastern North American migrants, with a fair chance for a few western and southern vagrants. On past tours we've found Magnificent Frigatebird (!), Red-headed Woodpecker, Western Kingbird, Say's Phoebe, Prothonotary Warbler, Clay-colored and Lark Sparrows, and White-winged Crossbill. We found a black Skimmer on the 2010 tour. We'll watch for warblers and thrushes, finches and sparrows, and falcons and accipiters as we walk the island's 17 miles of trails and check favored locations such as the Ice Pond, Lobster Cove, and Burnt Head. Seabirds including jaegers, shearwaters, and Northern Gannet are possible as we scan from the rocky headlands and during our one-hour boat ride from the mainland. All four nights are in the same lodge on Monhegan. Bob Schutsky will be your tour leader. Go on both the Grand Manan and Monhegan Tours and the room and meals on the day between the two tours are FREE!

Price: $1875.00 from Portland, Maine

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

The Birds of Northern Ecuador

Andes, the Northwest Lowlands, and a touch of Amazonia

25 September 2013 - 6 October 2013, 12 days & 11 nights

With almost 1700 species of birds, over 16,000 known plants, and almost 400 species of mammals, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Considering its relatively small size, it may harbor more species per square mile than any other country. Ocean currents, an equatorial latitude, and the rugged Andes combine to create climate variations that support great biogeographic diversity as well as a high regional endemism. Coastal beaches and mangrove lagoons, lowland tropical forests, tropical deciduous forest, Amazonian rainforest, Andean foothill and cloudforests, high elevation paramo, and peaks higher than 20,000 feet all contribute to the beauty and richness of the country.

We’ll begin our tour in the northwestern lowlands, foothills, and cloudforest, where we’ll spend two nights each at the lodges of Tinalandia, Septimo Paraiso, and Tandayapa. In addition to birding at the lodges, we’ll visit two superb reserves managed by the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation – the Rio Silanche and Milpe Reserves – and make a visit to the must-see 'Antpittas and More' show at the home of Angel Paz. In the northwest, we’ll find a great variety of species, including several regional endemics. Possibilities include Pallid Dove, Dusky Pigeon, Bronze-winged and Red-billed Parrots, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Choco Warbler and Toucan, Pacific Antwren, Scarlet-browed and Rufous-winged Tanagers, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Red-faced Spinetail, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, possibly four to six species of antpittas, many tanagers, and perhaps two dozen species of hummingbirds.

From Tandayapa, we’ll travel to the eastern slope of the Andes to the temperate forests of Guango Lodge. On our way, we'll make a day trip over Papallacta Pass. We'll begin in treeline scrub where we'll look for Black-tailed Trainbearer, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Tufted Tit-tyrant, Shining Sunbeam, Rufous-naped Brush-finch, Red-crested Cotinga, and Streak-throated Bush-tyrant. Higher up near the pass and the peak, we’ll look for several high Andean specialists such as Ecuadorian Hillstar, Plumbeous Sierra-finch, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Variable Hawk, Tawny Antpitta, Stout-billed and Bar-winged Cinclodes, Andean Tit-spinetail, Many-striped Canastero, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, and others.

At almost 9000 feet, Guango is a great spot for Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, various mountain-tanagers, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Powerful Woodpecker, Dusky Piha, Rufous Antpitta, several species of chat-tyrants and brush-finches, and many hummers, including the improbable Sword-billed Hummingbird.

Our next stop is Cabanas San Isidro which, at about 6500 feet, is in the transition zone between temperate and subtropical habitats. From the comfortable lodge, which has great rooms and food, we’ll search for species that occur only on the eastern slope as well as more widespread species. These include Speckle-faced (White-capped) Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Rufous-crowned Tody-flycatcher, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Inca Jay, Black-billed Peppershrike, Barred Becard, Andean Solitaire, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Saffron-crowned and many other tanagers, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, and as many as 10 species of hummingbirds. We’ll also make a day trip to lower elevations at Guacamayos Ridge where we’ll have chances to see species like Greater Scythebill, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer, Grass-green Tanager, Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant, fruiteaters, and more. In the afternoon, we'll head lower still to the Tena area where we should see a nice selection of Amazonian species.

We’ll conclude our journey with a day trip to the high elevation paramo of the Antisana Reserve. In this wild area of shrubs, vast grasslands, and a high altitude lake, Laguna Micacocha, we’ll have good chances to see many species that we won’t find elsewhere such as Giant Hummingbird, Andean Condor, Cinereous Harrier, Aplomado Falcon, Red-crested Cotinga, Black-winged Ground-dove, Paramo Pipit, Black-faced Ibis, and a suite of other high elevation birds.

This tour will be led by naturalist and bird guide Mark Pretti. Cost is approximately $3700-3800 per person, double occupancy, and includes all lodging, meals, admissions and transportation from Quito. Limited to eight participants. Detailed itinerary will be available at a later date.

Price: $3750.00 from Quito, Ecuador

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

COASTAL OREGON & KLAMATH BASIN

Superb Pacific Coast Birding & Pelagic Trip

3 October 2013 - 12 October 2013, 10 days & 9 nights

Our Oregon adventure begins on the coast at Tillamook Bay, one of the prime birding areas in the entire Pacific Northwest. Tillamook and nearby Bayocean Spit will yield an incredible variety of seabirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and related species. A full day pelagic trip with Greg Gillson and Tradewinds Charters will take us into the Pacific in search of tubenoses: Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed Shearwater, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, and many others. This trip has produced some incredible rarities including the Short-tailed and Laysan Albatrosses that we found on a previous tour. After another day of coastal birding, we move inland to Crater Lake, the Klamath Basin, Tule Lake (California), and a total change of pace. Now we'll be looking at dozens of Bald Eagles, thousands upon thousands of ducks and geese, and large flocks of Sandhill Cranes. There will be Ferruginous Hawks and Short-eared Owls. Great Gray Owl is resident here and we will make every effort to find one, as we have in the past. A few of the more intriguing songbirds we will seek include Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Wrentit, Townsend's Solitaire, Tricolored Blackbird, and American Dipper. Woodpeckers include American Three-toed, Black-backed, Lewis's, and White-headed. Our final stops are Ankeny NWR and Sauvie Island near Portland. These are excellent songbirding areas and great spots for scoping more waterfowl, raptors, and Sandhill Cranes. Bob Schutsky or John Puschock will lead this tour.

Price: $2995.00 from Portland, Oregon

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

THE BIRDS OF SOUTHERN ECUADOR

Jocotoco Foundation Reserves & Copalinga Lodge

7 October 2013 - 20 October 2013, 14 days & 13 nights

With several new lodges providing access to excellent habitat and many species unique to the region, southern Ecuador has quickly become a destination almost as popular as the north. A short one-hour flight from Quito brings you to the southern province of Loja from where several distinct avifaunal areas are easily reached. In addition to birding in the dry interior valley where we may find Long-tailed Mockingbird, Pacific Parrotlet, Croaking Ground-Dove, Peruvian Meadowlark, and Chestnut-throated Seedeater, all very near the airport, we'll travel to the south, east, west, and southwest to visit several superb lodges and find some great birds and wildlife.
Our first stop is the Jocotoco Foundation's (JF) Tapichalaca Reserve, home of the highly range-restricted Jocotoco Antpitta, as well as other antpittas including Chestnut-naped, Rufous, Slate-crowned, and Undulated. While at Tapichalaca we'll enjoy the rich cloud forest and hopefully find many hummers (Rufous-capped Thornbill, Flame-throated and Amethyst-throated Sunangels, Collared Inca, Speckled Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail), flycatchers (Orange-banded, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, and Black-throated Tody-Tyrant), Chusquea Tapaculo, Barred Fruiteater, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, and many more. Traveling a nice elevational transect down to the town of Valladolid, we may find Maranon Thrush, Streaked Saltator, Speckle-breasted Wren, Loja Tyrannulet, and many colorful tanagers. With luck we'll find the spectacular White-capped Tanager and perhaps the rare Golden-plumed Parakeet.
From Tapichalaca, we'll drive to the eastern slope and beautiful Copalinga Lodge. Warmer temperatures and a rich assortment of species from both higher and lower elevations await us here. Wire-crested Thorntail and Spangled Coquette are hummer highlights, while Coppery-chested Jacamar, White-crowned Tapaculo, Black-streaked Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher, and Blue-rumped Manakin are a few of the gems we've seen here. We'll spend one morning at the Bombuscaro section of Podocarpus National Park and another morning along the old Loja-Zamora Road where Gray-mantled Wren, Cerulean Warbler, and Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater are possible.
We then journey west to the JFs Buenaventura Lodge. Buenaventura may be the birdiest place in the world's birdiest country. Between the hummers swarming in huge numbers at the feeders, the many mixed flocks, the rare and local El Oro Parakeet, and a lek of Long-wattled Umbrellabirds, this is an unforgettable place. We spend two full days here and hope to see many of the west slope and Tumbesian specialties. Club-winged Manakin, Ochre-breasted Tanager, Crimson-breasted Finch, Barred Puffbird, Black-striped Sparrow, Brownish Twistwing, and White-tipped Sicklebill are among the many possibilities.
We finish our tour in the far southwest with two days at the JF's Jorupe Reserve where comfortable cabins set amidst spectacular tropical deciduous forest make for a perfect birding experience. "At the lodge" birds include Pale-browed Tinamou, Gray-backed Hawk, West Peruvian Screech-Owl, Gray-cheeked Parakeet, Tumbes Swift, Ecuadorian Trogon, White-tailed Jay, Black-capped Sparrow, Watkin's Antpitta, Saffron Siskin, and White-edged Oriole. Deeper in the forest are Blackish-headed Spinetail, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaners, Collared Antshrike, Gray-breasted, Baird's, and Sooty-crowned Flycatchers, Slaty Becard, Black-capped Sparrow, and lots more.
Cost should be about $3800 per person, double occupancy, and includes all lodging, meals, admissions, and transportation from Quito. Limited to eight participants. This tour will be led by naturalist and bird guide Mark Pretti.

Price: $3800.00 from Quito, Ecuador

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NEW! NORTHERN ARGENTINA

From the Andean Puna to Iberá Marshes

8 October 2013 - 22 October 2013, 15 days & 14 nights

Northwestern Argentina is a land full of spectacular landscapes and with a vast cultural heritage. Remnants of buildings and roads from the “Great Inca Empire of the Sun” can still be found here, and many cultural events and pre-Hispanic rituals, such as the one in honor of the “Pacha Mama” (Mother Earth), are still celebrated by the locals. Andean music is heard everywhere, and people still play their traditional instruments. This incredibly varied region has a great diversity of natural habitats, ranging from Yungas Cloudforest to dry Chaco woodlands. Forming a wedge along the southern Andean chains of Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, the Yungas Cloudforest supports one of the greatest biological diversities in the Neotropics. Wildlife is abundant in this humid environment. Ferns, bromeliads, and other epiphytic plants are particularly stunning here, and they cover every corner of the forest. This biological treasure is well protected within the boundaries of several national parks and nature reserves, and we plan to explore it thoroughly. Just south the Humahuaca Valley is the small village of Yala and the Yala River, which is bordered by lush Yungas Cloudforest. Exploring this area is a must for birders, since it is here where chances are high to find such unique species as Rufous-throated Dipper, Torrent Duck, Red-faced Guan, and Lyre-tailed Nightjar. Continuing north, and up to higher elevations, we will enter the pre-Puna. The Andes in this part of Argentina are very dry, but they are crossed by a series of humid valleys, with Humahuaca standing out for its unique setting. Nestled amidst spectacular rock formations of the most incredible and diverse colors, this is the heart of one of the richest cacti flora on Earth, and home to a wide array of birds, mammals, and other wildlife. Lake Pozuelos Natural Monument, a mountain-ringed basin with shallow brackish water lies some 90 km north of Abra Pampa, in the heart of the Puna. It harbors thousands of Andean, Chilean, and Puna Flamingoes, so we hope to witness the spectacle of large concentrations of these creatures amidst the solitude and grandeur of High Andean landscape. After visiting the Humahuaca Valley area we will explore the Chaco habitats. The Chaco is a very special ecosystem, mainly thorny woodland, which covers most of the far northern part of Argentina. We will spend three days exploring the Chaco, searching for its unique birds. No birding tour to northwestern Argentina would be complete without visiting the Andean habitats of the famous Cachi Road, an area well-reputed among birders the world over for the quantity and quality of bird species present here. We will follow this road on our way to Los Cardones National Park, looking for Aplomado Falcon, Andean Flicker, Rock Earthcreeper, White-tipped Plantcutter, Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Black Siskin, Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch, and the localized Rufous-bellied Saltator. The last bit of our journey will take us to the south of Salta to explore two wonderful habitats: the Monte at the Calchaqui Valleys, and the mountains of the Aconquija. The latter is home to several specialties including White-browed Tapaculo, White-winged Cinclodes, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Paramo Pipit, Buff-breasted Earthcreeper, Cordilleran and Puno Canesteros, Gray-hooded Parakeet, Slender-billed Miner, and three endemics: Tucuman Mountain-Finch, Yellow-striped Brush-Finch, and Moreno’s Ground-Dove.
The price is approximately $4645 from Buenos Aires, with a minimum of 6 participants. One of Birding-Argentina’s professional guides will be your leader, assisted by Bob Schutsky.

Price: $4645.00 from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

OREGON EXTENSION

to Clatsop Spit & the Columbia River Mouth

12 October 2013 - 15 October 2013, 4 days & 3 nights

Clatsop Spit and the extreme northwestern portion of Oregon lie at the mouth of the Columbia River. Birding areas include Coffenbury Lake for migrant songbirds and Wrentit. The South Jetty of the Columbia River has produced some of the most remarkable records in the state, including Yellow-billed Loon, Lesser Sand-Plover, Spotted Redshank, Long-toed Stint, and McKay's Bunting. This is THE best spot in Oregon to look for Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Ruff. Isolated brushy areas create a haven for migrant songbirds. Rarities have included Ash-throated Flycatcher, Mountain Bluebird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a number of Eastern warblers. We will make short jaunts along the coast to look for new pelagic species and seek out any newly reported rarities. The extension will begin immediately following the regular tour and end mid-day on 15 October. We will stay all three nights at the same motel in Astoria. Either Bob Schutsky or John Puschock will lead this tour.

Price: $1355.00 from Portland, Oregon

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHERN AND COASTAL KENYA

SOKOKE FOREST, MASAI MARA & SIANA SPRINGS

17 October 2013 - 2 November 2013, 17 days & 16 nights, including overnight flights

After our flight from Nairobi to Malindi, we will begin with some birding in the Sokoke Forest, searching for such localized species as Sokoke Scops Owl, Sokoke Pipit, East Coast Akalat, and Clarke's Weaver. Our next stop is the Shimba Hills Lodge located just inland of the Indian Ocean. This lodge overlooks a waterhole where one can watch for birds such as Crested Guineafowl and African Fish Eagle. Mammals include Bush Pig, Elephant, and the adorable Lesser Galago, also known as Bushbaby. One of the highlights within the nearby reserve is a stable population of Sable Antelope. Our next stop will be the brushland of Tsavo National Park, always productive for birds and mammals. A visit to Mzima Springs within Tsavo will have us looking underwater for Hippo while sitting in a submerged blind! We continue to the scenic Amboseli National Park set in the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. Here, the freshwater springs spill into the dry plains attracting big game and a multitude of birds like Saddle-billed Stork, Double-banded Courser, and the local Taveta Golden Weaver. Our next stop is the famed Masai Mara and Siana Springs in the Rift Valley. Here we will witness big game such as Elephant, Giraffe, Lion, and Cheetah, and the classic African birds like Secretary-bird, Southern Ground Hornbill, and an impressive array of vultures. Beautiful scenery, comfortable lodging, great food, knowledgeable guides, big game, and the amazing quality and numbers of birds will all add up to a great safari with a coastal twist! Steven Easley is the scheduled leader. The price is approximately $5500 from Nairobi, Kenya.

Price: $5500.00 from Nairobi, Kenya

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CHINCOTEAGUE NWR, VIRGINIA

Fantastic Atlantic Coast Migration, & Chincoteague Ponies

18 October 2013 - 21 October 2013, 4 days & 3 nights

This will be a short tour of memorable birding at a beautiful location. The tour will include two days at Chincoteague NWR, plus visits to Bombay Hook NWR and Ocean City. We'll travel the length of the Delmarva Peninsula to Kiptopeke State Park and the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. There will be migrant warblers, shorebirds, waterfowl, and local specialties such as Brown-headed Nuthatch and American Oystercatcher. Rarities that we have found at this time of year include American White Pelican, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Eurasian Wigeon, Lark Sparrow, Dickcissel, and Snow Bunting. The Chincoteague Ponies are always a big favorite, as are the flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds that may contain a nice rarity. This will be a great weekend at a comfortable pace. Evening dining will offer seafood fare for which Chincoteague's restaurants are famous. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader.

Price: $1295.00 from Nottingham, Pennsylvania

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CHURCHILL MANITOBA, ON THE SHORE OF HUDSON BAY

Polar Bears, plus Boreal Birds & Wildlife

20 October 2013 - 26 October 2013, 7 days & 6 nights

This northern expedition starts in Winnipeg, Manitoba where travelers enjoy a welcome dinner, reception, briefing, and a good night's sleep, all in preparation for tomorrow's adventure. The flight to Churchill, on the shore of Hudson Bay, will take travelers to the land of the Polar Bear, Ursus maritimus. It is considered 'The Polar Bear Capital of the World'. Participants travel on the tundra in specially equipped tundra vehicles, providing them with the best possible views of the bears in their spectacular habitat. Helicopter tours, searches for northern lights, a visit to the Eskimo Museum, sled dog tours, and an evening program are some of the optional activities planned. The austere desert-like tundra will give rise to breathtaking views of Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, and other wildlife. We have excellent chances of seeing Snowy Owl, Gyrfalcon, Willow and Rock Ptarmigan, and other Arctic birds. All of the leaders are well-versed in the natural history of Churchill, its habitats, and especially Polar Bears. There are also 5-day and 6-day options, at proportionately lower prices. Click on Itinerary (below) for full details on the 5, 6, and 7-day tours. The price listed below is for the 7 day & 6 night excursions. These trips often sell out. Register early to reserve your spot. The Polar Bear excursions are conducted in conjunction with Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel.

Price: $5195.00 from Winnipeg

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

IGUAZÚ FALLS, ARGENTINA EXTENSION

Beauty & Splendor

21 October 2013 - 25 October 2013, 5 days/4 nights

The most important forest south of the Amazon is formed by a set of subtropical rainforests including the Brazilian ‘Mata Atlántica’ and the Interior Atlantic Forest in the Argentine province of Misiones. The most remarkable natural wonder of Misiones is Iguazú National Park, with its unparalleled falls. Here, the Iguazú River falls 70 meters, forming a fan of cascades with more than 250 individual falls. One million hectares of the highly endangered Interior Atlantic Forest remain in patches spread throughout the Argentine province of Misiones. Thanks to the efforts made by several local conservation organizations and individuals, most of them have been declared provincial reserves. Presently they are linked to each other and to Iguazú National Park, forming a large, single conservation unit known as the Green Corridor. This continuous forest cover supports healthy populations of big mammals, such as Jaguar, South American Tapir, and Giant Anteater. There are areas of the Green Corridor where the forest canopy is dominated by giant Monkey-puzzle Trees (Araucaria angustifolia). This Araucaria forest cherishes some true forest jewels, such as Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Red Howler Monkey, and the rare Vinaceous-breasted Parrot. A narrow gauge train takes you from the entrance gate of the park to the trailhead and on to the most spectacular waterfall of them all, Devil’s Throat. A myriad of colorful birds live in Iguazú. Surucua Trogon, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Blue Manakin, five species of euphonias, and several species of tanagers are all commonly found inside the park. Thousands of Great Dusky Swifts and several species of forest raptors master the skies here as well. The forest canopy is home to noisy flocks of parrots, parakeets, antwrens, and five species of toucans. The lower layers of this rainforest are inhabited by such birds as Black-fronted Piping-Guan, Spot-backed Antshrike, Black-billed Scythebill, and twelve species of woodpeckers, including the rare Helmeted Woodpecker. One can also enjoy the magic of this forest by listening to the distinctive calls of birds like Solitary Tinamou, Spot-winged Wood-Quail, Tufted Antshrike, and Southern Antpipit. The price is approximately $2295 from Buenos Aires, with a minimum of 6 participants. One of Birding-Argentina’s professional guides will be your leader, assisted by Bob Schutsky.

Price: $2295.00 from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CLASSIC KENYA

BIRDS, BIG GAME ANIMALS & THE BEAUTY OF AFRICA

2 November 2013 - 17 November 2013, 16 days & 15 nights, including overnight flights

Your first day is in Nairobi National Park, where we have seen 200 species of birds on the first full day of birding. You will hardly believe that you are just a short distance from downtown Nairobi. We move on to the Rift Valley Lakes of Naivasha, Baringo, and Nakuru. On the Lake Naivasha boat trip we will search for Purple, Squacco, and Goliath Herons, Black Crake, African Spoonbill, the yelping African Fish Eagle, and Giant Kingfisher. Kakamega Rainforest Reserve is the eastern extension of the Congo Rainforest. Red-chested Owlet, the beautiful African Emerald Cuckoo, and Blue-headed Bee-eater are star attractions. Samburu and Shaba Game Reserves are the best spots in Kenya to see Leopards. We climb into the highland forests of Mount Kenya, known for its Black-and-white Colobus and Blue Syke’s Monkeys, and hopefully a Cape Eagle-Owl. A walk along the Mountain Lodge entrance road is very good for the huge African Crowned Eagle, as well as Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, the rare Kenrick’s Starling, and Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike. Beautiful scenery, comfortable lodging, great food, knowledgeable guides, and the amazing quality and numbers of birds will all add up to an incredible safari! We will make equal effort to see all of the incredible birds and large mammals

for which this country is famous. We typically see nearly 600 species of birds and more than 50 species of mammals on this tour. The principal leader is Steven Easley, a veteran of many Kenya tours. The approximate price is $4995 from Nairobi, Kenya. SPECIAL OFFER! Please consider participating in this tour and the Southern & Coastal Kenya Tour that precedes it. Your two hotel nights and breakfasts between the two tours are free. You will pay for your lunches and dinners. And you pay just one airfare to Nairobi instead of two, a BIG saving! Contact Bird Treks for full details.

Price: $4995.00 from Nairobi, Kenya

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

LONG ISLAND, MONTAUK POINT & JAMAICA BAY, NY

Seabirds & Vagrants

4 November 2013 - 8 November 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

Lots of birding at Montauk Point will produce eiders, all three scoters, gannets, loons, and grebes, plus give us excellent opportunities for alcids, kittiwakes, jaegers, phalaropes, and shearwaters. Hope for an east wind! On a past tour we had FOUR Parasitic Jaegers in less than an hour. There are usually some unusual gulls in the area, and vagrant sparrows, warblers, and flycatchers often occur. On our way to and from Montauk we will visit many additional locations such as Jamaica Bay, Shinnecock Inlet, Point Lookout, Jones Beach, and Sagaponack Pond. Here we may add Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Harlequin Duck, Tufted Duck, American Bittern, Snowy Owl, and Northern Shrike. Rarities from past tours have included Northern Lapwing, Yellow-billed Loon, Sandhill Crane, Varied Thrush, Lark Sparrow, and Tufted Duck. We stay in Montauk, with great dinners at the Shagwong and O'Murphy's Pub. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader.

Price: $1595.00 from Newark, NJ or Lancaster, PA

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CHURCHILL MANITOBA, ON THE SHORE OF HUDSON BAY

Polar Bears, plus Boreal Birds & Wildlife

4 November 2013 - 10 November 2013, 7 days & 6 nights

Price: $5195.00 from Winnipeg

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CHURCHILL MANITOBA, ON THE SHORE OF HUDSON BAY

Polar Bears, plus Boreal Birds & Wildlife

9 November 2013 - 15 November 2013, 7 days & 6 nights

Price: $5195.00 from Winnipeg

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NEW MEXICO & BOSQUE DEL APACHE

Sandhill Cranes & Masses of Waterfowl

12 November 2013 - 20 November 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

Bosque del Apache is without a doubt the most popular birding location in all of New Mexico, and for good reason. It is the winter home of thousands of Sandhill Cranes, plus thousands of waterfowl, a fine variety of raptors, and many additional species. The name is Spanish for 'Woods of the Apache' and refers to the once extensive stands of cottonwoods along the Rio Grande that were used as refuge by native Americans. Many of the cottonwoods remain, and the birds are still found in abundance. Just a few of the species that we are likely to see include Crissal Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Loggerhead Shrike, and Gambel's Quail. Large flocks of sparrows may contain Vesper, Lark, Brewer's, Cassin's, Black-throated, and others. It is a great location for Neotropic Cormorant, Virginia Rail, Sora, Marsh Wren, and Western and Clark's Grebes. Other areas that we will visit are Water Canyon, the Sandia Mountains (hopefully for all three ROSY-FINCHES!), and Elephant Butte Reservoir, an excellent spot for aquatic species. The Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque is reliable for Western Screech-Owl and many additional species. Lots of birds without the crowds, plus beautiful scenery: those are the attractions of birding in New Mexico. John Puschock or Bob Schutsky will lead this tour.

Price: $2495.00 from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CHURCHILL MANITOBA, ON THE SHORE OF HUDSON BAY

Polar Bears, plus Boreal Birds & Wildlife

12 November 2013 - 18 November 2013, 7 days & 6 nights

Price: $5195.00 from Winnipeg

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

GUYANA

Birds and Mammals of Northeastern South America

24 November 2013 - 3 December 2013, 10 days & 9 nights

Several years ago I was invited to Guyana on a familiarization trip. I spent ten days there and loved every minute of it. This small country on the northeastern hump of South America was formerly known as British Guyana. To this day it remains an English-speaking country. During my visit, we began on the coast at the Georgetown Botanic Garden, moved inland (south) to the Iwokrama Forest, the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Mori Scrub, Atta Rainforest Lodge, and spectacular Kaieteur Falls. We will take you to these locations and several additional ones, into many of the prime areas of this mostly forested country. Flying above the forest gives the impression of being above a carpet of green. The rare break in the forest is usually a river, flowing toward the coast. If you have ever wanted to see a Jaguar, the Iwokrama Forest is rapidly gaining an international reputation for its healthy Jaguar populations that seem not to be troubled by the appearance of curious humans. No promises, but many visitors have been lucky! We came upon the scene of a fresh kill, expertly interpreted by one of our drivers. The prey was a Giant Armadillo. The Botanic Garden is home to a multitude of birds, among them the rare and elusive Blood-colored Woodpecker and Festive Parrot. Pinnated Bittern and Rufous Crab Hawk are always a good find, as are Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Musician Wren, and Screaming Piha. Harpy Eagle is possible near Turtle Mountain, as are Guianan Toucanet, Ringed Antpipit, Spectacled Owl, Long-tailed Potoo, Zigzag Heron, and Blackish Nightjar. And just a few more specialties include Guianan Red-Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo, Marail Guan, Painted Parakeets, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, White-plumed Antbird, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, and Ash-winged Antwren. This tour allows an ornithological reconnaissance of the country, visiting the coastal plain, the sandbelt forest, the seemingly limitless forests of the interior, and the Rupununi Savannah along the Brazilian border. It includes travel on a number of small water courses and two great rivers, the Demerara and the Essequibo, as well as a visit to Kaieteur Falls, surely among the world's most imposing scenic wonders. Bob Schutsky will co-lead the tour with a local, well-trained birding guide from Guyana. And, to continue your adventure . . .

Price: $4895.00 from Georgetown, Guyana

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

GUYANA EXTENSION

to Surama for HARPY EAGLE!

2 December 2013 - 6 December 2013, 5 days & 4 nights

The village of Surama is situated in a small savannah, deep in the rainforest and surrounded by forested hills. It was here that Charles Waterton passed through in 1812 in search of the secrets of the useful Wourali poison known as curare. Waterton was so stunned by this spot that he wrote in his memoirs, “The finest park that England boasts falls short of this delightful scene”. Day trips from Surama will offer incredible birding opportunities, including chances for Harpy Eagle, Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo, Capuchinbird, and many additional species. Night birds may include the recently split Northern Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, as well as Tropical Screech-Owl, Lesser Nighthawk, White-tailed Nightjar, and both Great and Common Potoos. All of our nights are at Surama Eco-Lodge until we return to Georgetown for our flights home.

Price: $1695.00 from Georgetown, Guyana

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHERN ARGENTINA

The Pampas, Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego

2 December 2013 - 19 December 2013, 18 days & 17 nights

Tierra del Fuego lies at about 55 degrees south latitude, as far south of the equator as Churchill, Manitoba is to the north. December is early summer in Argentina, with many hours of sunlight each day. The tour begins in Buenos Aires with a visit to Costanera Sur Reserve for a taste of the Pampas: Black-necked Swan, Yellow-billed Cardinal, Great Pampa-Finch, and several species of coot. On a chairlift ride above Le Martial Glacier we'll search for specialties including White-bellied Seedsnipe. Both Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins will be a big hit during our catamaran ride on the Beagle Channel, along with Black-browed Albatross and Southern Fulmar. Tierra del Fuego National Park is good for Austral Pygmy-Owl and the striking Magellanic Woodpecker, while Los Glacieres National Park offers our best chance for Andean Condor. On the Patagonian High Plateau we will search for two very rare species: the newly discovered Hooded Grebe and the elusive Austral Rail. Additional areas that we will visit include the Valdes Peninsula, Punta Tambo with its 700,000 Magellanic Penguins, and a mixture of grasslands and woodlands known as the Ceibas. The grand finale is three days on the Pampas, with rheas, canasteros, and spinetails. We'll return to Buenos Aires for your flight home. The tour leader is Luis Segura, assisted by additional Birding-Argentina professional guides. The tour fee is approximately $6595.

Price: $6595.00 from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

OAXACA, MEXICO

A Myriad of Mexican Endemics

2 December 2013 - 12 December 2013, 11 days & 10 nights

The state of Oaxaca is wonderfully diverse in flora and fauna, history, culture, cuisine, and scenery. This tour is designed to provide optimum exposure to this richness at a comfortable pace, while enjoying unique and superb lodging experiences, great natural history and birds, and fascinating cultural experiences. While in the city of Oaxaca we'll stay at the charming Hotel Azucenas, a wonderful place with an intimate atmosphere located in a great neighborhood. From there we'll visit the arid scrub around Teotitlan del Valle, a Zapotec town well known for its fine weavings. On past trips we've seen as many as 80 species of birds in this area. These include White-throated Towhee, Boucard's Wren, Ocellated Thrasher, Oaxaca and Bridled Sparrows, Dusky Hummingbird, White-tailed Hawk, Gray-breasted Woodpecker, Golden Vireo, Black-vented Oriole, Elegant Euphonia, and many others.
To the north, in the Sierra Juarez, we'll enjoy rich cloud forest with spectacularly large agaves and numerous flowering plants. We'll have good opportunities to find the endemic Dwarf Jay plus Gray-barred Wren, Golden-browed and Red Warblers, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Collared Towhee, Chestnut-capped and Rufous-capped Brush-Finches, Hooded Yellowthroat, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Mountain Trogon, and Gray-breasted Wood-Wren. We'll also enjoy a superb lunch at a mountain restaurant that serves the best chiles rellenos I've ever had.
We'll trade the color of Oaxaca City for the color of the Sierra Miahuatlan where we spend the night. Our hotel is on a mountain ridge surrounded by pine forest and many flowering plants that attract hummingbirds and Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer. We then traverse a spectacular transect as we descend from the high mountains to the Pacific Coast. We spend more time in the pines and oaks and make many stops in the broadleaf evergreen forests of the coffee growing areas. Along the way, we've had good luck in finding Bumblebee Hummingbird, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Slaty Vireo, Red-headed Tanager, Common Bush-Tanager, Blue-capped Hummingbird, Fan-tailed Warbler, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Emerald Toucanet, Audubon's Oriole, Gray Silky-Flycatcher, and many more.
On the Pacific Coast, we'll stay at the lovely and unique Rancho Cerro Largo where White-throated Magpie-Jay, Banded and Rufous-naped Wrens, Russet-crowned Motmot, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, Orange-breasted Bunting, Red-breasted Chat, and Citreoline Trogon can be found right on the lodge grounds. Out over the Pacific, we'll see Red-billed Tropicbirds and Brown Boobies soaring with Magnificent Frigatebirds. In the nearby forest we should find Colima Pygmy-Owl, Happy Wren, Orange-breasted, Painted, and Blue Buntings, Yellow-winged Cacique, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, and many other avian wonders. In the Puerto Escondido area we visit the mouth of the Rio Colotepec, which is wonderfully rich in waders, shorebirds, and terns, and also the Laguna Manialtepec, a mangrove-lined lagoon where we should see Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Mangrove Vireo and Mangrove Swallow, Collared Plover, and possibly Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, Mangrove Cuckoo, Aplomado Falcon, and Gray-necked Wood-Rail.
Our journey combines exciting birding, rich natural history, outstanding food, the warm hospitality of the people of Oaxaca, and a suite of memorable cultural experiences. These include a visit with one of the master Zapotec weavers, a tour of the ancient ruins of Monte Alban, a visit to the Oaxaca Cultural Museum, a tour of Finca El Pacifico (a bird-rich, shade grown, organic coffee plantation), and the trip highlight, a day of culture, cuisine, ethnobotany (and some birding) with the staff of Seasons of My Heart Cooking School. Mark Pretti is your tour leader. The tour fee is approximately $2850.

Price: $2850.00 from Oaxaca City, Mexico

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIALTIES

California Gnatcatcher & Le Conte’s Thrasher

6 December 2013 - 14 December 2013, 9 days & 8 nights

From the coast to the mountains and desert, the habitats of southern California are home to most of the West Coast's specialties. We'll begin in San Diego in search of species such as Heerman's Gull, Wandering Tattler, and Black Turnstone. Then, moving inland to the foothills and mountains, our targets will be species with California in their name: California Quail, California Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, and California Towhee. We'll also be on the lookout for Nuttall's Woodpecker, Wrentit, Oak Titmouse, Bell's Sage Sparrow, Lawrence's Goldfinch, and Tricolored Blackbird. Continuing on to the desert and the Salton Sea, other birds that we'll be searching for include the elusive Le Conte's Thrasher, Ruddy Ground-Dove, Burrowing Owl, Costa's Hummingbird, Abert's Towhee, and hopefully, Yellow-footed Gull. This tour will be led by Jason Horn or Bob Schutsky

Price: $2995.00 from San Diego, CA

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CHINCOTEAGUE & THE DELMARVA PENINSULA, DE-MD-VA

Winter Birds of the Atlantic Coast

26 December 2013 - 31 December 2013, 6 days & 5 nights

The Delmarva Peninsula provides excellent birding in early winter. We will visit Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Kiptopeke State Park, Ocean City, and spend a full day at Chincoteague NWR, where we will see Wild Ponies and many great birds. Scoping along the coast is likely to produce a nice variety of seabirds, Purple Sandpiper, other shorebirds, and perhaps a vagrant or two. Good numbers of waterfowl are expected, including Harlequin Duck, Common Eider, Long-tailed Duck, and Canvasback. Unusual gulls found on previous tours include Glaucous, Little, Black-headed, and a Black-legged Kittiwake--perched ten feet away! We should also see American Woodcock, Brown Pelican, Bald Eagle, Marbled Godwit, Great Cormorant, and Brown-headed Nuthatch. There may be a hummingbird or two, such as Rufous, Calliope, or another western vagrant. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled tour leader.

Price: $1795.00 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NORTHERN COSTA RICA

Poas & Arenal Volcanoes, La Paz Waterfall Garden & the Caño Negro Boat Ride

28 December 2013 - 5 January 2014, 9 days & 8 nights

This is a fabulous birding journey through the most scenic and bird-rich areas of Northern Costa Rica. We will begin in the highland forests surrounding Poas Volcano National Park, with views of the crater of this dormant volcano. We will then continue to La Paz Waterfall Garden with its busy hummingbird and banana feeders. Our next stop will be for two nights in the pristine cloud forest setting at the lovely Bosque de Paz Lodge. Here we will be entertained by the hummingbird, fruit, and corn meal feeders, as well as mixed flocks of cloud forest species. From here we continue to the best Caribbean wetland in Costa Rica, Lake Caño Negro National Park, staying at the very comfortable Caño Negro Natural Lodge. Birds are seemingly everywhere and the boat ride on Lake Caño Negro is one of the highlights of any tropical birding tour. Caño Negro is also an excellent area for nocturnal birds, including many species of impressive owls and both Great and Common Potoos. We will finish the tour with two nights in the most scenic area in all of Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano. Our home base will be the exquisite Arenal Observatory Lodge located safely near this active volcano, offering amazing views of this spectacular volcano. The entire area is enveloped by beautiful Caribbean foothill rainforest. While here we will enjoy the hummingbirds in the gardens, tanagers and oropendolas at the feeders, the many trails leading into the rainforest, and the Arenal Hanging Bridges, with its suspension bridges through the canopy. Our final night will be near the airport at the Orquideas Inn with its gardens and good food. Whether it is an impressive bird list, comfortable lodging, or stunning scenery you are looking for, this tour has them all. Steven Easley will be your leader. We are happy to be able to keep the tour fee the same as in 2011!

Price: $2355.00 from San Jose, Costa Rica

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

. . . . . 2014 TOUR SCHEDULE . . . . .

OAXACA, MEXICO

A Myriad of Mexican Endemics

5 January 2014 - 15 January 2014, 11 days & 10 nights

Price: $2850.00 from Oaxaca City, Mexico

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

THAILAND

The Best of Southeast Asia

9 January 2014 - 27 January 2014, 20 days & 19 nights

Details TBA

Price: $0.00 from Bangkok, Thailand

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

WINTER BIRDS of SOUTH TEXAS

WHOOPING CRANES & the RIO GRANDE VALLEY

10 January 2014 - 19 January 2014, 10 days & 9 nights

A boat ride on Aransas Bay will play a key roll in this tour. It is our ticket to the magnificent, rare and endangered Whooping Crane, whose population is growing annually. We'll see a wealth of additional aquatic species such as Eared Grebe, Neotropic Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, and perhaps an American Bittern. Santa Ana is reliable for Ringed and Green Kingfishers, while Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and Anzalduas County Park are known for their Mexican rarities and wintering songbirds, such as Clay-colored Thrush, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and Tropical Parula. One year we found a Roadside Hawk at Bentsen, which at that time was the fourth ABA record! Another tour produced Green-breasted Mango and Blue Bunting. We'll travel as far upriver as San Ygnacio in search of Audubon's and Altamira Orioles, Hook-billed Kite, and White-collared Seedeater. Our visit to the Santa Gertrudis Division of the King Ranch should provide good looks at White-tailed Hawk, Harris's Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Sprague's Pipit, Olive Sparrow, and a host of other scrub-thorn species. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader. The tour fee is unchanged from 2013

Price: $2595.00 from Corpus Christi, Texas

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SAN BLAS, MEXICO

GREAT BIRDING in DIVERSE HABITATS with MANY ENDEMICS

25 January 2014 - 2 February 2014, 9 days & 8 nights

The West Coast of Mexico is home to many of this amazing country's endemic species, and San Blas is the ideal location from which to search for these birds. This quaint fishing village offers easy access to the ocean, lagoons, beaches, mangroves, and arid scrubland, plus pine-oak woodland at higher elevation. In the arid thornforest that surrounds the coastal areas we should find endemics such as Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Elegant Quail, Mexican Parrotlet, Citreoline Trogon, San Blas and Purplish-backed Jays, and Happy and Sinaloa Wrens. Rufous-crowned Motmot and Golden Vireo will be in evidence here and farther up the hillsides, where a past tour yielded excellent looks at Colima Pygmy-Owl and the elusive Rosy Thrush-Tanager. Our only full-day trip away from San Blas will be to the higher elevation pine-oak forests of Cerro de San Juan. Mixed species flocks here include White-striped Woodcreeper, Crescent-chested and Fan-tailed Warblers, and Red-headed Tanager, while Spotted Wren and Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow inhabit the understory and Brown-backed Solitaire gives its eerie song from the forest canopy. During two river trips we'll search for mangrove specialties including Boat-billed Heron, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Mangrove Cuckoo, and many wading birds and shorebirds on the mudflats and lagoons. An ocean boat ride will give us excellent looks at Blue-footed and Brown Boobies, plus a chance for Red-billed Tropicbird and several pelagic species. Add to all this an incredible beach for swimming, and endemics such as Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, the majestic Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Sinaloa Crow, and Yellow-winged Cacique right in town, and you can see why San Blas is truly a birder's delight. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled tour leader.

Price: $3295.00 from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTH TEXAS, LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY and the extreme SOUTH TEXAS GULF COAST

with a good chance for FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWL

14 February 2014 - 23 February 2014, 10 days & 9 nights

We'll see a wealth of aquatic species along the extreme southern Gulf Coast. These may include Snowy and Piping Plovers, Roseate Spoonbill, and perhaps a Northern Gannet and Sandwich Tern. Our visit to the King Ranch will hopefully yield a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, along with fine looks at White-tailed Hawk, Harris's Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Sprague's Pipit, Olive Sparrow, and a host of other scrub-thorn species. Santa Ana is reliable for Ringed and Green Kingfishers, while Bentsen State Park and Anzalduas County Park are known for their Mexican rarities and wintering songbirds, such as Clay-colored Thrush, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and Tropical Parula. One year we found a Roadside Hawk at Bentsen, which at that time was the fourth ABA record! Another previous tour produced Green-breasted Mango and Blue Bunting. And recently we found a Crimson-collared Grosbeak. We'll travel as far upriver as San Ygnacio in search of Audubon's and Altamira Orioles, Hook-billed Kite, and White-collared Seedeater. This tour focuses on the Lower Rio Grande Valley, from the Gulf Coast to San Ignacio. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader. The tour price remains the same as it was in 2013.

Price: $2595.00 from Harlingen, Texas

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

NEW: PANAMA

THE LAND BETWEEN THE SEAS

21 February 2014 - 3 March 2014, 11 days & 10 nights

Panama has been blessed with three of the most important ingredients for high biodiversity – location, location, and location. In addition to being a physical and ecological link between North and South America, it is biogeographically rich with cool cloud forest, tropical deciduous forest, lowland rainforest, mangroves, beaches, and an abundance of rivers and streams, all of which contribute to a tremendous diversity of flora and fauna.
We’ll start with a visit to the surprisingly rich Metropolitan Nature Park, followed by a delicious lunch at the Miraflores Locks where we'll have a short tour of the canal and watch the locks in action.
We spend four nights at Gamboa Rainforest Resort which has good birds and wildlife on the grounds, including great birding from your balcony. Variegated Squirrels and Orange-chinned Parakeets are often seen at eye-level as they forage for Guacima seeds, and many tanagers, flycatchers, swifts, swallows, and others are common. A patch of forest on the property is good for Golden-collared Manakin, Broad-billed Motmot, Song Wren, Golden-hooded Tanager, and American Pygmy Kingfisher. From Gamboa we'll visit the nearby Panama Rainforest Discovery Center and its 100-foot tall canopy tower, where we'll look for Blue Cotinga, Green Shrike-Vireo, Keel-billed and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, raptors such as Crane Hawk and Gray-headed Kite, Mealy Parrot, Blue Dacnis, and more. Their hummingbird feeders attract White-necked Jacobin, Long-billed Hermit, White-vented Plumeleteer, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, and Blue-chested Hummingbird. Along two of the most well known birding areas, Pipeline Road and Old Gamboa Road, we'll have chances to see antbirds (Ocellated, Bicolored, Spotted, and Jet), wrens (Rufous-and-white, Buff-breasted, Black-bellied, and Bay), Lance-tailed Manakin, Cinnamon Woodpecker, puffbirds (Pied, White-necked, White-whiskered, and Black-breasted), trogons (Slaty-tailed, Black-throated, White-tailed, and Gartered), Purple-throated Fruitcrow, and many more. We'll also enjoy a night drive and a boat trip along the canal and the Chagres River.
At the Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Anton, the higher and cooler habitats are home to Orange-bellied Trogon, Black-chested Jay, Dusky-faced Tanager, Black Guan, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Rufous Motmot, White-ruffed Manakin, Tody Motmot, Barred Hawk, and Emerald Toucanet. In addition to the diverse eye-candy at the lodge's incredible fruit feeders, we'll also have good chances to see Mottled Owl and Tropical Screech-Owl on their day roosts.
We'll explore the general habitats and environmental relationships of these areas as we learn about towering wild cashews and figs, many species of palms, colorful heliconias, many butterflies and other insects, and several mammals and reptiles. On past trips we've encountered White-nosed Coati, four species of monkeys (Mantled Howler, White-throated Capuchin, Lemurine Night Monkey, and Geoffrey's Tamarin), Central American Agouti, Capybara, three species of squirrels (Variegated, Red-tailed, and Central American Dwarf), and both Two and Three-toed Sloths. Spectacled Caiman, American Crocodile, Green Iguana, Common and Striped Basilisks, geckos, and many anole lizards are also frequently seen. Panama provides a rich, colorful, comfortable, and memorable introduction to the Neotropics.
This tour is led by naturalist and bird guide Mark Pretti, and includes all lodging, meals, guides, entrance fees, and ground transportation. It is limited to eight participants. The tour fee will be approximately $3400 per person, based upon double occupancy.

Price: $3400.00 from Panama City

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

COSTA RICA

A Wonderful Variety of Birds & Habitats, and Spectacular ARENAL VOLCANO

1 March 2014 - 14 March 2014, 14 days & 13 nights

After a night at the Hotel Bougainvillea near the airport in San Jose, our first destination is Rancho Naturalista Lodge in the Caribbean rainforest. Rancho is famous for its beauty, diversity of birds and wildlife, and the hummingbird ponds that you have to see to believe. It has an incredible birding veranda and we will make good use of it. We'll visit the Rio Tuis Valley for a change of habitats and birds and possibly a Sunbittern. Next, Savegre Mountain Lodge is located at 7200 feet in the Costa Rican highlands. It is one of the most reliable spots in the country to see Resplendent Quetzal, plus Dusky Nightjar, Ochraceous Pewee, Streaked-breasted Treehunter, and Golden-browed Chlorophonia. The hummingbird feeders are alive with Green Violetear, Gray-tailed Mountain-gem, Volcano Hummingbird, and Scintillant Hummingbird, Costa Rica's smallest bird. Hikes along the river are likely to produce American Dipper, Tufted Flycatcher, and Torrent Tyrannulet. It will be a wonderful stay in the cool mountain air. Our next lodge is Villa Lapas on the Pacific Coast, near the entrance to Carara National Park. Past rarities have included the spectacular Yellow-billed Cotinga, Spotted Rail, and flocks of Scarlet Macaws. Our mangrove boat ride and cruise up the Rio Carara will be an afternoon to remember. Arenal Volcano will be beautifully visible from our next location, Hotel San Bosco in Fortuna. Our boat ride on the Rio Frio will be excellent, with Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Sungrebe, and usually a Great Potoo. Our final destination is Arenal Observatory Lodge. We have found the rare and elusive Bare-necked Umbrellabird twice along Arenal's trails, along with flocks of tanagers and warblers and the occasional Great Currasow and Ornate Hawk-Eagle. Their feeding stations are nothing short of spectacular! This is a perfect ending to a wonderful tour, led by Bob Schutsky.

Price: $4595.00 from San Jose, Costa Rica

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

SOUTH TEXAS HAWK MIGRATION

Raptors, Songbirds & Specialties of the Lower Rio Grande Valley

27 March 2014 - 3 April 2014, 8 days & 7 nights

Some of the finest spring hawk migration in North America occurs in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, as raptors move north out of Central America and Mexico. We will spend eight days in the Valley, dividing our time between the well-established hawk watches at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Additional birders and volunteers will be present as we all work together to identify most or all of birds that pass by, not just birds of prey. We are likely to see good numbers of raptors on a daily basis, including kettles of Broad-winged Hawks and Mississippi Kites. A nice variety of hawks will move through in smaller numbers, with hopefully a rarity or two. When we are not hawk watching, we will search for many of the other Valley specialties at some of the best birding locales in Texas. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled leader. We ran this tour very successfully in the same time period of 2011.

Price: $1975.00 from McAllen, Texas

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

GALAPAGOS: ISLANDS OF DISCOVERY

BIRTHPLACE OF EVOLUTION!

29 March 2014 - 7 April 2014, 10 days & 9 nights

Year-round Departures are Available!
The Galapagos is the world’s greatest living laboratory for the study and observation of nature. Over the course of centuries, animals and plant life reached the islands and gradually evolved into new life forms found nowhere else on earth. Opportunities for photography are spectacular, as the animals show no fear of humans. Sea lions, iguanas, and penguins are within arm’s reach. The Connecticut Audubon Society longtime tour leader is Milan Bull. Ecuadorian Highland, Machu Picchu, and Quito extensions are available. Please contact us for full details.

Price: $5395.00 from Quito, Ecuador

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

EL TRIUNFO, CHIAPAS, MEXICO

BIRDING & NATURAL HISTORY IN MEXICO'S GREAT WILDERNESS

2 April 2014 - 11 April 2014, 10 days & 9 nights

Harboring about ten percent of Earth's biodiversity, Mexico is one of the most biologically rich countries in the world. During this birding and natural history adventure, we'll explore and learn about much of that richness as we travel through what is one of the last great wilderness areas in Mexico, the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Though somewhat rigorous, the tour to El Triunfo stands as one of the greatest natural history adventures that I (Mark) have personally ever experienced. The week that we'll spend hiking in and enjoying the cloud forests of southern Mexico will be highlighted by some of the best birding in the world, as well as by the warm hospitality of our Mexican hosts. Our tour begins in Tuxtla Gutierrez, where we'll spend a morning enjoying the tropical deciduous forest and great scenery of Sumidero Canyon. Here we'll look for dry forest specialists such as White-throated Magpie-Jay, Nutting's Flycatcher, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Streak-backed Oriole, Banded Wren, and the rare Belted Flycatcher. From Tuxtla we'll head south to the small town of Jaltenango, our take-off point for El Triunfo. We'll spend six unforgettable days birding, hiking, and enjoying the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Amidst the towering, epiphyte-laden trees, we'll have chances to see Resplendent Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, Black-throated and Unicolored Jays, Mountain and Black Thrushes, Green-throated Mountain-Gem, Yellow-throated and Chestnut-capped Brush-Finches, Spotted and Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrushes, Blue-throated Motmot, Highland Guan, Fulvous Owl, and the rare prize of the area, the Horned Guan. From the high elevation ridges, we'll descend for three days through pristine forests, stopping to camp at lovely spots where we'll likely find White-eared Ground-Sparrow, Long-tailed Manakin, Cabanis' Tanager, Rufous Sabrewing, Rufous-and-white Wren, White-winged Tanager, perhaps the rare Prevost's Ground-Sparrow, and many others. We'll conclude our adventure in Tapachula at a comfortable hotel with grounds that are home to Giant Wren, White-bellied Chachalaca, Orange-chinned Parakeet, and Pacific Screech-Owl. While this trip is highly exhilarating in terms of the natural wonders we'll experience, it is physically challenging with hikes of 4-7 miles and tent camping for 3 nights. The tour will be led by Mark Pretti and local expert Jorge Montejo. Group size is limited to eight participants. The tour fee is approximately $2800.

Price: $2800.00 from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

DAUPHIN ISLAND, ALABAMA & MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST

FIRST & FINEST MIGRATION STOP

6 April 2014 - 12 April 2014, 7 days & 6 nights

We'll spend each night in the same beach house on Dauphin Island. The house will give us a friendly family atmosphere. Home cooked breakfasts will help get us off to a good start each day. This area of the Gulf Coast is where migrants get their first view of land after crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast is a great staging area for travel weary migrants. Dauphin Island is famous for the Shell Mound and Goat Tree migrant traps. Birding daily in and around these locations will almost certainly provide some entirely new birds every day. Nearby areas including Bon Secour, Sandhill Crane Refuge, and the National Seashore will provide a diverse group of shorebirds, rails, and waders. Some of the aquatic birds that will show us a bit of southern hospitality include Magnificent Frigatebird, Least Bittern, Black, Sandwich, and Gull-billed Terns, Hudsonian Godwit, and hopefully either a Black or Yellow Rail. Raptors should include the elegant Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites. Land birding is likely to yield Brown-headed Nuthatch, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Philadelphia Vireo, Prothonotary, Worm-eating, Swainson's, Yellow-throated, Kentucky, and Hooded Warblers, Northern Parula, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, and Painted Bunting. It will be a wonderful week on the Gulf of Mexico. Dan Watkins will lead this tour. You will receive a $200 discount if you participate in both this tour and the Louisiana Tour that follows immediately afterward (see separate Southwest Louisiana Tour description).

Price: $2345.00 from Mobile, Alabama

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

CAMERON PARISH, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS & WATERBIRDS

13 April 2014 - 20 April 2014, 8 days & 7 nights

This is the Louisiana counterpart of High Island, Texas, minus the crowds of people. We'll spend most of the week in Cameron Parish, the state's premier birding locale. It is positioned in the extreme southwest corner of Louisiana on the Texas border and has vast marshlands and beautiful, bird-filled beaches. It is famous for its migrants and rarities. Ancient wooded ridges known as cheniers can abound with migrant songbirds. Because of its location in the very center of the Mississippi flyway, nearly half of eastern North America's migratory songbirds pass through Louisiana each spring. To help round out the week, we'll also visit Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Holly Beach, Old River Wildlife Management Area, and Louisiana's famous rice fields for shorebirds, waterfowl, long-legged waders, and rails. We will drive into Texas one day for a visit to Sabine Woods and Sea Rim State Park. Expect to see nearly 200 species on this incredible tour. Our focus will be migrant songbirds and the abundant aquatic species, with a host of specialty birds. There will be LOTS of birds, everywhere we go. You will save $200 if you participate in both the Dauphin Island, Alabama Tour and this Louisiana Tour. Bob Schutsky is the scheduled Louisiana Tour leader.

Price: $2245.00 from Lafayette, Louisiana

Itinerary Photos Previous Tours Past Checklists Pay Balance Due

Bird Treks - A Quality Birdwatching Tour Company

Tour By Region

North America

Central America

South America

Europe

Africa

Asia

Tours & Destinations

NEW! AMAZON CRUISE

Tropical Experience of a Lifetime!

SPAIN: MADRID TO BARCELONA

FROM THE HIGH PYRENEES TO THE EBRO DELTA

SOUTH FLORIDA, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK,

DRY TORTUGAS & THE FLORIDA KEYS

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY on the EDWARDS PLATEAU

Home of two VERY RARE SONGBIRDS!

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS

The only place in the US to see COLIMA WARBLER

Long Island, Montauk Point & Jamaica Bay, New York

Seabirds, Songbird Migrants & Quiet Parts of Long Island

SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

for Trogons, Hummingbirds, Owls & Northbound Migrants

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: THE TWO-ISLAND NATION NEAR THE COAST OF VENEZUELA

ASA WRIGHT NATURE CENTRE & SEA TURTLES!

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

FOR WHISKERED AUKLET & ASIAN STRAYS!

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

FOR WHISKERED AUKLET & ASIAN STRAYS!

DELAWARE BAY OF NEW JERSEY & DELAWARE

CAPE MAY POINT & BOMBAY HOOK NWR

ATTU, ALASKA

We’re Going Back!!

ST. PAUL ISLAND, ALASKA

RED-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, SEA BIRD NESTING CLIFFS & ASIAN STRAYS

Churchill & Southern Manitoba

Ross’s Gull, Great Gray Owl & many Boreal Birds

ALASKA'S KENAI PENINSULA & THE DENALI HIGHWAY

BIRDS, MAMMALS & FANTASTIC SCENERY

ALEUTIAN PELAGIC TRIP

BEGINS & ENDS ON ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

NEW! CANAAN VALLEY NWR, WEST VIRGINIA

Appalachian Breeding Birds

GASPÉ PENINSULA OF QUEBEC

Thousands of Northern Gannets & a nice Variety of Whales

SOUTHEAST ARIZONA

Hummingbirds, Trogons, Mexican Strays & Scenic Wonders

COSTA RICA

A Superb Week at Rancho Naturalista Lodge, & Beyond

Mato Grosso, Brazil

The Pantanal, Cristalino Lodge, & Chapada Dos Guimaraes

NORTHERN COSTA RICA

Poas & Arenal Volcanoes, La Paz Waterfall Garden & the Cano Negro Boat Ride

SOUTHEAST ARIZONA EXTENSION

More Good Locations & Great Birds

WASHINGTON'S PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Mount Rainier, Dungeness Spit & a Great Pelagic Trip

NEW! NOVA SCOTIA--CAPE BRETON

Shorebird Madness

NORTH CAROLINA OUTER BANKS

Coastal Migrants & a Superb Pelagic Trip

VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Sky Lark & the San Juan Islands

SOUTHEAST PERU

The Andes, Machu Picchu & Amazonia

COMPLETE CALIFORNIA

From the Mountains to the Ocean to the Desert

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

Alcids, Asian Strays & Best Time for Marsh Sandpiper

ADAK ISLAND, ALASKA

Alcids, Asian Strays & Best Time for Marsh Sandpiper

GRAND MANAN, NEW BRUNSWICK

Migrants, Vagrants, Seabirds & Whales

CALIFORNIA EXTENSION

Bolsa Chica & the Salton Sea

MONHEGAN ISLAND, MAINE

One of the Best Vagrant & Migrant Traps on the East Coast

The Birds of Northern Ecuador

Andes, the Northwest Lowlands, and a touch of Amazonia

COASTAL OREGON & KLAMATH BASIN