Outings
Here is a preview at a few trips
for 2010. Sit back, scroll down and shop for birds (and a better life).
More trips are coming. Check back for
workshops on photography, shorebirds, sparrows and other tricky birds.
We're also planning the return of Bicknell's Thrush outings in 2010.
February 27-March 7, 2010
Here
is your excuse to escape winter for a leisurely birding vacation. We'll
visit Florida hotspots, including Everglades National Park, for close looks at
Limpkin, Magnificent Frigatebird, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill,
Wood Stork, Purple Gallinule, Short-tailed Hawk, and the Kite Treble
(Snail Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, and White-tailed Kite). We'll enjoy
and learn to identify tons of shorebirds, including Snowy Plover, and
other waders. Other highlights include (but aren't limited to): Barn
Owl, Crested Caracara, White-crowned Pigeon, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher,
Western Kingbird and the amazing Purple Swamphen. This trip is timed
for a morning at the amazing Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (so abundant
are the birds at STA-5 that people who go there emerge changed for
life).
As usual, we'll avoid one-night stands in our lodging and will enjoy
good company and amazing birds. Bryan has even reserved some time for
simply relaxing and watching the waves. Here's
a report on last year's trip.
Location: Southern Florida
Price:$2,175 for single occupancy,
$1,975 for double occupancy. Includes eight nights lodging, breakfasts,
park entrance fees, birding in a small group, snacks and other goodies.
Here are more details on the
2010 trip.
[Register]
Two
Trips:
April
15-21, 2010
April 23-29, 2010
Here's another short, economical trip for amazing birds. The upper
Texas coast is legendary for songbird fallouts, rafts of sandpipers
and even Yellow Rails. We'll be there for prime-time fallouts of southern
warblers (Hooded, Kentucky, Cerulean, Worm-eating, Swainson's and Prothonotory),
most of which will be tired and at our feet. Black-bellied Whistling
Ducks, Roseate Spoonbill, Mississippi Kite, Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer
and Scarlet tanagers and probably some surprises (last year's was a
Black-whiskered Vireo) will be among our "easy" birds.
The
shorebird show at Bolivar Flats is ideal for beginners to learn and
experts to enjoy. You'll encounter terns (our continent's largest,
smallest and a few in between) at every, um, er, turn. And we'll take
a special daytime walk on a saltmarsh for Yellow Rail and perhaps Black
Rail (with Seaside and Nelson's Sharp-tailed sparrows as well as Sedge
and Marsh wrens among our constant companions). If that
wasn't enough, the trip will also include an excursion for the rare
and threatened Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
In other words, you'll
be busy and will see a ton of birds in six of the most exciting days
of your life. Want proof? Read
Bryan's field notes for two days last year,
which included an astounding encounter with 70 (he counted!) Indigo
Buntings in a small field.
Here are more trip details.
Location: This outing arrives and departs
from Houston. Our base will be Winnie, Texas.
Price: $1,385 for single occupancy and
$1,265 for double occupancy, including six nights lodging, breakfasts,
all entrance fees and other goodies. Air and ground transportation
are extra.
[Register]
SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA
May 8-17, 2010
Here are only a few reasons to visit southeastern Arizona, indisputably
one of our finest birding destinations, next spring: Gray Hawk, Zone-tailed
Hawk, Montezuma Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Elf Owl, Spotted Owl, Elegant
Trogon (pictured to the right), Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Vermillion
Flycatcher, Magnificent Hummingbird, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Mexican
Chickadee, Red-faced Warbler, Pyrrhuloxia, Flame-colored Tanager, Rufous-winged
Sparrow (to name only a few).
The outing takes a grand loop starting in Tucson. We swing east toward
close and amazing shorebirds in Wilcox, then onward to the famous Chiricahua
Mountains, where Elegant Trogans, Mexican Chickadees and Crissal Thrashers
(among many other specialties) will beckon. From there we're off to
the Huachuca Mountains for at least 10 species of hummingbird, Spotted
Owl and (of course) many others. Our next major stop, the Patagonia
area, will feature Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Thick-billed Kingbird
and the world-famous Patagonia Roadside Rest, where rare birds are
to be expected. Our final leg of the trip, back near Tucson, will feature
the exquisite Madera Canyon, where more trogons, Botteri's
Sparrows and perhaps an oddball like Black-capped Gnatcatcher.
Here are more details on the trip.
Want more? Here's
a report on the 2008 trip
Price: Coming soon
[Register]
Friday-Sunday, May 28-30, 2010 (Memorial
Day Weekend)
Northern
Vermont not only offers some of the best forests for northern warblers
and other songbirds, it is home to the Highland
Lodge, a charming country inn overlooking the crystalline waters
of Caspian Lake. We'll convene at the Lodge Friday evening for a
short walk and supper. We'll rise early Saturday and Sunday mornings
for muffins, coffee, juice and fruit, and then head out to discover
lots of birds. We'll conclude each morning of birding with brunch
and discussion back at the lodge; and we'll enjoy another hearty
supper on Saturday night as well. Other highlights this weekend include
a wildflower walk and an evening slideshow and lecture. This trip
is all about nature and nurture. It is one of our most popular outings.
(Bryan even recognizes -- and accepts -- that the lodge and its fine
food may be more of an attraction than birds on this outing.)
How well do we see birds on this trip? Check out the Vermont Bird
Tours Gallery for
Bassage's photo of a Scarlet Tanager, taken through his point-and-shoot
digital camera.
Location: Greensboro
Fee: $375 per person for single occupancy and $355
per person for double occupancy. The fee includes all meals and two
nights lodging, including tax and tip. (Alcoholic beverages are not
included in the price.) Terms
and Conditions.
[Register]
Monday, May
31, 2009 (Memorial Day)
Here's a one-morning version of Warbler Weekend. We'll convene at
the famed Highland
Lodge early Monday morning for coffee, muffins and juice, then
head out for a full morning of birding. Expect good looks at more than
a dozen warbler species, including quality time with Blackburnian
Warbler (pictured to the right). Other highlights on this trip range
from Hermit Thrush to Lincoln's Sparrow. We've also
seen everything from White-winged Scoter to Merlin,
Boreal Chickadee to White-winged Crossbill. We'll conclude our morning
with a relaxing brunch and lively conversation near the bird feeders
at the Lodge.
How well do we see birds on this trip? Check out the Vermont Bird
Tours Gallery for
Bassage's photo of a Scarlet Tanager, taken through his point-and-shoot
digital camera.
Location:
Greensboro
Fee: $55
[Register]
September
20-23, 2010 (Monday-Thursday) or
September 25-28, 2010 (Saturday-Tuesday)
Off the coast of Maine, Monhegan Island is one of the nation's most stunning
places. This tiny, island (with no cars) is a premier spot for fall migration.
During this four-day outing, we'll see everything from falcons to warblers, from
migrating monarchs to lounging harbor seals, not to mention a rugged coast with
ocean cliffs. Highlights from our prior trips to Monhegan ranged from Clay-colored
Sparrow to Dickcissel, from Northern Fulmar to Yellow-headed Blackbird. Check
out the Vermont Bird Tours Gallery for a few snap-shots
from last year's trip. Here are more trip details.
Location: Off Maine's Midcoast
Fee: Fees for the 2010 outing are not yet final. But the price
includes ferry transportation from Port Clyde, three nights lodging, full breakfasts,
wine, cheese and an unforgettable island birding experience. Terms
and Conditions.
[Register]
