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Migration & Midwest Specialties in Illinois
Migration & Midwest Specialties in Illinois
May 10-16
7 Days & 6 Nights
7 Days & 6 Nights
A wonderful trip for Illinoisians looking to fully explore the state OR for out-of-staters looking for a trip that hits during the spring migration for eastern migrants, Midwest breeders, and any other common eastern U.S. species! Join for a few days of exploring habitats throughout Illinois, in which we will begin by working our way through the Illinois River, with a quick detour through Northwest Illinois, before spending the last day along the Chicago Lakefront! Expected trip total: >200 species
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 (May 10): Arrive in St. Louis (if flying) & local STL birding in the afternoon.
Day 2 (May 11): Jersey & Calhoun Counties (focusing on eastern breeders like Worm-eating & Cerulean Warblers)
Day 3 (May 12): Siloam Springs State Park & Meredosia IL (nightjars, migrants, Western Kingbird, Lark Sparrow)
Day 4 (May 13): Havana (Sand Ridge State Park for migrants, Chautauqua & Emiquon for aquatic species) transfer to Northern IL
Day 5 (May 14): Full day exploring Northwest IL (breeders, migrants, beautiful scenery) transfer to Chicago Area
Day 6: (May 15): Full day in Chicago along the lakefront plus Monk Parakeet & European Goldfinch
Day 7 (May 16): Departure
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 (May 10): Arrive in St. Louis (if flying) & local STL birding in the afternoon.
Day 2 (May 11): Jersey & Calhoun Counties (focusing on eastern breeders like Worm-eating & Cerulean Warblers)
Day 3 (May 12): Siloam Springs State Park & Meredosia IL (nightjars, migrants, Western Kingbird, Lark Sparrow)
Day 4 (May 13): Havana (Sand Ridge State Park for migrants, Chautauqua & Emiquon for aquatic species) transfer to Northern IL
Day 5 (May 14): Full day exploring Northwest IL (breeders, migrants, beautiful scenery) transfer to Chicago Area
Day 6: (May 15): Full day in Chicago along the lakefront plus Monk Parakeet & European Goldfinch
Day 7 (May 16): Departure
Cost:
Double occupancy: $2,250
Single occupancy: $2,750
Double occupancy: $2,250
Single occupancy: $2,750
Late Migration, Lakefront & Boreal Birding in Michigan
Late Migration, Lakefront & Boreal Birding in Michigan
May 18-24
7 Days & 6 Nights
7 Days & 6 Nights
For this trip, we essentially will complete a 'big day track' I have completed twice but prolonging the route by several days. A trip like this is perfect to target eastern migrants and breeders, lakefront specialties, as well as plenty of boreal forest breeders. We will see so many unique species during this trip and I am excited to offer a trip like this to people to tag along on! Expected trip total: >200 species
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 (May 18): Fly into Detroit and some local birding if time allows (or can bring people from Chicago).
Day 2 (May 19): Full morning at Pte. Mouillee (waterfowl, shorebirds, terns, so many species), local birding afterwards
Day 3 (May 20): Morning birding around Ann Arbor (southern breeders such as Hooded & Cerulean Warblers, etc.) drive north with birding stops throughout the day (may try for nocturnal Yellow Rail)
Day 4 (May 21): Kirtland's Warbler area in the morning (plus Upland Sandpiper, Brewer's Blackbird, etc.), then arrive in the Upper Peninsula
Day 5 (May 22): Full morning at Whitefish Point (lakewatch, migrant birding, and hawkwatch)
Day 6 (May 23): Full morning searching for boreal breeders -> drive towards Detroit in the afternoon
Day 7 (May 24): Departure Day
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 (May 18): Fly into Detroit and some local birding if time allows (or can bring people from Chicago).
Day 2 (May 19): Full morning at Pte. Mouillee (waterfowl, shorebirds, terns, so many species), local birding afterwards
Day 3 (May 20): Morning birding around Ann Arbor (southern breeders such as Hooded & Cerulean Warblers, etc.) drive north with birding stops throughout the day (may try for nocturnal Yellow Rail)
Day 4 (May 21): Kirtland's Warbler area in the morning (plus Upland Sandpiper, Brewer's Blackbird, etc.), then arrive in the Upper Peninsula
Day 5 (May 22): Full morning at Whitefish Point (lakewatch, migrant birding, and hawkwatch)
Day 6 (May 23): Full morning searching for boreal breeders -> drive towards Detroit in the afternoon
Day 7 (May 24): Departure Day
Cost:
Double occupancy: $2,750
Single occupancy: $3,250
Double occupancy: $2,750
Single occupancy: $3,250
Interior Rockies Specialty Tour:
Interior Rockies Specialty Tour:
July 14-20
7 Days & 6 Nights
7 Days & 6 Nights
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1 (July 14): Fly into Denver, Transfer to Gunnison
Day 2 (July 15): Gunnison & Montrose
Day 3 (July 16): Grand Junction to Salt Lake City
Day 4 (July 17): Great Salt Lake to Nevada
Day 5 (July 18): Ruby Mountain Hike & to Southern Idaho
Day 6 (July 19): South Hills of Idaho in morning then to Boise in afternoon
Day 7 (July 20): Departure from Boise, Idaho
Day 1 (July 14): Fly into Denver, Transfer to Gunnison
Day 2 (July 15): Gunnison & Montrose
Day 3 (July 16): Grand Junction to Salt Lake City
Day 4 (July 17): Great Salt Lake to Nevada
Day 5 (July 18): Ruby Mountain Hike & to Southern Idaho
Day 6 (July 19): South Hills of Idaho in morning then to Boise in afternoon
Day 7 (July 20): Departure from Boise, Idaho
Cost:
Double occupancy: $3,250
Single occupancy: $3,750
Double occupancy: $3,250
Single occupancy: $3,750
Monsoon Birding & Hummingbirds in Arizona
July 22-29 OR July 29-Aug 4
8 Days & 7 Nights
8 Days & 7 Nights
Southeast Arizona can be quite magical anytime of year, but summer is specifically a great season to visit this region. The Sky Island Mountains near and southeast of Tucson provide thousands of acres of favorable habitat for many Mexican species as well as a few Rocky Mountain species. Late summer is known as ‘the second spring' as the monsoons of July and August supplies the region with most of the yearly precipitation, regenerating plant growth. This rainfall creates a second opportunity for most species to nest again with added food resources. Not to mention the migrants from the Pacific Coast or the Rockies will start migrating back through this region. The surrounding deserts also provide habitat for several hard to find species. Any aquatic habitat in this landscape can act as a mini oasis for diversity due to lack of water throughout much of this region. We can expect to see up to 200 species on this trip.
Cost:
Double occupancy: $2,750
Single occupancy: $3,250
Double occupancy: $2,750
Single occupancy: $3,250