In May, just before the spring migration really picked up in Maine, we led a tour to one of the birdiest places in the U.S.: Southeast Arizona! On this private tour with Field Guides Inc, we spent the trip with Cory Gregory (who we also traveled with to Oaxaca, MX, with in 2019) and targeted a number of species with limited ranges into the U.S., and particularly spent time tracking down owls and other nightbirds.
Cory’s full trip report, including more photos of some of the highlights is available here >
If you are interested in traveling with us, we do have space on our next trip: Ecuador in November 2025. Spend Thanksgiving birding with me in Ecuador!
November 22–December 1: Holiday at San Isidro
Based at San Isidro Lodge, an old Ecuadorian hacienda situated in the cloudforest at about 6500 feet, we’ll bird Ecuador’s rich eastern Andes while enjoying the delicious homecooked meals and hospitality for which the lodge is known. To the west, temperate forest leads undisturbed to distant jagged paramo cliffs, while to the south and east are the forest-cloaked knife-edge ridges of the Cordillera de Guacamayos. And the birdlist features such glamorous species as Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Black-chested Fruiteater, Bicolored Antvireo, and White-capped Tanager.
A late-afternoon hike down one of the trails leads to an Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek, and the hummingbird feeders attract a menagerie colorful enough to dazzle anyone: Bronzy and Collared incas, Long-tailed Sylph, and Fawn-breasted Brilliant. White-bellied Antpittas sometimes emerge from their dark environs to feed on worms laid out for them on the trail.
To survey the temperate-zone species in a more complete fashion, we will stop for a night at Guango Lodge, right in the heart of beautiful temperate forest. Classic Andean species here include (the rare and local) Mountain Avocetbill, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, and Slaty Brush-Finch. There is much to see and do, and our San Isidro getaway promises a delightfully exciting and diverting holiday break.
The full trip itinerary and information on registering is available here: fieldguides.com/itineraries/hec25p-ITIN.pdf
