Our goal at Southwest Birders is to increase your enjoyment of birds and nature. We offer custom birding tours that cover California, Arizona, Florida, and Texas. Our web site offers bird-finding tips, detailed site guides, hundreds of illustrated trip reports going back to 2001, dragonfly pages, and quality bird & nature photos. We hope you enjoy our web site, and welcome your feedback.
GOOD BIRDING!
Bob Miller and I visited the southeast shore of the Salton Sea this morning, checking out the wealth of shorebirds, pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. The best part we saved for last--it was a new area of geothermal activity laid bare by the receding Salton Sea. Here we saw bubbling mudpots, gray geysers, and spewing mud volcanoes. Click here to see more photos of the birds and the fantastic landscape.
Fourteen ace Swedish birders from Avifauna and I toured up the Olympic Peninsula coastline, put out to sea for pelagics, headed to the top of Hurricane Ridge and Mt. Baker, explored the Cascades, took a jaunt up to Canada, and traveled through the sagebrush in search of Washington's fine avian wonders. Click here to see additional photos and read more about our northern adventure.
Suzanne, Gaby, and I spent ten days in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan visiting relatives and some of the many wonderful federal and state natural areas there. We found Connecticut Warblers in both Minnesota and Michigan, and had wonderful views of the Kirtland's Warbler in the jack pines east of Grayling. Click here to see some more photos of our northern adventure.
Suzanne, Gaby, and I spent a fine long spring weekend in southeast Arizona, picking up many of the local specialties, as well as five Flammulated Owls on Mt. Lemmon. However, our best find was yet to come, when we came upon these two mating Gila Monsters the next morning in Sabino Canyon. Click here to see some more photos of these great lizards.
After picking up twelve outstanding Swedish birders in Houston, we set off across Texas to see how many regional specialties and migrants we could locate in the course of a long week. A lingering pair of Whooping Cranes at Aransas was our first sweet score, and a Bay-breasted Warbler was the final bird. In between we got to watch crying Chachalacas, graceful Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, and raucous Great Kiskadees. It was all too much fun! Click here to read more about our whirlwind tour through the southern half of Texas and see additional photos.
Suzanne and I spent an awesome week exploring the jungles and mountains of Panama, a wonderfully diverse country. From snapping Manakins to huge raptors, from stealthy sloths to abundant agoutis, from plain-colored antbirds to wildly colored trogons, we saw a wealth of birds and mammals. Click here to read about our cross-country adventures and see additional photos.
Jan, Kerry, and I took a few days to explore some great birding hotspots in central Arizona and southern California. Our birding trail put us face-to-face with Gilded Flicker, Ferruginous & Harris's Hawks, Peregrine & Prairie Falcons, Taiga Bean-Goose, Yellow-footed Gull, Gambel's & California Quail, Wrentits, Nuttall's & Lewis's Woodpeckers, and many more fine species. We explored ancient petrogyphs and toured bubbling mudpots, and went from below sea level to high in the pine forests. Click here to read about our adventure and see additional photos.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Birding my way up past Havasu, I spent several days in the Owen's Valley and the Sierra Nevada Mts. before visiting Nick and his family in Fiddletown. Wintry weather made for spectacular sunrises and an early blizzard up at Kit Carson Pass. Mountain birds were confiding, so I had wonderful views of Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, and Chipping Sparrow. Chukars were a hit at the old mining community of Randsburg--this has got to be the easiest place in California to see these exotic gamebirds. The trip home via Topaz Lake and the Salton Sea produced many additional species. Click here to read about the trip and see more photos.
Mountain Chickadee
Suzanne, Gaby, and I drove through the Imperial Valley and Owens Valley to the Sierras. Whitney Portal was our first stop, and provided our first taste of cool, high-mountain birding. Mono Lake and Bodie were our next two destinations, in the sagebrush country. We lingered four days in the park, traveling from snow-covered Tuolomne Meadow down to the Yosemite Valley, and then south to Wawona Meadow. Crashing waterfalls vied with spectacular scenery to take our breath away. Flowers, bears, and marmots vied with the birds to see who could attract the most attention. On our final day we stopped in the White Mountains to tour the ancient Bristlecone Pines, there long before the Pharaohs ruled Egypt. It was a fine escape from the Yuma summer!
Click here to read about the trip and see more photos.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Spent four excellent days covering Southeast Arizona with Bruce and Paul, seeing many of the region's specialty birds. We climbed (OK, we drove) to the top of Mt. Lemmon for high-mountain warblers, hiked down Florida Wash for Mexican sparrows, visited the canyons of the Huachucas for 10 species of hummingbirds and the Elegant Trogon, and ventured down California Gulch for Five-striped Sparrow. It was a great time, and between Bruce & Paul, they got 67 lifers! Click here to read about the trip and see some of the natural history snapshots.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Up long before dawn, I made it to the Laguna Mountains in southwestern Imperial County for the sunrise. 144 birds later I headed back to Yuma, having set a personal best for a single day's birding. It was great fun, and I found a fair number of migrants combined with excellent breeding birds. Shorebirds were still in good numbers at the Salton Sea, many of which were in beautiful breeding plumage. Click here to see some of my photos from the big day, and to read more details of the day's itinerary..
Gray Flycatcher
Megan, Sam, and I spent Saturday at the Sea, and then on Sunday I returned with Ken. Over the weekend we got some fine birds, including a Ruff, a Gray Flycatcher, a Sage Thrasher, and Lawrence's Goldfinches. The gull crop included Herring, California, Lesser Black-backed, Laughing, Western, and Yellow-footed. Fierce winds on Sunday whipped the Sea into a foamy green broth, but the birds were still great. We ended the weekend with a field full of 200+ Mountain Plovers. Click here to read more about our birding weekend in the Valley.
Townsend's Warbler
Paul, Bruce, and I spent an awesome three days wandering the coastline and chaparral around La Jolla & San Diego, the forests of the Laguna Mountains, and the lowland marshes & agricultural lands of the Imperial Valley. One of the most handsome birds we spotted was this Townsend's Warbler, seen hunting for insects in a towering cedar at Paso Picacho Campground, located in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Click here to read more about our adventures birding this scenic part of southern California.
Suzanne, Adriana, Gaby, and I spent an excellent week in northern New Mexico exploring the Jemez Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos, and Santa Fe--all the time escaping record high temperatures in Yuma! We spotted all kinds of creatures, from Elk, Mule Deer, and Pronghorn Antelopes to Dusky Grouse and hordes of hummingbirds. High in the mountains we walked through fields of beautiful alpine flowers; down in the colonial Santa Fe we enjoyed fine Mexican cuisine. Click here to read more about our trip to this scenic and birdy part of New Mexico.
Elf Owl
Cody and I camped in scenic Kofa Queen Canyon on the last Saturday of May, listening to a chorus of Poorwills, Elf Owls, Western Screech-Owls, and Great Horned Owls. The next morning was beautiful, and we were soon hiking up Indian Canyon towards the highest peak in southwest Arizona, on our way to see the locally rare Black-chinned and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. Other visual treats during the short trip were Scott's Orioles and Marine Blues. Click here to read more about this fascinating canyon located in Kofa NWR.
You can also learn more by reading our bird-finding guide here. My 2006 on-line article in Birder's World is here. You'll find a host of bird, flower, and scenic photos here. If you're interested in note cards from KOFA NWR, please visit the link listed on the right menu.
Vermilion Flycatcher
Al and Helga, Suzanne, the girls and I made a whirlwind trip through Southeast Arizona to pick up a few targets that Al had been waiting seven years to get! We scored on all but one, but Al & Helga got the even rarer Berylline Hummingbird instead! And exciting birds weren't our only good finds--we got to see the rare and localized Brown Vine Snake, and I had an exciting time when I almost stepped on a Western Diamondback.
See photos of a few of the targets and read about our trip here.
Western Spindalis
I had the good fortune to spend two marvelous weeks with another group of Swedes from Avifauna as we toured Florida from Key West north to Gainesville. At Ft. Zachary multicolored warblers were a feast for the eyes, while Western Spindalis and White-tailed Tropicbird demonstrated why this area is such a fine migrant trap. A run out to Ft. Jefferson was rough, but yielded Brown & Masked Boobies, noddies & other terns, a probable Antillean Nighthawk, and bird's eye views of Cape May Warblers and Indigo Buntings. The Everglades were awesome for waders and big reptiles (American Alligators & Crocodiles). The pine and scrub forests yielded Florida Scrub Jay, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Bachman's Sparrow.
See the photos and read more about our adventures here.
Burrowing Owl
Exploring the southeast portion of the Salton Sea and the neighboring agricultural lands, Joan, Dean, Bob and I had an excellent day of birding. We visited the gurgling mud pots, studied a number of gull species (including a rare Lesser Black-backed and a few lingering Yellow-footed Gulls), spotted over a dozen species of shorebirds, chased after the elusive Spotted Dove of Niland, watched an engaging Burrowing Owl (even as it watched us), and had a bird's-eye view of a Barn Owl as it swooped over us.
See the photos and read about our adventures, and the birds, here.
Ferruginous Hawk
Joan Roos and I had a great time driving around the southeast portion of the Salton Sea, experiencing the bubbling mud pots, watching magnificent raptors (including an immature Bald Eagle), and listening to the explosion of wings as Snow & Ross's Geese leapt into the air. We got phenomenal views of an unperturbed Ferruginous Hawk and an obliging Burrowing Owl. Have a look at some of our photos and read about the outstanding birds here.
Want to see a LeConte's Thrasher?
Hear a Black Rail?
Watch dozens of wintering Ferruginous Hawks feeding on gophers?
Now you can order a copy of Finding Birds in Yuma County, Arizona. This 75-page book provides detailed accounts of the fifteen best sites in southwestern Arizona. Each chapter contains the following information: habitat, target birds, description, birding suggestions, and driving directions.
The price is $16.00 + postage. Click here to preview a sample chapter and for ordering instructions.
Finding Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, California
This informative book provides detailed accounts of the best birding sites at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, Arizona. Each chapter contains the following information: habitat, target birds, site description, birding suggestions, and driving directions. The book ends with a comprehensive, seasonal checklist. The price is
$21.00 (which includes postage).
Click here to preview the Table of Contents, the Introduction, a sample chapter and for ordering instructions.
Finding Birds in Yuma County, Arizona
This 94-page book provides detailed accounts of the fifteen best sites in southwestern Arizona. Each chapter contains the following information: habitat, target birds, description, birding suggestions, and driving directions. The latest revision adds a seasonal checklist. The price is
$18.00 (which includes postage).
Click here to preview a sample chapter and for ordering instructions.
Click here to look at my new checklist of Yuma County birds.
Help the Nature Conservancy and sustainability partner Andrew Liveris stop the decline of migratory bird population by preserving their natural habitats.
