Birding Classes Information and registration contact:

March 19th – Tuesday evening 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM – Raptors, Eagles, Hawks & Falcons
March 23rd – Saturday 9AM Field trip into eastern Alameda County to view and study the species in their habitat.

March 26th Tuesday evening 6:30PM to 8:30 PM –Grebes, Shore Birds & Waders.March 30th Saturday 9AM Field Trip to San Francisco Bay to view and study the species in their early breeding plumage before they begin their Migration north to their breeding grounds.

Raptors Class and field trip are $30.00
Water Birds Class and Field Trip are $30.00
Suggested Field Guides available from Dublin Wild Birds Unlimited:

• Sibley Guide to Birds
• National Geographic Birds of North America

For Registration and questions:

• Contact Rich Cimino at 925-353-0266
• e mail: Yellowbilledtours@gmail.com

The Mangrove is part of the Yellow Warbler family, ( erithachorides)

Bat Falcon observed at Crooked Tree Preserve, Belize

I have recently returned from Belize. I began my field work by birding the Ambergris Caye (aka San Pedro Caye) for two days then moving on to Orange Walk and Belize Providence’s for five more day of interior birding. Belize as you know was once British Honduras, and is an English speaking county. Without facing language barriers Belize is relatively easy to ramble around on your own. I rented a four wheel SUV which may have been a touch of over kill, but the firm suspension did help on the pot holed access roads into the important birding areas. The birding was beyond my expectations, having observed 197 species of which I added 69 species to my global life list in seven day. There are over 600 species of birds to be found. Over 40 species of raptors can be found in Belize. While birding the Woodcreeper Trail located in the Crooked Tree Sanctuary I found an Anteater. Most interesting to me was the amount of Wood –Warblers the Birds of Belize by H. Lee Jones does cover the warbler well enough. My next visit I will carry my Sibleys Guide to Birds and the Warblers by Jon Dunn /Kimball Barrett.

See my bird list for the Belize field trip PDF.

I am preparing a full eight day field day itinerary it will be posted soon after April 6, 2013.

Until then feel free to contact me with your questions.

Over 230+ cumulative bird species recorded during past festivals go to: www.godwitdays.com

Yellowbilled Tours will be conducting Beginning Birding Class’s, time and class room location TBA.

This proposal request has been dropped. The Alameda County Planners have been instructed by the County Board of Supervisors to create a Solar Energy Facility zoning policy for eastern Alameda County.

The last meeting in November 2012 was productive and a final public hearing maybe held in January 2013 before county planner submit their plan to the Alameda County Transportation subcommittee for a hearing. Stay tuned.

Allow me to introduce a potentially critical situation to you regarding the proposed changes to the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area which will affect repowering collision and monitoring requirements as agreed to within the California Attorney Generals MOU for repowering.

Alameda County has been petitioned to consider approving a mega-sized, 2,700-acre industrial solar installation along Mountain House Road by Pegasus Energy Partners, (as shown on the Pegasus Energy Partners web site). The area in question is currently farmed in irrigated alfalfa. The conservation community many of whom had been stakeholders in the APWRA committee, feels that the Mountain House Road area is in the sphere of influence of the APWRA.

Recently, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors has directed County Planning to see if the Mountain House area can accommodate an industrial solar facility. This is when I (as Audubon Conservation Chair of the Ohlone Audubon Society, eastern Alameda County), The Alameda Creek Alliance, The Sierra Club, California Native Plants Society and Tri-Valley Conservancy began to speak up, offering input to discourage any change in land-use practices in the Mountain House area.

Alfalfa is grown and harvested several times a year in eastern Alameda County – Mountain House road area. When the crop is heavily irrigated, it forces rodent populations to surface. This produces an abundant food source for Kites, Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Cranes, Owls, Herons, Vultures, and Shrikes. I have been birding this area for 30 years plus and have witnessed this foraging cycle annually. The volume of species can be astounding.

The spring crop harvest cycle coincides with (1) the back end of the Golden Eagle nesting cycle, when they forage these fields to feed their mates on the nest and, later, to feed both the mate and new hatchlings; (2) the arrival and nesting activity of migrating Swainson’s Hawks; and (3) the northward migration of winter resident hawk species. This is a critical time for all species to build their stamina for the cycle of life. These and the species already mentioned continue to use this source of protein during the summer, fall, and early winter months, but spring remains the crucial window for the species’ survival. Removing the food source in the Mountain House area would force birds to forage closer to the repowered turbines potentially increasing collisions in the repowering zone.  Development will displace irrigated agriculture lands will forcing an expansion of avian species to seek new feeding grounds within the APWRA repowering area.

There are studies by Shawn Smallwood showing that Swainson’s hawks forage over alfalfa while the alfalfa was being flood irrigated or mowed 858 times other than expected. Species of Accipitridae (raptors) as a group visited alfalfa stands during summer 7 times other than expected. Ferruginous hawks visited alfalfa 7 times other than expected, and golden eagles hunt cottontails in alfalfa stands. Displaced birds will likely come into greater conflict as they attempt to forage over smaller spaces with many fewer resources than was found in the alfalfa, and these conflicts are likely to put them at greater risk of collision. Raptors chasing each other around wind turbines is likely to increase collisions.

There is deep concern within the conservation community that taking the Mountain House Road area out of irrigated agriculture production will destroy a significant foraging area and vital source of protein for the resident and migrating avian species—forcing them to forage farther into the APWRA repowering area and thus creating an (1) expanded source of avian collisions during peak seasonal energy demand and (2) the possibility of missing the 50 percent reduction in raptor collision goals of  repowering and (3) skewing public and government opinion that repowering was ineffective.

An unfortunate precedent of this type of effect was seen when the golf course was constructed near Altamont Pass in 2005, displacing numerous burrowing owls. The next year there was a huge spike in burrowing owl fatalities in the APWRA, including at the just-repowered Diablo Winds project. Fatalities of other raptors also spiked in 2006.

The conservation community has asked for a five-year moratorium before Alameda County commits to a land-use plan that is almost certain to allow displacement into industrial use. The requested five-year moratorium is to gather avian use and impacts data and is modeled after that mandated in the California Attorney General’s  MOU of December 3, 2010:

“Each phase of repowered turbines will be subject to three years of post-construction monitoring . . . [which] shall include collecting field data on behavior, utilization and distribution patterns of affected avian and bat species in addition to fatalities. In addition, each phase of repowering shall be subject to two years of further monitoring commencing on the tenth anniversary of its COD. (“Agreement,” 2010, Section 5.1, p. 6)”

During the last public meeting on February 28, 2012, Alameda County Planning Department  had a map suggesting a buffer zone for APWRA banning solar development, but it failed to cover the irrigated agriculture areas. At the meeting conclusion I suggested that the SRC have a chance to weigh in with a study on the potential effects of increased avian population forced into the repowering study zone caused by a displacement of lowland foraging areas within the APWRA sphere of influence. It is the conservation community’s opinion that the APWRA should be managed for what science can control—in this case, protecting current foraging range from displacement.

Our community groups are not against government. We favor solar energy production. We support common sense, appropriately sited energy facilities and wise – land use within the APWRA sphere of influence. In fact, we are strong advocates for a huge reduction in the use of fossil fuels by the introduction of sustainable energy like solar and wind—but not to the detriment of eastern Alameda County’s unique, abundant avian populations.

In a 2011 interview, Nancy Rader (Executive Director of CalWEA) stated, “Our understanding of its [APWRA’s] environmental impacts has evolved just as much as the [wind] technology has”(Hull, 2011).

We agree with Nancy Rader. But industrial solar impacts are unknown and must be studied with specific focus on the impact of displacing 2,700 acres of significant raptor foraging habitat within APWRA’s sphere of influence. We know so much more about the avian use of the APWRA that we feel justified to question the judgment of developing and displacing so much foraging land within the APWRA sphere of influence is practical in light of the scientific data that is now available to support denying a zoning change.

Displacing 2,700 acres of vital avian foraging lands by zoning for industrialized solar within the sphere of influence of the APWRA without further study would interfere with and potentially violate the California  Attorney Generals MOU monitoring requirements and may raise public trust issues. Without a five year moratorium to allow comprehensive study of repowering, the SRC may not achieve the scientific evidence that turbine repowering is a solution for reduced avian collisions.

Respectfully,

Richard Cimino
Ohlone Audubon Conservation Chair Eastern Alameda County
rscimino@gmail.com

This is last year’s data: Eastern Alameda County Christmas Bird Count 2011 species summary

Adam Cimino on his first CBC 2012

This is the 2012 CBC data  http://www.independentnews.com/community/article_30fec270-4aec-11e2-bcac-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=story#.UOIxip1k5Hg.gmail

Whooping cranes

Birding Wisconsin, with its many wet habitats, is a great experience during spring migration
May 6th to May 10th  and May 13th to May 17th., 2013
This is a small group field trip limited to eight participants.
YBT uses small, comfortable vehicles. YBT does not use a 12 person van.

This five-day field trip / tour will provide birders with opportunities to experience a touch of America’s conservation history, with visits to the boyhood home of John Muir National Monument in Montello and Aldo Leopold’s home and Conference Center in the Baraboo Mountains of central Wisconsin. Also included in the field trip is a visit to the International Crane Foundation breeding and visitor center. The Mississippi Flyway, as it cuts through Wisconsin, is an overlooked birding opportunity for California Birders seeking Neotropical spring migrants. We’ll witness spring migration during its peak period, with many species in full breeding plumage. Bring your camera to take advantage of the many photo opportunities this field trip will provide.

Day 1, Monday May 6th  8AM hotel pick-up 

The tour begins with birding in Milwaukee, exploring the city’s walking paths along Lake Michigan, stopping to bird the lakefront beaches for Piping Plover, scoping the Coast Guard breakwater for loafing gull species, and visiting a wonderful string of lakeside parks to seek Eastern Bluebird, Purple Martin and newly arrived Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos. We will close the day with a visit to Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center to use their three-story birding tower to watch the evening Chimney Swifts. We will all dine together for both lunch and dinner on Milwaukee east side at one of several organic restaurants.

Day 2, Tuesday May 7th

We’ll bird Harrington Beach State Park, one of Wisconsin’s oldest and most beautiful state parks, in search of Franklin’s Gulls, Bonaparte’s Gulls, and Wood  Warblers. We’ll stop at the Wisconsin Lake Michigan Raptor Observatory, where we’ll view migrating raptors in volumes equal to our GGRO in the Marin Headlands. As we bird our way through the Wisconsin hardwood forests to Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area, we’ll look for the Northern Waterthrush. A drive brings us to Horicon Marsh, North America’s largest freshwater cattail marsh, found here in central Wisconsin. This is a birder’s paradise; we’ll search for Black Tern, White-rumped Sandpiper, and Pectoral Sandpiper, as well as more neotropical migrants including Baltimore Oriole, Flycatchers, Palm Warbler, and Indigo Bunting and possible Rusty Blackbird..

Day 3, Wednesday May 8th

We’ll visit the International Crane Foundation in the morning, where we’ll see Whooping Cranes. We’ll not only enjoy its many birding trails—seeking Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, White-throated Sparrow, and Louisiana Waterthrush—but we’ll also explore the comprehensive offerings in their superb bookstore. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Aldo Leopold’s Home and Conference Center and search the hardwood forest and grasslands for Veery, Wood Thrush, Mourning Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Canada Warbler.

Day 4, Thursday May 9th

We will drive to the very productive Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, located in north central Wisconsin. The refuge has over 250 species on record. We’ll spend the day seeking Trumpeter Swan, Broad-winged Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, then dine and spend the night nearby. 

Day 5,  Friday May 10th

On our way back to Milwaukee, we will stop to bird John Muir’s boyhood home, now a National Monument where we may see Red-headed Woodpecker, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Pine Warbler. We’ll stop at Grand River Marsh seeking the Ovenbird and Wood Thrush. We’ll check our total sightings over dinner and enjoy a night’s rest before leaving for our scheduled May 11 flights home.

Trip begins Monday, May 6th with 8AM hotel pickup; it concludes on Saturday, May11th with morning airport dropoff.  Week Two (May13–17^th) has the same schedule. Yellowbilled Tours will forward a Final Itinerary and Participant List to everyone about 3 weeks prior to the tour. It will include information and instructions for meeting the YBT Birding group at the Milwaukee Airport, as well as hotel addresses, emergency contact info, travel advisories, etc.

$1,500.00 cost includes all lodging, ground transportation and park entry fees and does not include airfare or meals.
Registration is open and confirmed with registration form and $800 deposit.
Balance of $700.00 is due March 20^th for both trips. If a participant cancels after balance is paid every effort will be made to find a suitable replacement.  During any search for a replacement person, $100 per search week will be charged against your deposit up to $800.00. If you cancel, I will encourage you to help me find your replacement. If a replacement cannot be found, all payments will be forfeited to Yellowbilled Tours.

Last-minute trip cancellation by your tour leader would occur only in the event of unforeseen weather emergency or a family tragedy. In this case a 100% refund will be issued.

For questions, please contact: Rich Cimino 925-353-0266, or by e-mail at Yellowbilledtours@gmail.com

Black oystercatcher

Tailored to locate your target species. These field trips can take us throughout northern California, including Tuolumne, Mono, Alpine, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta and  Modoc counties. Other California counties can be added, based on the interests of the field trip participants.

Call 925-353-0266, or e mail Yellowbilledtours@gmail.com

May – June 2013 Nome Field Trips are now open for registration.

Download this page:  Nome, Alaska Trip-2012 (pdf)
Download Nome, Alaska trip liability release (pdf)

Road to Kigluaik Mountains, outside Nome, Alaska

Nome is a frontier town in a world where few such curiosities remain. Currently the town is witnessing a gold mining boom. Accessible only by boat and airplane, bordered on the West and South by the Bering Sea, and the North and East by miles of trackless wilderness, Nome is a fascinating and challenging destination.  During late May, June and July, the sun is at its brightest into the very late evening, the tundra is in full bloom, the birds begin arriving and mammals are feeding building up fat for the winter ahead.

Our tour will cover the prime birding areas along the coast, including Safety Sound Lagoon and the beautifully blooming inland alpine tundra, rivers, and wetlands surrounding Nome. Plus we spend one day birding our way to the boreal spruce forest 75 miles to the southeast. Most of the birds are in their resplendent breeding plumages—rarely if ever seen in the “lower 48.” We’ll make an extra effort to locate some of the accidental Asian species—such as Bluethroat, Yellow and White Wagtail, Arctic Warbler, Gray-tailed Tattler (seen on a 2006 YBT trip)—that regularly occur at Nome.

I have lead small-group birding trips to Nome’s eco-region since 2002. My trips include wildlife watching as well, making for a relaxed experience.* We stay on the bird until everyone has a chance to observe it. At each sighting, we take time for birders to collaborate using the available field guides. Our visit will not be a high-speed, wham-bang tour with no time for field collaboration or in-town Nome experience.

I use a four-door, high clearance vehicle, allowing each birder speedy and comfortable exiting and entering and plenty of window viewing area. This vehicle allows comfort and convenience on the rough roads that you can’t get from an uncomfortable 12-passenger van. If a stepstool is required, just let me know!

The small group of maximum 4 people per vehicle will provide you with a very personalized birding experience. Our lodging is modern motel apartments with private baths.  The weather will be mild for Nome—ranging from 49 to 66 degrees—but will require layers of clothing for maximum comfort.

Each morning after breakfast, we’ll pick up our own individual lunches. Dinners will be a hot meal of your choice. Cost of meals is not included in our price.

Evening of Arrival: You’ll arrive about 8:30 PM in Nome. I’ll pick you up at the Nome Airport. We’ll get settled in your room, then go to dinner as a group. During dinner, I’ll review the required trip safety protocols. After dinner we’ll begin birding along the Bering Sea, Nome Harbor, Nome Sewage Ponds, and the Nome River outlet. We can expect to see American Tree Sparrow, Red-necked Loon and Red-necked Phalarope, up to four species of Gulls, Parasitic Jaegers,  Aleutian Terns, possible Bar-tailed Godwit and both Pacific and American Plover—all in breeding plumage.

Day 1 Safety Lagoon and Council Road:  We’ll spend the morning hours carefully searching the shorelines, lagoons, and ponds near the inlet from the Bering Sea for rarities such as Arctic and Yellow-billed Loon, Red-necked Stint, Slaty-backed Gull, possible Black-legged Kittiwake; Common, Steller’s and Spectacled Eider as well as the many resident shorebirds. Then we’ll drive 75 miles on dirt roads toward Council, a small fishing village in the interior, searching along the way for both species of Redpolls, Yellow Wagtail, Lapland Longspur, and Gray-cheeked Thrush. In past years, we have also had White Wagtail and White-winged Crossbill on this road. This area represents the northern boreal forest limit on the Seward Peninsula and should also yield Varied Thrush, Boreal Chickadee, Three-toed Woodpecker, Northern Hawk Owl and other spruce forest/alpine species. In 2011, we found a male singing Harris’s Sparrow in Council. In 2012, we discovered Bohemian Waxwings—very rare birds for the region!

Day 2 Teller Road: We begin with local birding, and in just a few miles’ drive we may be able to find both the Arctic Warbler and Dusky Warbler. Then our real day begins by slowly driving north on Teller Road, seeking Western and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Golden Eagle, Northern Shrike, Arctic Warbler, and possible Rusty Blackbird or Rock Sandpiper. We’ll stop at Wooley Lagoon to observe a native whale-hunting outpost on the Bering Sea while observing scores of nesting Black-bellied Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, and American Golden-Plover as well as Semipalmated Plover and Whimbrel.  We should get good looks at Northern Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, and Snow Bunting in this area as well. In late June 2012, a White Wagtail was found in this area.

At the end of the road, we’ll bird near and visit Teller, an Inuit village that sits out on a spit in the bay. Here we’ll rest, have lunch, visit the local store to see if there are carved ivory figures for sale. We’ll walk around the village while looking for crowned sparrows, swallows, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, and maybe Snowy Owl at the airport. On the Teller Spit, we’ll have a chance for Pigeon Guillemot, Common and Thick-billed Murre, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Red-necked Grebe—all of which are found here.  We should see spotted seals close to the shore.

Day 3 Taylor and Kougarok Roads: We drive the 85-mile length of Kougarok Road into the high tundra and mountains of Seward Peninsula in search of nesting Whimbrel, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Wandering Tattler, several nesting-plumage sandpiper species, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, Red Fox Sparrow, and Northern Shrike. This area also has potential for Bluethroat, Gyrfalcon, Blackpoll Warbler, and Northern Waterthrush among others. We’ll watch (carefully) for Grizzly Bear, Muskox, and Moose.

Day 4 Nome and departure: In the morning you’ll prepare for the 8:30 PM return flight home from Nome. Then we’ll chase any bird we may have missed, visit local Nome shops and museum, or visit roadside exhibits as well the National Park Headquarters. During our last dinner, we review our trip list. I will shuttle you to the airport by 7:30 PM.

*Other mammals we may see here and in other locations on our trip include Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Muskox, Wolverine, Short-tailed Weasel, Spotted Seal, Harbor Porpoise, Walrus (immature), and others.

Contact Rich Cimino at 925-353-0266, or Yellowbilledtours@gmail.com to reserve a space on one of our five (5) 2013 field trips. Starting dates are May 28; June 1, 6, 10, and 14. Space is limited to four birders per field trip. Rich Cimino is your guide; he supplies the auto transportation, fuel, lodging, and field guide services. Airfare and meals are not included.

Travel Safe Advisories: Do not plan to wear fragrances (lotions, aftershave, or colognes), which may attract bears. This trip does not support handicapped persons or persons with significant hearing disabilities. If you have limited hearing or if you use two hearing aids, we need to discuss your limitations during the registration period.

Please contact us for more specifics on registration form, logistics, meals, and lodging.

Cost and Cancellation

The total cost of field trip is $2,500.00. Cost of trip does not include airfare or meals. A $1,250.00 deposit is required upon registration (a $100 administration fee will charged if you cancel within 60 days after you register). The balance of $1,250.00, is due April 1, 2013 for all trips. If a participant cancels after the balance is paid, every effort will be made to find a suitable replacement. During the search for a replacement, $150 per search week will be taken against your deposit up to $1,250.00. If you cancel, I will encourage you to help me find your replacement. If a replacement cannot be found, all payments will be forfeited. Last-minute trip cancellation by tour leader would occur only in the event of an extreme emergency.  In this case, your refund will be 100%.

Birding Northern New Mexico

August 5 to August 9, 2013

August 11 to August 15, 2013*
Small-group field trips limited to four birders

YBT uses small, comfortable vehicles.

New Mexico is a spectacular state with an astonishing variety of habitats, wide-open blue sky, eastern plains, grasslands, mountain ranges, deep canyons, and pine and juniper forest situated on the spine of the Continental Divide. Birding in New Mexico offers bird species found west of the Continental Divide–Pacific Flyway, as well as bird species from east of the Continental Divide–Central Flyway, which contribute to an impressive birding experience. July begins the fall migration for both Great Basin land birds and water birds, and we’ll take time to observe and understand the “Interior West” subspecies we encounter.

Day 1, Monday
We begin our field trip with an 8:00 AM hotel pick-up. We’ll head directly to the irrigated alfalfa fields south of Albuquerque seeking early fall migrant shorebirds, raptors, and flycatchers. As the temperature becomes warmer, we’ll move on to Mt. Sandia (10,500’ elevation) in the Cibola National Forest to search for Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Townsend’s Solitaire, Red Crossbill, and Red-Backed Dark-eyed Junco. We’ll make our way up the back side of the mountain to Sandia Crest to look for American Three-toed Woodpecker. After sunset, we’ll stop for dinner then turn in for the evening at our hotel  in Albuquerque.

Day 2, Tuesday
Our destination is the Audubon Canyon Ranch in Santa Fe. After an early start, we’ll bird along the roadways seeking Grace’s Warbler, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Juniper Titmouse before a late lunch. Taos will be our destination after lunch.  We’ll begin birding along the way when we enter the Rio Grande River Gorge. We’ll search for Rock and Canyon Wren, Sage Thrasher, Plumbeous Vireo, and Black-Chinned Sparrow. Reaching Taos in the late afternoon, we’ll check into our rooms at the Hampton Inn. In the early evening, we’ll bird Taos within the city limits, finding Tanagers, Orioles, Vireos, Common Nighthawks, Swifts and Sapsuckers. We’ll have dinner at El Meze, with its patio facing 13,160’ Wheeler Peak.

Day 3, Wednesday
We will have an early breakfast and begin birding at the Rio Grande Bridge, which rises 600’ above the river. There we have Buteo Hawks, both Eagle species, possible American Dipper, Sage Thrasher, up to five sparrow species and Rock and Canyon Wrens. During the later morning hours, we’ll go into the higher elevations of the Taos ski area for lunch in an aspen forest, which should yield five species of warbler and Cordilleran Flycatcher. Here we may find the Interior West group of White-breasted Nuthatch., Hermit Warbler, Lincoln Sparrow and Hepatic Tanager are possible. We’ll bird our way back to Taos in a relaxed manner, stopping at interesting habitats and villages. We’ll have dinner at the town plaza.

Day 4, Thursday
We will have another early start toward eastern locations. We’ll bird Angel Fire/Eagle Nest area as we make our way to the eastern grassland (short-grass prairies)  high plains. We’ll be seeking Burrowing Owls, Southwest Great Horned Owl, Solitary Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, White-faced Ibis, Blue-winged Teal, Curve-billed Thrasher, Eastern Kingbird, Cassin’s Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Canyon Towhee. We’ll move on to the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge to search for Lark and Lazuli Bunting, several species of sparrow (Vesper, Chipping, Clay-colored, Brewer’s, Lark, and Grasshopper are all possible) and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Also if US-FWS opens a new area, we may see Northern Bobwhite, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cordilleran Flycatcher, and other oak woodland species. We’ll check into our rooms before dinner.

Day 5, Friday
We’ll drive to Santa Fe and bird local hot spots, seeking the Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay, Grace’s Warbler, and Black-throated Grey Warbler. The field trip ends at 5PM Friday in Albuquerque

Week Two follows the same site schedule, beginning on Sunday, August 11 at 8:00 AM and concludes on Thursday, August 15 at 5:00 PM.

If you plan to stay in the area longer, you will need to schedule lodging and transportation to the Albuquerque Airport when you are ready to depart.

Contact Rich Cimino at 925-353-0266, or Yellowbilledtours@gmail.com to reserve a space on one a field trip. Space is limited to four birders per field trip. Rich Cimino is your guide; he supplies the auto transportation, fuel, lodging, and field guide services. Airfare and meals are not included.

Cost and Cancellation

Field trip begins in and ends in Albuquerque, NM. The total cost of field trip is $899.00. Cost of trip does not include airfare or meals. A $600.00 deposit is required upon registration (a $100 administration fee will charged if you cancel within 60 days after you register). The balance of $299.00 is due eight weeks (60 days) before the start of your field trip. If a participant cancels after the balance is paid, every effort will be made to find a suitable replacement. During the search for a replacement, $100 per search week will be taken against your deposit up to $899.00. If you cancel, I will encourage you to help me find your replacement. If a replacement cannot be found, all payments will  be forfeited. Last-minute trip cancellation by tour leader would occur only in the event of an extreme emergency. In this case, your refund will be 100%.